Binder1

Presidency faults AGF, says Excess Crude Account intact

N5bn fraud: Court orders Nnamani to forfeit multibillion naira assets to FG

...APC hails Buhari for ending workers’ mystery OBIORA IFOH, OLAJIDE OMOJOLOMOJU AND ROTIMI FADEYI Buhari

Vol. 5 N0. 1151

T

he Presidency yesterday refuted reports that funds would be drawn from the Excess Crude Account, ECA, for the relief pack-

Wednesday, July 8, 2015

age approved by President Muhammadu Buhari for states and local governments.

Accountant General CONTINUED ON PAGE 2>>

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P.4

@NationalMirror

26 die as suicide bomber hits Zaria

N150

OMEIZA AJAYI, JAMES ABRAHAM AND AZA MSUE

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... 2-year-old baby among victims

Gunmen Kill 14 in Plateau, 7 more die from Jos blasts

nspector General of Police, IGP Solomon Arase yesterday ordered commencement of stop-and-search operations across the federation, following increased spate of bombings in some parts of the country.

The latest bomb attack, which took place in Zaria, Kaduna State, left 26 people dead and 32 injured.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2>>

NDIC pays N94.7bn liquidation dividend to bank depositors in 2014 P.7

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Members of Jama’atu Nasiril Islam first aid group, Red Cross and security agents evacuating corpses from the scene of explosion by a suspected suicide bomber during Kaduna State workers’ screening exercise at Sabongari Local Government Secretariat in Zaria, yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

Emirates, Hak aircraft collide at Lagos airport

...passengers evacuated

Customs impounds contraband worth over N1bn

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EFCC remands ex-gov Lamido, two sons over alleged N1.3bn fraud

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Wednesday, July 8, 2015

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26 die as suicide bomber hits Zaria CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

More than 300 people have been killed in suicide bomb attacks in Borno, Yobe, Plateau and now Kaduna states in the past two weeks.

Residents of Zaria said yesterday’s explosion occurred at 9.30a.m when workers were reporting for duty at Sabon Gari Local Government Secretariat in Dogarawa.

It was learnt that the bomb was detonated by a

teenager, who went into the secretariat after alighting from a commercial motorcycle.

Civil servants had converged at the secretariat for the ongoing verification of their employment status as directed by the Kaduna State government.

An eye-witness said some of the workers had tried to get the police to restrict the boy who was looking suspicious, before he detonated the bomb,

which injured many others.

Another eyewitness said the suicide bomber, who disguised as one of the council staff, smuggled his way into the crowded local government secretariat.

Another source said the blast went off as workers were welcoming the chairman of the new Interim Management Committee for the local government to his office.

Prof. Lawal Khalid, the Chief Medical Director, Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Shika, put the death toll in the blast at 26.

Khalid told journalists in Zaria that 31 injured persons in the attack were brought to the hospital and one of them was in critical condition.

He said the remaining 30 victims on admission at the hospital were in stable condition and responding

to treatment.

The CMD lauded the people of the area for their massive donation of blood, saying the gesture had helped to save the lives of the victims.

Governor Nasir El-Rufai, speaking at the scene of the blast described the attack as an inhuman act of terror, and urged the people of the state to be vigilant.

He directed residents to promptly report all suspi-

L-R: (front row): Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Mr Danladi Kifasi; Governors Tanko al-Makura of Nasarawa; Aminu Masari of Katsina; Nasiru el-Rufai of Kaduna; Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi, and other representatives of state governments and Federal Ministries, after the meeting of Joint Special Operations in the North-West and NorthCentral, in Abuja, yesterday.

Presidency faults AGF, says Excess Crude Account intact CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

of the Federation, AGF, Ahmed Idris, had told State House correspondents on Monday that the Federation Account Allocation Committee, FAAC, was to meet to share the ECA. When asked about the latest on the ECA he had said: “Even today, we are going to meet, the FAAC (Federation Account Allocation Committee) is going to meet, and we are going to distribute as agreed and directed during the NEC (National Economic Council) meeting last week, and the position is very clear, what we met on ground is what we are going to distribute.”

When asked what he met on ground, the AGF had said: “It is hovering between $1.6bn and $1.7bn, and that is what we are going to distribute among all the three tiers of governments - federal, states and local governments, based on the approved formula.”

But, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, in a statement explained that the measures approved by Buhari to deal with the problem of unpaid public sector salaries in many states did not include sharing the ECA or the “liquidation” of the account as was reported by some media outlets.

Rather, the measures are: sharing of the $2.1bn dividend paid into the Federation Account by the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Company, NLNG; a Central Bank-packaged special intervention fund that will offer financing to the states, ranging from N250bn to N300bn. This will be a soft loan available to states for the purposes of paying backlog of salaries.

The last measure, according to Adesina is a debt relief programme designed by the Debt Management Office, DMO, which will

help states restructure their commercial loans currently put at over N660bn, and extend the life span of such loans, while reducing their debt-servicing expenditures.

The statement added that last week’s meeting of the National Economic Council clearly concluded that the ECA should be left untouched at this time.

Meanwhile, All Progressives Congress, APC, has hailed President Buhari for coming to the aid of the long-suffering workers with the multi-billionnaira package that will not only ensure that all arrears of salaries owed by many states are immediately paid, but also make it easier for the states to meet their monthly salary obligations henceforth.

APC, in a statement issued in Abuja yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said it was par-

ticularly delighted that the President had shown that he is truly the father of the nation by eschewing partisanship in approving the intervention fund for all the states, irrespective of which parties they belong.

Mohammed said: “We say this because when states were financially handicapped during the tenure of the last Federal Government, opposition states were hung out to dry, while states belonging to the then ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, got generous bailouts.”

APC said by his action, President Buhari has practicalised his deep understanding of the essence of governance which, more than anything else, is about the well being of the citizenry, irrespective of party affiliations.

It added that worthy of note and commendation is the fact that the special intervention fund was pack-

aged without any external borrowing, despite the paucity of funds occasioned by the fall in the price of crude oil and the unprecedented profligacy of the immediate past administration that dried out the pot of national resources.

It said so early in the life of his administration, President Buhari is walking his talk by showing that with prudence, financial discipline, plugging financial leakages and a deep sense of patriotism, even the nation’s dwindling resources can still be more effectively utilised for the benefit of Nigerians, rather than be looted by thieving public officials who abuse their office.

The party said it is unfortunate and uncharitable that those who created the rot being cleared by President Buhari are the same ones pointing accusing fingers at the government that CONTINUED ON PAGE 5>>

cious persons and activities to security agencies and community leaders.

The governor further announced the deployment of extra security forces across the state, even as he cautioned against large gatherings.

However, he said where that is impossible, they should exercise and practise maximum vigilance and vigorous checks on persons, vehicles and luggage.

The governor announced further measures to enhance public security in the state.

“All beggars and hawkers are to stay off the streets until further notice. Any beggar or hawker found on the streets will be arrested, until these measures are relaxed.

“In addition, government reiterates that the ban on motorcycle taxis (achaba) remains in force, and the law will be strictly enforced in this regard.

The government hereby urges all citizens to report all suspicious persons and movements to security agencies, and afford the agencies their maximum cooperation. These measures take immediate effect,” he said.

El-Rufai said the state government will announce further steps to strengthen security and safety and called on the people to cooperate fully with law enforcement agencies in these trying times.

National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, meanwhile, has called on the public to help donate blood for treatment of the bomb blast.

Director General of NEMA Alhaji Muhammad Sani Sidi in making the call said the request was urgent to help survivors that have lost much blood in the attack.

He appreciated the quick response in the evacuation of the victims and assured immediate supports of NEMA in the deployment of medical consumables and drugs for their treatment in the hospital.

In Plateau State, gunmen yesterday shot and killed 14 persons at Sho village in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 5>>

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

3

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4

Photo News

Wednesday, July 8, 2015

L-R; Branch Manager, First City Monument Bank, Ilorin, (FCMB), Yetunde Moito; Group Managing Director, Ladi Balogun; Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed; Executive Director, FCMB, Olufemi Bakre, and Regional Director of the bank, (South West), Adelaja Adeleye during a courtesy visit to Government House, Ilorin, yesterday.

L-R: Board of Trustees, Tertiary Education Trust Fund, Barr. Chinedu Onu; Executive Secretary, TETFUND, Prof. Suleiman Bagoro and Katsina State Governor Aminu Bello Masari, during a working visit to headquarters of TETFUND in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: ROTIMI OSASONA

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

L-R: President, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Mr. Olumide Akintayo; Advisor and Council Member to the Government of Kenya’s National Economic and Social Council, Office of the President, Mr Victor Koh; Chairman, Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria (APBN) Summit of Professional 2015, Mr. Anya Oko Anya, and President, APBN, Mr Foluso Fasoto, during the APBN 2015 Summit in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: ROTIMI OSASONA

L-R: Head, Consumer Electronics, Samsung Electronics West Africa, Mr. Parikshit Chandna; Managing Director, Mr. Brovo Kim; Director, Consumer Electronics, Mr. Sunil Kumar, and Business Development Manager, Visual Display, Mr. Bojoong Kim, at the launch of the Sensational Samsung SUHD TV in Lagos, yesterday.

National News

N5bn fraud: Court orders Nnamani to forfeit multi-billion naira assets to FG

Wale Igbintade

F

ollowing a guilty plea by four of his companies, a Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday ordered the forfeiture of assets worth billions of naira allegedly belonging to a former Enugu State Governor, Dr Chimaroke Nnamani.

Justice Mohammed Yunusa pronounced the companies’ assets and all the funds standing to their credit in various banks forfeited to the Federal Government after they had been convicted for the offence levelled against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. The judge ordered the forfeiture of balances in different accounts with GTBank (N313, 700); Ster-

ling Bank (N986, 958); Ecobank (N24.5m); First City Monument Bank (N3.8m) and Zenith Bank (N761, 156).

The former governor was charged by EFCC, along with his former aide, Sunday Anyaogu, and six firms; Rainbownet, Hillgate Nigeria, Cosmos FM, Capital City Automobile Nig Ltd., Renaissance University Teaching Hospital and Mea Mater Elizabeth High School. According to the list of properties before the court, the companies have landed properties, shares and equipment jointly numbering about 81 and scattered across various locations in Enugu, Abakaliki, Aba, Owerri, Onitsha and Umuahia. The assets were said to be worth over N5bn, the amount standing to the companies’ cred-

it in 64 bank accounts was estimated at N34.8m.

The companies had on May 19, 2015 been rearraigned on an amended 10-count for the various roles they played in the alleged crime committed by Nnamani.

The EFCC had opted to try them separately from Nnamani and three others, saying it needed to fast-track their trial so as to prevent their assets from “being eroded.”

However, after the trial was split, four of the companies on May 19 pleaded guilty to a 10-count amended charge through their counsel.

Among the forfeited assets are undeveloped properties and transmission equipment of Rainbownet Nigeria Limited; properties of Hill Gate Investment Limited/Cuena Phones

Limited; assets of Cosmo 105.5FM, and 22 duplex buildings at Ebeano Estate (now Fidelity Estate).

Others are Rainbownet shares in Zenith Bank and Guarantee Trust Bank, with a combined account balance of N4.6m; as well as monies in its bank accounts.

EFCC said it is awaiting details of balances in Rainbownet’s 10 accounts with Access Bank.

Part of the alleged laundered money was from the Excess Crude Account, meant for some local governments, including Aninri, Enugu South, Agwu, Igbo Etiti and Isi Uzor, which was allegedly transferred to Nnamani’s bank account in the United States.

The crime was allegedly committed while Nnamani was governor between 1999

and 2007.

On June 11, Justice Yunusa adjourned to July 7 after EFCC’s lawyer; Kelvin Uzozie told the court that he was still working to get a list of all the companies’ assets.

Yesterday, he prayed the court to convict the companies in view of their plea.

He also urged the court to make an order of the assets’ forfeiture, and for the commission to be involved in their management.

Justice Yunusa held: “It is hereby ordered that the properties listed in the schedule be forfeited to the Federal Government.”

He adjourned till November 12 for the trial of the remaining accused persons.

The EFCC, in the amended 10-count chage filed against the companies, accused them of fail-

ing to comply with a lawful enquiry by Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde, who was then the EFCC’s Director of Operations.

Lamorde, it was said, had ordered investigation into the complicity of the four companies in the offences alleged against Nnamani.

The companies had, however, allegedly refused to release their cash books, fixed assets, various vouchers and cheques to EFCC operatives for investigation.

They were also accused of failure to give the breakdown of their trade creditors and to show the names of their creditors and amounts from between 2002 and 2006.

The offences, according to Uzozie, were punishable under section 38(2) of the EFCC Act, 2004.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

News

Wednesday, July 8, 2015

5

Emirates, Hak aircraft collide at Lagos airport OLUSEGUN KOIKI

T

ragedy was averted on Monday night when an Emirates aircraft, Boeing 777-200 with over 300 passengers onboard had a ground collision with an aircraft parked at the apron wing of the Murtala Mohammed Airport, Lagos.

The incident occurred at around 9:30p.m, when the aircraft was taxing to the take-off point for departure to Dubai.

The Emirates aircraft, with flight number EK782 Lagos to Dubai had its right hand wingtip contact with the tail of a Hak Air aircraft parked at the apron of the airport.

The Accident Investigation Bureau, AIB, which confirmed the incident,

said it had commenced investigation to unravel the cause of the incident.

Immediately the incident occurred, the checkedin passengers were evacuated from the aircraft, while the management of the airline commenced damage assessment of both aircraft.

A source confided in our correspondent that the Hak Air aircraft had substantial damage to its tail.

The source said the incident might have occurred due to the safety issue the international runway, 18Left had as at the time of the incident; the runway was not properly lit.

As a result of the safety issue, all international aircraft were directed to the local runway, 18Right for take-off.

And, being a big aircraft

with wide wings, the right wing of the Emirates aircraft came in contact with that of the Hak Air. Another source told our correspondent that a portion of the taxiway was already on Notice To Airmen, NOTAM, which means that aircraft were not allowed to operate to that portion of the runway, which the pilot of the aircraft allegedly ignored.

As at the time of filing this report, the aircraft was still parked at the tarmac of the airport, while the passengers were yet to be transported out of the country.

Confirming the incident on phone with our correspondent, the Regional Manager, Emirates West Africa, Mr. Manoj Nair con-

firmed that the incident occurred when the aircraft was taxiing for departure.

Nair however said no injuries were recorded to passengers or crew, but the aircraft remained on ground while all passengers and crew were transferred back to the terminal.

He added, “A night stop has been declared and passengers will be accommodated on other services.

Our flight safety team has left for Lagos. Emirates can confirm that flight EK782 from Lagos to Dubai on 6th July made minor contact with the aircraft of another carrier while taxiing.

“Passengers were provided overnight hotel accommodation and will be flown to Dubai on other Emirates services on 7th

July.

“Emirates apologises for any inconvenience caused.

The aircraft, a Boeing 777200LR, is currently in Lagos for damage assessment and checks. “Emirates is co-operating fully with all the relevant authorities.

We are also conducting our own internal investigation into the incident,” he said.

Boeing 777-200 is the world’s largest twinjet and has a typical seating capacity for 314 to 451 passengers.

Also, AIB in a statement by its Head, Public Affairs, Mr. Tunji Oketunbi stated that a team of investigators had promptly been deployed to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident with a view to making possible

safety recommendations.

Oketunbi stated that the Commissioner, AIB, Dr. Felix Abali had inspected the scene of the occurrence and promised that the investigation would be handled with speed.

The statement added: “Every incident is a safety issue that must be thoroughly investigated. This will help in preventing accidents and sustain safety in aviation. This investigation will be conducted with speed.”

When our correspondent contacted the Managing Director of Hak Air, Capt. Harry Kuti, on the issue, he simply responded that he was out of the country for official assignment and declined to comment further.

Presidency faults AGF, says Excess Crude Account intact CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

inherited their rot.

Mohammed said: “The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP that spent the past 16 years plundering and pillaging Nigeria has boasted that the Nigerian people will soon come, cap in hand, to beg them to return to power. What delusion!

What arrogance!

“Who presided over the looting and the mismanagement of public funds that made it impossible for the nation to absorb the shock of the falling oil prices?

Who depleted the Excess Crude Account, ECA, without authorisation? Who has degraded the standard of living of Nigerians?”

The opposition PDP in its own reaction hailed the President over the bailout offer, but the Federal Government has a lot to learn from the saving culture of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

The party said the bailout will go a long way in alleviating the sufferings of workers in various states, most of whom have been without their wages for months.

PDP National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, in a statement however observed that savings in the ECA was to be included in the bailout offer.

“The party however noted that a significant

amount of the bailout came from savings accumulated in the Excess Crude Account handed over to the Buhari-led All Progressives Congress, APC’s administration by the past PDP-led administration.

“This development is in clear contradiction of the earlier impression given

by President Buhari to Nigerians and the international community that they should not expect much from his administration in its first one hundred days because according him, upon assumption of office, he met a virtually empty treasury.

