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Nigerians oppose Buhari’s N85 fuel pump price, seek clarification

No plans to privatise National Theatre

Petrol will soon be available –NUPENG

UDEME AKPAN

Kachikwu

Vol. 5 N0. 1275

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any Nigerians have kicked against moves by the Federal Government to slightly adjust petro-

Tuesday, December 29, 2015

leum pump price from the current N87 per litre to N85 next year.

Executive Director of

–Mohammed P.6

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2>>

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@NationalMirror

30 killed in Adamawa O suicide bomb attacks 25 dead, 85 injured in Borno suicide mission

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INUSA N DAHI AND L IVINUS M ENEDI ver 30 persons were believed to have been killed in twin suicide attacks yesterday in Madagali Local Government Area of Adamawa State.

The attacks were carried out by two teenage female suicide bombers at Kasuwa Denye kaya CONTINUED ON PAGE 2>>

350 selfsponsored Christian pilgrims arrive Nigeria P.12 NSCDC destroys 200 illegal refineries, prosecutes 120 suspects, says Gana P.11

Elechi responsible for Ebonyi poor state of education –Umahi P.10

A participant from the Freedom Band performing during the opening of Calabar carnival in Calabar, Cross Rivers State, yesterday.

Ribadu plots PDP exit, holds talks with Akande Osun PDP claims ignorance over visit

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Disaster as fire consumes houses, 14 shops in Lagos

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Christmas patrol: FRSC reduces road crashes by 33% P.7

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Tuesday, December 29, 2015

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Nigerians oppose Buhari’s N85 fuel pump price, seek clarification CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Spaces for Change, Mrs. Victoria Ohaeri, in a telephone chat with our correspondent, said the proposal was confusing, especially when the issue of subsidy removal was yet to be finalised.

She noted that President Muhammadu Buhari had at various times stressed that subsidy would not be removed so as not to worsen the plight of Nigerians, adding that government should let Nigerians know in very clear terms whether he has backpedaled on his promise.

Ohaeri said it remained very unclear how the Minister of State, who doubles as the Group Managing Director of Nigerian National Petroleum, Corporation, NNPC, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, arrived at the proposed N85 per litre price.

The executive director observed that in the absence of an existing legal framework like the proposed Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, the legislative basis for the new price remained unclear to Nigerians.

Ohaeri urged Nigerians to show interest on the issues in view of the importance of fuel to individuals, households, companies and the economy.

National President of Oil and Gas Service Providers Association of Nigeria, Mr. Colman Obasi, who believes the price reduction is long overdue, noted that oil prices had hovered below $40 per barrel at the international oil market for several weeks without government adjusting the pricing template accordingly.

Obasi said the failure to adjust the pump price had led to the exploitation of the masses, who were supposed to benefit from the subsidy.

In his remarks, a Port Harcourt-based energy expert, Mr. Bala Zaka, pointed out that ordinarily, with increased domestic refining, the price of fuel should not be above N50 per litre Zaka projected that the pump price of fuel would likely increase once crude oil prices start to go up in the global market.

Despite his reservations on the proposed adjustment, Zaka still urged Nigerians to continue to support the government in its efforts to sanitise the downstream market after years

of abuses.

He explained that the cooperation will enable government fund fuel importation without having to spend much as well as fix the decay in the domestic refining operations.

Our correspondent gathered that PPPRA had

commenced work on the proposed fuel pump price template to ensure its implementation by January.

It was learnt that the agency commenced work on the template last Thursday on government’s directive It was gathered that the new template would be

made public next week to regulate activities in the downstream sector.

Kachikwu had a few days ago spoke on the new fuel price while interacting with journalists at the Port Harcourt Refinery Company, PHRC, during his inspection tour of the facility.

He said: “We have done a modulation calculation and it is showing us below N87.

I imagine that if the Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulatory Agency, PPPRA, publishes it today, it will become effective immediately.

But the 1st of January that is when we are looking at.”

According to him, the proposed price would convince Nigerians that the pricing modulation that the Federal Government promised to embark was not a trick.

He explained that following government’s analysis CONTINUED ON PAGE 5>>

Cross-section of Catholic Faithfull’s during the First Holy Communion at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church Gwagwalada, Abuja on Sunday.

30 killed in Adamawa suicide bomb attacks CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

and Maiyanka.

The blasts occurred around 9 a.m., and the military confirmed that they were suicide bombings masterminded by two females said to be in their teens.

Brig. Gen. Vincent Ezeugo, the commander of the 28th Special Operations Task force, said the blast occurred at a crowded motor park in Madagali, even as he confirmed that two female suicide bombers carried out the attacks.

“Two female suicide bombers struck at a motor park in Madagali and detonated their devices and we lost some beloved country men,” he said.

Ezugwu, who did not disclose the number of casualties, however stated that the situation had been brought under control and that security had been beefed up in the town.

He urged the people to vigilant and security conscious.

But an eyewitness, who spoke to our reporter from the area said over 30 persons may have been killed in the blast, adding that several others sustained varying degrees of injuries.

The eyewitness, who did not want his name mentioned, said one of the female suicide bombers detonated herself without hurting anybody.

He explained that the major casualty in the attacks was caused by the other female suicide bomber who detonated herself at a crowded park around Kasuwa Denye kaya market.

Coordinator of the Adamawa State Emergency Management Agency, ASEMA, Ahmed Fulo, could not give the exact casualty figure at the time of filing this report even though he confirmed the incidence.

The military said it has intensified condone and search operations in the Madagali area to

capture some of the suicide bombers, who locals informed, were sent to wreck havoc in the area.

The member, representing Madagali in the State House of Assembly, Hon. Emmanuel Tsamdu, who expressed dismay over the incidence, called for more vigilance, even as he alleged that many strange persons have entered the town.

He said the local JTF put the figure of death at 17, while nine others, who sustained varying degrees of injuries, were receiving treatment at Uba general hospital.

“The society we belong to, people are not security conscious otherwise, there are strangers coming into town. I think that is the problem,” he said.

In another development, at least 25 people were killed, while 85 others were injured when 14 female suicide bombers attempted to

invade Maiduguri the Borno State capital on Sunday evening.

Briefing newsmen at the Operation Lafiya Dole media centre, the theater commander, Maj. Gen. Yushau Abubakar said the female suicide bombers between the ages of 12 and 18 tried to force themselves into Maiduguri with intent to course mayhem, confusion and panic but were intercepted by troops of the Nigerian Army on patrol.

According to him, three of the suicide bombers however escaped and detonated the IEDs they were carrying, killing 25 persons, while 85 others were injured.

The theater commander, who was represented by the GOC 7 Division, Maj. Gen. Lamidi Adeosun, said the terrorists intended to carry out massive and coordinated suicide mission through Asmari, Damboa check point, Ali Dawari, Molai Kura, Ba-

deri, Jumari villages all at the outskirts of Maiduguri.

The commander said: “The seven other suicide bomber were gunned down by our troops; three escaped and one arrested, which I believe they have averted what would have been a major disaster if they had gained entrance into Maiduguri.

“One of them went to a nearby house and requested for water to perform ablution but instead prepared herself and came to a nearby mosque and blew off herself killing one person while 13 others were injured.”

General Abubakar said the insurgents’ capacity to attack have been degraded, and as a result have resorted to attacking soft targets and laying ambush.

He appealed to the public to always be vigilant and report any suspicious movement to security outfits nearby.

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Tuesday, December 29, 2015

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Tuesday, December 29, 2015

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State Officer, Bank of Industry, Mr Pacqueens Irabor, addressing participants at a symposium On 1 Billion Naira Fashion Fund by the Bank of Industry in Ibadan, yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN L-R: Children of Dubai trip winner, Mariam and Michael Obi; Head, Mass Segment, Airtel Nigeria, Oladipo Jolaosho; Airtel customer/winner of Dubai trip, Mrs. Victoria Obi with Raphael Obi during the departure party organised for the Dubai trip winners in the Airtel Red Hot promo Season 3, in Lagos shortly before their flight to Dubai on Saturday.

L-R: Managing Director, MultiChoice Nigeria, John Ugbe; Chairman, Adewunmi Ogunsanya and General Manager, Marketing, Martin Mabutho, during the 5th GOtv Boxing Night at the Indoor Sports Hall of National

L-R: Medical Director Gbagada General Hospital, Dr Lateef Tayo Lawal; Apex Nurse, Mrs. Oluwabuyide Abosede; Santa Claus, carrying a patient, Chidima Uchenna; Public Relation and Event Manager, Dufil Prima Food plc. Mr. Tope Ashiwaju and mother of the baby, Mrs. Edith Uchenna, at the Indomie Santa Surprise visit to Gbagada General Hospital, Lagos.

L-R: Former President of the Senate, Sen. David Mark; a Canada Based Nigerian Actress, Queen Amina, and Comedian Afamefuna Igwemba (Klint Da’ Drunk), during the 2015 Mark D’ball Basketball Competition in Otukpo, Benue, yesterday.

L-R: Etisalat Nigeria’s Manager, High Value Sponsorship and Events, Opeyemi Lawal; Director and Producer, Hear Word, Ifeoma Fafunwa; Head, Events and Sponsorship, Etisalat Nigeria, Modupe Thani; Hear Word cast members, Joke Silva; Bimbo Akintola and Elvina Ibru at the Grand Performance of the 2015 edition of Hear Word sponsored by Etisalat Nigeria in Lagos recently.

L-R: Director, Special Services, Office of Chief of Staff, Mrs. Raliat Alaka; wife of Lagos State Governor, Mr. Bolanle Ambode; wife of the Permanent Secretary, Office of Chief of Staff, Mrs. Monisola Bamgboye; her husband, Mr. Abiodun Bamgboye and Assistant Director, Special Services, Office of Chief of Staff, Mrs. Olusesi, during a Christmas party for Government House Staff, at the Lagos House, Ikeja, on Sunday.

Co-ordinator General, Missionary Sisters for the Poorest of the Poor, Rev. Sister Oresoa Selo-Ojeme (4th r) and other sisters during Mrs Obinafu’s birthday celebration with the less privileged at Anawim home in Gwagwalada, Abuja on Sunday.

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Tuesday, December 29, 2015

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Ribadu plots PDP exit, holds talks with Akande BOLADALE BAMIGBOLA OSOGBO

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ioneer Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Malam Nuhu Ribadu, may have perfected plans to dump Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, sequel to his declaration in Ila, Osun State, on Sunday, of readiness to join the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC. Ridadu, it was learnt held

secret talks with former Osun State governor, Chief Bisi Akande, in his residence in Ila, where the plans may have been perfected.

It would be recalled that Malam Ribadu contested the last governorship election in Adamawa State on the platform of PDP, but lost to the APC candidate.

He was also the presidential candidate of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, in 2011, while Chief

Akande was the national chairman of the party and Osun was the only state where Ribadu won in the entire federation at the time.

The meeting, which lasted several hours, was held behind closed doors at the Oke Ila Road, country home of Chief Akande.

A source informed our correspondent that the Ila meeting was most likely to prepare ground for Ribadu’s planned defection to APC.

“Details of the meeting is not for newsmen, but I can confirm to you Ribadu discussed with Chief Akande about his plans to move to APC. Baba (Akande) enjoys a lot of respect of many party elders and people accord him the honour of being the first leader of our party, even when it was not certain we would make it.

“So coming to Ila, I believe is to prepare ground for him. Remember Baba

(Akande) was the chairman of ACN when Ribadu ran for presidency in 2011.

“They have healthy relationship and that must have informed his coming to seek his blessings,” a chieftain of APC, who was in Akande’s residence during the meeting, but preferred not to be named, told our correspondent.

The source also added that Ribadu, before meeting Chief Akande, held meeting with members of the

party in one of the halls in the Osun former governor’s lodge.

At the meeting, Ribadu was said to have disclosed his readiness to return to APC, saying the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, on which platform he contested the 2011 presidential poll was a big factor in today’s ruling mega party.

Reacting to the development, Osun State chapter of PDP said it was unaware of the visit of Ribadu to the state.

In a telephone conversation with our correspondent, spokesperson of the party in the state, Prince Diran Odeyemi, said: “We are unaware of his visit.

He didn’t inform us and we don’t expect him to come to Ila to declare he was leaving light for darkness.

“When did Ila become his constituency that he chose to declare he was crossing to APC in the town? We won’t be surprised, if in next few months he jumps to another party. But if he leaves, no one will miss him.”

Nigerians oppose Buhari’s N85 fuel pump price, seek clarification CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

General Manager, National Theatre, Mr Kabir Yusuf (right), Explaining a point to the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed (left), during an onthe-spot inspection of the National Theatre by the Minister, in Lagos, yesterday.

Economic challenges: FCT artistes take acting roles on credit –AGN

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resident, Actors Guild of Nigeria, AGN, FCT chapter, Mr. Agility Onwura, has expressed concern over actors’ acceptance of roles on credit due to the current economic realities in the country.

He made the remark yesterday, while recounting the activities of the Guild in 2015 during an interview in Abuja.

Onwura said: “Movie producers are not left out in the current economic

challenges facing everyone. Most financiers and investors have developed cold feet to investing in productions.

“Instead of losing entirely, the actors and the producers had to sign a pact to take roles and receive payment after such movie is released.”

To ensure that such monies are paid after the project, Onwura said AGN stand as mediator between the actors and the producers.

“The guild in such cases, monitors to find out when such a movie is being released in order to get the producer pay our members who took roles in it,” he said.

The AGN boss explained that such understanding and cordial relationship between the actors and movie producers was to ensure that the movie industry in the FCT was kept afloat.

“We have the human capital; they have the

producing facility, so we agreed and work together to keep the industry going,” he said, adding that the situation had resulted to low production rate of movies in the FCT. Onwura noted that the situation had also compelled most actors in the FCT to relocate to Lagos, Asaba and other cities where they could secure regular and lucrative acting roles.

He however stated that in spite of the challenges, some

actors and movies produced in the FCT received awards during the year, especially during the 2015 Abuja International Film Festival.

He said membership of the Guild in the FCT had increased by over 20 per cent, as many upcoming actors registered with the Guild in 2015.

He solicited for funding from the government and private investors since the movie industry was crucial in job creation and growth of Nigeria’s GDP.

Aisha Buhari distributes foodstuff to Women in Abuja

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ife of the President, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, yesterday distributed foodstuff to Christian Women Association, Kubwa Chapter, Abuja, as part of activities to mark this year’s Christmas.

The wife of the president was represented by former Deputy Governor of Plateau State, Mrs. Paullen Tallen.

Aisha said she decided to share the items because Christmas was a season of

sharing and exchanging pleasantries among Christians and other Nigerians The president’s wife said she had not forgotten women who “stood thick and thin” to vote for change.

She urged women to

give their children good upbringing according to the norms and values of the society.

Coordinator of the association, Mrs. Elizabeth Oyedele, in her speech, thanked the present administration

for making the Christmas hitch-free.

She prayed for God guidance to enable the society feel the impact of the change they voted for and commended Aisha for remembering them.

and research, it had been realised that the country can fluctuate the fuel market in accordance with crude oil market fundamentals.

Justifying government’s reasons for scrapping the Petroleum Support Fund otherwise known as oil subsidy, Kachikwu explained that government could no longer afford to subsidise the product following the fraud that had characterised its implementation in the past years.

Meanwhile, National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, yesterday said petrol would soon be available in filling stations across the country.

South West Chairman of the union, Mr. Tokunbo Korodo, said in Lagos that there had been improvement on loading of petroleum at the depots in Lagos.

He observed that Nigerians would appreciate the present regime if it could reduce the price of petroleum.

The NUPENG chairman said the government meant well for all and sundry, in spite of the few greedy that worked to frustrate genuine intentions.

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Monday, December 29, 2015

Tambuwal promises not to sack teachers

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okoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal, has promised that his administration will not sack any teacher from the state civil service.

“But we will not fail to reassign any teacher that does not have the requisite qualifications to be in the classroom,’’ Tambuwal said on Monday in Dogon-Daji, Tambuwal Local Government Area.

The governor made the promise in his address at the annual national congress of the old Boys’ association of his alma-mater, Government Secondary School, Dogon Daji.

He said: “Beginning from the next budget, government will ensure continuous training and retraining of teachers to update their knowledge and make them conform to modern teaching techniques.

“Huge sums of money have been budgeted for that purpose.

“Let me announce it here, that we do not plan to retrench any teacher working with the state government.

“In fact we need qualified teachers to address shortfall in numbers.

“What we will not condone in our schools are unqualified teachers who have nothing to offer our children.

“If after giving you the necessary training, we

discovered that you do not have the capacity or enthusiasm to teach, we will reassign you to where your expertise is most needed.”

While commending the executive of the association for its diligence in the face of mounting challenges, Tambuwal solicited its support in government’s efforts to take Sokoto State to greater heights.

At the end of the congress, Alhaji Nasiru Idris was elected national President of the association while Abdullahi Muhammed was elected Secretary.

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No plans to privatise National Theatre –Muhammed …says ministry will create jobs under him Francis Suberu

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inister for Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has dispelled the rumour that the Federal Government is planning to privatise the National Theatre, located at Iganmu, Lagos, saying the National Theatre is one of the country’s national monuments.

Mohammed who disclosed this at a news conference held at the National Theatre noted that the monument is a national pride and remains one of the iconic buildings of the nation.

According to him, the National Theatre is a very veritable vehicle for the promotion of arts and the creative industry, saying however, that the government is open to public-private initiatives.

The minister said: “We are not averse to public private arrangement. Anybody that wants to develop around the theatre is welcome to add value.”

He decried the state of insecurity within the National Theatre saying that it deserved more security presence than it currently has; even as he condemned the various attacks within the vicinity of the theatre saying that it is unacceptable.

L-R: Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa; Governor Akinwunmi Ambode and musician, Dapo Oyebanji “Dbanj”, during the flag-off of One Lagos Fiesta, at Agege Mini Stadium, Agege, Lagos, on Sunday.

Buhari resolute in diversifying the economy –Adamu

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enator Abdullahi Adamu (APC Nasarawa West), says President Muhammadu Buhari is determined to diversify the country’s economy.

He spoke with News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Abuja on Monday, noting that the present administration had said it on many occasions that Nigeria could no longer depend on oil and gas based economy.

“Oil and gas have tended, over time, to spoil us; people have got used to easy money, but now the wells are drying, even if they are not, the market is becoming very hostile.

“The price has gone down and the demand for our oil is very low, even though previous administrations sang the idea of diversifying the economy, they did not do it.

“Buhari has said that he would make deliberate efforts to diversify the economy and bring on board new attitude toward agricultural production.

“He believes as much as we do that, agriculture holds the greatest potential for job creation if we enhance it,’’ he said.

Adamu said with agriculture, the nation would have excess food crops as well as indus-

trial crops that would be exported to boost foreign exchange.

Apart from agriculture, he observed that the country had solid minerals that could turn its economy around.

“Buhari has assured Nigerians that he would also address the issue of solid minerals and he is taking a look at the entire policy, operations and the investments in that sector.

“We have information that every one of the 774 local governments in Nigeria has one or more mineral deposits.

“If we can mine, process and add some

value to them, you can only imagine the kind of multiplier effects we will enjoy.

“Once you can give agricultural and solid mineral sector a boost, sharpen the processes for revenue generation and block the leakages that we know, our economy will take a leap,’’ he said.

President Buhari while presenting the 2016 budget to the National Assembly reaffirmed the commitment of his administration to job creation and economic diversification.

He specifically laid emphasis on developing agriculture and

solid mineral sectors with increased funding, investment in agriculture and solid minerals, among others.

He said that his administration would ensure increased capital expenditure with significant resources to critical sectors of the economy.

Buhari

He said: “We sincerely regret the unfortunate incident on Christmas day where some fun seekers were molested by some hoodlums. All efforts will be taken to ensure that there is no reoccurrence of such incident.

“We know where our challenges are. Primarily, our perimeter is very unsafe because it is quite long and in the middle of the town. We assure we will not allow that kind of thing to occur again.”

The minister said that government would not allow the place go obsolete.

Meanwhile, the minister has vow that he would ensure that the ministry creates more jobs for the youths by leveraging on the nation’s rich cultural industry.

Muhammed who spoke at the flag-of of “One Lagos Fiesta”, an initiative of the Lagos State Government at Agege Stadium, Lagos on Sunday night, vowed that with the series of programmes that the ministry will be rolling out come January 2016, a lot of jobs will be created.

He said: “I can assure you that by January 2016, when we will start rolling out our programmes, we will be able to mop up as many unemployed youths as possible using the cultural platform.”

According to him, the Federal Government had earmarked N500 billion in 2016 budge to help young people in the area of trade and skill acquire skills.

He said the Federal Government have decided to cooperate with all the states and ask each state to make 10 cities in their state available for10 festivals and 10 cultural industries.

“With this, we can have 360 festivals plus another five in Abuja making 365 festivals in Nigeria. This will mean that for every day, there will be festival taking place in one part of Nigeria,’’ he said.

Mohammed said that the idea would enable Nigeria to have a compendium of cultural festivals and dates.

He added that the compendium would be sent abroad to intimate people with the festivals available in the country at a particular time.

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Monday, December 29, 2015

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Disaster as fire consumes houses, 14 shops in Lagos Francis Suberu

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ultiple fire incidents were recorded in about 12 places in Lagos yesterday, destroying property worth millions of Naira.

According to the director, Lagos State Fire Service, Mr. Rasak Fadipe, there was L-R: Osun State former Commissioner for Information and Strategies, Hon. Sunday Akere; Governor Rauf an overnight fire inciAregbesola; Chairman, Osun State Christian Association of Nigeria (OSCAN), Rev. (Dr.) Elisha Ogundiya; member, Osun dent which destroyed 14 State House of Assemble, Hon. Abiodun Awolola, and Chief Judge of Osun State, Justice Adepele Ojo, during 2015 shops at 16, Odunbaku Christmas carol by the state government in conjunction with the state Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), in Osogbo, Street, Mafoluku area on Sunday. of the state.

He said another eight-room building was razed by fire at 16, Moses Olawale Street, Moshalasi bus stop area of Agbado.

As at the time of filNigerians would enjoy He, however, frowned at hospital, saying: “What is ing this report, the Abiodun Nejo, medical care under the the leadership tussle that symbolic about today is ADO EKITI President Muhammadu often result in industrial that we are commission- fire service boss said a ederal Government Buhari government in the actions in federal health ing 12 projects through the shopping complex was has disclosed its next two years. institutions and cau- partnership and memo- still on fire at Oshodi intention to build The minister reiterated tioned the workers that randum of understanding Market, saying “we are and equip 10,000 primary Buhari’s determination to such scenarios are killing this hospital signed with in control. We got our health facilities across the alleviate the suffering of the sector and reducing its Afe Babalola University, first distress call to774 local government ar- all Nigerians in the area quality.

Ado Ekiti, ABUAD. eas of the federation. of healthcare delivery by Adewole said: “It is “I want to thank Aare day from Vegas Hilton Minister of Health, fortifying primary and unfortunate that our na- Afe Babalola for his in- Hotel, Oke Ira, Ogba Prof. Isaac Adewole, said secondary health care in- tional hospitals are better vestment not only in edu- Aguda and the LSDPC the purpose is to achieve stitutions. known for strikes rather cation, but also in this Estate on Glover Street, effective service delivery He said: “The tertiary than services. The human hospital,” the minister Ebute Meta. to the people and decon- institutions are not meant factor is the most impor- added.

“An outbreak of fire is gest tertiary health insti- to treat malaria or skin tant. We should learn to The CMD, who assured on now at NEPA Office, tutions. rashes, but to attend to put services above all oth- the agitated workers that Ajiwe bus stop, in LeAdewole who spoke at critical issues. We are er considerations in our all their dues would be the Federal Teaching Hos- determined to take away agitation as medical prac- paid, appealed to the Min- kki. It involves containpital, Ido Ekiti yesterday over 70 per cent of pa- titioners because some of istry of Health to grant ers. We are in control of during the commission- tients from the teaching the cases I have handled in the request for the pay- it too. This makes the ing of 12 projects initiated hospitals, but heads of recent time were more of ment of take-off grants to total of distress calls and completed by its chief tertiary institutions must how to get more pay and the hospital as a former medical director, CMD, Dr. find a way to relate freely not about commitment.” medical centre and for its 12. Lagosians need to be Majekodunmi Ayodele, with these cadres for effecHe praised the CMD new status as a teaching fire-conscious.”

To curb the menace, said over 60 million poor tive healthcare delivery.” for his giant strides in the hospital. he said the agency had been repositioned and transformed with the s evidence of its same time last year, which improvement was recorded ing with traffic managers provision of new equiprobust efforts to shows a reduction by 33 per in the area of lives saved on on the road to ensure for ment to meet challenges free flow of traffic. stem crashes on the cent. the roads. associated with a mega NAN recalls that Corps nation’s roads during the “Similarly, 86 lives were On prosecution of ofcity.

FG to build, equip 10,000 primary health facilities F

Christmas patrol: FRSC reduces road crashes by 33%

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festive period, the Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, has reduced road crashes by 33 per cent within one week.

This was made known yesterday by the head, media relations and strategy in the commission, Mr. Bisi Kazeem, in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Abuja.

According to Kazeem, the commission recorded 113 road traffic crashes, RTC, within one week of patrol across the country.

“113 RTCs were recorded on the roads between December 19 and 26, compared with 169 RTCs recorded

lost as at Saturday, compared with 109 within same period last year, which shows an improvement of 21 per cent in FRSC’s efforts to save lives on the roads.

“422 people were injured within the period this year which amounts to 30 per cent improvement in operation when compared with 606 people that were injured last year.

“Also, 934 people were involved in crashes within the period under review, compared with 1,284 within the same period of last year, while 426 people were rescued this year, unlike 570 last year,” he said.

Kazeem said 25 per cent

fenders, Kazeem said, the FRSC had so far arraigned 878 traffic violators and convicted 783, while the rest were discharged.

“Reports from patrols on critical and minor corridors nationwide indicate that 8,825 offenders have been arrested for 9,792 offences.

“The commission has also arraigned 878 traffic offenders in various mobile courts across the nation, while 783 of them were convicted and 95 discharged,” he said.

The statement therefore urged road users to always obey traffic rules and regulations, while also cooperat-

Marshal of the commission, Mr Boboye Oyeyemi, flagged off ‘Operation Zero Tolerance’ with the theme: `Drive Safely Into 2016,’ in Onitsha, on December 18.

NAN also recalls that Oyeyemi deployed 36,000 personnel and equipment for the exercise, and confirmed that 200 mobile courts had been set up nationwide to arraign traffic offenders during the period.

The FRSC boss also led aerial surveillance on some major corridors across the country last Thursday, affirming that the commission is determined to ensure that travellers do not get stocked in traffic.

Fadipe warned Lagosians who are fond of buying and storing premium motor spirit, PMS, as a result of scarcity of the product to desist from the act and be fire safety-conscious.

The fire boss said no fire outbreak is too small or big in terms of the destruction and trauma victims encounter during and after it.

He urged parents and guardians to warn their children against careless handling of electronic appliances, naked wire and gas cookers, among others as all these are major sources of fire disaster.

Fadipe appealed that basic portable fire protection equipment such as fire extinguisher, fire blanket and fire alarm system be kept within reach in order to prevent the spread of fire when it occurs.

Fadipe who solicited the cooperation of petrol marketers in the fight against fire disasters, urged them to adhere strictly to safety precautions by not dispensing fuel in polythene bags, selling to vehicle while in motion and by preventing a cluster of motorists around the dispensing pumps so as to avoid scuttle that could spark off fire.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Smith Innocent Ehimen. Now wish to be known and addressed as Smith Innocent Ogbeide. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

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ISRAEL: I, formerly known and addressed as ISRAEL THOMPSON, now wish to be known, called and addressed as THOMPSON IDONGESIT CHRISTOPHER. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME IBEKWE: I, formerly known and addressed as IBEKWE DEBORAH CHINEACHEREM,now wish to be known and addressed FELIX CHINEACHEREM DEBORAH. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

AMADI:I, formerly known and addressed as MISS AMADI GLADYS CHINYEAKA, now wish to be known and addressed MRS NWANKUDU GLADYS CHINYEAKA. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME AGBOR: I, formerly known and addressed a AGBOR PRINCE APEH, now wish to be known, called and addressed as AGBOR APEH NYAMGBE. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

8

South West

Tuesday, December 29, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

SOAN calls for investments in ship breaking, ship recycling

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L-R: Chairman of the burnt Sango Alaro Plank Market Association, Mr. Oladipo Faseyitan; former Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Ismail Olalekan-Alli, Special Adviser to the Governor on Communication and Strategy, Mr. Yomi Layinka, during a condolence visit to the burnt Plank Market in Ibadan, yesterday.

Aregbesola, Ooni, PDP mourn Osun Assembly's Minority Leader Boladale Bamigbola OSOGBO

O

sun State Governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, has extended his condolences to the family of Honourable Makinde Oladejo Samson.

Samson, member representing Ife Central and Minority Leader of the Osun State House of Assembly died early hours of Sunday after a brief illness.

In a condolence message by the Director of the Bureau of Communications and Strategy, Office of the Governor, Semiu Okanlawon, Aregbesola described the death of the House of Assembly member as sudden and shocking.

The governor, who prayed for the repose of Samson's soul, extended his “profound

condolence to the immediate family, members of the Peoples Democratic Party,PDP, in Osun State, Ife Central and the people of Osun State in general.’’

Aregbesola then urged the speaker, members of the state house of assembly and family of Samson to take with equanimity the loss describing death as an inevitable end for everybody.

Also, the Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, in a statement signed by Comrade Moses Olafare, Director of Media and Public Affairs, Ooni's palace, expressed shock over the death Of Makinde.

The monarch described the deceased as a gentleman endowed with attributes of Omoluabi, saying his positive impacts will live after

him on the minds of not only inhabitants of Ile-Ife, but the entire people of Osun State, having patriotically served as Ife Central Local Government boss and a legislator representing Ife Central constituency in the state house of assembly.

"Though he left us when his courage and carriage would have been of immense benefit to Ile-Ife and Osun State, we pray his gentle soul rest in perfect peace, as death is only the end of the physical life and beginning of an eternity," the statement concluded.

In its condolence message, Osun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, described as "shocking" the death of a lawmaker elected on its platform, Hon Samson.

The party in a statement

issued by its spokesperson, Prince Diran Odeyemi, in Osogbo described the deceased as "courageous and thorough breed party man," who has proven over the years unmatched attributes of a responsible and responsive leader.

"A scholar of note, Moses was strict, but humane, brave, but with manners, a democrat of purest quality and one of the few remainders of politicians with true love of the people."

"His records as local government chairman and state lawmaker have remained permanently etched on the minds of people," the statement said.

It also commiserated with the speaker and the colleagues of the late Moses in Osun State House of Assembly on his death and

resident of the Ship owners Association of Nigeria, SOAN, Mr Greg Ogbeifun, on Monday urged investors to tap into the potential of Nigeria’s ship-breaking and recycling sector.

Ogbeifun made the plea in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Lagos.

He said that prior to this time, ship wrecks were taken to foreign countries for breaking and recycling, but the cost of moving such wrecks had made it unprofitable.

“There are many wrecked ships scattered over the waterways of Nigeria.

“Until the 1960s, shipbreaking was considered a highly mechanised operation concentrated in industrialised countries such as the U.S., U.K., Germany and Italy.

“From the early 1980s, ship owners sent their vessels to the scrap yards of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, the Philippines and Vietnam where payment, health and safety standards were minimal,” Ogbeifun said.

He said people were also desperate to work.

“The aim was to maximise profit, but today, in Nigeria, these vessels are abandoned midstream and around wa-

NSC advised to enforce standards at ports

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resident, Shippers’ Association Lagos State, Mr Jonathan Nicol, on Monday advised the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, NSC, as the port economic regulator to enforce operating stan-

Osun, US firm sign $50m MoU on agric investment Boladale Bamigbola OSOGBO

O

sun State Government has signed $50million Agriculture Investment facility with the United States of American, USA, firm for the provision of modern agricultural technological services as an alternative to the dwindling allocation from the federation account.

The signing of the partnership with US JIL Firm Limited which took place in Osogbo, Osun State capi-

tal, was aimed at given fresh impetus to its agricultural sector revolution drive in the state.

The MoU covered the development and infrastructural upgrade of a breeding, fattening and processing of beef cattle ranch and the establishment of agricultural equipment leasing and hire centres to be managed by JIL Farm Limited.

Speaking shortly after signing of the agreement, Governor Aregbesola, expressed appreciation to the investors for their interest in the state. He assured them

that no contribution will be spared in ensuring that the venture comes out a success that will become a benchmark for the nation.

Noting that Osun State is predominantly an agrarian state, the governor said the survival of the state is tied to agriculture.

Aregbesola charged the people of the state to embrace agriculture for the prosperity of the state to be guaranteed in the face of the grim economic realities confronting the nation.

Jerry Cunningham, an experienced American ani-

mal husbandry expert and a member of JIL Farms Limited investment team, while responding, thanked the people of the state for the hands of partnership extended to them.

He added that the firm had always wanted to do business with Osun State, saying with the opportunity presenting itself, the state is going to be number one in the country in animal husbandry with the latest technology the firm would deploy.

Speaking further, Cunningham expressed the

terfronts within the country.

