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Again, London police arrest Arik Air crew with cocaine OLUSEGUN KOIKI

nother crew member of Arik Air was on Monday night apprehended at Heathrow

Vol. 5 N0. 1186

Airport, London, for alleged possession of substances, suspected to be cocaine. The arrest came barely two years after two crew members of the same airline were arrested, also in

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

London, for the same offence. The suspect was arrested with 2.7 kilogramme of the banned substance. A source close to the air-

Alleged N160bn fraud:

Oshiomhole lied –MSA chief P.6

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Nigeria, Cameroon unleash massive troops on B’Haram Soldiers on secondment to MNJTF ordered to report in Chad Two suicide attacks kill 6 in Yobe

UBONG UKPONG AND INUSA NDAHI

ember countries of the Lake Chad Basin Commission have concluded plans to deploy 8,700 troops to stem the activities of Boko Haram insurgents in the region. Director of Defence Information, Col. Rabe CONTINUED ON PAGE 2>>

Poor budget, corruption hinder projects in power sector P.4 ADVERT HOTLINES

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L-R Mr. Kayode Okunoren, Deputy President;Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB), Commissioner For Insurance, Alhaji Mohammed Kari, President NCRIB, Ayodapo Shoderu, (Presenting Plague) Mr. Bayode Samuel, Managing Director of NICON Insurance Limited, Mr. Stephen Ojo, Acting Executive Director ( Finance and and Administration), NICON Insurance, Mr. Sola Tinubu, Vice President (NCRIB) at Members Evening of NCRIB, hosted by NICON Insurance in Lagos yesterday.

My predecessors encouraged corruption in oil sector, says Buhari ...blames wicked manipulators for escalation of subsidy

11 women, three others die in Niger boat mishap

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Nigeria, Cameroon unleash massive troops on B’Haram CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Abubakar, said in a statement issued in Abuja yesterday that the decision arose from a meeting of Chiefs of Defence Staff in Ndjamena, Chad, recently to finalise arrangements for the deployment. It said resolutions from the meeting reinforced President Muhammadu Buhari’s earlier directive to his security chiefs

to end the insurgency in three months. The statement said Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Gabriel Olonisakin, led other defence chiefs to the meeting aimed at eliminating insurgency in the region. “Olonisakin visited Chad Republic where he joined other regional military chiefs to deliberate on agreement to acceler-

ate the deployment of the 8,700 strong force. “The Chiefs of Defence Staff from the Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC), member countries met in N’Djamena, the capital of Chad Republic and finalised details of deployment of the joint force. “Gen. Olonisakin has been working round the clock towards actualising

the presidential directive to end Boko Haram terrorist activities within three months,” the statement said. It said the meeting discussed modality for the deployment of joint force to two command posts in Nigeria and Cameroon. “Officers seconded to the MNJTF in N’Djamena were ordered to report immediately to their post,

as operation at the Force Headquarters has commenced,” it added. “Present at the meeting were the Chiefs of Defence Staff from the LCBC member countries, MNJTF Commander and other senior military delegates’’, the statement said. Meanwhile, two teenage suicide bombers yesterday killed 6 people including themselves in

President Muhammadu Buhari (right) welcoming his Benin Republic counterpart, Bony Yayi, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

Again, London police arrest Arik Air crew with cocaine CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

line confided in our correspondent that the suspect, a male, was arrested following the alarm raised by another crew member on the flight to London. The aircraft had departed the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, MMIA, Lagos, for a flight to London. In December 2011, a 29 years old Arik Air cabin crew, Ms. Chiwendu Uwkaoyenma, was arrested in London for drug trafficking. She was jailed for five years in 2012. Also, in 2013, two staff of the airline were arrested at the Heathrow Airport for suspected drug trafficking. Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, in a statement at the time, had disclosed that it was investigating the allegation, which it described as a national embarrassment. Spokesman of Arik Air, Mr. Ola Adebanji, confirmed

the latest arrest. He said the crew member was arrested by the UK Border Force in connection with alleged possession of items suspected to be banned substances. Adebanji, in a statement, stated that the airline was at present carrying out its own investigation to determine how the cabin crew member came about the suspected banned substance. He stressed that the airline would also be cooperating fully with the UK authorities and other appropriate agencies in their investigations. The statement said: “The airline again reaffirms its commitment to the fight against drug and illicit substances trafficking and will not tolerate the use of any of its aircraft or crew for the courier of banned items and substances. “Arik Air carries out very stringent checks on all

members of staff and its travelling guests ahead of all flights. The airline will continue to focus its attention on measures to prevent the possibility of any future similar incidents. “Arik Air is a responsible Nigerian company always seeking to maintain and uphold the integrity and proud reputation of the nation.” Meanwhile, NDLEA, has threatened to sanction Arik Air over the arrest of its crew member in Heathrow, London over trafficking of cocaine into the country. This is as the agency said that investigation had commenced immediately into the operations of the airline. Media statement by the spokesman of the agency, Mr. Mitchell Odoyeju stated that the Chief Executive Officer, CEO, NDLEA, Alhaji Ahmadu Giade, gave the order following the seizure of 20kg substances that tested positive for cocaine.

Ofoyeju gave the name of the suspect as Chika Egwu Udensi, an air steward with the airline. Ofoyeju said that the agency was notified of the arrest by the National Crime Agency, NCA, of the United Kingdom. The statement added, “The agency will carry out full scale investigation into this case to ascertain those behind the criminal act. We shall work closely with our international collaborators on the matter. Arik Airline will be sanctioned if found wanting. “The agency shall invoke section 25 of the NDLEA Act against the airline, which states that it shall be the duty of every commercial carrier to take reasonable precaution to ensure that its means of transport are not used in the commission of offences under this Act. “Every commercial carrier is to comply with appro-

priate security measures at points of entry and exit in the Federal Republic of Nigeria and other customs control areas, to prevent unauthorised cargo in its means of transportation.” He emphasized that the law refers to the precautionary measures to include training of personnel, promotion of integrity of their personnel, submission of cargo manifests in advance, use of tamper-resistant, individually verifiable seals on containers and reporting to the Agency at the earliest opportunity all suspicious circumstances relating to drug trafficking. He maintained that Nigeria had a cordial working relationship with the United Kingdom in drug control, which he said had resulted in a drastic reduction in the number of arrests made in the United Kingdom from flights originating from Nigeria over the years.

two separate locations in Damaturu, the Yobe State capital. The first attack which happened at the entrance of the busy Damaturu central motor park was triggered by a female believed to be about 14 yrs old, while the second one took place at the Pompomari axis of Damaturu ring-road bye pass involving a boy of about the same age. The first attack at the motor park however claimed more lives – five - including the bomber while the second one according to eyewitness detonated the bomb on his body after he escaped from passengers who arrested him to hand him over to the military after suspecting that he was carrying some IEDs on his body. Mani Gambo, one of the local security personal at the motor park informed that the little girl was quick to pull away from the security check and ran close to a vehicle carrying some people before triggering off her explosive. “We saw the little girl came and stopped. As I was about to screen her, she quickly ran away towards a car which was coming from inside the motor park. Before, I knew what was happening, I heard a loud sound. I was thrown on the ground myself. It was later I saw the mutilated body of the same girl that came to me,” Gambo said. On the lone suicide bomber, Musa Abdul, who was in the same tricycle with the boy said: I saw the boy entered our Keke NAPEP and I was not comfortable with him. “I asked him where he was going and he told me Tasha (Motor park). I then asked him what he wanted to go and do at the park or where he was travelling to because I did not see him with any bag but he could not give me any satisfactory answer. At that point, I held the boy and to my surprise, I discovered he was carrying a bomb around his waist. I then held his two hands and asked the other passengers to come down. “I told the driver of the

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Wednesday, August 26, 2015

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Wednesday, August 26, 2015

L-R: Fleet Manager, Boeing 737, Arik Air, Capt. Banjana Bailor; celebrant, Fleet Manager, Airbus A330, Capt. Mahmood and Chief Pilot, Capt. Adetokunbo Adekunbi, during Capt. Mahmood’s birthday celebration at Arik Head Office in Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO: ADEYANJU OLOWOJOBA

L-R: MD/CEO, Jaiz Bank Plc, Muhammed Nurul-Islam; Secretary, Nigeria Electronic Fraud Forum (NeFF), Babatunde Ajiboye and Director, Banking and Payments System, Central Bank of Nigeria and Chairman NeFF, Dipo Fatokun, during the Nigeria Electronic Fraud Forum 3rd general meeting for the year 2015 in Lagos, yesterday.

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L-R: President, Nigerian Bar Association, Mr. Augustine Alegeh; former Lagos State Solicitor General, Mr. Lawal Pedro; Mr. Olawale Akoni (SAN) and Chairman, Bi-Courtney Group, Chief Wale Babalakin, during the 55th Annual General Conference of Nigerian Bar Association in Abuja on Monday.

L-R: Representatives of the Director-General, National Emergency Management Agency, Mr. Major Eze; representative of Enugu State Government, Chief Joe Offor and General Officer Commanding, 82 Div. Nigerian Army, Maj. Etim Ukpanyang, during an awareness seminar on waste management and flood disaster in Enugu, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

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Poor budget, corruption hinder projects in power sector –Amadi ...pegs generation target at 6,000mw by year end

Chidi Ugwu ABUJA

hairman, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, Dr. Sam Amadi, has identified corruption, poor budgeting as problems facing the electricity sector. Amadi gave the hint yesterday at a two-day workshop organised by NERC to present a template for effective project management to the electricity industry performance management officers in Abuja. He said as at now, Nigeria is generating about 5,000mw, but there is a possibility of ending this year with over 6,000mw. He noted that before 2010 the sector suffered the problem of modelling, but from 2010 to date it has been bedeviled by project manage-

ment problem. He stated that the problem mostly caused by corruption and inefficient budget circle had made it difficult for effective delivery of projects within a target time frame in the sector. According to the NERC boss, by now Nigeria would have hit about 9,000mw if all the NIPP projects were completed and the capacities of existing electricity generation companies recovered. “Today, the real problem of this sector is performance management. We have moved from modeling, we have set a fairly good enough model that will allow us to create sustainable electricity. The problem is poor project management, it includes corruption, which is the beginning because, if you mis-procure, if you award contracts to those who can-

not deliver, there is no magic. So, it is a NERC problem, it is a problem of delivery. “If we had delivered all the NIPP projects, recovered all the capacity of existing electricity generation companies, we would have been doing over 8000MW or 9000MW today. So, the problem of the electricity sector is, we need to develop the skills, project and deliver. Some of them are budget circle. Think about the Transmission Company of Nigeria. TCN gives a bill of N50 billion; government appropriates N30 billion and releases N10 billion. There is nowhere in the world where projects can be completed with that kind of budgeting circle. So, what we are trying to do in our own little way as regulators is to, in this meeting, put our finger on why we are not executing efficiently

and effectively” he said. Amadi said the meeting would provide the opportunity to present to the performance management officials a template designed by NERC in collaboration with a consultant, adding that the template would enable the performance management officers learn how to deliver on projects in good time. “This meeting is for us to meet with our stakeholders to show them the template we have designed with consultants to enable them deliver on time and effectively. We want to increase our capacity. There is a possibility of ending this year with over 6000MW or close to that.” On fixed charge, Amadi clarified that “fixed charge has not been removed. A regulator does not remove something by executive fiat. It has to go through a process.”

The Commissioner, Market Competition and Safety, Engr. Abba Ibrahim, in his remark, noted there had been improvement in electricity supply, but urged the officers to ensure good management of the overall frequency and voltage quality of electricity in the country. Meanwhile, Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN, has reached yet another record peak generation of 4748MW. According to a statement signed by the Managing Director, System Operations, Dipak Sarma, the feat was achieved at 21:15hrs on Monday, 24th August 2015. According to the Managing Director, System Operation/Market Operation, Mr. Dipak Sarma, “This has been made possible due to a coordinated effort of TCN with the Generating Com-

panies and the Distribution Companies”. Mr. Dipak further stated that based on the wheeling capability of the TCN network and implementation of ‘real-time online power optimisation tools’ developed by the TCN National Control Centre (NCC), under the stewardship of its Director, the Distribution Companies had been requested to deliver more power to its consumers by connecting more load. According to him, that could push the generation to further higher levels given the fact that fuel supply to the generators is stable and adequate. It is recalled that TCN,early this month, announced the attainment of an all-time maximum energy of 101,088 Megawatt-Hour wheeled across the national grid in a day.

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Wednesday, August 26, 2015

My predecessors encouraged corruption in oil sector –Buhari ROTIMI FADEYI ABUJA

resident Muhammadu Buhari yesterday said that past administrations allowed the infrastructure in the oil sector to collapse so that their cronies could steal by bringing in refined products from overseas. The President also expressed disappointment with the way the oil industry had been run since he left office as Petroleum Minister and Military Head of State. A statement issued by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, said Buhari spoke at a meeting with the chairman and members of the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC). Buhari blamed past administrations for the current situation in which the country is forced to spend billions of naira annually on alleged subsidies for petroleum products. The President expressed the view that the escalation of petroleum subsidy payments over recent years was due to the deliberate neglect of the nation’s refineries, oil pipelines and other related infrastructure to allow the importation of petroleum products and corruption to thrive. Buhari said he was convinced that if the development of the country’s domestic refining capacity and petroleum products distribution network had kept pace with national demand, there would not have been any need for the huge subsidies currently being paid to importers. The President urged the chairman and members of the RMAFC, who availed him of their view on the vexed issue of petroleum subsidy payments, to go “back to the drawing board” and come up with more humane proposals to rescue ordinary Nigerians from the wicked manipulation of the country’s oil industry by corrupt operators. Buhari also warned that severe sanctions would be visited on any individual or organisation that violates the directive on the payment of all national revenue into the Federa-

tion Account. The President said that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, the Nigerian Ports Authority and other Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) which previously relied on the laws establishing them to retain all or part of revenues collected by them, did so illegally. He stressed that they must now comply with the Nigerian Constitution by paying all revenues to the Federation Account. Buhari, who also chided the RMAFC for approving excessive remunerations for some political office holders, urged the commission to seek a proper interpretation of its powers and address the public outcry against the unreasonably high payments. Speaking with State Correspondents after the meeting with the President, RMAFC chairman, Elias Mbam, said the agency was already reviewing the subsisting remuneration packages of all elected officers to reflect the socio-economic realities of today. Mbam, who said the review would be ready before the end of the month, however, said the review would go through a process that would reflect the economic realities of today. Mbam explained that the review of packages would cover all political office holders, both elected and appointed, from the national level to the local government level, including the National Assembly members, the Executive and Judiciary. On the remuneration of the members of the National Assembly, the RMFAC boss said the commission had done a lot in informing the general public on the true position of the remuneration packages. “First and foremost, it is on our website, it is clearly written there and we have had cause to publish these remuneration packages severally in many national dailies. We have also had interactions with press at different fora where we explained what the commission had determined. “What we read on the pages of newspapers is not known to the commission because there is no mem-

ber of the National Assembly, based on what we determined, should earn up to N1million per month. “Presently, we are currently reviewing the subsisting remuneration packages and it is going to reflect the socio-economic realities of today. We expect that before the end of next month, it will be ready. “But it will go through a process, it is not something that you will just say yes or no. It will go through a process and it should be obvious to you the economic realities of the day and it is good to

reflect that. “When I talk of packages, the responsibility of the commission is to determine the remuneration for political office holders, both elected and appointed, from the national level to the local government level. Of course, National Assembly members are elected, it will include them, it will include the judiciary, it will include the state legislature, executive and of course, the local government will be included,” Mbam said. He stated that the recent drop in oil price which led to a situation

where many government agencies, states and local governments had not been able to pay their salaries made it necessary for the review. According to him, the review started as far back as last year, stressing that it was not because of the present administration that the commission commenced it. On whether National Assembly members would accept the review, the RMFAC chairman said they didn’t have a choice. “We are guided by the constitution and we are going to be guided by such

laws that are provided for in the constitution and the oath they swore to obey the laws of the country,” he said. He said the commission was facing the challenge of funding, stressing that it should be one of the agencies of government that should have financial autonomy and even benefit from first line charge. Mbam also called for the review of the Act establishing the commission in order to have the power of enforcement and sanctions on any of the defaulting ministries, agencies and departments.

L-R: Representative of the Mauritanian Navy, Capt. Mohamed Elhadrany; representative of the Chief of Defence Staff, AVM Umar Omeiza; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defence, Alhaji Aliyu Ismaila; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ikot-Ette Ibas; representative of the Ghanaian Navy, Commodore James Kontah, and representative of the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Mrs. Bola Kupolati, during the 2nd Offshore Patrol Vessel Africa conference in Lagos, yesterday.

Nigeria, Cameroon unleash massive troops on B’Haram CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

Keke NAPEP to make uturn so that we could go to the next military check point. In the process of trying to take him to the military check-point, the little boy escaped and started running. The next thing we heard was a loud bang! That was how he killed himself without any other person,” Abdul narrated. The spokesman of the police in Yobe State, ASP Toyin Gbadegesin, confirmed the incident. He however noted that the police were working tireless to fish out the criminals that had continued to unleash the young ones as weapons of destruction. The Medical Director

of Gen. Sani Abacha Specialist Hospital, Dr. Garba Musa Fika, told our correspondent that the total number of casualties is 32. He said: “We have a total of 32 casualties, 6 are dead, including the two suicide bombers. We have 3 cases for surgery with no case of referral,” Fika said. The Executive Secretary of Yobe State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Musa Idi Jidawa, also confirmed the death of 6 people including the bombers. He added that 6 were critically injured with 22 with partial injuries. Meanwhile, Yobe State governor, Ibrahim Gaidam, is saddened by the suicide attack in the state

capital, while expressing condolences and sympathies to the families of victims. In a statement he signed, Abdullahi Bego, his spokesman, said “Gov. Gaidam is heartbroken. Once again, he mourns with the families of victims of these callous, senseless and condemnable attacks. “At this time of so much sadness, therefore, His Excellency, Governor Gaidam, expresses his heartfelt condolences and sympathies to the families of victims. He prays Almighty Allah (SWT) to grant repose to the souls of those who died and quick recovery to those who sustained injuries. “Already, the governor

has directed that injured victims be given quick and free treatment at the Sani Abacha Specialist Hospital, where they have been taken for medical care. “And in line with the governor’s directive, Hospital and State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) officials are at this time doing everything necessary to provide the assistance and support that the victims need. “His Excellency, Governor Gaidam, urges people across Yobe State to continue in the traditions of vigilance, prayers and support to security agencies as they push on with their effort to rid our state of the unspeakable violence that has caused so much pain and death,” the statement said.

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Wednesday, August 26, 2015

Alleged N160bn fraud: Oshiomhole lied –MSA Chief Ise-Oluwa Ige ABUJA

ational President of Maritime Stakeholders Association, MSA, Alhaji Abdullahi Mohammed, yesterday dismissed as falsehood, misleading and laughable a veiled allegation by Governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole, that Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, embezzled N160bn out of N162bn it generated in a year. Abdullahi, who replied Oshiomhole over misappropriation of the controversial N160bn, accused the governor of deliberately hoarding essential information about the management of NPA and the funds with the sole intention of embarrassing the Authority and mislead Nigerians. He said: “What is remitted is the revenue surpluses, after meeting all operational, maintenance, development and administrative cost as appropriated by the National Assembly under section 81 of the constitution each year,” he said. Oshiomhole had recently, while addressing labour leaders at the National

Delegates’ Conference of the National Union of Road Transport Workers in Abuja alleged that the management of NPA generated N162bn but remitted only N2bn to the Federation Account. He had claimed that the figures he quoted were from an official report. But Abdullahi said certain facts must be made public. “The Nigerian Ports Authority was established by the Nigerian Ports Authority Act, Cap N126 LFN, 2004 with power to construct, equip, operate and provide seaport services to the general public. “The Authority therefore deals with the revenues only as appropriated. It should be pointed out here that Section 162(10) specifically stated that revenues to be remitted must be as authorised by law,” he added. According to Abdullahi, because of the peculiarity of the industry, the requirement to pay all revenues directly to the Federation Account is not practicable as at the point of collection from third parties because the monies are not yet revenues of the Authority until the service and all associated costs are covered.

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N1trn scam: Senate probes Lamorde Dismisses PDP opposition

George Oji ABUJA

enate is expected to commence probe of Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibrahim Lamorde, today over an alleged N1trn scam. The probe is premised on a petition by one George Uboh to the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions over alleged scam in the agency. On the basis of the petition, the committee through two different communications to the petitioner and Lamorde last Friday summoned the duo to appear before it today. Uboh in the petition, chronicled series of alleged corruption perpetrated by Lamorde from 2003 to 2007 when he was Director of Operation of the agency, and 2007 to 2008, when he acted as chairman, following the

absence of then chairman, Mr. Nuhu Ribadu, who was away for a course at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru, Jos. Uboh, who is Chief Executive Officer of Panic Alert Security Systems, a security firm, in his petition dated July 31, 2015, accused Lamorde of some specific instances of under-remittance and nondisclosure of proceeds of corruption recovered from criminal suspects, including the former Inspector General of Police, Tafa Balogun, and former governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Diepriye Alamieyeseigha. He also alleged that EFCC had not accounted for “offshore recoveries” and that “over half of the assets seized from suspects are not reflected in EFCC exhibit records.” The petitioner assured the Senate that he would produce “overwhelming evidence,” to back his

claims against Lamorde, when hearing on the issue commences. The investigation is coming against the background of the opposition by all four principal officers of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the senate. The PDP principal officers in a statement, which was advertised in two national newspapers, urged the suspension of the proposed public hearing of the allegations against Lamorde. The lawmakers were of the opinion that, “this is not the appropriate time for such a sensitive assignment, more so, when a similar move to that effect on the floor of the senate recently failed.” Incidentally, Chairman of the probe committee, who is also a PDP senator, Senator Samuel Anyanwu (Imo West), dismissed the advice of the PDP principal officers, stating that the position of the principal of-

ficers was based on misinformation. Anyanwu assured that his committee is going ahead with the probe. The chairman, who spoke with some newsmen at the National Assembly yesterday said: “The PDP leadership in the Senate namely the Minority leader, Godwill Akpabio, Deputy Minority Leader, Philip Aduda, Minority Whip, Emmanuel Bwacha and Deputy Minority Whip, Abiodun Olujimi, confused my committee’s invitation to Lamorde to a failed one, earlier moved on the floor of the senate in form of an amendment to a prayer in a motion.” He said Lamorde’s scheduled appearance before his committee with the man alleging him to be involved in the scam, is a fall out of a petition to that effect, which falls within the ambit of the functions of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petition.

Customs redeploys 5 comptrollers

cting ComptrollerGeneral of Customs, Dr. John Atte, has approved the redeployment of five customs comptrollers. The redeployment is contained in a statement issued by Mr. Joseph Attah, the service Deputy Public Relations Officer, yesterday in Abuja. The statement listed them as Amade Abdul from Zone A Headquarters, to Federal Operation, Unit A; Azarema Ahmed, Modernisation, to Port Harcourt Area 1 and Madusu Sani from Customs Training College, Ikeja, to Seme border. Others are Kuffidan Garba, deployed from Port Harcourt Area 1 to Strategic Research and Policy, Headquarters, and Ndalati Garba, from Seme to Strategic Research and Policy, Headquarters. The statement said the redeployment was part

of new resolve to tighten border security and pursue vigorously the achievement of the 2015 revenue target. It stated that Atte advised the officers to take over their new positions immediately and re-shappen the service apparatus for maximum productivity.

L-R: General-Secretary, National Union of Textile Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria (NUTGTWN), Malam Issa Aremu; Kaduna State Governor Nasir el-Rufai; representative of Chairman on the occasion, Alhaji Samaila Isa-Funtua; Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole and National President, NUTGTWN, Mr. Oladele Hunsu, during the 27th Annual National Education Conference of the union in Kaduna, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

PSC, IGP to withdraw policemen from VIPs Omeiza Ajayi

olice Service Commission, PSC, in collaboration with the Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, said they have concluded arrangements to enforce the presidential directive on immediate withdrawal of policemen from some Very Important Personalities, VIPs, who are not entitled to their services. Consequently, a high

level monitoring team has been deployed to the nation’s airports, highways and other public places. Chairman of the Commission, Sir Mike Mbama Okiro, confirmed this in a statement issued yesterday in Abuja. Signed by the commission’s Head, Press and Public Relations, Ikechukwu Ani, the statement quoted Okiro as saying the monitoring team will have the powers to stop VIPs on the highways, airports and other public places for

confirmation of their status and that of the policemen attached to them. According to Okiro, any erring VIP or policeman caught in such unauthorised beat would be prosecuted. “The PSC Chairman said the Commission and the leadership of the Nigeria Police Force will enforce the presidential directive to the letter, stressing that henceforth only authorised government officials and VIPs will be entitled to police security,” the state-

ment added. Okiro noted that the nation cannot be battling with an inadequate Police Force while majority of the officers are in the service of few privileged Nigerians who ordinarily should have no need for them. According to him, the force will now be structured to do its primary duties of providing internal security and protecting lives and property, adding that the commission will give the leadership of the force the required support

and encouragement to enhance its efficiency and effectiveness. He warned that the Commission will not hesitate to discipline any police officer who flouts the presidential directive by hanging onto these VIPs’ for pecuniary gains. The Force whose staff strength is currently put at between 305,000 and 309,000 lost about 12,000 of its personnel in the last four years according to documents recently released by PSC.

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Wednesday, August 26, 2015

South West

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Southern leaders caution Buhari on corruption, marginalisation OJO OYEWAMIDE AKURE

eaders of Southern Nigeria Peoples Assembly, SNPA, have called on President Muhammadu Buhari to be fair to all geo-political zones in the country while composing his cabinet. The souther n leaders made the call yesterday during a strategic meeting of the Assembly in Akure, Ondo State capital. They appealed to the President to be fair and be non-selective in the fight against cor-

ruption. The leaders included Bishop Emmanuel Bolanle Gbonigi, Edwin Clark, Alex Ekwueme, Gen. Akin Aduwo, Senator Ngod DentonWest, Idongesit Ekang, Senator Femi Okunronmu and Dr Kunle Olajide. The SNPA also urged Buhari not to jettison the report of the 2014 National Conference. Chair man of the group and leader of Southwest delegates, Bishop Bolanle Gbonigi, noted that “elections are over and

Buhari is president of Nigeria and Nigerians,” adding that no section of the country should be patronised at the expense of others. The octogenarian said: “It is our sincere hope that the lopsidedness in appointments made by Mr. President to date is not an indication of the trend of future appointments. “The constitution must be respected and the diversity of Nigeria must reflect in all appointments to guarantee stability, unity,

peace and progress. A situation where the President, Senate President, Speaker and Chief Justice are from the North is not acceptable. “The South is not subservient to the North and the situation in which only the deputies are zoned to the South is not acceptable.” While commending the President for the war against corruption and setting up of the Itse Sagay Presidential Advisory Panel on anti-corruption,

Gbonigi said: “We appeal to him to be total and non-selective in the fight against corruption, in going after corrupt persons in all political parties, unsparing of even his closest political associates. Justice and the rule of law must reign supreme if the fight against corruption must be won.” Also at the meeting, Ijaw leader, Edwin Clark, said the principles of equity, fairness and justice must be put into use in future appointments to be made by the Federal Gover nment. The 89-year-old politician, who declared

that he would no longer be a member of any political party, said: “It is my strong, ir revocable view that the fundamental state directive principles and federal character shall not only be respected but must be seen to be adhered to by gover nment for the overall interest and good of all Nigerians.” On the fight against corruption, Clark said the war must not be selective, limited to perceived political enemy or to score cheap political point, but be holistic and made to save Nigeria from depression.

Osun Speaker charges workers on diligence, punctuality

Intending Muslim pilgrims from Oyo State at their farewell prayers in Ibadan, yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

peaker of Osun State House of Assembly, Mr Najeem Salaam, has urged staff of the Assembly to be more diligent and punctual at work. Salaam, who made the call at plenary yesterday, said the punctuality of the workers was required for members to be able to carry out their assignment effectively. The speaker said the cooperation and punctuality of the workers was also needed for the lawmakers to be

able to conclude their given assignments. “To all civil servants here, I want to urge you to be more punctual because there are a lot of assignments before us to do. “The era of coming to work late is over, everybody must brace up now so that we can justify our pay through the work we do. “While we have several bills to pass, there are so many other oversight assignments we also need to carry out,” he said.

How FG can overcome infrastructure deficit –Babalakin

he nation’s quest for massive development of critical public infrastructure will remain a mirage without a change of attitude by public officers, renowned lawyer and business man, Dr. Wale Babalakin (SAN), has said. He argued that the current practice, where public officers do not respect terms of contracts and agreements, but see private investors in public infrastructure as either competitors or inferior partners, will continue to work against the quest to overcome the current deficit in the provision and maintenance of public infrastructure. Babalakin, one of

the nation’s pioneer investors in public infrastructure development, spoke in Abuja on Monday at a session organised by Construction and Infrastructure Law Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, at the association’s ongoing annual conference. The theme of the session was: “Ending the scourge of abandoned projects in Nigeria.” Speaking on the subtheme: “The role of private sector and why there is failure in private infrastructural development,” Babalakin argued that the failure of most public and private sectors partnerships (PPP) in the development of public

infrastructure was not due to inadequate funding, but because of deliberate acts of sabotage by public officials. Babalakin said it was impossible for the government to fully meet the nation’s infrastructure need without the involvement of the private sector, particularly in the face of dwindling national revenue from oil sales. To him, achieving success requires conscious effort by the government to protect private investors from the activities of self-centered public officials. He noted that the current financial reality in the country requires that “we must find a way of creating wealth.

We cannot continue to distribute largesse” and that the parameters for wealth creation must be well protected rather than threatened. Babalakin, who cited how negative attitude of government officials have helped to destroy beautifully conceived private initiatives in the past, said but for lack of cooperation from government officials, such projects that would have helped resolve the current infrastructure deficit, were frustrated. He spoke also on his company, Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited’s involvement in the development of Murtala Muhammed International Airport,

Lagos (MM2 project) and the unsavoury experience resulting from attempts by government officials to frustrate its operations, by constantly flouting terms of the contract. He argued that had government officials planned and engaged in rigorous thinking, the current fall in government revenue would not have had huge impact on government’s spending capacity because there were sufficient indicators before now, of impending fall in revenue. Babalakin asserted that “as long as the gover nment remains ir responsible, you cannot have development.

“From my experience, I believe there is a deliberate intention on the part of those in power for projects to fail.” He said there is need for those responsible for the current state of affairs to account for their actions that contributed to the currently failure of government to address existing infrastructure deficit.

Babalakin

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South West

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

Amosun assures workers on backlog deductions payment FABEOKUTA EMI OYEWESO

Firemen putting out fire from a burning tanker that fell due to bad road at Olosa, Agege Motor Road, Lagos, yesterday.

Ooni: Giesi Ruling House advised to present capable candidate •Mourning ends, business activities resume in Ife BOLADALE BAMIGBOLA (WITH AGENCY REPORT)

s more contestants show interest in the vacant stool of Ooni of Ife, a prince from Giesi Ruling House, Dr. Ramon Adegoke Adegoroye Adedoyin, has expressed the need to present a credible candidate. Speaking with newsmen yesterday, Dr. Adedoyin cautioned against any act that could make the stool elude Giesi again after over 100 years of not producing the Ooni. Adedoyin said, “Various contestants within the Giesi Ruling House should unite and not see the contest as a do or die affair. The exalted position had eluded our ruling house since 1894. “The law is very clear as to the process of selection of a new Ooni, as stat-

ed in the 1957 declaration, regarding the method of the Ooni of Ife, which reads in part: ‘that the number of ruling houses, which have the right to provide candidates for the Ooni chieftaincy is four, namely: Oshinkola House, Iremo; Giesi House, More; Ogboru House, Ilare; and Lafogido House, Okerewe’. “That although there was a fixed order of rotation in the past, the order of rotation to be henceforward observed shall be as specified above, namely: Oshinkola House, Iremo (present as at then); Giesi House, More; Ogboru House, Ilare; and Lafogido House, Okerewe. “That the normal succession to this chieftaincy through the male line of a ruling house can devolve on the female line only if none of the candidates presented through the male line of the ruling house concerned is suitable and

if the candidate presented through the female line possesses the necessary qualifications and is acceptable to the kingmakers, otherwise, selection is made from the family of the next ruling house.” The proprietor of Oduduwa University further warned against allowing some people to cause disunity among members of the family, saying contestants from the other ruling houses would be happy if the Giesi family was not united. Meanwhile, business activities resumed in IleIfe yesterday, following the end of the mourning period declared for the late Oba Okunade Sijuwade. A NAN correspondent, who went round the ancient town, observed that markets and shops had reopened with commercial activities running unhindered.

Mr Abayomi Omoworare, the Patron of New Market in Ile-Ife, told NAN that the re-opening of the markets marked the end of the traditional rites for the late monarch. Omoworare said the Oro deity had performed the necessary rites for the departed monarch and urged traders and residents to go about their normal businesses. Also speaking, Mrs. Alaba Kayode, the Matron of Fowobaje Market, expressed happiness over the re-opening of the markets. A resident, Mrs. Kemi Fabeku, said the late Ooni was no ordinary king and deserved the traditional rites of passage. She added that all rituals were done for the sake of maintaining peaceful co-existence in the ancient town. The mourning period, which was initially scheduled to end on Aug. 20, was extended to Aug. 23.

Two jailed, 100 prosecuted for traffic offence in Oyo KEMI OLAITAN IBADAN

yo State Command of the Federal Road Safety Commision, FRSC, has jailed two drivers of articulated vehicles for traffic offences. The state’s Sector Commander, Mr. Yusuf Kolawole Salami, who made the disclosure yesterday in Ibadan during a familiarisation visit to the

state’s council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, said over 100 traffic offenders were also arrested. He said, “Within the last one month we started enforcement of the law that guides operation of drivers on our roads, we have arrested not less than 111 drivers and prosecuted them for dangerous driving.” He stated further that

the command was also fully ready to create awareness and sensitise the public on the need to be more cautious during the ember months, adding that officers have been fully equipped and trained to enforce and ensure compliance. “In the metropolis, we are also working towards curbing the abnormal behaviour of the micra drivers and motorcycle

riders popularly called Okada; we will make sure they comply with the use of safety helmet and overloading,” he added. Speaking on the issuance of driver’s licence, Salami said 10 new licensing centres have been set up in the state to make capturing of data easier for people. He warned the public to be aware of fake licensing officers at the centres.

gun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, yesterday assured workers in the state that his administration would soon remit the backlog of salary deductions owed them. Amosun stated this while receiving President of Trade Union Congress, TUC, Bala Kaigama, in his office in Abeokuta, the state capital. Noting that the success or otherwise of any government largely depends on its relationship with workers, the governor emphasised his determination to continue to provide better condition of service for civil servants in the state. He stressed that all monies owed workers will soon be remitted to the appropriate quarters in order to motivate and ginger them to give their best for the state. “The totality of deductions owed the workers is equal to one month salary payment, but we

cannot afford to let other sectors suffer. “Should we concentrate on paying salaries alone, we won’t owe any money. But we can’t afford to render other sectors comatose and I know the workers would not like that because they are also beneficiaries of the social services we render,” he said. Responding to the governor’s assurance, Kaigama commended Amosun for his worker friendly policies, stressing that such has endeared the governor to the heart of the state’s workforce. “The monthly reports from across the state councils show you are a worker-friendly governor and we have no reason to antagonise your government,” he said. Kaigama appealed to Amosun to expedite action on the payment and remittance of the deductions, noting that it was the only proceed from the worker’s salary which they depend on to fund their own individual projects and also meet their personal needs.

Lagos generates 13,000 metric tons of waste daily –LAWMA FRANCIS SUBERU

agos State Waste Management Authority, LAWMA, yesterday said waste generated in the state daily was about 13,000 metric tons. The agency said Lagosians need to improve on their waste disposal mentality. Briefing journalists on the new strategies to effectively manage waste in the state, new Managing Director of LAWMA, Mr. AbdulWahab Ogunbiyi, said efforts were being made to design a technological device for waste management. Ogunbiyi, who noted that increasing population of residents could necessitate rise in waste generation, said a lot could still be done to control indiscriminate waste dumping, if people change their attitude towards waste disposal.

“We still have to change our attitude towards waste disposal. People still throw bottled water plastic on the road while driving, majority of our people still throw dirt from their vehicles on the road at will. These are parts of attitudinal challenges we are facing at LAWMA. But we won’t stop sensitising our people. “We will start going to the markets, parks to meet with market leaders and leaders of driver union on the need to educate their members on the danger of improper waste disposal because any waste dump on the road becomes the state government commodity which must be managed,”he said. He said the essence of the waste policing initiative, put in place by the state government was to prevent illegal refuse dump at road junctions as well as the nooks and crannies of the state.

South East

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

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Imo workers, pensioners reject privatisation of parastatals …resume indefinite strike

Chris Njoku OWERRI

ew weeks after calling off their warning strike, civil servants and pensioners in Imo State yesterday besieged the House of Assembly to protest alleged plan by lawmakers to enact a law backing privatisation of parastatals in the state. They said plan by the state government was meant to sack more workers from the state’s civil service while the government owes them months in unpaid salaries and pension arrears. As early as 7am, the protesters had moved to the House of Assembly complex in Owerri, blocking the gates, chanting solidarity and war songs like “Elu na ala megide onye si na ogaghi adiri anyi na mma” (let heaven and earth rise against the man that has evil intentions for us). They also bore various placards with several inscriptions such as ‘Imo Govt, stop punishing pensioners through incessant verification’; ‘Rochas Pay law Officers their salaries’; ‘$1.4bn can rescue Imo, bring it back from America’; ‘EFCC kindly visit Imo State, Rochas has killed workers’; ‘Buhari call Rochas to order’; and ‘Rochas treat retired perm secs as foundation administrative senior citizens.’ Causing prolonged gridlock as workers and pensioners called on the state government to pay their salaries and pensions and stop the proposed privatisation of parastatals, the protest preceded an indefinite strike led by the state chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Comrade Austin Chilakpu, and his Trade Union Congress, TUC, counterpart, Paul Akalazu, and others. Speaker of the House, Acho Ihim, who managed to address the workers, however, dismissed the allegation as baseless. But the workers chanting solidarity songs drowned the speaker’s attempt to address them as the worker poured invectives on him and the government for alleged insensitivity to their predicament. The protesting workers later converged on the Freedom Square adjacent the popular Orlu road/ Warehouse junction where

the NLC and TUC chairmen, Chilakpu and Akalazu respectively, jointly addressed them. Addressing the protesters, the union leaders said the protest became necessary as a result of the five months salaries owed workers by the state government. “The workers went on a warning strike for seven days but the Speaker and Assembly members did not deem it fit to ask what the problem was. The state House of Assembly also did not deem it fit to talk about the non-payment of workers’ salaries for one day at plenary. “Instead, what they want to do is to sit down and pass a law scrapping parastatals and asking workers to go home.” They stated that the intention of the government was to back the proposed privatisation with law and sack the workers the way thousands of workers were sacked in Imo Transport Company, ITC, Adapalm and Concorde Hotels where the governor first commenced the privatisation policy. According to them, the workers would not resume work until the state government resolves the problem and pays their salaries. However, the state government appealed to the leadership of organised labour in the state to demonstrate high sense of patriotism, and to also avoid becoming willing tools in the hands of few elements in the state who do not wish the state and her people and even the government of the day, well. In a statement signed by Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Sam Onwuemeodo, the government said it expected leaders of organised labour in the state to appreciate the concerted effort it was making to tackle the issues of salary and pensions. “The labour leaders are also expected to show understanding knowing full well what the general situation is at the moment across the nation. The fact remains that the state government has been able, even without the much expected bailout fund, paid the civil servants, teachers and local government workers up to June salaries,” it stated.