“We want to believe that given the President’s release of such huge amount, he may have realised that he was earlier misdirected on the actual financial state of the nation at the time he took over. In this regard, we expect the President, as a respected statesman to do the needful to correct that erroneous impression.

“Furthermore, we expect President Buhari’s APC administration as direct beneficiary of this savings initiated by past PDP administrations to appreciate the strategic importance of always saving for rainy days and as such guarantee prudent and transparent management of the nation’s resources now under its care,” he said.

Senate President Bukola Saraki (left) receiving a communiqué from the Chairman, Northern Reawakening Forum, Hon. Mohammed Umara Kumalia, during a courtesy visit to Saraki in Abuja, yesterday.

26 die as suicide bomber hits Zaria CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

This was even as death toll from Sunday’s twin bomb blasts in Jos has risen to seven.

The gunmen reportedly stormed the community at about noon yesterday and shot at innocent villagers, leaving at least 14 dead.

Member representing Barkin Ladi constituency in the state House of Assembly, Peter Gyendeng confirmed the attack to newsmen and decried the situation where on a daily basis, his people were being killed.

He called on the Federal Government to do everything possible to nip the activities of the terrorists across the country in the bud.

In a related development, more deaths have been recorded from Sunday’stwin blasts.

A worker at the state Specialist Hospital said some of the injured victims brought to the hospital have died.

He said: “More deaths have been recorded in our hospital; in fact, more than seven persons have died here.”

NEMA Coordinator for the North Central Zone, Mr. Mohammed Abdulsalami confirmed that the death toll has risen.

He disclosed that one of the injured died yesterday morning, while six more corpses were recovered from the scenes of the blast.

He said the corpses had been identified and claimed by their relatives.

NEMA had on Monday said 44 persons were killed in the blasts, while 47 others were critically injured.

Meanwhile, the stopand-search operation as ordered by theis to be extended across the country.

A statement issued in Abuja yesterday and signed by the Deputy Force Public Relations Officer, Abayomi Shogunle premised the action of the IGP on intelligence report at his disposal.

He said the operation will be on all roads and highways nationwide,

with emphasis on roads in and out of major cities/towns.

He enjoined Nigerians to bear with the force during the security operation, saying it is a temporary measure put in place to address the intelligence received.

“The special security measure, stop and search is in no way a return of roadblocks. Any unprofessional conduct should be reported at www.stopthebribes.net or nearest Police Station,” he stated.

The IGP advised the public to cooperate with police operatives by providing answers to questions that may be asked as well as allowing their vehicles to be searched.

6

National News

Monday, July 8, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Police nab Ebola fund scam whistle blower

…accuse him of impersonation Omeiza Ajayi ABUJA

I

t was a clear case of the hunter becoming the hunted yesterday as the Nigeria Police Force paraded a whistleblower, 44-year-old Mar-

tins Ugwu Okpe, accusing him of impersonation and breach of official trust.

Mr. Okpe had for over nine years allegedly impersonated his childhood friend, George Davidson Daniel, who is a medical doctor.

The police, however, clarified that the suspect had never undertaken any clinical endeavour. Okpe said his highest qualification is a Senior School Certificate, which he obtained in 1993.

The suspect, who was a GL 13 officer at the Federal Ministry of Health in Abuja, was also chairman

NASS crisis: Tambuwal meets Buhari, assures of peaceful resolution Rotimi Fadeyi ABUJA

S

okoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal, yesterday assured of peaceful resolution of the crisis within All Progressives Congress, APC, in the National Assembly.

Speaking during an interview with State House correspondents after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Tambuwal said normalcy would be restored to the two chambers of the legislature.

The former Speaker of the House of Representatives disclosed that his discussion with the President also bordered on security and the continued development of the country.

Tambuwal, who is head of the committee set up to resolve the crisis, particularly in the House the of Representatives, maintained that those in the legislature CHANGE OF NAME

I, Odia Joel Ehimatie, the younger brother to the father of Johnson Comfort Ehioghire declare and state that she was formerly known, called and addressed as Odia Comfort, but now wish to be known, called and addressed as Johnson Comfort Ehioghire. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

CORRECTION OF NAME

That on my bank documents my name was wrongly written as Haqeem Oladipupo Sule instead of Haqym Oladipupo Sule. That my correct name is Haqym Oladipupo Sule. Henceforth wish to be known, called and addressed as Haqym Oladipupo Sule. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

OYUN: I, formerly known and addressed as Oyun Ranti Ayokanmi-Bidemi, due to marital status, I now wish to be known, called and addressed as Azeez Ranti Ayokanmi-Bidemi. All former documents remain valid. Authorities Concerned and general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Miss Oluwatoyin Christiana Bamgbose, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Oluwatoyin Christiana Oyedele. All documents remain valid. General public please take note

were mature people representing their various constituencies, stressing that they should know what is best for the party and the country.

According to him, the committee has already commenced work, assuring that there is light at the end of the tunnel.

He stressed that peace and normalcy would be restored to the National Assembly.

He said members of the party would continue to support the President to ensure that the All Progressives Congress, APC, delivers on its promises to Nigerians.

The leadership crisis in the National Assembly reached a climax on Thursday, June 25 when the House erupted into a fracas over an attempt

by Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, to close plenary without reading a letter from the APC. The party had written to the House on its deCHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Abhatue Osemudiamen, now wish to be known and addressed as Anene Osamudiamen. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note

cision to endorse Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila (Lagos) as House Leader, Ado Doguwa (Kano) as Deputy Leader, Mohammed Monguno (Borno) as Whip, and Pally Iriase (Edo) as Deputy Whip.

The crisis in the National Assembly began shortly after Senator Bukola Saraki emerged as the Senate President and Dogara as Speaker against the decision of the party which favoured Ahmed Lawan as Senate President while Gbajabiamila was the party’s choice for Speaker.

Also at the Senate, the lawmakers chose Senator Ali Ndume as the Majority Leader while Senator Bala Na’Allah became the Deputy Majority Leader.

This was contrary to the arrangement of the party which endorsed Ahmed Lawan for the majority leader; George Akume as deputy majority leader; Professor Sola Adeyeye as the Chief Whip and Abu Ibrahim as Deputy Chief Whip.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Oshiotse Angela .E., now wish to be known and addressed as Dunia Angel. All former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

of the ministry’s branch of the Nigeria Medical Association, NMA. Writing under the name, George Davidson, the suspect had earlier written a petition in which he alleged the management of the ministry embezzled N1.9 billion Ebola funds. The petition, addressed to President Muhammadu Buhari, was copied to all anticorruption agencies, US Embassy, international health organisations and a number of government institutions in the country. He had accused senior officials of the ministry, including its permanent secretary, Linus Awute, and the National Centre for Disease Control of malfeasance.

Parading the suspect yesterday in Abuja, both the Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of Analytical Tracking and Interception Centre at the Force Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, FCIID, ACP Garba Baba Umar

and the Deputy Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Abayomi Shogunle, said the real Dr. Daniel is on a residency training at the Bingham University Teaching Hospital, Jos. According to Mr. Shogunle, the medical doctor had no fore-knowledge of the activities of Mr. Okpe who served as his groom’s man during his wedding over a decade ago.

He said the suspect cloned the certificates of Dr. Daniel during the wedding and used same to secure employment in the ministry.

As chairman of the NMA, Okpe said he did not undergo any form of biometric verification of his credentials as the processes were always waved for him by the officials.

According to the police, an anonymous petition was sent to the Civil Service Commission in May 2015 and it was discovered that Mr. Okpe “has been parading himself as a medical doctor in the Federal Ministry

of Health in Abuja for almost one decade.”

The police said he was among medical volunteers trained by the ministry in conjunction with the African Union Support to Ebola Outbreak in West Africa Mission in Liberia, but that he declined going having collected all the necessary monetary benefits from both the ministry and the AU. The suspect would soon be arraigned before a court for the offences of theft, impersonation and dishonestly receiving what he is not due for. Other charges would be “wearing and carrying token used by medical doctors, framing of incorrect document with intent to cause injury, breach of official trust, criminal intimidation and intentional assault with intent to provoke breach of the peace - all in contravention of Sections 288, 132, 133, 122, 124, 99, 398 and 399 respectively of the Penal Code.”

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News

Wednesday, July 8, 2015

7

Insurgency: Security chiefs, Northern govs parley Ubong Ukpong ABUJA

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ight northern state governors and security chiefs yesterday held a closed-door meeting over renewed attacks by Boko Haram terrorists in the north, even as the Federal Government has ordered the military to lead an onslaught against cattle rustlers and bandits wreaking havoc in parts of the north.

The decision is the

outcome of a meeting between the eight governors of North Western and North Central states, security chiefs and other Federal Government representatives at the Ministry of Defence, in Abuja.

The meeting, which was called at the instance of President Muhammadu Buhari to discuss the deteriorating security situation in the affected region, had the governors of Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi, Nasarawa, Niger,

Benue and Plateau states in attendance, while Zamfara was represented by its deputy governor.

After the meeting, Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Danladi Kifasi, who coordinated the conference on behalf of President Buhari, assured that the insecurity in the north, especially cattle rustling, would be a thing

of the past.

Kifasi expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the meeting, saying the modalities being put in place and championed by the military would bring sustainable peace to the region.

On whether the military would lead the operations, he said: “It is obvious. It should be obvious that the military will lead

the operation.”

Prior to the meeting, the Head of Service revealed that Kaduna governor, Nasir el-Rufai, requested the Presidential intervention to address insecurity in the region.

Kifasi revealed that Buhari acting on that request called for an expanded meeting of the governors of the contiguous states in

order to arrive at a more sustainable solution to the issue of ethnic killings, cattle rustling and farmers-herdsmen conflicts.

Similarly, on behalf of the governors, el-Rufai said the security operations would be expanded to focus on forest areas where the notorious rustlers and bandits operate from.

FRSC redeploys 40 senior personnel Olusegun Koiki

F

ederal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, has announced the immediate redeployment of 40 of its senior officers.

Those affected by the redeployment included 33 corps commanders and six assistant corps marshal of the service.

Also affected was Mr. Ahmed Hassan, who is now Deputy Corps Marshal in charge of Special Marshals and Partnership Department at the corps headquarters in Abuja.

An online media statement by the Corps Commander, Corps Public Education Officer, Imoh Etuk, stated that the redeployment was in accordance with its repositioning process for effective service delivery.

The statement added that the management of FRSC approved the redeployment.

The statement added, “The redeployments, which is coming on the heels of last week’s decoration of recently promoted senior officers of

the corps with their new ranks, also witnessed the movement of Corps Commander Susan Ajenge from FCT Sector Command to Niger State as Sector Commander, while Corps Commander Sunday Oghenekaro, formerly of Rivers State, moves over to FCT in the same capacity.”

He said further details of the postings indicated that Corps Commander Chidi Nkwonta, who has been on secondment, is now Sector Commander of Benue State, while Corps Commander Bisi Kazeem, formerly Head of Sports Section at the Training, Standards and Certification Department, is now in charge of Media Intelligence and Strategy in the office of the Corps Marshal.

In the same vein, former Corps Provost Officer, Corps Commander Edward Zamber, is now the Sector Commander of Ondo State, while the Deputy Corps Provost Officer, Corps Commander Ayodele Kumapayi is the new Sector Commander of Rivers command.

L-R: Son of late MKO Abiola, Adul; former NBA president, Dame Priscilla Kuye; daughter of late MKO Abiola, Mrs. Hafsat Abiola-Costello; President, Women Arise and Campaign for Democracy, Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin; NADECO Chairman, Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu; Nollywood actor, Ayo Badmus (right) and others, during the laying of wreath to commemorate 17th year anniversary of late MKO Abiola, in Lagos, yesterday.

PHOTO: YINKA ADEPARUSI

Udo Onyeka

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igeria Deposit Insurance Corporation, NDIC, has disclosed that N94.74bn was paid as liquidation dividend to 250,592 depositors of banks in 2014 compared to N93.51bn paid to 250,497 depositors for the preceding year The Corporation, which stated this in its 2014 Annual Report and Statement

NDIC pays N94.7bn liquidation dividend to bank depositors in 2014 of Accounts published yesterday, added that the amount included the uninsured portion of private sector depositors of 11 out of the 13 banks closed post-consolidation, which was funded by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN. It stated: “The payment of liquidation dividends

Buhari directs ministry over Fulani/herdsmen clashes Rotimi Fadeyi ABUJA

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resident Muhammadu Buhari yesterday directed Ministry of Agriculture to improve on its strategies to end incessant farmers/ herdsmen clashes using the blueprint formulated when he was chairman of Petroleum Trust Fund, PTF. Speaking with State House Correspondents af-

ter briefing the President on activities of the ministry, Permanent Secretary, Sunny Echono, said the ministry was also directed to restore the agriculture extension services scheme in order to create employment for teeming youths.

According to him, the ministry was already addressing the farmers/ herdsmen clashes with the creation of grazing reserves, stressing that the

ministry would also come up with new strategies to tackle the problem.

He also disclosed that issues relating to climate change and late arrival of rains as they affect programmes of the ministry were also discussed at the meeting.

He also stated that the Federal Government has not reversed the Growth Enhancement Scheme, GES of the ministry, stressing that Kano State

government’s decision to procure fertiliser for its farmers did not mean the programme had been reversed.

Echono maintained that GES programme was a transparent and effective policy designed to assist farmers.

Similarly, officials of Ministry of Water Resources were also at the Presidential Villa to brief the President about the activities of the ministry.

to shareholders of banksin-liquidation continued in 2014. The sum of N1,728.4m was declared as dividends to 1,284 creditors of nine banks. Out of that amount, the NDIC had paid the sum of N1, 247.77m to the 889 creditors, who filed their claims as against N1,191.54m paid to 424 creditors as at 31st December, 2013.

“The cumulative liquidation dividend declared for shareholders of 3 banks-in-liquidation remained at N2.56bn in 2014 as in the previous year. The total liquidation dividends paid to 453 shareholders of Alpha Merchant Bank, Pan African Bank and Nigeria Merchant Bank stood at N2.03bn as at 31st December, 2014.

“In 2014, the sale of three accounts for the total offered sum of N262.64m

was concluded and the proceeds paid by AMCON.” According to NDIC, N163, 859.70m and N6, 997.42m were due from the various customers of the 46 DMBs and 187 MFBs inliquidation, respectively as at 31st December, 2014.

It added that the cumulative recoveries from the debtors of the DMBs and MFBs as at 31st December, 2014 were N26.75bn and N127.64mcompared to N25.31bn and N44.98m, respectively, as at 31st December, 2013.

According to the corporation, the banking licence of African International Bank Ltd was formally revoked by the CBN on 2nd September, 2013 and in January 2014, the NDIC assumed its responsibility as the liquidator to recover debts owed the closed bank and realise the other assets.

8

South West

Wednesday July 8, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Church tackles FG over fresh B’Haram attacks OJO OYEWAMIDE AKURE

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kure diocese of Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) yesterday urged the Federal Government to stem the tide of incessant

attacks on places of worship in the North.

In a communiqué issued after the 11th Synod of the church at Ijare, Ifedore Local Government Area of Ondo State, the church asked the Federal Government to put in place pro-

active measures to secure the lives and properties of citizens in all parts of the country.

The communiqué was signed by Bishop of Akure Anglican Diocese, Rev Simeon Borokini, the Secretary, Venerable Solomon

Amure, and Chairman of Communiqué Committee, Prof Sola Ibukun.

It said, “Synod equally hoped the Federal Government would put in place and enforce policies that would instill discipline and ensure order in every

Residents of Osogbo, Osun State, in solidarity rally with Governor Rauf Aregbesola in Osogbo, yesterday.

Accident: OOU students issue fresh 7-day ultimatum to govt

…demand N120m compensation for deceased FEMI OYEWESO ABEOKUTA

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eadership of students of the Olabisi Onabanjo University, OOU, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State, yesterday threatened to embark on open confrontation against the state government and other concerned parties for failure to meet certain demands made over the death of their colleagues on June 26 by a containerladen truck at SagamuOre-Benin Expressway.

In a statement issued yesterday and signed by Public Relations Officer, PRO, of the OOU Students’ Union Government, Adelesi Damilola, the students also threatened to sue the company that allegedly owned the consignment carried by the truck respon-

sible for the accident should it fail to pay a compensation of N10 million to the family of each deceased before expiration of a fresh sevenday ultimatum that began yesterday.

The students also accused the police, personnel of the Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, as well as the state’s traffic management (TRACE) of ineptitude and conspiracy, which they alleged aided the death of their colleagues.

While demanding justice, the students lamented that the law enforcement agents, particularly the police were unable to arrest the truck driver since the day of the crash despite having identified owner of the truck marked (LAGOS) BDG 779 XE as one Alhaji Atanda Rafiu.

Among the demands

were that the state government and the plastic manufacturing company which owned the consignment fully participate in the burial of the victims and that the company pays N10m compensation to each family of the 12 victims that included eight OOU students.