“The cost of towing these vessels to other parts of the country makes it no longer profitable for ship-breaking and recycling of steel,’’ Ogbeifun said.

He, however, said that some companies had started shipyard expansion to key into the sector, which had potential for developing and giving the required service locally.

“Companies such as Starzs Marine and Engineering Limited, operators of the Starzs Shipyard at Onne, have commenced shipyard expansion to incorporate ship-breaking.

“However, there is need for serious foreign partnership in terms of utilisation of the best available technology. `There are small activities in ship-breaking by some firms down south in Calabar.

“The Indians have also indicated interest in partnership in ship-breaking with Starzs Marine and Engineering Limited at Onne, Rivers,” he said.

Ogbeifun was optimistic that investment in the sector and the readiness to build capacity in the use of the required technology would open the sector for greater number of jobs for Nigerians.

keenness of the team to work with indigenous farmers and transfer best practices in animal husbandry and modern agricultural technology competencies.

Dr. Ayoade Akere, leader of the JIL Farms Limited team assured the governor and people of the state that the investors are poised to impact the host community greatly while doing business. He said not only that hundreds of people will be employed; tourism in the host communities will also be improved greatly.

dards by port operators.

Nicol gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Lagos while unfolding the association’s expectations for 2016.

He said the rules of imports and exports must also be obeyed.

Nicol said all these would create wealth for the people, provide employment and assist in revenue generation by government.

He suggested that all ``unhealthy’’ import polices should be reviewed to boost cargo throughput (imports and exports) in 2016.

Nicol added that a review of the auto policy would fetch more revenue for the government.

According to him, all government agencies involved in maritime administration should reverse excessive charges like shipping costs and terminal charges.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Kemi Olaitan IBADAN

F

or the second time in three days, it was weeping and wailing galore yesterday as over 300 shops and other items worth millions of naira again razed at the Sango plank market in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, in an early morning inferno.

National Mirror learnt that no fewer than 50 sawing machines, three vehicles, comprising a truck and two cars were burnt into ashes.

Meanwhile, Governor Abiola Ajimobi, has assured that the state government would raise a panel to investigate the circumstances surrounding the fire incidents that razed the plank market twice in three days as tension is mounting in the plank market over an in-

South West

Tuesday, December 29, 2015

9

Again, fire guts Ibadan plank market as Ajimobi orders probe sinuation that some people might have intentionally set the place ablaze to avenge last Friday’s fire disaster which razed over 200 plank shops within the market.

Unlike last Friday’s fire, yesterday's inferno completely burnt down the sawing machines section of the market with no fewer than 100 machines of various kinds burnt.

It was gathered that the fire was first noticed at about 12am yesterday during which some people were allegedly sighted moving

round the burnt areas suspiciously after which the fire spread to other parts of the sawing machines section.

It was learnt that all efforts by the traders and others who were alerted about the fire through the Alaro Central Mosque’s public address system to put the raging fire off failed.

Sources at the market disclosed that all efforts by the traders and the police team at getting across to the men of the state fire service failed as the plank sellers waited for hours watching helpless-

ly as the fire destroys their belongings with no single fire fighting vehicle in sight.

During a visit to the market, the traders were seen weeping and wailing with others packing the remains of their belongings, including the burnt sawing machines and vehicles.

It was observed that the latest inferno has finally grounded commercial and others activities in the market, with special regards to the mounting tension over the safety of the remaining part as there are fears of an-

other possible inferno in the next few days.

Ajimobi who was represented during a visit to the market by the state Head of Service, Mr. Soji Eniade; special adviser on communication and strategy, Mr. Yomi Layinka; former Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Olalekan Alli; former special adviser on political matters, Dr. Gbade Ojo; and a former special adviser on security, Mr. Segun Abolarinwa, among others, expressed worry that the market could record more fire incidences within the next few days.

Layinka, while addressing journalists, said: “We are here to examine the extent of damage and know the cause(s) of the fire incidentd. That is, the one that happened on Friday and the other which occurred in the early hours of yesterday.”

He said government would thoroughly investigate the immediate and remote causes of the incidents to ensure that whoever is responsible is brought to justice.

While appealing for calm among traders and members of the affected community, he said security operatives have been put on red alert to guide the market in order to prevent further losses.

Chairman of the market association, Mr. Oladipo Faseyitan, while narrating the incidents, said while the first fire was caused by a gas explosion from a nearby building, the second one might have been caused by a group of people who claimed to be the land owners.

He explained that his members had for some time been having running battles with the land owners who had told them to either vacate the community or face dire consequence.

Divisional Police Officer in charge of Sango Police Station, Mrs. Joyce Maiyaki, said the police have been providing adequate security in the area just as she commended the state fire service for its prompt response in putting out the fire.

Approve National Software Policy, NCS pleads with government

L-R: Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Michael Adeyemo; winner of Miss Oyo Beauty Pageant, Miss Foyeke Akinyemi and former Zonal Director of NTA for Ibadan and Benin, Mrs Comfort Alomoge, at the competition in Ibadan on Sunday.

Francis Suberu

L

agos State governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, has assured of his government's commitment to making Lagos work for all by ensuring that everyone in the city feels the impact of his government.

He assured that good things would start happening as Lagos goes forward.

Ambode restated this commitment on Sunday during the flag-off of 'One Lagos Fiesta' at the Agege Stadium, Lagos.

One Lagos Fiesta which is an initiative of the present administration, is tailored towards ushering in the New Year, is designed to hold between December 27, 2015 and January 1, 2016 simultane-

We’re striving to make Lagos work for all —Ambode ously in five locations across the state, including Epe, Badagry, Ikorodu, Agege and Lagos Island.

Speaking at the event, Governor Ambode recalled the last time he visited the Agege Stadium - during the election campaign - saying he was back again to fulfill one of the promises he made to the people.

Earlier, the Federal Government, through the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, had hailed Lagos State for the innovative annual countdown event, describing it as the biggest of its kind in sub-

Saharan Africa.

Mohammed also congratulated Governor Ambode and the government of Lagos State for rejigging the event into what is now known as the One Lagos Fiesta.

He expressed hope that the event ''will become bigger and bigger and form a major part of the annual calendar of festivals which we plan to unveil in the days ahead."

Also speaking, Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, thanked Governor Ambode for showing love to the people of the state, especially Agege, and promised

the people that government would ensure that the next edition is be bigger and better.

Prominent musicians, including Dbanj and Seun Kuti, performed at the fiesta.

Ambode

N

igeria Computer Society, NCS, yesterday pleaded with the Federal Government to approve the pending National Software Policy, NSP. The advice was contained in a statement issued in Lagos and signed by the president of the society, Prof. Adesola Aderounmu.

According to the statement, the NSP blueprint is aimed at providing a strategic roadmap that would make the country competitive in software engineering.

It added that it would assist the country to have a digital knowledge and implement e-government strategies as an imperative for corruption-free, equitable, productive and knowledge-based society.

The statement said the society is committed to partnering with government to build an inclusive, prosperous and digitally-enabled nation.

It recommended that government should give the use of registered local Information Technology, IT professionals and companies priority in executing IT jobs.

“There should be a deliberate focus on youth innovation to generate massive employment for millions of youths through riding on the start-up boom in the country,’’ it said.

The statement noted that the government ought to mandate the NCS in collaboration with the National Information Technology Development Agency to supervise all IT projects.

“There should be capacity building in cyber security, most especially within the security agencies and in the nation’s educational system.

“National policies could only make the desired impacts and make the country great if implemented by qualified persons,” the statement added.

10

South East

Tuesday, December 29, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Elechi responsible for Ebonyi's poor state of education —Umahi Aliuna Godwin ABAKALIKI

E

bonyi State Governor, David Umahi, yesterday blamed the former governor of the state Chief Martin Elechi, for failure to pay attention to educational sector.

Umahi attributed the rot in the state’s education sector to the failure of the immediate past administration to pay attention to the problems therein.

The governor stated this in his country home, at Umunaga- Uburu in Ohaozara Local Government Area when members of the State Universal Basic Education Board and the Secondary Education Board led by Chief Hyacinth Ikpor and Mr. Emmanuel Odoh respectively paid him Christmas homage.

It would be recalled that the former governor built over 36 Borden schools across the 13 local government areas of the state, but for Umahi he (Elechi) failed to equip them with modern facilities.

He said: "Our educational system is very much in problem. I think the immediate past administration did not really care about education".

Describing education as a very important sector in his administration, the governor stated the need to convene an interactive meeting of all stakeholders in the education sector on how to tackle the problems.

He maintained that the desire of his administration to make the state come first in the Senior Secondary School Examination and the National Examination Council examinations

could only be achieved within the first two years of his administration through the collective efforts of all the stakeholders.

He told the board members, "I want you to sit down and look at how to improve education. The only way you are judged is by the improvement in education.’’

Umahi directed them to re-evaluate their teachers before the middle of January, 2016 Stressing that no one would be sacked after the exercise.

He explained that only those that were fit would remain in the classrooms, while others would be redeployed to areas like agriculture.

Earlier in their respective remarks, the Chairman of UBEB, Chief Ikpor and his SEB counterpart, Mr. Odoh, said they came to felicitate with the governor and to congratulate him on his election tribunal and Court of Appeal victories.

They restated their determination to continue to work according to the goals of the present administration to ensure that the decay in the education sector is stemmed.

Umahii

L-R: Awardee, Sir Paschal Okolie; his wife, Stella; National President, Colliery School, Old Boys Association (COBA), Dr Maxwell Ude; Awardee, Prof. Andrew Chukwuemerie; former Chairman Oji/River Lga, Sir Ephraim Offiah and the coordinator Award Committee, Mr Soni Nnamani at the 2015 COBA Awards in Enugu, at the weekend.

Ekweremadu tasks politicians to support for Umahi Aliuna Godwin ABAKALIKI

D

eputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, yesterday tasked all politicians and other well-meaning citizens of Ebonyi State to rally support for the governor, Chief David Umahi to enable him (Umahi) develop the state.

Ekweremadu, made this known during Christmas homage to the governor at his Uburu residence in Ohaozara Local Government Area, of Ebonyi State, said such support would make the governor deliver democracy dividends to them.

He told other visitors who were also on similar visit that; "you need to cooperate with the governor that he will be spurred to do more for you. And as such

the democracy dividend he promised you during electioneering will be fulfilled.

But when you do not, it will be difficult to do so in atmosphere of rancour, ’’he said.

The Deputy Senate President described the victory of Umahi in the last governorship election in the state as the act of God. Ekweremadu assured that he would use his position to galvanise both local and international support for the Umahi- led administration to enable it accelerate the development of the state.

He expressed confidence that the ongoing efforts by Umahi to transform the markets in the state into modern markets would attract both local and international investors to the state.

Others who visited the governor include; members of the state Executive Coun-

cil, the stakeholders of Ikwo Local Government Area led by the state Deputy Governor, Dr. Eric Kelechi Igwe; the board and management of the state College of Education, led by its chairman, Engineer Fidelis Nwankwo; the Governing Council of the state university, Abakaliki led by the Vice Chancellor, Professor Francis Idike; the Rector of Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic, Unwana, Afikpo, Venerable Ogbonnaya Ibe- Enwo; Ohaukwu Local Government stakeholders; the Ebonyi State Traditional Rulers’ Council led by His Royal Highness, Charles Mkpuma; and members of the State Fiscal Responsibility Commission.

Addressing the visitors, Umahi thanked them for coming to share the joy of Christmas with him.

The governor also announced the suspension of

the collection of Internally Generated Revenue for the month of January, 2016.

According to him, "collection of Internally Generated Revenue, IGR, should be suspended for the month of January for government to come up with civilized method of revenue drive in the state".

He further announced the lifting of the suspension order on the Special Assistant to the Governor on Talent Development and Rehabilitation, Mrs. Jacinta Nworie.

Umahi applauded his council members for their commitment to duty and urged them to be peace makers and bridge builders.

He declared the 31st of December 2015 as a day of fasting and prayers by the executive council members for the state and for their families.

Murder of Enugu lawyer: Community leader, three others in police net Emmanuel Ezeh ENUGU

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he town union president of Okwojo, Ngwo in Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State and three other natives of same community have been arrested by the police for their alleged involvement in the killing of late Barrister Ejimofor Ozongwu.

Enugu State Police Public Relations Officer, Ebere Amaraizu (DSP) who confirmed the arrest yesterday

gave the names of the suspects as Denis Ozongwu, Sebastian Offor and two others whose names were yet to be ascertained as at the time of filing this report.

The legal practitioner was murdered in his hometown Okwojo on December 23,2015.

It was gathered that the deceased, who is the Executive Secretary, Enugu State Committee on Creation of Adada State, was lured from where he was attending a wedding in Enugu,

ambushed and murdered in cold blood.

The police spokesperson disclosed that the President General of the Okwojo town union, Denis Ozongwo had claimed that he was shot by the deceased.

He, however, dismissed the claims, explaining that investigations suggested that the wound the suspect sustained came after the deceased had been killed.

Amaraizu disclosed that the manhunt for the other perpetrators of the dastardly act was on, assuring

that the police were working round the clock to apprehend the culprits and all those who had a hand in the murder.

Already the people of Okwojo in their numbers led by the traditional Prime Minister Ozo Ramsey Onyia, has paid a condolence visit to the family washing their hands off the act which they described as an abomination.

Ozo Onyi, who spoke during the visit, also noted that those who may have been involved remained persona

non-grata in the community.

He described the deceased as the only practicing lawyer in the community who had borne the legal burden of his people while alive.

Meanwhile, the brother to the deceased, Eric Ozongwu, linked the death of his elder brother to a certain land tussle where the late lawyer had been farming for more than 30 years.

He vowed that the family will put all within its reach to ensure that those behind

the murder were brought to book stressing that "Ejimofor's death will not be in vain.”

Arase, Police boss

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

News

Tuesday, December 29, 2015

NSCDC destroys 200 illegal refineries, prosecutes 120 suspects, says Gana

I

n a drive to stem the tide of vandalism, illegal refineries, oil theft, and illegal bunkering, Commandant General of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, Abdullahi Gana Muhammadu has set up a Special Task to clampdown on saboteurs.

This is in line with the Corps mandate in the protection of critical infrastructure and national assets.

The Corps helmsman directed state commandants to cooperate and work in synergy with the Special

Task Force assigned to their states for the special operation in clamping down on illegal dealers on petroleum products, vandals, illegal refineries, illegal bunkering and marketers involved in diversion of petroleum products. T he operation also extends to filling stations selling above approved government pump price, hoarding of products, those involved in black marketing and racketeering as well as other related crimes.

To further buttress the need for the Special Task

Force, Abdullahi stressed that the Corps as at December 2015, identified and destroyed over 200 illegal refineries in Rivers, Delta, Bayelsa, Edo, Kogi, Ondo, Cross River, Akwa Ibom states among others.

He added that over 120 suspects involved in act of vandalism and other associated crimes have been prosecuted and sentenced to various prisons terms.

According to him, about 250 suspects are still undergoing prosecutions in various courts with over 80 trucks containing petro-

leum products impounded with several operational equipments belonging to suspected vandals recovered.

Abdullahi therefore charged the Task Force and other operational officers to live up to expectation by justifying the confidence the government and the people have in them by ensuring that vandalism is reduced to the barest minimum.

He assured the government of the Corps readiness to tackle vandalism and other illicit crimes in line with its mandate.

11

2016 inspires hope for better Nigeria says Emeka Anyoku

2

016 inspires hope of a real change for the better in Nigeria’s national circumstances, former Commonwealth Secretary General, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, has said.

Anyaoku made the remark in a signed statement made available to newsmen in Abuja yesterday.

He expressed hope that the pervading insecurity in Nigeria would be brought under control.

He also expressed hope that corruption which had remained the greatest bane to national development would be effectively tackled.

“The infrastructural deficit in power supply, transportation including roads, education and health will receive attention.

“Youth unemployment together with the widespread poverty of the masses will be productively addressed,” the statement quoted Anyaoku as saying.

The elder statesman described 2015 as a year of historic events which began with insecurity and devastation in the North-Eastern

part of the country.

He said the outgoing year also witnessed growing threat of destructive violence to the national electoral process with potential unacceptable consequences for the integrity of the nation.

“But thanks to the initiative by some elder statesmen, which led to the signing of the Abuja Accord of violence-free campaigns by the 14 presidential candidates and their political parties.

“The elections were peaceful which enabled the country to progress its evolving democracy by having for the first time a peaceful change of government from a ruling to an opposition party,’’ he said.

Anyoku said the challenge facing the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration is to work with all the regions of the country for the realisation of these hopes.

He added that the challenge also calls for collaborative response from all the citizens.

Expert rates performance of building construction industry

A Holiday makers returning from Kogi-East to Lokoja at Ganaja Jetty yesterday.

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ome residents of Port Harcourt said the cancellation of the annual carnival by the Rivers State Government has affected recreational and tourist activities in the state.

News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, reports that a carnival-Carniriv-used to hold every December in Port Harcourt by the immediate past administration in the state.

The residents observed that the event, described as biggest after Carnival Calabar, was cancelled by the present administration of Governor Nyesom Wike.

The residents, who spoke on the cancellation, said the importance of the carnival in the life of the people should have been considered before the cancellation.

They said the carnival attracted many local and foreign tourists and investors

PHOTO:NAN

Port Harcourt residents express concern about carnival’s cancellation to the city which increased economic activities.

According to them, the event showcases the state and the people's cultures to would-be investors.

A hotel owner, Mr. Chris Tamuno, said that he upgraded his hotel in anticipation to accommodate many tourists that would have visited the city but was disappointed by the cancellation.

“I never had the slightest premonition that the annual event would be cancelled, especially as the state government is doing all it could to impress people.

“Instead of outright cancellation, government ought to have reduced the budget by trimming down the size of the events,” he

said.

A commercial bus driver, Mr Nath Uwaifo, said with the influx of visitors in December during the period of Carniriv, his daily income always tripled, saying that the story had changed negatively this season.

He said the authorities ought to have considered the economic benefits the festival impacted on both residents and government.

Miss Esther Ebite, who sells recharge cards, said she had purchased enough cards in anticipation that the festival would hold.

She said she usually made more sales as a result of high influx of people and commercial activities in the city during the festi-

val.

Ebite, a student of the Rivers State Polytechnic, Bori, explained that she habitually used the money she made during the carnival to pay her tuition fees in the new semester but regretted that the cancellation had caused her hardship.

A civil servant, Dr Fyneface Briggs, said government decision to cancel the festival was a right one, especially as the economy could no longer accommodate “frivolous spending.”

According to him, such funds should be used to pay salaries and in sustainable ventures that would have direct and long term impact on the people.

former Chairman, Nigeria Institute of Town Planners, NITP, Lagos Branch, Mr Makinde Ogunleye, yesterday said the performance of the building construction industry was low in 2015.

Ogunleye stated this in an interview in Lagos.

He attributed the poor performance of the industry to political, economic and security factors.

Ogunleye said the falling oil prices contributed to the down turn of activities in the industry in the outgoing year.

According to him, the security challenge was another major factor which scared some investors away from the industry.

He said the declining oil prices, accompanied by persistent increase in exchange rate discouraged many people from investing.

“Many investors, particularly the foreign ones are not convinced of the security of their investments in the property industry.

“Due to the long-term nature of building construc-

tion projects, some investors prefer to invest in other areas where they can recoup their investments within a short period of time,” Ogunleye said.

He said the sector recorded more developments in 2014 in contrast to 2015.

According to him, a lot of housing projects were carried out in 2014 and these contributed to the developments and achievements recorded during the year.

Ogunleye urged the government to inject more money into the building construction industry to enhance its growth and performance in 2016.

He suggested that government should revamp the mortgage system and provide other incentives to encourage investments in the sector.

“I believe that by the time the new government and ministers settle down to work in 2016, the economy will improve.

“The sector will record more growth, being the highest employer of labour and a key driver of the economy,” Ogunleye said.

12

North

Tuesday, December 29, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

350 self-sponsored Christian pilgrims arrive Nigeria N igerian Christian Pilgrim Commission, NCPC, said the last batch of self-sponsored Christian pilgrims arrived the country on Sunday night, via Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

Assistant director, Human Resources in the

commission, Mrs. Charlotte Ajuya, told newsmen in Abuja that the commission had a successful pilgrimage throughout 2015.

She said the last batch had 350 self-sponsored Christian pilgrims from different states, mostly the northern part of the country, observing that none of

the pilgrims absconded.

“I want to encourage them that pilgrimage is a spiritual fulfillment, and when you go for it, you renew your spiritual life,” she said.

She advised the returning pilgrims to share the experiences they had in the holy land with other

Christians to serve as a source of encouragement.

A legislator in the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, Mr. Makpa Malla, who led the delegation, said the experience is exciting.

“The most striking sight was the Garden of Gethsemane and I believe it was

a determining moment for Jesus Christ because it was at that point he took a decision,’’ he said.

He pleaded with organ-

APC chieftain carpets Wada over nonpayment of salaries WALE IBRAHIM LOKOJA

C

Women selling at a Local Market in Ogbonicha, Ofu Local Government AREA OF Kogi yesterday. PHOTO:NAN

A ZA MSUE KADUNA

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he Tudun Wada ward of All Progressives Congress, APC, yesterday suspended the senator representing Kaduna Central Senatorial District, Comrade Shehu Sani from the party.

The senator, who is a registered member of the party from the Tudun Wada ward, was suspended for 11 months.

The suspension letter, signed by Secretary of the party in Tudun Wada ward, Ahmed Abdulhamid, Public Relations Officer, Auwal Mai Anguwa and ex officio member, Aminu Alilan, dated December 27, said the senator is disengaged from partaking in or attending party activities in Kaduna State.

The letter listed Sani’s offences to include his uttering statements that allegedly violate the rules of engagement of the party, factionalising the party, and engaging in anti party activities by criticising the policies of Governor Nasir El-Rufai.

The letter reads: “Hardly a week passes that his

APC suspends Shehu Sani group will not be on air criticising and challenging the enduring legacies of Mallam Nasir El-Rufai; that his statement on national issues is not in conformity with that of the state government.”

The letter also said the senator has chosen to remain in constant confrontation with the government of Kaduna State.

The State Chapterof the party had earlier said it was considering recalling Shehu Sani from the Senate for failing to appear before the party’s disciplinary committee over comments he made against the party and President Muhammadu Buhari.

A member of the APC caucus, Alhaji Umar Gana, who said this to journalists in Kaduna, explained that is highly irresponsible for the senator to “join the chorus and say that our President is selective in the anti-corruption war.”

Gana who was the North West zonal coordinator of the defunct Obasanjo/Atiku campaign in 2003 when he was

in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, said: “That statement alone entitles the party to call him to order either by recalling him following the due processes or out rightly dismissing him from the

party.”

The APC chieftain said the party had earlier summoned the senator to appear before a committee over alleged anti-party activities but Sani had spurned the invitation.

hieftain of the All Progressive Congress, APC, Dr. Tom Ohikere, has carpeted the four-year administration of the incumbent governor of Kogi State, Captain Idris Wada, describing it as a waste.

He lamented that the inability of the present administration to pay salaries of workers at this period of the year is shameful.

Dr. Ohikere who was a former commissioner for information in the state disclosed this while speaking during a chat with journalists in Lokoja yesterday.

He pointed out that the people of the state had a bleak Christmas celebration this year because of the failure of the Wada-led administration to pay workers their salaries and other entitlements, stressing that in a civil service state like Kogi, every economic and social activity depends on salary payment.

The APC stalwart noted that at a recent meeting with stakeholders of

One dies in rival cult clash in Ilorin WOLE A DEDEJI ILORIN

O

ne person was killed at the weekend when street boys belonging to different rival cult groups clashed in Ilorin, Kwara State.

The clash which had become a regular occurrence among rival cult groups who are not students of any school but float chapters of their choice cults, took place at the weekend in Agaka area of the state capital.

Our correspondent was told that the victim, simply called Muyi, was coming out of his house when some “gun-wielding cultists shot him at a close range.”

In a stampede that

followed, several others got wounded. Muyi’s attackers were allegedly to belong to a rival confraternity which came from neighbouring ItaKure/Oja-Iya area.

It was said that Muyi was rushed to a nearby private clinic by his relations where he was confirmed dead.

Meanwhile, the cause of the latest clash could not be known immediately, but it is a known fact that boys in the area, including those in Baboko, Adeta, Agaka, Ita Kure, Oja Iya and Agbo Oba often engage in constant deadly clashes, leaving death cases in their trails.

An eyewitness said: “Initially, we didn’t

isations, companies and churches to sponsor the less-privileged on pilgrimage in order to revive their spiritual life.

know what had happened. Suddenly, we saw some miscreants armed with guns, machetes and other dangerous weapons, using them on each other. While this was going on, some of them were also trailing one another.

“This was followed by sporadic gunshots.

At that time, Muyi was coming out of his house and stray bullets hit him.

“Unfortunately, he died. He was buried immediately, the Muslim way.”

Spokesman of the state’s Police Command, ASP Ajayi Okasanmi, when contacted, said he had not been briefed at the time of filing this report.

the People Democratic Party, PDP, the governor was quoted as promising to pay all salary arrears before he leaves office, adding that incidentally, workers in the state’s public service have embarked on an indefinite strike as a result of non-payment of their salaries for three months.

“It is now clear to all people of good conscience and morality that Governor Wada has all the while built his government around deceit and barefaced lies,” Ohikere said.

Dr. Ohikere who headed the media team of Audu/ Faleke campaign, said following the strike, there is general lock-down in the state, with hospitals shut to patients and public utilities completely paralysed.

He lamented the disappearance of metro buses from the streets of Lokoja since Governor Wada lost the gubernatorial election, arguing that if such assets serving members of the public could openly be witdrawn without explanation, others could as well have been carted away unnoticed.

While Dr. Ohikere accused Governor Wada of paying all contractual obligations owed to his family members, friends and colleagues, he regretted that some of the contracts are yet to be completed or even not executed, as he alleged that new contractual agreements are being entered into, especially at the State Universal Basic Education Board, SUBEB. Ohikere alleged that the idea behind the phony contracts is to raise money to offset the huge bill resulting from the last election.

The former commissioner for information maintained that the present political imbroglio in the APC would be decided at the election tribunal as the issue involved has its kernel in constitutional interpretation as opposed to the presentation of witnesses.

Tuesday, December 29, 2015

SUPER TUESDAY There’s nowhere you end insurgency overnight –Mohammed

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

13

Politics

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James Abraham JOS

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lateau state Governor, Simon Lalong last week took stakeholders by storm when he unveiled members of his cabinet team to the public .

Before now, the non- constitution of members of the state executive council by the Governor had been causing ripples in the state In fact, because it took the Governor more than six months to assemble those who will assist him in piloting the affairs of the state, a period considered too long in many quarters after taking over the reins of governance, stakeholders especially members of the opposition had denounced the APC administration as inept and unprepared for governance ,a label which the government had dismissed.

Perhaps, not willing to be roped into the controversy generated by the exercise or give room for further accusation of working against the interest of the people ,members of the state House of Assembly wasted no time in clearing the 17 commissioner nominees sent to them by the Governor in less than five hours ,the first of its kind in the history of the state.

Among the 17 Commissioners who were drawn from each of the 17 Local Government Areas of the state, three were women.

After scaling the hurdle at the state House of Assembly, those who made the lists were assigned portfolios and subsequently sworn- in by the Governor at a colourful ceremony which held at the Rayfield Government House in Jos. They include Mwankon Peter John,Tourism, Culture and Hospitality; Ezekiel Daju,Commerce and Industry; Jonathan Mawiyau, Justice; Samuel A. Galadima, Housing and Urban Development;Pam G. Dongs, Works and Transport; Dayyabu Yusuf Garga, Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs; Tamwakat Weli,Finance; Ja’afaru Wuyep, Water Resources and Mallam Nafiz Ahmed, Information and Communication.

Others were Hitler Fankun Dadi, Special Duties; Lynda Hennang Barau, Agriculture and Natural Resources; Joseph Mairiga Alex, Education, Science & Technology: Secondary Education; Kunden Kamshak Deyin, Health; Rofina Gurumyen, Women Affairs and Social Development; Danladi Mann, Youth and Sport Development; Festus Velnoe Fuanter ,Land, Survey and Town Planning as well as Abdullahi Garba Abbas,Environment and Mineral Development Of all the new appointees, perhaps the one many stakeholders place much hope on is Professor Sonni Tyoden, the Deputy Governor of the state who has unpredictably been handed over the additional portfolio of Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology.

The Deputy Governor was at the forefront in the advancement and development of tertiary education when he was the Vice Chancellor of the university of Jos. At a time when all the six state owned tertiary institutions are aching under the weight of rot and neglect particularly the state university in Bokkos which is virtually on the verge of losing relevance due to non accreditation of its courses more than ten years after it was established, Tyoden comes to his assignment with vast experience in both the academia and administration. This experience should come in handy in the coming weeks and months to make a difference in the various institutions.

Same with other cabinet members who are expected to turn things around for better in their respective min-

Lalong’s team and APC change mantra in Plateau

Lalong

istries especially given the magnitude of the challenge currently facing the state.

The Governor himself had acknowledged the enormous responsibility which lie ahead of the new appointees during their swearing-in when he charged them to work hard so as to justify the confidence reposed in them and deliver the dividends of democracy to the people Lalong said:”We have consciously as a government ensured that the participatory and consultative approach to the selection of representatives in Government is given priority.

This is so that our philosophy of inclusive governance is seen to reflect all shades of opinion and to bring in as best as we can the representatives of our people.

“We have demonstrated consistency in this regard and in keeping faith with the Civil Service Reform we have considered the desired professionalism, seniority and equitable representation in the various appointments into the Bureaucracy of Government. This is to ensure effectiveness and efficiency in service-delivery “ Being a human process, it can definitely not be said to be perfect, but it represents in the fairness of our judgment, the best that can be obtained, given the different interests that must be put into consideration to guarantee stability in the governance process, as we consider the broad spectrum expectations of our citizens, who are by right, very critical stakeholders in the Rescue Project of the APC Government.

“My Dear citizens of Plateau, following this consideration; seated before you today, are the servant – leaders who on account of your mandate have been administered the oath of office and allegiance to serve selflessly, diligently and faithfully with the fear of God. “Being a product of wide range consultation, they are appointed as collaborators with all stakeholders in the rescue project, in forging a platform for the delivery

of the dividends of democracy and the promises made to the citizenry of our State”.

The Governor also laid emphasis on the guiding philosophy of his rescue Government in the state which is hinged on the concept of justice, peace and unity pointing out that these ideals must be upheld by the new appointees in the discharge of their responsibilities He added that on this platform, his administration seek to build a better Plateau through forging a new socio - economic and political compact, which will ensure sustainable development, harmonious co-existence, mutual respect and trust amongst the people.

His words:”As you come on board as Commissioners and members of the State Executive Council, you are first in line as policy formulators and co-drivers of these policies, through the bureaucratic structure of government in the various ministries assigned to you. This responsibility is not about the glamour of office, but of absolute responsibility in terms of the exercise of political, economic and social authority, which you will be exercising for the security and social being of our people. “ Innovations and pro-activeness will no doubt be needed in handling the demands of your office, so that by the end of your service in that office, your contribution to the Rescue Mission, can truly be measured in how much value you have brought to bear in good governance and the delivery of the expected democratic dividends.

“Let me further state that your conduct and performance must reflect your sensitivity to the yearnings and aspirations of our people, which is justifiably high.

There will be no place for idleness, laxity and unproductive ventures and above all, you must be prudent and device cogent ways to avoid waste of resources, as well as fight corruption, which are the hallmark of the change mantra”.

While appealing to those whose expectations were not met in the composition of the State Executive Council, to forget the bickering over the appointments, and engage themselves in prayers and support the office holders to succeed, the Governor also assured that as a democratic and responsible government, he would continue to carry all segments of the state along during the remaining appointments in the life of this administration.

Other stakeholders who spoke on the constitution of the new cabinet members agreed that the new appointees must begin quickly to identify what needs to be accomplished in their various ministries and set out an implementation plan that is transparent, realistic and measurable.

State Chairman of Labour Party, Mr Bulus Ibrahim said:”I congratulate the new commissioners because Plateau people want to see commissioners who understand their problems and needs and who are prepared to address them. They are tired of non-performance and people who are not ready to render selfless service to the people. We do not want to be told that huge amount of money allocated to execute projects has disappeared into the pockets of those entrusted with such responsibility or their cronies which has not help the state anywhere. It is also important that they recognise that the state belongs to all of us and it is only when things are done to reflect this truth that we can truly say that the real change has come to Plateau”

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Politics

On the North-East crisis, does it mean that by December there will be no more insurgency in this country?

I think from what we saw on ground, the military have largely won the war and I am confident that by December, the military would have achieved substantially dissipating the capacity of the Boko Haram insurgents in a manner that they will be unable from hence forth, to launch the kind of spectacular attacks they used to launch.

I am confident and I know for a fact also that they have been dislodged from their strongholds; they no longer enjoy the kind of structure organization and cohesion they used to enjoy. Make no mistake about it, this is not a regular war, this is not a war where you sit down and sign amnesty and sign peace saying from today onward, there will be no more shooting, from today onward there will be no more bombing, no.

This is a guerrilla war, this is an insurgency and what the government is sought to achieve which I am certain we will achieve, is that by the end of this month, the Boko Haram will not be in any position to hold any territory and say we are operating from this territory.