Members of the organised labour and pensioners of Imo staging a peaceful demonstration at the House of Assembly over arrears of ten months salaries, pension and gratuities owed them, in Owerri, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

Italian NGO rates BP, diabetes high in Anambra Francis Ekpone ONITSHA

non-governmental organisation based in Italy, Opera Don Bonifacio Azione Verde, yesterday identified hypertension, diabetes and other chronic diseases as being on the increase in Anambra State, describing it as a major pointer to the decline in living standards of the people. The group of medical experts from the organisation led by a Nigerian Catholic priest resident in Italy, Revd Fr Boniface Duru, were in Anambra on a 10-day medical mission. During a press briefing to mark the end of their mission in the state, Duru said the NGO visited four communities of Nanka, Ogidi,

Umueri and Aguleri and was able to see about 1,000 patients in all. He said they discovered that hypertension and diabetes were common among the people. “Most of them came to receive treatment for other ailments, but when we checked them, we discovered that a lot of them had hypertension and diabetes, besides the ailment that brought them. “Surprisingly, most of them did not even know they had these conditions, which are very dangerous killer diseases. Malaria can best be described as an African disease, so there was almost no worry about that as almost all the people also had malaria.” Bad state of mind and feeding habit are major causes of hypertension and

diabetes, Duru explained, noting that this showed the living standard of the people was poor, and responsible for their poor feeding habit and also state of mind. “This means the eating habit of the people would need improvement. Our people must begin to take lessons in dieting and correct programme in table behaviour as far as food and drink are concerned, as the many cases of hypertension could be a sign of worries, absence of peace of mind, and unorganised lifestyle,” he said. In order to cushion the effect of the diseases, Duru suggested that the state government work hard to improve the living standards of the people and also create recreational facilities for the people to unwind as a

way of relieving stress. He also called on the people to, while working hard to make money, to eat quality food, exercise to burn off fat and keep the body fit. On why the NGO chose Anambra, Duru said for 13 years, the organisation which he founded, has been visiting Imo, his home state, on medical mission annually, but this year decided to reach out to neighbouring Anambra State, which they did after contacting the state government. “We are open to visit any state in Nigeria, but the state must first assure us of safety. You know, these white people you see here are all professionals in their fields, and we know what it costs to bring them here. So, we have to be very careful about their safety.”

Police recover pregnant girls from baby factory

nugu State Police Command has recovered five pregnant girls from a maternity home, Daughters of Divine Love Pro-live, in Enugu North Local Government Area of Enugu State. The command‘s spokesperson, Mr Ebere Amarizu, said in a statement in Enugu on Tuesday that policemen from the Central Police Station, Enugu, stormed the location on August 21, arresting the pregnant girls along with nine babies.

The spokesman said five workers at the home were also arrested and were helping the police in the investigation. He said the owner of the maternity, a reverend sister, said she had an approval from relevant authorities to run the home, but could not produce any evidence. “One of the babies recovered from the home was said to be the child of a second-year student of a higher institution in Enugu, who got impregnated and put to bed and had to

keep the baby at the home,” he said. Amaraizu said the police had commenced investigations into the matter. Meanwhile, the command has also commenced investigations into the death of three persons in two separate incidences following injuries sustained from bullet wounds. Amarizu said the incidents occurred in two communities. He said the first occurred between two brothers at Umueze village, Enugwu Achi

in Oji River Local Government Area. According to him, a 14-year-old boy allegedly killed his three-year-old sibling with their father’s gun. “It was gathered that tragedy struck when two of them were playing with their father’s gun, which they had allegedly taken and were using to demonstrate what they watch in movies. “Unknown to the older brother, there were bullets in the gun. He pulled the trigger and the bullet allegedly hit the deceased on the head.

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South south

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

Anti-graft war: Pray for Buhari’s safety, Olumba tells Nigerians Richard Ndoma CALABAR

ole spiritual head of Brotherhood of the Cross and Star, Olumba Olumba Obu, has charged all prayer warriors in the country to intensify prayers for President Muhammadu Buhari over his initiative to probe past public officers who stole the nation’s money. Olumba said there are plots by those he described as enemies of Nigeria,

who are all out to endanger the life of President Muhammadu Buhari. The spiritual leader stated that the plot is to thwart the president`s effort to fight corruption and make the suspected looters of the nation’s wealth to return the looted fund to government coffers. Obu spoke yesterday while addressing guests and church faithful at the world international headquarters in Calabar. He charged Nigerians

to “pray fervently without ceasing” so that the nation`s enemies would not succeed in setting the president and country off course. Obu said, “Right now, there are plots by enemies of Nigeria to thwart President Buhari’s efforts so that he will not succeed in his mission. “We must pray for his safety, blessing and divine guidance to enable him succeed. This way, the enemies of Nigeria, in and outside, would be put to

shame and exposed.” It would be recalled that Olumba Obu, last year declared that those who looted Nigeria’s treasury would be made to cough out such monies and perhaps made to face disgrace because the country belongs to God. Obu urged Nigerians to pray for the president so that enemies would not succeed in harming him and return Nigeria back to the days before the wealth of the nation was stolen by a few.

Osahon Julius YENAGOA

three-day warning strike embarked on by the Radio, Television and Theatre Arts Workers, RATTAWU, in Bayelsa State has been suspended following intervention of the state government. The workers, however, threatened to embark on indefinite strike if the government fails to meet their demand within seven days. The radio, television and theatre arts workers in the state had on Monday downed tools in protest of what they described as “non-payment of shortfall of weigh-in allowance” by the state government. The workers’ position

is contained in a communiqué issued in Yenagoa and signed by Chairman, Bayelsa Council of RATTAWU, Comrade Michael Okinringbo; chairman, National Union of Printing Publishing Paper Products Workers, NUPPPPROW, Comrade Eke Yeladou Gohon and chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists, Comrade Tariyon Akono. The document stated, “Following intensive deliberations with the Head of Service and other government functionaries and promises made in respect of the three-day warning strike embarked upon over the nonpayment of shortfall of weigh-in allowance, the three unions hereby resolve as follows:

Skolombo Boys: Ayade donates 14 patrol vehicles to police Richard Ndoma CALABAR

G L-R: Permanent Secretary, Political Affairs, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mrs. Ibukun Odusote; Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; Co-Chairperson, Diaspora Day Conference, Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa and Business Development Manager, Diaspora Quarterly, Mr. Bolajoko Fadipe, during the 2015 Diaspora Day Conference in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

Ex-commissioner, 12 others shun Rivers probe panel Dennis Naku

PORT HARCOURT

ormer Rivers State Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr. Emma Chinda, and 12 former local government chairmen yesterday failed to honour the invitation by the Judicial Commission of Enquiry probing disbursement of N4 billion Agricultural Credit Scheme under the administration of former Governor Chibuike Amaechi. The council chairmen were said to be representatives of Mother Cooperative Societies that received the grants meant for agriculture purposes. Names of the former

council chairmen, as given by the commission were Minaeichinbo Tende, Uche Nwaeke, Kadilo Kabiri, Oji Ngofa, Nnamdi Wuche, Mene Lenyie Derek and Ojukaye Flag Amachree. Others are Ikegbidi Cassidy Okpara, Austin Ahiamadu, Ibigoni Daddy Pokima, Charles Anyanwu and Nlemaa Agape. In his statement during Tuesday’s sitting, Chairman of the commission, Justice George Omereji, ordered that summons be published in the stateowned newspaper (The Tide), mandating the former council chairmen to appear on Friday, August 28.

Omereji stated that the commission was disciplined and would not involve the police, stressing that it had power to summon any person for evidence pursuant to the law establishing it. According to him, the commission has power to: “Summon any person in Nigeria to attend any meeting of the commissioners to give evidence or produce any document, or other thing in his possession and to examine him as a witness, or require him to produce any document or other thing in his possession. “It is very clear that all the persons mentioned above have failed to ap-

pear before this commission to give evidence or tender any document to enable the commission come up with the truth of the matter. “I have also considered the prayers of the counsel for the commission, urging the commission to ensure that the persons mentioned above appear before this commission. “This commission is a disciplined commission. I have decided not to involve the police yet, in the service of the summons on the persons mentioned above. “The commission has decided to accept the alternative prayer of the counsel, and is hereby making the following order:

overnor Benedict Ayade of Cross River State has donated 14 patrol Hilux vans to a police task force called “Operation Skolombo Boys” to help subdue activities of hoodlums within Calabar metropolis. While presenting the vehicles to Gen. Manic Nyiam, taskforce chairman at the Governor’s Office in Calabar, Ayade stated that the gesture was to strengthen operations of the police in reducing activities of hoodlums.

The governor said he felt bad when he came on board to discover that crime wave, which was being championed by a group of hoodlums popularly known as “Skolombo boys”, was on the increase, adding that his administration was left with no option than to form the taskforce to quell upsurge of crime in Calabar. He called on the taskforce boss not to impair the trust put on him, as “the entire state and country will be watching you” particularly as the annual Calabar Carnival in December approaches.

Remove primary education under councils –Okowa

elta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has advocated the removal of primary education from under local government councils to end the perennial non- payment of salaries and ensure effective service delivery in the sector. He made the appeal yesterday in Asaba during a courtesy visit by a delegation of Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT, led by its National President, Comrade Michael Olukoya. Okowa said, “Primary education is the bedrock of the child’s education and there is need to strengthen it and get it right. If we lose it at the primary

school stage, we have lost it completely. “It is something I expect the labour union would need to raise before the National Assembly, before the presidency, before all the governors so that collectively we can fight this and ensure we restore order.” The governor, who decried the lack of discipline, care and dedication at the primary education level, however, stressed that urgent measures were needed to rescue not just the primary education system, but also other levels of education and society as the decaying primary education foundation has permeated other levels of education.

North

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Chibok teachers lament neglect ...alert govt of planned strike Livinus Menedi YOLA

L-R: District Head of Malumfashi, Justice Mamman Nasir; Chairman, Local Relief Distribution Committee, Alhaji Aminu Abdullahi and Sen. Abu Ibrahim, during the formal hand-over of relief materials to flood victims by National Emergency Management Agency, in Malumfashi Local Government Area of Katsina State, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

ACF warns Ndigbo: Your Biafra war agenda will fail again ...says Jonathan favoured South than North

Aza Msue KADUNA

rewa Consultative Forum, ACF, yesterday declared that renewed agitation for Biafra Republic out of Nigeria by some Ndigbo elements will fail, just as it happened during the civil war. Addressing a news conference in Kaduna, ACF Chairman, Ibrahim Coomassie, a retired Inspector General of Police, said it was sad that 45 years after the bloody civil war, some Ndigbo elements are now busy drumming the idea of another secession through Radio Biafra and MASSOB activities. Coomassie, however, accused Ndigbo elders, who experienced the bitter pill of the secession attempt of

Priscilla Dennis MINNA

o fewer than 14 women have died in two separate boat mishaps in River Sarkin Pawa and River Guni in Munya Local Government Area of Niger State. Eleven women from the same family in Dan Gunu village were said to have lost their lives in the River Sarkin Pawa boat accident. Three others, also from Guni village died in the

being silent on the continuous agitation. He said: “ACF has observed with serious concern the continued agitation by some Ndigbo elements for the creation of Biafra Republic out of the present Federal Republic of Nigeria. “As you will recall, the issues of Biafra was settled in 1970 after a civil war. It is therefore, sad and unfortunate that 45 years after, when Nigerians are now united in a democratic system of governance, some elements are now busy drumming the idea of another war and secession through ‘Radio Biafra’ and MASSOB activities. “The agitators for this unholy division are in their safe abode outside Nigeria and are openly campaign-

ing in foreign countries. “The most painful aspect of this agitation by the young Ndigbo elements is the deaf ear and silence from the elders, who experienced the bitter pill of the secession attempt, 30 months civil war, and who know the consequences of such a futile agitation. “Only just over a week ago, an elder statesman from the South East celebrated his birthday in Abuja with the launch of his two books. “A good number of who is who in the South East attended in their traditional regalia, and as the activities progressed, it was nothing but Biafra with inciting and provocative speech by one speaker after another. “This made other Nigerians (non-Igbo at the book

launch) to make a dramatic walk out. Even the guest of honour could not stop them in spite of pleadings. “ACF expects Ndigbo leaders to come out openly and condemn such agitations in present day Nigeria, just as it and others condemned and berated the Boko Haram insurgency in the North East region.” The ACF chairman said the north voted against former President Goodluck Jonathan due to botched power shift agreement between the north and south and his inability to provide security to the people of the north east. On the last national conference, ACF said agitations from southern states pressured the past administration to convene the conference.

14 die in boat mishap in Niger River Guni mishap. The accidents, our correspondent gathered, occurred at about 6pm, as the victims were returning from their farms. It was learnt that the 11 women went to the farm to harvest groundnuts along with two men, who were the only survivors. Some of the victims include Munau, Wara, Fiddausi, Zainab, Najaatu,

Ikilima, Fatima, Ladidi, Balaraba and Hafsat. The state’s Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mr Bala Elikana, confirmed the accidents. “We have asked our Marine Police to get us detailed report of what transpired,” he said. Elikana said the marine police was also meeting with boat owners and drivers in the area to ensure

safety in the waterways. Reacting to the disaster in a condolence message, the Senator representing Niger East Senatorial District, Senator David Umaru described the incident as shocking and unfortunate, saying the mishaps have brought to the light the hardship facing the people of the area due to the activities of the Shiroro hydro dam

eachers from Chibok and their counterparts in Biu, Askira Uba and Hawul areas of Southern Borno State yesterday said they would not be returning to classes when schools reopen for academic activities. The decision of the teachers, which was contained in a statement signed by Habu Suleiman, the Nigerian Union of Teachers, NUT, branch chairman for Southern Borno, followed their complaint of neglect and discriminatory educational wage implementation policy of the state government. The statement expressed the resolve of the teachers to embark on strike when schools in the state reopen. It noted the exemption of teachers from the area covering four local governments from payment of the N18,000 minimum wage enjoyed by other 27 Local Education Authorities, LEAs, in the state since 2011. The teachers, who expressed dissatisfaction with their neglect, said they had made sacrifices to warrant the state government to look into their plight but that has not happened.

“The payment of minimum wage was commenced in April, 2011 in the state, while the LEAs had to undergo verification, that was carried out from 2011 to 2013...yet these four LEAs were exempted from receiving even 1 per cent. “Instead a lot of teachers were sacked, some became under paid, yearly increment removed, leave grants seized and promotion implementation became thing of the past,” the statement added. It added that despite these developments, teachers from the four councils were not deterred as they continued going to classes even in the face of the insurgency leading to the completion of academic activities on 31st July, 2015, except places like Chibok and Askira Uba where academic activities were stopped. “Sir, with the long time patience by these teachers and no readiness by the government to implement this N18,000 minimum wage, the four branches of NUT have no alternatives but to tell government that, their patience is over and as soon as schools reopen, the union will direct its members to stay at home,” Suleiman said.

Nigerians now better under Buhari —Oshiomhole A za Msue KADUNA

do State Governor Adams Oshiomhole yesterday said Nigerians are now better under President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration than during former President Goodluck Jonathan’s tenure. The governor, who spoke at the 27 Annual Education Conference of the textile workers in Kaduna, noted that in less than three months of the All Progressives Congress, APC, led by Buhari, Nigerians have started feeling the impact of his leadership style. Oshiomhole noted that the fear of Buhari has led to the stability in power supply. Speaking on the theme of the conference: ‘Buhari

administration: Revival of the Textile Industry and Employment Creation’, the governor said the Federal Capital that was noted for darkness because the street lights were not functioning, is now aglow at night. This, he noted was because it is no longer business as usual. He said: “I am now a proud Nigerian. The street lights before now were not functioning, but immediately Buhari was sworn-in, the light came up.. There is hope for Nigerians under President Buhari.” The governor called on the leadership of the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, to come out of its crisis to support the present government in order to move the country forward economically.

Wednesday August 26, 2015

Brouhaha over probe of Suswam-led administration in Benue

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Politics

Anti-corruption: Senator backs Buhari, flays ex-defence boss’ revelations on insurgents Ezekiel Titus BAUCHI

he senator representing Bauchi South in the Senate, Senator Ali Wakili

has said that the upper legislative chamber of the National Assembly is solidly behind President Muhammadu Buhari on his renewed commitment to fight corruption

in the country This was just as he also flayed the recent revelations of former Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, Air Chief Marshal, ACM, Alex Badeh, blaming for-

mer Heads of State for compromising the nation’s sovereignty for their personal benefits The outspoken senator made the statement in an interview with selected

Nasarawa State Governor, Tanko Al-Makura inspecting Karu-Mararaba-Nyanya highway, during a tour to sanitise and decongest traffic at Mararaba, recently. PHOTO: NAN

Chidi Ugwu ABUJA

ational Chairman of Progressive Peoples Alliance, PPA, Chief Peter Ojonugwa Ameh, yesterday emerged as the new chairman of Inter-Party Advisory Council, IPAC, pledging to make the body an independent association that will not be under the influence or control of any political party or the electoral body. Ameh’s election followed the decision of the appeals committee which nullified last month’s election of the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Movement, PDM, Bashir Yusuf Ibrahim.

newsmen in his house in Bauchi, saying that the senators’ decision to back Buhari is in line with the All Progressives Congress, APC, blueprints to get rid of the damages corruption has done to Nigerians. Wakili stressed that the Senate is ready to compliment Buhari through legislative procedures to enact and amend laws in the fight against the corruption scourge. He regretted that Peoples Democratic Party, PDP’s 16-year mis-rule was characterised by impunity and legalisation of corruption, saying that the APC will not be selective in its fight against corruption. According to Wakili, the eighth Senate is already working on 12 bills, which are awaiting second reading, explaining that top among the bills is the move against insurgency. The senator had de-

scribed as not only a national shame when the former CDS Badeh revealed that former Heads of State compromised the nation’s sovereignty in their favour, but that “Badeh not only betrayed the confidence repose on him by Nigerians, he was a total disgrace having stand grounds that the army were capable enough to tackle the insurgency, even when he was fully aware of the destruction done by the former Heads of State leading to insurgency.” He noted that Badeh refused to declare his position for fear of leaving his office to the detriment of innocent bloods even when Borno State governor had raised the alarm that the army was ill-equipped to fight the insurgency. The senator therefore called on Buhari to investigate the declaration of the former CDS, if he was determined to end the insurgency.

PPA chair, Ameh, emerges IPAC boss •Pledges to work for political parties’ unity …says IPAC not subsidiary of INEC

Recall that shortly after the election, Ameh had petitioned the IPAC election appeals committee, alleging that the election which was held at the conference room of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, was marred with some irregularities, as the representatives of the Alliance for Democracy, AD and All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, were barred from taking part, leading to the ordering of a re-run by the appeals committee.

All national chairmen of the 16 political parties who were present at the re-run voted for the PPA chairman while his opponent, PDM National Chairman, Ibrahin absented himself, insisting that he was the authentic chairman that is recognised by INEC. Speaking before the election, the chairman of the Electoral Committee, Ganiyu Oseni Galadima, who is also the National Chairman of Action Congress party of Nigeria, ACPN, regretted the deci-

sion of Ibrahim to boycott the re-run, noting that the re-run had to be conducted for the position of chairman following the decision of the election appeals committee which nullified the election of the PDM chairman and ordered for a fresh election. But Chief Ameh while speaking after his inauguration by the out gone chairman of IPAC, Dr. Yusuf Tanko, pledged to reach out to members of all the 29 registered political parties to protect the

country’s democracy. Ameh noted that IPAC under his leadership will endeavour to be an independent association that will not be under the influence or control of any political party or INEC. He said: “My election today is in the face of truth and justice. It has taught me a big lesson that we must be fair to each other and treat all Nigerians as equal, irrespective of tribe or religion. We will be fair to all political parties and bring everybody on board in the interest of developing Nigerian democracy. “We will move IPAC out of the control of INEC or any political party to

where we can confront the challenges of poverty and hunger that is standing against the development of our electoral process by collaborating with every government agency to ensure that we eradicate all the corrupt tendencies that had negatively affected our electoral process.” In his remarks earlier, the former chairman, Yinusa who handed over to Ameh, pledged to work with the new leadership of IPAC to fasten the process of reconciliation of all aggrieved political parties for the purpose of protecting the development of democracy in the country.

Politics

fforts by Governor Samuel Ortom, the fifth democratically elected governor of Benue State, in reviving the ailing economy of the state as reflected in his campaign promises to the citizenry has so far started manifesting with the inauguration of essential committees with mandate to verify and probe the immediate past administration of former Governor Gabriel Suswam, who was in office between 2007 and 2015 and also to ascertain the veracity of assets on lease, those dispensed off and others intact. Soon after taking over, the Ortom administration was pelted with several petitions and complaints from the populace, detailing series of allegations. This prompted instant set up of the various investigation committees to ascertain the veracity of the claims. The Handover Committee was set up to carefully receive and verify the true state of government funds/debts and assets and shares accruing to the state as claimed in the handover notes during the pre-inaugural ceremony. After a thorough scrutiny by the Handover Committee of documents of transaction by the previous administration, N130 billion was uncovered as a deficit balance contrary to Governor Suswam’s claim that he left a deficit of N9 billion left behind for the new regime. It was further gathered that some government agencies and parastatals refused to cooperate with the committees, especially in making available documents that were applied for the transaction, particularly in the sale of government properties by the former administration. This necessitated further the creation of sub-committees with one to cover verification of funds received/utilized, comprising Justice E.N. Kpojime as chairman while others members include Barr. J.I. Abaagu, Rev. Prof. Francis Wegh, Dr. Christopher Obute, Jacob I. Mulya, Mr. Sekegh Akaa and Michael Agber as lead counsel. The terms of reference are to identify all revenue resources and the total amount of revenue from 2007 to 2015 which accrued to the state from the federation account, local government and internally generated revenue as well as bonds and loans, revenue from the Excess Crude Account, ECA, ecological fund, SURE-P funds amongst others. An update of shares and stocks of the state government in Julius Berger, Dangote Cement PLC as well as others is another point of reference under review The Assets Committee led by Barr Moses Atagher has Mr Ngutor Anyam, Barr. Omale Omale, Prof. Moses Ogbajo, Mr. Andrew Amee as well as a representative of the Commissioner of Police as members is to investigate the sale/lease of government assets. The mandate of the Assets Committee is to determine the sale or lease of government assets, their status and correct value of such properties as at the time of sale or lease. At the electioneering campaign, Governor Ortom left no one in doubt of what he would offer the people of Benue if elected. He made these known at various for a, that his administration will correct all the wrongs perpetrated by the Suswam administration. This probe which seem a replica of the Federal Government’s, transcending down at the state level is already generating rip-

Wednesday August 26, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Brouhaha over probe of Suswamled administration in Benue HENRY IYORKASE examines the controversies trailing the alleged plan by the Samuel Ortomled All Progressives Congress, APC government in Benue State to probe his immediate past predecessor, Gabriel Suswam of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

Gov. Ortom

Suswam

While some political pundits have supported the probe to include previous

Governor Akume to make it wholesome and far reaching, others

regime of

have dismissed the notion ples as former government officials are already returning government properties in their possession, but critics of the administration who think it is still business as usual are calling the action ‘witch hunting’ of the friends and allies of the immediate past governor. Though at the state level, so far there is no indication that public utilities wrongly carted away is being returned, however the search light on former top government functionaries is continuing towards the recovery of what does not belong to them. Political analysts in the state have expressed support for the ongoing waves of probe which they view as healthy for the growth of democracy and also to instill accountability, unlike before, but reminded that due process must be strictly followed so as to give the whole exercise credibility. In his view, Benue State secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Hon. Godwin Ayihe, described the probes as a healthy development, stressing that no one is afraid of withstanding the rigour of the instruments of the various panels. He however cautioned that the probe should also be extended to cover the administration of former Governor George Akume, from 1999 to 2007, adding that if the proposal was included from the onset it would have made more meaning than just beginning midway. While some political pundits have supported the probe to include previous regime of Governor Akume to make it wholesome and far reaching, others have dismissed the notion with a wave of hand, saying if past governments had some skeletons in their cupboard they could have sought to inves-

tigate it afterwards but maybe saw nothing wrong with their deeds. Former Governor Suswam commenting on the barrage of probe committees against his administration said it was good that the investigations were taking place at this time, but was quick however to remind his successor that government is continuity. He said: “I was here and left few months ago, that is no longer news; but the sale of government assets, specifically, Benue Cement Company, BCC, by the administration of Akume to Dangote as well as abandoned factories and projects should also be included so as to add value and fairness to what they are doing.” Suswam who said this recently at the burial of slain former member of Benue State House of Assembly in Katsina-Ala, also carpeted his critics for castigating him and his associates, promising to make available some indicting documents against former leaders if the need arises. He wondered why the new regime is yet to offset the arrears of all outstanding salaries to workers as pledged during the electioneering campaigns, adding: Yet I was crucified during those harsh economic times that I owed salaries and pensions of workers for several months; it’s just unfortunate.” State deputy chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Dr. Joseph Targema Orkar, in a chat with National Mirror on the development emphasised the need for the former government top functionaries to tread cautiously with their remarks on raging issues. This is so because as the government sets machineries to verify the correct ma-

terial and funds belonging to the state government, damaging revelations show that about five years from 2010 to 2015, over 75 teaching and non teaching staff of Benue State University International Secondary School have lost their lives due to hunger and starvation, as they were owed their monthly emoluments until they met with Governor Ortom, who directed that they be paid three months’ salaries out of the arrears owed them. The probe is not only restricted to material well being alone as the government extended it to those in possession of illegal weapons and firearms, asking them to submit same through the adviser on security matters, Col. Edwin Jando, rtd, or through the law enforcement agents and instantly receive a prize of between N30,000 and N100,000 depending on the weapons with deadline fixed at August 31. The programmed is receiving the desired result as over 50 unscrupulous elements in possession of deadly weapons have so far submitted their weapons, which were routed through leaders of their churches and accordingly collected the cash award. Col Jando, the arrow head of government security, had earlier on during one of his public programmes estimated that over 2,030 firearms were in the hands of bad eggs in the state, insisting that at the end of the deadline, whoever refuses to avail himself or herself this opportunity will have him or herself to blame. Chairman of Benue State Conference of Nigerian Political Parties, CNPP, Engr Baba Agan, applauding the state government strides it has taken to effect more meaning to the condition of the citizenry in the state, noted that given ideal situation Governor Ortom is determined to improve the well being of citizens, adding that the man is caught in the web of many masters, but one have to pray fervently for him with a view to overcome this impediment. He refused to expatiate further on the issue, but however urged lovers of democracy to rally round the administration to overcome the turbulent period it is passing through. A former director of Ministry of Labour and Productivity, Mr. Chris Ugi, however said that so far, that there is nothing yet to celebrate in the state, adding that things are still at standstill. He said: “Quite frankly, there is nothing much to talk about. The only aspect is that civil servants are collecting their salaries since the new leadership came on board unlike in the past.” However what remains to be seen is the submission of various reports by the committees at the end of their investigation and how the new administration intends to recover these colossal sums of money in wrong hands and assets which have been purportedly leased or sold, in order to put an end to corrupt practices as well as enshrine justice and rule of law in governance in the state.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

From The Civil Service

Stakeholders examine actions on MDGs P.16

Group donates N2.15b materials to improve English study Joel Ajayi ABUJA

Retiring civil servants being captured during their verification at the Women Development Centre in Abuja on Monday. PHOTO: NAN

CSO tasks FG to be vigilant over corruption among citizens Adeola Tukuru, ABUJA

he civil society organisation, Civic Duties Awareness Initiative (CIDAI) a civil society organisation has called on the Federal Government to be more vigilant amongst the citizenry against anyone, who wants to truncate the war against corruption.The Executive Director of CIDAI, Benjamin Oyekunle, who noted this in Abuja said vigilance is important against all opposing tendencies . .According to him, it is in this light that Nigerians cannot support the recent call by some elderly, respectable and eminent citizens on the president not to waste his time on fighting corruption alone.”Vigilance is therefore of utmost importance against all reactionary tendencies. The people who have emptied our collective purse are still bent on diverting the national resources to their private pockets

since they have a large war chest”,”They are ready to spend huge sums to truncate the anti-graft war. They are the ones alleging partiality and selectivity.”They can use anybody as their mouthpiece even without the person being aware they are being used for a wrong cause.”There are those who would also want to make nonsense of this justifiable cause by attempting to make a caricature of it. ”They want to manipulate the process to their favour through mob action and smear campaigns aimed at pulling down public servants who are above board and have been impediments to dipping their hands into the public treasury” he added.He also ber ated the activities of some Nigerians at smearing the image of Dr Juliet Chukkas-Onaeko, Director General, Industrial Training Fund.Oyekunle said that the smear campaign against the ITF boss is a deliberate attempt by

Niger Delta Ministry signs pact with Agric Bank on youth training

P.16

some mischief makers, to rubbish her achievements at the fund.He noted that the allegations of fraud in some sections of the media, against Chukkas-Onaeko was to rubbish the modest achievements recorded by her since assuming office in 2014.”The fund was alleged to be enmeshed in corruption prior to her becoming the DG. She had blocked those who had been feeding fat on the fund.. Her transparent management of the fund was said to have boosted the confidence and garnered support from the stakeholders”, he said . Mrs Onaeko was said to have had her competences and ability recognised President Muhammadu Buhari when he included her in his entourage to the United States of America.The CSO alleged that some people have reasoned that her enviable feat in the course of her duties might have endeared her to the President who might have penned her name down for a higher

appointment.They opined that the above reasons could be why some who want her position as DG of ITF or scheming to get a ministerial slot are fighting her .Benjamin, while commending President Buhari’s anti corruption war, noted that corruption in all its forms and manifestations is the major problem in of our country.Oyekunle recalled that a committee of elders under the auspices of a peace committee had after a meeting with the President came out with a brief, as read by Rev Fr Matthew Kukah, calling on the President not to waste time on fighting corruption.He therefore called for more vigilance amongst the citizenry against anyone, who wants to truncate the war against corruption.”It is in this light that we cannot support the recent call by some elderly, respectable and eminent citizens on the president not to waste his time on fighting corruption alone.

Nigeria harbours world’s largest IDPs –UN P.41

isturbed by the level of low capacity building in Nigeria, a United Kingdom based, not-for-profit Organization Jolly Phonic Learning Ltd and Universal Learning Solution has committed N2.15billion for free training and resources in all primary schools in the country as over 21,644 teachers enjoyed free phonics training. The groups in partnership with Universal Basic Education UBEC in literacy project in all primary school in 15 states including federal capital territory are working tirelessly to deliver innovative literacy solutions to all Nigerian children. Speaking yesterday, in Abuja the CEO, Universal Learning Solutions Gary Foxcroft, noted that universal learning solution is one of the greatest challenges facing Nigeria Education system. According to him, Jolly Phonics is the world’s leading synthetic phonics programme. Synthetic phonics is a method that has been proven to enable children who learn English as a second language to read and write effectively in English. The method involves teaching the main 42 English lettersounds in isolation. “Support for the project to date has also come from Universal Learning Solutions and Jolly Learning Ltd, who have provided N2.15 Billion worth of free training and resources to states so far. “The offer of free training for about 21,544 teachers and heads teachers in all government primary

plus free workbooks for all pupils has now been extended across the country through gesture from Jolly Learning. “While simultaneously teaching children how to blend and segment these sounds to read and write words. It is used in the majority of schools in the UK and in many other countries around the world where it is government policy.” He added that: “Most private schools in the country now use my products; I am delighted to be able to make a difference in public schools. Thanks to support from UBEC and Universal Learning Solutions, the aim of achieving universal adoption, bringing literacy to all children starting school, is within sight. In this Nigeria has become a model for others, as it has in many other ways.” In his remarks Executive Secretary of UBEC Alhaji (Dr) Dikko Sulieman, who was represented by Director of Academics Services Mr. Pius Osahgea stated the gesture is coming at the right time added that it very sad that, reading culture in Nigeria has declined over recent years and is in need of urgent repair. He said: “Unless pupils can read and write, we cannot expect children to leave school with the knowledge, skills and values necessary to be active members of Nigerian society and contribute to resolving local, national and global challenges of the 21st century.“This is why UBEC is re-affirming its commitment to the Jolly Phonics project and will be mandating all states to train their teachers in the method next year as a condition of funding.”

NBC says Nigeria has over 600 licensed Radio, TV, others

P.42

Civil Service

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Niger Delta Ministry signs pact with Agric Bank on youth training Chidi Ugwu,

ABUJA

he Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs has signed agreement with the Bank of Agriculture to train about 130 in various aspects of Agricultural enterprises.According a statement by the Assistant Director of Information in the ministry, Stephen Kilebi, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, Mrs. Fatima Bamidele made the dis-

closure in Abuja at the occasion of the signing of the agreement with the Bank of Agriculture to implement the project. In her remarks at the event, Mrs. Bamidele, said that the process towards the actualization of the project commenced since her assumption for duty in the Ministry last year but was glad that the project had become a reality.The Permanent Secretary said that the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs

signed the agreement with the Bank of Agriculture to empower the 130 Niger Delta Youths the Ministry trained in various aspects of Agriculture last year in Israel. The Permanent Secretary said that the aim of the collaboration was to ensure that the youths who were sent to Israel for training in various aspects of Agriculture were empowered to start their own businesses.She added that with this agreement the issue of wait-

ing for allocation from the Federal Government to the Ministry to empower trained youths of the Niger Delta would be a thing of the past. Bamidele disclosed that more loans would be given out to other beneficiaries in the Niger Delta Region when the first batch of beneficiaries pay the loans. She said that while the Bank of Agriculture and the Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Corporation would administer the loans and give

L-R: Flag Officer Commanding Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Jonathan Ango; Chairman of the event, Maj.-Gen. Benjamin Badewole(rtd) and Senior Regional Vice President, ASIS International (Group 11), Chief (Mrs.) Victoria Ekhomu, during ASIS African Security in Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO: SAMUEL ADETIMEHIN

Adeola Tukuru ABUJA

takeholders in the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals,(MDGs) across the country began the process of validating and adopting the Nigeria 2015 MDGs EndPoint Report, which will be presented as the final report on the country’s implementation of the framework. In a statement signed by the Media Consultant to the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on MDGs, Desmond Utomwen stated that the report chronicled the gains recorded in the implementation of the 15-year development framework as

technical support the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs would monitor the implementation process. She commended the Bank of Agriculture on its commitment to the success of the project. She advised the beneficiaries to utilize the facility optimally so that other youths can benefit from the programme in future. The Executive Director, Wholesale Finance, Bank of Agriculture, Mr. Babatunde Igun, who represented the Managing Director of the Bank said, the bank was glad and excited to be part of the epoch making event. Igun assured that the Bank was prepared and positioned to play its role as the official risk manager for the various projects. He added that the bank would also provide free risk management advice through proper monitoring and control of the project. He also said that all beneficiaries of this scheme were expected to insure their agricultural projects to enjoy the benefit of the services to be provided by the Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Corporation. In his remarks, the representative of

the Managing Director/CEO of Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Corporation, Mr. Kunle Olagunju, Head of Collaboration Unit, said that the organization would play its role by protecting the interest of the parties involved in the agreement for partnership against unexpected risks. He added that his organization would see to the successful payment of the loans by the beneficiaries. In her remarks, Mrs. Bose Eitokpah, the Capacity Building Manager of Partnership Initiative in the Niger Delta, an NGO expressed joy over the partnership in the project as it is beneficial to the youths of the Niger Delta, especially the woman. Speaking earlier, the Director of Economic Empowerment in the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, Mr. Ndubuisi Osuji said that the collaboration project with the Bank of Agriculture would empower the youths to know how to catch fish instead of being given fish all the time by somebody. The 130 Niger Delta Youths were trained by the Ministry in Israel last year on Fishery and Poultry Production.

Stakeholders examine actions on MDGs

well as challenges and gaps requiring attentions in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which will be adopted in September by world leaders as the replacement for the MDGs.Speaking at the validation and adoption of the report, the Director/Secretary of Programme, OSSAPMDGs, Mr. Ochapa Ogenyi, said Nigeria has recorded appreciation progress in the implementation of the goals. “It is indeed gratifying to note that Nigeria has recorded appreciable progress in the implementation of the MDGs particularly in the area of

universal primary enrolment, gender parity in education, reduction in the spread of HIV/AIDs, maternal and child mortality as well as prevalence of hunger,” he said. The MDGs Report presented the end-point status of the various MDGs key milestones and achievements, notable policy drivers of successes, main challenges and key lessons learnt at both the National and Sub-National levels. Ochapa noted that the final draft of the Nigeria MDGs Endpoint Report, 2015, which is being validated, is as a result of the collective efforts of all of all the

stakeholders involved in the implementation of the MDGs. “Let me reiterate that efforts were made to ensure that the report contains accurate, reliable and up to date data benchmarking Nigeria’s progress on most of the 60 indicators.” Ochapa stated. The Deputy National Program Manager of the UK aid Governance program, State Partnership for Accountability, Responsiveness and Capability (SPARC), Hadiza Elayo, said the unfinished business of the MDGs will be addressed by the tougher goals set by the SDGs. “The next

development agenda has toughened the fight against not just poverty but a broad spectrum of issues as can be seen by the 17 Sustainable development goals, 169 targets and over 500 indicators,” she said. In his remark, the United Nations Development Programme, UNDP Country Director, Pa Lamin Beyai applauded the efforts of OSSAP-MDGs and indeed the entire country in beating the global deadline on the MDGs. Pa Lamin Beyai stated: “We have learnt some useful lessons over the past 15years: wide variations in progress not just across the goals

and targets but also across the 36 states, and the FCT; in the six geopolitical zones; and in some regions, women and youth are lagging in most of the targets.” “We have also learnt that, in certain instances, a commendable job has been done; Nigeria has managed to make good progress in its polio interventions; implemented a largely successful Conditional Grants Scheme, CGS aimed at reducing polverty while at the same time promoting the achievement of other MDGs, such as education and health-related MDGs. Pa Lamin Beyai added.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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Wednesday, August 26, 2015

Why crucify Amosun on sacked civil servants? OLUSOLA BALOGUN

hat Nigeria is in dare strait today due to mismanagement, docile citizenry and sentimental followership is not in doubts. Our forgetfulness as a people is legendary. We are swiftly swayed by base sentiments. These often prepare the way for the emergence of poor and incompetent leadership garbed in messianic robes. Sentiment is perhaps the biggest reason why our 55-year old nation still lacks essential facilities taken for granted in other climes. Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State is presently at the butt of needless jabs and venoms over the sanction meted out to six erring public officials in his state. Some officials of the State Ministry of Education had mismanaged a simple task of setting examination questions for secondary school students in the Unified Examination for public schools in the state. A teacher saddled with the assignment of setting English Language questions for Senior Secondary School 1 students made a mess of the task by introducing bile into the dish. The allegedly offensive portion contained in the summary and comprehension section of the paper he set read thus: “There is no arguing about the fact that the state government is merely paying lip service to the development of education. It is true that a lot of money is being spent on the education sector but with lit-

tle or no impact felt by the people, except where we want to deceive ourselves. “Many schools run by the government, which were formerly known for academic excellence have suddenly lost their prestige and are living on past glories. No wonder, many parents and guardians are threateningly left with only one option, to withdraw their wards from these schools to other ones that are better managed...One of the numerous indications is the government’s inability to pay running cost to schools”. There was bedlam immediately the students got home after the exams. Government officials in Oke-Mosan were inundated with calls from concerned parents asking why their wards were fed with such ‘toxic question’. Ironically, the question passed through FOUR different layers of editing before it got to the students. Yet it escaped every one of them! My journalism mind likens the scenario to a reporter who dropped a report that a prominent monarch is dead to his Assistant News Editor and the report passed through four stages and got published only for the paper to discover the news is untrue. Expectedly, the Ogun State Civil Service Commission (SCSC) was livid with the education ministry gate-keepers. They empanelled a committee to look into the misdemeanor. The affected staff were summoned to defend themselves. Their defence fell short of acceptable standards. The panel looked into the civil service rules and recom-

O NE

GROUP EVEN

TOOK IT TO AN ABSURD LEVEL OF REPORTING THE MATTER TO THE

U NITED N ATIONS mended various sanctions. Two senior officials were retired, while four others had their employment terminated. The recommendations are truly painful as it involves means of livelihood, but that does not warrant attacking the wrong targets. Governor Amosun suddenly became public enemy number one for a matter he knows little about. Right activists and trade unionists were struggling to outdo each other in hauling invectives at the governor. One group even took it to an absurd level of reporting the matter to the United Nations. The Governor does not interfere in service matters. He allows civil servants to do their thing due to his respect for the rule of law. He allows the various statutory commissions to run their show according to the law because he believes he will one day finish his tenure as governor, but the civil service as an institution would remain. The governor allowed the SCSC to apply the rules even when it was clear they are his sympathisers. Like in this case, it was the SCSC that tried them and sanctioned them.