The students also demanded that the driver of the truck along with FRSC personnel, police and TRACE on highway duty on the day of the crash be investigated and prosecuted for conspiracy “if found culpable”.

The students’ union President, Adegbesan Adenola, who spoke with journalists, explained that the fresh ultimatum which will lead to confrontation became the last option after the students had already exhausted two options of

“consultation and consolidation” which he said are the pillars of unionism.

facet of the Nigerian society.”

The church also frowned at the present situation where various levels of government in the country were finding it difficult to perform their constitutional duties, including payment of salaries and emoluments.

The synod, which expressed concern at the collection of jumbo salary by political office holders in the country despite repeated calls to reduce same, said the federal and state governments should reduce the cost of governance by reducing their emoluments and size of government.

It further asked the Federal Government to urgently improve power supply which is the basic necessity for development, and reform the oil sector by ensuring probity in its management through the appointment of honest professional to administer the sector of the economy.

Oyo Assembly passes 2015 revenue bill into law KEMI OLAITAN IBADAN

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yo State House of Assembly yesterday passed into law Revenue Administration Bill 2015, forwarded to it by Governor Abiola Ajimobi.

The bill was passed at a plenary presided over

by Speaker Michael Adeyemo, after a clause-by-

Synagogue building: Coroner to deliver judgment July 8

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Lagos State Coroner’s Court will today deliver judgment in its inquest into the collapse of a building within the premises of the Synagogue Church of All Nations, SCOAN, on September 12, 2014.

Coroner Oyetade Komolafe had on June 2 fixed the date after parties in the inquest adopted their final written addresses and made final submissions.

Komolafe had also thanked all those who made meaningful inputs in helping the inquest to arrive at a just judgment.

The communiqué reads: “This government should take a definite decision on the issue of fuel subsidy now to save Nigerians from the agonies experienced always due to fuel scarcity.

“Government should not only make a pronouncement on subsidy removal but also put in place appropriate machinery to prevent further corrupt practices currently prevalent in the oil industry where tax payer’s monies are embezzled or paid for services not rendered.

“The government should ensure the effective management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, and review the composition of the Board of Directors of the corporation.

“The board should be headed by professionals and not politicians. The present wastage needs to be checked so as to improve accountability and optimise the economy.”

The inquest was instituted under the Lagos State Coroner’s System Law No. 7 of 2007 for the purpose of establishing the cause and manner of the incident, in which 116 persons, mainly South Africans, were killed after the six-storey building collapsed.

The inquest commenced sitting on October 13 and also visited the accident scene on October 16.

Evidence was taken from several witnesses including the Lagos State Building Control Agency and the Lagos State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development.

clause consideration of the report of Chairman of the Ad-Hoc Committee, Olusegun Ajanaku, who considered the bill.

Ajanaku, after submitting the report before the House, said it was imperative to pass the bill into law for the state to move forward economically.

The Speaker commended members for their overwhelming support in passing the bill, saying it would assist in improving the socio-economic development of the state and boost government’s revenue generation drive.

Also, the House at the plenary considered five different bills and passed them for second reading.

The bills included the Oyo State laws repeal bill 2015, Ministry of Environment, Physical Planning and Urban Development Bill 2015, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology bill 2015, Ministry of Trade, Industry, Investment and Cooperatives bill 2015, and Ministry of Finance and Economic Development Bill 2015.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

South West

Wednesday July 8, 2015

9

Drama as thugs attack pro, anti-Aregbesola protesters We were not informed of any protest –Police BOLADALE BAMIGBOLA OSOGBO

S L-R: Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr. (Mrs.) Oluranti Adebule; Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Tunji Bello, and a beneficiary from Egbe-Idimu, Mr. Ibitade Semiu, during the presentation of financial support to victims of tanker explosions by the State Government at Iyana-Ipaja and Egbe-Idimu in Lagos, yesterday.

Lagos tanker explosions: Ambode compensates victims FRANCIS SUBERU

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overnor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State has fulfilled his pledge to victims of recent tanker fire explosions in Iyana-Ipaja and Idimu areas of the state, as he distributed cheques to 243 victims enumerated by the government.

Ambode, who was represented by his deputy, Dr. (Mrs.) Oluranti Adebule, at the cheque-presentation event held at Igando Rehabilitation Centre, Igando, told the beneficiaries to utilise the largesse to rehabilitate themselves as much as they could.

According to the governor, “we know that what government has given is not enough, but with the belief that you are going to put it to judicious use, it would go a long way to help out. Please, stay

peaceful and remain focused.

“We want you to go back home and rehabilitate yourselves as much as you could. The good Lord will continue to be with you. We pray not to witness this kind of incidence again. We share in your feelings and urge you to continue to support this administration.”

The governor urged citizens to remain patient and join hands with his administration, adding that government is going to be very responsive and has already demonstrated that by the financial assistance.

Permanent secretary, Ministry of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, Dr. Aderemi Desalu, had earlier said that from the Iyana Ipaja incident, 76 persons were recommended for financial assistance, out which seven were landlords and

got N500,000 each. Sixtyfour others who were shop owners got N150,000 each; while five tricycle operators got N50,000 each.

He said from the Idimu petrol tanker incident, 369 persons were affected, out of which 167 are adults.

“We brought members of that community to this camp. We had a total of 369 residents, including children. They have been here for one month and would be departing very soon. One hundred and sixty-seven of them are adults. We recommended N50,000 but the governor magnanimously doubled what we recommended,” he said.

Meanwhile, a committee set up by the governor to examine the immediate and remote causes of the petrol tanker disasters witnessed last month has submitted its report.

The committee chaired

by Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Tunji Bello, presented its report to the governor yesterday at the Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja.

Governor Ambode had in the wake of the Iyana Ipaja and Idimu petrol tanker explosions set up a fact-finding committee with a charge to prepare guidelines on ethical conduct for tanker drivers who were found culpable in the unfortunate incidents. The committee was also expected to engage the insurance industry and work out appropriate policies expected to protect residents of the state from havoc in future tanker incidences in the state.

In the report, the committee made far-reaching recommendations to the governor on how to prevent reoccurrence of such disasters.

Jega lauded over honourable exit from INEC KEMI OLAITAN IBADAN

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group, Nigeria Voters Assembly, has described the exit of former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega, as honourable, hailing his tenure that ended last month as one dotted with wonderful performances and unbeaten records in the history of electoral

bodies in the country.

The group in a release issued yesterday by its president, Comrade Mashood Erubami, described Jega as a selfless, honest, reliable and dependable corporate manager and first ever most successful INEC boss.

He congratulated him for a job well done at the INEC and commended him for exiting with legacies of effective leadership, efficient and wholesome performance.

According to him, Jega should keep those virtues of selflessness, courage and honesty, which assisted him in executing the daunting task to the end and be ready to use them again to serve humanity.

He said: “It was good that God gave the country the likes of Prof. Jega, who made himself a sample that Nigeria still has people with undoubted integrity, people with clear grasp of the challenges plaguing

this country and possess the capacity and strong leadership to fix them.

“Jega’s sojourn in the office of the chairman of INEC introduced lots of innovations, which assisted the electoral processes to grow and freed the election management body from the sway of election riggers, while he advanced the country’s elections on the path of fairness, freedom from fear, legitimacy and credibility.”

ome heavily armed thugs yesterday laid siege to Osogbo, Osun State capital, dispersing both pro- and anti-Aregbesola impeachment protesters.

The protesters in a march organised by a group, Civil Societies Coalition for the Emancipation of Osun, CSCEO, to rally in support of the investigation by the House of Assembly into the petition written

by Justice Oloyede Folahanmi, shortly after it took off at the Ayetoro junction in Osogbo, were pelted with sachet water by suspected thugs.

But the protesters returned much stronger when they threw several sachet water back at the attackers, forcing them to retreat.

The thugs, however, staged another attack on the protesters, who were mostly members of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, NUP, at Igbona area of the state capital, firing bullets into the air and beating the protesters with horsewhips.

In the melee that followed, the protesters ran in different directions while many traders, observing the weekly Igbona market, also abandoned their wares as the hoodlums fired several bullets into the air.

The march, which could have terminated at the gate of the House of Assembly, could not progress beyond that point.

The protesters, led by leader of CSCEO, Comrade Adeniyi Alimi, had earlier, while addressing the protesters, called for support of Osun people as the assembly members commence investigation into Justice Oloyede’s petition.

At the Olaiya junction where pro-Aregbesola protesters, led by Comrade Wale Adebisi of Osun Progressive Left, OPL, Chief Amitola Shittu and Comrade Wahed Lawal, had gathered, some thugs alleged to be members of a group called ‘State Boys’ attacked the peaceful rally organised in support of Governor Aregbesola.

The hoodlums, who were

carrying all sorts of dangerous weapons, also fired bullets in the air to disperse people, leaving two people with injuries in their arms.

Before the arrival of the hoodlums, Adebisi, while addressing newsmen, had warned against what he called “campaign of calumny” against the governor, adding that the people of the state would always support Aregbesola because of the trust they have in him.

Reacting, the state police command said none of the protesting groups got police permit before embarking on their protests.

During a telephone chat with newsmen, the command’s spokesperson, Folasade Odoro, said the police have returned normalcy to affected areas, restating readiness of the command to protect lives and properties.

Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress, APC, in a statement signed by Barrister Kunle Oyatomi, the party’s director of publicity, media and strategy, congratulated people of the state, especially residents of Osogbo for “routing the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP’s attempt at creating mayhem in the state capital.”

The statement alleged that the PDP had mobilised a “dubious coalition of socalled civil society ‘activists’ to demonstrate in support of civil servants’ strike over the salaries’ crisis, which the APC government of President Muhammadu Buhari has now resolved.

“But unknown to the PDP, a huge crowd of APC supporters had gathered to celebrate the Federal government’s intervention to help states that have been unable to pay workers’ salaries as a result of the massive looting of the nation’s treasury by the former Goodluck Jonathan-led PDP government.

“Before the PDP-sponsored hoodlums, in the name of civil society ‘activists’ knew what was happening, an intimidating crowd of jubilant APC supporters emerged from the Alekuwodo axis of the state capital, Osogbo, and advanced against the potential trouble makers that were waiting at Olaiya.

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South East

Wednesday, July 8, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Customs impounds contraband worth over N1bn

…arrests 129 suspects Chris Njoku OWERRI

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igeria Customs Service, NCS, Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone “C” Owerri, has recorded 226 seizures of contrabands with a Duty Paid Value, DPV, of N1,016,833,292.

The customs men also arrested 129 suspects in connection with smuggling of various contrabands be-

tween January and June this year, while 118 cases are pending in various courts within the zone.

Disclosing this to newsmen in Owerri, Imo State capital, Customs Area Controller of the unit, Comptroller Victor Dimka, stated that the items were impounded within the first half of 2015.

He said 63 seizures with DPV of N337,368,522 was recorded in March, which, according to him, was the

highest seizure with 25 arrests made within the period under review.

The figure, he explained further, was at variance with 37 seizures with a DPV of N176,483,600 made in January, 40 seizures with DPV of N136,708,650 in February, 37 seizures with DPV of N83,302,620 in April, 42 seizures with DPV of N141,228,100 in May, while 47 seizures with DPV of N138, 341,400 were recorded in

June.

He attributed the massive seizures in March to high rate of corruption in the society and quest for materialism.

Dimka, who expressed concern at the persistent cases of smuggling in the country despite obvious stiff penalties for those arrested, stated that 210 vehicles, 990 bales of textiles and second hand clothing, 126 packages of

furniture and 296 bales of fairly used bags and suitcases worth N456,704,500; N101,805,700; N19,584,000; and N30,143,400 respectively were also impounded.

Others items also impounded include three 3,905 pieces of used tyres amounting to N53,502,100; 2,126 cartons of imported frozen poultry products worth N30,566,804; 1,731 bags of 50kg rice worth of N35,678,600; beverages and

juice worth N72,000.

Dimka added that 2,686 pieces of used footwear estimated at N6,253,800; 37 cartons of foreign soap/detergents with 202 cartons of foreign vegetable oil amounting to N6,874,020; other goods which include electrical and electronics parts with used fridges and compressors, machinery, all used for concealing the items worth N303,391,772.

CLO wants Enugu petitions tribunal probed Dennis Agbo ENUGU

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ivil Liberties Organisation, CLO, has called on the National Judiciary Council, NJC, to commence immediate probe of activities of the Election petitions tribunal sitting in Enugu.

The organisation is worried that most petitions have been dismissed by the tribunal without proper hearing, alleging also that the tribunal feigns lack of jurisdiction in some petitions without recourse to Supreme Court decision that tribunals can entertain pre-election matters.

Chairman of CLO in Enugu State, Zulu Ofoelue, in a statement yesterday said it was confounding that the tribunal within 120 days jurisdiction adjourns matters brought before it for periods ranging from one to two

weeks, arguing that it brings about delays in hearing and probably kills many genuine petitions.

The CLO said it made careful observation of the proceedings of the tribunal before arriving at its decision to invite NJC to probe activities of the tribunal in a bid to foster growth of democracy in Nigeria.

It advised the tribunal to adhere to the NJC instruction to complete all hearings and matters, and give its rulings so that all matters could go for Appeal at the same period in order to save time.

“The CLO condemns any decision or actions which could infringe on the democratic rights of the citizens and run counter to the provisions of the constitution, the electoral act and the collective decision of the people of Enugu State.

Imo moves to decongest prisons Chris Njoku OWERRI

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mo State government has set up a committee to find lasting solution on how to decongest prisons in the state.

Also, the state’s prison command promoted over 60 officers.

Addressing newsmen yesterday shortly after the Security Council meeting at Government House, Secretary to the Government of Imo State, SSG, Jude Ejiogu, said the committee comprises the Deputy Governor, Eze Madumere, and state’s Chief Judge, Paschal Nnadi.

He said Governor Rochas Okorocha had mandated the committee to visit the prisons to enable them proffer

lasting solution on how to decongest them.

Ejiogu also said a committee has been set up headed by the deputy governor to make peace with workers of Imo Airport and their host community, pointing out that the gesture was to ensure lasting peace in the area.

Speaking during decoration of the newly promoted staff of Imo State Prison Command, the Controller of Prisons, Ifeanyi Amaliri congratulated the officers, especially those in the inspectorate cadre who had spent many years in one rank.

He thanked the Controller General of Prisons, Dr. Peter Ekpendu, for remembering those officers.

President Generals of the 177 communities in Anambra State protesting the relocation of Boko Haram detainees to Anambra in Awka, yesterday.

S’East oil marketers send SOS to Buhari George Opara ABIA

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ollowing perennial fuel scarcity rocking the country, particularly the South East, oil marketers in Aba, Abia State, under the aegis of concerned members of Independent Petroleum Market-

ers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Aba depot, have sent a “Save Our Soul” message to President Muhammadu Buhari, urging him to unravel the circumstances behind the scarcity of petroleum and other products in the zone.

In a statement endorsed by its chairman, Levi Amah,

the group stated that it was worrisome that despite assurances given by officials of Pipelines and Petroleum Marketing Company, PPMC, of availability of the products, their members suffer untold hardship to get the products from outside the zone.

“We are sending this

SGF slot: Ndigbo seek divine intervention Aliuna Godwin ABAKALIKI

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embers of the All Progressives Congress, APC, from the South East of the country yesterday sought divine intervention over the appointment of a Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, from the zone, just as they urged President Muhammadu Buhari to carry the area along in his appointments.

Leader of the group,

Pastor Michael Ajah, while addressing journalists shortly after a one-day prayer summit at Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, hometown of former Abia State governor and chairman of the defunct ANPP, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, urged the president to appoint a competent, loyal and patriotic person as SGF. Ajah, who is coordinator, Mass Movement for Buhari 2015, among other members recommended that Onu should be consid-

ered for the SGF slot considering his contributions to the merger of the political parties that formed APC and victory of the president.

The cleric said Onu is one of Igbo leaders who has contributed to the unity and development of the country and deserves to be appointed SGF, just as he decried a situation where Ndigbo are not recognised in the sharing of vital positions in the leadership structure of the present administration.

‘SOS’ because for the umpteenth time officials of PPMC have assured us of availability of products, but we do not see any and this has made us to travel as far as Lagos to buy products that ordinarily we could have gotten at Aba, with its attendant risks.”

They described as untrue and flimsy the excuse in some quarters that the scarcity was as a result of the old and rustic nature of pipelines used in conveying products from Port Harcourt to Aba depot, stressing that petroleum engineers had assured that such pipes last more than 150 years before they could become rusty and out of use.

They therefore urged President Buhari to include Aba depot among areas he would beam his searchlight on in his ongoing reform of the oil sector, to alleviate the pains of the South East people, which the depot should serve.