On the issue of whether there will be bombings or attacks on soft targets, there is nowhere in the world, you end this kind of thing over night, it will be off gradually but what the government have set out to do which we will achieve is to decimate the capacity of Boko Haram, don’t forget that Bama where we were was the headquarter of the Caliphate, they were ruling everywhere and 20 out of the 27 Local Government Areas in Borno were under the firm control of Boko Haram.

Anybody who have studied insurgency all over the world will understand that once they are dislodged like the way we did in Nigeria, they are decimated to go and attack in a soft target markets, hospitals, motor parks, and I think we as Nigerians we need to come in to be conscious and able to help the military by giving timely information as well as reporting suspicious movement.

We should also avoid unnecessary congregation because this is the only thing they are capable of doing now.

Don’t forget that even in a country like France where there is even no insurgency, the capacity of terrorists they unleash, mayhem is not under-estimated.

Country like Colombia where supposedly the insurgency has been dislodged 25 years ago, they still have a kind of snippet of bombing.

But I can assure you that by the end of this month our military would have so much decimated the capacity of Boko Haram in such a way that they will not be able to pose the kind of threat they use to do before.

We must commend the efforts of the security forces but the worry is that if a place is liberated, is there no sign of security leaving, what is the synergy they are having with the police now?

Between Maiduguri to Bama is a distance of 89kilometers and every inch of it was secured by the military, now the issue of the military dislodging the militants and they are coming back does not occur at all.

I can remember in particular that what we have been briefed by the Commander of the Theater of war was that its only after the reconstruction and resettlement has taken place that the civilian aspect, Police, Immigration, Civil Defence, amongst others will move in.

Honestly, those who are with us on the trip to Bama will tell you that there were over 6,000 houses in Bama, not one of them is standing.

So, police and other security agencies cannot come in now, it’s after resettlement have taken place and I think where we can see life coming back gradually is probably Konduga.

That is why we must give Kudos to military and Borno state government, the military is not just handling the fight, they are also saddled with huge humanitarian problems.

Konduga had been rebuilt thrice, and thrice were destroyed by the insurgents, same thing happened in Bama and other axis, there is even more development.

We actually asked to visit that place because that is why the horror of war is much more pronounced.

Tuesday, December 29, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

There’s nowhere you end i

Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed in a recent interview with journalists Boko Haram will no longer have the freedom to attack places in the North East as was the cas excerpts.

This is a guerrilla war, this is an insurgency and what the government is sought to achieve which

I am certain we will achieve, is that by the end of this month, the Boko Haram will not be in any position to hold any territory and say we are operating from this territory During Mr. President’s inauguration speech over six months ago, he said that government will do everything humanly possible to bring back our girls but they are yet to be back. In specific term what is the Army and federal government doing about the faith of Chibok girls?

The thing about governance is that we inherit both liability and asset and in the case of the Chibok girls, I can assure you that up till now, the military is leaving no stone unturned. Unfortunately, by the time we came in, I think we came in more than a year after the girls have been adopted.

But there are few things that military does that cannot be made public but I can assure you the government is very concerned about the return of these girls and of course their safety too.

Nigerian Army received so much accolades from you but it seems you are silent about civilian JTF, does it mean they did not exist?

I must apologize for that because when we were in Bama, these boys play a significant role, the Commander of war theatre told us that even two days before we came, these civilian joint task force were instrumental in identifying some people who are wanted and they came in with IDPs .I think I have to apologize because the young people are doing a lot.

And I think Commander of war theatre said that they are thinking of reinstating them back in the society, some among them can join the police, military amongst others because without them the military might not have succeeded as much as they did.

How has the stealing of funds by officials of last administration affect the ongoing war in the North East?

There is no doubt, mightily, and I said this because when we got to Bama, we asked when was Bama liberated? Bama was liberated about four months ago, only during this administration that Bama was liberated.

Definitely, it has indeed affect the fighting against terrorism, but this is not the forum to abuse the last administration but the stealing of funds by the past administration officers indeed affected the progress of the war.

From your assessment, is Nigerian military better equipped now?

I am not the minister of defence so, I don’t want to go to that side but two things I noticed when we got to

Mohammed

Maiduguri was the commitment of the military at the highest level.

When we got to Maiduguri and were received by the Major General who is actually the commander of the war theatre and drove us to meet chief of army staff, I had called to speak with them a day or two before the visit and when we got there, we saw that both the chief of defence staff and chief of army staff actually relocated to Maiduguri and the briefing we took from the commander of the theatre of war clearly showed that this is a revamped and renewed army with confidence, competence and thorough coordination.

Between Maiduguri and Bama, we saw that virtually every inch was policed with armored tank, the morale of army in Bama was fantastic, and I was impressed as civilian. I think we have a completely rejuvenated army.

There have been calls for North East Development Agency or commission to look at resettling the IDPs, is the present administration looking towards this?

Mr. President in one of his earlier broadcasts made mention of it and one thing that is clear is that anybody who goes to the North East today would not need any conviction to know that we need massive government intervention.

It is easy to comment about Boko Haram when you

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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ictims of the January 2012 KS Endeavour rig explosion in Chevron’s oil field in the coastal communities of Bayelsa have dragged the firm to court in San Francisco, US. The coordinator of the lead plaintiffs, Mr. Alagoa Morris, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Yenagoa on Sunday that the victims decided to seek legal redress in the US due to the slow dispensation of justice in the Nigeria.

The explosion at the Apoi North field, off Koluama coastline, sparked fire which raged for more than 50 days before it was put out.

Boki LG constructs 26km road

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he Boki Local Government Council of Cross River has embarked on the construction of a 26 kilometer earth road linking Boki East and Boki West.

Mr. Abubakar Ewa, the chairman of the council, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Boki on Sunday.

He said that the council commenced the construction of the road to make the area more accessible and alleviate the suffering of the people. ``We are constructing the earth road so that people from Boki East will no longer traverse six local government areas before getting to the local government headquarters in Boki West,” he said.

According to him, the road which would cost N41.9 million is being built through direct labour.

He said that the communities through which the road passed had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the council that no compensation would be paid to them due to lack of funds.

Ewa said that the council now generated N2 million monthly because of effective tax collection, monitoring and control mechanism.

The chairman said that the council had the capacity to fund the project and would ensure its completion.

He appealed to the state government to take over the road and asphalt it as soon as it was completed. ``This will make the road to last longer and make it serve the people all year round,” he said.

Tuesday, December 29, 2015

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A PUBLICATION OF NATIONAL MIRROR NEWSPAPERS

Rig explosion: Victims sue Chevron over 2012 case The coordinator said that 64 cases on the incident were pending in Nigerian courts.

He said that the group commenced legal action against Chevron in San Francisco following the refusal of the oil firm to compensate the victims.

The environmentalist said that the victims included fishermen and other residents of the impacted communities who suffered losses due to the incident.

Morris noted that the group was optimistic of speedy dispensation of justice as the court had given a reasonable time frame which was less than one year to conclude the case.

He said that the 12 lead plaintiffs represented the individual claimants in the more than 20 communities in Brass, Ekeremo and Southern Ijaw local government areas.

“Taking the case to the US, the home base of Chevron, was not intended to slight the judiciary in Nigeria.

“But the fact remains that efforts at getting justice in the country often result in frustrations due to the length of time and sometimes the plaintiffs die waiting for justice.

“We are glad that there are no jurisdictional issues in this case and it is already progressing

smoothly at the Federal Court in San Francisco.

“The court has given us timeline of less than one year to conclude the case,” he said.

Morris said that the group was aware of the efforts by some government agencies, civil society groups and Chevron to assuage the plight of the victims in 2012.

The coordinator, however, noted that the efforts were not adequate.

“Some relief materials and medical teams were sent to the communities. Chevron made an ex-gratia payment to some communities considered as host

communities.

“They forget that the spread and impact did not respect host community boundaries. ``What concerns the lead plaintiffs is that they are demanding justice for specific individual damages as a result of the KS Endeavour incident.

“This is different from general damages suffered by the communities. As our custom demands, individuals claim damages for loss of property like fishing gear. ``But the right of claiming damage for the river belongs to the king in trust for the people,” Morris said.

Nollywood diva, Patience Ozokwor and Kenneth Okonkwo at 2015 Carnival Calabar.

Warri traders want adequate security for Igbudu Market

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raders in Igbudu Market, Warri, have appealed to the Delta Government to provide adequate security in the market to save them from the activities of cultists.

Mr. Lucky Otu, the PresidentGeneral of Igbudu Market Traders Association (IMTA), made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

in Warri on Sunday.

Otu said that the cultists had been posing serious security threats to the lives of the traders in the market which is the biggest in the Delta commercial city.

He said that in spite of the presence of some soldiers and local vigilantes in the market, more security personnel were needed to save lives and prop-

erty in the market. ‘’The only challenge we are facing in this market is the issue of cultism. Sometimes, they invade the market, intimidate people and loot property. ‘’Though there are soldiers and local vigilantes on ground, we need more of them to completely stem the activities of the criminals in the market,’’ he said.

The president-general, then, commended the Chairman of the Warri South Local Government Area, Mr Mofe Edema, for clearing some of the drains in the market. ‘’We hope that by next year, government will clear the remaining drains especially the ones in the lower area of the market to enable water to flow into the canal,’’ he said.

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Tuesday, December 29, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Fund amnesty programme well, Ijaw youths urge FG

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he President of Ijaw Youths Council (IYC), Mr Udengs Eradiri, has called on the federal government to make adequate allocation for the amnesty programme in the 2016 budget.

Eradiri who spoke in Yenagoa on Sunday stated that such provision was necessary to ensure stability in the region.

He said that the speculation that the 2016 budget for the amnesty was slashed from N50 billion to N20 billion had caused apprehension among the beneficiaries of the programme.

The youth leader said that if the provision was so heavily

slashed as believed in some quarters, it could be a recipe for resurgence of crisis in the region.

He noted that there was a need to sustain the amnesty programme and ensure that the stipends for the beneficiaries were paid regularly.

He said that the stability witnessed in the region since the commencement of the programme increased the country’s oil production from 600,000 to more than 2 million barrels per day.

Eradiri said the repentant militants in the Niger Delta who benefitted from the scheme were now making meaningful contributions to the economy

with the skills they acquired through the programme.

“We appeal to the federal government to sustain the amnesty programme which has improved and stabilised oil production; the benefits outweigh its cost in every respect.

“The federal government should also provide the necessary infrastructure to serve as catalyst to boost economic activities and development of the Niger Delta region while taking steps to diversify the economy.

“If the region is economically stable, it will be possible to increase oil production to bridge the shortfall from dwin-

Street trade booms during Carnival Calabar

dling crude oil prices,” he said.

He said that the N6 trillion budget for 2016 was to be funded largely from oil revenue.

Eradiri called on the federal government to take deliberate steps to ensure that oil production was not disrupted.

The youth leader said that there was a compelling need for sustained oil revenue to meet the expectation of Nigerians in the coming year.

He also called for adequate budgetary provision for the Niger Delta Development Commission and the ministry of Niger Delta affairs to ensure adequate development in the area.

Children playing at a recreation centre in Port Harcourt, yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

Aremu advocates leadership position for women Sebastine Ebhuomhan

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s Nigerians look ahead to 2016 with hope, a national labour leader, Comrade Issa Aremu, has advocated frontline roles and greater responsibilities for woman, whom he adjudged as capable of offering trusted, reliable and successful leadership.

Basing his call on the “impeccable” leadership support his late wife, Mrs. Hamdalat Abiodun Aremu, gave to his home, children and professional duties and responsibilities when she was alive, Comrade Aremu who is the chairman of Industrial

Global Union (Sub-Sahara Africa) and General Secretary of the National Union of Textile, Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria (NTGTWN) said Nigerian women were ripe to lead the country successfully.

Aremu said: “I will like to use this occasion to call on all authorities, including individuals, government and corporate organisations to mainstream women in the families, at workplaces, government institutions and the society at large.

“The two women in my life, my late mother and wife, have shown that women can even do better, many good things that men cannot do. My wife has

shown that life is not how long but how well. I am happy that many women are holding positions of authorities at all levels.

But I am unhappy that only a few women are adding necessary values to family, corporate and national developments.

“Today, I demand that women in political process make a difference. They should promote issues in politics as distinct from personalities and candidates.

“Nigeria is totally imperiled if either by omission or commission, women join in the present obscenely advertised madness of the ruling male elite; the manifestations of which include political blood-letting,

wholesale corruption, fuel scarcity, water shortage, energy failure, armed robbery, university closures etc.

“In place of pessimism and despair, women must raise the banner of optimism and hope.

We don’t need ‘iron’ ladies who will out-do men in their already discredited rough-shoulder macho-politics of greed, grab-grab and hack-down-the-opponents.

On the contrary, we need women that are knowledge-driven, sober and humble enough to forge consensus in the areas of development and poverty eradication. These are the values of women I have been privileged to be associated with.”

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esidents of Calabar have cashed in on the final day of Carnival Calabar to make brisk businesses, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

NAN survey in parts of the city shows that residents have converted all available spaces along the carnival routes to business arena displaying various items.

Canopies and chairs were also set up by individuals and groups on the streets along the carnival routes where tourists and fun seekers pay a token to relax and watch the events.

One Mr. Sunday Akpan said that he set up his business as early as 7 a.m., adding that people had been patronising him since then not minding that it was still early in the day.

Sunday, who came all the way from Akwa Ibom, said he had been participating in the Carnival Calabar since 2013, adding that he had made some good sales.

I cannot tell you how much I have made this morning but I have made good money, especially from dry gin and cigarettes,’’ he said.

A food vendor, Mrs. Uloma Ezike, said that she came out as early as 6 a.m. with her food and had been selling since then.

I am about to go and cook another one because this one has almost finished. Normally on a carnival day, I cook three or four times because the food must be hot all the time.

I have so many customers who used to come to eat. Some buy take-away and others eat here,’’ she said.

A tourist from Edo, Mr Nelson Ighodalo, told NAN that he was enjoying everything about the carnival.

Honestly I am enjoying the whole thing, especially looking at the setting; people moving around enjoying themselves; relaxing, dining and wining in the open this early.

In fact everything here is fun,’’ he said.

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Tuesday, December 29, 2015

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Ronaldo, Messi and the Beautiful Game BOBSON GBINIJE

B

e not afraid of greatness some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them - William Shakespeare (Twelfth Night) Man, by his spiritual, physical and natural disposition, remains a riddle and is superimposed in a conundrum.

His quintessential struggle for fame, greatness and success acts as a catalyst for his ambitions and voyage through life. In his desire to excel he creates adorable mentors stimulating healthy and unhealthy rivalries and normative standards amongst his peers and cocompetitors.

Recently, the Spanish giant, Real Madrid’s great Christiano Ronaldo, declared himself in an interview with the BBC Sports Correspondent Don Roan that “I am the best in the world and comparable with the games all time greats”.

He said he had reached a level where it is “not easy to improve”. Ronaldo, a Portuguese, is 30 years old. He is a three-time World Footballer of the Year and Real Madrid’s all-time greatest goal scorer. He joined his present club from Manchester United in 2009 for a whopping £80 million. He is EUFA Champions League’s top scorer with 82 goals.

His career record stands at 504 goals in 750 appearances.

Ronaldo joined Manchester United from Portuguese side Sporting Lisbon for £12.2m in 2003, scoring 118 goals for the club in 292 appearances. Since moving to Real, where he is under contract until 2018, he has so far scored 326 goals in 314 matches. Ronaldo further asserted in the interview that “in my mind, I’m always the best. I don’t care what people think and what they say. In my mind, not just this year but always, I’m always the best”.

That Ronaldo is one of football’s alltime greats remains an unquestionable truism. But soccer fans, analysts, pundits and aficionadas have always argued about who is greater between Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, the Argentine and FC Barcelona forward and Balloon dor master.

Messi, four- time world player of the year with 418 goals in 492 club appearances remains one of the greatest footballers of all time. But, is he greater than Christiano Ronaldo? Both of them are masters and mysteries of football.

They understand the chemistry and architectonics of football. If you watch Messi on his day, you will scream that this is magical and only divine. If you watch Ronaldo on his day, you will scream that this is extraterrestrial and unbelievable. But who is the greater?

The aggression, speed, guts and physical runs and dribbles which Ronaldo puts in to score a goal is much more than that which Messi puts in. Messi

THAT RONALDO IS ONE OF FOOTBALL’S ALLTIME GREATS REMAINS AN UNQUESTIONABLE TRUISM floats like a butterfly and stings like a bee. We see in Messi a gentle, almost effortlessly waltzing dexterously through defenders to get goals. I believe that both are gifted by nature, but Messi is 80 percent nature and 20 percent nurture and vice versa for Ronaldo. The philosopher Confucius in his ‘Analects’, observed that “Everything has its beauty, but not everyone sees it”.

A vertical and horizontal integration of the facts of the Beautiful Game has shown that there has always been this allure to compare footballers, and the temptation to ascribe greatness to one or the other. We sometime ago argued that Pele of Brazil was greater than Stanley Matthews of England, that Diego Maradona, Tolstoy, Pasarela, Zico, Ronaldino, Alberto, Roger Miller and Abedi Pele were greater than Johanne Cruff. In Nigeria we have often argued that Tempest Ubaka was better than Kenneth Olayombo, Peter Anieke, Thompson Usiyan, Henry Nwosu, Jose Dombraye, Adokiye Amasimaka, Segun Odegbami, Christian Madu and Humphrey Edobor etc.

It was Baron Gottfried Wilhelm in his

book “Monadology” that said: “In nature there can never be two beings that are exactly alike”. Therefore, Messi and Ronaldo are great like all legends and the best as they see themselves. They have done beautifully well for football and that is what matters. Hence, Oscar Wilde in his book “The English Renaissance of Art”, said that “beauty is the only thing that time cannot harm. Philosophies fall away like sand, and creeds follow one another like the withered leaves of autumn; but what is beautiful is a joy for all seasons and a possession for all eternity”.

Christiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are living legends, the best in their own right, and above all they have done beautifully well for the Beautiful Game.

To compare both of them will only provoke unhealthy rivalry and stimulate comments made out of bias and prejudice. Indeed, the essayist Wadsworth Longfellow observed that “the heights reached and attained by great men were not reached and attained by sudden flight. They toiled all night whilst others slept”.

May God bless Christiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and the Beautiful Game.

And may He deliver it from the hands of FIFA’s corrupt syndicate and solipsistic aficionados and pundits.

Chief Gbinije wrote from Warri, Delta State and could be reached on 08023250378

Repositioning the Nigeria Police for nation building ADEWUYI ADEGBITE

S

ecurity of lives and property should not be undermined if a nation is to attain greatness. Aside being a requisite for attracting foreign investors, which are highly needed to transform THE economy, security has serious implications on the wellbeing of the citizens. With adequate security, citizens would be free to pursue their various economic and social interests unhindered.

Invariably, where there is insecurity as being witnessed in some parts of Nigeria, economic activities and social life would be adversely affected; wouldbe investors would stay away; and life would be almost unbearable for the citizens. This is why the role of the armed forces in nation building cannot be overemphasized. Besides, the importance a government attaches to the issue of security is responsible for the lion share that defence takes in the budget of any nation.

The Nigeria Police Force has by far a greater role to play if Nigeria is to attain her nation-building objective.

The reason is that the police is responsible for internal security, and it is the most visible and nearest to the people among all the armed forces. As a matter of fact, the major function of the army, navy and air force is to defend the territorial integrity of a nation. However, in a situation where police is unable to maintain internal security, as currently

being witnessed in the north-east region, other arms of the armed forces could be drafted in to assist.

The increase or decrease in crimes and criminalities depends on the effectiveness of the police. In actual fact, the intractable security problems Nigeria is grappling with, and which is gulping billions of naira, could have been nipped in the bud with effective policing. It should be recollected that Boko Haram insurgents went wild after the alleged murder of its leader, Mohammed Yusuf, while in police custody.

The question is how far have our police played their role in the nation-building process? The answer is not a straight forward one. Except in the troubled North East region, there was relative security in the nation before then. However, the activities of bad eggs in the police force have given the organization a bad name.

Amongst the police force are those who supply criminals with weapons. The exploits of the late Mr. George Iyamu during the Anini/Osunbor robbery saga in the then Bendel State in the 1980s is a perfect example. Also, we have had policemen who killed bus drivers over N20.00 bribe. We have equally read about policemen involved in armed robbery operations, thumb printing of ballot papers, ballot box stuffing or snatching during elections in aid of the ruling political parties.

The worst is the crime that policemen commit at the road blocks. Roadblocks, which are meant to be security check points to curb criminal activities, are

SECURITY OF LIVES AND PROPERTY SHOULD NOT BE UNDERMINED IF A NATION IS TO ATTAIN GREATNESS turned into platforms for extortion, harassment of motorists, killing fields, accident spots, etc. In actual fact, despite the ban on roadblocks by former IG Mohammed Abubakar and even the incumbent one, some men of the police still devise other means of creating artificial roadblocks to continue the “business”.

Anyone who witnesses the actions of bad eggs at road blocks, who usually hold gun in one hand and stick in the other while carrying out their extortion jobs with impunity, would feel sorry for this nation. The irony is that some new entrants into the force are not exempted from the vice. As a matter of fact, when one witnesses the way some men of the police force intimidate civilians, one would realize that the cliché, “police is your friend” is a misnomer.

Meanwhile, we have exemplary police officers. These include the former IGP Mohammed Abubakar, who successfully banned the roadblocks throughout his tenure; incumbent IGP Solomon Arase, who has been crisscrossing the nation to see that Nigerians sleep with their two eyes firmly closed; and the former Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Mr. M.M. Katsina, proved himself as a worthy crime buster during his stint in the state.

There are other many conscientious police men and women, who are doing their best to protect or redeem the image of the organization. Obviously, the new Oyo State CP, Mr. Adeleye Oyebade, is doing his best to make the state safe.

In transforming police force into a viable tool for nation buildings, the Federal Government must live up to its responsibility. Shedding light on why armed forces men including police are ineffective in the Third World nations, Kalonji Ntalanja opined that “officers are not secure about their career, opportunities, and they operate in a political environment full of intrigues. They are consequently uncertain about the future and must therefore seek to acquire wealth and to enjoy life while they can.

Their pre-occupation with wealth and pleasure has a detrimental effect on police leadership, training and discipline”.

Obviously, what is true for the police is even more so for other organs of the state system. Consequently, the Muhammadu Buhari administration has had its task cut out for it in making the police an effective tool for nation building.

Adegbite wrote via ayekooto05@ gmail.com Send your views by mail or sms to PMB 10001, Ikoyi, or our Email: mail@ nationalmirroronline.net mirrorlagos@ yahoo.com or 08164966858 (SMS only). The Editor reserves the right to edit and reject views or photographs.

Pseudonyms may be used but must be clearly marked as such.

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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 OBIORA IFOH ACTING ABUJA BUREAU CHIEF AUGUSTUS IMEKAN ACTING HEAD, GRAPHICS

Tragic Lagos police killings

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trigger-happy police sergeant said to be under the spell of alcohol, Stephen James, last Saturday (Boxing Day) at a hotel in the Ketu area of Lagos, shot and killed three men before taking his own life on shooting himself in the chest.

The incident occurred around 4pm, according to reports. His victims were twin brothers - Taiwo and Kehinde Oyesunle - said to be the only surviving children of their mother, a widow; and their friend described simply as Jeje. Those that witnessed the killings said the gun-toting policeman was initially harassing the hotel’s guests to buy him alcoholic drinks. But Taiwo, Kehinde and Jeje advised him against excessive drinking and implored him to behave responsibly, being a law enforcement officer.

Unfortunately, as soon as the three friends stepped outside to celebrate Jeje’s birthday, the ostensibly upset policeman pulled his trigger and shot them dead; and thereafter, also shot and killed himself. An eyewitness narrative said the police sergeant was notorious in the area as a heavy smoker of marijuana. He reportedly was fomenting trouble and harassing people with his gun, unrestrained by the hotel management (Paulson Hotel on Anibaba Street, Ketu, Lagos State); as well as defied all attempts by hotel guests to rein

in his excesses. Indeed, he was quoted as boasting earlier that he wanted to kill people some hours before the shooting.

A similar incident occurred three months ago (October) when another unnamed policeman guarding a hotel on Victoria Island, but serving at the Maroko Police Station, shot and killed Beauty Nwankwo, the mother of Angel Macleod, a 14-year-old tennis star, following an altercation the cop had with Beauty within the precincts of the hotel. An eyewitness said the policeman first hit Beauty and she retaliated, following which he drew his gun and fired the woman at a very close range, though Lagos police authorities tried to change the story to suit them. Indeed, the known incidents of reckless police killings, whether through ‘accidental discharge’ or extrajudicial (taking the law into their hands) across the country are too numerous to catalogue here.

Constitutionally, the duties of the Nigeria Police include the prevention and detection of crime, preservation of law and order, protection of life and property and the enforcement of all laws and regulations they are charged with. But the number of Nigerians so far sent to their early graves by the bad eggs in the establishment, policemen that were recruited, kitted, armed and paid by the state to perform those

December 29, 1998 Leaders of the Khmer Rouge apologised for the 1970s’ genocide in Cambodia that claimed over one million lives. Khmer Rouge was the name given to the followers of the Communist Party of Kampuchea in Cambodia. It was formed in 1968 as an offshoot of the Vietnam People’s Army from North Vietnam. It was the ruling party in Cambodia from 1975 to 1979, led by Pol Pot, Nuon Chea, Ieng Sary, Son Sen and Khieu Samphan.

HE SHOULD BE FORMALLY TRIED

INTERNALLY, EVEN IN

DEATH; AND DISMISSED FOR DISGRACING THE

NIGERIA POLICE; AND HIS VICTIMS’

FAMILIES ADEQUATELY COMPENSATED responsibilities, is currently intimidating. Worse still, only a handful of them are brought to justice at the end of it all.

From eyewitness accounts of the Ketu police killings, it was evident that the sergeant involved was a notorious drunk and marijuana addict. He was also a trouble merchant that took pride in intimidating the hotel’s guests with his gun to buy him alcoholic drinks. It is, consequently, very unlikely that the hotel’s management and his direct employers - the police – were unaware of the danger he posed to the society; or his inestimable capacity for mischief once armed. Yet, he was not called to order by those he worked for until he perpetrated the Boxing Day tragedy. Only last July, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr. Solomon Arase, decried the N1 billion costs incurred by the Nigeria Police on the settlement of court

ON THIS DAY December 29, 2001 A fire at the Mesa Redonda shopping center in Lima, Peru, killed at least 291 people. Lima, with a population approaching nine million, is the capital and the largest city of Peru. It is located in the valleys of the Chillon, Rimac and Lurin rivers, in the central coastal part of the country, overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Together with the seaport of Callao, it forms a contiguous urban area known as the Lima Metropolitan Area.

judgement debts related to rights’ violation cases within the last three years.

The latest tragedy in Ketu would definitely belong to such category of cases. Arase blamed ‘virtual policy vacuum’ and Force Order 237, which regulates when and how force/firearms may be used by the police in the process of carrying out their duties, for the development. But it is obvious, considering the rate at which police snuff off the lives of ordinary citizens, that the enforcement of police code of conduct and discipline in line with global best practices; proper training and orientation; and punishment for policemen who infract the law, are still very lax. Under the circumstance, therefore, we recommend to the IGP the idea of the Comptroller-General of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Col. Hameed Ali (retd), who hinted lately that 66 Customs officers found to be hard drugs’ addicts would be eased out because of the dangers their conducts constituted to the operations and success of the NCS. Besides, notwithstanding the fact that Sergeant Stephen James took his life after killing three people, the least public expectation is that he should be formally tried internally, even in death; and dismissed for disgracing the Nigeria Police; and his victims’ families adequately compensated.

December 29, 2006 United Kingdom settled its Anglo-American loan, post Second World War loan debt. The Anglo-American Loan Agreement was on a post World War II loan made to the United Kingdom by the United States on July 15, 1946; and paid off on December 29, 2006. The loan was negotiated by John Maynard Keynes on behalf of the United Kingdom from the US and Canada at the end of World War II.

Business

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Tuesday, December 29, 2015

Global internet access to hit 3.2bn by 2016

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Planning, quality control lapses, others hampering project completion –Experts 24

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Climate change deal ‘ll benefit Nigeria 27 –Minister AIRLINES’ FLIGHT SCHEDULES Med-View Airline

Budget 2016: Analysing its potential from socio-economic perspectives The past week has seen virile comments about the Appropriation Bill 2016 presented by President Buhari to the National Assembly last Tuesday in Abuja. Unlike the immediate past budgets, most analysts see the latest fiscal plan as holing high prospects for the revitalization of the ailing economy and realization of the lofty dream of transforming Nigeria into one of the most developed economies globally within the next few years. Johnson Okanlawon reports:

E

conomic development experts see the proposed increased spending by government next year as healthy for the country given its potential multiplier effects on will employment creation and other aspects of the economy.

President Muhammed Buhari presented the budget last Tuesday morning before a joint session of the National Assembly. In the budget, capital expenditure takes N1.8 trillion, marking a significant over 300 per cent increment from the 2015 vote of N557 billion.

According to the estimate, N396billion is voted for education, being the

largest sectoral allocation. The health sector gets N296 billion while defence has N294 billion.

This is the first in three years a Nigerian President would personally present a budget before the National Assembly.

The last two budgets were presented on behalf of then President Goodluck Jonathan by the then Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.

The last two budgets were presented by a former Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, on behalf of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

In his speech, President Buhari acknowledged the challenges faced

As a government, we shall provide the security, jobs and infrastructure, which are the right of all Nigerians.

But, I promised the 2016 budget would address these problems. Nigeria is open for business, but the interest of all Nigerians must be protected

by Nigerians in all sectors of the economy and assured that government has so far demonstrated a strong will to fight to rebuild a stronger and more virile nation and economy.

“In spite of the global economic uncertainties, we must remain steadfast in our commitment to steer the country back to greatness. The economy needs to move away from dependency on oil. Our growth must be inclusive. Nigerians must be part of the growth story.

“As a government, we shall provide the security, jobs and infrastructure, which are the right of all Nigerians. But, I promised the 2016 budget would address these problems. Nigeria is open for business, but the interest of all Nigerians must be protected.

Tough decisions would have to be made. But this does not necessary mean increasing the level of pain already experienced by most Nigerians,” he said.

He said his government and

his team was committed to serve Nigeria and indeed Nigerians for them to get the services they have longed for, pointing out that the focus of the budget would ensure reduction in taxes for small businesses to thrive and promote inclusive economic growth.

While reiterating his commitment to economic diversification, he said farming and mining would be given special attention.

He blamed the problems and challenges Nigerians were facing at the moment on monumental corruption, which he said informed the thrust of his administration’s policies.

Some of the policies include the Treasury Single Account, TSA, in the collection of government revenue, and strict enforcement of the provisions of the Fiscal Responsibility Act 2007 by ministries, departments and agencies of government.

“What we found on assumption of office prompted government CONTINUED ON PAGE 20

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

Lagos-Abuja (Sat): 08.00, 08.50.

Abuja-Lagos (Sat): 10.00, 15.00.

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

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

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

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Tuesday, December 29, 2015

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Budget 2016: Analysing its potential from socio-economic perspectives CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19 to take decisions being implemented in the budget,” he said.

“The sheer size of corruption and impunity has been behind the current problems and challenges the country is facing today.

We have demonstrated a strong will to fight corruption. We will pursue and recover everything that belongs to the Nigerian people; no matter where it is hidden, or how long it will take.”

He said the decision to appropriate 30 per cent of the total budget outlay for capital expenditure, was part of the fulfilment of his government’s promise to align its expenditure to long term objectives and commitment to sustainable development.

The president acknowledged the difficulties users of foreign exchange were facing due to the inadequate supply, saying the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, governor has given the assurance that the Bank was currently fine-tuning the FX management to introduce some flexibility and encourage additional inflow to help ease the pressures.

To investors, business owners and industrialists, farmers, traders, the President said government was aware of their pains, restating however that “the status quo cannot continue. The rent seeking must stop.

“We must go back to basics. Our actions will speak for us. We are taking the challenge.

We will not betray the trust reposed in us. We are here to serve, and Nigerians will indeed get the value that they rightly deserve,” he added.

He called for the support of all Nigerians, particularly civil servants, organised labour, and industrial groups, as government would not be able to do it alone.

One of the bright sides of the Bill that many see as promising is the plan by government to spend 30 per cent of the N6.08 trillion budget totalling N1.8 trillion on capital expenditure, an improvement of 22.3 per cent over the N557 billion budgeted for capital expenditure in 2015.

In his analysis on the Bill’s thematic thrusts and fiscal provisions, Dr Boniface Chizea, a financial consultant and former Central Bank of Nigeria’s top shot, noted that the proper linkage of Strategic plan to the budget which was consummated following the transfer of the Budget Office to the Planning Ministry was a master stroke that radically altars the budget environment and at once augmented the probability of successful budget implementation.

He pointed out that the adoption of zerobased budget approach was tailor made for economies such as Nigeria which are challenged for inadequate resource flow to better utilize and optimize whatever level of resource is available to up the ante on the hitherto incremental approach to budgeting which erroneously assumes the prevalent level of expenditure as the take off base.

He also noted that the approach also ensures better alignment of budget expenditures to the fiscal objectives.