The law setting up the SCSC is clear on its independence. Paragraph 2, Part II, Third Schedule of the 1999 Constitution is very clear that Senator Amosun could not have played any role in the sanction against the workers. The SCSC Commission shall not exercise any of its powers under sub-paragraph (1) of this paragraph in respect of such offices of heads of divisions of ministries or of departments of the government of the state as may from time to time be designated by an order made by the Governor, EXCEPT AFTER CONSULTATION with the Head of the Civil Service of the State.” So why is Senator Amosun the object of the attacks when it is clear SCSC merely used its constitutionally guaranteed power and applied the rules in sanctioning its members? How is a governor, who did not interfere in the sacking of his supporters (as it appears) by SCSC now to be blamed for the latest action? Many of these commentators are hypocrites. They will not brook sloppiness in their various offices, yet they want it excused in the public service. How many people would have been sanctioned if the scenario I described above plays out in a newspaper? Methinks what those commentators should be asking for is clemency for the officers not aggravating the situation by hauling thoughtless invectives. Balogun is the COO of Media Cartels Ltd, Lagos and can be reached on balogunesola@gmail.com

August and its attractions for Igbo women VALENTINE OBIENYEM

t should be noted that the months of the year have their own peculiar myths that seek to explain their etymology. January, for example, is said to be named after Janus, god of doorways and beginnings. March, research says, represents the god of war, mars. August! August! August! This is the eight of the Gregorian calendar now in general use. It has 31 days. It corresponds, historians say, to the sixth month of the early Roman Republic calendar, called sixtilis until 8BC, when it was renamed in honour of Augustus Caesar, the then Emperor of Rome. Augustus, in turn, is a Latin adjective derived from the verb augere (to make greater), and the word carries the connotations of majesty and grandeur, still associated with the month. August is an important month as testified by diverse events that had taken -still take –place in that month. Important Catholic holy day of Obligation, the feast of the Assumption, is celebrated on August 15. August 14 was the month in which the great powers declared war on one another in World War 1. The United State of America dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 6 and 9 (Little boy and fat man). In our local scene, many important events in Nigeria occur in August. Some parts of the country have already started ex-

WOMEN DO THE

UNTHINKABLE IN THE NAME OF PREPARING FOR

“AUGUST MEETING”

periencing a brake in rainfall, otherwise called “August brake.” Have you pondered on why August is used to describe important and cherished visitors/events? Hence we talk about August event, August visitor, August this and that. August is particularly dear to the Igbos because it symbolizes fertility. It is the beginning of the harvesting season, when farmers reap the rewards of their hardwork, made manifest by the fertility of the earth. This explains why New Yam Festival, among most Igbo towns, takes place in August. Plans are on top gear, I am told, to have a single date for the new yam celebration among the Igbos. August, again, is seriously being considered. August, in another sense, signifies unity and community development. Just like the farmer gathers the produce of his farm together, Igbos, including their womenfolk, try to gather themselves together for the purposes of renewing the bonds of unity. Disputes are settled among women. Serious breach of discipline and familial duties are sanctioned with the aim of discouraging such in future. This, in a nutshell, explains the reasons behind

August meeting, which Igbo women highly cherish and look forward to every year. But like most human ideas that were primarily borne out of the need to enhance civilization, the concept of “August meeting” is fast fallen into disrepute that one is tempted to rechristen it “August crisis.” Truly, the crisis that “August meeting” engenders rages on to a degree painfully regrettable. We may find it hard to believe, but it is true that women do the unthinkable in the name of preparing for “August meeting.” Outrageous things, only metaphysically explicable, are often associated with that day due, proximately, to power tussle. Very soon, as happens every year, stories will be told of husbands who get into trouble with their wives for being unable to provide them with the necessary equipage – new cars, expensive cloths, designer handbags and shoes, headgears, etc - needed for August show off. Some women, are even foolish enough to travel home for “August meeting” in defiance of their husbands. Stories abound of such women whose husbands asked to stay back as punishment for their disobedience. The Irony of the entire thing is that these women travel longingly for August meeting not because of their “utility value”, but to display the latest fashion in town and to make the frightened to talk about them. Here, a woman who had participated in many of these meetings takes us behind the scenes and into the daily char-

acteristics of these meetings: “Honestly, we do not achieve much as we are supposed to. To women, it is principally a time to show off. Watching what some women wear to the meeting, you cannot but believe that they are showcases of their husbands prosperity. This urge to outclass one another in gorgeous accoutrements was the reason why women now attend in uniform. Even at that, shoes, rings, hair do, bangles, other jewels are still seen as opportunities to outclass one another.” Noticeable is the fact that the more gorgeously dressed women are often the ones that contribute least to the meeting. Only to be feared at long range, any close interaction with them, the woman that took us behind the scene continues, “shows that what they lack in intellectual power is what they actively seek to conceal by external posturing.” One of the greatest exemplifications of August is encapsulated in the Igbo women annual “August meeting”, which is now gradually being corrupted by worldliness and the misplacement of value. Obienyem wrote from Awka, Anambra State. 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, August 26, 2015

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

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

Threats to Buhari’s resolve against graft

ot a few Nigerians were compelled to pause and think over a recent report by this newspaper which strongly suggested that President Muhammadu Buhari was tinkering with granting blanket amnesty to treasury looters to encourage them return the monies they stole in billions from Nigerian coffers and stashed away in foreign havens. “Amnesty for looters may fast track the recovery of our national wealth… cornered by… few selfish Nigerians. The idea is that, with the amnesty, many looters will quietly return their stolen funds directly or indirectly to the federal government treasury… President Buhari has no money to implement the APC (All Progressives Congress) campaign promises to Nigerians. The only option now is for looters to return their stolen money…”, one portion of the report said. The information coincided with a period when caustic ethnic, religious and political invectives were being hauled at Buhari government’s anti-corruption campaign, with the obvious aim of dampening the momentum or totally bringing it to a halt. Readily available for citation on the ethnic turf is Professor Ben Nwabueze’s (he needs no elaborate identification, being a former Minister of Education and renowned constitutional lawyer from the East of the Niger) grouse

WE PREDICT BUHARI GOVERNMENT’S EVENTUAL DOOM SHOULD IT ALLOW ITS FOCUS TO BE SWAYED BY ETHNIC,

RELIGIOUS OR POLITICAL SENTIMENTS against Buhari government’s limitation of its anti-corruption probe to the immediate past government of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan. Some notable individuals and groups from the Niger-Delta still rue Jonathan’s loss in the last presidential election with seething anger as well, with some of them voicing their protests against what they perceived as the witch-hunt of their own; or Buhari’s hypocrisy in the prosecution of the anti-graft war. The Catholic Bishop in charge of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Kuka, eminently amplifies the religious arsenal, though he claims being misunderstood or misrepresented. Kuka’s position, widely interpreted or misinterpreted to mean his prescription that Nigeria remains in sin that grace may abound, is as follows: “I think this whole thing about probes and probes, there are no probes in a democracy… We are only saying a lot of this kind of speculation about probes is a distraction that nobody needs. So the most important

thing is that we need a stable country first before we can talk about these things (probes)…”. The political void is eminently filled by the former ruling party, the now opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which says the ruling APC, “in trying to escalate their stock-in-trade of lies, wild allegations and falsehood, … failed to understand that their ‘baseless’ fabrications are capable of throwing an unsuspecting nation into chaos”. The PDP was reacting to a recent claim by the APC of massive looting of the nation’s treasury amounting to N4.1trn and $33.06bn between 2009 and 2015. The funds APC alleged were creamed off included N3.8trn out of the N8.1trn earned from crude oil between 2012 and 2015, withheld by the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC); $2.1bn from Excess Crude Account (ECA) unaccounted for; Department of Petroleum Resources’ (DPR) unremitted N109.7bn royalty from oil firms; $6bn allegedly looted by some ministers of the Jonathan administration; and 160 million barrels of crude worth $13.9bn lost between 2009 and 2012. Others were $15m from botched arms deals, yet to be returned to Nigeria; $13bn in Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) dividends mostly unaccounted for; N30bn rice waiver and N183bn unaccounted for at the Niger Delta

ON THIS DAY

Development Commission (NDDC). Indeed, Chairman of the committee raised by the National Economic Council (NEC) to investigate revenue generating agencies and Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, revealed lately, in addition, that the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) earned N162bn and spent N160 billion in one year. In other words, NPA remitted a paltry N2bn out of the N162bn it generated in a year to government treasury and spent the whopping balance of N160bn on itself. Oshiomhole said another revenue generating agency failed to remit a kobo to the Federation Account from the taxes it collected based on spurious claims that what it generated was not enough to fund its operations. What a nation suffused in impunity! In truth, Buhari’s administration enjoys local and international goodwill today because the general belief that it is capable of tracking and rooting out corruption and its multiplier effects, including insurgency, from Nigeria, certainly not by granting amnesty to or placating corrupt fellows, but by recovering their loot and prosecuting and jailing those of them deserving of prison terms. We predict Buhari government’s eventual doom should it allow its focus to be swayed by ethnic, religious or political sentiments, and fail in delivering this all-important local and global expectation.

August 26, 1920

August 26, 1978

August 26, 2011

The 19th amendment to United States Constitution took effect, giving women the right to vote. The Nineteenth Amendment (Amendment XIX) to the US Constitution prohibits any US citizen from being denied the right to vote on the basis of sex. It was ratified on August 18, 1920. The Constitution allows states to determine the qualifications for voting. Until 1910, most states disenfranchised women.

Papal Conclave of August 1978: Pope John Paul I was elected to the Papacy. Pope John Paul I, born Albino Luciani (October 17, 1912 – September 28, 1978), was the head of the Catholic Church from his election to the papacy on August 26, 1978 to his sudden death 33 days later on September 28, 1978. His 33-day reign is among the shortest in papal history, resulting in the most recent ‘Year of Three Popes’.

The ‘Boeing 787 Dreamliner’, Boeing’s all-new composite airliner, received certification from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) of the United States. The aircraft is a long-range, mid-size, wide-body, twin-engine jet airliner developed by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. Its variants seat 210 to 330 passengers. It is designed to be 20 percent more fuel efficient than Boeing 767.

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

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Health & Wellbeing “Emphasis should be more on hypertension prevention” 22

109 Nigerian women die daily from pregnancyrelated causes –WHO 21

How diabetic patients lose their legs in Nigerian hospitals –Experts FRANKA OSAKWE

r. Muibi Adeniran , a type -1 diabetic, always thought his major concern was getting money to buy his insulin and ensuring he take two shots daily. He never knew that paying special attention to his feet was important until the day his left limb was amputated due to a foot injury. Experts have declared that if you have diabetes, you have an increased risk of developing foot injuries and ulcers which, if not treated early, will results in amputation and eventually death in most cases. Unfortunately, the awareness and focus on foot care is still very low in Nigeria and Mr. Adeniran, like many other diabetics, never bothered much about his feet. He told National Mirror that since his diagnoses 28 years ago, his one big concern has been to buy his insulin and take his shots 2 times daily- morning and evening. As a type-1 diabetic, Mr. Adeniran, have to depend on injected or pumped insulin for life because his pancreases has stopped producing insulin, the hormone that enables people get energy from food. “To buy insulin is very expensive; it costs me more than N15,000 every month. I have to take two injections of insulin morning and evening. I also have to measure my blood glucose level by pricking my fingers for blood many times a day”, he said. So paying attention to his feet was the last thing on Mr. Adenira’s mind. “Even when an iron pierced me underneath my foot years back, I ignored and dismissed it as nothing until the feet started to swell. It was then I went to Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) where I was admitted for one month. But the infection had already spread and the doctors told me that the only way to stay alive was to amputate my leg”, he recalled. Now wearing prosthesis, Adeniran said he could no longer work to earn a living because of his lost limb. Like him, thousands of Nigerians have lost their limbs due to diabetes foot problem. Every day, an estimated 4230 lower limbs (1 limb every 20 second) are amputated due to complication of diabetes with over 50 per cent of the major amputees eventually dying within one year! Unfortunately, 85 per cent of these ampu-

Dr. Isiavwe

An amputee, Adeniran

EVERY DAY, AN ESTIMATED 4,230 LOWE LOWER LIMBS (1 LIMB EVERY 20 SECOND) ARE AMPUTA AMPUTATED DUE TO COMPLICATION OF DIABETES WITH O OVER 50 PER CENT OF THE MAJOR AMPUTEES EVE EVENTUALLY DYING WITHIN ONE YEAR! tations could have been avoided through preventive measures, an endocrinologist, Dr. Afoke Isiavwe, revealed during this year’s podiatric workshop by The Podiatry Initiative Nigeria. According to her, diabetes mellitus foot is the second leading cause of diabetes-related deaths in Nigeria and account for 19.5 to 24 percent of all diabetes mortality. She said the situation is made worse by the fact that the nation has no structured curriculum for podiatry in the medical institutions hence awareness and knowledge on foot care is lacking. “Diabetes Podiatry Initiative started an annual podiatry training to raise awareness on the need for foot care and to empower health workers to know how to take care of the feet of their patients

pending when we have a structured program in the nation”, she said. At this year’s podiatry training, held at the Hotel Peninsula, Lekki, Lagos, different cadres of healthcare workers from 11 hospitals in Lagos were trained so they could teach their patients on what to do to prevent getting foot ulcers and injuries. One of the America Podiatrists and facilitators, Dr. James Kinchsular taught about the basic problem that can cause foot disease such as toe nail problems and deformities and how to take care of it to prevent getting an infection which could lead to amputation. He said the emphasis on diabetes was because diabetes is becoming an epidemic in the world and lots of people keep losing their feet from diabetic foot problems that could have been

prevented. Another facilitator, Dr. William Haris, taught about evaluating the nails and toe tissues for hard skins and calluses that could turn into ulcers or cancers in future, and how to prevent the feet from developing infections. On his part, one of the participant, Chairman Medical Advisory Committee at Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Dr. Olufemi Fasanmade, said Nigeria lose too many diabetics due to diseases and infections on the legs which rapidly spreads and involves the whole leg. He said many patients instead of seeking early medical intervention, will often mistake it for witchcraft and go about seeking religious solution until it is too late and the leg have to be amputated. On the other hand, he said that health workers need to recognise and spot the diseases affecting the feet of their patients early, to prevent it from spreading and save the limb from amputation. The 5-day podiarty workshop tagged ‘Building Local Capacity in Diabetes Foot Care’ was Supported by Rainbow Specialist Medical Centre, World Diabetes Foundation and the Podiatry Institute USA.

Health & Wellbeing

Nutrition for Health

n order to have the most balanced diets, foods of a variety of colours is required. Regular consumption of foods with one colour, compels one to ingest one type of vitamin, targeting only one ailment thus, the individual cannot obtain all needed nutrients from the fruits and vegetables consumed. The pigmentation in fruits and vegetables are created by a group of highly beneficial antioxidants called carotenoids, which eliminates harmful free radicals in the body. The colour of different types of foods indicates the unique job various antioxidants perform in the body. However, when we consume foods of varying colours, the mixture of antioxidants is most effective. Red coloured fruits and vegetables e.g tomatoes, red pepper, red grape fruit, watermelon, contain a carotenoid called lycopene. Lycopene is the main pigment responsible for the redness in these fruits. Lycopene is associated

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Phytonutrients in fruits and vegetables

with cancer fighting antioxidant like those found in cancers of the digestive tract stomach, lungs, prostrate glands, etc. Lycopene works by inhibiting the formation of harmful cholesterol protects against heart disease, encouraging wounds to heal and maintaining the condition of the cell membranes. Orange coloured fruits and vegetables have high amounts of carotenoid and beta-carotene. These include foods such as mangoes, cantaloupes, pumpkins, apricots, carrots, etc. It is an ideal antioxidant for lowering cholesterol levels, helps protection skin against free radical damage and the repair of damaged DNA and serves as an immune-booster which aids in the treatment of many ailments such as heart diseases, fighting colds and flus, cystitis, and skin problems, and eating the skins of orange foods is beneficial as they are nearly always packed with nutrients. It contains very high vitamin C. Green fruits and vegetables are useful antioxidants for tackling urinary tract infections and gastrointestinal upsets and helps fight against cancer. Studies have linked

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

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

high intake of green vegetables, like mustard greens, broccoli, cabbage, with lower rates of breast, prostrate and colon cancers. Broccoli and brussels sprouts have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effect which are useful for tackling urinary tract infections and gastrointestinal upsets. Orange/yellow fruits and vegetables are rich in vitamin C and citrus bioflavonoid. Examples are: pineapple, papaya, oranges, lemon, tangerines, yellow grape fruits, etc. They helps strengthen the blood vessels, maintains the collagen that helps form tendons, ligaments and cartilage. It has anti- inflammatory properties that helps prevent hemorrhoids, heals wounds and allergic reactions. Yellow/green fruits and vegetables are rich in lutein and zeaxanthin. Maintain adequate eyesight protection. Examples are bananas, spinach, corn, melon, leeks, green peas, etc. Lutein protects the eyes from damage, protects lens of the eyes from sunlight slowing down the eyes from macular degradation such as slowing down the development of cateract, etc. Research has shown that lutein had a 57% lower risk of macular degradation than individuals with the lowest intake.

Red/ Purple fruits and vegetables contain flavonoids called anthocyanidin. Examples are: eggplants, raspberries, blueberries, grapes, red wine, etc. They have a large amount of vitamin C and more powerful than vitamin E. They prevent cancer growth, prevent blood clots, raise good cholesterol, promotes longevity and aids deterioration of nerve cells in the brain. White/Green fruits and vegetables like onions, garlic, green/

black tea, green apples, red wine, contain flavonoid quercetin which has anti-inflammatory, antiviral and anticancer properties. It is used for treatment of allergies and asthma. Vegetables such as garlic contains sulphur compounds which assist in raising levels of beneficial cholesterol and lowering dangerous levels of blood fats called triglycerides. They also help to lower blood pressure and prevent blood clots.

Sexual solutions and love products for adults

ello everyone and good day. Today is a continuation of our new product review for adult sexual health. First on the list are two products designed with feminine sexual comfort and enjoyment in mind. It is no secret that the female genitalia does not always lubricate adequately during intercourse. Sometimes this is due to insufficient or absent foreplay and at other times, it can be attributed to medication containing antihistamines. Menopause in older women also causes vaginal dryness. But whatever the case maybe, a good lubricant can take care of that. This is why the Hydro Play Lubricant is essential. It is a huge, basic water based lubricant that is easy to use and is essentially applied over the genitals before intercourse. The use of Hydro Play Lubricant will eliminate vaginal dryness and sexual pain and ensure that intercourse is both silky and pleasurable. The Hydro Play Lubricant can also be used with adult toys and as such, men can use it too. The second product for women is the Girlgasm Orgasm Gel. As the name implies, it is designed for women who sometimes experience low sexual arousal, lack of sexual enjoyment and an inability to reach orgasm. If you are going to have sex, let it be good and pleasurable. If possible, let it be mindblowing. Why drive around in a fancy car without reaching a destination? That is the whole idea of intimacy and the Girlgasm Orgasm Gel goes a long way to ensure this pleasurable intimate experience. Girlgasm Orgasm Gel heightens the probability of a woman reaching orgasm during intercourse and that is the ultimate sexual destination during intercourse. It also serves as a lubricant and can be used with adult toys as well. Next on the list are supplements for male

sexual enhancement. Whether you are a man suffering from erectile dysfunction (an inability to get a firm erection or total erection loss), someone in need of stamina or one who wants to be able to have more than one round of intercourse when the occasion calls for it, these next supplements will help you achieve your goal. They consist chiefly of all natural ingredients and are more body friendly than the average synthetic aphrodisiac. First on the list is Man Up Now, a very popular male enhancement supplement. Man Up Now is great for sexual arousal and in addition, it handles erectile dysfunction, gives performance energy, multiple sex capability and orgasm intensity. So if your erection is weak or nonexistent and your performance lacks power, Man Up Now will handle that to perfection. It can be used by adult men of all ages and the dosage is one to two capsules every 48 hours. A dose can work for between 36 to 72 hours. Now body types are different and so are adult sexual needs. That is why we endeavor to have a variety of supplements with varying strengths and capabilities. The next aphrodisiac up for introduction is top of the range and very powerful. It does everything and it is the Boss Rhino Gold. The Rhino brand of performance enhancers is the Rolls Royce of supplements. It is the outcome of major scientific breakthroughs in pharmaceuticals. Boss Rhino Gold gives firm erections, revives total erection loss, stops premature ejaculation, intensifies climax, enlarges the penis, increases semen production, boosts stamina and multiple rounds. Wow! You get all of these in one supplement and there is more. One capsule of Boss Rhino Gold can work for up to one week! So you only need one capsule a week.

Last but not the least is a product ranked amongst the three best penis enlargers in the world. I am talking about the Vimax penis enlargement supplement. Vimax is not a new product. It has been around for a while and I have always known about it. The challenge however has always been sourcing original Vimax supplements for good prices. So we have been able to do that now and with Vimax, not only do you get an enlarged penis, but you also get improved erections and better ejaculatory control to avoid premature ejaculation. So it basically does everything although it is more of a penis enlarger. As always, we advise users of penis enlargement supplements to combine them with penis enlarge exercises which can be achieved with a penis pump. Vimax is a daily supplement and results begin to show within weeks of constant use but it takes months to achieve maximum enlargement. And that

is it for today. Next week, we will discuss more new products. Adults in need of these treatments/novelties can call 08171912551 or 08027901621for help or visit www.zeevirtualmedia.com. Zee Virtual Media delivers all over Nigeria. For enquiries email us at custserv@zeevirtualmedia.com-Uche Edochie, MD, Zee Virtual Media.

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Health & Wellbeing

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

109 Nigerian women die daily from pregnancy-related causes –WHO STORIES BY FRANKA OSAKWE

efore today is over, about 109 women would have died from child birth or pregnancyrelated cause in Nigeria and over 40,000 would still die

before this year winds down, going by the statistic of maternal death rate in Nigeria, from World Health Organization (WHO). In view of this huge death rate, a group of civil society organization and stakeholders on maternal health known as ‘The NOTAGAIN’

campaign team, recently called for increased intervention and more budget allocation towards curbing maternal death in Nigeria. During its 6th media forum tagged ‘Bridging the Gap’, one of the speakers from Development Communication network (DEV-

COM), Ayodele Adesanmi, noted that the previous administration had put some measures in place towards reducing maternal death such as, the SURE-P, the Midwife Services Scheme, the Safe Motherhood programme, and the recently enacted National Health Act.

L-R: American Podiatric doctors on a training mission to Nigeria Dr. Rahn Ravenell, Dr. William Haris, Dr. James Kinchsular and Chairman, Rainbow Specialist Medical Centre (RSMC), Dr. David Isiavwe at 2nd Lagos Podiatry and Diabetes Foot Care Workshop organised by RSMC and World Diabetes Foundation last week.

Breastfeeding will reduce U-5 death –Benue first lady

he wife of the Benue Governor, Mrs Eunice Ortom, has said that deaths of children younger than five years could be reduced by 13 to 20 per cent if babies were breastfed exclusively. Mrs Ortom who made the remark in Buruku Local Government Area of Benue at the grand finale of the 2015 World Breastfeeding Week, pointed out that breastfeeding could prevent child killer diseases such as pneumonia and diarrhoea, emphasising the need for active protection and support for breastfeeding. She stressed that even the

WHO emphasised the value of breastfeeding of children and recommended exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months in the life of a baby. “As a mother, let me inform you that breastfeeding is the best form of nutrition for new babies as breast milk is highly nutritious and protects babies against diseases and infections. “There is also ample evidence that people who were breastfed perform better in intelligence tests and breastfeeding equally offers protection against breast and ovarian cancer,’’ she said. Ortom, however, lamented that in spite of the im-

mense benefits of breastfeeding, many Nigerian career women were not practising exclusive breastfeeding due to the demands of their jobs. The governor’s wife, therefore, appealed for support for working mothers for the purpose of improving breastfeeding so as to sustain the well-being of the future generation. “The World breastfeeding Week should, therefore, call our attention to the concerted efforts that need to be made to empower women to claim their babies’ rights to be breastfed,’’ she said. In her speech, the state’s Commissioner for Health,

Mrs Cecilia Ojabo, disclosed that Nigeria has the poorest exclusive breastfeeding rate in Africa, with only 17 per cent breastfeeding their babies until six months. Ojabo blamed the low rate of exclusive breastfeeding on the demands of the jobs of working mothers and lack of understanding of some heads of establishments to the needs of the new born babies. She appealed to the state government to extend the maternity leave from three months to six months to enable working mothers meet the need for exclusive breastfeeding

Experts worry over vaccine hesitancy

tatistics from the World Health Organisation (WHO) have revealed that an estimated 1.5 million children around the world still die each year of diseases that could be prevented by vaccines that already exist just as 1 in 5 children still do not receive routine life-saving immunizations. According to a statement from the organization, people who delay or refuse vaccines for themselves or their children are presenting a growing challenge for countries seeking to close the immunization gap. In a special issue of the

journal Vaccine, guest-edited by WHO and published last week, experts review the role of vaccine hesitancy in limiting vaccine coverage and explore strategies to address it. Vaccine hesitancy refers to delay in acceptance or refusal of safe vaccines despite availability of vaccination services. The issue is complex and context specific, varying across time, place and vaccines. It is influenced by factors such as misinformation, complacency, convenience and confidence. “Vaccines can only improve health and prevent

deaths if they are used, and immunization programmes must be able to achieve and sustain high vaccine uptake rates. Vaccine hesitancy is an increasingly important issue for country immunization programmes,” says Dr Philippe Duclos, Senior Health Adviser for WHO’s Immunization, Vaccines and Biological Department and guest editor of the special issue, entitled WHO recommendations regarding vaccine hesitancy. The authors of the editorial of the journal note, “As the recent Ebola crisis tragically brought to light,

engaging with communities and persuading individuals to change their habits and behaviours is a lynchpin of public health success. Addressing vaccine hesitancy is no different.” The recommendations proposed by WHO aim to increase the understanding of vaccine hesitancy, its determinants and challenges. They also suggest ways organizations can increase acceptance of vaccines, share effective practices, and develop new tools to assess and address hesitancy.

“But these measures are still not enough because our women are still dying while giving birth and the nation has not yet met the MDG 4 & 5 on maternal and child health. It is not enough to inaugurate maternal health programs, there is a need to have them implemented”, he said. While calling for increased funding and budget allocation towards maternal health initiatives, Adesanni stressed the need for sustainability and the implementation of the National Health Act from the new government. Another speaker, Executive Director, Women Advocates’ Research and Documentation Center (WARDC), Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, expressed worry that despite the laws and policies on maternal health by Nigerian government, these policies are yet to translate into real and significant improvement in maternal health throughout the country. “These programs have failed to deliver healthcare to

the majority of women and children, largely because of inadequate funding and resources, poor management, inequitable implementation and lack of transparency and accountability. “The recently passed National Health Law states the roles and responsibilities of federal, state, and local government and directs 2per cent of Nigeria’s considerable oil revenues to primary health care”, she said. According to her, the main causes of the high maternal mortality in Nigeria are: haemorrhage, infections, unsafe abortion, eclampsia, malaria, anaemia, and other ailments such as HIV/AIDS. This she said is heightened by the fact that only about 20 per cent of health facilities offer emergency obstetric care and only 35 per cent of deliveries are attended by skilled birth attendants. However, she noted that these causes of maternal death could easily be avoided with increased availability and accessibility of health

NAFDAC raises alert on fake ‘Star VIP Condoms’, diazepam

ational Agency for Food and Drugs A d m i n i s t r at i o n and Control NAFDAC has raised the alarm over the fake brands of Star and Star VIP Condoms in circulation in the country, warning consumers and family planning experts to desist from using them. According to a statement by the agency, the fake STAR and STAR VIP condom does not comply with specification, adding that it is being promoted and sold online and retail outlets. In another development, the agency announced that the World Health Organization (WHO) had rvealed that a falsified Diazepam tablets is currently in circulation in Central Africa. According to NAFDAC, Laboratory analysis report of the product shows that it does not contain diazepam but contains between 10mg to 20mg of Haloperidol per tablet an anti-psychotic used for the treatment of schizophrenia. “The tablets are light yellow, scored on one side and bear AGOG on the other side are contained in white plastic bottles of 1000 tablets. AGOG a pharmaceutical manufacturer have stat-

ed they do not manufacture Diazepam but manufacture Haloperidol with a similar description but supplied in blisters of 10 tablets and boxes of 10 blisters under the trade name of AGOHAL, Haloperidol tablet BP 10mg. The tablet marked with the trade name SOLINA, Diazepam tablet BP 5mg manufactured by CENTAUR Pharmaceuticals tested positive for Haloperidol. “According to CENTAUR Pharmaceutical, they do not manufacture Haloperidol but manufacture Diazepam. Report have also shown that over 400 patients in the north east region of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have suffered from an acute dystonic reaction affecting the muscles of the face, neck and tongue which is a known side effect of Haloperidol. “The falsified version of Diazepam labeled as manufactured by AGOG Pharma Ltd is being circulated in containers of 1000 tablets. AGOG Pharma has confirmed this labeling and packaging to be falsified and should not be used as they do not manufacture Diazepam,” the alert further said.

Health & Wellbeing

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

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‘Emphasis should be more on hypertension prevention’ At least, three in 10 adults in Nigeria have high blood pressure, according to Dr Tochukwu Uwaezuoke, a Chief Consultant Cardiologist/ Physician at the National Hospital, Abuja. In this interview with Health Reporter, Marcus Fatunmole, the Cardiologist stresses the need for people to adopt various preventive measures to avoid the deadly condition. He calls for weight shedding, increased natural food consumption, less salt intake, among others, for such measure. Excerpts: Sir, What manner of condition do you refer to as high blood pressure? High blood pressure is a condition that exists when the blood pressure is found to be elevated persistently above what we regard as normal. We have blood pressures; but whether it is high is a different ball game. Blood pressure is necessary because that is the pressure that the heart requires to pump blood round our system and to supply blood oxygen and nutrients to our various organs. So, when that pressure becomes higher persistently than what we expect, we regard that as high blood pressure or hypertension. What is the specific range at which our blood pressure should flow? By convention, because God has not placed a limit, it is doctors who arbitrarily fix these values. At a value of more than 140 upon 90, systolic and diastolic, we say that the person has high blood pressure or hypertension. What actually causes hypertension? Hypertension is a disease that we can only be sure of the cause in less than five percent of cases. In the vast majority of patients, we do not know the cause because we investigate these patients and we do not find obvious reasons why they have high blood pressure. However, there are certain factors that we have come to associate with high blood pressure. Factors like genetics, obesity, sedentary lifestyle, advancing age, smoking, excess alcohol use, there are a number of factors that are normally associated with high blood pressure. What I am saying is that as people age, they tend to have high blood pressure more than people that are younger. You find that in people who are in their 20s, we find very few of them with high blood pres-

People often attribute stress to high blood pressure. How true is this? It is being said and it is something that is being pushed. Stress can obviously cause high blood pressure but it is being overstated. When you talk of stress as cause of high blood pressure, it is being overstated. If you look around the society, you discover that both the rich and the poor have high blood pressure. People that are lazy have high blood pressure; people that are busy have high blood pressure. It is not a question that it is just stress. But, stress might worsen. With much stress, it is likely to rise. If you have stress for like a week, and that force sustains your high blood pressure for like a month, that is something that is clear.

sure. But, as people get to their 40s and 60s, more likely it is that they become hypertensive. Could you elaborate on the disease genetic condition of the disease? There are some evidences that high blood pressure can be inherited. We know clearly that when one’s parent has high blood pressure, the risk will increase. And, when your both parents are hypertensive, the risk will increase dramatically. It is a hereditary disease. Could you provide some statistics on patients with high blood pressure in Nigeria? At least, three in ten of adults in Nigeria have high blood pressure. And of these figures, less than onethird would know that they have high blood pressure. Most people will not know ordinarily unless they do routine checks. That is why we doctors insist that people do routine checks. What I am saying in effect is that high blood pressure basically has no symptoms. There are people who have associated high blood pressure with headaches, dizziness, and tiredness. But, these are by no means fool proof. There is no concrete evidence that once someone has high blood pressure, he has headache or vice versa. Sometimes, we have some people who have high blood pressure with headache, some have dizziness. Basically, high blood pressure is in-symptomatic, that is symptomless. You only find out when you go to hospital and get your blood pressure checked. That is why it is called a silent killer because it silently works to cause harm. Hypertension has been said to result in heart failure, slumping, how does it graduate to this level? That is actually the big deal about blood pressure. The higher the blood pressure, the more likely

disease here in Nigeria, compared to developed nations of the world? High blood pressure is a worldwide disease. It affects every race. What we do know for sure is that the complications appear to be heavier or more serious in blacks. Black, especially male, tend to have more stroke, more heart attacks and generally more complications than in other races. If you have high blood pressure and you are a black male, you are at a higher risk to have complications.

Uwaezuoke

you will get complications. The organs that are most easily targeted are the heart, the kidneys, the brain and sometimes the eyes. What is does basically is to damage the vessels to those organs. It damages the vessels that go to the heart, it damages the vessel that go to the brain thereby causing stroke. It damages the vessels that go to the kidneys. The heart, particularly, is the organ that bears the brunt of blood pressure. This means it is the heart that pumps and generates the pressure. When the heart generates pressure for a long time, the heart is working too hard and that heart could fail. It can cause heart failure, it can cause heart attack, it can cause stroke, and it can also cause kidney failure. Many Nigerians, including prominent people have been heard to suddenly slump and died. Would you say hypertension is responsible for this? We know, medically, that all deaths that occur suddenly are not truly sudden. Most of them that we see are not truly sudden. The backgrounds of those deaths have been laid down for a while. High blood pressure would form the majority of those deaths because like I said earlier on, it affects the heart muscles; it affects the vessels that work with the heart. Therefore, it can block the vessels and cause heart attacks. Heart attacks are the commonest cause of somebody that you have seen apparently healthy and dies suddenly. High blood pres-

sure is the commonest cause of sudden deaths in Nigeria. It occurs often because the patients do not check their blood pressure. How long could one have high blood pressure before it leads to sudden death? Well, that is a question that is difficult to answer because like human beings, we have different ways of responding to diseases. Some people will respond to diseases very fast. Other will respond very badly. It depends on the make-up of the person. The fact is that the longer you are hypertensive, the more likely it develops complications. What preventable measures can be taken against this disease condition? That is actually where I think that emphasis should be laid because drugs are expensive; high blood pressure is not curable. Prevention is the best thing that we can do. The first step is to ensure people go for check regularly. Blood pressure doesn’t just rise overnight. It rises slowly overtime. If one doesn’t take adequate measures, it begins to rise. There are measures you can take. You can exercise regularly, you can eat a lot of fruits; you can lose weight if you are obese; you can quit alcohol drinking if you drink; you can also quit smoking. If you do all these, you could reduce the chances of developing high blood pressure. What is the prevalent rate of the

Could there be a way of stopping the disease from its genetic transmission to the new born? The fact that we say high blood pressure is genetic or hereditary does not mean that it is infectious. But, if there is anything you have noticed that your parents do that makes them to have high blood pressure, you try to avoid such. If for example your parents are obese or eat too much salt, you should avoid being obese and you should also limit your salt intake. As for children, there are recent reports that children that are malnourished from the womb tend to have higher blood pressure. Given the lifestyle and nature of food consumed in urban and rural areas in any society, where do you think high blood should be prevalent? That is a very key point; it is a very good point you have raised. It is clear and we also notice that westernization has increased the burden of high blood pressure. The reason is that people now eat fast food. Fast foods contain more salt and they also make us fat. We exercise less in the cities. Our fathers in the villages will eat and go to farm, work and sweat; they never grow so fat. They tend to have less blood pressure. There are other factors as well that compound this problem. But, basically, less salt, less fat, the less obese you become, the less your high blood pressure. It is quite clear that if people will eat more of natural food, they will have less blood pressure.

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Arts Lounge

Dream Chasers: Proudly Nigerian anthology

I wrote my first song at 10 –BMG

Pageants as agent of social change Of course, beauty pageants should grow beyond the glamour. Winner of the latest edition of the Queen Nigeria project, Diamond Okoh is setting this example. Ngozi Emedolibe

or the average contestant, winning the coveted crown at a beauty pageant event means the commencement of a life of stardom with the juicy prizes as well as endorsements that usually follow such feats. But that should hardly be what beauty pageantry should be all about. With the various pageants available in Nigeria, so many stakeholders believe that such projects should be initiated to act as the voice and face for the various problems plaguing Nigeria as a nation. For renowned culture promoter, Kenneth Gbandi, who has hosted pageants internationally, the sole aim of pageants should be to simulate efforts towards bringing attention to a cause. According to him, when a queen is crowned, she should look beyond the glamour and see herself first and foremost as an ambassador to a cause. “The idea”, he says, “is to use that springboard to project a certain cause. In a nation like Nigeria, where there are several issues to draw attention to a beauty pageant will fill in the gap. In fact, before, she is crowned shoe should be armed with an initiative to pursue throughout her reign”. Perhaps this is why Queen Nigeria, Diamond Okoh and her handlers have decided to follow this noble example. For the beauty queen, she has taken a new dimension to her role as beauty queen in Nigeria. She has set herself apart by making sure she stays true to her pledge. Some of the camps she visited recently are the Okobaba Destitute Camp in Ebute-Metta area of Lagos State and Agbado Railway Station Camp in Ogun State. The former is home to approximately 500 children, youth and adults. On the other hand, quite impressively, the latter serves as a ‘stop place’ for many residents once living in North East Nigeria, as displaced by the insecurity scourge. The aim of the tour is to positively touch lives and show care to the lessprivileged who have been limited by the harsh economic situations and security challenges in the country. They were accompanied to the Agbado Railway Station Camp by Onyeka Venath at the behest of Betty Abah the CEO of CEE-HOPE, who has pledged support to

Diamond and children at the Destitute Camp in Ebute Metta

Diamond witb 4 children in the Destitute Camp in E. Metta

Queen Nigeria and will be working in collaboration with Queen Nigeria in certain IDP camps. Diamond took it upon herself to find out about the living conditions of families at the Agbado Railway Camp, “I spoke with the management of Agbado Railway Station Camp who informed me that they had several committee members whose duties were to look for relations of displaced persons and reunite them with their families. Some are not as lucky. I met a man who slept in the mosque built with rusted roofing sheets and cold cement floors without a roof. He had to separate himself from his family so that they could have a roof over their heads. He told me his wife and children are living with friends, scattered all over Nigeria. The conditions of people living in the camps showed clear signs of poverty”, she bemoans. Her visit to the Okobaba Camp gave her the opportunity to see first-hand the state of the school for the children in the Okobaba Camp. Diamond added that also calls for urgent attention, as the place is

water locked and desperately in need of basic amenities that will enhance learning. “I saw the resilience of people determined to survive against all odds. But more needs to be done. I know I cannot change their status in a day but I believe everyone has a role to play”, she added. According to her, “the Okobaba Camp runs like a village and has people in charge of designated hubs. I visited three hubs and was introduced to their leaders, including a camera man who had just one hand. His face lit up when he spoke about his profession. At the same time, I realised that behind the smiles on the different faces, food, education, water sanitation and the eradication of poverty were constant topics for discussion amongst many.” She believes that her work and lending a voice to their cause will alleviate issues that pertain to their living conditions and education. Queen Nigeria is desirous that philanthropists and wellwishers can use her office as a conduit to reach the needs of those in IDP camps.

I realised that behind the smiles on the different faces, food, education, water sanitation and the eradication of poverty were constant topics for discussion amongst many

Diamond and young girls thumbs up at Okobaba Camp

In view of the visible challenges inherent in the Camp, Tokunbo Ifaturoti of TAAI PR Consultancy and management of Queen Nigeria on behalf the stakeholders, Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), stressed the importance of Diamond Okoh’s work in the community. She explained that Diamond’s pet project “Go the Extra Mile with Diamond Queen Nigeria” is a force to be reckoned with in seeking compassionate streaks in the society who will lend a helping hand to this cause. Queen Nigeria Diamond Okoh highlighted her desire: “I will try my best during my reign to make sure the cases of those affected are revisited and I will try to ease their conditions”. Queen Nigeria, Diamond Okoh was visibly concerned at the plight of children and their families. She voiced the need for families to stay together in order to keep the family unit as one. This she believed will enable the benefits of development from the grass root level. She commended the work of the management of the Camps and pledged she will try her best to follow up on the plight of any family’s need brought to her attention. Diamond Okoh is compassionate and reaches out to the needy especially children, youth and women and strives to make a difference wherever she goes. Her pet project will ensure she acts as a mouth piece to highlight the need for sustainable livelihoods and family togetherness.