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South south

Wednesday, July 8, 2015

11

Dickson’s adviser resigns, defects to APC Osahon Julius YENAGOA

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he plot against incumbent governor of Bayelsa State, Seriake Dickson, thickened yesterday as special adviser to the governor and chairman of Bayelsa People’s Consultative Assembly, BPCA, Chief Alex Ekiotenne, is set to lead other prominent Bayelsans, including members

of the assembly to join the All Progressives Congress, APC, in a mass rally to be attended by national leaders of the party in Yenagoa soon.

It was further gathered that a former governor of the state and leader of APC, Timipre Sylva, would not contest for the governorship as he has restated his resolve to stay out and allow a level-playing field for the emergence of a widely

accepted and credible candidate to wrest power from the incumbent.

Disclosing this to newsmen at a press briefing in Yenagoa, Chief Ekiotenne, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and board member of the Board of Directors of Bayelsa Oil Company, said the National Working Committee, NWC, of APC, has given its blessing to the grand rally where prominent members

of the PDP would lead their supporters to the APC fold.

He said his decision to join the APC was as a result of the abysmal failure of the governor to provide dividends of democracy to Bayelsans as he jettisoned the consultative approach to running a successful government.

He said: “A number of well-meaning Bayelsans actually had great hopes at the beginning of the administration in terms of con-

L-R: Arik Air Deputy Managing Director, Captain Ado Sanusi; Military Airport Commandant, Group Captain Idi Sani and Arik Air Managing Director, Chris Ndulue, when the Airport Commandant visited Arik head office on Monday. PHOTO: ADEYANJU OLOWOJOBA

Buhari’ll develop Niger Delta –Oshiomhole Sebastine Ebhuomhan BENIN

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overnor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has beaten his chest yet again that President Muhammadu Buhari would surely develop the Niger Delta region.

Speaking on Monday during a visit of chairman of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Senator Bassey Ewa-Henshaw, who led other members of the commission’s board, including its Managing Direc-

tor and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Bassey Dan-Abia, to Government House, Oshiomhole said events of the past few years have shown that friends of the Niger Delta are not necessarily people from the region.

Governor Oshiomhole said, “I am aware that the board has initiated a number of projects, and according to you, you have over a thousand of them, totaling over a trillion naira in cost. These are huge numbers. The expectations of the people of the Niger Delta are very

high as they expect the intervention agency would find resources to address their critical needs.

“I also know that the board has been afflicted by the critical Nigerian disease, namely: clarity of ideas, the need to take extraordinary measures.

“The law is specifically clear as to how the NDDC should be funded and all that is expected is that the Federal Ministry of Finance, or to be more specific, the Federal Government ought to ensure that the laws passed

and signed, which are in operation, are enforced to the letter so that they in turn can compel the board to ensure the fund is judiciously expended.

“I am very confident that President Muhammadu Buhari, given his passion for development as a trusted friend of the poor masses, which is his own main constituency, will do everything possible to look at the letter and spirit and do whatever has to be done to ensure the law of the NDDC is complied with.”

Rivers cult clash: 2 feared dead, residents flee Dennis Naku

PORT HARCOURT

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clash between two rival cult groups in Ubima, Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State, has left two people dead.

Ubima is hometown of two former governors of the state, Sir Celestine Omehia and Chibuike Amaechi.

It was gathered that residents are fleeing the community to avoid being caught in the crossfire.

Chairman of Ikwerre Local Government Area, Bestman Amadi, who confirmed the incident, told journalists that security operatives have been drafted to the town to restore peace and order.

Amadi explained, “The second detachment of se-

curity operatives is right now being drafted to Ubima community to quell the situation.

“The first detachment of armed security personnel was drafted yesterday night.We are about returning to Ubima with the second enforcement of security operatives to make sure the rival cultists are effectively subdued and disarmed,” the council

boss said. He added, “We need peace in Ubima and Rivers State. There is nothing to gain if we continue to kill ourselves the way these young men are doing.

“Rather than come together to join hands in developing the community, our youths are busy engaging in unproductive skirmishes,” Amadi lamented.

sultative approach to developmental programmes and transparency objectives of the administration. Soon after commencement of full-scale activities, government jettisoned the consultative approach of running a successful government.

“Following this turn of attitude, so many projects were started in one fell swoop, thereby abandoning prioritisation, strategic needs consideration and funding prospects.”

While describing the government of Governor Dickson as a failure, he said Bayelsans believe that if consultation and strategic planning, including prioritisation had been sustained, the state would not have found itself in the present gloom.

Chief Ekiotenne stated that following the pathetic state of affairs, well-meaning Bayelsans, after a meeting where the BPCA was founded, it was agreed at its inaugural assembly that in order to find a solution

to the Bayelsa project, they need to join the APC. He also stated that the BPCA ad hoc committee has since met with Chief John Oyegun, the APC national chairman and Chief Sylva, who reiterated his resolve to stay clear of the governorship race to create a level-playing ground for the emergence of a credible and widely accepted choice for the race.

“From the successes recorded in further consultations, the BPCA will now embark on bringing groups of like minds together in a mini summit in readiness for the grand occasion of the declaration which is expected to take place in Yenagoa very soon.

“Let me use this opportunity to disengage myself from the two positions that I had accepted to serve the state purely on advisory capacity namely, Honorary Special adviser and member of board of Directors of Bayelsa Oil Company limited, “he added.

C’River LG workers oppose salary-on-table payment Richard Ndoma CALABAR.

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ross River State local government workers yesterday rejected proposed plan by government to pay them by the table instead of through the bank.

The rejection followed a statement last week by Governor Ben Ayade on state radio corporation, CRBC, that salaries of local government workers would be paid through the table in each of the council headquarters across the 18 local government areas of the state.

Speaking with journalists in Calabar, branch vice chairman of NULGE, Calabar Municipality Local Government Area, Comrade Charles Offiong, said NULGE members would continue their strike until government clears all areas of salaries, and only until then would they present themselves before the panel of personnel auditors for screening.

The workers, who gathered at the gate of Cala-

bar Municipality Council yesterday morning, were restrained by their union leaders from entering the premises.

The aggrieved workers, who caused commotion in the council, comprised the Medical and Health Workers Union and National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives.

Offiong emphasised that for workers to return to work, government must pay their May and June salaries, which he said, were their right and not privilege.

We will partner with them when they clear with us and that means, they should pay all our arrears so that if they want to make any table payment, it should be from July 2015 and not with the accumulated arrears,” he said.

The NULGE helmsman reiterated the resolve of the unions not to return to work until the state government pays them, explaining that the union leaders would monitor the situation and restrain any worker who may be intimidated by government.

12

North

Wednesday July 8, 2015

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Kwasu, son of ex-military officer, died of disobedience A za Msue KADUNA

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ore facts emerged yesterday over the death of Cadet Elshaddai Zishindung Kwasu, who was in training in April this year at the Nigerian Defence Academy, NDA. Kwasu was the son of Danladi Angulu Kwasu, a retired wing commander in the Air Force. He had accused the NDA of killing his 19-year-old officer cadet son in a dam during training.

Our correspondent, who visited the NDA on fact-finding mission over Kwasu’s death, was informed that about 500 cadets, including females, went through the same training at the Kangimin in Kaduna State.

Sources at the NDA explained that the late cadet’s father had similar training during his time as cadet, adding that the death of the young man was not deliberate as being viewed by his father.

But, one of NDA officials who spoke to our correspondent, but did not want his name mentioned, explained that the late cadet died due to disobedience of training rules which said a cadet should not tamper with the rope tied on his waist.

“If the late cadet Elshaddai had obeyed the instructor’s instructions and rules, nothing of such would have

happened to him.

“Much as we sympathise with his father over his son’s death, he should not be going about the unfortunate incident the way he is doing because as the father, he signed the NDA letter that in case his son is wounded or dies during training, he will not sue or seek compensation.

“This is a military institution where retired Wing Commander Kwase underwent his training too during his time and nothing happened to him; so, he should be the one to enlighten the public about NDA training than otherwise.

“What happened was unfortunate. But, we at the NDA believe that accidents can occur at anytime on the road, in air and water. The late cadet’s father has classmates and some of his kinsmen as NDA management officers. How can we kill or murdered his son? We have no reason to kill his son; some us served with the late cadet’s father,” the source said.

A witness during the training said: “The task of the NDA is to train military officers to face enemies in a war. On that unfortunate day, more than our 30 female cadets did the same training without any problem before cadet Kwasu and over 500 cadets did the same exercise on that day and nobody died.

Hisbah board arrests 52 youths over alcohol in Kano

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ano State Hisbah Board said it arrested 52 youths for taking alcohol at Roxy Amusement Park in Kano metropolis.

Public Relations Officer of the board, Malam Mohammed, told the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Kano yesterday that the culprits were apprehended Sunday night.

He said the culprits were 36 young men and 16 women, adding that they were arrested during a special patrol by officials of the board following a tip-off.

Mohammed said the board would sustain its raids on all suspected ‘dark spots,’ especially during the sacred month of Ramadan.

According to him, the

arrest is to discourage youths from engaging in social vices, so that they could live their lives in conformity with Islamic laws.

He further advised parents to caution their children against patronising such places during this holy period and at other times.

The Hisbah spokesman warned that anyone caught during such raids would be prosecuted in accordance with Sharia law.

“If we arrest violators of the law, the board has the mandate to charge them to court,’’ Mohammed said.

He also advised youths to endeavour to be of good conduct at all times, especially in this holy month, so as to earn the blessings of Almighty Allah.

L-R: Publisher, Sundiata Post Media Ltd, Mr. Maxwell Amuchie; representative of Managing Director, News Agency of Nigeria, Mr. Obiora Chukwumba and Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, during official unveiling of Sundiata Post online newspaper in Abuja, yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

EFCC remands ex-gov Lamido, two sons over alleged N1.3bn fraud Olufemi Adeosun

of EFCC operatives.

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He said the former governor and his sons would remain in custody preparatory to arraignment.

According to him, the anti-graft body will not be disposed to disclosing where the suspects were being kept for security reason.

Our correspondent however learnt that they would have a date with the court possibly on Thursday.

It would be recalled that

ABUJA

conomic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, yesterday remanded former Jigawa State governor, Sule Lamido and his two sons, Aminu and Mustapha over alleged N1.3bn fraud.

A reliable source at the commission’s headquarters, informed our correspondent that the Lamidos were arrested yesterday morning in Kano by a team

EFCC had in 2013 arrested Lamido’s sons in Kano and whisked them to Abuja, where they were thoroughly drilled to ascertain their level of complicity in the alleged N1.3bn deal.

Although the ex-governor was fingered as a prime suspect in the deal then, but EFCC could not arrest him because he was covered by immunity.

The former governor willingly submitted himself to the commission at the end of his tenure on

June 15.

They were accused of using their positions to siphon Jigawa State funds.

When contacted, Head, Media and Publicity, EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, confirmed the arrest.

He said the suspects would remain in custody until they would be arraigned.

He said: “I can confirm the arrest and detention of the suspects. They are being detained preparatory to arraignment in Kano.

Varsity, other centres of excellence to access World Bank’s $80m grant –NUC

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xecutive Secretary, National Universities Commission, NUC, Prof. Julius Okojie, said yesterday the African University of Science and Technology, AUST, Abuja, and other African Centres of Excellence, ACE, would soon access World Bank’s 80-million-dollar grant.

Okojie said this while briefing newsmen on the ACE project in Abuja.

He said AUST has met all requirements for it to access the eight-milliondollar grant.

Okojie recalled that the World Bank had in April 2015, signed a performance contract with nine of the 10 ACE in Nigeria.

According to him, the ACE project is a competitive regional project spread

across seven countries - Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Republic of Benin, Ghana, Cameroon, Togo and Senegal.

“Universities in these countries competed for slots on the project and Nigeria won 10 out the 19 approved centres.

“I am happy to report that AUST has met all the requirements and consequently, we signed the performance contract on June 29.

“We received the notification of the approval of the World Bank declaring the university effective.

“The funds are already here; and by the end of July, all concerned centres should start drawing down on the funds once all requirements are met.

“Ten per cent of the fund

will be released first and the rest subsequently.’’

Okojie expressed satisfaction that the specific programme that won the ACE in AUST which is the Pan African Materials Institute, PAMI, was retained.

According to him, the programme would use a systems-based interdisciplinary approach to undertake training and research activities.

He identified the areas of interest as materials for solar energy, health, water purification and affordable housing infrastructure.

He urged ACE to boost regional cooperation in research as the recent Ebola experience had buttressed the need for regional cooperation.

The NUC boss said PAMI

would support the training of a critical mass of Ph.D graduates as well as other professionals who would contribute to the development of West Africa.

In his response, Dr. Shola Odusanya, PAMI Co-Centre leader, said the centre is being innovative, rather than just copying what others were doing, adding that it published 15 journal papers in 2015.

According to him, the focus of the centre is on solving the problems confronting the society and making impact in the lives of people.

“In the case of health, we are looking at two diseases that have taken out 50 per cent of our people -- cancer and cardio-vascular diseases.

Wednesday, July 8, 2015

J

uly 3 was memorable in the minds of numerous All Progressives Congress, APC, members as it signals what turns out to be the resemblance of what the future holds for the latest party in government.

As expected, the first National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of APC since after the general elections promised to be sizzling as many controversial issues were pending but surprisingly, wisdom prevailed, and the prophets of doom got it all wrong.

For four weeks, the ruling APC has been swimming in crisis following the controversial emergence of Senator Bukola Saraki and Hon. Yakubu Dogara as Senate President and Speaker, House of Representatives respectively, contrary to the choice of some leaders of the party.

Both Saraki and Dogara, had on June 9, defied the directives of the party by contesting the Senate Presidency and the speakership against the wish of APC which had preferred Senator Ahmed Lawan as Senate President and Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila as Speaker.

The controversy worsened with the emergence of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Senator Ike Ekweremadu as Senate Deputy President.

Again, both Saraki and Dogara refused to read letters sent to them by the party leadership on the floor of both chambers as regard to the choice of other principal officers in both the red and green chambers.

APC had in a letter to Saraki named Lawan as its choice for the Majority Leader; Prof. Sola Adeyeye as the Chief Whip; George Akume as Deputy Majority Leader; and Abu Ibrahim as Deputy Chief Whip.

The party had also named a former Minority Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila as the Majority Leader; Ado Doguwa as the Deputy House Leader; M.T. Monguno as the Chief Whip and Pally Iriase as the Deputy Chief Whip.

Instead, Saraki read letters from zonal caucuses of the APC which favoured Senator Ali Ndume, from the North-East as Majority Leader; while the North-West put forward, Bala Na’Allah as Deputy Majority Leader, while the South-South caucus adopted Francis Alimikhena as the Deputy Chief.

In the House of Representatives, the refusal of Dogara to read the party’s letter threw the lower chamber into commotion.

The NEC was gathering of who is who in the APC from President Muhammadu Buhari, Senate President Saraki, Speaker, House of Representative Hon. Dogara, National Working Committee, NWC, members and some other prominent members of the party which included the following among others: Chief Ogbonaya Onu, Chief Tony Momoh, Governors Ibikunle Amosun, Ogun State; Ibrahim Gaidam, Yobe State; Bello Masari, Kastina State; Aminu Tambuwal, Sokoto State, Bello Bagudau, Bauchi State; Adams Oshiomhole, Edo State; Abdullahi Ganduje, Kano State, Akinwunmi Ambode, Lagos State and Jubrilla Bindow, Adamawa State.

However, the party’s national leader, Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu, former interim National Chairman, Bisi Akande and Vice-President Yemi Osibanjo were conspicuously absent, a development that raised some eyebrows.

Making veiled references to the challenges within the party, particularly at the National Assembly, President Buhari appealed that all members should bury their ambition and subordinate themselves to the party.

Buhari said: “I have already addressed you through the chairman, through the leadership of the party, through your excellencies, the governors and through our senators and House of Representatives members.

“The APC must not disappoint its constituency, that’s the nation state. We have to convince our various con-

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13

Politics

APC and its controversial NEC

The first National Executive Council, NEC, meeting of the governing All Progressives Congress, APC, since after the 2015 general elections lived up to its billing. OBIORA IFOH recaptures the controversial meeting.

Buhari

Odigie-Oyegun

stituencies that we are individually worthy of the sacrifices that they have made.

“They stayed awake day and night, travelling all over the country and made sure as a party, we emerged victorious. What subsequently happened is human, and as human beings we are not perfect, but let our collective actions in this party prove that we have won the elections, the battle and we will win the war.

“What happened to APC must be given to God Almighty. The opposition party has ruled the country for 16 years, with all the treasuries, literally in their pockets and all the coercing forces under their command they still meekly conceded defeat. We congratulate them for that.”

Alluding to the emergence of Saraki and Dogara as Senate President and Speaker House of Representatives respectively, which have polarised the APC, Buhari re-

minded them that “human action are not perfect; let our collective actions prove that we have won the battle and will eventually win the war.

Stressing further the need for party supremacy, Buhari said: “Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, was constituted with clear terms of references: to register political associations as political parties and whoever wants to contest election must have a platform, hence the superiority of the parties and that is our platform and APC has been damned lucky.