“The budget pointedly prioritizes the welfare of the citizenry by creating direct jobs through targeted employment of graduates and NCE holders who should number 500,000 to be deployed to primary schools. “ The proposal to upscale the financial management content of some small busi-

Saraki

Buhari nesses through targeted training modules to make them better able to manage their businesses hit the bulls’ eye as a major problem confronting such businesses is at once resolved.

The Managing Director of APT Securities and Fund Limited, Mallam Kasimu Kurfi said with 2016 budget presented to the National Assembly, there was hope for Nigerian capital market to thrive.

Although, Kurfi expressed worry on the condition of exchange rate that kept foreign investors away from the market. According to him, the exchange rate fluctuation is the problem of the market, saying foreign investors are staying away from Nigeria capital market due to unfavourable condition of forex.

He noted that the budget would help Nigeria economy as a result of focus on employment by government.

“If 2016 budget can provide more jobs, capital market will benefit from it and economy will be on better position,” he added.

He explained that another issue that will help economy is to block of leakages, saying if government can truly block the leakages and spend the money on necessary projects, it will reflect on the economy for good.

“There is more capital expenditure which may help Nigeria capital market and economy at large, he stressed. There is hope, if projects are properly implemented, it will boost capital market,” he said.

An analyst with Ecobank, Mr. Kunle Ezun, noted that the country’s economy is down because government has stopped spending, saying that if it is going to spend 30 per cent of its budget in 2016, there will be activity in the system.

“We will see jobs being created and once jobs are created, the government will begin

to generate revenue which will help to stimulate the economy and get the system working together.

“If government could follow the budget line by line, it will leap frog the economy out of the current crisis that we find ourselves.

The fact that we have special intervention lines that will help address the poverty in the country is something,” Ezun said.

The Managing Director of Highcap Securities Limited, Mr. David Adonri, noted that the 30 per cent of the total budget earmarked for the capital expenditure is not good enough, saying that it is the capital expenditure that propels the economy.

According to him, when the government invests in capital projects, it enhances infrastructure, which is a foundation for economic activities.

On the N2.2 trillion budget deficit, he explained that the government has continued to borrow money from the debt market, hence crowding out the private companies, which he said, is the engine room for development.

He said, “When the private sector doesn’t have access to the debt market, it creates unemployment, job losses and underdevelopment of industries.”

The Chief Executive of Financial Derivatives Company Limited, Mr. Bismark Rewane in his “Bi-monthly Economic and Business Update,” explained that the spending and revenue estimate was based on the Keynesian model of countercyclical spending to stimulate growth, as spending in real terms is up 20 per cent and the deficit is ti expand to $11billion - 2.16 per cent of Gross Domestic Product.

According to him, for an austere and frugal leader, deficit financing - requiring an additional N1.84trillion is a bitter pill to swallow

The budget pointedly prioritizes the welfare of the citizenry by creating direct jobs through targeted employment

NCE holders who should number 500,000 to be deployed to of graduates and

primary schools

especially the reference to both domestic and more importantly, international borrowing.

He explained that the Eurobond market would be a real test of Nigeria’s credit worthiness. “The most notable shift in his economic ideology remains the mute but tacit acceptance of the adoption of a flexible exchange rate- a no go area up to a few days ago,” he added.

Also, a renowned political economist and social analyst, Prof. Pat Utomi, described budget process in Nigeria as a joke. Speaking on Sunrise Daily, a breakfast programme on Channels Television, Utomi alleged that there is no discipline in the way the government goes about the implementation of budget.

He said he prefers using his valuable time for more profitable things than analysing the country’s budget.

“For more than fifteen years I don’t discuss budget in Nigeria, because I consider the budget process as a joke,” he said.

“Twenty years ago, I was one of those who began in January by analysing the budget and then you come to December, and you see the problem of implementation. And after a couple of years, I said this is rubbish. I am not going to talk about budget anymore, because we somehow do not have the discipline of the budget process.

“There isn’t elite discipline or in fact intent to do what is proper. So, I am not sure why I should spend valuable time I could spend doing other things discussing such a document. As a citizen I am interested in things working, but when I know things are not working, you don’t expect me to get into the justification of it.”

Utomi said Nigeria is currently experiencing a huge national crisis, alleging that the potentials of the country are being lost because it is not being led.

“We are in the middle of a national crisis, huge national crisis, and people are carrying on as if it is just a few queues,” he said.

“What our country is dealing with is huge financing gap, we use to earn so much, we are now earning this much, if we pretend nothing has changed, then we will go into an economic spiral downturn that will just keep going. Nigeria is a country dying to be led and because it is not being led the potential is being lost,” he added.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Business News

Tuesday, December 29, 2015

21

Global internet access to hit 3.2bn by 2016 Isaiah Erhiawarien

T

he population of the world that would have access to the internet by 2016 is expected to reach 3. 2 billion, which is 44 per cent of the world’s population.

The International Data Corporation, IDC in its last quarter report stated that out of this number, more than two billion will be using mobile devices to do access the internet.

The report which looks at the global Internet population and some of its online activities showed that growth in Internet access is taking place around the world, but some countries are seeing particularly rapid growth.

The report findings indicated that China, India, and Indonesia lead the way and will account for almost half of the gains in access globally over the course of the next five years.

According to IDC, the combination of lower-cost devices and inexpensive wireless networks are making accessibility easier in countries with popula-

tions that could not previously afford them adding that “the total number of mobile Internet users is forecast to rise at a pace of two per cent annually through 2020 unless significant new methods of accessing the Internet are introduced.”

The report also showed that efforts by Google, SpaceX, and Facebook among others to make the Internet available to the remaining four billion people via high altitude planes, balloons, and satellites are underway stressing that it remains unclear how successful these endeavours will be and when they will be operational at scale.

Measurement of what Internet users are doing online shows that many activities are enjoyed by billions of people stating, “more than a billion people use the Internet to bank online, to stream music, and to find a job. More than two billion use email and read news online.

And more people than ever before are making purchases online.”

The reported stated that ad-

vertisers having recognised that more people are spending more time and money online through mobile devices have decided to shift their spending to online noting that almost all of the growth

lowing the resignation of the former board in November 2012, NAICOM, then headed by Commissioner for Insurance, Mr. Fola Daniel, reconstituted an interim board comprising the chairman, Mr. James Ayo and Mr. Gbolahan Olutayo as Manag-

ing Director.

The former board that had Mr. Gbenga Afolayan as Chairman and Mr. Femi Okuniyi as the managing director were forced to resign over alleged mis-statements of the company for the year 2011.

in advertising spending across all of its forms is attributable to the growth in mobile advertising and online video.

“Advertisers are able to direct ads to users based on

their preferences as indicated by online behaviour, which allows them to better understand how their content is being absorbed than ads on television and radio”, the report said.

L-R: Divisional Head, Retail Bank, Fidelity Bank Plc., Richard Madiebo, Regional Manager, Anglophone West Africa, MoneyGram, Kemi Okusanya; Executive Director, Lagos and South West, Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe and Regional bank Head, Apapa Regional Bank, Obaro Odeghe at the unveiling of Brand New KIA RIO (Grand Prize) for the MoneyGram Scratch and Win promo held in the bank’s Head office in Lagos.

NAICOM to reconstitute Goldlink SAHCOL bags ISAGO certification for Kano station Insurance Board

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ollowing sustained pressure by shareholders of Goldlink Insurance on the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) to reconstitute the board of the insurance company, the Commission has unveiled plans to reconstitute the board by early 2016.

This would be after the expiration of the tenure given to the interim board which was constituted by the Commission in November 2012.

At the company’s 19th Annual General Meeting held on Wednesday, shareholders of unanimously gave the Commission 90 days to reconstitute the board of the company to reflect the shareholders of the company.

The Coordinator, Independent Shareholders Association of Nigeria (ISAN) , Sir Sunny Nwosu, said the directive should be implemented within 90 days to salvage the company.

The interim board has been, among others, charged with the responsibility of carrying out full investigation of the financial reports and corporate governance failures observed in the course of reviewing the company’s financial statement for the year ending December 31, 2011.

It would be recalled that fol-

Olusegun Koiki

T

he Skyway Aviation Handling Company Limited, SAHCOL, at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano Station, has passed the International Safety Audit for Ground Operations, ISAGO, conducted by

Saudi Arabia to announce 2016 budget amid oil plunge

S

audi Arabia, seeking to cope with the lowest oil prices in more than a decade, may announce cuts in capital spending and other economic measures for next year as it unveils the first annual budget under King Salman.

Key officials, including Finance Minister Ibrahim Al-Assaf and Economy and Planning Minister Adel Fakeih, are scheduled to discuss the budget and outline the kingdom’s economic policy at a news conference on Monday in Riyadh. An official from Saudi Arabian Oil Co. will also attend.

While the government may reduce capital expenditure, it’s unlikely to reduce spending on healthcare, education or major infrastructure projects, according to Fahad Al-Turki, the Riyadh-based chief economist at

Jadwa Investment.

For 2015, the kingdom will likely post a deficit of 20 percent of gross domestic product, according to the median estimate of 10 economists in a Bloomberg survey.

The shortfall will narrow to about 14 percent in 2016, economists estimate.

The oil slump has pushed the government to mull putting projects on hold, sell bonds and order departments to search for savings.

Major development initiatives won’t be delayed, al-Assaf said earlier this year, signaling projects like the Riyadh metro system are unlikely to be affected.

Total spending may rise to 865 billion riyals ($231 billion) next year from 860 billion riyals in 2015, al-Eqtisadiah newspaper reported Monday.

The benchmark Tadawul All Share Index climbed 0.3 percent at 11:39 a.m. in Riyadh, trimming its losses this year to 16 percent.

“Most of the expenditure was business as usual until the last few months,” said Mohammed al-Sabban, a Saudi economist and former oil ministry adviser. The war in Yemen, while “very important security wise,” has also been a financial burden, he said.

In its first months in power, King Salman’s administration brought swift change to the traditionally slow-moving kingdom, overhauling the cabinet, merging ministries and realigning the royal succession. The financial crunch imposed by cheaper oil means the focus is now shifting to economic reforms, with local media reporting a “national transformation program” to be unveiled in January.

the International Air Transport Association, IATA. The spokesman of SAHCOL, Mr. Basil Agboarumi, disclosed that the certification signified that the SAHCOL at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano has now modeled its operations to the ISAGO standards, as a result making a commitment to operate to globally accepted industry best practices.

He stated that the registration was in accordance with the provisions of the ISAGO Program Manual, which covers the operational disciplines of Load Control, LOD, Passenger and Baggage Handling, PAB, Aircraft Handling and loading, HDL, Aircraft Ground Movement, AGM, and Cargo and Mail Handling, CGM. Agboarumi recalled that SAHCOL Lagos Station was first certified in 2011. The certification of the Kano Station now brings to three (Lagos, Abuja and Kano) the number of SAHCOL stations admitted on the IATA website as an “ISAGO Registered Provider”, having undergone an ISAGO Audit and cleared all findings.

ISAGO audit is essential to promote safer ground operations, understanding of high risk areas within ground operations. The audit also eliminates redundant audits from airlines, hence promoting a uniform audit process and harmonized standards that improve quality standards in aviation ground handling.

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Business News

Tuesday, December 29, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Customers groan as Diamond Bank Housing deficit: FG urged to subsidise sector’s funding suspends BVN registration By our Reporter

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here are indications that Diamond Bank has suspended Bank Verification Number exercise, BVN, even when the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, authorised banks to continue to enroll their customers for the regulatory requirement in order to enable them have access to their bank accounts.

National Mirror observed that bank customers who were at some branches of Diamond Bank to do the BVN enrolment were stranded as the bank officials did not attend to them.

The CBN had after the October 31, deadline asked banks operating in the country to place embargo on the unlinked accounts until their owners enrol in the BVN before such accounts would be reopened.

National Mirror correspondent gathered that Diamond Bank since Monday, December 20, had stopped attending to customers who had BVN issues, a situation which has continued to cause untold hardship to bank customers who wanted to either link their accounts or enroll in the BVN project.

For instance, our correspondent confirmed that officials of the Bank branches in Ogba Ikeja, College Road around Agege and Ladipo Oluwole, off Adeniyi Jones, refused to

attend to customers that intended to enroll for BVN or had complaints, instead they were told that the officers that were supposed to attend to them had vacated for the year.

One of the affected customers said: “I can confirm to you that the Bank has been denying customers the opportunity to enroll for the BVN in the past few days, especially students who couldn’t not perform the exercise when they were at school due to lack of bank branches in their institutions.

“I took one of my children to some of the branches of the bank and I was told pointedly that the officials that are expected to perform the exercise had vacated. I visited three branches. The story was the same in all the branches. I think CBN should call management of the bank to order”, the aggrieved customer said.

Meanwhile, long queues were noticed in most banking halls visited by our correspond in Lagos as customers made last minute efforts to withdraw cash following the public holiday declared by the Federal Government for Maulud Nabiy, Christmas Day and Boxing Day. Some of them spoken with decried the slow pace at which bank officials were attending to them even as those trying to do quick transactions through the ATM platforms also complained of technical hitches in some banks’ ATMs. Efforts to get the Bank’s Head of Corporate Communications, Mike Omife, comment on the issue failed as text messages sent to him were not replied just as attempts to speak with him also failed.

Olufemi Adeosun

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he Managing Director, Infinity Trust Mortgage Bank Plc, Mr.Banjo Obaleye, has urged the Federal Government to roll-out subsidy programme for the housing sector to bridge current housing deficit, estimated at about 17 million units.

Obaleye stated this during the bank’s 2015 End of Year /Long Service Award Ceremony, in Abuja.

He noted that the desire of most Nigerians, especially the low income earners, to have access to affordable houses would remain a tall dream unless the Federal Government take deliberate steps towards removing all bottlenecks associated with house ownership in the country.

Obaleye said: “Well, we have said it without number that for housing to be affordable to people, government has a leading role to play. Specifically, in the area of social housing, about 80 percent of it has to be subsidised by the Government because we have done a lot of affordability test and we discovered that even for someone in the position an Assistant Director the Civil Service to be able to pay for mortgages with the double digit interest rate is very, very dif-

ficult unless the person is stealing money.

The ITMB boss identified the current difficulty in the transfer of property rights as one the bottlenecks that needed to be urgently addressed by the government.

According to the industry player, there are so many things that are wrong in our system with respect to ease of accessing mortgage, and this includes even our salary system.

He clarified: “For instance, if you go back to the 80’s when naira was stronger than the dollar and look at the salary being paid to civil servants then and compare it to what is obtainable now. You will discover that with the current scenario, having access to decent housing, especially in the urban areas, will still be unaffordable to most Nigerians, unless government does a lot of things. One of these, is that government has to remove all the bottlenecks that surrounds the transfer of property and the costs.

“It really beats my imagination that on the one hand the government is talking about affordable housing while on the other hand it is bringing complications that negates the quest the for the delivery of affordable housing .

UK flood insurance industry losses could hit £1bn –PwC

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he United Kingdom continues to suffer from severe flooding, with the latest L-R: Efe Asibor, Regional Head, Sales Agency, Lagos Central, Heritage Bank PLC; Olayinka Ademo, popularly called Nnenna; and Patrick Foster, Team Lead, Education & Youth Unit, Heritage Bank; during the Nnenna & Friends End of areas hit being Lancashire and Year Show 2015 held in Lagos Yorkshire, while impacts are still being felt in Cumbria. The insurance and reinsurance industry may end up paying for as much as The list of Oil Producing companies that put their £1 billion ($1.5 billion) of the costs, FRANCIS EZEM appreciation in writing included Chevron Nigeria according to PwC. n appreciation of its quality service delivery, no Limited, Nigerian Agip Exploration limited, Shell PwC’s new insured loss estifewer than 183 clients of the Integrated Logistic Petroleum Development Company, Mobil Producing mate is very early (released on Services Nigeria Limited Intels, have commended Nigeria Limited and TOTAL Premier Services Nige- Sunday), as the flood event is ongothe oil and gas logistic services company in the last ria Limited, among others. ing in cities such as York and areas A further breakdown of commendation letters around Leeds, as well as a threat four years.

Available records show that these written com- from Oil Producing companies showed that while 10 of further heavy rain and strong mendations, not only from clients but also from gov- of them sent letters to Intels Nigeria limited in 2012, winds through the middle of this ernment regulatory authorities cover the period be- 56 letters were received by the company in 2013, five week. in 2014 and 11 letters in 2015. tween 2012 and 2015.

At an insurance and reinsurIn its letter of 2015, Nigeria Agip Exploration Lim- ance industry loss of around £1 received not less than 183 commendation letters from Clients and Authorities between 2012 and 2015, a ited stated “In spite of the numerous challenges en- billion there is a growing chance compendium on appreciations letters received by the countered during the year under review, you (Intels) that reinsurance markets and poperformed excellently well. We urge you to maintain tentially some insurance-linked company has shown.

A compendium of written commendations re- the momentum or more in 2016”. securities (ILS) fund managers In the category of Oil Services companies a total could be called on to assist insurleased by the company, also indicate that such letters were received from oil producing companies, oil of 90 commendation letters were received between ers (or reinsurers) with their services companies, the Senate, Nigeria’s upper leg- 2012 and 2015 with 36 letters in 2012, 24 letters in 2014 claims payments. islative chamber, the House of Representatives, the and 30 letters in 2015.

The flooding in Yorkshire and Among the Oil Services companies that expressed Lancashire, which has been at its lower chamber and government agencies.

A breakdown showed that a total of 82 letters appreciation in 2015 are Schlumberger Nigeria Lim- worst over the last two days, is beited, Dawoo Nigeria Limited, West Atlantic Shipyard, ing discussed in terms of being which expressed satisfaction with the high quality of services provided by Intels Nigeria Limited and the Seadril Mobil Unit Nigeria Limited, Saipem Con- unprecedented. The city of York dedication of its staff were received from Oil Produc- tracting Nigeria Limited, Del Waste Management remains under water, however levCompany Limited and a host of other oil services els are now thought to have peaked ing Companies within the four years under review.

Quality service: Intels gets 183 commenda-

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this morning.

The UK began to suffer with storm Desmond, which brought significant flooding to Cumbria and the north west UK. Cumbria was hit again in the most recent spell of flooding, caused by European windstorm Eva, but it is now the Yorkshire and Lancashire areas which have been hit hardest in the last two days.

The combined impact of storm Desmond and storm Eva is thought likely to cost up to £1.3 billion ($1.94 billion) in economic terms. PwC estimates that this could result in an insurance and reinsurance industry loss of as high as £1 billion ($1.5 billion).

Mohammad Khan, general insurance leader at PwC, commented; “After Saturday’s torrential rain, and with rare “danger to life” warnings issued, the economic damage to the UK could be significant. It is still early to estimate losses but, based on the areas where significant rain has fallen, the great number of roads submerged and including the losses arising from Storm Desmond earlier this month, we would give a very initial estimate of economic losses of between £900m.

Tuesday, December 29, 2015

Jobs & Career

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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FG targets private sector for job creation in 2016 Stories: Sylva Emeka-Okereke

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he nation’s private sector is expected to create the over three million jobs, promised by the Federal Government.

The President Muhammadu Buhariled administration had promised to create such number of jobs annually, beginning from 2016 fiscal year.

Last Tuesday during his presentation of the 2016 Appropriation Bill to the National Assembly, the President hinted that job creation agenda encapsulated in the fiscal document would be driven by the private sector. ‘’We will encourage this by a reduction in tax rates for smaller businesses as well as subsidized funding for priority sectors such as agriculture and solid minerals. I can assure you that this administration will have a job creation focus in every aspect of the execution of this budget. Nigeria’s job creation drive will be private sector’’, he stated While noting that his government would focus on inclusive economic growth, he said his government is conscious of the current rate of unemployment as well as underemployment.

According to the President, this is one of the challenges, the budget is expected to achieve, saying it is a platform for putting more Nigerians to work.

He said the budget would also address the chronic shortage of teachers in public schools across the country, noting that

Buhari

government would partner with states and local governments to recruit, train and deploy 500,000 unemployed graduates and NCE holders to different schools.

These graduate teachers, according to the Federal Government would be deployed to primary schools, thereby enhancing the provision of basic education, especially in rural areas. ‘’We also intend to partner with state and local governments to provide financial training and loans to market women, traders and artisans through their cooperative societies. We believe that this segment of our society is not only critical to our plan for growing small businesses,

but it is also an important platform to create jobs and provide opportunities for entrepreneurs’’, the President further noted in his budget speech.

He said, ‘’ as a Government, we shall deliver security, jobs and infrastructure.

This is the right of all Nigerians’’.

Meanwhile the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has said that most workers across the country have had it rough in the last couple of months, arising mostly from non-payment of salaries and other allowances.

President of the Congress, Comrade Ayuba Wabba while reacting on the budget, said some states owed more than six months salaries with governors claiming they don’t earn as they used to as oil receipts have dwindled.

He said, for long, Nigerian workers have felt underpaid and underappreciated, stressing that workers had fought many government policies considered inimical to the masses.

Some economic pundits said the main problem has always been the refusal of government to fulfil its part of agreements it willingly entered into with the organised labour.

Observers believe that honest communication between labour and government remains the panacea to not only workers’ problems, but the problems of all Nigerians.

“After every strike, accusations and counter accusations, conflicts are always resolved on the table. Why not just settle it on the table rather than cause harm to

PIB: We will resist retrenchment –Oil workers

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il and gas workers under the aegis of Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN, have vowed to resist planned retrenchment by the Federal Government arising from the proposed Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, describing it as harmful to workers’ interests.

It was rumoured that President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government would retrench workers, especially employees of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, as a result of the restructuring in the proposed PIB. The workers said that the planned retrenchment was not in tandem with the “change” mantra, which the Federal Government promised Nigerians, especially in the area of job creation.

Reacting to the official release of the

proposed draft institutional and legal frameworks for reforms in the oil and gas industry by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and Group Managing Director, GMD, of the NNPC, Mr Ibe Kachikwu, the acting General Secretary, PENGASSAN, Comrade Lumumba Okugbawa, said the provisions in the proposed PIB were not only anti-labour, but also not in the national interest.

The PENGASSAN scribe however commended the renewed effort by the Minister to rejuvenate the reforms, after several failed attempts in the past, noting that PENGASSAN has always been in support of reforms in the oil and gas industry, but with a caveat that it must be transparently done to make sure that stakeholders in the oil and gas industry are carried along.

He however added that the PENGAS-

SAN would not support any reforms that jeopardises the welfare of its members, noting that the restructuring will be resisted, if it negatively affects members of the association.

On the plan to sack half of the NNPC’s employees, Okugbawa said that the plan, if carried out, would further compound the unemployment situation in the country, adding that there is nothing wrong with the unbundling of the NNPC to bring about greater efficiency and effectiveness, adding that the unbundling and repositioning of the corporation should be done with human face.

“We have said on many occasions that the problem of the NNPC is not the workers but the high level of political interference in the corporation and we are satisfied that the current government has promised

Federal workers yet to receive Oct, Nov salaries –Investigation

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oncerns were rife at the weekend that some federal workers, especially those in the Ministry of Education, did not receive their October and November salary before the yuletide.

A senior staff at the ministry hinted that although the Federal Government had earlier promised to pay the salary arrears before December, they did not collect the salary before proceeding on Christmas break.

The Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, AGF, had promised that government would endeavor to pay the salary of federal civil servants before the Christmas holiday.

Director of Finance, Mohammed Dikwa, who gave the assurance in Abuja, “assured all federal civil servants that, God willing, they will get their salaries before Christmas because we will try as much as possible to pay them before the time”.

Spokesman for the workers and Head of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, in Abuja, Mr Amaechi Uchechukwu, had said that he was not sure workers would get their salary before Christmas.

“It is not a good one and we are not happy that the salary may not come before Christmas, going by what we have heard. But we are already telling our members to be prepared to use their November salary for Christmas’’, he had noted.

our people and our economy and still end up on the table after so much damage has been done” a stakeholder noted, after a strike threat by one of the labour unions.

The NLC president also called for drastic action on the high cost of governance at the local, state and federal levels, pointing out that “as far back as 2009, the RMAFC put the salaries and allowances of certain political, public and judicial office holders, numbering 17,474 at N1.126 trillion annually.

“This indicates that the earnings of political office holders were such a big drain on the revenue of the country and were clearly unsustainable. The level of financial expenditure were such that a Senator and a Representative earn more than 100 times what a graduate on grade level 8, step 15 earns annually. The ratio, when compared to what a level 17, step 9 officer in the federal civil service earns annually, was more than 20 times.”

He however reiterated organised labour’s opposition to the removal of subsidy, noting that government must tackle the corruption in the system while expressing hope that President Buhari would retain a sanitised subsidy regime.

On review of the National Minimum Wage Act 2011, he said the five-year circle, during which the Act is due for review, is here and that the devaluation of the naira from N150 to $1, to about N242 to $1, underscores the grim situation for salary earners in the country, bearing in mind that Nigeria’s economy is import-driven.

to give the corporation free hand to operate for better service delivery to the Nigerian nation’’, he stated.

Some of the inconsistencies noted by PENGASSAN in the draft bill include, a subtle ploy in Section 87 (Transfer of Staff) to retrench or drop some of the work force transiting to the new Nigeria Petroleum Regulatory Commission, NPRC, with the contentious clause “transfer of certain employees as well as the inability to specify the role or status of the Petroleum Equalisation Fund (Management Board) which hitherto is vested with the responsibility of ensuring uniform pricing of petroleum products in Section 3 of the draft Bill.

It also noted that apart from the uncertainty of the agency’s institutional role, the draft bill as currently drafted will create job loss as no provision for absorption or transfer of service for the work force is contemplated. Also, the cessation of employment and transfer of staff should be automatic and guaranteed as provided by the Public Service rules and constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

PENGASSAN however urged the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources to engage the union as a matter of priority on the anomalies noticed in the draft Bill with the aim of addressing the contentious sections of concerns to the unions, especially as it affects job loss, so as to avert industrial crisis in the industry as a stitch in time, it says saves nine.

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National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Tuesday, December 29, 2015

Real Estate & Environment Planning, quality control lapses, others hampering projects’ completion –Experts

Experts in the construction sector have listed inadequate planning; poor risk management as well as quality control lapses as among the major factors militating against completion of infrastructure projects in the country.

SYLVA EMEKA-OKEREKE reports.

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isturbed by the growing abandoned infrastructural projects in the country, some construction experts have expressed concerns over the level of abandonment, listing some major factors militating against completion of projects in the country.

The industry experts identify incorrect estimation; lack of available skilled personnel as well as inadequate planning as key amongst constraining factors to timely com-

Budget 2016: Analysts seek removal of hurdles to house ownership 27

pletion of the critical infrastructure projects nationwide.

A stakeholder in the nation’s real estate sector, Mr Lekan Olofinji said

Nigeria’s landscape is littered with abandoned infrastructural projects at different levels of governanment, beginning from local government areas to the state level and down to the federal capital territory.

According to him, others factors are poor risk management, misunderstanding of the work requirement, poor quality control by regulatory agencies as well as corruption in the system.

While noting that abandoned projects may not be limited to only buildings alone, he listed others to

A global property portal focusing exclusively on emerging markets said some Nigerian construction experts have good ideas and housing plans, but lack capacity to implement them to the latter

include roads, industrial structures, bridges, factories, dams, electricity, and communication projects among others. ‘’It is quite unfortunate that many buildings and infrastructural projects in the country are abandoned even at conception. When we talk of abandonment, we mean buildings or projects that are left unoccupied, vandalized, boarded-up or deteriorated. Abandonment can also mean an owner ceasing to provide maintenance and operating services to a building, or the loss of an owner’s legal right to a building or the demolition of same”’’, he stated He further noted that abandoned construction project could also be an uncompleted project within a time frame of a contract, stressing the urgent need to look inward and examine the critical factors militating CONTINUED ON PAGE 26

2015 – Ups and Downs in the Nigerian real estate/finance mkt

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Experts foresee boom in property business by 2017 27

Real Estate & Environment

Tuesday, December 29, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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Planning, quality control lapses, others hampering projects’ completion –Experts CONTINUED FROM 25

against project completions as well as occupation in accordance with its conception.

More so, he suggested that a National Construction Industrial Bank should be established to oversee the sector with the aim of reducing some of these notable challenges.

Also, a construction expert, Mr Ekwe Ogbonna told National Mirror that abandoned projects, whether building or infrastructural projects amount to economic waste in terms capital, materials, human power and aesthetics among others.

He also noted that the menace of abandoned building projects could cause serious damage to the nation’s environment.

According to Ogbonna, there is a serious need for construction firms to factor operational, strategic, marketing and environmental strategies from inception in order to cushion the effects of such financial implications associated with such projects.

Some of the effects, he also noted include, defacing of the environment, creation of social and economic problems as well as threat to the people around those areas.

And to ameliorate such problems, experts have recommended that only new projects to be completed within the time frame and limited resources should be initiated while selection processes and consultancy must be transparently done amid honesty and integrity.

Also, the use of political undertone, rather than economic advantage in sitting of projects must be discouraged while corruption should be curbed at all level of governments as well as in the housing sector.

Lamudi, a global property portal focusing exclusively on emerging markets said some Nigerian construction experts have good ideas and housing plans, but lack capacity to implement them to the latter.

It noted that is safe to say that, after construction design is completed, the project could be said to be half done, wondering why most of these projects don’t see the light of the day.

It also listed award of contracts to unqualified persons, noting that most contractors place more emphasis on money and the initial mobilisation fee, instead of getting the right workforce and professionals that would execute the project. ‘’When this becomes the case, the workforce is chosen based on availability and not competence and having the right skills’’, it stated.

Olorunfemi

Buhari

It also noted that most quack contractors often don’t have a well laid-out plans and strategy for their projects and in order to catch-up on wasted time, they would try to kickstart a lot of projects at the same time, thus getting stuck middle way into the project.

The strategy of multi-tasking workers at the same time, the global firm noted, has always proved counter-productive because it slows people down and affects the quality of the works while causing delay.

Lamudi said the inability of most contractors to properly specify the scope of work most times affects the output. ‘’Any construction project that doesn’t have a clear goal is doomed.

Furthermore changing the scope of

The

last

abandoned

work in the middle of the project can be dangerous and if not properly handled can lead to delays, increase in cost and most especially abrupt stoppage’’, it further noted.

Poor budget planning, it further noted has been the regular mistake being made by some contractors, starting their construction project from a design perspective, instead of from a financial perspective due to the lack of good contractor to properly assess the construction project and statistics. ‘’A professional contractor can help plan a project according to the available resources and not according to the dream project in mind’’, it stated Further Investigations have shown that some other factors leading to such act include, inability of

report

Projects

of

the

Audit

Commission set up by the former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2011 revealed that lack of a

functional

steel

complex

in the country would make it impossible for Nigeria to achieve

any meaningful technological growth before year

2020

Commissioning of Bank of Industry-funded Solar power project in Osun State... recently

clients to engage qualified contractors that could do the work as well as failure on the part of contractors to obtain vital inputs, such as materials, manpower and machines, hence such effects would amount to total suspension and consequent abandonment of the project.

Some experts have noted that a project is never considered abandoned, rather suspended as a result of the proprietor lacking funds to continue in the main time.

According to them, inconsistent government policies, lack of accountability, high level of corruption, incompetent contractors, nonavailability of building materials and lack of utilities or infrastructural facilities among others had been advanced as remote causes of abandoned projects.

Not quite long ago, it was estimated that about 11, 886 federal government projects were abandoned in the past 40 years across the country.

The last report of the abandoned Projects Audit Commission set up by the former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2011 revealed that lack of a functional steel complex in the country would make it impossible for Nigeria to achieve any meaningful technological growth before year 2020.

The report revealed that Nigeria spent $5 billion on the Ajaokuta Steel Complex project, which was supposed to cost $650m.

Earlier, Nigeria was listed as the 41st steel producing nation in the world and by 2010 the country was no longer listed at all as a steel producing nation.

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National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Tuesday, December 29, 2015

MORTGAGE NOTES

Real Estate & Environment NIESV inducts 342, harps on professional ethics Olufemi Adeosun, Abuja

with Adenike Fasanya-Osilaja

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Email: Nike@MVPSolutionsinc.com https://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=35277333

2015 – Ups and Downs in the Nigerian Real Estate/Finance market T he year 2015 has been an unprecedented success in the real estate development sector in Nigeria. This is the year Nigeria finally took her place as the “beautiful bride” of the African real estate market, with global investors falling over them to partake in the huge margins achievable in the Nigerian housing market. It seemed everyone wanted to build and sell – from international funds to local magnates. The universal logic seemed to be “If you build it, they will come”, and buildings started springing up all over the nation, with developers catering to every housing need, from luxury to affordable. State governments also threw their hats in the ring, with Lagos State as usual spearheading the drive with an end-to-end housing solution through the Lagos H.O.M.S project.

State governments saw the wisdom in negotiating with seasoned developers for the construction of housing for their citizens, while participating in the profits realized, simply by contributing state owned land as their equity capital in each project.