Arts Lounge

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

VOICES

Expanding Nigeria’s fashion industry

Bukie Aje Lloyd

eading Africa’s contemporary music scene is a new generation of Nigerian artists redefining the continent’s creative landscape and crafting songs with international appeal. Nigeria’s film industry, colloquially known as Nollywood, is the second largest film industry after India, in terms of films produced annually. Equally, Nigeria’s burgeoning fashion sector is enjoying an unprecedented level of exposure that translates into a unique opportunity for designers. Nigerian designers are becoming regular features on some of the world’s runways and gaining footholds with celebrities including Michelle Obama and Beyoncé to name a few. Today the question “Who are you wearing?” might just bring up names such as Duro Olowu, Maki Oh, or Jewel by Lisa. Driven by fashion weeks and an explosion of print and online media, a growing number of platforms are emerging in Nigeria for designers to promote their brands to a mass market. New trends in fashion retail are developing, with increasing numbers of local multi-brand boutiques and online shops looking to carry Nigerian designers. Additionally, the country’s fashion weeks are attracting the attention of international retailers. Selfridges, MyTheresa.com and Browns UK are among the international buyers that have attended Lagos Fashion and Design Week. The growth of online retailing is also on the rise and offering new sales avenues for fashion and other consumer goods. With 56 million internet subscribers and 120 million active cell phone lines in September 2013, e-commerce has witnessed an impressive growth in Nigeria over the past few years, and will continue to grow as infrastructure and confidence in online retail both grow. Local e-tailers Jumia and Konga are aggressively rolling out, and British online fashion store ASOS now delivers to Nigeria. But beyond the glitz and glamour, designers within Nigeria struggle to find a sustainable market locally and to keep up

Bukieb Aje Lloyd

with the international fashion industry. The Nigerian fashion industry remains largely fragmented, suffering from a lack of internal and external patronage and a myriad of structural issues. A lack of formal fashion training facilities creates weaknesses in all aspects of the industry, from pattern cutting and styling, to marketing and PR. No nationwide official body exists to encourage funding for designers, while poor infrastructure slows down production and raises costs. Nigeria’s textiles market, once the third largest in Africa, is virtually defunct and dependent on cheap imports from China. Rarely viewed as an integrated sector of the economy, the potential of creativity as an economic force has been slow to find recognition in Nigeria. As a consequence, while rich in talent, Nigeria lacks the infrastructure and capacity

to commercialise its creative talent and reap its vast rewards. In comparison, the South African fashion industry, including all its different sectors (manufacturing, retail, media and recruitment sectors), is the fifth largest employment sector in the country, generating an annual income of several billion South African Rand. Despite the challenges facing the industry, fashion is arguably the next big thing in Nigeria. With a population of 160 million, Nigeria is Africa’s most populous nation, and its powerful demographics position it firmly in the centre of Africa’s fashion scene. The growth in particular of the urban population, positive macro-economic growth, an increase in disposable income from an emerging middle class, and a strong appetite for consumer goods offer a potent recipe for a lively fashion scene with real economic

With 56 million internet subscribers and 120 million active cell phone lines in September 2013, e-commerce has witnessed an impressive growth in Nigeria over the past few years

Memorable Reads Who is your favourite author? That would be Amitabh Schuch. What of your favourite book? I think that will be the novel ‘A Suitable Boy’ by Vikram Seth. It is one of the longest novels ever published. What is the highpoint of the book? Whenever I pick up this book to read, after five minutes I am in a totally different world. He has an art of using words and discovering persons with the smallest gesture and you can see the full person. He has such an understanding for motivations that he describes in a way which makes you feel you know the per-

Dorothee Werner

Filmmaker

son and one gets a total understanding. It’s a novel set in Bengali, one of the poor districts of India and he writes the story in a modern and traditional way to produce an elegantly blended style. It’s also very long and I love long books, I hear it is the longest novel written in English it has almost 2,000 pages. It is my all time favorite. What is your annual expenditure on books? I spent quite a lot on books. I can’t put them in numbers especially the books which are out of stock and I go the extra length to get them when in my base at Berlin. I spend more on books than on cosmetics.

traction. Leading the way in this endeavour is Lagos Fashion and Design Week. The showcase is focused on creating an event that highlights the commercial value of fashion. With partnerships with the British Council for the most outstanding ‘young creative entrepreneur’ award, and a Fashion Business Series to help designers learn about matters such as raising funding and running businesses, LFDW is working to position fashion as an industry in its own right. Fashion provides an important opportunity to diversify the Nigerian economy, and promote employment, particularly among youth. New entrants into the Nigerian fashion market, from international luxury brand Ermenegildo Zegna to high-street brands Zara and Mango, point to rising confidence in fashion retail in Nigeria, and a bid to capitalise on the benefits presented by an emerging middle class with an increasing disposable income and a strong appetite for consumer goods. With sound policies, targeted investment and global partnerships, the fashion industry can have a significant impact on Nigeria’s economy. Veteran fashion promoter Lexy MojoEyes, founder of Nigeria Fashion Week, believes that, “The fashion industry can become a big business in Africa. It could contribute to the development of industrial fabric, infrastructures and even more with the support of governments. Fashion can create jobs.” As Nigeria enters a new era in nationhood, there is a sense of vigour and renewal that makes the country’s prospects very appealing. The successes of its film and music sectors present a strong case for taking its fashion sector seriously and developing a strategy for doing so. If the institutional weaknesses in the industry are corrected then fashion can contribute to economic growth and position Nigeria as a major player in the international fashion market, in the way it has the potential to. •Bukie Aje Lloyd is founder, Designers Foundry, based in London.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

ARTISTE UNCENSORED Her parents named her Oluremi Bunmi, but the music industry knows her as Boomerang. Here is the story of the ‘Sweet, Sexy, Sassy’ crooner. Ogah Ocheche

Arts Lounge

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

I wrote my first song at 10 –BMG

very artiste will be excited about her album. Oluremi Bunmi a.k.a. Boomerang’s first album, ‘Sweet. Sexy. Sassy’, makes her feel the same way. “It has been so exciting and I am so happy because it has been a long time in coming. It is out there and I know that the next thing is to continue going from here,” she told our correspondent at the launch. It was not just that a former Lagos State commissioner as well as a former police boss were at the launch. Or even that it was by all standards, a very successful launch. It was all that and the fact that this long-standing desire of hers was being fulfilled. “I have songs in the album that are up to three years old but we worked on the album project for a whole year in the studio and I thank God it is done,” she said. Boomerang has been a part of the Walkerman Movement led by the comedian Koffi Idowu Nuel for some time, in fact, she said, she has been doing music professionally since 2005. “I have been in the industry for quite a while now I have been doing this professionally since 2005. People have been in the industry for less time than that and have gotten their break. I pray from here on, my break will come,” she explained. Of course, she is not in the music for the sake of it and her songs, which she said are ethnic-centric, are pack full with messages. “When I do songs, I try to put a message out there. So, if you listen to all the songs in the album you will see that there is something behind it,” she stated. But she has not left the Walkerman Movement, with which she has done two albums, for a solo career in music. “But this is my own album. We are a family that decided to come together and do an album, we did that album but we

are all individual artistes who can also do solo albums,” she explained. The artiste, who also does other things on the side including jewellery and Tshirts, said there is ethnic culture in her music, there is pop, a fusion of reggae, soul and rap, “everything is just together”. Boomerang said she would pick many of the songs as her favourite in the album that also has an intro and whose videos have been enjoying airplay. Boomerang said some of the songs to watch out for in the album include: ‘Credit’, ‘FlirtyFlirty’, ‘Take Me’, ‘Olowo Ori mi’ and ‘Yepa!’ “Music has always been a part of my life, when I wrote my first song I was barely 10. So when the time came for me to go fully into music I got the support of everyone at home including my parents,”

she said. The Ondo State native had her early childhood in the United States of America, U.S.A. and is known by other appellations like: Bmg, Akanchawa Duchess, Rap Mayoress and Queen of tha clan, is the only female member of the musical ensemble, Workerman Movement. She has been at it for all of 10 years and has already released two albums with her label mates as well as collaborations with other entertainers. The sonorous vocalist sings in Eng-

The Ondo State native had her early childhood in the United States of America, U.S.A. and is known by other appellations like: BMG, Akanchawa Duchess, Rap Mayoress and Queen of tha Clan

MIDWEEK JUMP

Artists in Residence programme in Austria

n co-operation with KulturKontakt Austria, the Austrian Federal Chancellery makes available 50 residencies in Austria (Vienna and Salzburg) for the year 2016. The residency is designed to offer an opportunity to familiarise oneself with the Austrian art scene and cultural environment and to make contact with Austrian artists. Residents are expected to complete a project during their stay. During their stay, the artists in residence

will be made familiar with the art scene and cultural environment. Activities on offer include visits at galleries, studios and museums, contacts to the literature and publishing sector, as well as access to Vienna’s or Salzburg’s music life. Whenever possible, the residents will receive free tickets for art and book fairs, performances at the Tanzquartier Wien, the international ImPuls Tanz dance festival and other events. During their stay in Salz-

lish, Yoruba, raps and does a bit of Jamaican patoi. The album features family, soul-lifting and inspiring tunes, groovy ballads female emancipative themes and content driven ideas and features artists like: W4, Sossick, Yemi Alade, Oritsefemi, Kiss, Butafly, Godwon, Q.A, Lowkeyz, Olujazz, Likkle Tee, Omalicha of Rhythm FM, and Westsyde. Among the producers of the songs are: Sossick, Lowkeyz, Ex.O, Joelex, Heartbeat, EL. Magnifique and Lord A.

burg, the artists in residence will be taken care of by Kunstverein Salzburg. This call is open to artists whose permanent place of residence is outside of Austria and who have completed their training. Austrian citizens cannot apply for this programme. A basic working knowledge of German or English is required. The age limit for applicants is 40 years, i.e. the applicants’ date of birth has to be after the 31 December 1975.

iPhone Film Festival

womanwood

ilms shot with an Apple iOS device, including iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad, are eligible for a prize. The Original iPhone Film Festival 2015 is accepting entries. The categories are fiction, nonfiction, music video, student director (under 18) and long form (more than 10 minutes long). Filmmakers of all countries of residence are welcome to submit films, but entries not in English must be subtitled or dubbed. Films must not feature copyrighted material without license or permission. The grand prize is an Apple Watch. Additional prizes include an Apple iPad Air, Manfrotto Mini LED lights, iStabilizer products, iOgrapher Media Cases, Rode Smart Lav+ mics and other gears. The deadline is Sept. 1.

Arts Lounge

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

FAR AND NEAR

At UK/Nigeria 2015–16 announcement

large crowd of partners, sponsors and young entrepreneurs from Nigeria and the UK saw the British Council, the UK’s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities, launch the year-long cultural season, UK/Nigeria 2015–16. UK/Nigeria 2015–16 is a major season of arts in Nigeria aimed at building new audiences, creating new collaborations and strengthening relationships between the UK and Nigeria. Guests included: Bolanle Olukanni, Kemi Lala Akindoju, Tope Oshin, Kelechi Amadi-Obi, Tunde Sotimirin and Lola Shoneyin, an author and founder of Ake Arts and Book Festival. Also present were officials of the British High Commission and the British Council including: Mr Simon Shercliff, Deputy High Commissioner; Connie Price, Country Director, Nigeria, British Council; and Ojoma Ochai, Director Arts Nigeria, British Council.

ream Chasers is an anthology of short stories by different writers, however, in its diversity; the stories are relatively close to the Nigerian experience through the names, locale and themes. The seasoned writers wrote wonderful pieces in few words and each storyline cannot be easily determined by the reader because of the heavy use of suspense.

The British Council team

Others that stepped out to support the British Council are: DJ Sosse, who hosted the guests to a night of delightful music, K-Peace, Nigerian Idol season 5 winner, who treated the guests to his brand of Fuji-infused music, Ambassador Ayo Olukanni,

Location of Today’s Love

hanaian actors like Eddy Watson, Kobby Acheampong and Bismark Odoi have met their Nigerian counterparts in a film currently being shot. The film, Today’s

Former Nigerian Ambassador to Australia, Arnold Jackson, from the Nigerian Export Promotion Council Abuja; Chioma Udeh, Founder, AFRIFF; Funmilayo Balogun, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Tourism and Culture Abuja.

Love, is being produced under the stable of One&Two Film Production by Uchenna Mbunabo. Today’s Love is a hilarious movie, starring Nigerian comic actor, Egbeigwe Apama, Rita Edochie, Calista Okoronkwo, George Ogudoro, Chinenye Uyanna and Deinso Odukwe.

Directed by Chidi Anyanwu and written by Michael K. Amponsah, the movie tells the story of a lady who found herself in a dilemma of having to love two brothers. As love will always find itself in the wrong place, one of the brothers who happens to be the young lady’s first love could not find appreciation or remorse from her, as she prefers the other brother following his health challenge. The lady, played by Callista Okoronkwo got a complementing role from Ghanaian actor, Eddy Watson who happens to be her first lover in the movie. As fate would have it, Eddy contracted the deadly HIV, which made it impossible for him to be loved back by Calista Okoronkwo. “It’s expected to be hilarious, with a little feel of tragedy to balance the various characters. Interestingly, the three Ghanaian acts will be the second set of entertainers to be introduced into the huge Nigerian market by us after introducing the likes of Jackie Appiah”, says the producer, Mbunabo.

MEGA 2015: Voting process starts Jennifer Onwurah

oting for the gospel works and artistes nominated for the 2015 edition of the Music and Entertainment Gospel Awards is currently on after the submission of entries closed on July 31, 2015 - approximately two months after it was opened on June 1. The Nigerian gospel musicians, producers, video directors, among others, responded enthusiastically to the shift towards online registration (especially on the awards website, www.megawards.org, and its email platforms).

Dream Chasers: Proudly Nigerian anthology Olutayo Irantiola

Today’s Love unites Ghana, Nigeria

Imoelayo Fatunase

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Despite the challenges posed by network and technical hitches, the awards witnessed a marginal rise in submissions by upcoming artistes in its third season. Notable figures also registered their presence, and therefore guarantee a large and strong pool of high quality works that will surely engage t h e full at-

tention of screeners and judges. Top entrants include Lara George, Mike Abdul, Eben, Monique, Patricia UwajeiKing, Joe Praize, Princess Anne Inyang, Joan Paul, Taiwo Oladoye, Da’Son, Dabo Williams, De’Covenant, Akin Alabi, Liza-C, Yinka Davids, Linda Etukudo, and many others. “Interested entrants are advised to scrutinise the list on the website and make sure details of their albums, songs, singles, videos, events and profiles are properly captured. Sightings, complaints and clarification can be filled done via (@tweet_megawards or SMS/WhatsApp 08182223348). The 2015 edition is for gospel works released or published between May 1, 2014 and April 30, 2015.” The Awards Show will be taped before live audience on Friday, November 13, 2015.

Major Nigerian cities mentioned in the anthology include: Ibadan and Port-Harcourt in Camouflage; Nsukka, Orba, Onitsha in the Magic Ring; Iseyin, Okeho and Oyo in the Great Discovery; Marina, Lagos in Love on the Marina; Ile-Ife, Onitsha, Surulere, Lagos in Tough Guys write poetry; Bere, Ibadan in the House that Hunger Built. Other locations mentioned in the book include USA, South Africa, Paris and Zimbabwe. The Nigerian content of the book is found in the themes of each story except in How I met Steve Biko and What Would Saffron Do? The themes include: deception, intricacies of intercultural marriage, armed robbery, single parenthood and depression in Camouflage; Incest, Western influences are the evident in The Little Girl with Bussing Breasts and a Bubble Gum Laugh; Insecurity, Insurgence, HIV/AIDS, Death of Neighbour, Information shared via social media were mentioned in The Curtain. Others are Voodooism, Gambling, Apprenticeship, Western education, Assumption, Religiosity explored in The Magic Ring; Traditions in The Great Discovery, Depression, Loss of a grown-child, Foreign education, dashed hope in Love on The Marina, Intertribal marriage, Affection in Too Much Pepper; Extramarital affairs, Reminiscence in “Fur Elsie”. Additional themes in the book include Fraud, Impersonation, Disgrace, Financial challenge as reflected in Double Wahala; Joy of reunion, ‘joblessnesness’, desire to travel abroad, daring nature, love in Tough Guys Write Poetry. The House that Hunger Built is related to the tall Yoruba narrative similar to the Amos Tutuola’s style of Africanism. The other two stories have African themes such as Xenophobia, Supporting acquaintance, bribery, doggedness, professional knowledge and assault in How I met Steve Biko while suspicion, unaccomplished mission, despotic leadership in What Would Saffron Do? The language of the text is lucid and concise. Interestingly, the text is domesticated because Pidgin is infused into the book and this makes the book relate closely with Nigerian readers. The book is largely and proudly Nigerian. It is a way of exporting our literary culture and nuances to other cultures and countries. The book is another distinct piece from Nigerian writers.

Dream chasers

Business

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

Lagos Chamber commends Actis on $300m investment

Broadcasting Commission assures on 2017 deadline on digitisation 30

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Why national carrier project may fail again – Expert

Nigeria’s fuel import declines 7% in first quarter FRANCIS EZEM

trong indications emerged that the scarcity of refined petroleum products, especially Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, nationwide in the first few months of the year may have been occasioned by bout seven per cent decline in the volume of imported products. Imports and exports statistics for the first quarter of 2015 signed by the General Manager Public Affairs Nigerian Ports Authority, Captain Iheanacho Ebubeogu, showed that a total of 4.4 million metric tonnes of the product was imported in the first three months of the year. This represents a decline of 6.8 per cent when compared with the 4.6 million metric tonnes handled in the comparative period of 2014. The report also showed that the Gross Registered Tonnage GRT of crude oil tankers handled in the review period show a 12.21 per cent increase over the figures of the first quarter of 2014. Stakeholders however believe that there might be further decline in the volume of imported refined products in the coming quarters, following the commencement of operations at the Warri and Port Harcourt refineries. Details of the port statistics indicated further that a total of 49.3million metric tonnes of cargo were handled in all the port locations across the country in the period under review as against the 45.9 million metric tonnes handled in the comparative period of last year, showing an increase of 7.20 per cent. A breakdown of cargo throughput reflected that general cargo constituted 6.5 million metric tonnes of the entire cargo throughput, representing an increase of 6.1 per cent when compared with the 6.1 million metric tonnes handled in the same period of 2014 while dry bulk cargo stood at 2.3 metric tonnes. The nation’s gas export also recorded a 0.37 per cent growth, as Liquefied Natural Gas LNG, shipped 5.6 million metric tonnes of gas as against the 5.5 million metric tonnes

handled during the review period of 2014. Other details show that laden containers handled at all the ports amounted to 233,331Twenty Equivalent Units. Empty containers also stood at 163,850 TEUs while a total of 30,649 units of vehicles were handled in the period under review. Meanwhile a of 5,139 ocean going vessels with a total of 61.9 million total gross tonnage were handled as against the 57 million recorded in the comparative period of 2014. Overall, the level of operational activities at the port locations witnessed positive variance over the same period of last year, which

represents a positive growth of 4.17 per cent (104.2% performance) was achieved over35million gross tonnageT forecasted. Managing Director of the authority, Mr. Habib Abdullahi, who spoke on the report, attributed the positive achievement to the growth in liquid bulk (crude oil lifting) and general cargo traffic, which can also be attributed to the economy recovery in Europe. “The ports had a very strong first quarter which is attributable to the continued attention paid to first and foremost improving existing port infrastructure in the areas of rehabilitation of port quay walls and aprons, secondly deepening our channels and thirdly the

upgrading and renovation of our common user facilities, wrecks removal from our channels as well as other necessary engineering and marine works”, he said He also disclosed that the authority has embarked on palliative measures on the port access roads in collaboration with the Federal Road Maintenance Agency FERMA, as part of its determination to avoid the gridlock that has affected smooth evacuation of cargo from the Ports. Abdullahi, who was reappointed penultimate week, having been sacked in May, pledged that the authority will continue to remain focused in making the ports efficient and customer- friendly.

AIRLINES’ FLIGHT SCHEDULES Med-View Airline Lagos- Abuja (Mon-Fri): 07.00, 08.50, 12.00, 16.30. Abuja- Lagos (Mon-Fri): 09.00, 14.00, 15.00, 18.30. Lagos-Yola (Mon-Fri): 8.50am. Yola-Lagos (Mon-Fri): 13.00. Lagos- PHC (Mon-Fri): 17.00. PHC-Lagos: 19.00. Abuja-Yola: 11.00. Yola-Abuja: 13.00. Lagos-Abuja (Sat): 08.00, 08.50. Abuja-Lagos (Sat): 10.00, 15.00. Lagos-PHC (Sat): 17.00. PHC-Lagos (Sat): 19.00. Lagos-Yola (Sat): 08.50. Yola-Lagos (Sat): 13.00

Dana Air

L-R: Co-ordinator of the Afforestation Programme Co-ordinating Unit, Mallam Saminu Ado; Head of Community Mobilisation of the National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW), Hajia Bintu Kolo; Director General of the Agency, Mr. Goni Ahmed and the Zonal Head of Operations, North-west of First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Mr. Abubakar Yaqub, during a capacity building workshop on environmental sustainability organised by NAGGW and supported by FCMB on Monday in Kano .

Custom, Immigration, Prison Pension Verification Team arrives Kwara Wole Adedeji, Ilorin

he Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate, PTAD, on Monday arrives Ilorin, Kwara State as part of its ongoing nationwide exercise to verify retirees from Customs, Immigration and Prison to ease out ghost pensioners.. The category of pensioners affected were those from Kwara and Ekiti States.

The objectives of the Directorate are to eliminate ghost workers and duplicate payments as well as to regularize anomalies such as over payments and under payments. Also, it was said that the exercise would was to establish a credible and authentic database of pensioners under the Defined Benefit Scheme, DBS) and to update the records of Next of Kin,NOK. Mohammed Abdullahi, a retired Deputy Superintended Of-

ficer of Immigration Services at the event described the on-going verification exercise as a good development for retirees in the country. Abdullahi explained that with PTAD electronic registration and issues of under payment would be resolved very soon and ghost workers will be easily eliminated. Another Pensioner, Mr Philip Ajiboye, who was a retired senior Customs officer, expressed his satisfaction on the verification exercise.

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

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

Executive Discourse

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Waning share of ISPs in Internet services There is a growing belief among ICT industry experts that the declining fortunes of most Internet Service Providers, ISPs, in the increasingly dynamic Internet services market represents inability of providers of the services to proactively respond to changes in the market. In this interview with Isaiah Erhiawarien, a seasoned ISP and ICT industry expert Mr. OlusolaTeniola, speaks on the issues affecting the market and how, in spite of its growing penetration by mobile devices, some ISPs still remain in business after all. What has been the state of the ISPs in the country before now?

hen you look at business and the beginning of globalisation in Africa it was mostly dominated by multinational corporations who had over a decade presence in Africa and their headquarters abroad needed to communicate with the remote entities in Africa. So, moving away NIPOST it was letter then when technology took over and data transmission was at its infancy so you have the public telephony NITEL did pre-dominantly voice not that they didn’t deal with data because they had the SAT 3 cable and that provided them and their clients, particularly British client) access to their headquarters via that medium. So you go through satellite or SAT 3, and remember only cables come to Nigeria, so the reliance on VSAT was a very strong business driver. And that again springs up ISPs, which did just reselling of bandwidth and those which attempted to create what we call pure ISP infrastructure such Hyperia in Lagos, Skynet in Ibadan and PiNET which were pioneers. They were very brave because they have to be people that were typically well connected to people in government who could get access to spectra. I say that because the predominant form was NITEL dialup or wireless. The predominance of wireless started on the back of ISPS. So data has always existed in Nigeria, whether it was facsimile or teletext, which were the areas where the ISPs could play. As you move closer to the year 2005, which is a very important year because that was the year that NITEL was weakened and thereby giving ISPs the opportunity to actually have a subsector, the breakup of NITEL gave other players the opportunity to emerge, which I called the second generation ISPs. Going by the evolution of the ICT sector, when do you think data provision became a major focus of players?

Teniola It was at the delivery of the undersea cable of Glo and MainOne that the mobile operators realised that there was an opportunity in data provisioning. The thing that actually prevented them from realising that then was that they were working on the 2G standard. When you look at the data speed of 2G, it could only 56kbs, which does not warrant the operators to configure their network for that purpose. It was when Edge and 3G came out as a standard and as deployment that they were able to go into data business and expand on the back of the fact that multiple cables were landing in Lagos. At that period, an ISP was only an hyper ISP or mobile operator because they were able deploy

2.5G and 3.5G, and in some cases Edge using their SGSN as a gateway to the internet. Once they were able to deploy that technology, the ISPs that were using other technology or other means were threatened by the share volume and the economies of scale of mobile operators providing access to the internet through the smartphone. Therefore, the cyber cafe business because of the power of the smartphone, such that the things that you are able to do in a small cyber cafe, even as late as 2008 and 2009 wasn’t deemed practical on a device was no longer the case by 2011 because the entrance of Samsung and iPhones into the business changed that landscape, especially with the iPad.

the cyber cafe business because of the

power of the smartphone, such that the things that you are able to do in a small

cyber cafe, even as late as

2008 and 2009

wasn’t deemed practical on a device was

2011 because the entrance of Samsung and iPhones into the business changed that landscape, especially with the iPad

no longer the case by

So you have a situation whereby such that there are multiple reasons why the death of ISPs, especially micro ISPs, started to take effect. As soon as the mobile operators were able to deploy 2.5G, 3.5G, and 3.7G into areas where that could be far reached as far as your by local community then it started to threatened and become an alternative to what ISPs can offer. What has compounded the situation is that natural consolidation has crept in. If you looked at the fact that right now, we have about 130 million subscribers, not all of them are active or are unique subscribers because of you mark the subscription unto an individual like myself am holding two handset here with two SIM card registered to myself, and each one of them have internet capability then I am holding four account but the predominant of where I use it is where I live and work so that if the focus of the hyper ISPs is too ensure that every subscription that they have the 130 million is not speaking only in voice but is using the data that is why you will have this natural consolidation. Someone who focuses on only one line of business cannot have a sustainable business. For us as an ISP we have economies of scale we hold licensed spectrum and then we have a suites of products on this connectivity that are addressing enterprise

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

Executive Discourse

market not a failure -Teniola market, which wad what the hyper ISPs or the mobile network operators can address. So if don’t fall into those two categories, either you are an MNO or an ISP that has the wherewithal, it is a very difficult landscape to play in. For most of these cybercafé operators who have closed shop, is there any possibility that they can return to business? I have always advocated that it is not right to look at the world in one perspective. I believe that there is still room for a combo cyber café. What do I mean by a Combo Cyber café? I remember the days of TalkToTalk Net, a company created by Nigerians at Opebi in Ikeja. You go in there do phone calls on voice over IP bypassing NITEL in those days. Now there is room for those kinds of players because if you go to the advance world, not everyone carries a device on a data plan. If you run your phone it is a great audience for that kind of audience because it is hugely expensive to roam and run data on those devices. It very expensive since what you need is either a wifi to lash onto or you switch it off and go into a cyber café, and then do everything you need to for a fraction of the cost that it will cost you to do with the number in a roaming data. So that is an avenue of addressing the needs of that mobile population. What I mean by moving, are those Diasporas that come into the country if they can’t afford the stress of getting a SIM card. But the tariff for roaming seems to have been dropping? Roaming charges on voice I agree but not roaming charges on data. Remember that the average cost of voice call is dropping, the average utilisation of voice is also dropping, and in fact one of the reasons why the MNO are focusing on ISPs business is because the drop in the average user for voice calls. It has dropped from $56 ten years ago to about $5, so they have to try and increase that value by adding different products, of which internet mobile is one of them. What is the role of the growing population? I think that is not the case, if not the CDMAs will still be standing strong because GSM is the predominant standard for voice across the world, there are pockets of CDMAs success but GSM has been the de facto. It is just like saying Bill Gates is not the richness man, but whether you like or not Microsoft may not the best product it is the most ubiquitous. So, I am not saying that because we have a very large growing population, we are going to be successful as an industry. It is just that the technology is there, that is why MTN will always be successful no matter the technology that they are rolling out. Do you actually think that the CDMAs were intended to survive? The technological changes in terms of device were much more appealing to the consumer on GSM held devices as opposed to CDMA device. I also believed that the operators of CDMAs were in the market before the GSM operators, but the fact they became regionalised speaks volumes because the

It is not just for telecoms issue though the dynamism of the telecoms and the ICT business is much more acute than the others but generally if you have the opportunity to have not only the economies of scale but the reach of the economies of scope, I think what you then have is that you have a more likelihood of success than failure network really is a national network. I the hindsight is that if you have a started a CDMA network you would have seen the potentials of the CDMA network as any GSM network because it is not so much the backend technology but there are aspects of GSM they got right but the CDMA technology misread, and one of them is the SIM card technology. The fact that I can pull out a SIM card and put it into another phone and use is a great one. The CDMA technology does not give room for the consumer to move with the different devices that technology was offering. It was easier for the consumer to ride on the technology of the GSM than that of the CDMA. So you see that GSM technology is an old technology and they are looking at migrating to LTE, and they have voice over LTE and LTE data. So I think that looking at the way we are going voice, at some way, will be given out for free. That is inevitable because now you have Skype and instant messaging as well as all the different ways of communicating that are free to free and think that is the trend of going forward. Is it right to say that the ISPs got it all wrong? No, I don’t think that anybody got anything wrong. It is a very complex thing. It is not that people did something and things just went wrong. As we speaking right now, there are smart people somewhere in the worlds developing technology that we cannot really fathom. What I mean by that is that we really don’t know what is going on. That is the beauty of technology, so ISPs operator who enters the industry with the sole purpose serving the consumer base on one model is doomed to fail not because they are serving them with one model but because the world has become more complicated but the consumer is not content with one model. If you have a very smart competitor who comes in very smart business model and don’t adapt irrespective of whether you are an ISP, CDMA or GSM operator, the person will succeed. Let’s look at MTEL, they are related to NITEL, they should be the dominant force but they are not and they have a GSM license So I find it difficult why people associate the demise of a certain sector to mean that they are failures. We are an ISP, we are not a failure. We are still in existence. We have adapted to their models. Our business models are not as simplistic they were in the past when I said we were just running VSAT operations. Technology is the sole determinant of success, if you don’t understand technol-

ogy and you just happened to jump in you are bound to have some difficulty sustaining the growth of any company. It is only natural that if you give out 400 ISPs licenses and not all will survive because it is far more difficult to run an operation than to obtain a license. How far have you gone with the renewal of your license, as directed by the NCC? Ours has already been renewed. That directive was based on the notion that they feel that those who are in the operating do not have a license or those who are dormant may hope to renew their license. You can force things on people who that the environment is not conducive for them to do their business. So the world will not wait for directives before things will become successful. What am trying to say is there are ISPs that are very profitable that are transforming themselves in a manner that reflects the reality of the changing dynamism of the digital world. How has Internet Solution been able to reflect that dynamism? We are governed by corporate governance. Let me tell you about our company, IS Internet Solution, a company of Dimension Data and wholly own by NTT, the Japanese fixed line operator, we are a beneficiary of an acquisition made in 2008 of a company called Accelon, because we are not very well known in Nigeria. I am the Chief Executive

Officer but I can’t just run that company like my own business or bank account. I have a formidable board of diverse backgrounds and highly intelligent, and that board reports to the board of Dimension Data, DD, which has its headquarter in South Africa, and then that company reports to the DD Group which has 42 presence in the world, and then to the NTT, which a more complex company. All of them put together forms 245,000 employees across the globe. There is ecosystem that is formidable so we naturally spend $7.8 billion of our revenue yearly on research and development. We have in Africa 8,700 employees and five regional offices in Africa. What I am saying is that my access to knowledge base of very exquisite models of what you are not supposed to do is vast. It assists me in making the right decisions often at the right time, and think that is how we should run a business. It is not just for telecoms issue though the dynamism of the telecoms and the ICT business is much more acute than the others but generally if you have the opportunity to have not only the economies of scale but the reach of the economies of scope, I think what you then have is that you have a more likelihood of success than failure. What is the financial worth of the ISP sector? If you look at the enterprise market this year in Nigeria it worth close to $700 million and it is growing and if you look at the consumer segment it is least three times that. It started from low base considering that internet usage in Nigeria is 68 million, not just people who have subscription, which is pretty low. We could get penetration and utilisation to close to about 120 million users, so it quite clear that we have a very low user subscription. What is the forward for ISPs? Transform your model quickly, adapt new technology and find a niche.

Tenikola

Business News

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Nigeria loses N577bn yearly on tax waivers to firms Tola Akinmutimi

ctionaid Nigerian, AAN, and Tax Justice Network Africa have reported that Nigeria and three other West African countries lose an average of $9.6 billion yearly as accruable revenues to corporate tax incentives and waivers. Nigeria’s loss is put at about $2.9 billion. A report launched on Monday by the Non Governmental Organisations, NGOs, titled “The West African Giveaway: Use and abuse of corporate tax incentive in ECOWAS,” examined corporate tax incentives and their impact over the years in the Economic Community of West African countries with a focus on Nigeria, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal. The report indicated that of the four countries, Nigeria recorded the biggest loss of about 2.9 billion dollars (about N577 billion) to waivers yearly,

an amount that is higher than the Federal Government’s yearly appropriation to the education sector. According to the NGOs’ findings, Ghana came second with about 2.27 billion dollars (about N451.64 billion), an maoun that is about three times higher than the country’s yearly budgetary allocation health sector. Speaking at the launch of the report in Abuja, AAN’s Country Director, Ms Ojobo Atuluku, decried the abuse of such incentives to and by multinational companies, adding that the incentives were given to companies to attract more Foreign Direct Investments FDIs with the attendant positive multiplier effects on the economy. Atuluku pointed out that granting tax incentives to investors, notably foreign companies, was depriving governments of money to financial essential public services like health, education and infra-

Al-Makura gives traders on Abuja-Keffi highway two month ultimatum

overnor Umaru AlMakura of Nasarawa State has given traders at the Mararaba Building Materials market on Abuja-Keffi highway two months to vacate the place or be sanctioned. This is just as he also ordered operators of motor parks on the road two weeks to vacate the area, noting that their activities are obstructing free flow of traffic. The Governor, who gave the ultimatum on Monday during his unscheduled visit to the market, said that the activities of traders, especially those at the building materi-

als market, constituted a nuisance on the road. While promising the traders alternative market in the state, Al-Makura disclosed that efforts would be made to clear the drains along the road to check incessant flooding in the area. In his response, the Chairman of the Traders Association, Mr Peter Ejike, assured the governor that his members would comply with the directive and urged him to expedite action in providing alternative market for them in the state.

structure even as the anticipated FDIs were not forthcoming. She explained further that the increased investment was due primarily to the exploration of natural resources in

the region and not linked to the incentives granted in real terms. The AAN’s boss said: “Corporate tax incentives, which are reductions in tax offered

L-R): Soji Aiyeola, Head Finance, C&I Leasing Plc; Elizabeth Ehigiamusoe, Director, Equipment Leasing Association of Nigeria (ELAN); Alfred Okugbeni, Director ELAN; Chuka Onwuchekwa, Chairman (ELAN); Emeka Ndu, Managing Director/ CEO, C&I Leasing Plc; Alex Mbakogu, Chief Financial Officer; Andrew Efurhievwe, Executive Secretary ELAN and Andrew Otike-Odibi, Executive Director, C&I Leasing Plc during ELAN’s team visit to the organisation recently.

AFC secures $50m from Islamic Development Bank for project financing Tola Akinmutimi

frica Finance Corporation (AFC) has accepted a US$50 million 15-year line of fiancing, with a 13-year six month repayment period, from the Islamic Development Bank (IDB). The funds will be used to finance projects located across the numerous African IDBmember countries while the projects will be structured in a way that is compliant with Islamic Finance, focusing particularly on infrastructure and agricultural projects that promote the economic and social development of the communities concerned.

This is AFC’s first Islamic finance borrowing and is the result of several years of increasing cooperation and collaboration between the two institutions. AFC initiated discussions in 2009 and a Memorandum of Understanding was later signed with the Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD), the private sector arm of the IDB Group. Building on this groundwork a team from the IDB visited AFC in 2014, following the reaffirmation of AFC’s international credit rating of A3/P2 by Moody’s and based on several more years’ track record in landmark project financing and development. AFC’s involve-

Flying robots replace oil roughnecks

il rig inspection is a dangerous business. Traditionally roughnecks dangled from a wire, in galeforce winds if needed, to manually log wear and tear on the girders. Assessments include giant chimneys — called flare stacks — that belch fire during million-dollar-a-day shutdowns. Increasingly the industry has found that swapping abseiling humans for small drones equipped with high-definition and thermal cameras can save time, cut costs and improve safety. “These are large metal struc-

tures in a big pond of seawater. They will rust a lot, particularly in the North Sea where rigs designed to last 20 years are lasting more than 40. They are continually getting cracks and physical damage from the waves and need to be refurbished and fixed,” says Chris Blackford, Sky Futures’ chief operations officer. Sky Futures — headquartered in London — is a drone inspection company specializing in the oil and gas industry and counts BP, Shell, Apache, BG Group and Statoil among its clients. It’s one of a handful

by governments to attract investment, including reduced corporate income tax holidays for specified periods, often provided to companies operating in special economic zones”

of companies — including Cyberhawk, PrecisionHawk and SenseFly — finding commercial applications for drones. “We decided to focus on oil and gas because the barriers to entry are very high, but there are real problems to be solved and the economics were better, despite the very low oil price,” Blackford says. Business, Blackford says, is booming. Although the first drone inspections were carried out five years ago, demand for Sky Futures’ and Cyberhawk’s services has surged, more than doubling in the last year alone.

At the start of 2015 the Federal Aviation Administration finally relaxed its stance on drones flying in U.S. airspace, giving companies like Sky Futures access to the world’s largest offshore market. “We will continue doubling, if not tripling, revenues over the next three to five years,” says Blackford. Inspections involve sending one drone operator and one engineer out to a rig to fly a small aerial vehicle around the platform, building a 3D model of the structure and mapping any anomalies.

ment in projects such as the Bakwena Toll Road, a transport infrastructure development which has connected South Africa’s industrial heartland to the nearest deep water port in Mozambique, were instrumental to the success of the corporation’s application. President and Chief Executive Officer of AFC, Andrew Alli, said: “As AFC’s first Islamic Finance loan, this agreement represents an important step for the corporation. The Islamic finance sector is responding to high demand and rapidly expanding, with a large number of Islamic finance institutions establishing operations here as a result of Africa’s significant Muslim population. There is enormous growth potential within this industry. “We intend to fully utilize the loan and capital to fund and develop projects within IDB member countries, several of which are also member states of AFC. It is with loans such as these that AFC can continue to improve the quality of the continent’s infrastructure and with it help to boost Africa’s economic growth.” As well as providing important financing for the corporation’s activities, AFC’s agreement with the IDB establishes an important, intercontinental relationship, which will hopefully lead to further collaboration between African and Middle Eastern institutions in the future.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Aviation industry crucial to FG’s reform agenda – Perm. Sec Olusegun Koiki

he Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Aviation, Mrs. Binta Bello, has said that one of the crucial areas President Muhammadu Buhari was focusing on to improve the economy is the nation’s aviation sector. This is as she said that the Accident Investigation Bureau, AIB,was well prepared to respond to any air mishap in the country. Speaking at a one week programme for members of the League of Airports and Aviation Correspondents, LAAC, being held at the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, NCAT, Zaria, Bello pointed out that President Buhari had demonstrated a clear commitment to the development of the sector and enjoined all stakeholders and professionals to collaborate with the government to propel the industry forward. She explained that the industry was one of the critical parts of the change agenda, maintaining that its development would enhance productivity at all spheres of the economy, adding that the nation’s response to air disasters had improved over the years with the acquisition of state-of-the-art facilities by the management of AIB. Bello said: “Our response to air crashes and air disasters has also improved remarkably with the robust deployment of modern technology and advanced equipment in air accident investigation. The Accident Investigation Bureau, AIB, has been leading efforts in ensuring a rapid response to air disaster and timely conclusion of crash investigations.” The Permanent Secretary commended the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, NAMA, for deploying modern navigational facilities to stations and airports, stressing that these had made the nation’s airspace one of the safest in the world.

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

Business News

Lagos Chamber commends Actis on $300m investment SYLVA EMEKA-OKEREKE

agos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, LCCI, has lauded Actis, a pan-emerging market investor, for its positive impact on the nation’s economy as well as developing the nation’s private sector. Rewarding the company as the most impactful private equity firm in the country, the Chamber noted that the firm has $3 billion investments in 23 African countries with the company investing $300 million in Nigeria.