“The way the opposition parties then realised and accepted that the only way to remove PDP from government was for us to come together: defunct Congress for Progressives Change, CPC, All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, we agreed with our colleagues in APGA and PDP to be far away until we conclude the negotiations and get the party registered and thereafter they can join us and Governor Rochas Okorocah was a leading light in all these discussions.

“At every point, we worked with committee of nine with the three parties nominating three each and for the first time, INEC sent the application back and said we must have at least 25 people with geo-political spread before they can register us.

“If they wanted to be bloody, they would have kept dribbling us and eventually we got 35 people with Chief Akande as our interim chairman with dexterity and patriotism. After that, we ended up with the convention and emerged victorious at the election.

“I went through the history so that everybody will understand. Let us not throw this to the wind. Let us all come together and provide service to the people. I appeal in the name of God that whatever is anybody’s ambition, let us put it aside; let us work so that our constituencies will be happy. Let us work to satisfy our conCONTINUES ON PAGE 14

Making veiled references to the challenges within the party, particularly

National Assembly, President Buhari appealed that at the

all members should bury their ambition and subordinate themselves to the party.

14

Politics

Wednesday, July 8, 2015

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13 stituencies. Please, continue to work together. Please accept the superiority of the party.”

National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, who some interests have called for his removal, in his remarks, noted that after the last NEC in January in Port Harcourt, they had not met till last Friday “because of preparations for the election and transition.”

He reminded them that victory was by combined efforts of stakeholders from the ward level to the national level, while also noting that it was Buhari’s charisma, incorruptibility and concern for the down trodden that provided the opportunity to chart a new course for the country, through a landslide victory at the polls.

He said: “Because this meeting is of an emergency nature and because our brothers will go for prayer we should be brief in our contributions. Among the agenda we have put together for this meeting included: the ratification of the aspects of the membership of the Board of Trustees, BoT. We want to complete the composition and ensure that all organs of the party come into operation.

“We also have to discuss the political challenges we are passing through which we assure you will be dealt with before the National Assembly resumes”.

APC National Publicity Secretary, Lai Muhammad, told newsmen shortly after the closed door meeting that the NEC had passed a vote of confidence on APC National Chairman, Odigie-Oyegun.

He said: “NEC has provided an enabling environment to look into ways of resolving the National Assembly logjams. Later in the day, the governors will be meeting with the Speaker and the Senate President in a further attempt to find a lasting solution to the lingering logjam at the National Assembly.

“Also, it is important to let you know that everybody in the party is united on two issues which are party supremacy and the need to ensure that this government delivers its campaign promises.”

Asked whether the leadership of the Senate and House of Representatives will now consider the position of the party on the selection of principal officers in both chambers of the National Assembly, Mohammed said: “I have told you that the NEC has provided a platform to resolve this issue and part of the resolution is the meeting that will be held today between the governors, the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. The president said he believes in party supremacy, we have a problem on our hands and we must find the best means to resolve it.

One thing I can assure you is that, this house (the APC) shall not fall.”

Asked to comment on when to draw a line between party supremacy and sanctity of the constitution in the

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APC and its controversial NEC Okorocha... said that the feuding lawmakers have accepted to lay the dispute to rest and embrace each other in order to ensure that the

APC administration succeeds.

Okorocha

selection of principal officers at the National Assembly, Mohammed said: “The less said about this logjam, the better it’ll be, not for only this party but the whole nation. It is for the interest of everyone who voted for change. I would not want to go into the nitty gritty of what the resolution will be because as I speak for now I don’t know. When you talk about party supremacy, it is derived from the constitution.

On the absence of notable leaders of APC from the NEC, Mohammed said invitation to the meeting was at the discretion of the NWC or NEC on who to invite or not, adding: “But the bottom line is that neither of them are members of the exco of the party.”

The peace meeting brokered by the APC governors may have resulted into putting an end to the crisis, although the details of the peace arrangement was not made known to journalists, Imo State governor and chairman of the APC Governors Forum, Chief Rochas Okorocha, said the party will make further disclosures on the terms of the peace agreement.

He said: “We are aware that the nation has been waiting patiently for the outcome of this our peace move.

I am happy to announce to all of you that peace at the National Assembly is at sight. We have had discussion and we have all agreed to accept peace, so you will not

see any more disagreements as in the past. Peace has returned to our party.

“Both the Senate President, the Speaker, Senator Lawan and Hon. Gbajabiamila will work together for the unity of the National Assembly and the progress of our party. By next week we will give you the details of this our peace arrangement but so far, so good.”

Okorocha, who emerged from the governors’ peace meeting at the Imo Governor’s Lodge accompanied by Saraki, Dogara, Lawan, Gbajabiamila and Tambuwal said that the feuding lawmakers have accepted to lay the dispute to rest and embrace each other in order to ensure that the APC administration succeeds.

Before the peace deal was struck, the governors had met all night a day before with the legislators, trying to arrive at amicable resolution of the conflict. However, at a stage when it became clear that the night peace meeting could not conclusively address the issues in dispute, the meeting was then deferred till Friday.

It was on account of the optimism that the matter was nearing point of resolution that the governors sought the permission of the party’s NEC to allow them to continue with the peace efforts.

Meanwhile, the peace in the party could be described as that of the graveyard as none of the combatants has agreed to sheath the sword. The true test of reconciliation will be measured on July 21 when the Assembly reconvenes.

Kogi needs pragmatic, focused leader to move forward –Aspirant Wale Adebayo LOKOJA

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chieftain of All Progressives Congress, APC, in Kogi State and gubernatorial aspirant, Prince Yaqub Rotimi Obadofin, has described Kogi State as a near-collapsed state that needs a pragmatic and focused leader that will inject an all round transformation that will bring it out of the current doldrums.

Speaking to journalists in Lokoja yesterday, Obadofin said that if elected, he will introduce free and compulsory education in primary and post primary schools in the state, saying his six cardinal points include, free and compulsory education, agricultural transformation, urban re-

newal, employment generation and affordable health care services.

The gubernatorial aspirant explained that he has made himself available for the service of Kogi State since 2005 to bring to bear his wealth of experience so

as to develop the state to an enviable height, adding that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP-led administration in the state has continued to pauperised the citizens with its irreverent policies On his chances of win-

ning the APC gubernatorial primary slated for last Saturday of this month, he said: “My robust political antecedents, profound affability to the masses, coupled with a virile political structure I laboured to put in the 21 local government

areas in the state, will give me resounding victory and an edge over other contestants.”

Prince Obadofin also appealed to the Igalas to respect the principle of power shift in the forthcoming election, saying that it will

Rep tasks colleagues on 8th NASS synergy Richard Ndoma CALABAR

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ouse of Representatives member representing Ogoja/Yala federal constituency in the lower chamber of the National Assembly, Hon Jarigbe Agom, yesterday callled for synergy among lawmakers in the eighth National Assembly.

Agom made the call in his

country home, after a thanks giving service for his election victory, in Ogoja Local Government of Cross River State, stressing that it was only through harmonious working relationship that the eighth assembly could make policies and laws that would impact positively on the people who voted them.

He expressed confidence in the Speaker of the House, Hon Yakubu Dogara, whom he described as a man with

the courage and pedigree to move the House forward.

Averring that Dogara was the best candidate to have emerged as Speaker to steer the affairs of the House, he charged the House members to put all hands on deck and ensure that Dogara succeeds.

He said that he was quite optimistic that the ‘change’ mantra of Dogara and his All progressives Congress, APC, would be realized, add-

ing that the National Assembly was re-positioning itself to make laws that would impact on the citizens of the nation.

The former SURE-P helmsman in Cross River State said that going to the National Assembly was base on his passion to cater for the wellbeing of his constituents, promising to embark on capacity development for unemployed youths.

be antithetical to natural justice, fairplay and equity if other ethnic groups in the state are now allowed to have a taste of the governorship in this new dispensation.

As part of the efforts to make this a reality, the western and the central axis of the state has formed a coalition to streamline the numbers of gubernatorial aspirants from the two districts.

Obadofin pointed out that a committee has been put in place to choose the most sell-able candidate among the aspirants and the other aspirants have just nominated him as the most qualified, urging delegates in the forthcoming primary to vote for people with integrity rather than moneybags.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

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Wednesday, July 8, 2015

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From The Civil Service Refugee Commission makes case for adoption of IDPs draft policy P.42

AUST wins $8m World Bank grant MARCUS FATUNMOLE ABUJA

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he African University of Science and Technology, AUST, has won $8 million World Bank grant for 19 Centres of Excellence in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Chris Ezike (left) and his Assistant Commissioner of Police, Mr. Francis Odesanya, addressing officers of the command, during introduction of the new CP to the officers in Port Harcourt, recently.

PHOTO: NAN

FRSC decries increasing tanker accidents CHIDI UGWU ABUJA

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he Corps Marshal of Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Boboye Oyeyemi has expressed dismay at the level of destruction caused by trailers crashes this year.

According a statement by Media Assistant to the Corps Marshal, Sani Abdullahi, the FRSC boss, spoke during his advocacy visit to Governor of Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode.

Oyeyemi stated that sixteen cases recorded within two weeks with over 60 lives lost in the inferno was unprecedented in the history of crash occurrence in the country.

He further explained that it was in the demonstration of the commitment of the FRSC to avert future occurrences that he has been in

NERC boss assures on power sector reform P.16

contact with the leadership of the tanker driver’s unions and other relevant stakeholders in transport business, saying that the discussions with them culminated in the National Summit on Haulage Operations held at Abuja in which the Lagos state government actively participated.

“FRSC is grateful to Lagos state government for the steps it has so far taken since the nation started experiencing tanker related crashes this year. We were alarmed by the enormous loss of lives and property, and after rounds of discussions with the relevant stakeholders, we organized the National Summit to further sensitive members of the public on the menace,” he stated.

“A plan of action was drawn up by participants, and the Summit resolved among others to call on the

FRSC to organize training and retraining programs for tanker drivers as well as the state governments to develop the capacity of Vehicle Inspection Officers to make them perform their functions more efficiently, so that safety standards will not be compromised in vehicles.

“I want to specially appreciate the Lagos state government for the attention it is paying to issues of road traffic management, as evidenced by the functional licensing system it is operating and the role which its state traffic management agency is playing in urban traffic management. I assure you that FRSC will partner with the state government in the traffic summit being planned to be held in the state,” Oyeyemi further stated.

Highlight of the visit was the exchange of souvenirs

between both the Governor and the FRSC Corps Marshal, to signify the new spirit of cooperation between the FRSC and the Lagos state government in the collective efforts to contain the worrying traffic situation of the state.

Governor Ambode assured FRSC that the state government will collaborate with it in the collective campaigns to make the state roads safer for all users.

According to Governor Ambode, the partnership between the Lagos state government and the FRSC is imperative in view of the high concentration of traffic volume in the state and the commitment shown by the FRSC in containing the traffic challenges of the state, expressing the readiness of the present administration to tackle the menace of traffic gridlocks head-on.

FG promises wellequipped civil service Sam Amadi

P.41

Briefing newsmen in Abuja yesterday, Executive-Secretary, National Universities Commission, Prof Julius Okojie, said the university eventually met the requirements for being enlisted into the centres, which it could not meet up with when the centres were unveiled last year.

He said AUST would join other nine universities already listed in centres in Nigeria.

Redeemers University, Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta, University of Jos, University of Benin and five other prominent universities in the country are among the 19 schools with the mandate to conduct research into various priority needs of Sub-Saharan Africa.

Each of the schools has $8million for its project.

The initiative intends to strengthen the capacities of benefitting universities to deliver high quality training and applied research, Okojie said.

He stressed that for the past 30 years, Nigeria ‘has been taking a back seat’ in research, warning that if the country with 10 centres does not succeed, the whole effort of the World Bank might be in vain.

“I must say for the universities that are on

board, this is an opportunity to advise them, they must be thoroughly focused on their desire for research. They must address relevant areas of needs in the sub-region.

Africa has a lot of problems. If we explore this opportunity, if we spend funds on research that will affect our brothers and sisters in other African countries, this will serve the purpose. “…The World Bank has always advised us, we should work with other universities so that we don’t replicate what others are doing,” he urged.

He furthered: “ACE is a competitive regional project spread across seven countries namely, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Republic of Benin, Ghana, Cameroon, Togo and Senegal. Universities in these countries competed for slots on the project and Nigeria won ten out of the nineteen approved centres. The implication of losing one ACE (AUST) would have been a loss of the sum $8 million approved for that centre.

That one would have been reallocated across board, thus reducing Nigeria’s portfolio.

“Furthermore, we are happy that we retained the specific programme that won the ACE in the African University of Science and Technology, which is called the Pan African Materials Institute, PAMI.” Responding, VicePresident, Academic in the school, Prof Charles Chidube, said AUST was established to cater for talented young people in the African sub-region.

Experts want maritime institution upgraded P.41

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Civil Service

Wednesday, July 8, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Perm Sec attributes Abuja slums to influx of residents ADEOLA TUKURU ABUJA

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L-R: General Manager, Lagos State Emergency Management Authority, Dr. Femi Oke-Osanyintolu; Chief Press Secretary to Lagos Governor, Mr. Habib Haruna and General Manager, Lagos State Waterways Authority, Mr. Yinka Marinho, during a news conference on Wednesday’s boat mishap in Lagos, recntly.

NERC boss assures on power sector reform CHIDI UGWU ABUJA

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hairman, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, Dr Sam Amadi has said that the power sector reform is on course and that there is no need for change in policy direction for now. ‘’ Since 2001, when the policy on power was formed, we have been consistent’’, he said.

The Head, Public Affairs Department, Dr. Usman Abba Arabi in a statement said Amadi gave the assurance when represen-

tatives of Development of Finance International Inc. USA, paid him a courtesy call, and to find out possible areas for investment that could impact on the power sector.

Amadi affirmed the Commission’s believe in regulatory certainty as well as openness to investors to carry out their businesses in a transparent and efficient manner. He allayed the fears of investors on security of investment, policy consistency and cost reflective tariff.

According to him, the Federal Government’s belief in the reform is not

in doubt as the government is already considering privatisation of the Transmission Company of Nigeria, presently under management contract by Manitoba Hydro International, Canada.

On power generation companies, he said that gas supply has been a major constraint and that the commission is working with other stakeholders to remove all bottlenecks to gas supply.

The delegation comprised of Manjula Bagli and David Rosenblum, both of DFi, United States and Ekenem Isi-

chei, Senior Consultant to the President, Office of The Corporate Council on Africa’.

Manjula and David represent a company that manufactures hardware and software for the power sector, especially for transmission purposes.

In the mean time, NERC’s Chairman has assured the financiers of Commission’s stance on tariff, letting them know of the recent directive to distribution companies to only seek for tariff review on provision of verifiable reasons.

NNPC increases scholarship to N250, 000 per annum CHIDI UGWU ABUJA

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he Group Managing Director of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Dr. Joseph Dawha has announced increment to N250, 000 the annual scholarship payable each member of the victorious state at the corporation’s annual quiz competition.

National Mirror reports that in the last fourteen years, the corporation run a scholarship scheme whereby each member of the victorious station at the national finals received

the sum N100, 000 each year throughout their study duration.

But, announcing the increment at the Grand Finale of the 2015 NNPC annual Quiz competition yesterday, the GMD expressed believe that such token support has helped in the development of science and technology in the country.

“Over the years, we have run a scholarship scheme whereby each member of the victorious state at the national finals received the sum of N100, 000 each year throughout their duration.

Permit me to announce that beginning from this

year, the scholarship has increased to N250, 000. We believe such token support has helped in the development of science of technology in the country, but also goes a long way in assisting the nation’s future leaders, particularly the children of the less privileged, to prepare in contribution their own quota to national development” he said.

NNPC also pledged to continue to sponsor its Annual |National Quiz Competition among secondary school students in order to encourage the study of science based subjects in the

country.

The NNPC noted that it would continue to impact positively on the lives of secondary school students through the annual quiz competition.

The corporation stated that the Grand Finale of the NNPC 2015 Annual Quiz Competition held yesterday drew on finalists from Akwa Ibom, the Federal Capital Territory, Gombe, Anambra, Katsina and Lagos States who competed in the English Language, Mathematics, Chemistry, Physics, Biology and General Knowledge.

he FCT Administration has raised alarm that the resultant effect of the influx of the people to Abuja is the growing over crowdedness in homes, neighborhoods and communities, which is causing the rapid growth of slums . This is why the Mass Housing Department was created to address the housing needs in the Federal Capital Territory and reduce the springing up of slums.

The FCT Permanent Secretary, Engr. John Obinna Chukwu FNSE, made this disclosure at the opening ceremony of the Abuja Housing Show on Monday at the International Conference Centre.

The Permanent Secretary reiterated that the ever influx of people from all walks of lives into the Federal Capital Territory have necessitated the Administration to take this proactive step of establishing the Department.