In my opinion, one of the most important events in the Nigerian housing market was the appointment of the former Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, as the Minister of Housing, in addition to other components in a portfolio that has earned him the nickname of “Super Minister”. Mr. Fashola brings with him the hands on experience of the Lagos H.O.M.S project as earlier stated. He also brings with him a global viewpoint as a former Chief Executive, as well as a seasoned legal professional. It is to be expected that this background will serve him well in the task of building to meet the growing demands of a nation with the burgeoning population being experienced in Nigeria. In fact, he has already stated a plan to build about 480 houses in each state from the commencement of the 2016 budget.

The difference between his plan and that of the previous regime is that government will go back to being the actual builders of the properties, instead of contributing land to private developers for building.

The Nigeria Mortgage Refinance Corporation (NMRC) commenced full operations earlier this year, and I was privileged to facilitate for them at an industry awareness campaign in May this year. It was gratifying to

hear that they had successfully commenced the purchase of some mortgage backed transactions from the industry, which would be a major step in its recapitalization. The fact that the NMRC has access to extremely low rates is a plus, as the mortgage operators in the nation could potentially get rid of their high interest rates by selling their mortgages to the NMRC. It is to be hoped that such entities would in turn offer their customers the opportunity to refinance their current home loans for lower rates and longer terms, thereby creating a more sustainable funding market. It was also encouraging to learn that the NMRC had successfully floated a bond at the Nigerian Stock Exchange, also potentially providing funds for the market. It remains to be seen how substantially the NMRC will affect the market, and how closely it will align with its mandate of reshaping the Nigerian mortgage sector.

One of the most disturbing issues we continue to notice in the sector is the low level of mortgage activity in the nation.

This may not be unrelated to the guidelines and terms of the type of funding typically available to the mortgage industry players.

Unfortunately, the NMRC guidelines seem not to have helped much in solving this problem because quite a few of the criteria required for the repurchase of mortgages, are alien to the Nigerian market. The concept of debt ratio should absolutely be the first to be reviewed (ad scrapped) because it just does not work in a nation where by far the greatest majority is still resistant to filing taxes, or even declaring their total income. It is critical for the NMRC guidelines to be reviewed ASAP, so it does not become yet another failed project in the housing sector. It is also critical for the industry to accept the role of the NMRC as an umbrella guideline solution, to encourage standard-

ization and unification of the industry, leading to a more sustainable market, and more favourable international investing.

One of my biggest issues this year has been with the use of the concept of “Affordable Housing”.

These have been probably the most abused buzzwords in the sector, with developers categorizing any and all property price points as “affordable”. I literally located properties priced over fifty million naira, with the “affordable housing” tag. I have not been sure whether to laugh, cry or simply pull my hair out. I am baffled as to the criteria being used to determine if a property should meet the “affordable housing”, and have yet to find a plausible explanation for the variances in price.

Even using the argument of a free market, there really should be a floor and ceiling type of approach to this, e.g. what is the median income in the community where the property is located? What is the maximum ratio of “affordable housing” pricing in the community to the median income? Is there a home buyer program to raise awareness and educate buyers prior to purchase? How is the program expected to be sustainablexxxxx without concrete guidelines?

Anyway, the year is almost to an end, and I have to admit that the positives far outweigh the problems. Congratulations to all my industry colleagues. No matter what may be said about the industry, the talent is immense and the opportunities are unending.

We look forward to a 2016 where more concrete solutions will be achieved for the market. And where the name “Nigerian” will continue to be synonymous with creativity, intellect and achievement in the global real estate market.

As usual, all comments and questions are welcome. Please follow me on Twitter @NikeFinancePro and make it an AWESOME 2016. Merry Christmas and have a wonderful New Year.

ABOUT THE WRITER Fasanya-Osilaja a lawyer and mortgage expert has owned and operated Marvel Ventures Mortgage, Inc. (www.marvelmortgage.com), a Chicagobased Mortgage Brokerage Company since 2000 and has worked in the US Mortgage industry since 1996. She also consults and facilitates industryrequired activities, from set up of mortgage organisations to documentation, training and compliance.

he Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers said it would not tolerate professional misconducts among its members, threatening to sanction any erring member.

NIESV President, Mr. James Omeru, issued the warning in Abuja during the 2015 Associates’ induction ceremony.

At the event, about 342 new members were inducted as Associate members of the Institute.

Omeru, who congratulated the inductees for scaling through the rigorous process of becoming associate members, appealed to them to always uphold the ethics of the profession.

He said the new members should see their induction into the institute as a stepping stone to greater things to come.

According to him, the institution has produced a Code of Ethics and Practice/Rules and Regulations that would guide all members in the discharge of their professional duties.

The document, he added, sets the minimum standards of practice expected of the Estate Surveyor and Valuer and provides sanctions for breaches.

In a paper presented at the event, a past President, NIESV, Mr. Emeka Eleh said in a bid to ensure professionalism, the institute had set up an internal self regulatory mechanisms to ensure compliance to the code of ethics and practice.

Eleh who is the 20th president of the institute spoke on the theme “Professionalism as the hallmark of the estate surveyor and valuer.”

He said, “As the saying goes ‘Perception is everything.’ Unfortunately our perception in the public dormain is not entirely encouraging due to a host of reasons.

“We must all work to improve our public image and one way to do that is by rendering our services in a fit and proper manner and acting professionally at all times.

“This involves not just our competence but our general comportment and outlook. We must exude the competence, character and personae that will engender public confidence.”

Stock shortages may hinder global property business –Analysts

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igns that markets may have shifted in the sellers’ favour are coming to the fore with a shortage of stock overtaking the difficulty in obtaining finance as key problem facing potential global homeowners.

Chief Executive Officer of Tyson Properties, Mr Chris Tyson, said stock is still much as the world continues to work through the financial crisis, saying well-priced homes have become the latest issue affecting the global property market.

“The good news for sellers is that this rocketing interest from would-be buyers shifts the balance of power into their hands again’’, Tyson stated.

He said, previously it has been the banks’ reluctance to award home loans that caused a bottleneck in the system, saying those tight controls have been eased in recent months, affording more people an opportunity to house hunt and the corresponding issue with stock availability in London.

Tyson says a warning to sellers is that buyers have become increasingly savvy as they would have done their homework before venturing into potential new homes and have a complex understanding of value and availability.

“There are indications that the stock problems would remain in place for 2016, despite the recent 25 basis point increase

in the prime lending rate, and that bodes well for the property market on the whole,” says Tyson.

“If reasonably priced, property will sell in a shorter period of time and closer to asking price instead of being on the market for extended periods and selling at a greatly reduced price.”

IEECP urges countries on climate plans

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ations should consider boosting the ambition of their national climate plans ahead of the formal adoption of the Paris Agreement in April 2017, according to Dutch climate think tank the Institute for European Energy and Climate Policy (IEECP).

In a manifesto published last week on the IEECP website, the researchers argue an early increase of ambition would boost political momentum for climate action in the wake of the summit.

As part of the UN climate agreement reached earlier this month in Paris, 187 countries committed to non-binding national climate action - known as INDCs in UN jargon. However, the current pledges are not enough to keep warming under two degrees.

As part of the Paris Agreement, parties will have the opportunity to resubmit INDCs on a regular basis, strengthening them further as clean tech costs fall and climate change risks evolve.

Real Estate & Environment

Tuesday, December 29, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

27

Budget 2016: Analysts seek removal of hurdles to house ownership SYLVA EMEKA-OKEREKE

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or the Federal Government to achieve its housing programmes, amid the current budget, it must remove all the bottlenecks associated with housing ownership in the country.

Federal Government had in this year’s budget earmarked N433.4 billion for Works, Power and Housing sector.

Many experts, who reacted to the budget, commended the Federal Government’s commitment to provide housing for the teeming Nigerians.

Managing Director, Infinity Trust Mortgage Bank Plc, Mr Banjo Obaleye had noted such programmes could only be achieved, if all the notable bottlenecks to housing scheme are removed. ‘’For the country to be able to bridge its current housing deficit estimated at about 17 million housing units, the Federal Government should put in place, policies that would ensure that the housing sector is subsidised’’, he stated.

Obaleye also noted that the desire of most Nigerians, especially the low income earners, to have access to affordable houses would

remain a tall dream, unless the federal government takes deliberate steps towards removing all bottlenecks associated with house ownership in the country.

“Well, we have said it without number that for housing to be affordable to people, government has a leading role to play. Specifically, in the area of social housing, about 80 per cent of it has to be subsidised by the government because we have done a lot of affordability test and we discovered that even for someone in the position of an assistant director in the civil service to be able to pay for

mortgages with the double digit interest rate is very, very difficult unless the person is stealing money”, he noted.

He identified the current difficulty in the transfer of property rights as one of the bottlenecks that needed to be urgently addressed by the government..

He said it was the intention of government to raise the percentage allocation for capital expenditure in future.

“To deliver our development objectives, we have increased the capital expenditure portion of the budget from N557 billion in the 2015 budget to N1.8 trillion in the 2016 budget. For the first time in many years, capital expenditure will represent 30 per cent of our total budget. In future years, we intend to raise the percentage allocation for capital expenditure’’, he added.

According to the President, the increase in capital expenditure commits significant resources to critical sectors such as Works,

Power and Housing to the tune of N433.4 billion.

The breakdown shows that Transport would gulp N202.0 billion; Special Intervention Programmes–N200.0 billion; Defence– N134.6 billion and Interior – N53.1 billion.

“We will invest to safeguard lives and property. We will invest in equipping our farmers with the right tools, technology and techniques.

“We will invest in empowering and enabling our miners to operate in a safe, secure and humane environment.

“We will invest in training our youths, through the revival of our technical and vocational institutions to ensure they are competent enough to seize the opportunities that will arise from this economic revival,’’ Buhari said.

President presented a budget of N6.08 trillion for 2016 with a revenue projection of N3.86 trillion, resulting in a deficit of N2.22 trillion.

Experts foresee boom in property business by 2017

N Fashola

Yau’Kumo

Climate change deal ‘ll benefit Nigeria –Minister Olufemi Adeosun

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inister of Environment, Amina Mohammed has stated that the just concluded Conference of Parties on Climate Change, otherwise known as (COP 21), offered array of opportunities for the country.

Mohammed who spoke in Abuja during a post COP 21 conference, said the outcome was of immense benefits for Nigeria, adding that it would develop on a Green path without jeopardize its socioeconomic development.

The conference which was attended by over 200 countries agreed to a deal to keep emission below 2.0C. She stated,”The agreement provides a framework for delivering the ambitious emission reductions that the world needs, recognizes the importance of keeping average global temperature below two Degree Celsius (2.00 C) and, crucially, confirms that developed countries must continue to increase their financial support for developing countries as the world

embarks on this transition”.

“We now have a once -in-a lifetime opportunity to change the way we do things, and Nigeria will be at the fore-front demonstrating what initiatives can work. We have established that Nigeria is willing and eager to take a regional lead by announcing a bold and courageous Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) that seek to ensure that our economy continues to grow while reducing our carbon emissions”.

She further explained that “we

have shown that we are willing to work with our neighbours, such as those in the Lake Chad basin to restore the once fertile land and well stocked fisheries so that peace and security can return” The minister also explained that the Paris also afforded her the opportunity to hold discussion with the representatives of World Bank, African Development Bank and a range of bi-lateral partners with a view to attracting the funding needed to push the nation’s climate agenda.

igeria’s real estate sector appears bleak, even as experts have predicted impressive outing in 2017.

The sector might also witness proliferation of markets as several properties would be up for grab, thus making the prices of properties to be up in the next two years.

A property analyst, Mr Loius Ehizokhale said operators in the property industry may witness large volumes of activities within the period under review.

According to him, those, who would make tomorrow’s money, may invest in property today as the gains would be immense from 2017, adding that, one area of interest in 2016 would be renovation of properties, which would be up and running. ’’Most investors, who would offer their property for sale this year without success will begin

Nigerian adults live in rented apartments –Survey

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recent investigation has shown that over 80 per cent of Nigerian adults are said to be living in rented apartments.

World Bank had warned that the rising population could reach 289 million by 2050, thereby increasing rural and urban drift as well as rising building costs, exerting pressure on shelter.

Also, the United Nation Development Programme, UNDP, had noted that many Nigerians live in

slum areas, warning that the number might increase over time.

According to the investigation, the housing deficit rose from 7 million in 1991 to 12-15 million in 2008 and 17-18 million in 2012, noting that unless the Federal Government is able to deliver on its recent promise to provide three million new housing units yearly as promised, the situation will get worse.

Since the second phase of the national policy on housing was announced in 1972, under which

about 5 million housing units were to be delivered by the three tiers of government, less than 200,000 have actually been delivered till date.

Federal Housing Authority has delivered only 35,309 housing units nationwide since it was established in 1973, according to further investigation.

In Lagos metropolitan area for instance, the number of housing units rose from 393,000 in late 1970s to 700,000 by 1992 and 1.25 million units in 2012.

to renovate them for the next two years, as the year will end with improved cash flow from other businesses. Even those, who did not offer their property for sale in the year, will consider investments in form of renovation for enhanced value in the last quarter of this year’, he stated.

Though, investors expect the sector to improve in 2016, but some experts have said the sector would be unpredictable, due to the prevailing economic and political indicators.

According to them, the real sector would feel the backlash of these signs, coupled with the possibility of less money being in circulation, leading to low-buying and less-building with less-construction works.

Expectedly, investors have predicted a growth of about 30 percent, considering the fact that private operators would embark on more real estate investments, aimed at filling the yawning housing gaps.

Already, several local and foreign firms had long before now and even presently, showed interests in the nation’s real estate market by promising to build several housing units to shore up the present housing stocks in the country.

Many of them said, they might kick-off the housing projects before the end of the year and if this is done, the projected 17 million housing deficit in the country would be reduced to the barest minimum.

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Tuesday, December 29, 2015

Aviation

2015 aviation: Activities marred by incidents, policy inertia The Nigerian aviation industry in 2015 recorded little activities due largely to lack of political direction occasioned by non-appointment of ministers for up to six months. The seeming hitch-free operations of airlines that would have made the year fairly remarkable was shattered by the crash of Bristow Helicopter crash in Lagos a few weeks to the end of the year, thus raising stakeholders’ concern about the level of air safety in the country. OLUSEGUN KOIKI writes.

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nalysts say the Nigerian aviation industry in 2015 was faced with several challenges, which negatively affected its fortunes within the year.

Unlike in 2014 when the industry did not record any form of plane crash, the Bristow Helicopter accident of August, 2015 with the registration number 5N BDG – 760540 en route the nation’s oil rigs into the lagoon at the Third Mainland Bridge around Oworonshoki Area of Lagos dented the almost perfect safety record of the industry.

Apart from the accident, major aircraft incidents involving three carriers once again put to question safety and security of equipment at the nation’s airports.

The first of such airside incidents was with Emirates and Hak Air in late June, which collided at the apron wing of the Murtala Mohammed Airport, MMA, Lagos.

Also, in July, another airside incident involving two FirstNation Airways aircraft occurred at the same airport with the whole blamed imposed on marshallers at the airport. The management of the airline insisted that the incident was avoidable if the marshaller that handled the aircraft had carried out its job diligently as expected from him, saying that the marshallers misdirected the pilot, which led to the incident.

Besides, the recent Aero Contractor unprofessional conducts of using ladder to disembark air passengers at Bauchi Airport, raised the dusts about the effective regulation of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, especially in recent time.

Also, the airline sub-sector was faced with lots of challenges that almost crumbled its activities as naira continued to dwindle against major currencies around the world. The year opened with naira being sold at N172 to a dollar, but crashed to N272 to a dollar as at December, 2015 in the black market, which is the one of the major avenues for exchange of currencies in Nigeria.

On the government side, the sector was without an appointed minister for almost six months after the exit of Chief Osita Chidoka who was in the saddle just for 10 months having being appointed in July 2014.

The absence of a substantive minister for the industry, just like the other sectors of the economy led to lull in activities, put every form of major investments on hold as private investors did not know the direction of the new government.

However, when a minister for the in-

Bristow Helicopter wreckage

We have not really developed the industry the way we should and this is

about the time we should.

We have wasted a lot of money on airport remodelling,

which we should have put on safety and security, infrastructure and manpower

dustry was eventually announced, President Muhammadu Buhari unlike the past governments listened to the voice of professional bodies like the Aviation Round Table, ART, and industry unions by collapsing the Ministry of Aviation into Ministry of Transportation and appointed Senator Hadi Sirika who before venturing into politics was a pilot and rose to become a Captain-In-Command of aircraft as the Minister of State for Aviation. Many analysts see him as the perfect example of a round peg in a round hole.

Besides, in 2015, ordinary harmattan haze, which is no longer an issue in other developed or developing aviation industries like Kenya, Ethiopia, South Africa, Egypt and other countries in the continent and beyond, despite the billions of money expended on navigational equipment in the past few years, still obstructs smooth flight operations in Nigeria with many airlines abruptly cancelling their flights while several air travellers had to either cancel or postpone their appointments because of the inability of airlines to take off to another destination.

Analysts in the sector had also looked towards the re-establishment of a national carrier for Nigeria, 12 years after the demise of the former, Nigeria Airways, but that was not to be despite the setting up of

a committee to look into the possibility of having a national carrier for the country.

Stakeholders and professionals in the sector rated the industry low in the outgoing year and urged the government to declare a state of emergency in the sector in order to prevent it from total collapse in 2016.

Commenting on activities within the year, the General Secretary, ART, Grp. Capt.

John Ojikutu said the year was with mixture of the good, the bad and the ugly.

He however noted that the negative side of the sector was more than the positives and even the prospects envisaged for the sector.

Ojikutu particularly decried the unending remodelling and construction of new terminals for the industry when the nation could spend such massive amount of money on upgrading the existing safety facilities.

He lamented that almost a century when the first aircraft landed in Kano State, Nigeria was yet to develop its aviation activities, stressing that out of the over 25 airports nationwide, just about three of them are viable while less than 10 per cent of the citizens have embraced flying.

He said, “Like I usually say in so many forums, a terminal building is a shopping mall, it has nothing to do with safety and

security of an airport. Worldwide, in developing and developed ones, terminal buildings are more or less privatised. What government should be doing seriously, which we are not doing, is to put more efforts on safety, security infrastructure, skilled manpower and training.

“We are carrying less than 10 percent of our population, which includes outbound and inbound passengers. If you remove this, they are just 50 per cent of that figure.

If you take off from Abuja and you land in Lagos, they count you as two. Invariably, you will discover that we are carrying less than what we should have.

“We are not doing what we should be doing with the domestic airlines too. I am looking at the situation where you will remove the number of destinations you are giving to foreign airlines so that the domestic airlines can grow. Why should British Airways be flying into Lagos and Abuja?

Why can’t you restrict British Airways to either Lagos or Abuja and let it make 50 frequencies a week or 100 frequencies?” He queried.

Besides, an aviation analyst, Mr. Chukwudi Amokwu decried the absence of runway lightings at majority of the nation’s airports, which restricted the domestic carriers to only visual operations.

He also described as absurd the cancellation or delay of aircraft because of harmattan fog, stressing that in other climes, airlines fly in zero visibility.

Amokwu insisted that the government through its agencies had not really developed the industry the way it should be and condemned the aggressive nature of government officials against the airlines even when they have failed to provide necessary facilities that would help facilitate their flight operations.

“How can just harmattan stop flights even to Lagos? Most of our airports have no runway lightings at night. So, invariably, there is no market for your airlines especially when some of the runway lights we have now are solar. Their brilliancy cannot penetrate the weather now. So, invariably they are useless even the one in Lagos.

“We have not really developed the industry the way we should and this is about the time we should. We have wasted a lot of money on airport remodelling, which we should have put on safety and security, infrastructure and manpower,” he said.

He mentioned lacked of skilled manpower and ageing workforce as some of the challenges that faced the sector in 2015 and hoped that those challenges would be tackled in the coming year.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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Tuesday, December 29, 2015

Why we want to review Transportation sector waivers –Amaechi

L-R: SIFAX Group, Mr. Deji Ayeni, Managing Director, Arik Air, Mr. Chris Ndulue, Chairman, SAHCOL, Dr. Taiwo Afolabi, Vice Chairman, SAHCOL, Barr. Chike Ogeah, Managing Director, First Nation Airways, Mr. Kayode Odukoya and Mrs. Funke Ogeah at Asaba, Delta State during the funeral service of father of Bar. Ogeah recently.

Stories: Olusegun Koiki

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he Minister of Transportation, Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, has disclosed why the Federal Government decided to review waivers in the Transport sector, including the aviation industry.

Speaking in Lagos recently at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, MMA, Lagos, Amaechi alleged that Customs duties waivers in the country was abused and illegally applied by past government, stressing that the Muhammadu Buhari-led administration would readdress all the noticed shortcomings in the system.

It would be recalled that the Federal Government had in 2013 had introduced the customs duties waivers on aircraft acquisition and imported spare parts.

The policy was approved and gazetted after much lobbies, appeals and contributions from op-

erators, government agencies and major stakeholders.

Within the two years period that the policy was in place, airline operators saved about N60 billion from payment of duties on aircraft and imported spare parts, but its re-introduction recently by the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, caused a lot of ripples in the airline sub-sector especially by their umbrella body, the Airline Operators of Nigeria, AON. The operators had insisted that its reintroduction by the President Muhammadu Buhari regime signified policy summersaults by the Federal Government.

But, Amaechi explained that the government would not have called for review of the policy if the past government had not abused the waiver policy, assuring that the government would look at the various waiver policies in the industry in order to ensure transparency.

On debt owed aviation agen-

cies by airlines and other concessionaires, he said that the government would not hesitate to recover all the debts, stressing that there was nothing like bad debts in the industry.

He said, “There is no sacred cow when it comes to debt recovery in this sector. Every organization must pay for the services rendered them. Efforts will be made to recover all the debts owed the agencies because there is nothing like bad debt. We are not banks.”

Also, Amaechi urged the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, to engage the public more in a bid for their activities to be known.

On the re-establishment of a befitting national carrier for the country after the collapse of the former, Nigeria Airways, Amaechi said that the Ministerial Committee setup by the former minister in the sector, Chief Osita Chidoka had submitted its report to the government.

He explained that the government was studying the report and would come out with a verdict on the issue soon.

AIB has complied with 63% of safety recommendations –Spokesman

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he Accident Investigation Bureau, AIB, has said that over 63 per cent of its safety recommendations have been closed in the past 15 years while 14 others are partially closed.

This is as the agency further said that air safety had improved in the country in the past 10 years.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with our correspondent in Lagos, the spokesman, AIB, Mr. Tunji Oketunbi informed that since year 2000, the bureau had made 158 safety recommendations arising from major incidents and accidents in the sector, adding that 63 per cent of these had been complied with by affected parties, players in the sector and closed while 14 per cent were partially.

He added that additional 23 per cent of its safety recommendations remained opened and yet to be closed.

He further recalled that the Ministerial Committee set up by the immediate past Minister of Aviation, Chief Osita Chidoka in 2014 also in its recommendations disclosed that no fewer than 100 of its safety recommendations had been closed with 36 open gaps and 22 partially closed.

Oketunbi declared that the investigative agency by law had no right to force compliance to its recommendations, but noted that it had safety monitoring exercise, which confirmed if its recommendations had been complied with or not.

He said, “Right now, a lot of safety recommendations have been implemented. There are still some that are open while others have been partially implemented. Since 2000, we have issued 158 safety recommendations and 63 per cent of them have been closed, 14 per cent partially closed

and 23 per cent still open.

“That’s the current status on implementation of our safety recommendation; it is very ingenious for anybody to continue to use a data of a year or two years ago to talk about the current status.”

Airside shegzzy4live2000@yahoo.co.uk 08186007273

After Aero sanction, what happens to Bauchi airport managers?

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he Nigerian aviation industry regrettably flashback to half a century recently courtesy of Aero Contractors when the airline used a ladder to disembark its 34 Bauchi passengers on its big Boeing 737-500 aircraft.

Though, the airline tried vigorously to exonerate itself of the blame, saying that the pressure mounted on its crewmembers by passengers made it to use the unauthorized equipment for disembarking passengers even though, it was not an emergency situation.

It also accused the Bauchi Airport Management for failing in its duty to provide for it a gangway as earlier promised before its departure from Abuja Airport.

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, reactively imposed an applicable sanction on the airline three days later in line with Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations, NCARs.

The sanction according to the airline runs into an unspecified millions of naira. Airside wholly supports this sanction.

But, apart from the airline, what step is the agency taking to equally sanction the Bauchi Airport management for not providing gangway and probably other safety equipment for passengers at its airports? The excuse of just one gangway at the airport is flimsy and not acceptable to Airside.

More so, before the airport was approved for flight operations, officials of NCAA would have visited the airport severally to check the facilities at the airport. Didn’t officials of the regulatory agency observe that some of its safety equipment were inadequate? Or can Airside say regulation has taken flight? What is good for the goose is also good for the gander. Bauchi Airport management should equally be sanctioned.

‘Ordinary harmattan’ still disrupting Nigeria’s flight operations

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everal hundreds of flights have already been cancelled because of inclement weather condition in most parts of Nigeria while numerous other departures have been delayed because of the same reason.

The news from aviation aircraft manufacturers like Boeing, Airbus and others has always been that aircraft are certified to fly in “extreme conditions,” but the same cannot be said of Nigeria where ordinary harmattan still stops flight operations.

Navigational equipment in some African countries like Ethiopia, South Africa, Kenya and several others in the continent allow their aircraft to take-off and land even under zero visibility.

But, Nigeria that claimed to

have spent several billions of naira on acquisition of navigational equipment is yet to acquire equipment that would allow its aircraft to take to the sky or land under extreme weather condition including “ordinary harmattan haze.”

The country’s airline operators are presently counting their losses, due to their inability to use their equipment effectively.

Airside says it’s a shame for the country to still be battling with harmattan 90 years of aviation activities when other countries have gone beyond that. The concerned parastatal, the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, NAMA, should device a mean of ensuring that airlines are able to operate in weather like this.

South African Airways fetes orphans

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ne of the major foreign carriers operating into Nigeria, South African Airways, SAA, recently hosted the children of the Arrow of God Orphanage to a treat at the Silverbird Cinemas in Lagos where they watched a movie, ate and drank to celebrate the yuletide season.

Statement issued in Lagos by the media consultant of the airline in Nigeria quoted the airline’s Country Manager, Thobi Duma as saying that

the carrier has had about five years relationship with the orphanage.

She stated that the treat with the orphanage home was part of its annual package for the kids in the country.

She said, “At this time of the year, people are busy giving and sharing with their families and this is our way of contributing to the corporate social responsibility in Nigeria and also to show gratitude to Nigeria for accommodating

South African Airways.

Furthermore, Duma said the aim of the event was to make the kids feel special, enjoy themselves and have fun like other privileged children.

She also expressed her gratitude to Silverbird Cinemas for its complimentary offer of the cinema to show the movie to the kids.

The excited kids expressed their gratitude to SAA after watching their movie “Hotel Transylvania”.

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National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Tuesday, December 29, 2015

Insurance

Moody’s predicts market pressures in reinsurers’ 2016 results

…estimates year’s ROEs to dip by 5% Tola Akinmutimi

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global investment and business research and rating company, Moody’s, has projected that the impact of excess capacity, benign losses, low interest rates, and heightened competition, combined with further rate declines at the upcoming renewal season will be evident in next year’s reinsurance company results.

According to the latest report by the Moody’s Investors Service, the last 24 months had witnessed the profitability of global reinsurance entities masked by a lack of catastrophe loss events, reserve releases, and growth in earned premiums.

It noted that all these factors had resulted in companies, and the sector as a whole reporting solid return on equity (ROE), and underwriting margin figures, which perhaps, aren’t a true representation of the reinsurance industry’s current state.

The company explained further ample capacity continued to flood the sector from both traditional and alternative reinsurance capital providers with the influence on rates exacerbated by the low loss environment, which has seen primary players retain more risk and therefore require less reinsurance.

Moody’s reported that while the market had continued to soften as many of the challenges persisted, reinsurers continued to report healthy combined ratios of below 100 per cent, and as a whole, ROEs had also been healthier than the challenging, competitive, and overcapitalised market landscape would suggest.

It pointed out that to sustain the ‘artificial’ profitability throughout the year, something highlighted by Willis Re back in May of this year, and noted by Moody’s, reinsurers had relied on positive prior year reserve releases, and have benefited from below average catastrophe loss events.

However, commentary from Moody’s suggests this approach won’t last for much longer, as the company expects “the combination of stalled organic growth and a further potential five per cent to 10 per cent decline in 2016 catastrophe rates will expose the real impact of cyclical and secular headwinds in next year’s results.

Moody’s projected: “Utilising prior years reserves to bolster underwriting profitability certainly isn’t anything new, however, when industry loss events remain low for a prolonged period it limits the opportunity to refill reserves as much

as is likely required, which will eventually lead to reserves diminishing until obsolete.

“It’s important to note that the above expectation from Moody’s is with catastrophe losses remaining benign, and the other determining factors, so excess capacity, competition and so on, following the trend of 2015 also.

“Meaning that should catastrophe losses, natural or man-made, return to more average levels in the coming months, reinsurance company results during 2016 could take a significant turn for the worse”, it added.

According to Moody’s, were catastrophe losses to normalise then ROEs would be two

to five percentage points lower than what’s reported, and “adjusted returns would only moderately exceed cost of equity.”

“We reiterate our view that 2016 will be the year when adjusted returns of some companies will fall below their cost of equity,” the company confirmed.

Kari refutes allegation of illegal charges by NAICOM Isaac Asabor

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he Commissioner for Insurance and Chief Executive Officer of National Insurance Commission, NAICOM, Alhaji Mohammed Kari, has debunked allegation against the regulatory body on illegal charges.

He cleared the air over the allegation in his address at the 2015 Champion Insurance Day Luncheon that held in Lagos on Monday last week, saying that recent media publications on the issue are being orchestrated by shareholders of insurance companies.

Kari described the allegations in which the shareholders link the inability of their companies to pay them dividends squarely on the one per cent insurance Development Levy and then fines and penalties paid to NAICOM as false.

The commissioner said NAICOM had been avoiding joining issues with the shareholders on the pages of newspapers as it believed that the shareholders have been wrongly informed, misled and used as stooges by the management of some insurance companies who were covering their gross financial mismanagement.

The commissioner said he sympathized with the shareholders over their grievances given the fact that they were receiving

Kari

nil returns on their investments.

Kari told the shareholders that NAICOM, as a government agency that believes in the rule, had never charged insurance companies any levy that falls outside the law that governs the regulatory body, challenging insurance companies that claimed to have incurred from NAICOM charges that are outside the extant laws that are governing the insurance sector of the economy to make public the charges they were made to pay.

He also urged such insurance companies to make public the “sum total of charges each company has paid to NAICOM at the end of a financial year in relation to their Gross Premium Income that has culminated in their inability to pay dividends to their shareholders.

On the issue of one per cent insurance levy, the industry expert reminded the ag-

grieved insurance shareholders that the levy had a law backing it up and not a regulation of NAICOM. He cited section 16 (1)(b) of the NAICOM Act 1997 which mandates all insurance companies to remit one per cent of their gross premium to the Commission as insurance levy, pointing out that the system of funding of Regulators applies to most sector Regulators in Nigeria such as the Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS, Central Bank Nigeria, CBN, Security Exchange Commission, SEC, Nigerian Deposit Insurance Commission, NDIC, Pension Commission, Pencom, etc.

He adds in his address that insurance is a regulated business, and that operators in the sector must be prepared to comply with the extant insurance laws as fines and sanctions for any default or infraction by an operator are clearly spelt out.

Goldlink presents forensic report to shareholders Isaac Asabor

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he Interim Management Board of Goldlink Insurance Plc, has made public the report of the forensic investigation carried out by the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) when it took over its management.

The Chairman, Mr. James Ayo, made the disclosure at the firm’s 19th Annual General Meeting in Lagos. He pointed out that the forensic result has confirmed the observation of NAICOM that various malpractices pointed out in the 2011 financial statement were efforts to cover up the company’s exact financial position.

He said various shades of malpractices were perpetrated by the former management and staff of the company as manifested in complete breakdown of corporate governance. He noted that one of the factor that led to the complete breakdown of corporate governance in the organiza-

tion was the permanent presence of the former non- executive in the office.

Ayo also lamented the action taken by the interim management board for issuing 2.5 billion shares to selected shareholders without due considerations for other beneficiaries.

He said: “To support the creation of these bubble shares, the Head Office Building and other assets were revalued and inflated by about N1.5 billion. The revaluation surplus was used in part to create these shares against sound accounting standards and principles. Currently, the interim management board has recovered 1.2 billion shares through voluntary surrender and about 134 million shares by way of forfeiture.”

Similarly, the underwriter explained that about 1.2 billion shares had been disposed of by some of the beneficiaries, and that the interim management board had commenced the process of recovering the disposed shares and associated dividends of about N125 million.

Tuesday, December 29, 2015

Money

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

31

Adopting NCCG to improve Nigeria’s financial, other sectors’ performance With the National Code of Corporate Governance, NCCG becoming operational effective next year; economic development experts believe that the Code could become the transformational tool required to tackle the perceived governance abuses in the nation’s public and private sectors and by implication, improve the investment environment. UDO ONYEKA reports.

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n order to address current institutional weaknesses in regulation, compliance and enforcement of Standards and the development of robust arrangements for monitoring and enforcing compliance with financial reporting standards in Nigeria, stakeholders have said theNational Code of Corporate Governance, NCCG, is very key.