Nigeria is being regarded as highly attractive investment destination for Actis due to favourable demographics, Gross Domestic Product, GDP, growth as well as consumer opportunities. Actis has been investing in Africa for over six decades. According to the Chamber, Actis has changed the status quo of the nation’s economy by developing its private sector. The company’s experience, global networking as well as its sector specialisation have uniquely positions the firm on all aspects of growth and value creation with special focus on maximising shareholder value and adhering to the highest standards of governance. Its

previous and current investments in Nigeria include Mouka, Diamond Bank, and Jabi Lake mall. Others include Abuja’s onestop leisure, restaurant and retail destination, The Palms; Heritage Place; Ikeja City Mall and Vlisco Group among others. Commenting on the honour, a Partner at Actis, Natalie Kolbe said the management was that the company won “the most impactful private equity firm in Nigeria from such a prestigious organisation. We are excited about the opportunity in the country and look forward to continuing our work with leading Nigerian businesses.” Earlier this year, Actis was

ollowing the recent accident involving Bristow Helicopters Chopper in Lagos, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, NAMA, Engr. Ibrahim Abdulsalam, has advised all airspace managers and engineers in the country to be more zealous in the discharge of their responsibilities.

named ‘2014 Firm of the Year in Africa’ by Private Equity International as well as ‘2014 African Infrastructure Fund Manager of the Year’ by Infrastructure Investor, reflecting its investment expertise in Africa and the energy sector. Actis acquisition of Compuscan was also named ‘Catalyst Private Equity Deal of the Year 2014’. Actis has also invested in the emerging markets with a growing portfolio of investments in Asia, Africa and Latin America. It currently has S$7.6 billion funds under management, applying developed market discipline to emerging markets.

Broadcasting Commission assures on 2017 deadline

he Director-General of National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Mr Emeka Mba, has promised that Nigeria will switch over from analogue to digital terrestrial broadcasting in 2017 in line with the International Telecommunications Union’s directive.

Mba, who gave the assurance on Monday in Abuja at the first annual lecture organised by the Commission, said that though achieving the switch over would not be easy in view of constraining factors but that the Commission was taking necessary steps to meet the deadline.

He explained: “It is not going to be like the previous time that we promised and could not meet up. We thought the necessary funds will be available but somehow along the line, it was a different story.’’ The Director General hinted that the Commission would raise funds for the digitisation

Director General, Niger Republic Shippers’ Council, Mr. Oumarou Issoufou. Acting Director General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency NIMASA, Mr. Haruna Baba Jauro, Vice President, Niger Republic Chamber of Commerce, Alhaji Sani Souley and Executive Director, Maritime Labour and Cabotage Services of NIMASA, Barrister Calistus Nwabueze Obi, when the Nigerian/Nigerien Joint Commission on Transit Cargo paid a courtesy visit to the NIMASA acting DG in Lagos recently.

Air incidents: NAMA boss tasks airspace Olusegun Koiki

Abdulsalam directed the airspace managers and engineers to be more vigilant in the discharge of their duties and pay more attention to infinitesimal details that affect safety in the industry. An Online statement issued by the Ag. General Manager, Public Affairs, NAMA, Mrs. Olajumoke Adetona, indicated that the NAMA boss gave this directive in Lagos during an enlarged meeting with the agency’s technical per-

sonnel. He charged all the personnel to further ensure strengthen air traffic management and surveillance strategy aimed at ensuring a foolproof safety network in all its operations across the country. He specifically said that in view of recent incidents involving some airlines and the unfortunate Bristow helicopter crash, it had become imperative that the agency maintained the highest standards

of safety by promptly reporting and dealing with even the slightest safety related issue that comes up in the system. Abdusalam stressed that the airspace managers must compliment the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, in its efforts to ensure total safety in the sector, noting that the regulatory agency had commenced an audit of the airline sub-sector.

by selling its spectrum subject to approval by the Federal Government. While pointing out that the sale of spectrum is the only alternative open to the country to raise the required to upgrade to digital broadcasting, he expressed the hope that after the Commission would have briefed the President on the matter, the necessary directive will be given to guide the implementation of the project. Mba, who estimated that the sale of part of the spectrum could rake in N100 billion, appealed to Nigerians to bear with the Commission in its efforts to tackle the challenges on its way to switching the nation on digital terrestrial broadcasting by 2017. He said: “Digitisation is a credible way of dealing with the problems of employment and also ensuring that the country meets international standard. Broadcasting remains the only potent way of reaching out to people. With digitisation, broadcasting will remain more relevant.’’ The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Information, Dr Folashade Yemi-Esan, commended the Commission for its various initiatives to switch over the country from analogue to digital terrestrial broadcasting. In his remarks, the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisations (CTO), Mr. Shola Taylor, expressed optimism that the NBC would meet the June 17, 2017 deadline for digitization.

Business News

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

Restructured Debts: 11 states to pay 14.83% interest on bonds ... 11 states to submit debt profile prior debt

meka Ezekiel

The Director General of the Debt Management Office (DMO), Dr. Abraham Nwankwo, has said that 11 states that recently had their commercial debts restructured would pay about 14.83 per cent of the value of their domestic debts. Nwankwo, who disclosed this on Monday in Abuja, said that about 14 banks were currently involved with the Phase One of the state’s debt restructuring exercise involving 11 states. The 11 states whose debts to commercial banks were restructured were : Osun N88.6 billion; Delta N69.8 billion; Ogun N55.4 billion; Imo N37.1 billion; Ekiti N18.8 billion; Kwara N15.6 billion; Edo N11.9 billion; Benue N10.9 billion; Oyo N9.1 billion Bauchi N6.5 billion and Kogi

N0.81 billion amounting to N322.78 billion. He said, “The debt restructuring operation and their total loans to the eleven States which were restructured amounted to N322.788 billion.The restructuring was effected using a reopening of the FGN-Bond issued on July 18, 2014 and maturing on July 18, 2034. The pricing was based on the yield to date of the bond at a 30-day average, resulting in a transaction yield of 14.83 per cent. “The impact of the debt management operations will include the fact that the monthly debt service burden will drop by a minimum of 55 per cent and a maximum of 97 per cent, among the eleven; and interest rate savings for the eleven States ranging from 3 per cent to 9 per cent per annum”, the DMO boss

added. Nwankwo explained that the debt restructuring exercise was open to all the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja even as he explained that the second phase of the commercial debt restructuring exercise would take effect once the remaining eleven states complete their loan reconciliation with their respective bank. The debt management expert stressed that the loans would be jointly authenticated by the states and the banks before they could be submitted to the DMO. He clarified further: “More states are concluding their documentation and reconciliation of balances with banks and their debts will be restructured in Phase II in the next couple of weeks.

Why national carrier project may fail again – Expert

staff of the defunct national carrier, Nigeria Airways and the Managing Consultant, PTD Consulting, Mr. Taiwo Adenekan has said that the proposed national carrier project by President Muhammadu Buhariled Government may not come to fruition until some salient issues are addressed. This is just as he urged the government to map out the modalities for the proposed national carrier before venturing into it. Speaking with our correspondent in an exclusive interview in Lagos at the weekend, Adenekan predicted that the plans by the government to reestablish a na-

Apple shares rebound as China growth remains strong

pple Inc.’s shares rebounded amid a global market retreat after Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook told CNBC’s Jim Cramer the iPhone maker has seen “strong growth” in China this summer. Cramer said he received an e-mail from Cook saying iPhone activations have accelerated in China in recent weeks and the country “represents an unprecedented opportunity over the long term.” An Apple representative confirmed the e-mail. Shares of the Cupertino, California-based company fell as

much as 13 percent early Monday, marking their biggest intraday drop in five years, before bouncing back after CNBC’s report. The stock rose less than 1 percent to $106.50 at 11:45 a.m. in New York. Daniel Ives, an analyst at FBR & Co., maintained his outperform rating on Apple stock, citing the coming iPhone 6S and a “$100 billion market opportunity” over the next three years in China. “Apple is a uniquely compelling name to buy in this hurricane-like market downdraft this morning,” Ives wrote in a note to investors. (Source – Bloomberg.com)

Global stock market sustains downward trend

iddle East stock market is set to remain under downward trend as oil prices crashes further. Some technical measures were oversold for short term and ripe for a rebound, even as Dubai’s index plunged 7.0 percent to 3,451 points in indiscriminate selling. Saudi Arabia’s benchmark, which lost 6.9 percent to 7,463 point loses 18 percent with an average forward earnings ratio of near 11 times while United Arab Emirates markets are attractively valued in historical terms. But the depth of the global market slide will make it hard for investors to buy back Gulf stocks with conviction. “Markets are panicking as things are starting to look like the Asian financial crisis in the late 1990s. Speculators are selling assets that seem the most vulnerable,” the Head of Research at Shinsei Bank in Tokyo, Takako

Masai stated. Brent oil is down 2.1 percent to $44.52 a barrel, which may trigger fresh rises in U.S. dollar. Saudi Arabian riyal forwards and Saudi credit default swaps, adding to the jitters in Riyad’s bourse. Egypt lowered its top tax rate and the threshold for companies and individuals in high income brackets on Sunday and suspended a 10 percent tax on capital gains. The measures had previously been announced but the fact that the government has finally gone ahead with them is likely to be seen as positive by investors, who had been concerned by the slow pace of reforms. However, the news may for now fail to trigger any rally in Cairo given the poor global backdrop and worries that sliding markets in the Gulf may hurt Egypt’s trade, investment and aid ties with the region.

Chinese retains 7%GDP growth

Presidents Buhari and Obama

Olusegun Koiki

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

tional carrier for Nigeria would fail again unless the government pays off the outstanding benefits of the defunct carrier. He pointed out that any attempt not to pay off the former workers before the reestablishment of a new one would lead to labour crisis, which might not augur well for the country. The industry expert said: “Can the government establish a national carrier without paying off the Nigeria Airways staff, which is very crucial? It can lead to a lot of labour issues and frustrate the Federal Government because those are the pioneer people that started aviation in this country and they should be paid. “Federal Government should address that and ensure that the

staff are paid off before they can start on a clean slate.” In addition, Adenekan advised that for the proposed airline to succeed, the government should not hold more than 20 per cent equity shares in the carrier and warned that any attempt to hold a dominating share in the carrier would lead to the failure of the past. He said that reputable foreign carriers should be encouraged by the government to partner the proposed carrier, emphasizing that the government should utilise the over 102 Bilateral Air Services Agreements, BASA, it had with countries for the sector to grow and contribute meaningfully to the Gross Domestic Products, GDP,

hina has retains its Gross Domestic Product, GDP, growth figures of 7 percent with analysis showing that the economy is actually contracting.

Government worked tirelessly to stimulate and avoid a hard landing. However, the reality of reduced infrastructure and a transition towards a consumption-led economy means that China will not be the driver of global growth. Investment, trade, output and sales growth remain sluggish, as it is unsurprising that China has recently engaged at the margin in currency devaluation. Unfortunately, this means a downward pressure on commodity prices. Growth and job creation over the last six years have been supported by booming shale oil states with the rest of

the country declining. ‘’With the count of shale oil rigs reducing as a result of lower oil prices, we are concerned that investors will not see the economic recovery that they are anticipating. We believe that this weakness will limit the extent to which the Fed will be able to raise rates, and that a normalisation of interest rates is highly unlikely’’, the data noted. Locally, the economy remains under threat while imports have been on the rise as platinum production normalises. South African Reserve Bank, SARB, has become increasingly more hawkish due to inflation concerns and raised the repo rate to 6 percent at its most recent monetary policy committee meeting.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

EnergyWeek Wednesday, August 26 , 2015

Waning share of ISPs in Internet services market not a failure -Teniola 28

Restructured Debts: 11 states to pay 14.83% interest on bonds 32

Broadcasting Commission assures on 2017 deadline 31

Meters’ importation impedes local capacity building, efficient billing system

Prepaid metre

he Federal Government has at various times directed Electricity Distribution Companies, DISCOs to patronise local manufacturers of meters to boost local content development. But UDEME AKPAN reports that many DISCOs still prefer to import meters, thus undermining the development of the power sector with the attendant negative socio-economic implications for the country The International Oil Companies, IOCs ended up dominating all aspects of the oil and gas operations when Nigeria commenced commercial petroleum production in 1956. Specifically, the IOCs such as Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC, Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited, MPNU, Chevron Nigeria Limited, CNL and Total

the past few years have witnessed the rise of many indigenous companies, striving to

bridge the gap in furtherance of the broad objectives of the nation’s Local Content

Act

E&P Nigeria Limited took firm control of exploration and production as well as other activities. But the past few years have witnessed the rise of many indigenous companies, striving to bridge the gap in furtherance of the broad objectives of the nation’s Local Content Act. Take the case of Bell Oil & Gas as an

example. A few days ago, the Executive Secretary, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, NCDMB, Mr. Denzil Kentebe inaugurated the company’s glassfibre spooling facility, which is reputed to be the first of its kind in Africa and worth about $4m. The facility manufactures pipes with diverse bends and angles, delivering liquids

to various outlets at different temperatures and pressures, hence cannot be manufactured in conventional pipe mills. Spools which are forms of Glassfibre Reinforced Epoxy, GRE pipes, believed to be resistant to corrosion because they do not have metal as part of its composition and can handle pressure up to 3500 pound per square inch (psi) and temperatures of up to 121 degrees centigrade. The Executive Secretary commended Bell Oil & Gas for the investment, indicating that the strategic focus of the Board is to ensure training and empowerment of Nigerians in all sectors of the industry, adding that NCDMB will continue to promote hands-on training opportunities in manufacturing, engineering, fabrication, marine, subsea, drilling and well services and all other activities across the value chain. CONTINUED ON PAGE 34

Energy Week

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Meters’ importation impedes local capacity building, efficient billing system

Buhari Dikko, former DG, Customs

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 33

Similarly, the NCDMB has inaugurated the first 90mm stainless steel clad vessel fabricated in Nigeria by Energy Works Technology Ltd, EWT, a subsidiary of the Nestoil Group. The facility was designed for Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited, SPDC’s Soku Field Development plan and is internally cladded with 316L stainless steel, with internal proprietary separation devices and weighs 83 tons. The Board has also concluded plans to partner Bayelsa State Government in the development of the Nigerian Oil and Gas and Park Scheme, NOGaPS. The parks, which are planned for all the oil producing states, will be sited in Bayelsa, Imo and Cross Rivers States in the first phase. They are targeted at promoting manufacturing of oil and gas components, providing opportunities for research and development and integrating entrepreneurs into manufacturing through mentoring by Original Equipment Manufacturers, OEMs and other multinationals. Sadly, this desirable exploits of local companies in the hydrocarbon resources industry appears to be totally lacking in the electricity sector. For instance, recent initiatives by local investors in the power sector to manufacture meters have continued to be hamstrung by a combination of factors, particularly the fiscal regime that encourages unbridled importation of the products to the country. The Chairman of MOMCOL, Mr. Kola Balogun, indicated in an interview that the meters should be purchased locally in the spirit of the local content, pointing out that there is no need for government or the distribution companies to engage in importation of meters into the country. “Government needs to encourage local meter manufacturers and stop the importation of meters. There is no reason why government or the companies will go outside the shores of the country to get a product that is readily available locally,” Balogun said. In a related stance, the Chairman of MO-

as long as there is available supply from local manufacturers to meet demand by distribution companies, NERC will not approve importation of meters JEC International Limited, Mrs. Mojisola Abdul is said to have decried the low patronage of local producers. “The story of poor patronage is still the same in meter manufacturing where foreign firms are better patronised and recognised by electricity companies. I can confidently say that we (the local manufacturers) of meters can meet the country’s supply needs if patronised. “Nigeria has reached a stage where it is not supposed to be importing meters. In our company alone, we have a production capacity of 500,000 to one million meters a month. Nigeria has the highest per capita electricity theft in the world. That is why we are now doing smart meters and we are moving to a place where the meters will be mounted on poles, because something has got to be done fast,’ she added. Investigations showed that the bad situation has constrained indigenous meter producers from increasing production, creating more employment opportunities as well as building the capacities of Nigerians in the sector. It was gathered that they have also not been able to ‘transfer requisite technologies’ to Nigerians. In other words, the massive meter importation has culminated in increased employment, capacity building and technology development in other nations. Incidentally, the indigenous producers have some opportunities to access credit to support their operations. One of the key development financial institutions is the Bank of Industry, BoI, whose Managing Director of the Bank of Industry, Mr. Rasheed Olaoluwa, has remained at the vanguard of

funding support for local meter manufacturing companies. He noted: “Nigerian companies have invested heavily in the local production of prepaid meters and they produce very good quality meters. It is in our national interest that those companies are patronized by our disco companies so that they can also grow and add value to economic development of this country.” “Luckily, six discos are currently patronising local manufacturers of prepaid meters but we need all of them to do so. We are not advocating patronage of substandard meters, the locally manufactured prepaid meters have been certified as top quality and international standards and there is no reason why we should continue to import meters. I want to be very clear that am not saying Disco companies should patronise local manufacturers that produce trash but they should encourage those that produce good quality meters.” “We have local manufacturers that produce to international standard and they should be patronized. We supported the local manufacturers of prepaid meters with long term loans. If they do not get the required patronage how would they grow? They need to pay the loans and also create Jobs. If we do not patronise local manufacturers, we will not make progress. Those indigenous companies have invested to produce here in the country and if they are not encouraged, they cannot sell and they will be forced to lay off staff and go bankrupt,” Olaoluwa added. Investigations showed that NERC was

opposed to the action of the DISCOs. The Commission has indicated that it would not change its policy of restricting approval of importation of electricity meters in the country. The Chairman of the Commission, Dr. Sam Amadi, said although the government has not banned the importation of electricity meters, approval for such meters would only be given to distribution companies where there was sufficient evidence that local manufacturers lacked the capacity to supply them. “The leadership of NERC is strongly committed to promoting local content, because we want the growth in electricity sector to contribute to the improvement in job creation and household income as well as growth in the country’s economy. NERC demands that every electricity meter importer must produce proof that the distribution company that gives it supply order cannot source such number of meters from local manufacturers.” “In other words, as long as there is available supply from local manufacturers to meet demand by distribution companies, NERC will not approve importation of meters. Any distribution company interested in importing meters to meet its demand for reasons of price or technical competence, etc., must provide justification to the Commission in writing, to enable it reach a decision on each case,” it added. Also, dissatisfied with the level of implementation of the Credited Advance Payment for Metering Implementation, CAPMI by majority of the distribution companies, NERC maintained that it will commence action to enforce compliance. Consequently, the Commission has given the distribution companies a seven-day ultimatum to show cause why action should not be taken against them for non-compliance, stemming from violation of the provisions of the licence terms and conditions. This is contained in a letter to the defaulting utilities, namely Port Harcourt, Abuja, Yola and Enugu distribution companies. Others are Ibadan, Ikeja, Eko and Benin Disco. The warning read “The Commission considers your actions as manifest and flagrant breaches and therefore requires you to show cause in writing within seven days from the date hereon, why enforcement should not be commenced against you and sanctions meted accordingly for non-compliance with the Terms and Conditions of the license granted you and the order on Credited Advance Payment for Metering Implementation’’. Despite this and other proclamations, many consumers that are supposed to be protected continue to experience ‘crazy billing’ and other irregularities while the DISCOs depend on other nations for their meters. The consumers, including a Port Harcourt-based energy analyst, Mr. Bala Zaka however charged the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration to ensure increased patronage of indigenous meter producers is accomplished in order to create many multiplier effects as well as end the long era of exploitation in the nation.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

DPR moves to curtail sharp practices by fuel marketers

Energy Week

UDEME AKPAN

he Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR has embarked on measures targeted at tackling illegal fuel operators in the nation. Investigations showed that the DPR has put in place some committees to enforce compliance in different parts of the country. A source in the Department who confirmed the development maintained that the measure aims ensuring that illegal activities such as hoarding, arbitrary pricing and pump manipulation are eradicated. A market survey showed that some marketers still exploit the masses, especially in the outskirts of the cities such as Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and Bayelsa states. Some of them who preferred not to be named maintained that they got supplies during the era of high fuel prices. They indicated that the old stocks have to be sold at high prices to enable them recover funds invested into their businesses. But a visit to some depots, including Mossimi, showed that there was no justification for many marketers to exploit the masses through the perpetuation of illegalities. A top official of Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency, PPPRA, who preferred not to be named, maintained that the profits and other margins of stakeholders have been factored into the price. “There are no reasons for any marketer to sell at arbitrary prices because at the current price of N87 per litre of fuel, every operator can recover costs and make reasonable profit. The government that seeks to sustain the current fuel subsidy is strongly opposed to any

Filling station

forms of exploitation. We are aware that the Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR has initiated efforts targeted at tackling the unacceptable situation,” he maintained. Few weeks ago, representative of the director of the agency, Mr. Ahmed Mudei, said at a crucial engagement with marketers that DPR was not aware of the long list of excuses they put forward to justify high prices. Before then, the oil marketers had argued that it was not possible for them to sell petrol at N87 Federal Government regulated price as they lifted it at N95 per liter from the depots. “This is the sad reality of the situation; showing that there is no way consumers can get the product at N87 per liter official price of the government. The price has to be high because we have make profit after spending so much and queuing for weeks at the depots,” a marketer said. Responding, Mudei had charged the major

and independent marketers to report in writing so that the agency can intervene accordingly. He maintained that it is illegal for marketers to use excuses as the reasons for exploiting the poor masses, thus defeating government efforts to provide fuel at a regulated price to the general public. “Some marketers have consistently flouted Government’s directives by selling above exdepot price which in turn translates to higher prices at the pump. The meeting is therefore convened to reiterate the resolve of the Department of Petroleum Resources to ensure that henceforth, the DPR would not allow a situation whereby supply of PMS is dictated by the private interests of marketers and dealers to the detriment of the Nigerian public, neither will the Department condone any act of selling PMS above official pump price in Government licensed facilities under any guise whatsoever.”

WAPCo re-strategises for changes in sub-regional energy sector

he West African Gas Pipeline Company, WAPCo, operator of the West African Gas Pipeline, WAGP, has undertaken a number of activities in response to developments in the energy sectors in the countries in which it operates. Investigations showed that WAGP is now available to entities interested in shipping gas from Nigeria to Benin, Ghana and Togo. In conjunction with the Volta River Authority, WAPCo’s facility at Tema is being expanded to deliver higher gas volumes and the company is in discussions with the Ghana Gas Company to establish an interconnection at Aboadze, in the Western Region. WAPCo began commercial operations in March 2011 and a number of developments since then, have required the company to undertake measures to adapt to changing market dynamics. These developments include continued

rapid growth in demand for power, the discovery of oil and gas in Ghana, and the emergence of independent production companies in Nigeria. The first major change WAPCo undertook was in July 2012, when WAGP was declared an “open access” system to allow multiple shippers to use the pipeline to transport gas to any of the three gas importing countries. Any suitably qualified entity can now apply to become a shipper with a view to entering into gas transportation contracts with WAPCo. WAPCo has recently qualified two new shippers and is working with them to develop agreements for gas transportation. WAPCo is currently undertaking various projects aimed at increasing the volumes of natural gas transported to consuming countries.

The company is working with the Volta River Authority on an upgrade of the Tema gas metering station so that it can receive higher volumes of gas in Tema, Ghana. The company is also implementing facility improvements to accommodate an additional consumer in Lome, Togo. In addition, the company is in discussions with the Ghana Gas Company and other stakeholders, to establish a connection at Takoradi (Aboadze) between the WAGP and the Ghana Gas system. This connection, when undertaken will allow gas from offshore Ghana to flow from Western Ghana to Tema for use in power generation. While engaging in all these activities WAPCo continues to maintain its strong focus on the security of the pipeline. The company currently has agreements with the Navy of the four WAGP States to

Commodity

Units

Price

Change

% Change

Time(ET)

Crude Oil (WTI)

USD/bbl.

41.85

-0.65

-1.53%

16:21:47

Crude Oil (Brent)

USD/bbl.

48.62

-0.57

-1.16%

16:22:12

TOCOM Crude Oil

JPY/kl

39,360.00

+110.00

+0.28%

14:55:02

NYMEX Natural Gas

USD/MMBtu

2.73

-0.07

-2.43%

16:21:55

Source: Bloomberg as at August 17, 2015

undertake regular patrols along the offshore segment of the pipeline to enforce the “no anchoring” zone around the pipeline. The Navy also provides electronic surveillance of the pipeline through the use of the Vessel Traffic Monitoring System (VTMS). There are regular and frequent engagements with the fishing and maritime community to sensitise them on the presence of the pipeline in the waters. The company hosted a major conference in Accra during May 2014 where leading figures from industry, governments, armed forces and regulatory bodies from across the WAGP States met to share best practices and to develop plans to work together to reduce the risk of pipeline damage. WAPCo also maintains a comprehensive Right of Way (RoW) management programme for the protection of its onshore segments of the pipeline. This includes awareness programmes for the communities along the pipeline RoW. WAPCo is committed to ensuring a secure infrastructure that is responsive to the changing energy needs of the WAGP States; Benin, Ghana, Nigeria and Togo.

Energy Week

Chevron completes subsea engineering

hevron has completed the drilling of a well intersection conduit beneath the Congo River submarine canyon, part of the Congo River Canyon Crossing pipeline project. The Congo River Canyon Crossing pipeline project involved crossing beneath the Congo River’s submarine canyon by simultaneously drilling two wells from platforms more than 3 miles apart. To create the intersection, two wellbores were drilled simultaneously from shallow water platforms located on each side of the canyon. One of the platforms is located in the Democratic Republic of the Congo while the other platform is located in Angola. The wellbores transitioned from vertical to horizontal, and then intersected almost midway beneath the canyon, approximately 2,000 feet (610 m) beneath the seabed, where the water depth is one-half mile (0.8 km). “The Congo River well intersection is a major engineering feat,” said Ali Moshiri, president of Chevron Africa and Latin America Exploration and Production Company. “And with the drilling platforms and subsea structures having been fabricated in-country, this project is another prime example of Chevron’s commitment to helping fuel Angola’s economic development.” The Congo River crossing is Chevron’s largest-ever well intersection and it is the most technically challenging aspect of the pipeline project. The well intersection provided the most secure method of crossing the canyon and connecting to the pipeline at the platforms located on each side of the canyon. “This was the most unique well intersection project of its kind ever undertaken by Chevron—and the very first in the industry performed offshore,” said Ben Leonard, project drilling manager for Chevron’s Southern Africa strategic business unit. “Other intersection projects have involved drilling under highways or riverbeds, but this one is more than 10 times the length of a routine crossing.” Several innovative technologies and processes were employed during the drilling of the well intersection. For example, an active magnet ranging technology was used to direct the drilling assembly so that the wellbores merged precisely on a target roughly the size of a basketball. This involved a magnetic sensor in the drill string on one side and a powerful magnet, located behind the drill bit, on the other side. An additional challenge for the project team was to install the two offshore platforms in an area close to the mouth of the Congo River where there are strong currents.

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

DISCOs still impose fixed charges on consumers – NERC STORIES: UDEME AKPAN

he Electricity Distribution Companies, DISCOs are still imposing fixed charges on consumers despite the instructions of the Senate and the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC on the subject. The Senate had weeks ago passed a resolution ordering NERC to abolish fixed charges of electricity and reckless billing of consumers. In its response, the commission indicated that it had asked the DISCOs to find a way to restructure the fixed charges such that no one would be made to pay for electricity not consumed. The Chairman of NERC, Dr. Sam Amadi, the NERC said even

Amadi

though fixed charges collected were not illegal, the commission had been able to intervene in the matter. Amadi who expressed believe in the importance of the oversight function of the National Assembly, pointed out that the Commission has maintained its place as the first public agency in Nigeria to openly pledge to the Freedom of Information Law. ‘’ This is why we continue to avail the National Assembly of all necessary co-operation in its oversight functions’’. On customer complaints, he indicated that NERC’s understanding of the place of customers in the Nigeria Electricity Supply Industry as the Commission performs its function of encouraging distribution companies on consumer protection adding that, ‘’The Regulation on Customer Complaints Handling Standards and Procedures covers that aspect’’ Amadi said. He revealed that ‘’ this regulation stipulates that every distribution company should establish functional customers complaints units to receive and resolve all complaints from customers on electricity supply within their area of operation. A timeline of 15 days is specified for this’’. Amadi maintained that the

Commission monitors the complaints to distribution companies on a monthly basis. This includes establishment of the NERC Forum Offices to make effective complaint management mechanism. Representations at the Forum comprise stakeholders from Manufacturing Association of Nigeria, Consumer Protection Council, Nigerian Society of Engineers and the Civil Society Organisations. On the query for the abolition of fixed charge, NERC’s Chairman stated ‘’ Fixed Charge is not tied to consumption as such NERC cannot wake up in the morning and say, we have abolished this. We will always go through process and even before the intervention, we have commenced the process’’. According to him, Senate’s concern is not far-fetched. ‘’ Senate is just worried that people are paying for what they did not consume’’ while he maintained that the fixed charge that consumers pay is not an illegal. ‘’The purpose of the fixed charge is to recover the capital and fixed cost of the various operators in the industry. Section 32 of the EPSR Act 2005 mandates the Commission to approve a tariff that allows investors recover their prudent cost with reasonable return on the assets on a regular basis and

recover their investments through the fixed charge paid by the consumers’’ Amadi stated. He disclosed that fixed charge is a universal practice, thus abolishing it may impact negatively on the market participants who have invested a lot and are continuously making investments in the industry. The Commission has asked the distribution companies to find a way to restructure the fixed charge such that no one would be made to pay fixed charge for electricity not consumed. ‘’ This remodeling of the fixed charge will be part of the on-going tariff review process being conducted by the distribution companies’’ Amadi said. As for bulk metering of customers the Commission agrees with the Senate on the need to eliminate the practice, preferring that electricity customers should be metered individually and declared that customers have the right to reject community bulk metering. ‘’ Communities who are placed on bulk billing should reject it and insist on individual metering’’ Amadi declared. However, investigations showed that the DISCOs have continued to impose this and other charges on consumers of electricity.

SPDC JV restores gas supplies to NLNG T he Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC has resumed gas supplies to the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limited. The follows the lifting of the force majeure on gas supplies to NLNG from the Eastern Gas Gathering System, EGGS-1 after the repair of a sabotage leak on the line. The Joint Investigation Team which visited the site found that the leak was caused by a crude theft connection, apparently installed by people who thought the line was transporting crude oil. The resumption of gas supplies, it was learnt will enable the company to meet obligations to its foreign buyers. Meanwhile, NLNG, a joint venture between the government and foreign oil majors, has generated some 85 billion dollars from exports since its inception 15 years ago, the company announced late Friday. “For us, it has been a success story. Between 1999 when we came on stream and now, we have realised some 85 billion dollars from exports of

liquefied natural gas to buyers in Europe, America and Asia,” chief executive Babs Omotowa told reporters in Lagos. He said the company, which was set up to harness Nigeria’s vast natural gas resources and produce liquefied natural gas for export, has also paid billions of dollars to the state in tax. “Just a few days ago, we paid 1.6 billion dollars to the government as tax and this will go a long way to assist the new government in solving some of its problems,” he said. The new administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, who became the first Nigerian to oust a sitting president in democratic elections in March, is facing a severe economic crunch. About 20 of the country’s 36 states are unable to pay workers salaries. Omotowa said the company had paid 30 billion dollars in dividends to its shareholders over the years, including the government, which owns a 49-per-cent stake through the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

NLNG plant

NLNG’s other shareholders are Anglo-Dutch oil major Shell, which owns 25.6 percent, Total LNG Nigeria, a subsidiary of French oil giant Total which owns 15 percent, and Italy’s Eni, which has 10.4 percent. Omotowa said plans were afoot to expand the NLNG plant in Finima on Bonny island, in the oil and gas-rich southern Rivers state, by 2017. “With six trains (production units) currently operational, plans for building Train 7 that will lift the total production capacity to 30 million metric tons

per annum of LNG are currently progressing,” he said. He said Train 7 would cost an estimated 12 billion dollars, create 18,000 construction jobs and bring in an additional three billion dollars in exports when operational. Nigeria currently exports 22 million metric tons of LNG, making it the world’s fourth largest LNG exporter. Liquefied natural gas, which is created by cooling natural gas and transforming into liquid for transport on tankers, represents around nine percent of global gas demand.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Energy Week

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

Commission orders DISCOs on CAPMI STORIES: UDEME AKPAN

he Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, has initiated moves to compel Electricity Distribution Companies, DISCOs to comply with its Credited Advance Payment for Metering Implementation, CAPMI. The Commission indicated that it is currently dissatisfied with the level of distribution companies compliance. Consequently, it maintained that it will commence enforcement action for non-compliance in order to compel all companies to comply without further delay. “The Commission has given the distribution companies a seven day ultimatum to show cause why action should not be taken and sanction meted on them for non-compliance, stemming from violation of the provisions of the licence terms and conditions.” “This is contained in a letter to the defaulting utilities, namely Port Harcourt, Abuja, Yola and Enugu distribution companies. Others are Ibadan, Ikeja, Eko and Benin Disco.” The Commission considers your actions as manifest and flagrant breaches and therefore requires you to show cause in writing within seven days from the date hereon, why enforcement should not be commenced against you and sanctions meted accordingly for non-

compliance with the Terms and Conditions of the license granted you and the order on Credited Advance Payment for Metering Implementation,” it maintained. The order introducing the CAPMI scheme became effective on 14 May, 2013, in which NERC directed that the scheme should commence and be implemented at the same time in all the distribution companies. Furthermore, the DISCOs were to redeploy meters under the scheme to willing customers, including the installation of same within 45days from the date of the payment by any customer. In the letter to the Discos, NERC noted that it had been observed from public consultation and monitoring exercises carried out by the Commission to ascertain the implementation level; showed that the discos either failed or neglected to fully implement the CAPMI scheme. Condition 2(1) of the terms and conditions of the licence granted the discos provides as follows, ‘’The licencee shall comply with the conditions of this licence and the requirements of the licenced business as set out in the Act and Regulations approved by the Commission in accordance with the Commission’s statutory duty to monitor all licensees’’. They also have been found to

be collecting money from customers for credit meters not minding whether they opted for the scheme, including not publicising the scheme thus giving misleading information to customers. The Commission had also told 27 power generation companies to within the next 30 days provide justification why their licences should not be cancelled. The notice for cancellation of licensees posted on the Commission’s website on Tuesday July 28, 2015 was sequel to the discovery through an audit exercise that the affected firms could not meet the terms and conditions for their licences.

Contained in the notice are 63 generation and distribution companies rated as category one. They are in operations and have no issue with the Commission. Forty other firms in categories one to four will, however, have to justify their continued ownership of their licences or get it withdrawn within the next 30 days to 12 months. In category two are those licensees that have ceased operations. These are CET Power Projects been promoted by West African Portland Cement Company, Ewekoro, Ogun State and Contour Global Solutions of Nigeria Bottling Company of Apapa, Lagos State.

Transformer

Experts urge Nigeria to invest in E & P as oil prices slump

he Chairman of Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria, PETAN, Mr. Emeka Ene, has called on Nigeria to seize the current low oil price regime and boost investments in exploration and production. He pointed out that it would have been desirable for the country sense to boost investment in exploration at lower cost instead of doing so during high price regime. Ene indicated that the Ni-

Fuel pump

gerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC cannot do so as the nation’s budget has been seriously slashed because low crude oil prices in the international market. He pointed out that policy drivers across the global petroleum industry have always seized the opportunity of low cost/price crash to drive exploration and development activities in the industry in order to build reserves and boost production.

According to him, Middle East countries currently implement an average annual budget of $36 billion to drive exploration and production operations, riding on the low cost opportunity associated with the prevailing slump in prices. He said the best way to tackle low price regime across the world is to boost production to recover the cash drop with higher volumes of output. Industry analyst, Mr. Kazeem Bello, said the government’s failure to take cushioning measures against volatility risks by implementing fiscal buffers and hedging mechanisms, left the country at the mercy of the crisis. He pointed out that Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates hold over $2 trillion in Sovereign Wealth Fund, SWF accounts which they now deploy to protect their economies against the prevailing oil crisis. But in Nigeria, the industry encountered the price headwind without any kind of ready countermeasure, and

government’s response to the funding needs of the industry was limited to the worst option: slashing industry budget by 40 percent and rolling back work plans. The budget cut pushed projects off the table, with several work programmes suspended or out rightly cancelled. Also, new projects that host job opportunities have been put off, leading to sharp drop in oilfield service activities. The consequent drop in rig count signifies another devastating blow on the local oil service firms most of whose jobs revolve around drilling, a key activity that is central to exploration and field development programmes. An idle rig means that its entire crew is idle while the rig company continues to run overhead costs on facilities and personnel. Ancillary service firms that specialize in well services, logging, air shuttle drilling fluids and chemicals, drill bits, casing services, marine vessels and others also suffer downtime and incur huge losses.

DNV GL Group Board appoints Eriksen Group CEO

he Board of Directors of has appointed Remi Eriksen as the company’s new Group President & CEO. He is succeeding Henrik O. Madsen, who is retiring on 1 August. Since October 2014, the Board of Directors has undertaken an extensive executive search and selection process to find and appoint the new DNV GL Group President & CEO, due to the planned retirement of the current Group President & CEO Henrik O. Madsen. Candidates from many countries, both inside and outside of the organization, and both men and women have been reviewed. Leif-Arne Langøy, Chairman of the Board of DNV GL Group says; “On behalf of the Board, I am very pleased to announce that Remi Eriksen has accepted the position as DNV GL’s new Group President & CEO. Eriksen has a solid track-record in leading positions within the company for two decades. He has gained extensive international experience in the oil & gas, maritime and renewable energy industries, and has led our operations in Asia, Europe and the Americas. His success in these positions led him to his current role as DNV GL Group Chief Operating Officer. In addition to his strong performance in managing the integration of DNV and GL, Eriksen has deep knowledge of our core markets and key industry technologies. Not least, he has displayed an acknowledged ability to foresee industry challenges and drive responsive solutions.” “I am also glad that after a thorough executive search and selection process, the best candidate was found among our own people. This will ensure the continuity of the company’s values, culture and strategic direction. I really look forward to working with Remi Eriksen in the next phase of DNV GL’s development,” said Langøy. Remi Eriksen says, “I am very humbled and thankful for the opportunity to lead this company where I have worked for the past 22 years.” “We now see challenging market developments in both the maritime and oil & gas industries. DNV GL will not remain unaffected, but I have strong confidence in our ability to constantly improve and develop our services. Even in tough markets, there will be a need for expert advice and services that can help improve efficiency, qualify new cost-effective technologies, and that can help drive standardization of specifications and work processes – just to mention a few examples. In the energy sector and the business assurance market, I expect positive development in the next few years,” said Eriksen.

Energy Week

Igali tasks governors on land for solar energy projects CHIDI UGWU ABUJA

he Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Power, Amb. Godknows Igali has appealed to state governors to provide investors easy access to land. Igali, who made the appeal at the 2015 Electricity Market Summit held in Abuja, decried the difficulties investors usually encounter in the their bid to acquire land in various states for building of solar power plants. He said that solar plants are land consuming as each mega watt takes about one hectare of land, stressing that for any solar plant to make the desired impact it must be up to 50 to 100 mega watts. According to him, the appeal became necessary because a lot of investors are coming from China, India and the US, but are faced with difficulties in getting Certificate of Ownerships (C of O) for lands to carry out their business. “There are issues with solar power that as a politician it will helpful for you to help us. And we also have presented before Mr. President, the issue of access to land. There is need to tell the governors, because for solar each mega watt take about one hectare of land. And to make an impact you need about 50 to 100 mega watts. Solar producers get to states and spend nine months to get C of O, because the only thing that is bankable to take to your bank and say hey!, I have a site to build, is the C of O. “You will also help us in this area sir for us to encourage our governors that when these investors come China, India and US, to let them have access to land. So we also need access to land. And it will be a partnership between we, the political class, particularly the governors in the states who are the people to give the land for solar which is a quick win for all of us” Igali added. It would be recalled that Siemens and CT Cosmos, an Abuja based company recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, to construct a 70mw alternating current (MWac) photovoltaic (solar) power facility estimated at $170 million in Panyam, Plateau State. The project, which is expected to be completed in a less than twoyear period, will supply the power produced into the national grid. Existing solar plants in Nigeria are few, due to the relative high cost of generating solar power. However, this cost has declined in recent years as a result of enhanced technologies like those offered by Siemens.