Engr.

Chukwu said though, the increasing deficit of decent and affordable housing in Nigeria’s urban and rural areas poses major challenges to economic growth, healthy living and

development of the entire country, the Administration would continue to strengthen the Department to achieve the set goals.

The Permanent Secretary observed that this development increases pressure on infrastructural facilities, resulting in rapidly deteriorating living environment, health and social order.

According to him, the FCT Administration in addition, has complimented the establishment of the Department with opening up and expanding of district infrastructure in the Federal Capital City using the Private Sector.

He stressed that the FCT Administration will work assiduously to provide serviced land to investors in the housing sector in order to make housing delivery easy and accessible.

Engr. Chukwu assured that the FCT Administration would continue to encourage stakeholders to take additional steps by liaising with relevant MDAs and the organized private sector in the provision of affordable housing for the FCT residents and Nigerians as a whole.

The Vice President, Professor Yemi Osibanjo was represented at the occasion.

NYSC calls for acceptance of corps members by MDAs JOEL AJAYI, ABUJA

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he Management of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has called on Ministries, Departments and Agencies to accept corps members posted to them for primary assignment.

This was contained in a statement issued in Abuja by the scheme management to solicit the support of Nigeri ans in helping youth corps member.

Based on the findings the rejection of corps members posted to organisations, resulting in some of them roaming the streets in search of places of service.

According to the statement the ideal of rejection is completely against the ideals of the founding fa-

thers of the NYSC Scheme.

“Management further wishes to state that corps members are, as far as possible, posted based on their disciplines and within the limits imposed by the current NYSC posting policy.

“All corps employers are to note that the corps members answered the clarion call to participate in the National Service out of patriotism and have always passionately looked forward to rendering services for the progress of their fatherland.

“In view of the foregoing, all stakeholders, including employers, are requested to always give the young men and women of the scheme the necessary support and encouragement by accepting them whenever posted for primary assignment.

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Wednesday, July 8, 2015

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Towards reviving a bankrupt nation SUNDAY ONYEMAECHI EZE

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ith caps in two hands, some state governors were recently at Aso Villa literally begging President Muhammadu Buhari for a “bail out” to sustain governance at home. The current stark reality on ground simply translates to tougher days are ahead for Nigerians.

What is terribly upsetting is that some governors owe workers as much as 11 months salary arrears, and the end to this harrowing experience is not in sight.

This is coming on the heels of President Buhari’s declaration that he inherited an empty treasury. The presidential statement is a clarion call for citizens to brace up for tougher challenges ahead.

Several calls in the past for prudent management of states’ resources at the state and federal levels fell on deaf ears.

Many who genuinely championed this course since 1999 were maligned by sycophantic government officials. The governors’ recourse to the Federal Government for cover will not avail much because the centre has bigger responsibilities. Some ministries and agencies cannot equally pay salaries as at when due.

Some of the governors knew how they got to this sordid state. Those who pilfered state treasuries are friends and godfathers of some of these anointed governors; therefore, it must be rebellious

NIGERIA IS OURS… WE MUST ALL LEND A STRONG HELPING HAND TO SURMOUNT THESE CHALLENGES to bite the finger that feeds one. Some of these governors are in their last terms of office, while others before now took up vital political appointments at states and federal levels. Thus they cannot be said to be new to the business of governance.

Even though being new to power wielding cannot be an excuse for non-payment of workers salaries.

What is the opportunity cost of this development for states? Must one state build an airport or mono rail because another is building it? If the rat swims because the lizard does, will the lizard also drown when the rat does? A lot of self esteem and personal aggrandisement played out in wastage of lean state resources on white elephant projects with little or no impact on the society. When has it become the duty of states to construct federal roads, while most feeder roads are impassable?

Therefore, it is incumbent on the governors to look inward and also quickly embrace a new fashion of frugality which is in tune with the economic realities on ground. If change is indeed here to herald the beginning of a remarkable leap into re-

inventing the Nigeria of our dream, then governors must get their priorities right.

As a prelude to reviving a bankrupt nation, state governments should take bold steps at institutionalising robust internally generated revenue mechanisms as a way out of this financial crunch. There should be a culture of tax payment and accurate remittances of same in states.

Apart from public servants, whose taxes are deducted at source, how many companies willingly pay their taxes accurately and completely? The outcome of these internally generated rainy day funds should reflect in steps at industrialising states. Industries are major employers of labour. They ensure peace, social security in the society. To be able to achieve this lofty goal, state governments should liaise with the electricity provider in their states for an agreed number of megawatts of electricity that is good enough to power these major industries and other small scale and micro enterprises.

Do we as a nation still have to rely primarily on oil and gas resources for survival? The awful events witnessed in the twilight of the last administration and many more point to the error in relying on one product for development. Agriculture in the states should be mechanised and revolutionalised for food sufficiency, stability and economic growth. The traditional rainy season fertilizer distribution and other agro incentives to farmers should still be maintained and improved

upon. Complementing cottage agricultural processing industries, corresponding good and accessible road network for easy transportation of other goods and services from rural to urban areas deserves government attention. The nation should embrace the principle of derivation and true federalism, which grants states the autonomy and authority to explore resources in their lands and pay accruable tax to the centre. Do we still have to run a bi-cameral legislation with its attendant cost implications?

Nigeria, which prides herself as the undisputable flagship of Africa, is a state of great potential over-burdened with corruption, wastages, huge debt and lack of basic infrastructural needs of the people.

The essential themes which caught the fancy of voters in the build up to the last governorship election were the promises of change, running of an all-inclusive and people-oriented government. The people monitor and eagerly await the destination of this baton of leadership handed to the governors. The nation needs urgent overhaul, and there is no doubt the states hold the ace to reviving her. Nigeria is ours and we hail from these states too. The governors alone cannot pull through this in isolation of the aid of citizens of each state.

We must all lend a strong helping hand to surmount these challenges.

Eze is of Kaduna Electric, Kaduna and can be reached via sunnyeze02@ yahoo.com or 08060901201

Nigerians’ obsession with titles NWABUEZE AKABOGU

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title is a recognition for achievements in any collectivity; and it could be traditional, academic, religious, socio-economic cum political.

Throughout human history however, individuals that had contributed immensely towards the development of society in different fields of human endeavours were duly honoured with one form of title or the other.

In contemporary society, however, people that have distinguished themselves in areas such as scientific discoveries or have contributed towards attainment of world peace have been equally honoured by certain recognized world bodies, organizations, or countries. Many eminent personalities across the globe have been bestowed with the prestigious “Noble Prize” instituted by the famous Swedish industrialist, Alfred Benhard Nobel for their immense contributions to development in say, sciences, literature, economics, polities etc.

In the same vein, the erstwhile imperial powers like Great Britain, France, Spain etc, equally recognized and honoured great achievers within their domains with knighthood. The modern church also instituted its own knighthood to honour their worthy members. Equally, many Nigerian communities honour their eminent citizens who have contributed immensely towards their socio-economic development with traditional chieftaincy titles.

It is, however, a sad commentary that in

recent times, many highly placed Nigerians seem to be obsessed with the mundane acquisition of titles as a status symbol, thus making a mockery of the highly prestigious and revered titles in our society. It is equally regrettable that these days, one could observe with utter dismay and disgust the mad rush by many notable personalities to acquire many titles and love to be addressed as, for example Professor Chief, Sir, Rev. Prince, or Dr, Chief (Mrs.), and so on and so forth.

Members of the National Assembly are not left out in this bizarre pursuit of recognition and relevance hence, our ex distinguished senators wish to be recognized and addressed as “Senator” long after they had relinquished their seats in the hallowed upper Red Chamber. Similarly, former members of the House of Representatives still parade themselves as “Honourable” long after they had vacated their seats in the hallowed lower Green Chambers.

Unfortunately, the mad rush for titles by Nigerians tends to diminish the value and respect normally attached to our honours, which in recent years have been terribly basterdized, where certain charlatans were often recognized by the Nigerian state with the highly prestigious honours such as OON, OFR, CFR, MFR, etc. as an annual ritual in the country. This rather unfortunate situation has already created the negative impression in the minds of many Nigerians that only those with the right “contacts” or “connections” are so recognized and honoured, thus discouraging patriotic, honest, and hardworking citizens from giving their very best and

THE MAD RUSH FOR TITLES

BY NIGERIANS TEND TO DIMINISH THE VALUE AND RESPECT NORMALLY ATTACHED TO OUR HONOURS loyalty to the nation.

It is instructive to mention in this disquisition, however, that in developed societies of the world ex senators and former members of the House of the Representatives, in the U.S for example, upon vacating their seats in Congress immediately relinquish their titles as “Senator” or “Congressman” or “Congresswomen” titles and automatically revert to their former status and addressed simply as “Mr.” or “Mrs”. Similarly, in the United Kingdom as soon as a person ceases to be a member of the British Parliament (House of Commons) such a person automatically relinquishes his or her title as an MP (Member of Parliament).

It is a matter of deep regret that members of the political class in Nigeria are the worst offenders in the exhibition of sheer egotism and always seeking for relevance by their continuous clinging to the title, “Senator” or “Hon” long after they had vacated their seats in parliament. This crave for the primordial acquisition of titles in society is obviously responsible for the current level of unbridled corruption in all the facets of our national life, hence it has become the norm that a person’s recognition in society is based largely on the amount of wealth and titles he/she is able

to accumulate. This ugly situation certainly portends great danger for our society as it has serious negative implications on the psyche of the younger generations, who might be inclined to imbibing the negative culture as the accepted norm. It is equally regrettable that members of the Nigerian armed forces seem to be caught up in the web of the mad rush for titles and relevance hence the retired officers still retain their ranks and always love to be addressed as “General” “Brigadier General” or “Colonel” etc long after leaving the military service.

Again, in civilized nations of the world, military officers after their retirement from active service to their nations are immediately re-integrated into the society as civilians and addressed simply as “Mr.” having dropped their military ranks or titles on retirement. It is heartwarming and a positive development to observe that former President Olusegun Obasanjo and most recently the incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari have already set the pace for others by relinquishing their military ranks or titles as “Generals” and opted to be addressed simply as “Chief” or “Mr.” Nze Akabogu (JP), a public affairs analyst, wrote from Enugwu- Ukwu, Anambra State via nzenwabuezeakabogu@yahoo.com Send your views by mail or sms to PMB 10001, Ikoyi, or our Email: mail@ nationalmirroronline.net mirrorlagos@ yahoo.com or 08164966858 (SMS only). The Editor reserves the right to edit and reject views or photographs.

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

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Editorial

Wednesday, July 8, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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

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

ISE-OLUWA IGE ABUJA BUREAU CHIEF AUGUSTUS IMEKAN ACTING HEAD, GRAPHICS

Buhari and unresolved politics-motivated killings

“I

njustice cannot survive for long. Justice will ultimately prevail. We will make sure that those saddled with the responsibility of ensuring justice and equity do not rest on their oars. The only way we can sustain our democracy is to ensure that the law remains supreme at all times…

The police and judiciary must ensure that justice is done in the country”. President Muhammadu Buhari was quoted as avowing to the above committal statement last Saturday while responding to anxieties on politics-related killings, kidnappings, intimidation, and so forth, expressed by state chairmen of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who visited him at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

If wishes were horses, the saying goes, beggars would ride.

By way of extrapolation, if politics can truly be separated from the heartless and conscienceless spectacle many politicians have subjected the game to since the dawn of the Fourth Republic, perhaps more credible people would join the fray in the years ahead. It must be stated, however, that but for God, ruggedness and dogged commitment to his political dream, Nigeria today would probably have had no Buhari, despite his acclaimed integrity and incorruptibility, as her current president. The

UNRESOLVED POLITICSMOTIVATED KILLINGS ARE STILL OCCUPYING A SORDID SPACE IN THE NATION’S UNFLATTERING POLITICAL HISTORY Almighty God, it was, that saved him from those whose diabolical pastime it is to eliminate their political foes.

The same, however, cannot be said of Bola Ige, Marshall Harry, Alfred Rewane, Aminasoari Dikibo, Funsho Williams, Fannan Modu Gubio, among dozens of others, who were sent to their early graves under conditions that betrayed the extent of cruelty and inhuman garb of Nigerian politics. Rewane was eliminated, they said, through a high-brow conspiracy allegedly woven by the military junta in the aftermath of the June 12, 1993 presidential elections widely acclaimed to have been won by the late MKO Abiola, but was annulled by the General Ibrahim Babangida-led military regime. The bulk of other political killings and intimidations of the harshest variants were, however, worse between 1999 and 2003, particularly during the months preceding the 2003 general elections, as well as between 2003 and 2007, especially as the 2007 general elections

were approaching.

Of all the heinous crimes, they all remained unresolved despite the fact that copious arrests were made and suspects charged in court. Among the cases that would continue to prick the conscience of the entire Nigerian security apparatus, if indeed there is one, are the assassinations on December 23, 2001, of a serving Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Bola Ige, in his home in Ibadan, Oyo State; and Marshall Harry at his 28 Karaye Close, Garki II, Abuja residence on March 5, 2003. Mass protests in Ibadan followed Ige’s murder; and the Federal Government deployed troops in the ancient city to stem the breakdown of law and order. Several suspects, including the then Deputy Governor of Osun State (Ige’s home state), Chief Iyiola Omisore, were arrested and charged in court. In the end, they were all discharged and acquitted after alleged interference from above.

As for Harry, he was the then National Vice Chairman (SouthSouth) as well as the National Coordinator for the zone of the defunct All Nigerian People’s Party (ANPP) Presidential Campaign. Marshall Harry was the pioneer Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chairman in Rivers State, under whose

leadership former Governor Peter Odili ascended to power in 1999. Midway, Harry and Odili disagreed. Odili’s re-election in 2003 was fast approaching; and resolving the differences, which were about disagreement on the conduct of party congresses in the state, proved intractable.

Harry defected to the then opposition ANPP, backed Buhari’s presidential bid that year and picked Sergeant Awuse as ANPP gubernatorial candidate in that year’s election. He, indeed, stirred strong waves to unseat Odili. But during one of his meetings with the ANPP’s national hierarchs in his Abuja residence, which Buhari himself attended, he was trailed and shot dead by gunmen. Seven years after, the suspects standing trial for the murder were discharged and acquitted by an Abuja High Court, purportedly for lack of enough evidence to sustain the charges against them.

We believe President Buhari, when he says “injustice cannot survive for long” and that “justice will ultimately prevail”. The police and judiciary have failed Nigerians enough.

We, therefore, implore him to make his words his bond in this matter. For, unresolved politicsmotivated killings are still occupying a sordid space in the nation’s unflattering political history.

ON THIS DAY July 8, 1994 Kim Jong-il assumed supreme leadership of North Korea upon the death of his father, Kim Il-sung. Kim Jong-il (February 16, 1941 – December 17, 2011) was the Supreme Leader of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea DPRK (commonly called North Korea) from 1994 to 2011. He succeeded his father and founder of the DPRK, Kim Il-sung, following the elder Kim’s death in 1994.

July 8, 2011 ‘Space Shuttle Atlantis’ was launched in the final mission of the United States’ Space Shuttle programme. It was a Space Shuttle orbiter in the Space Shuttle fleet belonging to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the spaceflight and space exploration agency of the US. Atlantis was the fourth operational (and the next-to-the-last) Space Shuttle to be constructed by a company in Southern California.

July 8, 2014 Israel launched an offensive on Gaza amidst rising tensions following the killing of some Israeli teenagers.

Codenamed ‘Operation Protective Edge’, it was a military operation launched by Israel in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip. Thereafter, seven weeks of Israeli bombardment, Palestinian rocket attacks, and ground fighting resulted in the deaths of over 2,200 people, the vast majority of them Gazans.

Wednesday, July 8, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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Health & Wellbeing What you should know about Soil-transmitted helminth infections 22

ABOLAJI ADEBAYO AND MARCUS FATUNMOLE

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ince 1990, only nine percent of Nigerian population have had access to good sanitation, a recent report

by United Nations Children Fund, UNICEF, and World Health Organization, WHO, has revealed.

The report measured the nation’s impacts on the Millennium Development Goals, MDGs, launched in 2000 and set to end this year.

It informed that less than 71 per cent of Nigerians yet lack access to improved sanitation, while nearly 2.4 billion people across the globe live without basic toilets while 663 million people lack access to improved source of water.

Target on water, the report said, had been met globally, but the goal on sanitation has failed dramatically, according to the report. It stated that with the present rates of progress, it would take 300 years for everyone in Sub-Saharan Africa to get access to good toilet.

The report however warned that as many as 1.8 billion people “are still at risk of going without access to safe and affordable water”.

Nigeria, the report said, has not recorded any significant progress in the area of sanitation. According to the report, only 29 per cent of the country’s total population had access to improved sanitation in 2015, with a meagre 1 per cent improvement on 2014’s figure.. “This is a worse situation compared to 1990 figure, when 38 per cent of the Nigerian people had access to improved sanitation,” said the report.