The code is also very important as it is all about transparency in business. It would also attract more investment better disclosure provides more relevant information for investors and lenders to make sound investment decisions and risk assessment.

According to the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria, FRC the proposed National Code of Corporate Governance, NCCG for the country would be operational by June 2016.

The Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer, FRC, Mr. Jim Obazee, said at the 12th annual corporate financial reporting summit with the theme: “National Code of Corporate Governance for Nigeria: A New Dawn in Compliance,” held in Lagos, last week.

He said proposed NCCG, which is a harmonised code of corporate governance, covers both the private sector, public sector and not-for-profit organisations, adding that the private sector code as well as that for not-for-profit, would be operational before the end of the first six months of next year and that the public sector code would have to be approved by the Federal Executive Council, FEC. “Once we conclude this summit, we would definitely progress with the NCCG. In the first half of 2016, the private sector code and the not-for-profit code would be operational. For the public sector code, we still intend to go to FEC because there are already corporate governance structures within legislations by different government bodies.

“So, we need the government to make a pronouncement wherein there would be like a general harmonisation such that irrespective of what you have, you are to comply with the National Code of Corporate Governance for Public Sector. But, within the first six months of next year, we would go through our Minister, to the FEC, to secure the nod of the government to implement that,” he said.

Obazee said that during the last public hearing on the NCCG, comments were received and would be discussed at the summit, saying that the aim is to have an all-embracing code that would

ICSAN President, Nat Ofo

Obazee

The regulators with subsisting code of corporate governance include the Central Bank of Nigeria, Securities and Exchange Commission, National Pension Commission, Nigerian Deposit Insurance Commission, National Insurance Commission and Nigerian Communication Commission. be acceptable and useful to all.

The harmonisation of the existing code of corporate governance, he said, followed the need for it to serve as a catalyst for enhanced and credible economic activities in Nigeria.

He explained that the FRC’s commitment towards a national code of corporate governance followed the code’s potency in stimulating sound financial systems of internal control and protection of investments and asset, adding that the drive towards having a national code of corporate governance revolves around mitigating corporate failures.

The FRC executive secretary also said the beauty of an emerging national code of corporate governance is the migration of the code from persuasive to enforcement and regulation.

“For us in FRC we believe that only enforcement and regulation of the national code of corporate governance will lead to financial stability and sustained wealth creation.

“We also can attest that the persuasive nature of existing codes of corporate governance accounted for the obstacles in implementing sustainable good corporate governance,” Obazee

said.

While revealing that some amendments had been made on the proposed NCCG, Obazee, pointed out that the FRC still intends to retain the area of joint auditors.

“If your turnover is over N10bn, you will definitely have joint auditors which will require you to have joint auditors.

If you have an international firm, like one of the big four auditing you, you will still need a national firm because we want a situation where the international firms, in the course of working with the national firms, are able to develop them technically and build the capacity that is required for our environment. We don’t just want to have the big four firms, we want a situation where in Nigeria, we can have the big 12. That would lead to employment generation.

“Of course, another controversial area has to do with not-for-profit. The point that is required is that there is openness, accountability and objectivity, so that somebody can be held responsible at any point. All of the concerns at the public hearing have been reviewed,” he also said.

Minister of Trade and Investment, Dr.

Okechukwu Enelamah, who was represented at the event by acting Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Malam Mamman Azia said institutional investors, accountants, auditors and members of the public were increasingly becoming aware of the continuing need to promote corporate governance reforms.

He said the present administration was poised to bring about genuine reforms and improve the ease of doing business in the country.

He said the Financial Reporting Council, FRC, of Nigeria Act, 2014 is a landmark legislation, which provides the framework for managing risks, aligning stakeholders’ interests sanctions and also improve corporate governance beast practices.

In addition he said the Act enables the council address judgement and estimates in the adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards, IFRS and the International Public Sector Accounting Standards, IPSAS. “Corporate governance is one major area requiring regulatory and institutional reform. Globally, regulatory reforms and structures are usually put in place to ensure entities continually strengthen their corporate governance systems, focus on shareholder and stakeholder relations and accountability as well as improve the performance of boards of directors, auditors and the accounting function”, Enelamah said.

Before the FRC’s current effort to establish a national code of corporate governance, numerous industry specific codes were issued by regulators.

The regulators with subsisting code of corporate governance include the Central Bank of Nigeria, Securities and Exchange Commission, National Pension Commission, Nigerian Deposit Insurance Commission, National Insurance Commission and Nigerian Communication Commission.

The FRC is a unified independent regulatory body for Accounting, Auditing, Actuarial, Valuation and Corporate Governance practices in public and private sectors of the Nigerian economy.

The body is also to address current institutional weaknesses in regulation, compliance and enforcement of Standards and the development of robust arrangements for monitoring and enforcing compliance with financial reporting standards in Nigeria.

The implementation of the FRC Act is expected to lead to increased management credibility, more long-term investments, lower cost of capital, improved access to new capital and higher share values.

32

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Tuesday, December 29, 2015

Capital Market

2015: Equities shed N2trn on fiscal straits, selling pressure Johnson Okanlawon

T

rading in equities may close the year negative considering lack of direction for the most part of the sessions in the review period, with significant selling pressure observed towards the close of the year.

The relative weakness in major subsectors such as banking, oil and gas, consumer and industrial goods kept the market under pressure.

As at the close of trading last week’s Wednesday, the benchmark index of the Nigerian Stock Exchange has lost 20.8 per cent to close at 26,871.24 points, from the opening figure of 33,943.29 points on January 5, 2015.

Market capitalization depreciated to N9.238 trillion, a decline of N2.002 trillion from N11.24 trillion recorded on January 5, 2015.

Research analysts at DLM Securities, an investment firm, has attributed the negative market trends to the lack of momentum for the market, as investors seem reluctant to make any significant moves for Nigerian equities ahead of the release of key economic policy by the new cabinet going forward.

The market had been on a decline for the greater part of this year due to various factors.

In January alone, the renewed dumping of shares by investors at the stock market over uncertainty in the political landscape led to a dip of N1.16tn in the market capitalisation of the Exchange in the first three trading days of the year.

As at Friday, March 20, 2015, the benchmark index of equities on the Exchange has dropped 13.6 per cent to close at 29,334.23 points, from 33,943.29 points at which it opened the year on January 5, 2015.

Market capitalisation shed N1.45trn to close at N9.788trn, from N11.24trn it commenced on the first trading day in January.

Speaking on the decline in the value of equities investment, the Chief Executive Officer, RTC Advisory Services Limited, Mr. Opeyemi Agbaje said that the falling prices of crude oil in the international market has placed Nigeria in a situation where policy makers must restructure the economy.

Agbaje said, “This is the type of restructuring whereby you don’t have any choice, but to it. Analysts and columnists have over the years been advising on most of these things, but now we don’t need to advise anybody.

“Whether government likes it or not, we will have to deal with the issue of the Nigerian economy. We would have to diversify the economy, reduce the size of government and increase

Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Mounir Gwarzo

Director General of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, Oscar Onyema

investment in alternative sectors whether we like it or not. The oil price is still falling and we don’t know where the exchange rate is heading to.”

According to him, the reality is that whoever wins the election by February 14, 2015; and whoever comes into office by May, will have to deal with serious economic issues.

He explained that the implication of higher exchange rate, higher interest rate, lower GDP growth, is lower consumption and lower purchases of goods and services.

Trading on the NSE in 2014 had closed with a decline of 16.1 per cent in the market capitalisation, which resulted in the stock market opening 2015 on a bearish note.

The NSE All Share Index, which stood at an average 34,657.15 points in the last quarter of 2014, has fallen to 26,537.36 so far this year, according to NSE statistics released on Friday. This represents a drop of 23.4 per cent.

This trend has further shattered the dreams of the Exchange to stabilise and further grow the market capitalisation.

The Chief Executive Officer of the NSE, Mr. Oscar Onyema, had in the early part of this year said that his self-imposed target of achieving $1tn (about N197tn) market capitalisation by 2016 was no longer feasible.

Onyema, while speaking at the NSE annual review of the market in 2014

and outlook for 2015, had said that last year started on a positive note with macroeconomic indicators such as inflation and the exchange rate staying within projected ranges.

The second quarter of 2014, he noted, kicked off on a high note following the nation’s Gross Domestic Product rebasing conducted by the National Bureau of Statistics.

The results of the rebasing did not only confirm Nigeria as the largest economy in Africa with a GDP of N80.22trillion, but also revealed the nation to be one of the least leveraged in the world, with a revised debt-toGDP ratio of 11 per cent, from 20 per cent.

Onyema had attributed the woes of the market from the second quarter of 2014 to the falling oil prices in the international market, saying that the challenges in the Nigerian oil and gas sector, which resulted in crude oil production dropping below 2.3 million barrels per day, aggravated the problem.

He said, “The impact of this drop in production was exacerbated in the third quarter by crude oil prices plummeting, forcing the Central Bank of Nigeria to devalue the naira by eight per cent, and thus push the benchmark interest rate to a record 13 per cent in an effort to preserve the nation’s foreign reserves, which stood at $34.50bn on December 30, 2014, from

Research analysts at DLM Securities, an investment firm, has attributed the negative market trends to the lack of momentum for the market, as investors seem reluctant to make any significant moves for Nigerian

equities ahead of the release of key economic policy by the new cabinet going forward.

$43.61bn at the start of the year.

“The bearish sentiments at the capital market prevailed for most of the year as foreign investors steadily withdrew from the Nigerian market due to currency risk and the recovery of developed economies, and the effects of the United States Federal Reserve tapering of its quantitative easing policy.

Several macroeconomic developments also contributed to the decline in market performance.”

The poor start to 2015 was worsened by strong political concerns and increased uncertainties about the future of the country in the build-up to the general elections. These, together with the economic uncertainties, caused more foreign investors, who dominate the market, to dump their shares.

Institutional domestic investors such as the Pension Fund Administrators, spooked by the uncertainties, reduced investment in the stock market in favour of fixed income instruments such as bonds, while the retail investors were unable to mop up the stocks in the market even though the prices were at lows.

Although the peaceful conduct of the general elections boosted the market capitalisation and the All-Share Index to a year high in April, the delay in the appointment of ministers and consequent lack of clarity about the economic policy of the new government further discouraged investment.

The country’s declining Gross Domestic Product growth and actions of the Central Bank of Nigeria in the third quarter of the year, especially with regard to foreign exchange, did not help matters.

The Head Investment Research at Afrinvest West Africa Limited, Mr. Ayodeji Ebo, attributed the capital market woes in recent times to the CBN foreign exchange policy, which he noted was largely restrictive.

Quoted companies on the NSE, according to him, are being starved of the requisite forex needed for effective business operations.

Ebo said further adherence to the policy by the CBN would mean more harm for the capital market and the larger domestic business environment.

On December 9 this year, the stocks shed 2.4 per cent to fall to a new threeyear low after the global oil prices tumbled to their lowest in more than six years.

The Nigerian stock market, on the Morgan Stanley Capital International Frontier Market Index, fell on thin volumes to levels not seen since December 2012. The market was said to have fallen by 20.6 per cent year-to-date, breaking below the psychologically key 27,000-point line.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

33

Tuesday, December 29, 2015

AFAN tasks CBN on judicious use of N300bn agric loan

M

r Jerry Ossai, a former Chairman, All Farmers Association of Nigerian (AFAN) in Delta, has called for transparent implementation of the proposed CBN N300 billion loans to agriculture in 2016.

Ossai, a commercial farmer, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigerian (NAN) in Asaba on Sunday.

He advised that the apex bank

should ensure that only genuine farmers would access the loan, stressing that the fund would yield the desired results if only genuine farmers accessed it.

He lauded the CBN and the partnering banks for floating the loans, adding that the five per cent interest rate as well as the five years repayment were encouraging.

The commercial farmer, however, called on the apex bank to

give the beneficiaries between six and 12 months moratorium before repayment.

He said that the period of moratorium should be determined by the nature of the farming activities of the beneficiaries.

It would be recalled that the Governor of CBN, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, announced recently in Lagos that the bank and the deposit money banks had set aside N300 billion for loans to agricul-

ture in 2016.

Emefiele said that the scheme was an effort to boost agriculture as well as grow and diversify the economy.

He said that to achieve the objective, the bankers’ committee planned to de-risk agricultural value chain.

He said that the fund would accommodate the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) as well as large-scale farming.

Police nab pastor over charm buried in church

T

he police in Benin arrested one Apostle Ikenna Okafor on Sunday for allegedly burying charm in his church premises in Benin.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the identity of what the suspect buried was unknown even though residents around the church located along Esigie St. in Benin alleged it was a live animal.

The police took away the suspect to avoid being lynched by angry residents who stormed the church.

An eyewitness, Mr. Chinedu Nnamdi, said his father woke him up around 2 a.m. on Saturday night to watch what the pastor was doing.

According to him, the pastor buried something in front of the church and later performed a little ritual by walking round the church several times.

Confirming the report, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Edo Police Command, DSP Osifo Abiodun, said the suspect was under investigation.

The spokesman explained that the suspect had made useful statements that would assist the police in their investigation.

Businessman lauds Ayade’s appointment of non-indigenes Richard Ndoma CALABAR

T An illegal oil bunkerers at Kantu community of Warri South West area of Delta State set on fire by operative of the Nigerian Navy, NNS Delta.

Don urges A’Ibom to regulate sand excavation

A

university lecturer, Dr Faith Ekong, has urged Akwa Ibom State Government to regulate the excavation of sand in the state in order to safeguard the environment.

Ekong, who is the Head of Department, Urban and Regional Planning, University of Uyo, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Uyo on Sunday.

She said that there was no regulation to sand excavation in the state and this had led to land

degradation and pollution of sources of natural water supply.

“In Akwa Ibom there is no regulation to mining of sand.

Dredgers just get to site and dredge indiscriminately not minding the environmental impact on the community,” she said.

The don said that the negative impact of the activities of dredging had caused hardships to some people in the state.

“Almost all the villages rely on wetland for potable water

and water for other uses, but when they mine, it impacts negatively on the people of the state.

“It leads to the silting of water. By the time they dredge the water it is actually polluted and the impact is very high.

“When they finish mining they leave the pit and don’t cover it. The land becomes useless and the people cannot farm on it anymore,’’ she said.

Ekong said that government should create awareness to let

the people realise the depth of the hazards the activity posed to the environment and the dwellers.

“We at the receiving end are supposed to be well-informed about it. We are also supposed to play our role as individuals to safeguard the environment,’’ she said.

Ekong called on the state government to enforce policy that would control the dredging of mining of solid minerals in the state.

he Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Managing Director (MD) of Dechoice Food and Divine group of Supermarkets in Calabar and Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Mazi Ugochukwu Chijioke, has commended Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State for appointing a non-indigene as Special Adviser to represent the interest of non-indigenes in the state.

Chijioke gave the commendation while fielding questions from journalists during a courtesy visit to the Correspondents`Chapel of the Nigerian Union of Journalist.

The business tycoon said he and several other Ibo people doing business in Cross River State were particularly very pleased that the governor was fulfilling his electoral promises where he said that he was going to give appointment to a non-indigene to represent the interest of “strangers” residing in the state.

34

Capital Market

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Tuesday, December 29, 2015

Expert urges stockbrokers on diversification Johnson Okanlawon

T

he Managing Director, APT Securities and Funds Limited, Malam Garba Kurfi, has urged capital market operators to diversify in order to remain in business.

Kurfi was quoted by the News Agency of Nigeria as giving the charge during a chat in Lagos.

Specifically, the indus-

try top shot advised operators to diversify into other businesses in line with the current realities as a strategic option of sustaining their operations next year and assure business sustainability.

While noting that many stockbrokers recorded huge losses in the out -going year on prices of equities occasioned by slump in crude oil prices at the

global market, Kurfi explained that those that were able to operate profitably were those engaging in other financial services such as Bureau De Change, BDC, pension services and investment advisers.

He said: “The year 2015 was bad for most stock broking firms because of the lull in the equities market,’’ the stock bro-

ker said.

The investment expert said that the capital base of most stock broking firms had also been eroded by the market downturn, linking challenges of insecurity in the North East, declining foreign exchange reserves and weak currency as contributors to the market downturn.

Source: NSE

Market indicators All-Share Index 26,871.24 points Market capitalisation 9.24trn

Global stocks fall on oil weakness, China concerns

G

lobal equity markets were lower yesterday in light trading sandwiched by holidays in a number of markets, pressured by slumping oil prices and worries over growth in China’s economy.

Prices of both Brent and US crude fell more than three per cent, reversing a brief rebound and dragging US energy shares down two per cent as the worst performing of the major S&P sectors.

Crude once again moved within sight of an 11-year low, with Brent at $36.71 and US crude at $36.83 as excess supply continues to weigh on the commodity.

“The 3-per cent dive in crude oil this morning shows you that the sellers are still in control of the energy market,

and that’s leading jitters on Wall Street, coupled with just normal digestive action after last week’s strong gains,” said Adam Sarhan, chief executive of Sarhan Capital in New York.

The Dow Jones industrial average fell 90.24 points, or 0.51 per cent, to 17,461.93, the S&P 500 lost 13.18 points, or 0.64 per cent, to 2,047.81 and the Nasdaq Composite dropped 33.51 points, or 0.66 per cent, to 5,014.98.

A weak batch of industrial profits raised concerns about the slowing of China’s economy and sent Chinese stocks lower by almost three per cent, their biggest drop in a month.

Profits at Chinese industrial companies in November fell 1.4 per cent from a year earlier, the sixth consecutive month

of decline and another sign that the world’s chief engine of growth for the past decade is sputtering.

With trading light in the United States and Europe due to the bookended holidays of Christmas and the upcoming New Year’s Day, as well as a holiday on Mondayin the United Kingdom, markets could see exaggerated moves this week.

MSCI’s all-country world index lost 0.44 per cent, while the pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index shed 0.36 per cent.

MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan gave up early modest gains to fall half a percent, putting it on track for a 12-per cent loss this year.

Yields on benchmark 10-

year Treasury notes inched down to 2.2392 percent, up 1/32 in price.

The dollar was little changed against a basket of major currencies, off 0.06 per cent at 97.922. But the drop in oil prices hurt currencies linked to the commodity, such as the Australian and Canadian dollars.

The Australian dollar fell 0.3 per cent to $0.7264 while its Canadian counterpart fell 0.5 per cent to $1.3887, heading back toward this month’s 11-year lows.

Spot gold was down 0.5 per cent at $1,070.81 an ounce and was on track for its sixth straight quarterly decline, its longest run of quarterly losses since the mid-1970s.

Deutsche Bank to raise up to $4bn from Huaxia sale

D

utch Bank AG agreed to sell its 20 percent stake in Huaxia Bank Co. to PICC Property and Casualty Co. as co-Chief Executive John Cryan advances plans to narrow the company’s focus and raise capital buffers.

The sale will generate as much as 25.7 billion yuan ($4 billion), Frankfurtbased Deutsche Bank said in a statement on Monday.

The deal would have added 30 to 40 basis points to Deutsche Bank’s 11.5 percent common equity Tier 1 ratio, using Sept. 30 as a basis, the company said.

Cryan, who took over from Anshu Jain in July, is selling assets and reducing bonuses to help raise the company’s financial strength without tapping shareholders for funds.

Deutsche Bank follows competitors Banco Bilbao

Vizcaya Argentaria SA, Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and Bank of America Corp. in selling holdings in Chinese financial institutions as new international rules make it expensive to hold minority stakes in lenders.

“It’s good that this is done, but it’s a small step in a long journey and this isn’t going to propel them forward,” Christian Hamann, an analyst at Hamburger Sparkasse who has a neutral recommendation on Deutsche Bank shares, said by phone from Hamburg.

“It was clear they couldn’t do much with a minority stake. The price suggests they won’t have to take any more losses on the stake.”

The stock was little changed at 22.33 euros as of 2:39 p.m. in Frankfurt, reversing an earlier decline.

Deutsche Bank is among the biggest losers in Germany’s DAX Index this year,

falling 11 per cent compared with an 8.7 per cent increase in the benchmark.

The bank wrote down the value of its Huaxia stake by 649 million euros ($712 million) in the three months through September to account for a possible sale of the holding as well as “general market pressure in China,” according to its filings. That contributed to a record 6 billion-euro loss in the quarter as Cryan wrote down the value of businesses and set aside funds for potential fines and legal settlements, the filings show.

Deutsche Bank, which first established a presence in China in 1872, bought a stake in Huaxia in 2006 before increasing the holding in 2008 and again in 2011 as part of former CEO Josef Ackermann’s plan to expand in corporate and consumer banking, its website shows.

“China remains a key

growth market for us,” Cryan said in the statement.

While Deutsche Bank has been “pleased” with Huaxia Bank’s development, “now is the right time for us to sell this investment,” he said (Source – Bloomberg. com)

Stock Updates GAINERS COMPANY

OPENING

CLOSING

CHANGE

% CHANGE

MOBIL

130.20

143.00

12.80

9.83

UNITYBNK

0.86

0.94

0.08

9.30

TRANSCORP

1.33

1.45

0.12

9.02

SKYEBANK

1.34

1.46

0.12

8.96

MAYBAKER

1.00

1.05

0.05

5.00

FO

273.00

286.65

13.65

5.00

CUTIX

1.63

1.71

0.08

4.91

CHAMPION

3.31

3.47

0.16

4.83

VONO

0.66

0.69

0.03

4.55

DIAMONDBNK

2.33

2.43

0.10

4.29

CHANGE

% CHANGE

LOSERS COMPANY

OPENING

NB

121.80

115.72

-6.08

-4.99

PZ

28.31

26.90

-1.41

-4.98

TIGERBRANDS

1.24

1.18

-0.06

-4.84

AVONCROWN

1.52

1.45

-0.07

-4.61

UBA

3.65

3.50

-0.15

-4.11

REDSTAREX

4.35

4.25

-0.10

-2.30

STERLNBANK

1.83

1.80

-0.03

-1.64

ETI

16.70

16.49

-0.21

-1.26

UCAP

1.26

1.25

-0.01

-0.79

GUARANTY

19.00

18.86

-0.14

-0.74

FGN Bonds

8.2

MPR

13

Crude oil price

$58.96

Offer

Bid Description

Price

Yield

Price

Yield

13.05 16-AUG-2016

1.88

101.80

11.93

101.95

11.84

15.10 27-APR-2017

2.58

106.85

11.92

107.00

11.85

16.00 29-JUN-2019

4.75

114.45

11.91

114.75

11.83

16.39 27-JAN-2022

7.33

119.25

12.31

119.55

12.26

14.20 14-MAR-2024

9.46

109.75

12.42

110.05

12.37

10.00 23-JUL-2030

15.81 83.70

12.37

84.00

12.32

Rate (%) Inflation

CLOSING

Closing Market Prices of September 29, 2014

Treasury Bills Maturity Date

Bid

Offer

1-Jan-15

10.90

11.21

9-Apr-15

10.30

10.89

3-Sep-15

10.30

11.39

Exchange

Rates (N)

WAUA

270

USD

196.95

EURO

214

CFA

0.32

YEN

1.64

Tenor

Rate (%)

SWISS FRANC

202

O/N

10.6917

1M

12.2857

POUNDS STERLING

293

3M

13.0989

SDR

273

6M

14.1347

NIBOR

The Fixings of September 29, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Politics

Tuesday, December 29, 2015

35

insurgency overnight –Mohammed

s in Abuja insists that by the end of this year, se before now. JOEL AJAYI presents the

If you see any strange groupings or movement

report it, that is the kind of campaign we want to launch on the

National

Security Campaign and the fact that please

avoid crowded areas, these are areas that

Boko Haram and people that are unpatriotic can come to would it affect Nigerian positively?

The national security campaign is about me and you but it is restricted only to the issue of security, not only in the North-East but security generally. In other words, what are we doing as Nigerians to help security? If you know your neighbour is a thief, then report to the police. If you know your neighbours does not come home till midnight and you see him with funny characters, report him on time.

If you see any strange groupings or movement report it, that is the kind of campaign we want to launch on the National Security Campaign and the fact that please avoid crowded areas, these are areas that Boko Haram and people that are unpatriotic can come to . That campaign is different from the orientation campaign which is shape the news with me that is, campaign about how we do things, campaign that will reintroduce discipline into our lives, certain values into our lives because we realized that all of us are responsible in one way or the other for the mess we are into today. It is not just only those who stole our money that are responsible for the indiscipline, those who received the stolen money are guilty also, those who spent out of it are also guilty, those who are adulterating drugs are probably killing more people than the Boko Haram people because if anybody is selling adulterated drugs, you take it and it kills you and you don’t even know so everybody has a role to play so that change begins with me, the campaign is a campaign that will run for a long time. are in your comfort zone, but when you go to these villages and you see the kind of destruction that went on, you will know that there is a need for massive government intervention. We all went to IDP camps in Bama, we all came back very sober, they are not even assured they are going to see the next day, I saw a mother who was breastfeeding her twins, she herself needed to be fed first and they were sleeping on floor, they were just clapping, they are the victims of what they knew nothing about.

The issue of massive intervention master plan must be on ground because if these people were not taken care of there would be problem in the future.

Otherwise if these people problems are not taking care of we are going to have same problem in the future.

Like the Governor of Borno state explained, it is easy for Boko Haram to recruit because of hardship, unemployment and lack of education so, we need as urgent as possible, a lot of intervention to rebuild the North East.

You have been to Bama, would you say IDPs welfare has improved?

You see in Bama or Konduga nobody is even leaving there, so nobody to give food, so the issue of improvement of welfare is not there.

Talking about National Security Campaign and reorientation campaign you want to embark upon, how

It seems as if federal government is silent about the Biafra agitation, what is the present administration doing to address the issue?

I think it is not correct to say that federal government is not doing anything about it. This kind of situation you handle it very subtle minded. I am aware that the federal government is doing all it should do to tame this agitation and you remember that even last week, all the northern governors met hurriedly to ensure that there was no reprisal attack and that was a major achievement because if there were to have been a major reprisal attack, probably what we would have been saying will be different but the government is doing something. Some of the things we are doing we cannot tell you but I can assure you that government is concerned and is taking this issue seriously and we are making consultations with those we should consult.

What are the security agencies doing to ensure them strength in order for these attacks not to continue?

One of the things the president did was that he held meetings with the various regional blocks, ECOWAS, Central African block, Lake Chad Basin Commission and enlisting the support of all our neighbours like Chad, Niger, Cameroun and Benin, I think that many

of them have contributed their troops to the multinational joint task force to fight Boko Haram. Clearly this is a war we cannot win without the cooperation of our neighbours and I think they are doing their best to assist us.

What are the steps that federal government is taking to make sure that those that infiltrated nearby towns in the country are not able to launch any other attack?

As to what the government is doing about ensuring that territories captured are not retaken, from what we saw it will be difficult for any of our territories to be retaken. Our soldiers are very alert and they are everywhere along the road. They have secured the road right from Maiduguri to Banki. They liberated about 255 women from the Boko Haram, our soldiers are up to the task you can be rest assured. About 4000 cartridges were also recovered over the weekend; apparently they took not only hostages of people but also of cartridges.

When will this government give us a change and stop punishing those who gave Boko Haram arms?

Frankly speaking, the dilemma of government is how do we address past wrongs, the injustices and at the same time not violate the rights of the indigenes but what I want to assure you is that anybody who is responsible for putting this country where we are today whether by sponsoring Boko Haram or by stealing will not go unpunished but we shall follow due process.

Cameroun is doing its own bit; Niger is doing its own bit, even Benin Republic, who does not really suffer so much from Boko Haram except for Chad.

It is much more difficult for the military to maintain peace in a situation like an election, it is not that the military does not have the capacity to wipe out those militants but the repercussion politically will be horrendous. The keeping peace during elections is far more difficult than fighting a guerrilla war or a conventional war so it is not about the competence or the capacity of the military but it is because they are being very careful.

The fact that security authorities will tell you they have been able to infiltrate Boko Haram cell in Nigeria is evidence of that efficiency but I don’t want to frighten the whole populace by saying that we have this Boko Haram here. Some months ago, about two of them were arrested in Abuja airport, another in Lagos. Even countries that are not at war will continuously battle with insurgency of some sort.

In any country, not everybody is going to be patriotic but I can assure you that Nigeria is by far safer than most countries in the world. If you want to manage this information that is important, that is why I believe that the media has a role, while they are not suppressing it they must manage it by emphasizing more on those things that unites us, those things that are on the bright side rather than divide us.

There is nowhere in the world that they don’t have this kind of thing, after all only about a year ago, Britain almost lost Wales and Scottish also, takes an example of Canada where the fanatics have been on it for a long time so it is the way you manage it. I have confidence in our security and this country is very safe, Abuja is very safe I assure you.

As to what is happening to Boko Haram suspects, we don’t have the same legal regime as they have in Chad and yes, to me and you probably the best way is to just shoot them but supposing there is just one person there who is innocent so I think we should allow security operatives to see through these people.

I can assure you that it is not on the interest of the military to protect or hide anybody who is Boko Haram because the first victim will be them, they are the ones at the war front, they are the ones sleeping outside, and they are the ones in the forests of Sambisa. I believe that we have gotten to a stage in this government where nobody will hide any Boko Haram suspect.

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Politics

Wale Ibrahim LOKOJA

T

he factional Speaker of the Kogi State House of Assembly, Honourable Godwin Osiyi has disclosed that the state legislators are ready to work with anybody who becomes the governor of the state.

Osiyi who made this known while speaking with newsmen at the NUJ press centre in Lokoja yesterday, stated the impeachment of the embattled speaker, MomohJimoh Lawal is an internal wrangling and

Tuesday, December 29, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Kogi legislators ready to work with anyone who becomes gov –factional speaker was not influenced by any “external” forces.

The speaker who is representing Ogori/Mangogo State constituency said the impeachment of the former speaker cannot be upturned, “We have heard many stories that our action (impeachment) was manipulated by some outside forces.

“We will like to reiterate that nobody or any-

body from the outside is engineering our action.

Our fight is an in-house fight and not influenced by anybody.

“We are here to re-enact that MomoJimoh Lawal, former speaker of the State House of Assembly remained impeached as carried out on the 10th of December, 2015 in the Assembly Hallow Chamber by resolution of seventeen

members on the following grounds.

“Gross incompetence; insensitive to members interest and plights; misrepresentation between the Assembly and the executive for his personal interest and agrandizement; mismanagement of Assembly funds and other valuable resources; betrayal of trust repose on him by members and high

handedness in the administration of the Assembly as he operates like sole administrator.

“There is no country where democracy is practice; even America that remains the mother of democracy; that a Speaker will be impeached and such process will be upturned.

Lawmaker tasks Buhari on steps to redirect economy Abiodun Nejo ADO EKITI

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L-R: Ebonyi State Governor David Umahi; his wife, Rachel; Enugu State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and Senate Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio, during a Thanksgiving service of the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu at his hometown, Mpu in Aninri LGA, Enugu State on Sunday

Police arrest Bauchi anti-corruption group’s secretary Ezekiel Titus BAUCHI

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he Bauchi Coalition Against Financial Crimes and Injustice has stated that its General Secretary, Yakubu Jibrin has been arrested by the police in Kano.

In a statement signed by the President of the anticorruption group, Alhaji

Dogon Yaro Bibi, the group said that the arrest of its General Secretary followed an open letter it published in a Daily newspaper on 2nd and 21st December 2015.

According to the group, “Our Secretary General was arrested this morning (yesterday) in Kano, following an open letter we wrote to President Mu-

hammadu Buhari and to Bauchi State House of Assembly Lawmakers.”

“We never abused him; we never insulted him or even threatened him in the two letters we wrote, we only asked the State House of Assembly and the President to investigate on what we wrote in the open letter.”

“We are calling on the

Nigerians urged to support Buhari Kemi Olaitan IBADAN

A

call has gone to Nigerians irrespective of political party affiliation , tribe or religion, to support the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, so as to move the nation forward.

The Founder of One Love Family, Satguru Maharaj ji, made the appeal yesterday while addressing journalists in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, on the state of the nation.

He said the President meant well for the nation

as he is desirous of making life for all Nigerians, stating that he can only achieve the lofty goals through the backing of every Nigerians.

According to him, the coming to power by the present administration under the leadership of President Buhari, was not a mistake, noting that it is important that the government must not fail in order for Nigerians to fully enjoy the dividends of democracy.

He said, “It is indisputable that President Muhammadu Buhari will succeed in turning around the

fortunes of the nation such that every Nigerian will be proud of the country. What is needed is for all Nigerians to support him to fully entrench the change mantra.”

On the agitation for Republic of Biafra by a section of the country, he berated past leaders of the country for not been alive to their responsibilities of providing the basic needs to the populace.

While stating that the agitators should be allowed to express their grievances in non-violent manner, he maintained that with pro-

general public, the security agencies, the National Human Rights Commission and the Presidency to take note,” the Group stated.

The Group said that in its quest to stand for the truth in Bauchi, it can never be intimidated to leave the cause it has decided to carry on in its bid to salvage Bauchi State in its own little ways.

vision of basic infrastructures such as good roads, electricity and potable water, Nigerians will be happy to be part of the nation.

He then charged the President Buhari-led government not to make the anti-corruption war selective in order to have the backing of all Nigerians, insisting that there must not be any sacred cow.

He said those that want to return their loot must be encouraged, stating that coming out to make confession is the highest form of remorse that anybody can make.