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

NIPCO boss cautions FG on downstream deregulation

he Federal Government has been advised to be careful in adopting deregulation as an option to tackling various challenges in downstream sector of the nation’s petroleum industry. The managing director of NIPCO, Mr. Venkataraman Venkatapathy said at the August conference of NAEC in Lagos that the sudden change in policy from regulated market to deregulate may be disastrous and inimical to the nation populace and bad for growth in the economy. He maintained that natural gas utilisation could be exploited by encouraging use of CNG powered vehicles to reduce dependence on petrol and thus serve as ways of preparing grounds for deregulation of PMS.

The managing director said that wealthy people who could afford new cars that will b very easy to convert with little cost could be implored to convert. He said that the nation’s auto policy could be made to accommodate as a policy the making of cars using dual model of fueling to ensure that at the level of production or assembling gas is usable by motorist. Venkatapathy said that line petrol will be used also by other category of people till a period that gas powered cars will be in vogue thus reducing dependence on petrol. He remarked that deregulation is good but the peculiar nature of Nigeria needs to be taken into consideration so that the larger majority of Nigeria

Fuel tanker

will not suffer too much. The managing director said that now is the time to look critically into the area of natural gas utilisation to power vehicles. Green Gas Ltd, a JV of Nipco and NGC is already on this line

of thought with the conversion of over 4000 vehicles so far using gas at its over eight stations in the city of Benin, Edo state and Ibafo in Ogun state and plans to put in more stations in due course.

NNPC to adopt community-based pipeline policing model UDEME AKPAN

he Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, has hinted that the Corporation may settle for the option of community based policing to protect the vast artery of oil and gas pipeline network across the country. Speaking while receiving Ambassador Perry John Calderwood, the Canadian High Commissioner to Nigeria, in his office inAbuja, Dr. Kachikwu pledged to give a lot of attention to the perennial menace of pipeline vandalism and oil theft. “I intend to give a lot of energy to the issue of oil theft and pipeline vandalism. We must keep the losses from oil theft to the lowest figure possible. I don’t believe in the arm -for-arm approach, we

Kachikwu

must engage the host communities and inculcate in them the need to see the assets in their domain as their own,’’ Kachikwu said. The GMD noted that in the months ahead, the Corporation would initiate discussions with community leaders and interest groups with a view to

fashioning a workable community oriented pipeline protection format with less emphasis on the use of brute force to secure the lines. On the state of the refineries, the NNPC helmsman solicited for support from Canadian companies and service providers stating that Nigeria could

make do with Canada’s vast experience in refining and expertise in oil and gas operations. In his response, Calderwood said the Canadian government and business entities are willing to work with the NNPC in growing the Nigeria oil and gas industry to enviable heights.

Indiscipline, bane of power sector growth – TCN’s Director CHIDI UGWU ABUJA

ross indiscipline has been identified as major factor slowing down growth in the power sector, the Executive Director, Market Operator, Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Mrs. Victoria Osumo has disclosed. Osumo, who indicated this at the inauguration of the 2015 Electricity Market Summit held in Abuja, noted that most operators are guilty of indiscipline in the sector. According to her, the attitude of both the Electricity Distribution Companies, Discos and the consumers constitute the unruliness that slow down growth in the sector. Osumo disclosed that at times when energy is shared among Discos some reject some amount of energy while other demand for more describing that as part of indiscipline bedeviling the industry. She said such attitudes disrupt the smooth operations of running of the transmission value chain, adding that for Nigeria to run competitive market every energy must

be paid for but regretted that the stage of the market lack the capacity to pay. She said: “The indiscipline in the electricity market comes in several ways. When we decided the share the energy flowing in among Discos some may decide to take more or take less that is indiscipline and it causes all kinds of problems. That indiscipline needs to be addressed. The second is customers themselves decide to connect themselves when they are disconnected for one thing or another.” “For us to run a competitive market every, energy must be paid for but the stage of the market we are in now it is impossible. They are not paying. They cannot pay, and they do not even have the capacity to pay. And the issues are many from the quantum of energy being generated to the infrastructure that the Discos did not know it was not there but they paid and bought the Discos to policies.” “All kinds of policies, regulations and all of that, but now the market is not running. What NERC did initially was immediately after the sale of the Discos decided to run a short period of an interim nature which was

to reduce expectations on all sides. That is playing outside the rules that would have governed the market,” she added. The former minister of Power, Professor Barth Nnaji, charged the Nigerian Electricity Regulator Commission to sit up and make operators accountable, pointing out that the regulator has to ensure that the promises made during privatization actually are met because what we as Nigerians decided to invest in is reduction of average technical and commercial losses. “If you are investing you know what you are buying otherwise you should not get into it. So I like to say that discipline is very important and we have to be mindful of how we manage that,” he added. Nnaji, who noted that Nigeria ought to have surpassed the 10,000MW but now be talking of 100,000MW, explained that the private sector, working with government, can achieve that with careful planning, adding that in that case the government should ensure it does not provide hindrances for the private sector to perform.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

Industry & SMEs

Between dying and surviving firms, leaders’ managerial capacities count – Experts Despite the widely held view of many stakeholders in the industrial sector that unfavourable economic environment and lack of required infrastructure constitute the greatest challenges of companies in Nigeria, available information on corporate performance indicate that while many entities are slumping operationally, others are still bracing all odds to add value to their investors funds and profits. Experts link the difference to managerial capabilities of those at the helm of affairs of the businesses. ABOLAJI ADEBAYO reports.

im Collins used the subtitle “Why some companies make the leap…and others don’t” in his book titled “Good to Great: Why some companies make the leap…and others don’t”, to challenge business leaders and those in the social sector, including schools, to think about what qualifies as good enough for the sustainability of business. He also encouraged business leaders to look at why some organisations rise to a higher level of productivity and receive public recognition above others with seemingly similar or even worse input, infrastructure inclusive. Societal pressure brought on by a host of factors, including economic competition, infrastructure, intensive media attention, and state and federal legislation, pushes performance expectations for many business organisations higher at this technology advancement age than at any other time in the history of the country’s. Business management review across business lines shows an unprecedented level of gross mismanagement in the quality of leadership, which has negatively affected the productivity and growth of many business ventures. According to experts, this situation is a major cog in the wheel of any economy and bad omen for the world of business enterprises as it has always been emphasised that ‘no business can rise above the quality of its management.’ Nigeria has, over the years, witnessed the rise and fall of many business ventures and companies in different sectors of the economy ranging from production to distribution and marketing value chains. Some have packed out of the business within short time of their operation while some others who are still in the business perform below the bar. Many stakeholders have continued blaming the situation on the state of the economic environment, claiming that Nigeria is a risk zone for a business to thrive. They argued that the fall or collapse of most of companies and businesses in the country was as a result of lack of economic infrastructure such as electricity, good roads, high tax, and transportation system, which on the part of government were lacked. For example, the Lagos Chamber of Com-

Cotton processing machine

LCCI DG, Muda Yusuf

Bank of Industry MD, Rasheed Olaoluwa

NIGERIA HAS, OVER THE YEARS, WITNESSED THE RISE AND FALL OF MANY BUSINESS VENTURES AND COMPANIES IN DIFFERENT SECTORS OF THE ECONOMY RANGING FROM PRODUCTION TO DISTRIBUTION AND MARKETING VALUE CHAINS merce and Industry, LCCI, has continually condemned the economic environment of Nigeria as the major reason for the collapse of many companies, forcing them out of the business because of their inability to cope with the economic situation of the country. The Chamber also identified the lingering insurgency and insecurity as a bane of many other businesses in the country especially in the northern part of the country. The former Director General of the Nigerian Association of Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mine and Agriculture, NACCIMA, Mr. John Isemede, and many other industrial stakeholders have been emphasising the need for the improvement of the infrastructure by the government for business to thrive in the country. Isemede has also associated the relocation of some companies from Nigeria to other neighbouring countries to unfavourable environment which includes, both infrastructure and government policies. However, the view of business management experts is contrary to the widely held notion of

lack of infrastructure being the failure-factor of many companies in Nigeria. To the Chief Executive Office of Standard Mandate International, SMI, Mr. Nelson Ayodele, most businesses collapse due to mismanagement of the companies’ resources, which include human, capital, time, equipment, and profit and risk management. Speaking at a Business Development Forum organised by his company in Lagos recently where business owners were sensitised on business development strategies, Ayodele said many industrialists and researchers had begun a course to critically examine the business system from an analytical point of view bringing into the fore the imminent challenges and barriers to sustained quality of business and management within the context of a 21st century business environment, their findings, according to him, although inconclusive and debatable all point to the fact business management in this century tends to “major in the minor and minor in the major” and that is why challenges and problems still render the businesses quite ineffective. The CEO of Business School Netherland, Nigeria, Mr. Lere Baale, refutes the view that unfavourable economic environment serves as the blocking factor to the growth of business in the country, pointing out that it is in the same environment that many other companies thrive and grow. He said the economic environment is the same all over the world, adding that there is no country without its own peculiar challenge. He said the only factor that makes many businesses fail is found in the ingenuity of the management of such businesses. “This defines the main reason why many companies and investors remain at the base of the business or are forced out of the business realm while others thrive in the same environment,” he stated.

Baale, who noted that there were some manufacturers that did not sell their products in the country where they produced but kept on moving from good to great, said the environment therefore could not be a barrier to business advancement anywhere in the world. He said that despite complaints by many stakeholders over insufficient infrastructure, Nigeria still remained the most conducive place to do business in Africa, adding that many businesses are making it great while other investors from abroad are eyeing the country as their interested business destination. An expert pointed to some companies including media, which have run out of business due to managerial ineptitude coupled with inability to withstand competition among other producers of the same or similar products as well as referring to others that continue to blossom amidst the same economic environment in Nigeria. He said those companies and businesses that flourish also operate in the same situation as those that fail. “They pay the same tax, ply the same road, use the same electricity and other infrastructure. It is unfortunate and unbusiness-like for anybody to blame their woes on infrastructure.” Ayodele said the element of greatness when revealed in management practices business will completely change the orientation of concerned stakeholders about the infrastructure challenges, which will give room to better enhanced synergy and collaboration where the system is permissible for changes that will at the long-run improve the quality and longevity of business. According to him, for a company or business to thrive in any economic environment or situation in which it operates, it has to improve the management effectiveness by learning from successful companies. It should also be able to manage people, data and processes to foster business improvement and quality, recall the outstanding practices of the successful businesses across the world and its vicinity and apply them for its own overall effectiveness, state explicitly the advantages of the great companies especially within the same environment and strive to achieve same in its business. He noted that such company should also grasp the various barriers towards becoming a great and successful business while learning the strategies and intervention process by which such could be neutralised to the barest minimum. Similarly, a business management consultant, Mr. Felix Ayopo, said investors need to understand that the market has an inherent risk and that they should find a way to manage the risk. “The way they come in and the way they access the market is completely different and people really need to understand that the market has an inherent risk and they have to find a way to manage the risk rather than blaming their failure on environment and or infrastructure,” he explained.

Cocktail

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

Zoo shows off newborn giant panda cub

he Smithsonian’s National Zoo shared video of a giant panda cub undergoing a veterinary exam less than a day after being the first of a set of twins to be born. The video, posted to YouTube, shows the newborn panda squeaking and squealing through its first medical exam about 6:30 a.m. Sunday, a mere 11 hours

after its birth at 5:35 p.m. the previous day. The cub was the first twin born to giant panda Mei Xiang Saturday night, the second cub came at about 10:07 p.m. The zoo said the mother and newborn cubs appeared to be doing well Sunday. Officials said veterinarians will not know the sexes of the cubs until a later date.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Oddities

Topless women march for breast-baring rights D ozens of women bared their breasts and marched in New York for topless rights as part of a coordinated worldwide GoTopless Day. The march in New York, where it has been legal for women to go topless in public since 1992, aimed to desexualize female toplessness and take a stand for a woman’s right to bare her breasts amid promises

from New York Mayor Bill de Blasio to crack down on topless panhandlers in Times Square. The topless marchers, which some reports counted at up to 300, held signs bearing slogans including “women’s breasts are fam-

ily friendly” and “desexualize boobies.” Nadine Gary, president of the parade’s organizer, GoTopless, said de Blasio’s blasting of the Times Square performers as “unacceptable” reinforces the stigma against women go-

ing shirtless in public. “He’s exacerbating the situation and reinforcing the stigma,” Gary told The Wall Street Journal. “Leave them alone, it’s no big deal. This will pass as women become more comfortable showing their breasts.”

Class teaches mermaids to flap their fins

new swimming school in Toronto is offering lessons for an oft-neglected niche group of swimmers -- mermaids. The Aquamermaid school, which began in February in Montreal and has now begun classes at a Toronto indoor pool, offers students ages 7 and up classes on how to swim with their legs bound inside mermaid tails.

The mermaid tail trend has been spreading worldwide, with Britney Spears sharing a mermaid-tail snapshot on Instagram and famous toddler cousins North West and Penelope Disick donning their own mermaid costumes for an encounter with a costumed performer in St. Barts, France. “Business is great. We actually have a lot of popularity

in our adult classes, surprisingly,” Olivia Ginty, an Aquamermaid teacher who describes herself as a “mermaid instructor” and “professional mermaid,” told CBC News. Aquamermaid is planning to expand to a third city, Ottawa, in September, but mermaid instructors and performers said not all of Canada is receptive to their particular swimming style.

Spectators takes pictures of topless participants as they move down the parade route at the GoTopless Pride Parade as part of the worldwide Go Topless Day campaign in New York City, on Sunday

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Joel Ajayi and Gloria Usuman ABUJA

nited Nations Humanitarian Agency has said Nigeria accommodated world’s largest Internally Displaced Persons IDPs, globally.The agency put the number of IDPs in the country at 1.5 million. However, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has pledged continued support and collaboration in delivering hu-

Civil Service 41

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

Nigeria harbours world’s largest IDPs –UN …as NEMA pledges continued humanitarian support manitarian support to victims of insurgency and displacement in the country.The event, 2015 World Humanitarian Day, was organized by NEMA to commemorate persons who lost their lives in the course of rendering humanitarian service around the world. The event had the theme: “Inspiring

the world’s Humanity.” UN Representatives, Dauda Toure noted that Nigeria as a nation had contributed to numerous number of peace-keeping in the world and should enjoy more support from the rest of the world.He said: “We need to remind everyone that, 1.5million

displaced people in the North East is one of the biggest figures as we speak today, in the World. So, the biggest case of displaced people in the world is in Nigeria, it is not in ISIS or other terrorist group of this world, it is here in Nigeria and we need to do something about. “The UN Secretary-

L-R: Acting General Manager, Corporate Services, Lagos Waste Management Authority, Mr. Fatai Odejayi; new Managing Director, Mr. Abdulwahab Ogunbiyi and General Manager, Administration and Special Duties, Mrs. Abimbola Jijoho-Ogun, during a news conference in Lagos, on Monday.

NPC, UNICEF partner media to curb violence against children Adeola Tukuru, ABUJA

ational Population Commission (NPC) in collaboration with United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) as well as Ministry of Information has partnered the media to curb the menace of child violence in the country.The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Information, Dr. Folashade Esan who was represented at the workshop by the Assistant Director of the Child Right Information Bureau,CRIB, Mercy Megwa, during

the just concluded 3 day workshop in Nasarawa, frowned at the rising cases of child violence even as she assured that the ministry was ready to partner with relevant agencies, particularly the media to reduce the scourge to its barest minimum.In his advise the Media and External relations of United Nations Children Fund UNICEF, Mr Geoffrey Njoku, urged the media to report issues of child abuse exclusively with keen focus on the dramatic elements in the story than issues that affect them add-

ing that such unrelated issues leads to stereotyping children as helpless victims rather than human beings with their own rights. In his words, “Most violence perpetrated are on children living with disabilities because these children are dependent, trusting, easily exploited or abused.Children who have been abused should not be victimized, such a child’s identity should be protected both facially, by voice or even name”. Earlier in his remark, President of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, NUJ, Mr

Abdulwaheed Odusile represented by Mr. Wilson Bako commended the organisation for its foresight in fighting the scourge and pleaded with his colleagues to give an indepth reportage in exposing the menace.”Media coverage of issues of violence against children should be taken from a more friendly angle and also follow up on investigative cases concerning such children to ensure that they get justice. The press should refrain from sensationalizing violence against children,” he said.

General also paid tribute to the 120 humanitarian aid workers who lost their lives in 2014 in the service of helping others. World Humanitarian Day commemorates the day in 2003 when 22 UN workers were killed in a bombing of the UN offices in Baghdad.“Today, more than 100 million people in countries across the world need urgent life-saving humanitarian aid, with nearly 60 million people now forcibly displaced. This is a crisis of forced migration on a scale not seen in the post-World War era, in which a displaced person will remain, on average, displaced for 17 years.“I want to remind all us here that, the World humanitarian needs our support than ever before because women, children are vulnerable especially the kidnapping of school girls children 500 days ago, deserve our full attention. “The crisis in North-East, Nigeria is not publicizes enough, and international communities has been wondering why this is happening to Nigeria a country that has been contributing to peace keeping around the world, the International communities have to come to Nigeria’s rescue and contribute more to the of the suffering people in the North-East the response from international agencies is not enough” he urged.He added: The assistance should not provide for not just IDPs but to the wide community as well as reconstructing of the North East. It has to be a comprehensives approach and UN is ready to as-

sist.” Between January and June this year, 75,000 children have been reach with social support, 400 people have received full livelihood or agricultural assistance or cash transfer, out of 185,000 children that were screen for malnutrition, immunization programme has been ruled out for 140,000 children while 618,000 people are benefiting from water and other items, good as it is, it is not enough the total number we are talking about is 1.5millionHe further commended FG and communities for their care and support to the victims and the authorities, including security agencies for liberating the areas under the control of the insurgents,On his welcome address, the Director-General National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Mr. Muhammad Sani-Sidi, noted that the World Humanitarian Day celebration is set aside to increase public awareness about people involving in the provision of humanitarian services. “In Nigeria, the Boko Haram insurgency in the North East region constitutes the most challenging crisis for government and humanitarian actors in the recent history of our nation.”He assured that Federal government and security agencies are ready to scale up humanitarian programme and has created safe corridors for movement and safety of the humanitarian workers during service delivery.”

Civil Service

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

NBC says Nigeria has over 600 licensed Radio, TV, others Joel Ajayi, ABUJA

irector-General of National Broadcasting Commission Mr. Emeka Mba on Monday identified inadequate fund as the sole reason behind country’s failure to meet the deadline set by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) for country to switch from analogue to digital transmission. It will be recalled that, after the 2006 Geneva agreement between the ITU and member countries, to which Nigeria was a signatory, a June 17, 2015 deadline date was set and agreed by member nations for switchover from analogue to digital trans-

mission. The process that is expected to help set free from the broadcasters some spectrum frequencies, otherwise known as digital dividend, which other sectors, especially the telecommunications industry, can deploy to provide better services. He stated this at the first Annual Lecture organized by National Broadcasting Commission NBC, in Abuja with the theme: “New media, convergence and the future of Broadcasting: Greedy telcos, Naive Broadcasters and scramble for spectrum” noted that factors beyond commission contributed to the failure. According to him, the most critical challenges in recent times have

been piloting the switchover from analogue to digital broadcasting. He said: “Nigeria unfortunately missed the ITU’s June 17 deadline not by design but due to factors beyond our control. In fact it would have been completed on time if funding had been available.“We wish to assure Nigerian at disappointing as this may be, it was not without a fairly good shot at success. “The broadcasting landscape has enjoyed such tremendous growth under our watchful eyes and has blossomed into a vibrant indus-

try with unlimited. It has transformed from a single, domineering authoritarian voice as it used to be 23 years ago to a beautiful democratic orchestra of multiple views and perspectives.”Speaking about Commission’s achievement in 23 years Emeka stated those 21 years ago, the broadcasting industry depended largely on foreign content.“Today, through the commission’s regulatory activities, such as family belt provisions, Nigerian content and music has taken a pre-eminent position across nu-

merous channels and platforms, making Nigeria the media and entertainment hub of Africa.“In practical terms, we have grown from a handful of government owned broadcast station to over 600 diversely owned stations.“We have 51 MMDS, 26DTH, 27 Campus Broadcasting Stations, 53 Federal Radio Stations, 97 Federal TV, 122 States Radio, 68 States TV, 97 Private Radio and 43 private TV.“The essence is to enable the emergence of a sustainable industry that satisfies the social, political and

economic needs of the people of Nigeria.”He promised that the commission is working round the clock to make sure Nigeria meet the new deadline which December 2017.While delivering his lecture, the Secretary-General Commonwealth Telecommunications Organization, Engr. Shola Taylor, identified multiple taxation, poor wages inadequate funds as factors that is killing the industry. He urged telecom service provider to reduce the roaming charges within the African continent.

NYSC, NOA kick-off stop corruption campaign Joel Ajayi, ABUJA

s part of effort to stop corruption and promote ethical values in the society, National Orientation Agency NOA in collaboration with the National Youth Service Corps is to deploy corps members and other volunteers to the grassroots to promote the stop corruption campaign. The Director General of the Agency, Mike Omeri made this disclosure recently, when his NYSC counterpart Brigadier Gen. Johnson Olawunmi and his management team came on visit to NOA office in Garki Abuja. Omeri said that the essence of this campaign is to show the commitment by the government to mobilize citizens to participate in governance for the development of the country; adding that the programme will mobilize Nigerians in the direction of change, prosperity and progress. He called on all Nigerians irrespective of tribal and religious affili-

ations to use the strength and faith we have in one another to unite and work for the progress and development of the country and mobilize the citizen to work together for our common goal. The DG NOA reiterated the Agency’s commitment and preparedness to carry out this laudable initiative to modify behaviours and change attitudes, saying that we must all do the right thing and push the process forward. In a remark, the Director General of the NYSC, Brigdier Gen. Johnson Olawunmi said that the campaign is key to youth development which falls in line with the mandate of the scheme to drive this laudable program. Olawunmi said the scheme appreciate this initiatives and wills to mobilize the corp members to be part of this value reorientation campaign which is in tended to call the citizen back to the tenets of our core values for the progress and the development of the country.

Chairman, Military Pensions Board, AVM Muhammad Dabo (right), Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defence, Alhaji Aliyu Ismaila (middle) and others, inaugurating the medical reception station at the Military Pensions Board, to cater for the primary health care needs of the board’s staff, pensioners, deceased military personnel and members of the immediate community, at Dutse in Abuja, recently.

Ekiti Appoints 13 Executive Secretaries ADO Abiodun EKITI

Nejo,

kiti State Government has approved the appointment of 13 Executive Secretaries in the State public service. They are among the 105 substantive Directors that participated in the examination and interview organized by the state government last month.

A statement from the Office of the State Head of Service, Dr Olugbenga Faseluka, listed them to include Mr Ale James Agbelusi, Mrs Owoeye Mopelola, Mr Jeje Abiodun, Mr Akinola James, Mr Longe Abayomi, Mr Olatilu Olubunmi, Mr Akinbolawa Taiwo, and Engr. Adeola Johnson. Others are Pharmacist Adewole Abike Olutope, Mrs

Boluwatife Juliet, Mr Alokan Tokunbo, Mrs Wale-Awe Bolanle and Dr Adeniyi Ilesanmi. The new Executive Secretaries would be in charge of the activities of Bureau of Chieftaincy; Fiscal Responsibility Commission; Education Endowment Fund; Pension Commission; Bureau of Tourism, Arts and Culture; Boundary Commission; and Office of the Public Defender.

The rest would man the State Traffic Management Agency (EKSTMA); Primary Health Care Development Agency; Bureau of Productivity and Empowerment; Solid Minerals Development Agency; State Independent Electoral Commission (SIEC); and Farm Settlement and Peasant Farmer. The appointments are with immediate effect.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Politics

Wednesday August 26, 2015

How Oshiomole contributed to Jonathan’s failure –Orubebe

...Says, Amaechi was a “good” man Omeiza Ajayi ABUJA

F L-R: Deputy Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Musa Wasiu; Governor Abiola Ajimobi and Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Olalekan Ali, during the state Hajj pilgrims farewell prayers, in Ibadan, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

Ekiti 2018: Twists in APC guber aspirant’s return bid to PDP Abiodun Nejo ADO EKITI

he dust raised by the purported return of an All Progressives Congress, APC, gubernatorial aspirant and former Speaker of Ekiti State House of Assembly, Hon Femi Bamisile, to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has refused to settle, as denials and accusations trail the development. Bamisile, who as PDP state Deputy Chairman, dumped the PDP for APC few days to the 2014 gubernatorial election in the state, alongside two notable APC members held a meeting with Ekiti State governor, prominent PDP members and some traditional rulers at a hotel in Ado Ekiti on Sunday, where news filtered out that the gubernatorial aspirant might have rejoined the PDP. But just as Bamisile stated on Monday that the governor, who came into his meeting with the monarchs, had begged him to return to the PDP, dangling the PDP governorship ticket before him, Bamisile’s friend, Mr Bolaji Jeje, said yesterday that he was the one that, at Bamisile’s pleading, brokered a meeting between the governor and the former Speaker. Bamisile, who said his activities in APC had put PDP under pressure, had said: “Indeed I had a meeting with the traditional rulers where Governor

Fayose joined. He said I would be given the ticket of the PDP if I return to his party and held my legs, begging that the kings should plead with me. “I snubbed and immediately left him in the room because I think it was unhealthy for our political system, if we soil the hands of our traditional rulers with the dirty mud of politics.” But Jeje, who said he brokered the meeting in Ado Ekiti on Sunday, said Bamisile’s claim that the governor begged him to return to the PDP was “a shameless lie”. He said yesterday that the former Speaker approached him to broker his return to PDP, clarifying that he and Bamisile met with the governor at Eko Hotel in Lagos on Monday last week. Jeje said: “As a friend, I feel very disappointed in Bamisile. Here is someone who came to me in Efon Alaaye to plead that I should facilitate his meeting with Governor Fayose. “After we discussed at Efon Alaaye, I told Governor Fayose, who told me pointedly that Femi cannot be trusted. But because of the way he (Bamisile) spoke to me, I persuaded the governor to give him audience and we both met with the governor at Eko Hotel on Monday, August 17. “We were together in Eko Hotel till around 3 am and I challenge Bamisile to deny these facts. It was

at the Eko Hotel meeting that the meeting held on Sunday was agreed upon, with the governor insisting that traditional rulers must be part of the meeting and it must be made known to the press. “Bamisile was the one who begged Governor Fayose at the Eko Hotel meeting and the agreement reached was for him (Bamisile) to return to PDP this week because he said he was going to travel abroad next week Monday. “I am therefore shocked and disappointed that Bamisile could go to town, lying that it was Governor Fayose that begged him to return to PDP. “As a friend, who meant well for him, it will be honourable for him to retract that statement and come before the public to admit

that he actually sought my intervention to pave way for his return to PDP.” But Bamisile, in a response to the allegation, said Jeje was being used by the governor to scandalise and rubbish his image, saying: “Though Jeje is my friend, but under this context, he is being used against me by the government. “I left the party when Dr Goodluck Jonathan was the President. This is almost a year that Fayose got into office. Those who wanted to contest or elected have virtually got everything. If I should join, what would he give me now? “I have said it repeatedly that I can’t work with Fayose. What is my gain in going to the PDP, a party that is not at the federal?”

ormer Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe, has taken a swipe at Edo State governor, Adams Oshiomole, saying he was among those who misled former President Goodluck Jonathan into taking certain policy-decisions which later backfired. He said the governor, who now speaks against Dr Jonathan, used to be a frequent visitor to the presidential villa, seeking favour from the former president, wondering why he was so quick to switch his allegiance to the incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari. Orubebe spoke yesterday in a brief encounter with some journalists in Abuja. Advising President Buhari to keep the governor at arm’s length, Orubebe said Oshiomhole as the “Chief Adviser on Economy and Labour Matters” to Jonathan ill-advised him to remove fuel subsidy at the time he did. He regretted that human memory is short, saying it is unfortunate that the governor now bites the fingers that fed him and seems to have “forgotten in a hurry that he once cried around the former president for assistance and recognition”. While reiterating that 99 per cent of Nigerians in government are sycophants, he conceded that for now there is some semblance of sanity at the presidential villa, urging the President to be mindful

of the antics of sycophants. He said: “Mr. President, I want to attest to the fact that there is reasonable sanity in the villa, but I want you to be weary of popular Villa sycophants; this is because, Nigerians will hold you responsible for their atrocities and not these sycophants.” He promised to unravel more secrets on the activities of sycophants in the last administration in his soonto-be published book. Speaking on the sour relationship between Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike and his predecessor, Rotimi Amaechi, the former minister described Amaechi as a good man, making reference to his unalloyed support for former President Jonathan during the 2011 general elections. He advised the duo to sheath their swords and work together to restore Rivers State to its lost glory. On the ongoing political crisis in Bayelsa State, Orubebe cautioned Governor Seriake Dickson against been proud, urging him to embrace humility “like he did when he first hustled for the position.” He advised him to “swallow his pride and embark on a house to house reconciliation mission of those he has offended”. He also reminded Bayelsa State leaders that what is before them is not about Dickson who has erred, but their integrity as a people, urging them to embrace peace as a way of delivering the state to the Peoples Democratic Party PDP.

Uvwie council crisis deepens, as PDP suspends ex-chair, 13 councilors ...Residents protest, want him recalled Theophilus Onojeghen WARRI

he brewing crisis at the Uvwie Local Government Council Area of Delta State yesterday worsened following the suspension of the “suspended” council chairman, Hon. Henry Baro and 13 councilors from Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, over alleged antiparty activities. This is even as hundreds of residents of the council protested against the suspension of the embattled council chairman by the Delta State

House of Assembly. The state House of Assembly had two weeks ago suspended the Uvwie council chairman to allow it investigates allegations of breach of peace and financial recklessness brought against him. National Mirror gathered that Baro who was elected on the platform of the PDP was suspended by the Uvwie Council chapter of the party alongside 13 councilors suspected to be his loyalists. PDP chairman in the area, Mr Kelly Utuedor, con-

firmed their suspension when contacted. According to him, they were being suspended on their involvement in anti-party activities during the last general elections. It was alleged that the embattled council chair worked against candidates of the PDP during the poll. But protesters made up of women and youths wearing t-shirts with portrait of the suspended council chairman in multiple protests in various streets of the council warned the state government, especially the House of Assembly from throwing

the council into chaos. The placards carrying protesters while condemning the suspension by the Delta State House of Assembly, called for his immediate restatement to forestall breakdown of the relative peace in the area. A protester who does not want his name mentioned told newsmen: “We want Baro, the council chairman we elected back in office. We love him. He has not been found wanting of any substantiated wrongdoing and the suspension with impunity is sponsored and lacks merit.

Politics

Wednesday August 26, 2015

Adesina, Olaleye, others to discuss Nigeria today Ebere Ndukwu

pecial Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, will this morning join ThisDay Group Political Editor, Olawale Olaleye and other panelists on The August Gathering, TAG, 2015, a radio programme coming up on Nigerian Info 99.3 between 8am and 10am to discuss pertinent national issues. TAG is a radio colloquium designed to promote good governance through public engagement on pressing issues facing the Nigerian society and proffering sustainable solutions. The discourse will also shed light on how the current administration can creatively navigate through the expectations of the people and the economic realities on ground and still deliver true development, growth and good governance to the Nigerian people. The host and convener of the programme, Oluwaseun Olaniyan described the essence of the programme in a statement made avail-

able to newsmen, saying: “TAG primarily targets the youths which make up about 70 per cent of the Nigerian populace. This demographic needs constant engagement on matters of governance and they demand accountability and good governance from their leaders. The youths are fully aware of the future they want to create for the nation. This informed the need for carefully selected panelists that have successfully carved a niche for themselves in their respective field of influence.” Olaniyan will engage a panel, which also include founder LEAP Africa, Ndidi Nwuneli; communications expert, Chris Ngwodo and founder, Rise Networks, Toyosi Akerele Ogunsiji in dialogue on developmental issues across various sectors of the Nigerian economy and the best way to harness potentials for nation building. The popular radio programme TAG 2015 is in line with the United Nations International Youth Day 2015, tagged: ‘Youth Civic Engagement’ and will be streamed online.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

LG polls: Ekiti PDP aspirants asked to shun name-dropping Abiodun Nejo ADO EKITI

eoples Democratic Party, PDP, aspirants for the forthcoming local government elections in Ekiti State have been advised to shun name-dropping and rather solicit support from party members with their programmes. The governor, who gave

the charge, said he had no vested interest in any aspirant and that nobody should go about to drop his name to solicit support. A statement from the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr Idowu Adelusi, stated that the governor spoke in Ado Ekiti yesterday during a closed-door meeting with political appointees in the state. Adelusi stated that the

governor charged political appointees to let transparency be their watchwords in their respective offices. He said: “See your appointment as divine and luck which must not be over-stretched. To who much is given, much is expected. I charge you to be the collective image makers of the administration and defend it. “You should be hard working and honest as

they are the watchwords of this administration. As the state governor, I have demonstrated transparency by putting everything coming to the state on the table for all to see. “I put the fear of God first and consult God before making any appointment. I have learnt from the past and now want God to choose for me. That is why am unpredictable to people.”

Chairman, Kebbi State NUJ, Alhaji Aliyu Jajirma (left) and Deputy Governor, Alhaji Samaila Yombe, during his visit to NUJ secretariat in Birnin Kebbi, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

Kogi guber: Don’t sell your votes, Abatemi-Usman tells APC delegates Robert Awokuse

frontline aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, for the November 21 Kogi State gubernatorial election, Senator Nurudeen Abatemi-Usman, has called on party delegates for the primary poll holding this Sat-

urday to reject the request by some contestants in the race to buy their votes. Abatemi-Usman made the call at a meeting with delegates and leaders of the party at the grassroots, imploring the delegates to do a proper assessment of the 28 aspirants for the contest and vote for the best candidate according their conscience without allowing anybody to deceive or

influence them with money. He said: “I have come to ask you to give me a chance on August 29 to be the APC candidate and the privilege to become the governor of Kogi State, so that together we can build a new Kogi. “Let no one deceive you with money or any other form of inducement. Don’t sell your votes to anybody. Don’t surrender your cards to anybody. Your card is

your weapon. Your vote is your power. You have to use it wisely.” Noting that out of the 36 states of the federation, Kogi State is the least developed, he solicited the support of the people in order to create a better state, stressing that he has the necessary experience and capacity to cause the needed turn around. He added: “I know I

have the capacity, experience, network, strong will, boundless energy and youthfulness to take on this great task. We have manifold beautiful plans as contained in our manifesto to transform Kogi State and make it a place of pride for all of us.” The gubernatorial aspirant, who has continued to receive declaration of support and endorsement from

the delegates across the 21 local councils in the state, urged the gathering not to be intimidated by any delegate from voting during the primary election, as long as his or her name is in the authentic delegates’ list. He further assured the delegates that the primary would be transparent, free and fair, noting that APC is a responsible party with a good name to protect.

Ortom’s image maker cautions elders from attacking govt Henry Iyorkase MAKURDI

pecial Adviser, SA, on Media, Information Communication Technology to Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom, Mr. Tahav Agerzua, has reacted to comments credited to retired former Police Commissioner, Alhaji Abubakar Tsav, urging him to participate in partisan politics

so as run for any elective office of his choice rather than always castigating selected political leaders, especially the duo of Senator George Akume and Governor Ortom. He recalled that during Suswam’s era there was nothing wrong in the state as Alhaji Tsav would only comment on President Jonathan’s inadequacies and reply Chief Edwin Clark on national issues.

He said: “Despite genuine efforts being made by the new regime to reposition the ailing economy and efforts being intensified to offset the backlog of salary arrears and pensions for entire workers in the state, someone is out there who is not being appreciative and claims to be speaking for the masses.” Agersua further averred that the Ortom administration, in spite

of undaunted criticism being heaped on it, is not perturbed but is rather determined and more focused towards providing quality leadership services to improve the well being of Benue citizenry. Reiterating the determination of his principal’s readiness to make lives more meaningful and also wipe away abject poverty created by the former administration,

he insisted that anything standing in its way of progress would be totally crushed. The SA said a word is enough for the wise, adding that elder statesmen worth their onions must have a channel whereby they could come and play their role by giving words of encouragement to younger ones for enhanced development and progress to the society

and mankind in general than always vilifying others no apparent reason. He cautioned that elders willing to regain their lost glory should henceforth begin to fuse their ideas and views together with a view to submitting same to those in corridors of power towards enhancement of the state and its people for the betterment of all and sundry.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Capital Market

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

Stock index falls to 6-month low Johnson Okanlawon

quities index on the Nigerian Stock Exchange fell to a more than six-month low yesterday, its second day of losses, as investors worried about the persistent decline in crude prices and a slowdown in China’s economy sold off frontier market shares. The bourse, which has the second-biggest weighting after Kuwait on the MSCI frontier market index, fell 1.95 per cent 28,645 points, its lowest since February 18, as investors sold off shares in relatively liquid consumer goods, oil and banking sectors. Market capitalization shed N113 billion to further drag the investment value below N9 trillion. Losses recorded was driv-

en by sell-offs in market heavy weights like Dangote Cement, Julius Berger and PZ Plc. In the absence of any positive news flow to trigger a market rebound, analysts at United Capital Plc expect speculative play to dominate equity positioning this week. “Technical readings on the benchmark suggest that careful momentum trading may still offer modest short term rewards, while current rock bottom valuations remain attractive for longer term positioning.” At the end of the trading, a turnover of 604.024 million units of shares worth N2.922 billion were exchanged in 4,088 deals as against a turnover of 257.7 million units of shares valued at N2.775 billion in 4,270 deals recorded the preceding day.

Banking stocks were toast of investors as they dominate the volume and value of trading. Resort Savings Plc traded 164.843 million units of share valued N82.421 million, followed by UBA Plc with 124.446 million shares worth N374.378 million and Transnational Corporation of Nigeria Plc traded 55.887 million units, which amounted to N120.347 million. Guaranty Trust Bank Plc traded 43.143 million units of shares worth N888.075 million and Zenith Bank Plc exchanged 34.658 million shares valued at N478.401 million. Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc led others stocks on the gainers chart with a gain of N0.20 kobo to close at N18.20 kobo per unit from N18.00 kobo. Fidson Healthcare Plc fol-

lowed with N0.09 kobo gain to close at N3.30 kobo from N3.21 kobo, while Fidelity Bank Plc rose by N0.06 kobo per share to close at N1.26 kobo o per share from N1.20 kobo, Access Bank Plc with N0.03 kobo to close at N4.50 kobo from N4.47 kobo per share and Costain West Africa Plc with gain of N0.02 kobo to close at N0.59 kobo per share from N0.57 kobo. On the other hand, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc led others on losers table with N2.16 kobo to close at N41.15 kobo per share from N43.31 kobo. PZ Plc followed with N1.34 kobo from N25.59 kobo to close at N26.93 kobo per share and Dangote Cement Plc loss N0.95 kobo per share to close at N169.05 kobo from N170.00 kobo per share.

NSE unveils Premium Board Index

igerian Stock Exchange yesterday launched a new listing platform - the Premium Board and the associated Premium Board Index. A statement from the Exchange yesterday said the board will feature companies that meet the Exchange’s most stringent listing criteria of capitalization, governance and liquidity. It aims to provide a platform for greater global visibility for eligible African corporates to make it easier for them to at-

tract global capital flows and reduce the cost of funding. It explained that the Premium Board Index on the other hand, is an equity index designed to provide a benchmark to capture the performance of companies listed on the Premium Board. According to the statement, the index will also provide a basis for developing products (such as ETFs and equity index derivatives) that are tradable on the bourse. The Chief Executive Officer, NSE, Mr. Oscar N. Ony-

ema, was quoted as saying that the Exchange is a member of the United Nation’s Sustainable Stock Exchange Initiative, which is designed to encourage stock exchanges to influence their ecosystem to adopt sustainable ways of doing business around environmental, social, and governance dimensions. He said, “The Premium Board is one result of our commitment to place corporate governance front and centre as a way to improve the climate for doing busi-

GTB plans issuance of new Eurobond Johnson Okanlawon

hief Executive Officer of Guaranty Trust Bank, Mr. Segun Agbaje, yesterday said the bank will redeem its existing Eurobond at maturity and consider issuing a fresh one. Agbaje, who spoke at a conference call, said the bank probably will redeem everything, but it might raise fresh bond ... subject to pricing, prevailing environment. He said that the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, should devalue its currency again by another 10 per cent owing to the persistent decline in crude oil prices which have spooked foreign investors and prompted them to exit naira-denominated assets. The bank last week reported a profit after tax of N53.4 billion for the half year ended June 30, 2015, an increase of 21 per cent from N44.0 billion recorded in the same period of

2014. The bank’s gross earnings for the period grew by 15 per cent to N153billion from N133billion reported in the June 2014, driven primarily by growth in interest income. According to the result presented to both the Nigerian and the London Stock Exchanges, profit before tax stood at N63.11billion, representing a growth of 18 per cent over N53.39billion recorded in the corresponding period of June 2014. The bank’s loan book grew by two per cent from N1.276trillion recorded as at December 2014 to N1.299trillion in June 2015 and total customer deposits increased by five per cent to N1.71trillion from N1.618trillion in December 2014. The bank closed the half year ended June 2015 with a total assets and contingents of N3.04trillion and shareholders’ funds of N385 billion.