In 1990, as stated by the report, 24 per cent of the population was practicing open defecation. That figure increased to 25 per cent in 2015.

Meanwhile, the WaterAid Nigeria Country Representative, Dr. Michael Ojo, said that a lot had changed in the 25 years since the World Health Organization/ UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme began to document the world’s access to drinking water and sanitation; adding that the picture for Nigeria has for the most part remained quite grim.

Speaking on the report, Ojo told National Mirror that communities without safe water and basic toilets have higher rates of illness and are held back from economic progress. He said the burden was disproportionally felt by women and girls, who were most often tasked with fetching water, being at risk of harassment and worse off if they were without a safe, private place to relieve themselves.

He said: “As the UN prepares to adopt new development goals this September, mapping out ways to eradicate extreme poverty while building a healthier, more sustainable world by 2030, water and sanitation must play a key role. Without these basic human rights, no society can

Expert counsels pharmacists on 21 best practice

Amazing! Only 9% of Nigerians have access to sanitation

… more people practise open defecation, new report reveals

OPEN DEFECATION: Still rampant in the country

progress. It is possible to reach everyone, everywhere with access to clean water and basic toilets by 2030 – but it will require dedicated political will and financing to achieve this.”

Hygienic sanitation facilities are crucial for public health. Worldwide, Who says the number of people gaining access to improved sanitation since 1990 has risen from 54% to 68% but some 2.4 billion people still do not have toilets or covered latrines.

In 2010, the UN General Assembly recognized access to safe and clean drinking-water and sanitation as a human right, and called for international efforts to help countries to provide safe, clean, accessible and affordable drinking-water and sanitation.

Despite progress, the 2015 Millennium Development Goal target to halve the proportion of the population without access to improved sanitation facilities was missed by almost 700 million people. According to WHO, Sub-Saharan Africa has made slower progress, with sanitation coverage rising from 24% to 30% in 2015.

In 47 countries, less than half the population has access to a toilet or an improved latrine.

Some 13% of the global population is forced to defecate in the open. Nine out of

DIARRHOEA REMAIN REMAINS A MAJOR KILLER BUT IS LARGELY PREVENTABLE. BETTER WATER, SANITATION AND HYGIENE COULD PREVENT THE DEATH DEATHS OF 361 000 CHILDREN AGED UNDER 5 EACH YEAR 10 people who do this live in rural areas but the number of people defecating in the open in towns and cities is gradually increasing as urban populations grow without a corresponding expansion of sanitation facilities.

Some 842 000 people in low- and middle-income countries die as a result of inadequate water, sanitation and hygiene each year, representing 58% of total diarrhoeal deaths. Poor sanitation is believed to be the main cause in some 280 000 of these deaths.

Diarrhoea remains a major killer

but is largely preventable. Better water, sanitation and hygiene could prevent the deaths of 361 000 children aged under 5 each year.

Open defecation perpetuates a vicious cycle of disease and poverty. The countries where open defection is most widespread have the highest number of deaths of under-5s as well as the highest levels of malnutrition and poverty, and big disparities of wealth.

According to WHO benefits of improved sanitation extend well beyond reducing the risk of diarrhoea as these include: • reducing the spread of intestinal worms, schistosomiasis and trachoma, which are neglected tropical diseases that cause suffering for millions; • reducing the severity and impact of malnutrition; • promoting dignity and boosting safety, particularly among women and girls; • promoting school attendance: girls’ school attendance is particularly boosted by the provision of separate sanitary facilities; • potential recovery of water, renewable energy and nutrients from faecal waste.

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Health & Wellbeing

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

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edical and health care professionals agree that drinking tea has many benefits and is a healthy addition to any diet. Green teas are derived from a plant known as Camellia sinensis. They are pale in colour and have a light, astringent taste. Studies have shown that green tea’s antioxidants is said to interfere with the growth of bladder, breast, lung, stomach, pancreatic, and colorectal cancers; prevent clogging of the arteries, burn fat, counteract oxidative stress on the brain, reduce risk of neurological disorders like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, reduce risk of stroke, and improve cholesterol levels.

Green teas are rich in carotenoids and vitamins such as vitamin C, help lowers resistance to infections, joint tenderness and susceptibility to dental caries, pyorrhoea, and bleeding gums; it contains vitamin B2 (riboflavin), which aids growth

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Curative power of green tea

and development of nerve, skin, hair, and blood cells, may help sufferers of nervous disorders and could improve immune system; it contains vitamin D, which helps in releasing food energy, normal growth and development, and vitamin K, which is important in coenzyme in synthesis of fatty acids and glycogen , blood clotting and aids in bone formation.

Drinking green tea is healthy for the teeth because they contain minerals such as selenium, manganese and fluoride which aid bone and teeth growth.

It also relaxes and flushes the system. James Henry, a professor of psychiatry said that, “the tea, stripped off its caffeine, seemed to relax the animals by affecting the central nervous and neuroendocrine system”. Green teas lower the formation of cancers in the system. A number of experiments conducted in test-tube and animal cancer models have shown that green tea polyphe-

Chizoba Benson

Wednesday, July 8, 2015

nols inhibit cancer by blocking the formation of cancercausing compounds, such as nitrosamines, suppressing the activation of carcinogens and detoxifying or trapping cancercausing agents. The forms of cancer that appear to be best prevented by green tea are cancers of the gastrointestinal tract, including cancers of the stomach, small intestine, pancreas and colon; oestrogenrelate cancers, including most breast cancers; and prostate cancers.

Green tea helps prevents sharp increase of blood insulin levels, it promotes the burning down of fats and lowers blood pressure. Russian scientists, after prolific studies on patients, praise green tea’s ability to delay atherosclerosis, strengthen capillaries, thin the blood, lower blood pressure and “exert a favorable regulatory effect on every vital component of human metabolism”.

It is vital to note that too much hot tea can promote throat cancer. So when preparing green teas, heat cold water

until just before it boils (or boil it and let it cool for a few minutes), then pour water over the tea leaves/bags. Then, dunk teabags to soak for 3 minutes, this releases up to five times more polyphenols than simply letting the bag sit in the hot water. Also note that, old teas can also harbor bacteria, especially since its antibacterial properties diminish with time. Avoid teas that are too concentrated because they contain huge amounts of caffeine and polyphenols. Excess of caffeine can cause indigestion and heart palpitations.

Putting milk in your tea can cancel out the problem of calcium absorption in the body, so avoid it and do not take tea with other medications and supplements because, the compounds in tea can interact. The United Kingdom Tea Council recommends drinking not more than 6 cups of tea a day. For the best health benefits, consume 3 to 4 cups per day. It is advisable to consume decaffeinated green tea extracts especially when one is a sensitive to caffeine, it may cause nervousness, anxiety, insomnia and irritability.

Sexual solutions and love products for adults

ello everybody and welcome. It is that time of the year again when we bring you new products for adult sexual wellness and enhancement. First on the list are performance enhancers for women. Normally, we discuss mainly male oriented performance supplements but today, the manufacturers who brought you Magic Mike for Men have created a female version named Total Diva. If you are a woman who lacks the urge for sex or feels no sexual arousal when your husband or partner touches you and tries to get you in the mood, then Total Diva is exactly what you need. It comes in tablet form and is taken daily. One tablet of Total Diva works for as long as three days to get the woman aroused when touched or when she desires it. It also helps her enjoy intercourse as well. So remember the name Total Diva because it is powerful and will help a lot of women.

Also for women are new sex toys for their pleasure and enjoyment. Not everybody has a husband or a boyfriend and among those who do, not all of them get the sexual satisfaction they desire. So we have two new realistic dongs to help you out.

The first one is the Espresso 8 Inch Dong and the second is the Hard Man 8.5 Inch Dong. Both toys are very good and look like real penises. But they are bigger than your average penis. The Espresso 8 Inch Dong is thicker while the Hard Man 8.5 Inch Dong is a bit thinner but longer, hence giving women different options depending on how they like it. These toys can be used with your partners or when alone. They are very helpful considering that cheating on your spouse is not our recommended answer to sexual dissatisfaction.

Last but not the least is a set of adult

toys made for women and men. They are known as Couple’s Vibrator or Vibrating Cockrings. The manufacturers have branded them Couple’s Vibrator because of how they help both men and women equally. The Couple’s Vibrator is worn by the man at the base of his penis. For him, it ensures that he remains erect even after ejaculation so that intercourse can be stretched for an additional twenty minutes.

So if you are a man that suffers from premature ejaculation, then you need this product because with it, it doesn’t matter if you climax early. What matters is that you are able to maintain your erection long enough to go to town on your lover and make your ancestors proud. For women, the Couple’s Vibrator does the job of stimulating you just like a real vibrator because it vibrates just for the purpose of pleasuring the woman. So when using it, the woman must stay on top to get the full benefits of this amazing toy. Every couple needs this toy. It is powerful, affordable, lasts longer than the typical vibrating Cockring and works wonders for your relationship. They come in three different varieties namely the Ovo B8 Couple’s Vibe and the Ovo B3 Couple’s Vibe. Ovo B3 comes in colors red and white.

And for men, we have new products as well, one of which is Max Stamina performance enhancer. We have written about it a few times but it was only available as a sample product. Now it is available in a 12 pack box and a 24 pack box. The 12 pack box will last the user for two weeks because it is taken daily while the 24 pack box will last you for about a month. Max Stamina gives firm erections to men suffering from weak or no erection and also stops premature

ejaculation in addition to giving the user adequate performance stamina for multiple rounds of back to back intercourse.

And finally for today are two latex products for healthy intercourse. The first is the ID Extra Thin Condoms for men. They are strong and yet thin enough to make you think you are not wearing anything at all.

The second latex product is what you call a Dental Dam. It is basically a square sheet of flavored latex material designed for oral sex since humans cannot wear condoms over their mouths.

The Strawberry Dental Dam is ideal for men and women who like to give oral sex. You place it over the female genitals while administering oral sex to prevent contact with infected body fluids that can give you a sexually transmitted disease.

Adults in need of these products/treatments can call

07086754515 or 08051924159 or any other number here to order or they can order online at www.zeevirtualmedia.com. Zee Virtual Media delivers to you wherever you are in Nigeria. For enquiries, send your emails to custserv@zeevirtualmedia.com - Uche Edochie, MD, Zee Virtual Media.

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Health & Wellbeing

Wednesday, July 8, 2015

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Expert counsels pharmacists on best practice SAIDAT ALAUSA

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he National Medicine Adviser, World Health Organisation, Abuja, Dr. Ogori Taylor has advised pharmacists to be well prepared in order to curb out-

breaks whenever it occurs.

She said this recently while delivering the Keynote address, titled, “The role of pharmacists in the control of public health” at the 27th Annual General meeting and scientific symposium of the West African Postgradu-

ate College of Pharmacists in Lagos.

According to her, the pharmaceutical sector needs to be strengthened in order to effectively control any outbreak that might occur in the country and West Africa, adding that the time

had come for pharmacists to change the way they work if they want to continue to be relevant in the sector.

Taylor also added that as individual what is utmost in the minds of pharmacists is how a patient can have access to medicine imme-

L-R: General Manager Health Care West Africa, Robin Armstrong; General Manager, Lighting West Africa, Felix Darko; CEO Philips Africa, Juan Van Dongen; Executive Secretary, Iru Victoria Island LCDA, Pharmacist Abayomi Daramola and General Manager Personal Health, Philips West Africa, Chioma Iwuchukwu Nweke, during inauguration of the refurbished Oriyanrin Primary Healthcare Centre.

Rotary tackles VVF with $500,000 in five states MARCUS FATUNMOLE ABUJA

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he Rotary International, District 9125, has obtained a grant of $500,000 to confront Vesico Viginal Fistula, VVF, in Nigeria.

The District Governor, Pharm Mike Omotosho, disclosed this at a One-Day Certificate Course in Development Journalism for health correspondents in Abuja recently.

He said the effort was aimed at reducing maternal and child mortality in the country; and further complement government and other stakeholders’ efforts in enhancing the nation’s health

care systems.

Omotosho said Rotary had initially had a pilot of the VVF project in two states namely Kano and Kaduna states with $5000. He informed that only five health facilities were picked in the pilot states and the success of the pilot project would be documented for use in the extended campaign. “And due to the success of the project itself, we’ve got a grant of $500,000 to expand it into five states, that is, adding three additional states. The three states are Ondo, Enugu and the FCT. “In these states, we are into every health facility. We will document all the best practices we will be able to

gather from the pilot and then use them to make the health system better; so that we track down mortality rate and improve maternal and child health,” he stated.

VVF is an abnormal fistulous tract extending between the bladder and the vagina that allows the continuous involuntary discharge of urine into the vaginal vault.

About 100,000 cases of the VVF are said to be occurring in the West African region yearly.

Omotosho also noted that with the donation of less than a dollar by individuals, polio and other killer diseases in the country would be defeated. His words: “It is

just awareness. Once people get to know that with just a 60 cent, they can prevent a child from being crippled, they can prevent a person from dying from malaria, then people will contribute, people will ensure that nobody dies of treatable, preventable disease like malaria. In the past five minutes, perhaps that we’ve been having this talk, ten people would have died of malaria. It is not news that every 30 seconds, one person dies of malaria. And, this is totally preventable, 100 percent treatable. There is no reason under the sun why we should allow such to happen in the environment,” he said.

Philip transforms Oriyanrin Primary Health Care Centre FRANKA OSAKWE

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n a bit to reduce child mortality and improve maternal health, Royal Philips, a health and wellbeing company recently upgraded the mother and child care facilities of Oriyanrin Primary Healthcare Center, designing them to support the well-being and recovery of expectant mothers and their new born babies.

Commenting on the refurbishing, the Medical Officer Public Health and Primary Health Centre Department,

Dr. Wale Akeredolu said the project would have a very big impact on the district.

“Community healthcare centres are generally under resourced and sparsely equipped with technology.

Our healthcare is not different in this regard, and in particular, our mother and child care facilities have been under enormous pressure in recent years. We are delighted to collaborate with Philips as this project will breathe new life into our healthcare centre and enable us to improve care for our patients”, he said.

The refurbishing includes

an ultra-mobile ultrasound system, beautification of streets and PHC sorroundings, training of health workers, free health screening, donation of furnitures, news toilets, tables, chairs, beds, and cabinet. In addition, the problem of frequent power outage has been taken care of with the installation of an innovative solar led lighting which will now provide safe and uninterrupted power.

Speaking at the inauguration of the refurbished facilities, General Manager, Philips Healthcare, West Africa, Robin Armstrong, explains that the

project formed part of Philips’ annual pan-African Cape Town to Cairo road show that kicked off on 11th May 2015, in Cape Town. He said Nigeria is the fourth stop on a journey covering 12,000 km across 11 cities and 8 countries over a period of 4.5 months.

“This project will hopefully ease the burden for the healthcare workers in the district, and in time save many lives. Most expectant mothers visiting this facility can now have access to care which will help to keep both them and their babies healthy.

diately they are given prescription but then, she noted, “there are many factors like affordability, procurement, supply chain and quality of the products that come to play which must also be tackled.

“As professionals what should be in our minds is how to deliver best pharmaceutical services to the population taken into consideration the disease pattern.”

She however said the outbreak of Ebola virus last year which some African countries still could not control was due to lack of efficient health care system in the affected countries that could be attributed to long term crisis and instability.

Earlier in his speech, President, West African Postgraduate College of Pharmacists, Mr. Wiltshire Johnson said that there has been a dramatic increase in resources devoted in Africa in the past decade to combat

public health disease.

He however said that these resource investments would l reach a diminishing point and marginal returns without strong and capable public health capacity in the region. He therefore urged members to indulge in policy and operational activities that would make the profession to continue to be relevant in the country.

Also speaking at the event, representing the Head of Service of the federation, Dr. Amina Bello Shemaki said that public health delivery in the country needed to be taken with all seriousness because good health boost productivity which could lead to economic growth.

According to her, that is why the federal service through its federal ministry of health would continue to identify with professional bodies to help develop the economy through robust ideas to curb outbreaks.

UNICEF, Airtel partner to empower Nigerian communities DAVID AUDU

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nited Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, an arm of the United Nations (UN}, is partnering Airtel Nigeria, a telecommunications services provider, to increase access to social changerelated information and provide opportunities for participation whilst pushing forward the U-Report, a project supported by UNICEF. The project will cover all 36 states and FCT in Nigeria.

Commenting on the initiative, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Airtel Nigeria, Segun Ogunsanya, said the company was committed to empowering Nigerians and was keen on supporting programmes that would enrich the lives of its various stakeholders.

“At Airtel Nigeria, we constantly look for opportunities to excite, delight and empower our customers.

This innovative partnership with UNICEF offers Nigerians a golden opportunity to transform the country and we are glad to be part of the U-Report project,” he said.