“If anybody is now entertaining fear that the impeachment will affect them in their pursuit to be governor; we say categorically that we will work with anybody that God chooses as the governor.

Our roles are to legislate and we will not interfere with the executive or judiciary function”.

hairman, House of Representatives Committee on Youth Development, Hon. Segun Adekola, has tasked the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government to take more practical and feasible efforts to redirect the nation’s economy.

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP chieftain representing Ekiti South Federal Constituency I in the National Assembly said more pragmatic approach was necessary to put the country in good stead for socio-economic recovery in view of the effect of the falling oil prices.

Adekola, who spoke at Ikere Ekiti while distributing empowerment items to 500 constituents and flag-off of a skills acquisition, listed agriculture and industrialisation as sectors that the Federal Government should prioritise.

He said that the empowerment programme where he distributed sewing machines, grinding machines and generator sets among others worth millions of naira, was fulfillment of his campaign promises and way to reduce unemployment in his constituency.

He urged President Buhari to declare emergency in agriculture sector to diversify the economy and bring Nigeria out of the current economic doldrums.

The lawmaker said: “The President can even bring back programmes like Green Revolution, Operation Feed the Nation and many other agricul-

tural programmes to bail us out of this economic quagmire and sole dependence on oil as means of survival.

“It was agriculture that the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, used to develop the South West, so we have to go back to it if Buhari is very determined to achieve his focus,” he said.

Adekola, who said industrialisation would solve the problem of unemployment, however, said stable power supply was crucial in the regard.

“President Buhari must face the issue of electricity supply with practical approach. One cannot imagine the losses we have suffered and millions of employment we have lost through the relocation of industries like Dunlop and Odutola tyre making industries and many others which have relocated to Ghana and South Africa because of epileptic power supply”.

He said that the N6.08 trillion budgetary proposal presented to the National Assembly by Buhari would be difficult to fund, saying that the dwindling oil revenue could not sustain the huge amount.

The lawmaker accused the present administration in the country of lack of respect for human rights.

According to him, the alleged selective way Buhari has been prosecuting his anti-corruption war, culminating in the arrest and detention of many PDP chieftains who served under former president Goodluck Jonathan attests to the level of human rights abuses being perpetrated under his government.

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Tuesday, December 29, 2015

Politics

37

2015: Year of pandemonium in Nasarawa Igbawase Ukumba LAFIA

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andemonium was the order of the day in Nasarawa state in the year 2015 which was a carryover of previous crises that had engulfed the state since the assumption of Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura as the third executive governor of the state.

Perhaps it will be pertinent to note that the crises which had a political link reached its climax following the massacre of over 100 policemen and members of the Department of State Security, DSS, by a cult group known as Ombatse on May 7, 2013.

Nevertheless, barely 24 hours after Governor AlMakura marked a day of peace in the state after the crises had hardly subsided that there was an attack on Shabu village, an outskirt of Lafia, the state capital, by suspected Fulani herdsman leaving scores of persons dead while several others sustained various degrees of injury.

The Shabu village incident consequently spilled over to the state capital were killings of humans and burnings of property persisted in the state capital for about a week forcing some residents to relocate to other parts of the state, or even to other neighbouring states.

However, the dogged efforts of the state governor in nipping the crises in the bud eventually paid off paving way for political activities to flourish in the build up to the conduct of the 2015 general elections in the state.

For the governorship election, the incumbent governor, Al-Makura came victorious by defeating two of his opponents in the poll which include former minister of information, Labaran Maku of APGA and Alhaji Yusuf Agabi of the PDP. While the PDP governorship candidate, Agabi, conceded defeat, Maku, the APGA candidate, kicked that Governor Al-Makura and his party platform, APC, had rigged the election hence he petitioned the declaration of Al-Makura as winner of the election at the governorship election tribunal sitting in Lafia with petition No EPT/NS/GOV/01/2015.

But the tribunal chairman, Justice Halima Mohammed Shamaki, consequently dismissed the petition for lacking in merits. Not satisfied with the tribunal judgment, Maku headed to the Makurdi division of the federal Court of Appeal challenging the tribunal’s judgment but he met a brickwall as the appeal court upheld the judgment of the election tribunal.

As Al-Makura was about to heave a sigh of relief having overcome the hurdles of post elections petitions than a team from the National Human Rights Commission, led by its executive secretary, Prof Bem Angwe, arrived the Nasarawa state and grilled the governor over alleged assault of a family on the highway.

Addressing the governor at the Lafia Government House, the commission’s executive secretary said the team was in the state to investigate an allegation on violation of human rights which occurred within the corridors of the office of the state governor.

According to Angwe, “we will not allow anyone holding office to violate the right of the less privileged members of the society. We will go clinically and diligently to know what really surrounded the event. You are the governor and the allegation surrounds your convoy which we must get the truth justice of the matter on what happened.”

In a response to the team, Governor Al-Makura told the commission that he is a respecter of the rule of law hence he had turned down an appointment given to him by his political party to chair the governorship primary election in Bayelsa state in order to attend to the commission. Consequently, the governor directed members of his convoy that might have been indicted in the petition of the alleged assault to appear before the rights commission without hesitation when the need arises.

Moreover, Al-Makura’s woes kept rearing from one trouble to the other as workers of local government ar-

Al-Makura

eas in the state were not left out when they on their part ignite a showdown with the governor over matters connected with the federal government bail funds released to the state to upset salary arrears of government workers.

The bone of contention started immediately Governor Al-Makura handed over a Cheque of N4.3 billion to local government councils in the state on October 19, 2015, for the payment of outstanding salaries to genuine local government workers who were being owed salaries for over two months.

However, rising from an emergency meeting on October 27, 2015, the joint union of local government workers in a press statement jointly signed by officials of its six amalgamated bodies and issued to journalists in Lafia, wondered why government used Skye Bank as a template for determining the payment of workers’ salaries in the state.

The union said: “In our series of meetings on this matter with government and labour, no mention of biometric capture exercise from Skye Bank was mentioned to be used as a template to determine payment of workers’ salaries in Nasarawa state.”

The union was also shocked at the sacking of nonindigenes working in the state as according to it, “that was not part of the agreement considering the fact that our brothers and sisters may equally be working in other states and may be victimize because of this development.”

The statement added that the union was sad that while government was computing the salaries and writing of Cheque had commenced, it discovered a secret template which was not part of the agreement submitted to the ministry for local government and chieftaincy affairs for implementation by the Skye Bank which drastically reduced the local government workers’ salaries.

Consequent upon that, leaders of the amalgamated union mobilized all local government workers in the

state for a three- day warning strike action and protested across the state. Nevertheless, the union said: “Labour may not want any industrial disharmony with the government, but may be compelled by the inaction of the government to do so.

The bailout funds episode had also compelled Pensioners in the state to give Governor Al-Makura a seven-day ultimatum to pay their outstanding benefits with the bailout fund he accessed recently or they take to the streets and other appropriate quarters to enforce their fundamental rights.

Their grievances was made for public consumption through a communiqué issued at the end of the congress meeting of the Nasarawa state chapter of Nigeria Union of Pensioners, NUP, which was jointly signed by Alhaji Umaru Adoga and Alhaji Ibrahim Usman, chairman and secretary respectively.

The senior citizens noted with dissatisfaction the decision by the state government to misapply the bailout fund for the construction of an airport in the state which according to them, “it is not a priority of the common man in Nasarawa state.”

The pensioners also noted the procedural error in the allocation of the bailout fund to Association of Local government of Nigeria, ALGON, and the delay in payment of the pensioners as well as payment in percentage, especially to local government pensioners, which they called for its stoppage henceforth.

“We therefore request for the status quo-ante to be revisited regarding the operation of the pension bureau and demand for the total overhaul of the state pension bureau to make it accountable on its activities in the last four years especially on the payment of gratuity to local government retirees,” the statement added.

It was against this backdrop that the senior citizens viewed with all sense of concern the non-payment of gratuity in the state, especially to local government retirees for the past four months and the non-implementation of 33 per cent minimum pension to both state and local government pensioners since 2010, and the 12.5 per cent to state pensioners since 2003, despite federal government approval and directive to that effect.

Reacting to those claims, Governor Al-Makura therefore warned people who are bent on stigmatizing the name of his government that his regime would not condone that.

He said that despite the Federal Government bail-out funds, local government areas in the state are in a state of comma.

Hardly had the governor became immune to the protests mounted by local government workers and retirees than he met the worst embarrassment of his life as irate youths pelted him on two occasions when on working and condolence visits to Awe and Keffi local government areas of the state respectively.

Analysts gave reason for the pelting of the governor by the irate youths to the deteriorating social economic posture of the state as no employment has so far been made by the governor since his assumption in office for the past four and half years; while retrenchment and non-resuscitation of ailing industries established by his predecessors has become the order of his regime. They (analyst) crowned it all that the pelting saga was also as a result of his construction of an airport in his village, Kwandere, to detriment of rural infrastructures that are grossly inadequate in the state.

In an effort to contain the embarrassment from degenerating, security operatives had to make indiscriminate arrests even as the chairman of Awe local council, Yusuf Aliyu Turaki, alongside his stooges, were picked and charged to court and consequently remanded in prison for allegedly stoning and lampooning the governor during his working visit to the area; even as dozens were picked from Keffi local government and remanded in prison custody for a similar alleged crime on the person of the governor during his condolence visit to the Keffi emirate council over the demise of the emir of Keffi, Mohammed Chindo Yamusa II.

38

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Tuesday, December 29, 2015

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Curbing malpractices in ‘O’ Level examinations Chijioke Okoronkwo

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n most external senior secondary school final examinations conducted by various examination bodies, series allegations of examination malpractices typify the conducts of such examinations across examination centres in the country.

Some stakeholders in education observe that the malpractices are pronounced among private schools and their examination centres, especially among candidates for West African School Certificate Examinations (WAEC), those of National Examination Council (NECO) and National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB).

According to them, the rate of examination malpractice in Ordinary Level (`O’ Level) examinations across the country, particularly in private schools, has assumed a worrisome dimension.

They cite cases where proprietors of private schools lure candidates with promises of advantageous seating arrangements in ``miracle centres’’, use of mercenaries and leakage of examination papers, among others.

They also observe that in some cases, some schools woo candidates by producing fake continuous assessment results to meet up with the requirements of the examination bodies.

However, the Examination Malpractices Act No. 33 of the 1999 Constitution stipulates a minimum punishment of N50, 000 and a maximum of five years imprisonment without the option of fine for violators of offences stipulated in the Act. Some of the offences listed in the Act include cheating during examination, stealing question papers, impersonation, disturbances at examination, obstruction of supervision, forgery of result slip, breach of duty, conspiracy and aiding.

Observers note that in spite of the additional punitive measures against offenders put in place by public examination bodies such as NECO, WAEC and NABTEB, many private schools appear undeterred.

However, Mr Goddy Njoku, an educationist, observed that NECO had always tried its best in terms of punitive measures against perpetrators of examination malpractice.

In September, 2012, the then registrar of NECO announced the blacklisting of 13 secondary schools in the country for alleged involvement in malpractice in June/ July examinations,’’ he said.

Njoku, however, said that such measures needed to be strengthened and enforced to yield the desired result.

He said there was need for examination bodies to strengthen their investigation; invigilation and monitoring of schools to have the desired impact.

A situation where they appear handicapped in having the requisite number of invigilators to cover a wider area network cannot help in winning the war.

I know there are relevant legislations aimed at tackling examination malpractices but the perpetrators are not deterred.

I am of the opinion that the examination bodies should review the guidelines for approving examination centres for private schools.

A situation where approval of examination centres for private schools has become all comers’ affair does not speak well for the integrity of the process,’’ he said.

But Prof. Abdulrashid Garba, Registrar of NECO, said that the commission had been making efforts at sanitising the examination process by evaluating the performances of private schools in the conduct of NECO examinations.

He said overhauling the process of accrediting examination centres would eliminate the questionable ones and ensure that only those with proven integrity were retained as examination centres.

Students sitting for examination

When your children request that you should give them money to enable them to pass examinations, then you should suspect malpractice According to him, the present management is working to restore public confidence in the ability of NECO to deliver on its mandate and fight examination malpractices.

Our nation is under threat and until this cancer is addressed, tackling all other corrupt practices in other sector of the economy will not be that easy.

Unfortunately some persons are in support of it because they make their living through it and therefore they see no wrong in encouraging it.

When your children request that you should give them money to enable them to pass examinations, then you should suspect malpractice,’’ he said.

He opined that that examination bodies should work in conjunction with the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC).

The ICPC and the Nigeria Police should also help to crack down on anybody who is involved in the malpractice.

Government should encourage efficient learning environment by employing capable hands to teach, paying salaries as at when due and giving incentives to best performing teachers and students at least once in a year.

Private operators should also justify their existence as centres of excellence and not centres of corruption,’’ he said.

But Mr Paul Ojo, an educator, said that WAEC, NECO and NABTEB must purge themselves of corrupt officials for effective war against examination malpractices.

He said that curbing examination irregularities should go beyond mere determination and punishing offender schools but the focus should also be on colluding staff.

Any member of staff of these bodies involved in cheating should be dealt with according to extant laws. ``It will be very difficult for school owners, students and wards to plan examination cheating successfully if there are not accomplices in the regulatory bodies,’’ he said.

Sharing similar sentiments, Mr. Charles Eguridu, Head

Mr. Isaac Adenipekun, Head, Nigeria’s National Office, West African Examination Council

of WAEC National Office, said all centres and candidates caught in malpractice would be investigated and prosecuted.

When we discover candidates who are involved in examination malpractices, we have the power to withhold their results and carry out investigation.

When we investigate and confirm that they were involved in any form of malpractices, the results of that subject could be cancelled, the entire results could be cancelled and the centre can be de-recognised,’’ he said.

Eguridu said the council had introduced advanced technology which captured candidate’s biometric data at the point of registration.

These features are uploaded into a handheld device at the centre and like the card reader does, we verify that it is the candidate that writes the examination,’’ he said.

Eguridu said that the technology would go a long way in making results of WAEC examinations more credible.

In all, stakeholders in education insist that there is need for synergy among examination bodies, candidates, parents, schools and all stakeholders, to check the high incidence of examination malpractices.

Okoronkwo writes for News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

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Tuesday, December 29, 2015

Features

39

Plotting Ife, Iwo partnership for better life

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hen, recently, the 16th Oluwo of Iwo, Oba AbdulRasheed Adewale Akanbi, declared that his reign would witness good partnership with the new Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi (Ojaja II), many must have wondered the need for the special mention.

He told some journalists that the co-operation would, as a matter of fact, engender the development of Iwo town in particular and Osun State in general, with its people being the better for it all.

While some may wonder why the co-operation is of great importance to Oba Akanbi, certainly, those who are familiar with the history of both Ife and Iwo, would simply attest to the significance of such a co-operation to the development of Osun State, especially in view of the bond between the two towns.

The history of Iwo will be incomplete without looking at her historical antecedent. Available evidence and the tradition of origin attested to the fact that Iwo takes her origin from Ile-Ife. Iwo, like any other Yoruba town originated from the cradle, Ile-Ife. In fact, its kingship has also been traced to Ife. Iwo is an indigenous town in Osun State and it has all the characteristics of Yoruba settlement. The Iwo people, like all other people of Yoruba stock, are said to have originally belonged to Ile-Ife from where they migrated sometimes in the 14th century. The earliest settlement initiated by Adekola Telu, a prince from Ife. Adekola Telu was the son of the 21st Ooni of Ife, a female called Luwo Gbagida.

She was so powerful and influential and acceptable.

She also had supernatural power. One can imagine how strong she was to have emerged a female Ooni. That is the spirit with which Iwo was founded.

When Adekola Telu became an adult, he was willing to become an Oba and when her mother, Ooni Luwo Gbagida, noticed his son’s ambition to become an Oba, she quickly gave him a gift of crown and other valuable materials of kingship. Oba Luwo also provided some wise men to follow his son in his adventure to discover his own kingdom. She then gave him a crown of Oduduwa to go and found a community of his own.

Among the wise men that followed Telu on his journey were Ba-Gidigbo and Beku. Without further delay, Prince Adekola Telu left Ile-Ife with his man. Prince Adekola Telu and his men first settled at Ogundigbaro. No sooner than they settled at Ogundigbaro that Prince Adekola Telu discovered that the area, Ogundigbaro, was water logged and without further delay Adekola and his men left the area for a place called Erunmu today.

Prince Telu in no distant a time, left Erunmu area because of the wild animals around the area that destroyed his people’s farm crops.

After Telu’s exit from Erunmu, he and his people settled at Igbo-Orita, along Ibadan–Iwo Road - which was at a distance of about 5 kilometers from the present Iwo centre. After the death of Telu, Prince Parin, one of his successors moved to a new settlement called Iwo. He was installed the first Oluwo of Iwo around the 16th century and he reigned for six to seven decades.

Parin divided Iwo into four major quarters. Isale Oba, Molete, Oke Adan and Gidgbo. Each quarter was under the command of a chief chosen by the Oba. Iwo is situated in the midst of a rich agricultural area. It performs central place functions in respect of numerous settlements within a radius of about 32 to 48 kilometers from Ikire-Ile, Kuta, Ileogbo, Oluponna and Ogbaagba at a distance of 45 kilometres from Oyo and Osogbo respectively and 186 kilometres from the Lagos State of Nigeria. The provision of good facilities for trade and commerce can easily strengthen Iwo’s position as a trading centre especially for foodstuff, meat, fish, and timber.

However, as the newly installed Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi (Ojaja II) was presented with the staff of office and instrument of appointment on December 7th, Oba AbdulRasheed Adewale Akanbi,

DARE AKOGUN writes on the plan by the 16th Oluwo of Iwo, Oba AbdulRasheed Adewale Akanbi, to ensure that there is a co-operation between him and the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi (Ojaja II),in order to improve the lot of the people of Iwo town and Osun State in general.

Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi

Oluwo of Iwo, Oba AbdulRasheed Akanbi

the 16th Oluwo of Iwo, who is scheduled to be crowned and presented staff of office on January 16th, 2016, has assured the people of the town that he would work in partnership with the new Ooni to improve the living condition of Iwo people and the people of Osun in general during his reign in the town.

Speaking with newsmen, the monarch, who had lived in Canada for several years before his appointment, expressed appreciation to God and to the people of Iwo land for their support during his three years litigation in court. Adeegunodo, one of the ruling houses had taken the Gbasee ruling house where Oba Akanbi emerged to court for determination of who becomes the next Olu Iwo. Subsequently, the court ruled in favour of Akanbi’s ruling house which finally doused all tension.

“It is unfortunate that this history of Ife and Iwo has suffered neglect. That is why I said my coming is divine.

I am the reincarnation of Telu. I am here to bring back the glory of Iwo land.

“That is it. I know the town has passed through some

challenges. We are going to see to the end of those challenges. We are going to come together with the new Ooni of Ife and the people to do it. But as the traditional ruler, I have made a vow to lead by example. I am going to open Iwo land to the outside world. God really bless us with human resources and we are going to leverage on this to make Iwo land a hub of employment.

Bemoaning the level of development in the town, the monarch promised to facilitate investors in the town with an assurance that in the next two years the Iwo town would be food basket of the state.

“I am assuring you that I am bringing direct foreign investment to the town. Nigerian youths are suffering.

Imagine a graduate teacher earning N5, 000. It is sad.

That is what I am going to address. God has really endowed Nigeria with human resources. In terms of land mass, Nigeria is not of the size of Ontario province in Canada.

“But our human capital is our strength which we must develop. China did this in the 70s and is today a very strong economy. It is my mission to open my town up to investors in a way the town would be more attractive to government,” the monarch stated.

While saying that the growth of Iwo land remained of paramount interest to him, he assured the people of bringing his wealth of experience he acquired in Canada to promote the growth of the town.

“Iwo Town is very significant in the history of Yoruba land. That is why all and sundry should support me in moving the town forward.”

The Oba seized the occasion to appreciate God and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola for allowing true justice to prevail in the state, describing the governor as “a man of peace and sincerity.”

The new Oluwo therefore, called on the people of the town and all the ruling houses to join him in moving Iwo to greater heights and move it away from gluts of neglect.

It is unfortunate that this history of Ife and

Iwo has suffered neglect.

That is why I said my coming is divine. I am the reincarnation of Telu. I am here to bring back the glory of Iwo land

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Tuesday, December 29, 2015

Global Business

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China Telecom chairman, Chang Xiaobing under investigation Japanese shares end

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he chairman of one of China’s largest state-owned mobile operators, China Telecom, is being investigated by the country’s anti-corruption watchdog.

Chang Xiaobing is “suspected of serious violation of discipline”, according to a statement on the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection website.

The executive was reported missing by local media on Sunday.

He is the latest in a series of high-profile executives to become embroiled in Beijing’s crackdown on corruption.

The government’s ongoing anti-corruption drive resulted in more than 70 senior officials at state firms being investigated in

Xiaobing

2014.

Little information was given on the investigation involving Mr Chang, but the statement mentioned his position as the former chairman of the country’s secondlargest mobile operator China Unicom.

The 58-year-old became the chairman at China Telecom in August. Earlier this year, there were reports that the government was considering merging the two telecom giants.

Government scrutiny of the top firms in the world’s second largest economy has spread beyond stateowned enterprises.

Earlier this month, Guo Guangchang, the chairman of one of China’s largest private conglomerates Fosun International, was also reported to have gone missing, which eventually led the firm to announce that he was helping with a police investigation. He reappeared in public a few days later.

Correspondents say that Beijing’s crackdown on corruption is partly about using high profile cases to prove the government is serious about tackling corruption.

But many suspect that the downfall of some executives and other investigations can also be attributed to ongoing political infighting and an attempt to pressure high profile figures to toe the

party line.

It would be recalled Guo Guangchang, the high-profile Chinese tycoon detained by police last week, has made an appearance at his company’s annual meeting in Shanghai.

The Fosun International chairman was first reported missing on Friday. The company later revealed he was assisting authorities with a probe.

Fosun president Wang Qunbin said the investigation mostly concerned Mr Guo’s personal affairs, not company business.

He said he could not give more details as the investigation was “sensitive”.

The website Caixin reported early on Monday that he had been released by police. Mr Guo received a standing ovation at company meeting, a person in the audience told Reuters.

A string of senior executives at Chinese companies have temporarily gone missing this year amid a crackdown by Beijing on its financial sector.

Citic Securities, the country’s biggest brokerage, said earlier this month it was unable to contact two of its top executives following reports they had been asked by authorities to assist in an investigation.

(Source – bbcnews.com).

five-day losing streak

I

t was a mixed picture for Asian shares at the start of a week shortened by holidays, amid quiet trade as Japanese shares ended a five-day losing streak.

The benchmark Nikkei 25 index closed up 0.6% to 18,873.35 despite economic data painting a gloomier picture of the world’s third-largest economy.

Figures showed Japan’s factory output fell 1% in November from the previous month, the first drop in three months.

Retail sales also fell below forecasts and declined 1% from a year ago.

Japan’s economy narrowly avoided a recession in the third quarter and economists are expecting only modest growth in the current one.

Shares of Sharp, however, were up 7.3% on reports that the struggling consumer electronics firm had received a

purchase offer from Taiwan’s electronics supplier Hon Hai Precision.

Chinese shares were lower, with the Shanghai Composite ending the day down 2.6% at 3,533.78, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index closed 1% lower at 21,919.62.

Economic data released on Sunday showed that profits earned by Chinese industrial firms in November fell 1.4% from a year ago, marking the sixth month of declines.

Hong Kong-listed shares of China Telecom also fell 1.6% after the country’s anti-corruption watchdog said it was investigation its Chairman, Chang Xiaobing.

In South Korea, the Kospi index ended down 1.3% at 1,964.06 points.

The Australian market was closed for a public holiday.

(Source – bbcnews.com)

Volkswagen’s Audi tempers spending plans for 2016

Oil falls toward $37, as excess supply weighs

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il fell toward $37 a barrel on Monday, trading within sight of an 11-year low, pressured by excess supply that has more than halved prices since the downturn began in mid-2014.

U.S. crude was trading at around parity with global benchmark Brent, having earlier in December risen to a premium for the first time in about a year following the lifting of a 40-year-old ban on most U.S. crude exports.

Brent crude was down 71 cents at $37.18 a barrel at 1137 GMT. It fell to $35.98, an 11-year low, on Tuesday. U.S. crude was down 91 cents at $37.19. Trading volume was lighter than normal due to a UK public holiday.

“We expect both prices to rise next year,” said Eugen Weinberg, an analyst at Commerzbank. “A short-term slide can’t be excluded, due to persisting oversupplies, negative sentiment and stronger downside momentum.”

Figures from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries imply a glut of more than 2 million barrels per day, equal to over 2 percent of world demand. Oversupply is expected to persist into the earlier part of next year.

“The global supply and de-

mand tables are still showing a heavy picture for the first half of 2016,” said Olivier Jakob, oil analyst at Petromatrix.

Signs on Monday that a further demand stimulus from low crude prices may be limited also added pressure.

In Japan, total oil product sales in November fell to a 46-year low.

In Europe, demand growth for oil products turned negative in October, analysts at JBC Energy said in a report, citing figures from the Joint Organisations Data Initiative - the first year-on-year decline this year, JBC said.

The drop in prices gained impetus after OPEC, led by top exporter Saudi Arabia, a year ago dropped its longstanding policy

Oil falls toward $37

of cutting output to support prices in favor of defending market share.

While the price collapse has partly achieved OPEC’s goals by curbing growth of competing supplies, it has put finances in producing nations under more strain, even in the relatively wealthy Gulf states.

Saudi Arabia is expected to announce its 2016 state budget on Monday, and the details will be scrutinized for any indication that it may give about the likelihood of the kingdom changing its oil policy.

A senior official of state oil company Aramco and three ministers will appear at a news conference scheduled for 1200 GMT on the budget.

(Source – bbcnews.com)

Volkswagen

V

olkswagen’s flagship Audi division reined in its spending plans for 2016 and delayed the construction of a new wind tunnel on Monday, after the German carmaking group was hit by a scandal over rigged emissions tests.

Audi, which made a higher operating profit than the VW group in the first nine months of 2015, said it would invest more than 3 billion euros ($3.3 billion) on plants and equipment in 2016.

A company source said the plan foresaw spending of 3.3 billion euros for next year. Under its previous budget drawn up a year ago, Audi announced investments of 17 billion euros over 2015-19, or an annual average of 3.4 billion euros.

“With the current investment program, we obviously want to enhance the brand’s strong po-

sition, but at the same time, we aim to achieve additional financial scope by means of further process and cost optimization,” Audi finance chief Axel Strotbek said in a statement.

The move comes after VW, Europe’s biggest automotive group, cut 1 billion euros from its 2016 investment plan in November, as its emissions cheating scandal expanded to include tens of thousands more U.S. vehicles.

Audi vowed not to save at the expense of future growth but rather to examine every investment decision individually.

“The Board of Management has therefore decided to postpone the construction of a new wind tunnel for one year,” it said.

The company did not comment on investment plans beyond 2016.

(Source – bbcnews.com)

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

North

Tuesday, December 29, 2015

41

Gombe pays N18m compensation to 33 land owners WILLIAMS ATTAH GOMBE

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Tangale Cultural Troupe entertaining guests at the 10th Pissi Tangale Annual Cultural Festival IN Billiri, Gombe State on Saturday.

PHOTO:NAN

Nasarawa: Eggon elders seek return of IDPs to ancestral homes

IGBAWASE UKUMBA LAFIA

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lders of Eggon ethnic nationalities in Nasarawa State yesterday appealed to Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa State to facilitate the return of all Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, who were displaced during the communal clashes in the state, back to their ancestral homes.

National President of Eggon Cultural Development Association, ECDA, Mr. James Manza, made the

appeal on behalf of the elders during the 2015 Eggon annual carnival in Nasarawa Eggon, advising Eggon youths and other Nigerians against breaching peace in the country.

The ECDA president also appealed to the federal and Nasarawa State Government to address the problem of youth’s unemployment in order to tackle insecurity and other social vices in the country.

Consequently, he asked President Muhammadu Buhari to give agriculture a topmost priority in order

to encourage youths to go back to farm so as to fight poverty, unemployment and to ensure food sufficiency in the country.

Manza said: “No nation or society can develop in an atmosphere of rancour and confusion.

The security challenges facing some parts of the country had affected our lives and the socio-economic development of the country negatively. I want to advise the Eggons and other Nigerians against breach of peace by shunning all negative tendencies in order to give peace

Al-Makura promises to create 4,500 jobs next year IGBAWASE UKUMBA LAFIA

N

asarawa State Government yesterday said it would create a total of 4,500 jobs for youths in the state next year to curtail youth’s restiveness.

Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura disclosed this during a chat with journalists shortly after receiving two members of the All Progressives Congress, APC, who emerged victorious at the Court of Appeal sitting in Makurdi as legitimate legislators to represent their various constituencies.

The governor gave a graphic picture of the jobs that 1,500 youths would be employed as pivotal teach-

ers who would go in for a training of one year for professionalism.

While 1,500 others would be employed to man health institutions in the areas of health technology, nursing and midwives to ensure that primary health care centres in the state are properly manned, as according to him “as it is now, the problem we have in the health sector is lack of human capacity to manage those institutions.

So we would reinforce that institution by employing 1,500 staff in the first quarter of next year.”

Another aspect of the 4,500 jobs to be created which the governor disclosed was to employ 1,500 school leavers who have no jobs for sometimes to play

the role of infrastructure inspectors.

According to Al-Makura, “10 youth would be employed in each of the council wards of the state to go round and be inspecting infrastructures like schools, hospitals, bridges and all other government institutions that are either decayed or in a state of disrepair so that they can come and report to the centre for effective management.

The governor concluded that in line with the policy of the Federal Government in the coming year to ensure job creation and also to reduce youth restiveness, Nasarawa State has evolved a template that will be replicated once it starts at the national level.

a chance and to experience speedy development in the country.”

Earlier, the Chairman of Amewoba Eggon group, Mr. Titus Haruna, said they have decided to organise the carnival in order to promote unity among Eggon people and other ethnic nationalities in the state and the country at large.

he sum of N16 million has been paid to 23 persons whose permanent structures were affected by the construction of a major road in Kumbiya-Kumbiya, in the heart of Gombe, the Gombe State capital.

Another 10 individuals who have their temporary structures on the same road were equally compensated with N25, 000 each while more than N2 million would be paid Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, as well as the Gombe State Water Corporation for their own installations, according to the Chairman of the Compensation Committee, Shehu Abubakar Durbi, while briefing newsmen.

The committee chairman noted that the affected persons were given one month notice to vacate the affected property to give way for the demolition exercise in the area.

He said the time given would also help to decongest traffic at the central roundabouts as well as help in efforts towards developing Gombe into a modern city.

He said government de-

cided to compensate the affected persons to enable them add value for the development of the state.

Laraba Manu, a bean cake seller and beneficiary said constructing the road is a mark of progress for the state and those of us doing business along the road because patronage will increase and value of property along the road will also increase.

Esther Dickson who does the same business, also expressed gratitude to the Gombe State Government for its efforts in providing motorable roads in the state capital.

It would be recalled that the state government had earlier in the month paid N229,658,604.00 as compensation to 468 people whose properties were affected by the construction of seven other roads at Jakadafari ward in the state capital.

Dankwambo

Group facilitates release of 35 prisoners WILLIAMS ATTAH

GOMBE

A

Non-Governmental Organization, NGO, in Gombe State, Gombawa Forum has facilitated the release of 35 prison inmates from Gombe Prisons by paying their fines.

Organising Secretary of the Forum, Malam Dahiru Saidu, said the gesture was to decongest the prisons and give the reformed inmates a sense of belonging and the opportunity to positively contribute their quota to the society.

Mallam Dahiru, explained that the forum spent N 300, 000 in off-setting the fines of the 35 inmates. He added that the gesture would reduce the burden on the prisons authorities and hoped the inmates turn to responsible

members of the society.

According to him, “Our aims and objectives are to improve positively on the lives of the people of Gombe State and to improve on the general living of the people to the best of our ability through advising government in its policies”.

He stated that; “The prison is one of the areas we knew right from inception that people need help of less than N10, 000 to free themselves from jail or remain there till 2018”.

While advising the freed persons to reciprocate the gesture through good conduct and avoid getting into trouble, Mallam Dahiru said: “We feel we should come in and help them as our own quota in contributing positively to the society and to decongest the prison.

Alhaji Mohammed Abba, the Deputy Controller of Prisons commended the efforts of the forum and called on other groups to emulate the Gombawa Forum in decongesting the highly congested prison.

According to him, the capacity of the prison is 379 but that 872 inmates were being accommodated. He said apart from decongesting the prison, they were in need of water Boreholes, bedding, medications among other things.

The forum presented transport money to each of freed inmates to their various towns and village as well as presented items worth N20, 000 to the prisons such as drugs, cotton bandage, antiseptic soap and mats among others for the treatment of sick inmates.

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Monday, December 29, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Community Mirror The budget presented by President Muhammadu Buhari has a focus and the focus is to improve the well-being of all Nigerians and infrastructural facilities across the nation.

–MINISTER OF SOLID MINERALS, KAYODE FAYEMI

I

mo State Police Command, at weekend, exhumed the remains of a 63-year-old kidnapped victim identified as Madam Ogo Omereji who was abducted and buried alive in a shallow grave by her abductors.