The bank’s non-performing loans remained low at 3.73 per cent, while the return on equity and return on assets stood at 28.1 per cent and 4.4 per cent respectively. The bank is proposing interim dividend of 25 kobo per ordinary share of 50 kobo each for period ended June 30, 2015. Speaking on the result, the Managing Director of the bank, Mr. Segun Agbaje, attributed the performance during a tough half year period, to the continued support of its customers, the commitment and hard work of its staff, management and board, and strong corporate governance standards. He said a major objective for the bank this year is to add value to all stakeholders and improve the customer experience. He said, “We will continue to drive customer engagement, underpinned by a single view of the customer, and build an

ness in Africa. “We expect that companies on the Board will enjoy the highest levels of visibility and appeal to investors looking for large companies with the highest standards of corporate governance.” It stressed that the Premium Board Index would serve as a benchmark for investors looking to track the performance of large firms with excellent corporate governance and sustainable business models.

ecosystem that will guarantee increased customer interactions and satisfaction at every touch point”. Agbaje explained that the bank will continue to leverage technology and collaborations to improve customer experience and ease of interaction. Rate (%) Inflation

8.2

MPR

Crude oil price

$58.96

Source: NSE

Inter-Bank Rate Naira

US Dollar

N196.95 Market indicators All-Share Index 28,807.00points Market capitalisation 9.90trn

Stock Updates GAINERS COMPANY

OPENING

CLOSING

CHANGE

% CHANGE

FIDELITYBK

1.20

1.26

0.06

5.00

COSTAIN

0.57

0.59

0.02

3.51

FIDSON

3.21

3.30

0.09

2.80

STANBIC

18.00

18.20

0.20

1.11

LEARNAFRCA

0.99

1.00

0.01

1.01

ACCESS

4.47

4.50

0.03

0.67

CHANGE

% CHANGE

LOSERS COMPANY

OPENING

CLOSING

CAVERTON

3.99

3.61

-0.38

-9.52

PAINTCOM

1.20

1.14

-0.06

-5.00

OANDO

10.42

9.90

-0.52

-4.99

INTBREW

18.45

17.53

-0.92

-4.99

JBERGER

43.31

41.15

-2.16

-4.99

26.93

25.59

-1.34

-4.98

118.00

112.12

-5.88

-4.98

ETRANZACT

3.25

3.09

-0.16

-4.92

IKEJAHOTEL

2.85

2.71

-0.14

-4.91

BERGER

8.77

8.34

-0.43

-4.90

FGN Bonds

Offer

Bid

Description

Price

Yield

Price

Yield

15.10 27-APR-2017

1.67

99.10

15.69

99.25

15.58

16.00 29-JUN-2019

3.84

100.55

15.78

100.85

15.68

15.54 13-FEB-2020

4.47

99.51

15.69

99.81

15.60

16.39 27-JAN-2022

6.43

102.45

15.76

102.75

15.69

14.20 14-MAR-2024

8.55

92.41

15.85

92.71

15.78

10.00 23-JUL-2030

14.91 68.00

15.58

68.30

15.50

Closing Market Prices of August 25, 2015

Treasury Bills Maturity Date

Bid

Offer

Exchange

Rates (N)

26-Nov-15

15.24

15.86

WAUA

270

25-Feb-16

15.47

16.77

USD

196.96

EURO

214

4-Aug-16

13.72

15.76

CFA

0.32

YEN

1.64

Tenor

Rate (%)

SWISS FRANC

202

O/N

47.1250

18.5054

POUNDS STERLING

293

20.4074

SDR

273

22.1277

NIBOR

The Fixings of August 25, 2015

Capital Market

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

Stock exchange daily equities summary Daily Summary as of 25/08/2015 Printed 25/08/2015 15:31:00.000

Equities as at August 25, 2015 Daily Summary as of 25/08/2015 Printed 25/08/2015 15:31:00.000

Daily Summary (Bonds)

Daily Summary (Equities)

No Debt Trading Activity

1st Tier Securities Sector

Company name

Daily Summary (Equities)

No Of Deals

Quotation(N)

Quantity Traded

Value of Shares(N)

Activity Summary on Board EQTY AGRICULTURE Crop Production OKOMU OIL PALM PLC. PRESCO PLC Crop Production Totals Livestock/Animal Specialties LIVESTOCK FEEDS PLC. Livestock/Animal Specialties Totals

Daily Summary as of 25/08/2015 AGRICULTURE Totals Printed 25/08/2015 15:31:00.000 CONGLOMERATES Diversified Industries A.G. LEVENTIS NIGERIA PLC. TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATION OF NIGERIA PLC U A C N PLC. Activity Summary on Board EQTY Diversified Industries Totals CONGLOMERATES Totals CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Building Structure/Completion/Other COSTAIN (W A) PLC. Building Structure/Completion/Other Totals Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Infrastructure/Heavy Construction JULIUS BERGER NIG. PLC. ROADS NIG PLC. Infrastructure/Heavy Construction Totals Real Estate Development UACN PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT CO. LIMITED Real Estate Development Totals

Symbol OKOMUOIL PRESCO

No. of Deals 11 14 25

Current Price 20.63 31.00

Quantity Traded 58,280 236,091 294,371

Value Traded 1,147,724.00 7,318,821.00 8,466,545.00

Symbol LIVESTOCK

No. of Deals 15 15

Current Price 1.70

Quantity Traded 291,818 291,818

Value Traded 492,778.70 492,778.70

586,189

8,959,323.70

Current Price 0.95 2.09 37.00

Quantity Traded 6,702 55,887,252 54,799 55,948,753

Value Traded 6,098.82 120,347,356.39 1,913,025.16 122,266,480.37

343 No. of Deals Current Price 9 0.59 9

55,948,753 Quantity Traded 473,904 473,904

122,266,480.37 Value Traded 279,603.36 279,603.36

No. of Deals 23 1 24

Current Price 41.15 6.60

Page Quantity Traded 241,380 133 241,513

12 1 of Value Traded 9,932,787.00 921.69 9,933,708.69

No. of Deals 10 10

Current Price 7.89

Quantity Traded 82,250 82,250

Value Traded 649,346.50 649,346.50

Symbol AGLEVENT

No. of Deals 1 320 22 343

Daily Summary (Equities) TRANSCORP UACN

Symbol COSTAIN

Symbol JBERGER ROADS

Symbol UAC-PROP

CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Totals CONSUMER GOODS Daily Summary as of 25/08/2015 Automobiles/Auto Parts Printed 25/08/2015 15:31:00.000 DN TYRE & RUBBER PLC Automobiles/Auto Parts Totals Beverages--Brewers/Distillers CHAMPION BREW. PLC. GUINNESS NIG PLC INTERNATIONAL BREWERIES Activity Summary on Board EQTYPLC. NIGERIAN BREW. PLC. CONSUMER GOODS Beverages--Brewers/Distillers Totals Beverages--Non-Alcoholic 7-UP BOTTLING COMP. PLC. Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Beverages--Non-Alcoholic Totals Food Products DANGOTE FLOUR MILLS PLC DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY PLC FLOUR MILLS NIG. PLC. HONEYWELL FLOUR MILL PLC MULTI-TREX INTEGRATED FOODS PLC NASCON ALLIED INDUSTRIES PLC Food Products Totals Food Products--Diversified CADBURY NIGERIA PLC. NESTLE NIGERIA PLC. Daily Summary as of 25/08/2015 Food Products--Diversified Totals Printed 25/08/2015 15:31:00.000 Household Durables VITAFOAM NIG PLC. VONO PRODUCTS PLC. Household Durables Totals Personal/Household Products Activity Summary on Board EQTY P Z CUSSONS NIGERIA PLC. CONSUMER GOODS UNILEVER NIGERIA PLC. Personal/Household Products Personal/Household Published by The Nigerian Stock Products Exchange Totals ©

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services AFRICAN ALLIANCE INSURANCE COMPANY PLC FINANCIAL SERVICES Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services AIICO INSURANCE PLC. CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE PLC EQUITY ASSURANCE PLC. GUINEA INSURANCE PLC. Published byCONSOLIDATED The Nigerian Stock Exchange © HALLMARK INSURANCE PLC LAW UNION AND ROCK INS. PLC. LINKAGE ASSURANCE PLC AXAMANSARD INSURANCE PLC MUTUAL BENEFITS ASSURANCE PLC. N.E.M INSURANCE CO (NIG) PLC. STANDARD TRUST ASSURANCE PLC STANDARD ALLIANCE INSURANCE PLC. UNIVERSAL INSURANCE COMPANY PLC Daily Summary as of 25/08/2015 WAPIC INSURANCE PLC Printed 25/08/2015 15:31:00.000 Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services Totals

Micro-Finance Banks NPF MICROFINANCE BANK PLC Micro-Finance Banks Totals Mortgage Carriers, BrokersEQTY and Services Activity Summary on Board

RESORT SAVINGS & LOANS PLC FINANCIAL MortgageSERVICES Carriers, Brokers and Services Totals Other Financial Institutions AFRICA PRUDENTIAL REGISTRARS PLC CUSTODIAN AND ALLIED PLC Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © & TRUST PLC DEAP CAPITAL MANAGEMENT FCMB GROUP PLC. ROYAL EXCHANGE PLC. STANBIC IBTC HOLDINGS PLC UBA CAPITAL PLC Other Financial Institutions Totals

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 21,488 21,488

Symbol

No. of Deals 59 63 30 181 333 No. of Deals 27 27

Current Price 4.00 113.00 17.53 112.12

Quantity Traded 4,521,745 273,708 1,776,373 2,368,503 8,940,329 Quantity Traded 13,519 Page 13,519

Daily Summary (Equities) CHAMPION GUINNESS INTBREW NB Symbol 7UP

Symbol DANGFLOUR DANGSUGAR FLOURMILL HONYFLOUR MULTITREX NASCON

Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

Current Price 191.00

No. of Deals 52 38 33 11 1 35 170

Current Price 2.76 6.04 26.32 2.50 0.50 5.71

Symbol CADBURY NESTLE

No. of Deals 10 6 16

Symbol VITAFOAM VONO

No. of Deals 43 3 (Equities) 46

Daily Summary Symbol PZ UNILEVER Symbol

Value Traded 2,571,804.40 5,749,956.59 2,505,083.00 492,131.25 1,250,000.00 2,983,460.17 15,552,435.41

Current Price 28.56 965.98

Quantity Traded 17,411 6,148 23,559

Value Traded 472,534.54 5,641,958.12 6,114,492.66

Current Price 5.63 0.83

Quantity Traded 475,339 17,200 492,539

Value Traded 2,555,846.03 13,804.00 2,569,650.03

No. of Deals Current Price 14 25.59 38 40.00 No. of Deals Current Price 52

Symbol No. of Deals ACCESS 271 DIAMONDBNK 95 ETI 74 FIDELITYBK 63 GUARANTY 305 SKYEBANK 84 STERLNBANK 102 UBA 259 UBN 43 UNITYBNK 29 Daily Summary (Equities) WEMABANK 20 1,345

Value Traded 17,549,405.60 31,293,301.46 31,139,918.69 266,029,175.52 346,011,801.27 Value Traded 2,579,256.04 12 2 of 2,579,256.04

Quantity Traded 923,165 954,414 97,220 196,846 2,500,000 521,368 5,193,013

645

Quantity Traded 254,275 139,427 Quantity Traded 393,702 Page

Value Traded 6,506,897.25 5,540,098.89 Value Traded 12,046,996.14 12 3 of

15,078,149

384,885,375.55

Current Price 4.50 2.78 18.01 1.26 20.70 1.94 2.10 3.07 6.31 1.47 0.87

Quantity Traded 26,068,410 3,618,994 1,102,269 2,815,071 43,143,701 8,123,670 2,100,862 124,446,171 153,663 915,570 272,205 212,760,586

Value Traded 112,756,812.61 9,853,514.04 19,847,453.86 3,411,822.83 888,075,376.65 15,015,269.69 4,310,919.16 374,378,569.47 926,357.77 1,347,478.62 230,287.53 1,430,153,862.23

Symbol AIICO CONTINSURE EQUITYASUR GUINEAINS HMARKINS LAWUNION LINKASSURE MANSARD MBENEFIT NEM STACO STDINSURE UNIVINSURE WAPIC

No. of Deals 13 20 1 2 2 2 1 11 6 9 1 1 1 8 79

Current Price 0.81 0.85 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 2.30 0.50 0.64 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50

Quantity Traded 307,367 6,482,182 20,878 3,321,746 Page 3,651,819

Value Traded 246,589.77 5,510,149.00 10,439.00 1,660,873.00 12 41,825,909.50 of

No. of Deals 2 2

No. of Deals 3 3 No. of Deals 56 7 2 46 2 80 51 244

Symbol AFRIPRUD CUSTODYINS DEAPCAP FCMB ROYALEX STANBIC UBCAP

20,200,000 25,000 361,225 6,031,437 10,786,500 5,000 2,000,000 250,000 7,005,646 62,736,842

10,100,000.00 12,500.00 828,325.25 3,017,085.50 6,898,145.00 2,500.00 1,000,000.00 125,000.00 3,502,823.00 35,884,360.02

Current Price 0.89

Quantity Traded 78,225 78,225

Value Traded 69,220.25 69,220.25

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 164,843,410 164,843,410 Quantity Traded 1,608,679 38,282 Page 15,579,922 996,153 9,100,000 1,456,097 3,319,033 32,098,166

Value Traded 82,421,705.00 82,421,705.00 Value Traded 3,924,226.45 153,128.00 12 5 9,503,752.42 of 2,073,148.24 4,550,000.00 26,080,134.88 3,989,204.12 50,273,594.11

Current Price 2.45 4.00 0.61 2.08 0.50 18.20 1.20

1,673

Symbol EVANSMED FIDSON GLAXOSMITH MAYBAKER NEIMETH

No. of Deals 12 18 13 6 3 52

472,517,229

Current Price 0.64 3.30 35.00 1.24 1.23

Symbol COURTVILLE

No. of Deals 1

Current Price 0.50

Value Traded 741,230.00 17,393,558.40 4,119,981.65 50,559.90 9,512.10 22,314,842.05

6,602,025

22,314,842.05

Quantity Traded 200

Value Traded 100.00

Page

Electronic and Electrical Products CUTIX PLC. Electronic and Electrical Products Totals

Activity Summary on Board EQTY Packaging/Containers AVON CROWNCAPS & CONTAINERS INDUSTRIAL GOODS Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Packaging/Containers BETA GLASS CO PLC. Packaging/Containers Totals

OIL AND GAS Energy Equipment and Services JAPAUL OIL & MARITIME SERVICES PLC Energy Equipment and Services Totals Integrated Oil and Gas Services OANDO PLC Integrated Oil and Gas Services Totals Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors CONOIL PLC Daily Summary as of 25/08/2015 ETERNA PLC. Printed 25/08/2015 15:31:00.000 FORTE OIL PLC. MOBIL OIL NIG PLC. MRS OIL NIGERIA PLC. TOTAL NIGERIA PLC. Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors Totals

Activity Summary Board EQTY Exploration andon Production SEPLAT PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LTD OIL AND GAS Exploration and Production Published by The Nigerian Exchange © Exploration andStock Production Totals

SERVICES Advertising AFROMEDIA PLC Advertising Totals Automobile/Auto Part Retailers R T BRISCOE PLC. Automobile/Auto Part Retailers Totals Courier/Freight/Delivery RED STAR EXPRESS PLC TRANS-NATIONWIDE EXPRESS PLC. Daily Summary as of 25/08/2015 Printed 25/08/2015 15:31:00.000 Courier/Freight/Delivery Totals Employment Solutions C & I LEASING PLC. Employment Solutions Totals

Value Traded 100.00

Symbol CHAMS ETRANZACT

No. of Deals 3 1 4

Current Price 0.50 3.09

Quantity Traded 120,000 50,000 170,000

Value Traded 60,000.00 154,500.00 214,500.00

170,200

214,600.00

Symbol ASHAKACEM BERGER CAP CCNN PAINTCOM PORTPAINT WAPCO

No. of Deals 28 13 11 6 5 2 55 120

Current Price 22.00 8.34 41.00 8.32 1.14 3.75 99.99

Quantity Traded 263,769 132,418 49,363 82,419 69,321 205,686 440,805 1,243,781

Value Traded 5,802,918.00 1,106,415.62 1,923,166.30 681,344.38 79,585.20 771,322.50 42,788,311.56 53,153,063.56

Symbol

No. of Deals 2 2

Current Price 1.56

Quantity Traded 22,518 22,518

Value Traded 33,551.82 33,551.82

No. of Deals 1

Current Price 1.52

Quantity Traded 9,722

Value Traded 15,457.98

CUTIX Daily Summary (Equities) Symbol AVONCROWN Symbol BETAGLAS

No. of Deals 5 6

DANGOTE CEMENT PLC FINANCIAL SERVICES Totals Building Materials Totals INDUSTRIAL GOODS INDUSTRIAL GOODS Totals Building Materials DANGOTE CEMENT PLC Building Materials Totals PREMIUM Board Totals

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 6,300 6,300

Value Traded 3,150.00 3,150.00

Symbol OANDO

No. of Deals 154 154

Current Price 9.90

Quantity Traded 2,366,565 2,366,565

Value Traded 23,435,209.30 23,435,209.30

Symbol CONOIL ETERNA FO MOBIL MRS TOTAL

No. of Deals 4 6 96 31 1 10 (Equities) 148

Current Price 33.28 1.84 239.10 150.00 49.66 152.00

Quantity Traded 4,550 124,959 330,008 164,204 1,000 9,620 634,341

Value Traded 143,871.00 229,471.56 77,652,766.97 24,402,303.05 47,180.00 1,408,654.40 103,884,246.98

Symbol SEPLAT

No. of Deals 22

Current Price 233.04

Quantity Traded 36,480

Value Traded 8,082,309.30

Symbol

No. of Deals 22

Current Price

Quantity Traded Page 36,480

Value Traded 12 8 of 8,082,309.30

Daily Summary

328

PREMIUM Board Totals

Exchange Traded Fund Name

Exchange Traded Fund LOTUS HALAL EQUITY ETF

Name Published Exchange byNEWGOLD The Nigerian Stock Fund Exchange © FUND (ETF) Traded EXCHANGE TRADED Name STANBIC IBTC ETF 30 LOTUS EQUITY VETIVA HALAL GRIFFIN 30 ETFETF Exchange Traded Fund Totals Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

3,043,686

135,404,915.58

Symbol AFROMEDIA

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 5,882 5,882

Value Traded 2,941.00 2,941.00

Symbol RTBRISCOE

No. of Deals 8 8

Current Price 0.55

Quantity Traded 12,185 12,185

Value Traded 6,458.05 6,458.05

Symbol REDSTAREX TRANSEXPR

No. of Deals 8 20 28

Current Price 3.80 0.87

Quantity Traded 36,500 1,352,000 1,388,500

Value Traded 131,971.00 1,171,180.00 1,303,151.00

Symbol CILEASING

No. of Deals 6 6

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 5,064,718 5,064,718

Value Traded 2,532,359.00 2,532,359.00

No. of Deals 9 9

Current Price 2.71

Quantity Traded 203,000 203,000

Value Traded 550,160.00 550,160.00

Daily Summary (Equities)

Symbol ABCTRANS

Daily Summary

No. of Deals 2 2

Current Price 1.00

Quantity Traded 260,000Page 260,000

Value Traded 12 9 250,000.00 of 250,000.00

No. of Deals 2 2 (Equities)

Current Price 0.53

Quantity Traded 10,500 10,500

Value Traded 5,565.00 5,565.00

No. of Deals Current Price 9 1.81 19 4.45 28 No. of Deals Current Price 2 Current Price 1.00 No. of Deals 25 3.61 5 No. of Deals Current Price 2 0.53 89 2

Quantity Traded 51,255 235,259 286,514 Quantity Traded Quantity260,000 Traded 260,000 56,400

Value Traded 91,009.01 1,051,116.62 1,142,125.63 Value Traded 250,000.00 Value Traded 250,000.00 203,794.00

56,400 Quantity Traded 10,500 7,287,699 10,500

203,794.00 Value Traded 5,565.00 5,996,553.68 5,565.00

3,346 Current Price No. of Deals 9 1.81 19 4.45 28

563,314,725 Quantity Traded 51,255 235,259 286,514

2,343,199,890.25 Value Traded

No. of Deals 5 5

Current Price 3.61

89 No. of Deals 383 383 3,346

Current Price 14.10

Quantity Traded 56,400 56,400 Page 7,287,699 Quantity Traded

Symbol AIRSERVICE NAHCO Symbol LEARNAFRCA Symbol CAVERTON Symbol ABCTRANS

Symbol AIRSERVICE NAHCO

Daily Summary (Equities) Symbol CAVERTON

Daily Summary (Equities) Symbol ZENITHBANK

91,009.01 1,051,116.62 1,142,125.63 Value Traded 203,794.00 203,794.00 10 of 12 5,996,553.68 Value Traded

34,658,937

478,401,951.73

34,658,937 563,314,725

478,401,951.73 2,343,199,890.25

Symbol Symbol FBNH ZENITHBANK

No. No. of of Deals Deals Current Current Price Price 301 5.67 383 14.10 301 383

Quantity Quantity Traded Traded 5,641,594 34,658,937 5,641,594 34,658,937

Value Value Traded Traded 32,000,169.13 478,401,951.73 32,000,169.13 478,401,951.73

Symbol FBNH

684 Current Price No. of Deals 301 5.67 301 No. of Deals Current Price 58 169.05 684 58

40,300,531 Quantity Traded 5,641,594 5,641,594 Page Quantity Traded 408,986 40,300,531 408,986

510,402,120.86 Value Traded 32,000,169.13 12 1032,000,169.13 of Value Traded 68,777,489.61 510,402,120.86 68,777,489.61

58 No. of Deals 58 58

Quantity408,986 Traded 408,986 408,986 40,709,517

Symbol DANGCEM

Current Price 169.05

742

INDUSTRIAL GOODS Totals Daily Summary as ofTotals 25/08/2015 Equity Activity Printed 25/08/2015 15:31:00.000

Equity Activity Totals

53,492,399.16

No. of Deals 4 4

Symbol LEARNAFRCA

FINANCIAL SERVICES Totals Other Financial Institutions FBN HOLDINGS PLC INDUSTRIAL GOODS Other Financial Institutions Totals Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Building Materials

1,283,128

Symbol JAPAULOIL

Symbol IKEJAHOTEL

FINANCIAL SERVICES Other Financial Institutions Banking FBN HOLDINGS PLC ZENITH INTERNATIONAL BANK PLC Other Financial Banking Totals Institutions Totals

12 7 of Value Traded 290,325.80 305,783.78

Quantity TradedPage 7,107 16,829

Current Price 43.00

128

Hotels/Lodging Totals SERVICES Printing/Publishing PLC Daily Summary asNigerian of AFRICA 25/08/2015 Published by LEARN The Stock Exchange © Printing/Publishing Printed 25/08/2015 15:31:00.000Totals

AIRLINE SERVICES AND LOGISTICS PLC NIGERIAN AVIATION HANDLING COMPANY PLC Daily Summary as of 25/08/2015 Transport-Related Services Totals Printed 25/08/2015 15:31:00.000

Value of Shares(N)

Quantity Traded 200

ActivityIKEJA Summary Board EQTY HOTELon PLC

Support and Logistics Totals Road Transportation ASSOCIATED SERVICES Totals BUS COMPANY PLC Road Transportation Totals Daily Summary as of 25/08/2015 Board Totals Services Printed EQTY 25/08/2015 15:31:00.000 Transport-Related

Quantity Traded

Current Price

OIL AND GAS Totals

ZENITH INTERNATIONAL BANK PLC Activity Summary on Board PREMIUM Banking EQTY BoardTotals Totals

Quotation(N) No. of Deals 1

INDUSTRIAL GOODS Totals

Support and Logistics CAVERTON SUPPORT GRP PLC Activity SummaryOFFSHORE on Board PREMIUM Support and Logistics Totals Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © FINANCIAL SERVICES SERVICES BankingTotals

1,598,802,741.61

Quantity Traded 1,157,000 5,273,948 121,157 41,790 8,130 6,602,025

INDUSTRIAL GOODS Building Materials ASHAKA CEM PLC BERGER PAINTS PLC CAP PLC CEMENT CO. OF NORTH.NIG. PLC PAINTS AND COATINGS MANUFACTURES PLC PORTLAND PAINTS & PRODUCTS NIGERIA PLC Daily Summary as of 25/08/2015 LAFARGE AFRICA PLC. Printed 25/08/2015 15:31:00.000 Building Materials Totals

NIGERIAN AVIATION HANDLING COMPANY PLC SERVICES Transport-Related Services Totals Printing/Publishing LEARNand AFRICA PLC Support Logistics Printing/Publishing Totals SUPPORT GRP PLC CAVERTON OFFSHORE

Value Traded 1,144,021.00

No Of Deals Symbol

ICT Totals

Transport-Related Services

Quantity Traded 2,288,042

Symbol RESORTSAL

Processing Systems CHAMS PLC E-TRANZACT INTERNATIONAL PLC Processing Systems Totals

Activity Summary on Board AIRLINE SERVICES ANDEQTY LOGISTICS PLC

Current Price 0.50

Symbol

Company name

ICT Computer Based Systems Computer Based Systems Totals

Road Transportation ASSOCIATED BUS COMPANY PLC Road Transportation Totals

No. of Deals 1

NPFMCRFBK Daily Summary (Equities)

Sector

Hotels/Lodging

Symbol AFRINSURE

HEALTHCARE Totals ICT Computer Based Systems COURTEVILLE BUSINESS SOLUTIONS PLC

Value Traded 10,744.00 10,744.00

No. of Deals 1 1

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

10,862,658.55

Symbol DUNLOP

CONSUMER GOODS Totals FINANCIAL SERVICES Banking ACCESS BANK PLC. DIAMOND BANK PLC ECOBANK TRANSNATIONAL INCORPORATED FIDELITY BANK PLC GUARANTY TRUST BANK PLC. Daily Summary as ofBANK 25/08/2015 SKYE PLC Printed 25/08/2015 15:31:00.000 STERLING BANK PLC. UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA PLC UNION BANK NIG.PLC. UNITY BANK PLC WEMA BANK PLC. Banking Totals

797,667

1st Tier Securities Activity Summary on Board EQTY

408,986

4,088

Daily Summary (ETP) Daily Summary (ETP) Symbol

LOTUSHAL15 Daily Summary (ETP) Symbol NEWGOLD Symbol STANBICETF30 LOTUSHAL15 VETGRIF30

604,024,242

68,777,489.61 Value Traded 68,777,489.61 68,777,489.61

579,179,610.47

68,777,489.61

2,922,379,500.72

742

40,709,517

579,179,610.47

4,088

604,024,242

2,922,379,500.72

No. of Deals Current Price 1 10.15 No. of Deals Current Price 1 2,217.00 No. of Deals Price 1 Current 93.31 1 10.15 2 12.87 5

Quantity Traded 2 Quantity Traded Page 50 Quantity Traded 200 2 15 267 Page

Value Traded 20.30 Value Traded 12 11 of 110,850.00 Value Traded 18,662.00 20.30 195.85 11

129,728.15 12 of

ETF Board Totals

267

129,728.15

ETP Activity Totals

267

129,728.15

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Wednesday, August 26, 2014

Community Mirror

We have been able to establishLet a very me wonderful again repeat relationship what I have with been Mr.saying President, that Goodluck and we have Jonathan been assured has no that the South East would not be left out ofpersonal the wholeagenda political in and convening economic this equations national conference. of Nigeria.

Dare Akogun

state agent Alhaji Mutairu Owoeye, has cried out over plot to allegedly ‘frame him up’ for murder by the Ogun State Police Command and asked the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase, to order an independent investigation into the matter. This was contained in a petition written by his lawyer Mr. Ayodele Omoniyi on his behalf dated August 19 2015, and addressed to the Deputy Inspector General of Police, ‘D’ Department, Abuja. Omoniyi urged the IG to order that Owoeye, who is being detained by the police, be released forthwith and constitute an independent inquiry into the alleged murder case. According to the petition, “The case file should be retrieved from the police in Abeokuta for an unbiased investigation and appraisal of the facts of the case so that our client is not made to suffer for a crime he

–GOVERNOR OF PRESIDENT IMO STATE, GOODLUCK ROCHAS OKOROCHA JONATHAN

Murder: Suspect calls for independent jury did not commit as the first step taken by the police in the matter has shown that they cannot be trusted to conduct any meaningful investigation.” He recalled that Owoeye was recently appointed as an estate agent in respect of a vast expanse of land at Oke Ore in the Ado Odo/Ota Local Government Area of Ogun State by the customary owners of the land who were adjudged owners by virtue of the judgement of the court. According to Omoniyi, when Owoeye and his workmen went to the land in company with some policemen from the Area Command, Ota, to paste posters to inform the occupiers of the said judgement, they were attacked by some thugs aided by armed soldiers who fired gun-

shots indiscriminately. “Two of the policemen also sustained different degree of wounds in the ensuing stampede and confusion and the police were forced to beat a retreat

as a result of the superior gun power of the soldiers. “The soldiers also invaded Owoeye’s residence, fired several shots in his compound and attempted to take him away,” he

alleged. He noted that rather than detaining Owoeye, the soldiers and their collaborators should be fished out and made to answer for their alleged crime.

Ogun residents protest demolition of houses

esidents of Irashusi-Oja oba and Ajegunle-Araromi Communities in Ogun State yesterday protested against the demolition of their houses and farms and businesses by the state government. The protesters accused the Ogun state Bureau of Lands Residents the communities lament the forceful encroachment on its land, saying that about 20 houses and a proposed private university has been demolished in Irashusi -Oja Oba and Ajegunle-Araromi communities KM 60 Lagos-Ibadan express, Makun Shagamu ogun state. Speaking on behalf of the protesting residents, Head of Ajegunle Araromi community, Chief Tajudeen Aina accused the Director General of the state land bureau Adewale Daisi of allocating the community lands to strangers without informing the community. He said if the activities of the state government continue unchecked, more than 2,000 people will be displaced without any resettlement plans. According to him, the communities are suspecting that some officials are planning to sell all their lands illegally without their consent. He said that over 20 residential buildings, a proposed private university and other small businesses have been pull down without

any notice since the beginning of the crisis. Chief Aina however stressed that the community does not know the position of the state government on its land. “We don’t know if they have the backing of Governor Ibikunle Amosun or not but we don’t think our governor will want to render us homeless. “Because we have given enough land to the state government, we gave them a lot of lands for the trailer park and yet they want to displace us from our ancestral home. “Our community has existed before the construction of Lagos Ibadan Expressway, we are a pride of Ogun State, as small as we are travelers stop here to eat and relax during their journey to Lagos. We have been in existence for over 100 years.” Also speaking General Secretary Mr. Amos Temitope laments that officials of the Ogun state land bureau had continually harassed members of the community on a daily basis. According to him more than 30 youths have been arrested by police officers attached to the Director General of the state land bureau. He however called upon police authorities to call its officers to order, as their activities in Irashusi-Oja oba and Ajegunle-Araromi communities are denting its good image.

Residents of Irashusi-Oja Oba and Ajegunle-Araromi communities in Ogun State protesting against the demolition of their houses by the state government, yesterday.

Police nab 14 suspected cult members Dare Akogun

agos State Police Command on Tuesday disclosed that it has arrested 14 suspected cult members for allegedly terrorising Mushin residents and its environs. This is disclosed in a statement signed by the command’s spokesperson DSP Patricia Amadin, in Lagos. Amadin said that the suspects were arrested on Monday August 24 at Mushin Area of Lagos. The statement reads in parts, “The Lagos State Police Command has recorded yet another success in its fight against cultism and armed robbery in the state. “In a bid to make good its promise to chase out armed robbers and cultists from the state, the command has smashed a notorious robbery/cultist group. “This group has continuously unleashed a reign of terror on the residents of Mushin and IdiOro areas of Lagos,’’ it stated. The statement added that, acting on diligently sourced and managed intelligence, the command swooped in on the gang

and 14 members of the gang have so far been arrested. It stated that the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Fatai Owoseni, urged the people of Lagos to be calm and continue to furnish the police with vibrant and actionable intelligence. Owoseni also warned all cult members and robbers that the police would employ all legal means within its disposal to decisively deal with them and their sponsors cum benefactors. He added that unless the group desists from its nefarious activities, there shall be no hiding place for them. In a related development officers of the Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department of Lagos state Police Command, Panti-Yaba, Lagos, Tuesday arraigned a street hawker, Arinze Okemiri, before an Ebute-Metta Chief Magistrate Court, on charges of arson, attempted murder and action causing grievous harm. According to the Police Prosecutor, Mr. Emmanuel Ajayi, the accused who sells eye glasses had on July 20, at about 4: 00 pm, attempted to burn down shop

19/21 Balogun street, Lagos Island, belonging to one Malachi Ezeoke. The prosecutor further told the court that the accused while attempting to set ablaze the two shops, also caused bodily harm to the shop owner, Mr. Ezeoke, by setting fire on his two legs. The offences alleged to have been committed by the accused are punishable under sections 340(1)(2) 228(1)(2) and 234 of the criminal code laws of Lagos state of Nigeria, 2011. The accused pleaded not guilty to all the charges, upon the accused plea, his lawyer, Mr. S.O. Oladele, urged the court to admit him to bail in the most liberal term, since the accused is presume innocent until proven guilty. Consequently, the presiding Chief Magistrate, O. Olajuwon, admitted the accused to bail in the sum of N400, 000.00, with two sureties in like sum the addresses and means of livelihood of the sureties must be verified by the prosecutor, thereafter the matter was adjourned till September 23, for mention.

National News

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Enforce insurance policy, NCRIB urges FG

…as NICON boss assures on prompt claims payment Tola Akinmutimi

anaging Director, NICON Insurance Limited, Mr Bayode Samuel, yesterday assured stakeholders in the insurance industry, particularly individual and corporate customers, of prompt payment of claims and commissions when due in furtherance of the board and management’s reform initiatives in the industry. The insurance expert, who gave the assurance at the August edition of the Nigerian Council of Insurance Brokers, NCRIB, parley sponsored by his company in Lagos, explained that prompt payment of claims remained one of the key issues

being prioritised by the board and management to increase the company’s share in the rapidly growing market and sustain its credibility in the industry. Samuel, who was responding to enquiries by some stockbrokers on payment of their commissions, explained that the company had been paying those verified as having legitimate commissions and urged any of them with outstanding claim to forward such to the management for verification. According to him, such requests would be treated with dispatch and genuine claimants would receive feedback within 14 days. The NICON boss, who also disclosed that the company was being owed

several billions of naira by the insured in private and public sectors, urged brokers and other industry players to continue to patronise NICON Insurance based on its industry pedigree, quality of the Board, management and staff as well as its strong presence in all parts of the country, among other competences. Earlier in his speech, the NCRIB President, Mr Ayodapo Shoderu, noted that despite the various insurance policies that could help the country boost its

Gross Domestic Product, GDP geometrically, lack of enforcement of such policies remained a major constraint to boosting the industry and empowering professionals to contribute their quota to national development. Shoderu, who described the appointment of Mr. Mohammed Kari’s appointment as Commissioner for Insurance as a welcome development, urged the governments in the country to encourage the enforcement of existing insurance policies, especially

those made mandatory by law (compulsory insurance) as a strategic option of tackling the menace of corruption and fake insurance agents in the country. The new Commissioner of Insurance assured brokers of the readiness of the National Insurance Commission, NAICOM, to collaborate with professionals in the industry to move it forward. Kari pointed out that if professionals would do their best in promoting ethical standards in all their actions, then the way

to unleashing the potential of the industry for national development would have been charted. He assured practitioners and other stakeholders of NAICOM’s readiness to collaborate with stakeholders in the war against touting and other abuses that currently undermine the growth of the industry, saying he would be ready to work closely with the NCRIB on how to improve the performance of the sector and enable professionals the opportunity to thrive in practice.

National ID to complement voter card –Buhari Rotimi Fadeyi ABUJA

resident Muhammadu Buhari yesterday said the National Identity Card would complement the Permanent Voter card. Buhari spoke after he was registered by the National Identity Management Commission, NIMC, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. In his brief remarks after being registered, Buhari said the exercise was important to confirm the population and those entitled to vote from the age of 18 and above. “So, for those who want their votes to count from whichever party or constituency, they should ensure that their families are properly captured,” the President said. Director-General of NIMC, Chris Onyemenam, who was present to register the president, disclosed that the commission has so far registered seven million Nigerians. He explained that the figure is expected to increase in the next three months. “On our database, we have a record of seven million. In collaboration with other agencies, in the next

three months or so, we hope to quadruple that number. “In the past, the private sector was expected to perform that role, so government did not focus on that. The close to seven million that we have in our data base is the product of the pilot scheme that we embarked upon to demonstrate the value of the scheme,” Onyemenam said. The Director-General explained that now that that the Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs, are going to step up the harmonisation, the data base would be populated in a matter of weeks. He stated that the commission was at the stage of migrating data from the Bank Verification Number, which he said was about 20 million. Onyemenam said the commission was on course and appreciated the President for the recent directive that biometrics data bases in government agencies should be expeditiously harmonised. According to him, the registration exercise would not have time limit since it is a continuous exercise, saying that every enrollment

centre

that

had been established remain open just like bank branches in the country.

Electricity cable dangerously hanging on the road at Onitolo, Surulere, Lagos PHOTO: SAMUEL ADETIMEHIN

FG to review Petroleum Industry Bill Udeme Akpan and Chidi Ugwu

ederal Government is set to start fresh work on the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, this year. Disclosing this when he chaired a special session on the proposed law at the ongoing 55th Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association in Abuja titled ‘Legal and Regulatory Framework of the Petroleum Industry in Nigeria: Review of existing Laws and the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB),’ Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, said the need to review the Bill became

imperative because of the many years it has existed without being passed into law. He maintained that the PIB, which has been pending before the National Assembly in the last seven years, requires extensive engagements with all stakeholders to iron out all grey areas. Kachikwu described the bill as an essential legislation, which must be approached with all the seriousness and thoroughness it deserves. “PIB is a serious affair, it is an essential piece of legislation but as we all know a lot of engagement is required to address all the issues because the oil and gas environment has changed. There are issues of cost, with oil going down to $40 per barrel, the

PIB cannot be the same,’’ he said. The corporation’s GMD explained that because of the volume of extensive consultation and time required to make the bill a workable document, it was only natural to kick start the reforms in the industry with the existing laws while waiting for the eventual passage of the proposed law. “The reform of the petroleum industry is key and it is an area where we are going to put a lot of focus. Transparency is key. Restructuring is key. Sometimes people don’t realise that the problem hasn’t been NNPC; it is a problem of political will to go forward and implement the outcome of researches and reports that had been done. Fortunately for us

this time around, that is what the President has brought to the table. He has strong political will to see this through. “PIB is important, but we need to x-ray the issues. We need at least one year to get it back on track. The reality is that we cannot afford to wait any longer for change in the petroleum sector because of the delay in the passage of PIB, things have got to start happening and that’s exactly what we are doing,” Kachikwu said. Former Trade Union Congress, TUC president, Comrade Peter Esele, noted that though PIB remained crucial to the hydrocarbon resources industry, the industry can make do with existing laws to activate essential reforms in the sector.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

World News We have to defend the Schengen (borderless) zone. We have to engage NATO. – CZECH REPUBLIC’S FINANCE MINISTER, ANDREJ BABIS

Paul Arhewe,

WITH AGENCY REPORTS

outh Sudan’s president is expected to sign a peace deal yesterday to end a 20-month-old conflict but will list his reservations in an annex to the pact, his foreign minister said yesterday. President Salva Kiir delayed signing the deal in the Ethiopian capital last week saying he needed more time for consultations. This prompted U.S. threats of U.N. sanctions if he did not meet a two-week deadline to agree. Rebel leader Riek Machar, Kiir’s former deputy until he was sacked in 2013, has already signed the peace deal that was brokered by the regional African grouping IGAD. Meanwhile, South Sudanese soldiers raped children, burned people alive in their homes and hunted others for days in swamps in an increasingly brutal war the government had hoped to win with an emergency $850 million military budget, U.N. experts said. A panel of experts who monitor United Nations sanctions on South Sudan obtained a copy of the emergency budget for January to July 2014, but warned in a report made public on Tuesday that it did not mean South Sudan had acquired everything it wanted. South Sudan was plunged into a civil war in December 2013 when a political crisis sparked fighting between forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and rebels allied with his former deputy Riek Machar. The conflict has reopened ethnic fault lines that pit Kiir’s Dinka people against Machar’s ethnic Nuer people. The conflict, which has exposed deep ethnic divisions, erupted after a power struggle between Kiir, a Dinka, and Machar, a Nuer. Fighting has killed thousands of people, driven more than two million from their homes and halted development in the grindingly poor nation that seceded from Sudan in 2011. Kiir was expected to sign the deal when regional African heads of state visited Juba on Wednesday, Foreign Minister Barnaba Marial Benjamin told Reuters by telephone in South Sudan’s capital. “But there will be an annex on reservations in some areas that have not been adequately

S’Sudan president to sign peace deal –Minister

•Soldiers rape children, burn people alive –UN experts

AFRICA BULLETIN

Burundi swears in new cabinet amid opposition The new cabinet of Burundi’s President Pierre Nkurunziza was sworn in yesterday with some members of the opposition, drawing criticism from other opponents who said the ministers had no legitimacy after disputed elections. Burundi, a poor nation in the centre of Africa, has been in chaos since late April when Nkurunziza announced he would seek a third term, which opponents and Western powers said violated a peace deal that ended an ethnically charged civil war in 2005. After months of protests that left dozens dead and prompted 180,000 people to flee the country, Nkurunziza was sworn in on Aug. 20 for another five-year term. His party also won a sweeping victory in a parliamentary election.

Hunger hits 1.5 million in Zimbabwe –WFP South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir Mayardit (L) gestures as he leaves after attending peace talks with South Sudanese rebels in Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa, recently.

discussed and agreed,” he said, without elaborating on what the reservations were. Mediation officials and diplomats previously indicated Kiir’s concerns included proposals for Juba to be a demilitarized zone and a demand he consult his first vice president on decisions. Machar is expected to take that post.

Machar’s concerns had also included aspects of power sharing arrangements, particularly in oil-producing states. The presidents of Kenya and Uganda, and the prime minister of Ethiopia, who have been involved in peace talks, would be among those expected to visit Juba on Wednesday, Benjamin said.

A Kenyan official confirmed President Uhuru Kenyatta would attend the Juba summit on Wednesday, but did not give details. In Addis Ababa, an IGAD mediation official told Reuters Kiir had informed the mediation team he would sign on Wednesday.

‘Ghanaian joins ISIS militants’

25-year-old man from Ghana is feared to have left the West African country to join the Islamic State (IS) group, his father said. It is the first reported case of a Ghanaian joining IS. Abdul Latif Alema told the

BBC that his son’s disappearance was “like someone in the family has died”. Mohammad Nazir Nortei Alema sent him a text message on 16 August to say that he was joining the group fighting in Syria and Iraq, he added.

Mohammad Nazir Nortei Alema studied geography at university

He has not been seen since then, Mr Alema said. The BBC’s Sammy Darko reports from the capital, Accra, that he saw the message, sent using the instant messaging app WhatsApp. Mr Alema said his son had earlier indicated that he wanted to live under Islamic rule. “Nobody’s happy and as for his mum she keeps on crying and fasting and praying that her son returns,” he told the BBC. The government has not yet reported on the apparent defection to IS. Ghana has a minority Muslim population and has not been affected by insurgency involving militant Islamists. However, IS has established a presence in Africa, with militant groups in Nigeria, Egypt and Libya pledging allegiance to it and carrying out bombing campaigns in its name.

Around 1.5 million Zimbabweans are predicted to go hungry this year after a dramatic fall in maize production, the World Food Programme (WFP) said yesterday. Some 16 percent of the population are expected to be ‘food insecure’ at the peak of the 2015-16 lean season, the period following harvest when food stocks run especially low - a 164 percent increase on the previous year, the WFP said. Zimbabwe’s staple maize crop of 742,000 tonnes is down 53 percent from 2014-15, according to data from the South African Development Community. The problems in Zimbabwe are being felt across the region known as the ‘maize belt’, making an estimated 27 million people ‘food insecure’ in southern Africa due to droughts, inadequate farming methods and political and economic instability.

S’African policemen convicted for murdering Mozambican A South African court has convicted eight policemen of murdering a Mozambican taxi driver who was tied and dragged behind a police van in 2013. The judge said there was no doubt that the police could have foreseen that their actions would cause the death of 27-year-old Mido Macia. The incident, recorded on video by a bystander, caused widespread revulsion at the time. Rights groups have often accused South Africa’s police of brutality. President Jacob Zuma condemned the incident as “horrific” and “unacceptable”. The video showed Mr Macia struggling with police on 26 February 2013 after apparently parking his vehicle illegally in Daveyton, east of the city of Johannesburg.

World News

housands of migrants, many from Syria, poured into Hungary yesterday as soldiers frantically tried to finish a border fence to keep them out — the latest flashpoint as Europe struggles to handle a torrent of asylum seekers.

The rush over the border by migrants fleeing war and poverty in the Middle East, Africa and Asia followed Macedonia’s decision to lift a threeday blockade of its border with Greece after thousands of migrants simply stormed past the Macedonian police who tried to stop them with force. Nearly 10,000 migrants, including many women with babies and small children, have crossed into Serbia over the past few days and then headed up north toward European Union-member Hungary. Once inside the 28-nation EU, they seek to reach more prosperous Western European nations such as Germany, The Netherlands or Sweden. The so-called Balkan corridor for migrants is becoming increasingly popular as migrants seek to avoid the dangerous boat crossings in the Mediterranean from North Africa to Italy. About 140,000 migrants have reached Hungary already this year, over three times as many as in all of 2014. According to Hungarian police data, 2,093 migrants were detained while

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Thousands of migrants rush into Hungary

‘ISIS uses chemical weapon in Syria’

Illegal migrants walking near railway crossing at the border between Hungary and Serbia, yesterday

Israel releases detained African migrants

crossing illegally Monday, the highest figure so far this year. Over the past week, the average was nearly 1,500 people a day. So far the Hungarian border fence consists of three layers of razor wire, which the government says will be completed this month along its 174-kilometer (109-mile) border with Serbia. But there’s no wire over railroad lines and roads and there are doors on the fence where the migrants

can enter and formally seek asylum. Once they do, they can easily slip from Hungarian asylum centers and head further west and north. Hungary, beleaguered by the influx and facing a rightwing backlash, has been rushing to build the fence both as a physical barrier and a symbol of its tough anti-foreigner stance. The government’s antimigrant billboard campaign and efforts to link migration

with terrorism have drawn sharp criticism from the U.N. and others, who say it vilifies refugees and promotes xenophobia. Hundreds of migrants, including a pregnant woman holding the hand of a small boy, children, and one man pushing another man in a wheelchair, walked along the railway tracks Tuesday leading into Hungary.

France formally opens terrorism probe in train attack

rench authorities formally opened a terrorism investigation yesterday after a thwarted attack on a highspeed train last week, saying the suspected gunman had watched a jihadi video onboard minutes before the violence.

The decision to open an investigation was based on the actions of 26-year-old Moroccan suspect Ayoub El-Khazzani on the train Friday night and information from other European authorities about his travels and apparent links to radical Islam, prosecutor Francois Molins told reporters. Molins said El-Khazzani notably watched the online video on his phone minutes before he walked through the Amsterdam-to-Paris train carrying an assault rifle and other weapons. Authorities say they found his phone in a bag left in the train. The gunman was tackled and tied up by three American friends and a British business-

man. Another man who tried to stop him — a French-American named Mark Moogalian — remained hospitalized Tuesday with a gunshot wound. Now that the formal investigation is opened, investigating magistrates are expected to file numerous preliminary charges against El-Khazzani, including multiple attempted murders in connection with

Ayoub El Khazzani

terrorism, possession of weapons in connection with terrorism, and participation in a terrorist conspiracy. According to French law, authorities must file preliminary charges against the suspect by Tuesday night or seek a special extension to his temporary custody. The next step will be determining where his weapons

came from, how he financed them and whether he had any accomplices, Molins said. El-Khazzani was found to have an AKM assault rifle with 270 rounds of ammunition, a 9mm handgun, a boxcutter and a bottle of gasoline, the prosecutor said. Prosecutors also found a small explosive warhead hidden in the glass box containing the hammer used to break train windows in case of an emergency. They didn’t elaborate. The suspect had travelled through several European countries and had been repeatedly incarcerated in Spain and flagged for surveillance in France, Molins said. After five to seven months in 2014 in France, El-Khazzani lived successively in Brussels, Cologne, Vienna, and then again in Cologne and Brussels — but the prosecutor gave no indication of dates.

WORLD BULLETIN Islamic State (IS) militants may have used chemical weapons in an attack on a town in northern Syria on Friday. Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) said yesterday it had treated four members of a family who suffered from breathing difficulties and developed blisters after a mortar hit their home in Marea. The Syrian American Medical Society has also reported receiving 50 patients showing symptoms of chemical exposure. Local rebels say the shells were fired from an IS-held village to the east. A spokesman for one group, the Shami Front, told the New York Times that half of the 50 mortars and artillery rounds which hit Marea contained sulphur mustard.

Faysal Hussein from Sudan walked out of Israel’s desert detention centre yesterday already sweating with just a backpack, barely enough cash for bus fare and lunch, and after 19 months in custody, no idea where to go. Hussein was among hundreds of African migrants Israel began freeing from this remote detention facility after a court ruling this month ordered their release. The release reflected Israel’s ongoing struggles in coping with an influx of African migrants that it does not want in the country, but is unable to forcibly send anywhere else. Tuesday’s release came with an added twist: The migrants not only are legally barred from working, they also cannot go to the cities of Tel Aviv or Eilat, where the largest communities of Africans are located and most work opportunities are.

German party receives far-right threats after refugee visit Germany’s Social Democrats (SPD) were forced to evacuate their headquarters yesterday after receiving a bomb threat and flood of racist emails and phone calls the party said were linked to leader Sigmar Gabriel’s visit to the eastern town of Heidenau. The town near Dresden was the scene of violent clashes over the weekend as far-right militants, protesting against the arrival of around 250 refugees at a local shelter, pelted police with bottles and rocks, some shouting “Heil Hitler”. Gabriel, who is also vice chancellor and economy minister in Chancellor Angela Merkel’s government, travelled to the town on Monday and denounced the “mob” behind the violence.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

North

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

Ex-police officers protest against PenCom in Kwara

Masari sacks 5 top executives

Wole Adedeji

James Danjuma

ILORIN

etired police officers in Kwara State yesterday staged a protest in Ilorin, the state capital, to demand that National Pension Commission, PenCom, as well as Pensions Fund Administrator, stop managing their pension. The retirees, who staged the protest under the aegis of Association of Retired Police Officers of Nigeria, ARPON, Kwara chapter, said management of their pensions should revert to the old system if the continued injustice they allegedly had been suffering under the present system was not addressed. The ex-police officers explained that the present contributory pension scheme deprived them the benefit of payment of a lump sum of their gratuities at once, and 50 per cent of their salary as pension monthly like in the old system. Armed with a petition addressed to Director General of PenCom, Coordinator of National Housing Fund, NHF, and Executive Secretary, National Health Insurance Scheme, NHIS, with copies made available to newsmen, they alleged that the instances of the injustice included denying them accurate gratuity or pension in the new order. They also complained of being paid based on rank verification instead of rank promoted before retire-

Williams Attah GOMBE

uthorities of the University of Maiduguri, UniMaid, have approved establishment of its first Distance Learning Outreach Centre in Gombe State, with a call on government to take advantage of the opportunity. Vice Chancellor Ibrahim Abubakar Njodi disclosed this on Monday when he led a delegation of the university’s leadership on a courtesy visit to Gombe State Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo. He said the school expects the state government to provide befitting place for the immediate take-off of the centre, which will afford more opportunities for the state and environs.

ment, adding that while they were paid 25 per cent as lump sum, other Federal Government agencies enjoyed 50 per cent payments. The retirees in the petition signed by their chairman, CSP Yakubu Abdul, and ASP Omode Adamu, complained that there was no increment to their pension whenever the government increases salary of workers, while their counterparts in the old pension scheme enjoyed increment. They said the pension fund administrator under the present system pegged the life span of pension to between 10 and 18 years while they are not supposed to draw pension till death as in the old system. The retired officers described as worrisome the non refund of contributions into the National Housing Fund after retirement from service. The retirees who said they were enjoying the service of National Health Insurance Scheme while in service expressed surprise that “this health service has been cut-off for police retirees while our colleagues in other agencies still enjoy this amenity till date.” They also took their protest to the state Government House, House of Assembly, police headquarters and offices of PenCom, NHF and NHIS in Ilorin. They carried placards with the inscriptions: ‘After Serving For 35 Years Meritoriously, Take Home Pay is N20,000 and N25,000 respectively’; ‘Sai Buhari, Sai Baba. S.O.S.

KATSINA

ive chief executives of parastatals were yesterday relieved of their appointments in Katsina State by Governor Aminu Bello Masari. The chief executives were mostly appointed dur-

ing former Governor Ibrahim Shema’s administration. Those affected include General Manager of the state’s Transport Authority, KTSTA, Gambo Abdulkadir; GM, Farmers Supply Company, FASCOT, Sule Nabawa, and GM, Hotels Board, Bishir Lawal.

Others are Executive Directors of the state’s Library Board, Hassan Tukur, and his counterpart at the State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, Hassan Rawayau. A statement signed by Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Mustapha Inuwa, said the action was

in line with the government’s resolve to “re-position the agencies for effective and efficient service delivery.” According to the statement, the affected officials were directed to handover with “immediate effect” to the most senior officials of their parastatals.

(From 6th left standing) L-R: Governors Nasir el- Rufai (Kaduna), Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara), Alhaji Aminu Bello Masari (Katsina) with Chief Operating Officer, Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurs based in Kaduna, Abimbola Adebakin, and others, during a meet-up season hosted by Governor el-Rufai, at the weekend.

Rep raises alarm over Kano killings Tordue Salem ABUJA

awmaker representing Sumaila/Takai Federal Constituency of Kano State in the House of Representatives, Garba Umar Durbunde, has urged the Federal Government to come to the rescue of farmers over continued massacre by Fulani herdsmen.

Durbunde made the appeal while chatting with newsmen in Abuja. He urged the Federal Government to wade into the crisis between farmers and herdsmen in order to halt wanton destruction of lives and properties in the area. “The two groups should come together and reconcile because both of them are important. Fulani herds-

men need the services of farmers, as farmers need the services of herdsmen. So, there is need for them to come together and settle their differences. Again, Federal Government can create grazing reserve areas for Fulani herdsmen. There is a vast land in Kano the Federal Government can use as grazing area. “This area can accom-

UniMaid to open distance learning centre in Gombe

He explained that the objective of the distance learning initiative was to provide access to university education to a large number of potential adults, who missed the opportunity of higher education during the early stages of their lives. He said it was also aimed at widening opportunities for matured adults to combine working and learning as many have families and may not be able to obtain support or secure in-service facilities, among others. He stated that the distance learning initiative in other places had been known to be very successful with students graduating with good results from a wide range of courses.

He also called on the governor to resuscitate the collaborative remedial programme between the state and the university which was regrettably suspended for some time now, thus deny-

ing more potential students from Gombe additional university chances. He said Gombe was one of the two states that have patronised the remedial programme both in the Science

and Arts through a special arrangement that ensured indigenes of the states gained admission through the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, into university.

Katsina varsity wins Islamic competition James Danjuma KATSINA

tudents of Alkalam University in Katsina State have emerged winners in a hotly contested competition for Islamic students in Gombe State. The competition was held under the auspices of Muslim Students Society from higher institutions from 19 northern states of the coun-

try. The institution’s Vice Chancellor, Prof Shehu Ado, while honouring the students yesterday, said they had made both the school and state proud. Ado hoped future generations of students would emulate their seniors to make the school proud in the future. He said the school, which is guided by Islamic principles, offers most normal

courses and had emerged first in similar competition in the past. Dean of Students, Dr kabir Khado, said 275 students from 15 states had attended the event in Gombe, while a total of 34 students were from the state. Khado said some of the students from the state were also from higher institutions other than Alkalam University.

modate about three million cows. If this is done, the issue of killing and destroying lives and properties would end. My people are farmers and they don’t have any other business save farming, so there has always been having misunderstanding with Fulani herdsmen because as a farmer feels strongly about farming in his life, so does a Fulani man believe cows are part of his life. “I therefore appeal to Federal Government to fast-track on this issue because clashes of this kind to curb bloodletting.” Durbunde, who served as commissioner for rural development under the administration of Engr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, said as a farmer he knows the problem of his people. “I am using this opportunity as a legislator to improve their living standard, and I will make sure my constituency benefits from federal presence. We share boundary with Birnin Kudu in Jigawa State, Ningi in Bauchi State, and I will ensure these states assist in ensuring our people have the benefit of their votes,” he said.

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

Buhari was misled to suspend me –Parradang Omeiza Ajayi

uspended Comptroller General of Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS, David Shikfu Parradang, has blamed the Civil Defence, Fire, Immigration and Prisons Board (CDFIPB) for his suspension, saying the board misled President Muhammadu Buhari into approving his suspension. A statement issued on his behalf by a group that called itself “Concerned Senior Immigration Officers”, also accused former Minister of Interior, Comrade Patrick Abba Moro, of being part of the plot to undermine the service. According to the statement, “in many serious-minded countries, heads of their Homeland/Interior Ministries CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Miss adelaja Abimbola Adedolapo, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Oladosu Abimbola Adedolapo. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Miss Coker Adedayo Arike, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Osoko Adedayo Arike. All former documents remain valid. Ogun state Housing Corporation and General public take note

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly known as miss. Adetunji Princess Racheal, now wish to be known and address as mrs. Akanbi Princess Racheal. All former documents remain valid. Oyo subeb and general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Miss Onyegnula Onyinyechi Justina now Mrs Anyalewechi Onyinyechiemerem Justina. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public take note. FAMILY CHANGE OF NAME

ELEDANYA : We the entire family formerly known as ELEDANYA now wish to be known and address as UMEADI family. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note..

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Miss Damilola Deborah Olaniyi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Damilola Olaniyi Adeyeni. All former documents remain valid. General public please note.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly known and addressed as Ajayi Kehinde Oluwaseun, Now wish to be known, called and addressed as Ajayi Kehinde Oluwaseun Titus. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly known and addressed as Miss Areje Oluwatoyin, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Ajulo Oluwatoyin. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

are usually persons with robust military/paramilitary background, who have acceptable understanding about how to run any security institution,” adding that Nigeria must begin to think in this direction because “former Comptrollers General of the NIS such as SA Dange, RC Uzoma and now DS Parradang got hooked in the dirty traps of the Board/Ministry.” Comrade S. Audu, a supposed immigration officer, signed the statement titled, “Still on Suspension of Parradang of NIS...Setting the Record Straight” and released by PR Nigeria, an online platform that circulates press statements on behalf of spokespersons of Nigeria’s defence, security and paramilitary forces. The NIS as an entity is under the supervision of the MinCHANGE OF NAME Formerly addressed and known as Miss Adebisi Abosede Hannah, now wish to be called and addressed as Mrs Ojumu Abosede Hannah. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as MISS IKUMAPAYI TOYOSI ADERINSOLA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS SAMUEL TOYOSI ADERINSOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly known and addressed as Miss Odeyemi khadijat Jumoke, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Animasahun Khadijat Jumoke. All former documents remain valid. Ekiti state university teaching hospital and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME SERAPION : Formerly known as Serapion Chukwudi Onyekwene now wish to be known and address as Hylin Chukwudi Aniemena. All former documents remain valid. General Public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Miss Ejigini Chinwendu Lucy, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Hart Chinwendu Lucy. All former documents remain valid NYSC and the general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Miss Nwobu Ogeh, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Chukwuma-Ikonne Ogeh. All former documents remain valid. general public take note. CHANGE OF NAME I formerly known and addressed as Miss Adesua Titilayo Racheal, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Babalola Titilayo Racheal. All former documents remain valid,and general public note.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly known as GABRIEL OBEKPA now wish to be known and addressed as AGADA PETER OGBOLE all former documents remain valid, authority concern, and general public to take note.

istry of Interior through an organ known as Civil Defence, Fire, Immigration and Prisons Board (CDFIPB). The statement said for a paramilitary outfit that should enjoy a reasonable measure of autonomy, the relationship between the NIS and the supervisory board has not been rosy. “And this is traceable to the disgraceful manner successive Comptrollers-General left office. Over the years, the major source of conflicts border on recruitment, promotion and posting in the service,” the officers stated. CHANGE OF NAME I formerly known and addressed as Miss Blessing Adi Aboje, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Blessing Adi Adole. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Iyogun Ochuko Tracy, Now wish to be known and addressed as Obebeouo Ochuko Tracy. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known as Babatunde Rukayat Folashade, now wish to be known and addressed as Quadri Rukayat Folashade. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as NUHU ABUBAKAR, now wish to be known and addressed as NUHU ADAMU. All former documents remain valid. Authority concerned and General public should take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly known and addressed as Miss Adeleye Olufunke, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Adeodu Olufunke. All former documents remain valid,Ekiti State Post Primary Management Board,Ekiti state Local Education Board and general public take note. CORRECTION OF NAME

Name Duru Nkechi Dorothy wrongly spelt in documents as Duru Nkechi Dorathy concerned management/ authority, general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Obikoya Oluwatoyin Funmilayo now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Oduneye Oluwatoyin Funmilayo. All former documents remain valid. General public to take note.

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PUBLIC NOTICE ALAWIYE FOUNDATION.

ADVOCACY FOR TOLERANCE AND PEACE NETWORK

THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE ABOVE NAMED FOUNDATION HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC) FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART “C” OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, LFN CAP C20, 2004.

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AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: a. To promote and advocate for a Peaceful Coexistence society b. To promote global interfaith, inter-cultural and Ethnic Tolerance dialogue c. To campaign against the use of Children, Youth and Women for violence d. o promote Peace building, conflict mediation, resolutions and reconciliations.

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THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. TIJANI SHEU HAMZA. 2. ALAWIYE BASHEER HAMZAT 3. SALAU SUEBAT OYENIKE 4. ALAWIYE IBRAHIM

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Wednesday, August 26, 2015

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Sport

At this juncture, I really think we have no other choice than to give our total support to Sunday Oliseh

Bayelsa part ways with coach

–Former Super Eagles coach, Christian Chukwu

Beijing 2015:

Okagbare ‘ll bounce back T

Usman Mohammed

Battle of Dar es Salaam:

Full house as Eagles’ training intensifies A

ll 23 players invited to the Super Eagles’ camp in Abuja from the domestic league were at training yesterday at the Abuja National Stadium with Coach Sunday Oliseh taking charge. However, FC IfeanyiUbah striker, Bright Onyedikachi, watched the training from the sidelines as he is nursing what an official simply described as a “minor knock”. Fresh call-up Yaro Bature (Nasarawa United) enjoyed

extra support as his club boss Danladi Isaac watched the training alongside Lobi Vice Chairman Dominis Iorfa. The Eagles are expected to play a test game tomorrow, according to official sources. Meanwhile, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has taken delivery of the official car for Oliseh. The car, an Optima Nissan 2.5, costs N6.5million, according to investigations. “We are happy to inform you that the official car of

the Super Eagles coach has arrived,” NFF General Secretary, Sanusi Mohammed, said. “We want to make sure the coach is comfortable so he can concentrate on the job at hand which is to qualify us for the Nations Cup first,” Mohamed added as the car was presented to Oliseh, amidst applause. The NFF also confirmed that next month’s AFCON qualifier in Tanzania will kick off at 2.30pm Nigerian time at the National Stadium, Dar es Salaam on September 5.

–Alli

echnical Manager of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Yusuf Alli, yesterday proclaimed that Blessing Okagbare will return strongly in the women 200m event which begins today at the Beijing National Stadium. Okagbare, who was tipped by bookmakers and athletic buffs worldwide to win a medal in the women’s 100m on Monday but she failed in the quest, will run in Heat 3 from lane 4 in today’s 200m event. “In track and field many things change in a split of seconds,” Alli said. “Blessing has what it takes to win a medal in the 200m event as she has being doing well consistently in the category and I am positive she will win medal,” the former long jumper added. Also today, Tosin Oke will compete in Group A of the men’s Triple Jump. Meanwhile, Patience Okon George failed yesterday in her effort to make the final of the women 400m as she finished fourth in the heat 2 of the semi-final in 50.76 sec. Her compatriot, Tega Odele, also failed to advance to the next round of the men’s 200m as he finished sixth in 20.49 sec.

Okagbare

Sports

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Gara Gombe blasts NFF, LMC

ire-brand sports critic, Alhaji Shuaibu Gara Gombe, has described the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) as insensitive for accepting to host the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier between Sierra Leone and Cote d’Ivoire, urging President Muhammadu Buhari to reverse the decision. Gara-Gombe, who stated this on Tuesday in Lagos said there was a great danger in the decision taken by the NFF. The Confederation of Africa Football suspended all home matches of Sierra Leone indefinitely due to the ravaging Ebola Virus Disease in the West African country. All matches involving Sierra Leone in recent times are being played at

neighboring cities in the region and this time Nigeria decided to host. “I was shocked that the NFF came out to tell Nigerians that the decision was taken after securing clearance from the Federal Ministry of Health,” Gara Gombe said. “We all knew the tension in the country when we were dealing with Ebola. This time, a decision was taken as if we do not have government. With our porous borders, it is likely their fans will come to Lagos for the match.” The former Gombe Football Club chairman also criticised the National Sports Commission for tolerating the excesses of NFF, despite allegation of corruption smearing the football body.

On the League Management Committee, Gara-Gombe stated that the body should be scrapped for lacking accountability and transparency. “A referee will collect N75, 000 for a match and the LMC officials who travel out on jamboree to assess matches will collect N150, 000 for every match,” he charged. Gara Gombe also frowned at the employment process of Super Eagles Coach, Sunday Oliseh, which he described as suspicious. “Oliseh was given three months salary even before the start of the job and I wonder when that kind of situation began in Nigeria,” the fiery critic added.

Shuaibu Gara

The silent squash revolution Ayo Olayemi

“S

omething is happening here,” I mused, as I wore and admired my new Cargolux t-shirt. The 11th Cargolux Merchant Express Squash Tournament held on July 24 and 25 2015 at the Lagos Country Club was the first I attended with my team from the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) Squash Club in Ife. We arrived to witness the agecategory games already underway. Little kids, some of them barely larger than the rackets they held, displayed great promise as they battled it out. It sent me reminiscing about when my Dad introduced me to the sport as a young boy. But I was only able to find a squash court over a decade after I arrived Ife. The Venus and Serena Williamses and the Tiger Woods of this world began to develop their skills at a tender age. The way these kids are already playing at Cargolux, one can only say, watch out for them in the near future. But playing skills are not the only thing we want to cultivate in these young ones; we want to imbue in them life skills as part of our philosophy. For all those kids wearing their Cargolux t-shirts and happily running round the halls and courts of the Lagos Country Club-some of them not from the most privileged backgroundsthey were getting a very important benefit; a sense of belonging. They were part of something they could be proud of-a great project, a positive movement and a family that cares. On Saturday evening the classic final featured national seeded players Wale Amao and Lanre Abdulrahman for the male event, while Yemisi Ola-

tunji and Dasbak Longdi were the last two females standing. The long, drawn out rallies that were seemingly endless were a testament to the supreme fitness of players at this level. Their exchanges highlighted how much squash is a tactical game. They traded sizzling-hot volleys that left the ball in a blur, visible only at the last moment. And when that didn’t work, they-as if in agreement-changed the pace and began testing each other’s precision with tailormade ‘lengths’ that hugged the wall all the way to the back of the court. These guys are stars in their own right, but what pleases me most about them is that they are also well on their way to earning their degrees-one or two of them already with a bachelor’s and contemplating post graduate studies. The possibility of mentorship cannot also be undermined. After their playing days these players could be a Segun Odegbami, a mechanical engineer who has made giant strides in journalism, co-founding a football magazine and contributing his quota to football administration. Or they could be a Sunday Oliseh, one of the most qualified coaches internationally. As the evening wore on, the tournament took on a festive tone, old friends reuniting and hugging. I recognised a couple of faces I had met along the way; and had the privilege of seeing for the first time, others I knew only by reputation. This category of the competition left spectators no less in uproar. It featured more ‘sense than strength’– trickery using the sidewalls, a flick of the wrist to send your opponent off in the wrong direction. The cunning of these ‘old hands’ had been honed over

decades, all topped with a bit of clowning between Tiger and Pepple that sometimes had the crowd in stitches. Seated up in the row of large leather armchairs, livening up the VIP area, was the ebullient Dr. Tare who had arrived all the way from Bayelsa, leading the Yenagoa Squash Club. Along with our other ‘fathers on the court’ such as Professor Bolaji, Engineer Adeloye (Baba K) and Dr Olorunisola (Papi K) who did his bit developing squash on the OAU campus. The students would gleefully load up in his Sienna family van for trips to Lagos Country Club and Ibadan Recreation Club. Ever the “squash evangelist”, he is at work again planting and growing the Yenagoa Squash Club. Captain Sina Akinfenwa is the man behind Cargolux Merchant Express Nigeria, sponsors of the Lagos Country Club event. Among donors were the Udo-Akagha brothers, from a squash playing family; Mr. Taye Ige, CEO of HotSports Nigeria; Mr. Ayo Ogunsusi, another distinguished OAU alumnus; and others who have supported OAU squash. Mr. Phillip Fadehan has on numerous occasions gathered rackets contributed by members of his club in Abuja ‘for the boys in Ife’. Last year, Evans Medical plc, manufacturers of Glucose D, footed a large portion of the bill for our Squash week. These days everyone talks about change, especially with a new government after national elections. But the developments we are witnessing in squash are driven by individuals taking ownership and acting in their own little corners.

Olayemi is Secretary of the OAU Squash Club

Squash players on the court

Ubah hails FA on Principals Cup

roprietor of Nigeria Premier League side FC Ifeanyi Ubah of Nnewi, Dr. Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah, has advised football associations in the country to emulate the FCT Football Association for its initiative in introducing the Principals Cup for all secondary schools in Abuja. Ubah, who spoke in Nnewi when members of the FCT Principals Cup Committee visited him, said: “I have decided to key into the programmes of the FCT Football Association, because they have passionate interest in developing football from the grassroots. “I am a product of such grassroots football competitions. I was a member of the Anambra State Academicals and the Anambra State YSFON team. My breakthrough in life came through my involvement in grassroots football programmes.” The businessman commended the FCT FA for the award con-

ferred on him last month. “I accepted the award because this has to do with my contributions to empowering of the youths through sports,” he added. Chairman of the FCT Principals Cup Committee, Mr. Patrick Ngwaogu, had on the occasion congratulated Ubah for his installation as the National Patron of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), even as he invited the club owner to the opening ceremony of the 2015 Abuja Principals Cup slated for October 12.

Ubah

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sports

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

Today Fixtures

Evans Ogenyi

Sharks

Lobi

IfeanyiUbah

Akwa

Giwa

Rangers

3SC

Nasarawa

Midweek League with PAUL EREWUBA 08032138738

Sunday’s Fixtures Sharks

Enyimba

IfeanyiUbah

Bayelsa

Giwa

Lobi

3SC

Abia

Dolphins

Akwa

El-Kanemi

Rangers

Wikki

Sunshine

Heartland

Wolves

Nasarawa

Kwara

Taraba

Pillars

Bayelsa part ways with coach S

truggling Glo Premier League side, Bayelsa United, yesterday parted ways with their coach, Evans Ogenyi. It was reliably gathered that the decision to part ways was due to Sunday’s recent home defeat to fellow strugglers, Sharks. In recent times, the club had shared

points at home with Akwa United, Kano Pillars and Enyimba, under Ogenyi, but earned a surprise point at bottom-of-the-table FC Taraba. “I’ve left Bayelsa United,” Ogenyi confirmed yesterday. Sunday’s result left the club in 19th position with 22 points from 25 matches.

Ogenyi became the club’s third coach this season after Solomon Ogbeide and George Ederekuomoh, who served in an interim capacity. Bayelsa United’s hierarchy is yet to make an official announcement on Ogenyi’s exit and his replacement ahead of their match day 26 trip to FC Ifeanyi Ubah.

Ogunbote dares Nasarawa United S hooting Stars Coach, Gbenga Ogunbote, has backed his side to recover from the disappointment of their recent defeats when they take on Nasarawa United today in a rescheduled week 24 fixture at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasingba. The Oluyole Warlords have failed to pick a point in their last two games, following defeats to champions Kano Pillars and Kwara United.

The former Sunshine Stars coach is however optmistic they will pick the maximum points against the Solid Mineral Miners. “We are disappointed with the result against Kano Pillars and Kwara United, but we can’t dwell too much on that,” Ogunbote said yesterday, adding, “It’s an important game for us and we will go all out to secure the three points at stake.”

Ogunbote

obi Stars goalkeeper, Terkaa Melai, and Sharks striker Bode Daniel have literally engaged in a war of words ahead of today’s rescheduled Week 24 game of the Nigeria Premier League. The game could not hold as earlier scheduled due to Lobi Stars involvement in the Federation Cup. Melai said that his team was

aware of the recent form of hosts, Sharks but believes they are in good shape too and ready to win in Port Harcourt. “It’s going to be a tough game because both teams will be motivated by the recent forms and results. Sharks are a good side but I am confident we will surely get the 3 points at stake in the game,” he said.

Teams

Enyimba

Sunshine

Wolves

Wikki

Abia

Pillars

Heartland

Nasarawa

Giwa

Rangers

IfeanyiUbah

3SC

El-Kanemi

Lobi

Akwa

Kwara

Dolphins

Sharks

Bayelsa

Taraba

People’s Elephant eyes title

nyimba captain, Chinedu Udoji, is delighted to see his side back on top of the Glo Premier League log following a hard earned 1-0 win against bottom placed, Taraba United on Monday. The game was to have been played on Sunday, but it could not hold because heavy rain rendered the pitch at the Enyimba Sports Stadium in Aba unplayable. Udoji said he was happy his side reclaimed the first position from the Owena Waves. “It was a difficult game for us and I am happy we won at the end of the day,” the Enyimba captain said. “Now we want to remain at the top of the table for the entire season and we will work hard to win the title,” he added.

Melai

Lobi, Sharks jostle for points L

Table

On the other hand, Sharks striker Bode Daniel has dismised Melai’s threat, saying there won’t be hiding place for Lobi Stars today as the three points is not negotiable by coach Festus Allen-led team. “We are prepared for a win against Lobi Stars. That’s the points we need now to compliment our last victory against Bayelsa,” Daniel stated.

Chinedu Udoji

WORLD RECORD

Shortest useable pogo stick Vol. 05 No. 1185

N150

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

The shor test usable po go stick measures 46.15 cm (18.16 in) in height and was created by Udar Robinson (Canada) and Homagni Baptista (Australia).

Bishop Kukah and his Jonathanian logic W atching closely, some Jonathanians (incorrigible supporters of former President Goodluck Jonathan), still carry on even after he has been defeated. After he had “conceded” defeat to his arch-rival, General Muhammadu Buhari, this class of Jonathanians made the former president their “worshipful master”, who is infallible and untouchable. As far as this writer is concerned, these Jonathanians are nothing but tribal pirates, religious buccaneers, and ethnic bigots. Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah needs no introduction. His credentials as a social critic is quite glittering. His role as a member of the National Peace Committee during the tensed moments of the pre and post March 28, 2015 presidential election cannot be ignored. These are his exclusive privileges,

Guest Columnist

which no one can take away from him! The question I asked myself only recently when I heard of Bishop Kukah’s recent widelyreported interview is: “What went wrong?” Recently, the General Abdulsalam Abubakar-led National Peace Committee paid a courtesy visit to the President Buhari. The intents of the visit became clearer some days ago, when Bishop Kukah, who incidentally is the spokesman of the Committee, gave a shocking interview. Please permit me to quote his position on the on-going probe by Buhari government: “There is no such thing as probe in a democratic setting like ours. What obtains is investigation, and once people lead and things are not right, investigation becomes necessary. However, in doing that we must never be distracted from spectacular actions undertaken by former President Jonathan. He is an individual.” In the same interview is an unsolicited advice to President Buhari to “face his work”. If I had not known Bishop Kukah well enough, I would have sworn he is an incorrigible Jonathanian. If not a Jonathanian, who will argue this way? For Kukah’s records, part of Buhari’s job as contained in Section 15(5) of the 1999 Constitution is, and I quote: “The State shall abolish all corrupt practices and abuse of power.” This is a bold political objective, which any sane President will be willing to pursue. So, Buhari is busy with his work and he is not distracted at all. Again, with due respect to the “spectacular actions un-

UCL: Red Devils axe De Gea again

anchester United yesterday omitted goalkeeper David de Gea from the team’s squad for today’s Champions League play-off clash with Club Brugge. New keeper Sergio

Olalekan Waheed Adigun

Romero, who has started all of United’s games so far this season, and Sam Johnstone are the two goalkeepers to feature in the squad for the second leg in Belgium. United is aiming to pro-

BISHOP KUKAH IS ONLY PLAYING JONATHAN’S CARDS WITH THE LIKES

AYO ORITSEJAFOR IN THE SELF-APPOINTED NATIONAL PEACE COMMITTEE OF

dertaken by former President Jonathan”, this writer insists he is not insulated from taking responsibility for the administration he presided over. In my search of what the clergyman meant by “spectacular actions undertaken by former President Jonathan”, an insight came when I read the transcript of another interview he recently granted on Channels Television’s breakfast show, Sunrise, on Saturday August 13, 2015, where he echoed two traditional pro-Jonathan arguments. First, he criticised Buhari for being too slow. Need we remind the Bishop about Aesop’s fable, The Hare and the Tortoise? The moral of that story is that thoroughness and quality counts for more in the long run than speed. His second point, perhaps the Jonathanians’ strongest, is that Jonathan is a hero. He is a hero because he conceded defeat in an election he clearly lost. This perhaps, was what he meant by “spectacular actions” he took. Is his being immune him from been

called to account for his stewardship? Apart from this argument being jejune, I find it even more ridiculous coming from a clergyman. For the purpose of clarifications, former President Jonathan did Nigeria no special favour. If there was any favour done, it was Nigerians that did him a great favour. Nigerians gave him the privilege to lead them for about six years and in the process they gave him shoes he once did not have. If the same Nigerians that gave him shoes say they do not want him anymore, does he have any other choice but vacate that office? Maybe the clergyman meant that Jonathan did himself a favour by choosing to leave peacefully. In any case, since he lost the presidential election, he is duty-bound to leave. All those who have lost elections in Africa have left office, so Jonathan did nothing special. Laurent Gbagbo is facing the International Criminal Court (ICC) for refusing to vacate office peacefully in Ivory Coast in 2012 after he lost election. Maybe Jonathan is only trying to avoid that embarrassment. In any case, we thank him a lot for his contributions, but he must be called to account for his stewardship. In fighting corruption, as a new saying in Nigeria, corruption fights back. You have to get your footings right in dealing with the systemic corruption that has brought us this backward. We need to know how many jobs can be created with $20 billion missing from the NNPC coffers. We are interested in the number of industries that could have been created with that amount. We are interested in preventing goats from finishing our hard-harvested yams. My unsolicited advice to President Buhari at these trying times is to vet the advice he listens to. As far as I am concerned, Bishop Kukah is only playing Jonathan’s cards with the likes of Ayo Oritsejafor in the selfappointed National Peace Committee. Adigun, a Lagos-based political risk analyst and strategist, wrote via olalekan@olalekanadigun.com and can be followed on twitter @adgorwell

Sport Extra tect its 3-1 lead from the first leg and book a place in the group stages. De Gea has yet to play for United this season and this latest omission is likely to fuel speculation that he is about to join Real Madrid.

However, United Manager, Louis van Gaal, insisted that the 24-year-old would not be sold in the current transfer window, saying he is not currently selecting De Gea because the Spaniard is unable to focus

properly due to Madrid’s interest. “I think when Manchester United wants a player he shall come and it is the same with us,” Van Gaal said, adding, “We will not sell De Gea.”

De Gea

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