This is after the arrest of her abductors, who were incidentally her nephews. The names of the suspects, as given by the command, include Gift Emeka (26), Sunday Uchenna (28) and Emeka Chinedu (27).

The leader of the community where the incident happened, Chief Obieze O. Obieze, has also said that the parents of the suspects have been banished from the community.

The family of the victim, who was abducted in her farm on September 26, this year by the three-man kidnap gang, was said to have paid N500,000 to the kidnappers who eventually killed the victim who, they suspected might have identified them.

Addressing journalists shortly after the decomposed body was exhumed from the grave in the thick forest, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Andrew Enwerem, said operatives of the Anti-kidnapping Unit of the state police command arrested the three suspects who confessed to have abducted the woman whom they subsequent-

Police exhume remains of kidnap victim, arrest abductors

A cultural group performing during a workshop on main streaming tourism into the economic agenda of the Federal Government, in Abuja, yesterday. ly murdered and buried in the forest at Awara in Ohaji/Egbema council area of the state.

He said, “You will recall that the Imo Police Command recent-

ly launched Operation Nkpochapu also known as Operation Wipe out criminals in the state.

The initiative is already yielding results.”

Meanwhile, the command has launched a telephone directory which has been distributed to the people through the traditional rulers to report incidents.

Group builds library, hall of fame for Ekiti community Abiodun Nejo, ADO EKITI

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cultural group in Ijan Ekiti in the Gbonyin Council area of Ekiti State, Egbe Towuromola, has begun construction of an ultra modern Library and Hall of Fame for use of the community.

President of the group, Mr Kehinde Fabamise and the Secretary, Planning Committee, Mr Kola Akinbolade, said the projects targeted at boosting education and proper mentoring of the youths, were conceived as part of the measures to help the younger ones to realize their potentials.

Akinbolade said at Ijan Ekiti that the public library which would be stocked with needed books, would afford students schooling in and outside Ijan Ekiti unfettered access to library facilities to study.

The library project, which is billed for completion before the end of the year, would afford students preparing for the May/June West Africa Examinations Coun-

cil and National Examinations Council opportunity to benefit from the gesture.

Akinbolade said that the Hall of Fame, which would be a wing of the public library, would have the names and biographies of the indigenes of the town, who had made their marks in their chosen careers, inscribed on marbles for proper mentoring of the youths.

He said that the library would

be stocked with books in sciences, Arts and Business Management Courses that could prepare the students for better performances in public examinations.

“We are quite aware of the poor economic situation of the State and under this context, it will be difficult for government to provide all the necessary infrastructures that could help education.

“As a group, we are determined

to make our secondary school students one of the leading lights in WAEC and NECO’s rating.

So, this library would serve as an alternative platform where students could read and make research.

“In actual fact, some of the books that would be available could be used by students in tertiary institutions and teachers in any of the secondary schools in the town and environs,” he stated.

Partnership with communities improved security in 2015 –Enugu Police Command

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he Enugu State Police Command said on Sunday that its partnership with the communities had improved security, especially during the Christmas period.

Its Public Relations Officer, Mr Ebere Amaraizu, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu that the partnership had made the state safer and more secure.

He urged the residents of the state to be security conscious

before, during and after the New Year celebration. ``The command calls on members of the public to reflect on the message of the New Year anchored on peace, love and tolerance, among others. ``They should be able to radiate same to one another to engender security, peace, unity and progress in Enugu State. ``So, let us continue to partner in order to make our various communities safe and se-

cure in the rest of 2016,’’ he appealed.

Amaraizu expressed the command’s gratitude to corporate bodies and the government for their assistance to ensure adequate security in the outgoing year. ``The command is assuring the residents of the state that we will re-double our efforts to prevent and control crime and criminality, especially in the years ahead.”

Foundation disburses N1.2m bursaries to 60 students in Omu-Aran

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debisi Fabiyi Foundation has awarded 60 students of tertiary institutions in Omu-Aran bursaries for 2015, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

The N1.2 million award was an increase compared to the 2014 edition totaling N1 million for the same number of students.

The Chairman, Award Planning Committee, Dr Atoyebi Atolagbe, at the presentation of the 16th edition of the scheme, commended Prophet Fabiyi, the award financier, for his foresight.

He said Fabiyi’s award scheme had tremendously impacted on the lives of many indigent students in Omu-Aran.

Atolagbe said the scheme’s selection process had no religious, ethnic or political colouration, adding that academic competition among schools in Omu-Aran was the major criterion.

According to him, the scheme has the chances of growing bigger to accommodate an enlarged number of beneficiaries in the years ahead.

In his remarks, the initiator of the foundation, Prophet Fabiyi, said the ceremony coincided with his 83rd year birthday celebration.

He said his philosophy had been anchored on reduction of illiteracy in the society through award of bursaries to indigent but brilliant students of tertiary institutions.

Also speaking, the President of Omu-Aran Development Association (ODA), Chief Peter Oyinloye, lauded Fabiyi’s initiative aimed at promoting educational development in OmuAran. ``In the last 16 years he has given scholarship and bursary award to more than 1,500 indigent students within the community. ``Through his effort many doctors, engineers, lawyers and other professionals had been produced for the society,” he said.

Oyinloye, who was represented by association’s Secretary, Mr Bidemi Olawuyi, praised God to give the philanthropist long life to reap from the fruit of his labour.

He advised the beneficiaries to excel in their studies and imbibe the spirit of giving back to the society as exemplified by their benefactor.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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Monday, December 29, 2015

World News People have been impressed by my stamina, but to me it has been easy because I doing something that I love.

–FRENCH PRESIDENT, FRANCOIS HOLLANDE

Syrian rebels evacuated in UN deal Afolabi Gambari

WITH AGENCY REPORT

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ozens of Syrian rebel fighters were being evacuated at press time from the village of Zabadani near the Lebanese border under a United Nations-brokered deal.

A convoy of buses and ambulances had reached Zabadani to take the fighters, and some civilians, to Beirut.

The evacuation is part of a truce agreed in September covering Zabadani and two towns in the north which had been under siege from rebel forces.

About 300 families from those towns are also being given safe passage.

At least 14 people were also killed yesterday and 90 wounded in two suicide bombings in the central city of Homs.

Reports said the blasts had hit the Zahraa neighbourhood of the city predominantly inhabited by members of the Alawite sect to which President Bashar al-Assad belongs.

Zabadani has been under siege from pro-government forces backed by the Lebanese Shia militant group Hezbollah.

However, the two towns of Kefraya and Fuaa, in the northern province of Idlib, have been under siege from Sunni rebels.

The families from Kefraya and Fuaa are being taken to Turkey from where they will go to Lebanon.

The International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC) said the Lebanese Red Cross, the Syrian Arab Red Crescent and the UN were all involved in the operation.

Zabadani is the last major rebel stronghold along the Lebanese border.

Rebel fighters had been holding on, but faced almost certain defeat.

Localised ceasefires were at one point were proposed as one of the few ways out of the bloodshed and stalemate.

They have however failed to build any real momentum.

The Syrian rebel fighters being escorted in a military convoy yesterday

Mahama okays minister’s resignation

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hanaian President John Mahama has accepted the resignation of Mrs. Dzifa Aku Attivor as Minister for Transport.

Attivor’s resignation followed concerns raised over a contract to spray and brand 116 new buses procured by government to improve transportation in the country’s major cities.

The local media were awashed with news bothering on the branding of the yet

to be introduced Bus Rapid Transport in the capital.

The situation compelled Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, to write to the Attorney General and Minister of Justice to investigate the circumstances that led to the alleged spending of GHC3.6 million Cedis on the project.

Although the report is yet to be made public, the minister’s resignation was believed to be in connection with the controversial issue.

Troops re-take Ramadi

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raqi troops have retaken the city of Ramadi from ISIS, the country’s military said yesterday.

Iraqi President Fuad Masum

Troops raised the Iraqi flag on top of the government compound in central Ramadi, military spokesman, Brigadier General Yahya Rasoul said.

Ramadi, a predominantly Sunni Arab city, fell to ISIS in May, a major setback in the country’s effort to contain the terror group.

Iraqi TV showed Iraqi soldiers celebrating what the government is calling the “liberation” of the city.

During the live coverage, the sounds of explosions and gunfire could be heard in the background.

The city has strategic

Ghanaian President John Mahama

importance. Anbar province is the heartland of Iraq’s Sunni Muslim population, and Ramadi is close to Baghdad.

Meanwhile, the U.S.led coalition that has been launching airstrikes on ISIS targets congratulated the Iraqi military yesterday.

“The clearance of the government center is a significant accomplishment and is the result of many months of hard work by the Iraqi Army, the Counter Terrorism Service, the Iraqi Air Force, local and federal police and tribal fighters,” coalition spokesman, Colonel Steve Warren, said.

WORLD BULLETIN Mine collapse causes suicide A Chinese executive, Ma Congbo, has committed suicide two days after a gypsum mine collapsed trapping 17 people, state media reported.

Congbo, who works for Yurong Trade Company that owns the mine in Shandong province, eastern China, killed himself by jumping into a mine well during the rescue operation in the early hours of Sunday, according to the provincial government, cited by state news agency yesterday.

The mine in Pingyi county collapsed Friday while 29 people were working inside. One miner has been confirmed dead. Seventeen are still missing while the rest of the miners were rescued.

The Beijing Youth Daily reported that the collapse of the mine owned by Ma’s company was caused by abandoned gypsum mines nearby. Gypsum is a mineral used to make fertilizer, chalk and other materials.

The company has been on the local work safety administration’s watch list multiple times, according to a newspaper report in October which also said the local government compelled the company to suspend operations due to safety issues.

Cholera ravages refugees’ camp Kenya’s cholera epidemic has reached the world’s largest refugee camp and doctors worry the outbreak could continue to spread.

Seven people have died in Dadaab, in northern Kenya near the border with Somalia, since the outbreak was declared in November, the medical charity Doctors Without Borders, or MSF, said in a statement yesterday.

Korea, Japan settle WW2 issue Japan and South Korea have agreed to settle the issue of “comfort women” forced to work in Japanese brothels during World War Two, in their first such deal since 1965.

Japan has apologised and will pay 1bn yen ($8.3m, £5.6m)-the amount South Korea asked for-to fund victims.

The issue has been the key cause for strained ties. South Korea has demanded stronger apologies and compensation.

Only 46 former “comfort women” are still alive in South Korea.

The announcement came after Japan’s Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida met his counterpart Yun Byung-se in Seoul, following moves to speed up talks.

Later Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe phoned South Korean President Park Geun-hye to repeat an apology already offered by Kishida.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Buhari spokesperson loses sister in road mishap Boladale Bamigbola, OSOGBO.

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road mishap along LagosIbadan Expressway on Sunday claimed the life of former Head of Department, Dramatic Arts, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Prof. Foluke Ogunleye.

Prof Ogunleye, who hailed from Ipetumodu, the headquarters of Ife North local government area of Osun, was an elder sister to Mr. Femi Adesina, Special Adviser on Media to President Muhammadu Buhari.

It was gathered that the university don was going to Lagos from Ibadan when the accident occurred.

News

Tuesday, December 29, 2015

Confirming her death to newsmen on telephone Monday evening, OAU Public Relations Officer, Mr. Abiodun Olanrewaju, said the deceased headed Department of Dramatic Arts of the university from 2006 till 2009.

Ogunleye, who is popular for writing the plays, Nest In a Cage and Jabulile delivered her inuagural lecture early last year, about three decades after Prof. Wole Soyinka delivered his in the department.

She was also the Executive Director, Ife International Film Festival of OAU before the unfortunate road mishap took her life.

NNPC special intervention intensifies supply of petrol to hinterlands …..as Kachikwu clears air on price modulation Chidi Ugwu,

ABUJA

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he Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has said the Special Intervention Fuel Supply instituted by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, is intensifying efforts at eradicating the noticeable fuel queues across the country with the sustained truckout of petrol to the nooks and crannies of the country.

According to statement by the Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division Ohi Alegbe, with relative product stability in some major cities like Abuja, Kano and Lagos,

the intervention is trucking-out large volumes of petrol to the hinterlands and deep countryside where product distribution remains a challenge.

Despite the public holidays, over 22 million litres of petrol was trucked-out nationwide within the last 24 hours with a bulk of the volumes hauled to fuel stations in the countryside to ensure adequate product penetration.

Meanwhile Dr. Kachikwu has shed more light on the issue of price modulation and subsidy removal, assuring Nigerians that the Federal Government would place more emphasis on products availability, refineries’ efficiency, noting that the price of

DRC: Why Kabila will not step down

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n the Democratic Republic of Congo, the presidential election is set for November 2016.

Political opponents and activists say that everything is in place for President Joseph Kabila to extend his stay in power, thus violating the constitution and potentially precipitating the continent-sized central African country into chaos.

“What we need is to have a specific action plan for the elections,” a doctor and activist, Serge Syvia, said.

In a small wooden house that was built, like much of the eastern city of Goma, on dried lava rocks, members of a youth group called Lucha (struggle for change) are holding a meeting.

Lucha has a core of about 50 members and a few hundred sympathisers.

They believe in using non-violent protests to demand basic rights like running water, security and justice.

Currently, three of their members are in prison: one for taking part in a workshop in the capital Kinshasa on youth and democracy and two others for organising an outdoor tribute with candles and photos to victims of an armed group, based near the border with Uganda, which massacres people with machetes.

The government’s spokesperson has in the

petrol will not be fluctuating but based on an average price mechanism.

The minister who spoke during a working tour of the Kaduna Refining & Petrochemical Company (KRPC) on Sunday also assured Nigerians that the NNPC was working hard towards ensuring that full efficiency returned to the nation’s refineries which were expected to produce about 10m litres of petrol per day by January 2016.

“The president is very emphatic on this, he says for now; he expects that products should be about N87. He has also given approval for us to be able to look at market trends and make adjustments as need be.

Korean system reveals spy files

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Kabila

past called Lucha members terrorists and Goma’s mayor has banned their activities.

Why are they scared of a small, unarmed movement of young activists based over 1, 500km from the capital?

“For us, the lowly people, there is nothing here and they know this, so when one of us raises a finger to protest, because they are very rich in vocabulary, they call it ‘an attempt against state security’,” another member, Aline Mukovi, said.

There is also the fact that, a year ahead of the planned election in DR Congo which should, if all goes according to the law, bring about regime change, the powerful are

44

on edge.

In January, at least 30 were killed in the country’s capital Kinshasa, according to the UN, after the police brutally repressed demonstrations against an electoral bill.

For opposition politicians and activists, that bill was part of the “plan” to which Syvia referred.

It has become known here as the “glissement” or the slippage of the election dates.

Rwanda held a referendum last week which voted overwhelmingly for the country’s current leader, Paul Kagame, to stay in power, potentially until 2034.

In October, a similar referendum has already made it legal for Denis Sassou

Nguesso, in the Republic of Congo, to run again in 2016. He has been in power for a total of 31 years. Protests against the constitution change were brutally repressed.

Uganda is also about to go to the polls in February 2016, Yoweri Museveni, who has been in power for nearly 30 years, is running again. Term limits were scrapped by parliament in 2005.

Burundi was just recovering from a civil conflict when President Pierre Nkurunziza announced he would run for another term, violating the peace agreement that ended the war. Hundreds have died since. There has been an attempted coup and a rebel movement has formed.

he first in-depth analysis of North Korea’s internal computer operating system has revealed spying tools capable of tracking documents offline.

Red Star OS was designed to superficially mimic Apple’s OS X, but hidden features allow it to watermark files and tie them to an individual.

The covert tools were discovered by two German researchers who conducted the analysis over the past month.

They presented their findings at the Chaos Communication Congress on Sunday.

Florian Grunow and Niklaus Schiess pored over the code of Red Star OS version 3.0, which first surfaced online about a year ago.

“The system’s coders “did a pretty good job” of mimicking the basic design and functionality of Apple computers,” Grunow said.

Any files uploaded to the system via a USB stick or other storage device can be watermarked, allowing the state to trace the journey of that file from machine to machine. Red Star can also identify undesirable files and delete them without permission.

“My commitment and I think that is what the president’s commitment is, is to provide products at all the time so that there is efficiency, and provide it at the least possible price possible and let it have some relationship with what the trends are,” Kachikwu stated.

He however observed that when the prices of petroleum begin to go up, government would look at those trends and then begin to see how the prices could be adjusted.

“We are not going to be fluctuating prices day to day, we are going to take like an average and I think that today when you look at prices, we have no subsidy but prices remain low and that is what we need to do. It is the honesty in being able to sell products to Nigerians at affordable prices that make sense,” Kachikwu added.

Explaining further, Kachikwu said that subsidy doesn’t exist at the moment as petrol is still sold at N87 per litre, but in January 2016, government would look at what the trend is and announce prices. “If that is less than N87, we will announce it and if it is more than that, we will have to announce it,” he said.

He reiterated that the Federal Government would no longer continue to fund the gap paid on subsidy, which runs into huge amount of money.

“I think everybody is on the same page with us that as much as it is, we need to get out of it. The reliability of that and the affordability of that is an issue, we need to get away from it whether or not you believe in subsidy,” he said.

On the refineries gradually coming back on stream, the minister noted that a lot of energy was deployed into ensuring that they were working because, according to him, the more they worked, the higher the chances that government would fix a “comfortable price” for Nigerians.

He assured Nigerians that by the end of January when all the refineries are fully back on stream, the 10 million type capacity out of about 40 million projected national consumption would be realized.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Tuesday, December 29, 2015

Olympics: Okagbare‘ll be unstoppable in Rio –Coach 47

45

Sport

I have no doubt that Pep Guardiola will succeed in England as he has elsewhere. He not plays to win but also dominates his territory –Arsenal legend, Thierry Henry

Ahead CHAN 2016: Eagles depart for South Africa Jan. 2

CHAN Eagles

Paul Erewuba

I

n order to get adequate preparation ahead of the African Nations Championship (CHAN) tagged Rwanda 2016, the Super Eagles Team B will depart the shores of Nigeria for South Africa on January 2, 2016.

According to the team’s media officer, Oluwatoyin Ibitoye, the team’s coaches yesterday

… Oliseh to join team in SA changed their training parttern at the Abuja camp to ensure that players maintain high level fitness ahead of the departure.

The Eagles are currently in their first stage of camping ahead of Nigeria’s participation at the African Nations Championship (CHAN) Rwanda 2016.

It would be recalled that the players were given a two-day break to celebrate Christmas with their families and to return to camp on Boxing Day, December 26.

Ibitoye said that since they returned to camp, the coaches have lined up daily training for the players in the morning and

evening.

He revealed that the coaches took the decision in order to purge out the yuletide celebration from their system and ensure that they gain full fitness before they fly to South Africa for the second stage of their camping.

Ibitoye also disclosed that

ITF/AJC: Nigeria lists 32 players for camping

H

ost Nigeria has listed 32 players for camping ahead of the 2016 ITF-Africa Junior Championship zonal qualifying championship billed for between January 9 and 17, 2016 in Abuja.

Nigeria junior tennis coach, Mohammed Ubale disclosed that the camping will hold from January 2nd -8th after which the final list of 24 players will be

selected for the championship which will feature 12 and U, 14 and U and 16 and U categories.

Ubale revealed that Christopher Itodo, Chris Bulus, Michael Oshewa, Matthew Abamu, Angel McLeod, Adetayo Adetunji (South Africa), Oyinlomo Quari are some of the players that are penciled down for camping stating that the players were chosen based on the

combination of their rankings and performance in the outgoing year -2015.

He stated that the mission of the team is to consolidate on Nigeria’s outstanding performance last year ahead of the main championship billed for South Africa later in 2016.

“We are looking forward to a good championship as usual because we have produced the highest number of

the team will leave for South Africa would be joined their by the Chief Coach, Sunday Oliseh.

He assured that there is constant communication between Oliseh and his assistants, who always brief him on the situation of things in camp.

He also added that the friendly matches against Ivory Coast and Angola, who are also CHAN teams, will go on as planned for the Eagles.

talents in the west and central African region in the last few years and through the support of the Nigeria Tennis Federation we are set to go and do Nigeria proud once again,” Ubale said.

Nigeria has been the superpower of the 14-country zone following its winning of the last two editions of the zonal qualifiers held in 2014 in Abuja and 2015 in Lome, Togo.

46

Sports

Tuesday, December 29, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

J

Benteke

Klopp demands more goals from Benteke ‘PSG have ‘high objectives’ for 2016’

Matuidi

P

aris Saint-Germain (PSG’s) Blaise Matuidi said yesterday the runaway French Ligue 1 leaders had set “high objectives” for 2016 and aimed to go as far as possible in the Champions League.

Speaking in Doha at the club’s winter tour in Qatar, Matuidi said PSG were also looking to break more records in the second half of the season.

“We have high objectives and we do want the second part of the season to be

great,” he told reporters after a 90-minute training session in the Qatari capital.

“We started really well, breaking a record but we want to break more with the league and, of course, with the champions league our goal is to go as far as we can.”

However he added: “There’s a big game waiting for us.”

PSG have drawn English champions Chelsea for the third season in a row in the Champions League.

Chelsea triumphed in 2014

but PSG gained revenge in last season’s competition, before being knocked out by eventual winners Barcelona.

This time PSG will start as clear favourites not only because of their irresistible form but because the English champions have been dismal all season, losing nine matches and currently sit 15th in the English Premier League before the match yesterday.

PSG’s Qatari owners hope the summer signing of Argentina winger Angel Di Ma-

ria from Manchester United can help propel them further in 2016, with President Nasser Al-Khelaifi declaring: “We are close to our dream.”

The matches take place in February and March. In France, the league is all but won.

PSG sit a massive 19 points clear at the top of Ligue 1 at the halfway mark of the season with 51 points, a record for the French league.

They have won 16, drawn three and remain unbeaten.

Man City poised to further dent Leicester’s League run M anchester City are expecting a strong response from shock Premier League leaders Leicester City after the Foxes slipped to only their second league defeat of the season against Liverpool.

Third placed City travel to Leicester today after dispatching second-

from-bottom Sunderland 4-1 on Saturday.

Leicester have lost their last three games in all competitions against City, conceding six goals in the process.

“Leicester are top of the table because they deserve to be. They have very important players in a

very good moment with high performance,” City manager Manuel Pellegrini said yesterday.

“They beat Chelsea and drew against (Manchester) United – we must consider they will not collapse because they lost.

“We knew it was not easy for them to beat Liverpool away so we were

urgen Klopp has said he is working to get the best out of Christian Benteke and admitted that Liverpool need to score more goals.

Benteke’s winner in the 1-0 defeat of Leicester City on Boxing Day was his sixth strike of the season, making him Liverpool’s leading scorer.

But those have come in fits and starts as Klopp has rotated strikers, with Benteke not looking the most natural fit for a starting place.

The Belgium striker said he and Klopp had had a “man conversation” before the Leicester match about improving his overall contribution, a fact confirmed by Klopp at his news conference yesterday.

“We spoke about a few things and that’s always important. He knows what he has to do, that’s for sure,” Klopp said.

“Like I said after the [Leicester] game, it was not too easy for him to come on -- you saw he needed a little bit more of a longer warm-up in the first 10 to 15 minutes, but the second half was better.

“He is a player with such potential, so always if he doesn’t play perfectly you think, ‘OK, there’s a little bit, there’s a little bit [to improve].’”

The manager said that there was more Benteke’s teammates could do to maximise his threat but that ultimately he needed to adapt if he is to flourish at Anfield.

“Of course, he is not the same striker as Daniel [Sturridge] and Divock [Origi] because of the movements -all of the strikers are different,” said Klopp.

“We have to use his natural skills and he has to try to be more involved in the game, that’s all, and then we can make steps together.

“It’s not possible for a player to come in and play their own style when the team plays differently. In the end, a striker has to make goals, everybody knows this, but there are more times in a game when we need him, for defending set plays with his big quality and offensive set plays with his big quality.”

With just four goals thus far in the Premier League, Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp needs to see more production out of £32.5 transfer Christian Benteke.

confident that we could reduce the gap at the top if we beat Sunderland.

“Leicester couldn’t win and now we have an important game to finish the first round of fixtures.”

Leicester duo Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez have scored 28 of the 37 goals the team have netted in the league this season.

Pellegrini

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sports

Tuesday, December 29, 2015

47

Mercyjacob_26@yahoo.com Tel: 08063056537

Frazer Bolt

World bits…

Okagbare

Olympics: Okagbare‘ll be unstoppable in Rio –Coach

C

oach of Olympic and World Championships medalist, Blessing Okagbare, Daniel Etsebiminor, says competitors like Jamaican Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce will not stop the Nigerian at the RIO 2016 Olympics.

The Delta State born coach, who helped Okagbare get to limelight in this interview with National Mirror stressed that the Nigerian queen of the tracks would surprise the World in Rio Games.

“Okagbare is seriously training towards the Olympics, Etsebiminor said”Though this is festival period but she has nothing to do with it because she believes in training and hard work.

For her getting Olympics medal is better than any other pleasure.

“Infact as I am talking to you she is building up and conditioning to enable her withstands the current 100m World Champion, Shelly-Ann

Fraser-Pryce.

“Every of her focus is on that Olympics and she is doing everything possible in other to rewrite her wrongs in the past Olympics, because in the past she engaged herself into more of Diamond league which exhaust her before the Olympics.

“Now, she is out to spring surprise at the 2016 Olympics and restore the confidence repose upon her by sports loving Nigerians.”

Okagbare wobbled and fumbled at the last IAAF Championships held in Beijing as Frazer who won her second straight 100-meter Olympic gold medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics became the winner. Despite posting fourth fastest time in the heat, the Nigerian came last in the pack of eight athletes that was led by Jamaica’s Shelly Ann FraserPryce, with a time of 10.76.

Star Quote…

I want to run with the best, that’s how I’ve always lived

Allyson Felix

Bolt gives back to society on Christmas

U

sain Bolt continued to give back to his community. Again, Bolt, the World and Olympic sprint double champion, hosted his annual Christmas Treat for children in his community Sherwood Content in Trelawny on Sunday.

Bolt shared photos on his

Facebook page showing kids receiving gifts.

In September, Bolt made a donation of $1.3 million to his alma mater’s (William Knibb) sports programme plus sporting equipment and supplies.

The school’s bus is also Bolt’s donation.

IAAF announce bidders for events stripped from Russia

F

our cities are in the running to host next year’s International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) World Race Walking Team Championships, while there is a sole bidder for the 2016 World Junior Championships.

Russia were originally due to stage both events but new hosts were required after the country’s suspension by the IAAF due to allegations of state-sponsored doping.

An accelerated bidding process to find alternative locations was launched and Guayaquil in Ecuador, Monterrey in Mexico and Ukranian capital

Kiev have all put themselves in the frame for the Race Walking event.

Also bidding is Rome, the Italian capital which is one of the contenders for the 2024 Summer Olympics.

Meanwhile, Polish city and 2008 host Bydgoszcz is the only bidder for the World Junior Championships, which were initially due to be hosted by Kazan between July 19 and 24.

With no rivals their selection as host appears to be a formality, with the city also having the experience of hosting the 2010 and 2013 World Cross Country Championships.

Coe queried over alleged IAAF doping cover-up The shadow sports minister, Clive Efford, has written to Sebastian Coe asking theIAAF president to clarify how senior figures in the organisation would have been able to allegedly extort money from Russian athletes in return for covering up positive drugs tests and when he first knew about the situation.

The Labour MP has also asked Lord Coe to explain in more depth the links between his marketing agency Chime Sports Me-

dia and the International Association of Athletics Federations and warned him that athletics’ governing body needs to ensure it upholds “the highest degree of to probity and transparency”.

Efford’s interjection comes days after Coe’s right-hand man Nick Davies stood down as deputy general secretary of the IAAF pending a review into his behaviour after he was accused of covering up Russian doping allegations.

WORLD RECORD

Fastest time to burst three balloons with the back Fastest marathon dribbling two basketballs

N150

Vol. 05 No. 1274 Tuesday, December 29, 2015

The fastest time to burst three balloons with the back is 12 seconds, set by Julia Gunthel, aka ‘Zlata’ (Germany), on 23 November 2007.

Buhari, press freedom and anti-social media bill T he media has come under attack once more. This time, it is not just the mainstream media, but also the new or social media, thanks to a controversial Bill sponsored by Senator Bala Ibn Na’Allah (APC, Kebbi South) on the floor of the Senate. The bill, among other things, proposes: i. Up to seven years in prison or N2 million fine for “anyone who intentionally propagates false information that could threaten the security of the country or that is capable of inciting the general public against the government through electronic message.” ii. Up to two years in prison or $10,000 fine or both for anyone disseminating via text message, Twitter, WhatsApp, or any

Guest Columnist

Olalekan Waheed Adigun

other form of social media an “abusive statement.”

An amazing aspect of this bill is that its sponsor(s) did not bother to make a deliberate effort to define what they mean by “abusive statement” on which the strength of the bill lies. There are two things one can infer from this. First, the bill was hurriedly packaged in the light of the recent expositions of mind-blowing corruption allegations against some former and present public officers, whose agents, the sponsors of this bill represent. Secondly, the sponsors of the bill do not have thoroughness as part of their daily routine for them to have made this important omission.

Acknowledged it is on record that President Muhammadu Buhari has never had it smooth with the media. He is not known to be media-friendly. We cannot continue pretending about this fact. His reputation as a dictator during his tenure as Nigerian Head of State (1983-1985) may pass on well as the darkest period in the nation’s media history, with the notorious “Decree 4 1984” featuring prominently. The widely reported “ban” on African Independent Television (AIT) from covering his activities as president-elect some months ago strengthens this position.

The introduction of this unfortunate bill, if passed, can only lay credence to the fear of him becoming a dictator.

While no responsible democratic government will deliberately gag the press, nothing in press freedom supports hate speeches, inciting statements or outright falsehoods. In this regard, we use freedom of the press to mean that the media can pub-

THE BILL, IF PASSED, WILL NOT BE AT HOME WITH THE FREEDOM

OF INFORMATION ACT

(FOIA)

lish news items and opinions without being censored or “gagged” by any authority. But it does not mean that this freedom is absolute or arbitrary.

The media cannot just publish whatever they wish; rather they should publish things that are constructive for the polity, and should refrain from propaganda or biased news that can harm society. So, the press must realize the meaning of the scope of its freedom, otherwise its power can turn into an instrument of great public harm and damage. While such freedom mostly implies the absence of interference from an overreaching state, its preservation may be sought through constitutional or other legal protections.

This is specifically where the ill-fated AIT case fits in. This media station, either deliberately or for pecuniary reasons, chose to murder honour. Its role during the last general elections can be classified as ignoble.

Owners of the TV station were more of a candidate than even their principal. They sponsored hate campaigns against Buhari, calling him unprintable names, including broad day lies. After doing all these, the media station’s owners didn’t even bother to apologise for their below morally par role

during the presidential campaign. This would have been alright if this Bill intends to curb reckless media stations like AIT rather than the wild goose chase of monitoring social media users.

At the risk of being accused of fallacy of argumentum ad hominem, a cursory look at the sponsors and pushers convinces me of this fear. The bill, if passed, will not be at home with the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), intending to strengthen citizens’ participation in governance. Like we earlier wrote, just as no responsible government will gag the press, no responsible citizen will support hate speeches, slander or libel. But we need to stress more emphatically that this bill is needless in the face of several laws against irresponsible speeches and reckless abuse of the media like we witnessed in the case of the AIT during the presidential campaigns earlier this year.

We need to equally make some important connections here. Some people are presently in court standing trials for cases dealing with corruption. You do not expect a good soldier to just sit back and watch while you fire your missile, they will fire back. They will not only fire back, they will fire from all cylinders. It will then be foolhardy to assume that the introduction of this so-called bill should be regarded as mere coincidence. “When you fight corruption,” as it is now a said in Nigeria, “corruption fights back.”

Some of us have the fear that this bill may just be sponsored to serve as a blackmail tool against President Buhari, whose opponents have been doing their best to make his administration look “anti-democratic”. The fact that the President himself has come out to strongly distance himself from the needless bill leaves the sponsors to answer the moral question: “Who sent thou?”

Adigun, a political risk analyst and strategist, wrote via olalekan@olalekanadigun.com and can be followed on twitter @adgorwell

Sport Extra

M

anchester United’s winless run continued but they gave under-fire coach Louis van Gaal crumbs of cheer with a committed display in an entertaining 0-0 draw with Chelsea while Arsenal went top of the table yester-

Improved United draw with Chelsea day.

Arsenal beat Bournemouth 2-0 with goals from Gabriel and Mesut Ozil to move on to 39 points from 19 Premier League games, one ahead of Leicester City who

are at home to Manchester City, in fourth, on Tuesday.

Dutchman Van Gaal, whose tenure in the Old Trafford hot seat is under intense scrutiny after a Champions League exit and three

successive league defeats, was afforded a warm reception by fans who have been critical of his team’s lack of flair.

United responded with attacking intent, striking the

woodwork twice in the opening 16 minutes and both sides created good chances throughout.

Chelsea, playing their second game under interim manager Guus Hiddink af-

ter Jose Mourinho’s sacking, wasted the game’s best opportunity midway through the second half when Nemanja Matic raced clean through before blazing the ball wildly over.

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