Jean Gough, UNICEF Representative in Nigeria, said “UNICEF is commit-

ted to providing innovative solutions towards better delivery of services and social change. This partnership with Airtel has the potential to empower millions of Nigerians through access to information and with opportunities to help them transform their societies.”

About 15 million text messages were sent and received through the UReport platform while the country battled Ebola in 2014, ahead of the official UReport launch this year.

The awareness messages and real time responses via SMS and on the U-Report Social Media platforms sent out during the Ebola outbreak were able to combat rumours about mythical remedies such as bathing with hot water and salt and taking bitter kola to cure the disease. U-Report participants were informed about how to identify the disease, and how to keep safe.

U-Report Nigeria has sent out more than 70 polls and 25 million messages over the past year on topics such as prevention of HIV/ AIDS, unemployment, maternal and child health, safety and security in schools, child protection, electricity, water and sanitation and hygiene.

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Health & Wellbeing

Wednesday, July 8, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

What you should know about Soil-transmitted helminth infections

A boy with helmith infection

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oil-transmitted helminth infections are among the most common infections worldwide and affect the poorest and most deprived communities. They are transmitted by eggs present in human faeces which in turn contaminate soil in areas where sanitation is poor. The main species that infect people are the roundworm (Ascaris lumbricoides), the whipworm (Trichuris trichiura) and hookworms (Necator americanus and Ancylostoma duodenale).

Global distribution and prevalence More than 1.5 billion people, or 24% of the world’s population, are infected with soiltransmitted helminth infections worldwide. Infections are widely distributed in tropical and subtropical areas, with the greatest numbers occurring in sub-Saharan Africa, the Americas, China and East Asia.

Over 270 million preschoolage children and over 600 million school-age children live in areas where these parasites are intensively transmitted, and are in need of treatment and preventive interventions.

Transmission Soil-transmitted helminths

are transmitted by eggs that are passed in the faeces of infected people. Adult worms live in the intestine where they produce thousands of eggs each day. In areas that lack adequate sanitation, these eggs contaminate the soil. This can happen in several ways: • eggs that are attached to vegetables are ingested when the vegetables are not carefully cooked, washed or peeled; • eggs are ingested from contaminated water sources; • eggs are ingested by children who play in the contaminated soil and then put their hands in their mouths without washing them.

In addition, hookworm eggs hatch in the soil, releasing larvae that mature into a form that can actively penetrate the skin. People become infected with hookworm primarily by walking barefoot on the contaminated soil.

There is no direct person-toperson transmission, or infection from fresh faeces, because eggs passed in faeces need about 3 weeks to mature in the soil before they become infective. Since these worms do not multiply in the human host, re-infection occurs only as a result of contact with infective

stages in the environment.

Morbidity and symptoms Morbidity is related to the number of worms harboured.

People with light infections usually have no symptoms.

Heavier infections can cause a range of symptoms including intestinal manifestations (diarrhoea and abdominal pain), general malaise and weakness, and impaired cognitive and physical development. Hookworms cause chronic intestinal blood loss that can result in anaemia.

Nutritional effects Soil-transmitted helminths impair the nutritional status of the people they infect in multiple ways.

• The worms feed on host tissues, including blood, which leads to a loss of iron and protein.

• The worms increase malabsorption of nutrients. In addition, roundworm may possibly compete for vitamin A in the intestine.

• Some soil-transmitted helminths also cause loss of appetite and, therefore, a reduction of nutritional intake and physical fitness. In particular, T. trichiura can cause diarrhoea and dysentery.

The nutritional impairment caused by soil-transmitted helminths is recognized to have a significant impact on growth and physical development.

WHO strategy for control In 2001, delegates at the World Health Assembly unanimously endorsed a resolution (WHA54.19) urging endemic countries to start seriously tackling worms, specifically schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminths.

The strategy for control of soil-transmitted helminth infections is to control morbidity through the periodic treatment of at-risk people living in endemic areas. People at risk are: • preschool children, • school-age children, • women of childbearing age (including pregnant women in the second and third trimesters and breastfeeding women), • adults in certain highrisk occupations such as teapickers or miners.

WHO recommends periodic medicinal treatment (deworming) without previous individual diagnosis to all at-risk people living in endemic areas. Treatment should be given once a year when the preva-

lence of soil-transmitted helminth infections in the community is over 20%, and twice a year when the prevalence of soil-transmitted helminth infections in the community is over 50%. This intervention reduces morbidity by reducing the worm burden. In addition: • health and hygiene education reduces transmission and reinfection by encouraging healthy behaviours; and • provision of adequate sanitation is also important but not always possible in resource-poor settings.

Morbidity control aims to reduce intensity of infection and protect infected individuals from morbidity through periodic treatment of at-risk populations.

Periodic deworming can be easily integrated with child health days or supplementation programmes for preschool children, or integrated with school health programmes. In 2013, over 368 million schoolchildren were treated with anthelminthic medicines in endemic countries, corresponding to 42% of all children at risk.

Schools provide a particularly good entry point for deworming activities, as they allow the easy provision of the health and hygiene education component, such as promotion of handwashing and improved sanitation.

WHO recommended medicines The WHO recommended medicines – albendazole (400 mg) and mebendazole (500 mg) – are effective, inexpensive and easy to administer by nonmedical personnel (e.g. teachers). They have been through extensive safety testing and have been used in millions of people with few and minor side-effects.

Both albendazole and mebendazole are donated to national ministries of health through WHO in all endemic countries for the treatment of all children of school age.

Global target The global target is to eliminate morbidity due to soiltransmitted helminthiases in children by 2020. This will be obtained by regularly treating at least 75% of the children in endemic areas (an estimated 873 million).

COURTESY: WHO

Mirror Wednesday, July 8, 2015 National www.nationalmirroronline.net

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Arts Lounge

Sola’s Orobaba

I never dreamt of being a photographer –Ayo Akinwande

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Bringing life to Abuja arts scene While Abuja controls the political life of Nigeria, artistes in the city believe they should have a huge chunk of the arts market of the nation as well.

They have set the ball rolling towards realising this.

Regina Otokpa

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takeholders in the entertainment industry have identified Indiscipline, lack of branding and unique arts, proper mentorship, unhealthy politics, selfishness, disunity, jealousy and envy to be the underlying reasons behind the poor recognition accorded Abuja entertainers within and outside the industry. This, they believe is responsible for why they keep lagging behind.

It would be wrong not to note that the entertainment industry nationwide, has assumed some level of decorum, rising from a silent industry to a vibrant and one of the greatest forces to be reckoned with socially and economically and as expected, Lagos, the hub of entertainment in the country, has continued to churn out great talents with passion to keep the fire burning however, Abuja home to creative talents, has continued to suffer in the hands of event organizers and promoters.

For years, Abuja artistes have compared and contrasted their talents with Lagos arts, aching to discover the big secret behind the success of Lagos artistes, and why promoters, organisers alongside residents of the Federal Capital Territory alike prefer to listen and watch Lagos arts perform rather than their own.

Worse of all, a survey indicated that not only do residents not desire to have Abuja artistes take over the stage, 99 per cent could not mention names of artistes operating within the zone.

To this end, 41NAIJA Entertainment organised a one day seminar for stakeholders in the industry to reverse the situation where Lagos arts continue to have an edge over Abuja arts on their home turf which for long has been crippling the Abuja entertainment system socially and financially, destroying the morale of new generation artistes leading to decay of talents.

The first step towards getting it right according to the various speakers was restructuring via self-development, self-discovery, discipline, good content, uniqueness, continuous research, identification of target audience, passion and most importantly, identifying the business in entertainment.

Tye Tribbert at a performance in Abuja

Cross section of Abuja artistes at the seminar

Benny Ark in his submission, noted that the survival or stagnation of entertainment and entertainers in Abuja was on scale of 50-50. The key to survival is not dependent on the bowl of talent but the consciousness of the artiste to follow ground rules, standard procedures and principles to make a mark that is distinctive from others including readiness to give out mastered talents, incorporate business ethics and principles to be able to break the jinx.

Ark pointed out that “Abuja entertainment is standing on the threshold of creativity but it takes a lot to stand out. We do not need another Tiwa Savage, as an artiste you need to master your art, carve a niche. We need to understand how Abuja works, what is the comparative advantage we have over Lagos artistes?”

Could low esteem be the foundational problem destroying Abuja artistes? MX Code Black and a host of others answer that question by stressing on the need for practical revocation of convictions hinging around the slim chance of making it to the big book of successors once not operating from Lagos.

For Eddie and Andy Madaki, event managers and public relations expert respectively opportunities abound, Abuja is ready to explode entertainment wise but it is important for entertainers to grow the right collaborations, understand how the industry ticks, carry out intensive research, produce master pieces and have an overwhelming passion to succeed regardless the overlying circumstances.

The audience speaks volume and the Abuja audience according to the Mada-

kis, have an expectation that is cultured and structured. This does not rule out the need for artistes to constantly be in the market place.

Abuja might not be the hub of commercial activities in the country, but it is the epicenter of authority and on a daily basis, the city witnesses the influx of various persons with intent of having a nice evening after a hard day’s work at the different relaxation and fun spots including clubs, lounges and hotels spread abroad within the federal capital territory. This translates that indeed there is a ready market for entertainment to blossom in Abuja if the much needed investors can be captivated by the content and delivery of home artistes.

Faze, member of the defunct Plantashun Boiz, could not help but draw attention to the dearth of sponsorship faced

by Abuja artistes despite their efforts in producing intellectual products. He believes that once a song could break into Lagos, it can break in anywhere.

In his opinion, promoters have a huge role to play in ensuring consistency on the airwaves especially for musicians operating within Abuja to break whatever existing hold artistes from Lagos have over them “We in Lagos we work too hard, we disturb the airwaves and TV, once you can make your artiste to be heard everywhere and seen every time and every minute, they will break forth just like their counterparts. If after playing five songs an artiste from Abuja’s song is being played, there is no way it won’t take over people’s mind even if the song is not that good. The fact you are listening to it more often it becomes a part

In his opinion, promoters have a huge role to play in ensuring consistency on the airwaves especially for musicians operating within

Abuja

of you and that is the secret. That is the support they need to give, Abuja artistes should heat up the airwaves and let people know that they are around.”

In his address, the PMAN Governor, Collins Adeyemi maintained that the much talked about structure could only be effective when the different sectors bury their hatchets and come together in the spirit of professionalism to form an entertainment parent body in Abuja.

He averred the need for upcoming arts to adopt strategies that would rebrand their carrier saying, “for you to succeed in the industry you really need education, doggedness, not being too much in a hurry so you can settle down and bring out a good material that people can showcase. It is obvious these are the challenges we are facing in Abuja. The government will support us but we also have to work hard, get role models, mentors because they are the only ones who can help them build their carriers”.

However, a comedian and radio presenter, Olarewaju Oni otherwise known as Ambassador Wahala, fault promoters as the major reasons behind the dim light shining on Abuja artistes with claims that “what the promoters are doing to entertainers in Abuja is very wrong. They should stop living in the glory of a show business that has created an impact. Lagos created an impact for their artistes and that is why their artistes are on top.

Promoters are parading themselves as gods, they want generational artistes to bow down before them.”

Whichever the case maybe, it is time the wind begins to blow in favor of Abuja artistes. We need to begin to see a level of improvement, artistes coming together to share ideas and believing that with little they can create an impact that would leave the world wondering how they suddenly got it so good. Once a talent is well groomed, quality output is sure and once a talent is distinctive, promoters and sponsors would definitely come calling.

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Arts Lounge

Wednesday, July 8, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

VOICES

Piracy in Nigerian entertainment industry (2) Sola Fajobi

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he Pirates’ chain: The Don: He has the money, the machines and all where withal to get original copies, duplicate and mass produce, print jackets and everything required. He can also pay for protection under the law. He is the guy at the top that makes everything happen.

Remember he did not invest anything serious in the content, so he is satisfied with the small margins. Meanwhile, he is also doing mass production which means cost to him is as low as N50.

The Mafia: They are the guys that have the shops and stalls in Alaba and other places, they are the source of the goods before the retailers. They are the ones that channel the products to the street. They don’t need to have much money, they have shops, and they take the goods, distribute and pay back to the Don. They control which jobs moves well and at what price. They control the street boys and the film shops.

The Film Shops: At every major junction, market or area, there are strategic film shops that sell every kind of movie. They have television and loud speakers; they sell foreign movies, series, cartoons and every other local content. Mostly, they stock about 10% of original works as cover while they stock 90% pirated materials ranging from music CD, movies, series, cartoon, children content.

The Street Boys: With massive margins of N100 to N300 on some works, they have enough motivation to bombard the streets and sell 20 – 50 copies in a day. Even an average banker is not making half of their monthly take home.

The Consumer: The most important person on this chain. He or she is looking for value at cheap price, they want to be entertained and sometimes not pay for it. They buy, borrow or rent just to get the experience. They really don’t mind if anyone is losing out in as much as their needs are met.

Proposed Solution The reality of piracy is not new, it has bitten so deep into the Creative Arts Industry to the extent that most practitioners are no more interested in the industry and that is why largely you see a lot of entertainers chasing after politicians for money.

It is not just about October 1 movie, it is only the latest, hence our approach cannot just centre on the movie, however, we can use

Sola Fajobi the movie as a reference point for action. As we are speaking, the pirates are in production of new works to be released soon.

The proposed approach below can be implemented on the State, Regional or National Levels.

• The Government should set up a sustainable institution dedicated and empowered to deal with piracy and Intellectual Property Theft for Nigerian works and all other foreign content. An anti piracy board or commission is urgently required by an act of Law with the following mandate; [Please Note; This commission will tackle piracy and generate income for the government • Registration and licensing of all film

makers, marketers, distributors, film shops e.t.c.

• Enforce all anti-piracy laws and ensure prosecution of arrested practitioners • Eradicate, ban and clampdown on all Creative Works sold on the streets and traffic e.t.c. [This will allow us to concentrate efforts on the shops and retailers] • Design a Code of Conduct for Resellers to include that even foreign movies or works are not sold in shops without licensing. [Interested distributors can go to secure rights for the distribution of those works from the Hollywood or Bollywood Studios.

• Set up undercover teams to disguise and penetrate the cartel, monitor and take

The Government should set up a sustainable institution dedicated and empowered to deal with piracy and

Intellectual Property Theft for Nigerian works and all other foreign contents

Memorable Reads Who is your favourite author?

I will give it to Denise Robbins. I love reading her books because of the way she handles romance themes. Sometimes, I believe romance is best suited for female writers to handle.

Which of her books appeals to you most?

I have read quite a lot of her works that I will not be able to narrow it down to one particular work. The location and circumstances in her works are quite intriguing. That is what they refer to as Gothic romance. I particularly love, ‘To Love Again’, ‘Desire is Blind’ and ‘Gypsy Lover’.

What early influences did you have with books?

Aside the usual story books, which my parents made us to read, I started enjoying the

Chinyere Ogbukagu Reality TV producer

‘Mills and Boon’ series. At a point, I was hooked on that. When we were in the secondary school, it was like a competition, because you read and pass it across to other members of your class.

What is your annual expenditure on books?

Right now I cannot pin it down to any amount. But I buy based on my mood and needs.

If you should write a book what would it treat?

In line with my reality TV show, ‘The Heroes: Back to the Roots’, whatever I write will preach the need to preserve my heritage. Yes, I am a culture advocate.

stocks of the film stores The film shops can display only original copies while still selling the pirated ones like black market, we can have agents that will disguise as regular customers.

• Mop up Alaba, Idumota and Trade Fair and all the marketers.

• Relocate the film market to a central place let every distributor operate from there in the open glare of the world.

• Make meaningful arrest from bottom up and ensure prosecution of all arrested individuals and companies.

• Educate consumers on the ills of buying pirated copies and include punishment on erring Individuals.

• Activate an orientation strategy and campaign using all media touch points to inform and engage consumers.

• Design a simple tax scheme on each copy of movie or music sold. This will motivate the Government to track all sales activities in the industry.

• Introduce a compulsory bar code on all CDs working with registered DVD, VCD, CD manufacturers like Transerve, NIRA e.t.c.

• Introduce a reward system for whistle blowers i.e. N500,000 for information leading to arrest of pirates or counterfeiters.

• Introduce a minimum fixed price for music CD, VCD and DVD. Here a producer that has a fantastic movie and great promotion will benefit mainly from volume sales. When there is a uniform price, consumers become better aware and will check very well to know they are buying the original. Where there is lower price, it becomes easy for the commission to track the price differentials and the source.

• A weekly bulletin on all media touch points for the works released in that week and month is advisable.

• Customs partnership and monitoring team to be set up within the commission to work with Nigerian Customs to track all imported C.Ds, DVDs e.t.c. either finished or not yet written. Every importer will be required to give account of how the C.Ds are used or to be used. Also, we will track all imported finished works of foreign movies and series and other Creative Works.

Of course, the above is not exhaustive, it’s a work in progress and key stakeholders need to meet and proffer additional ideas and directions that will work in the short term and long term. *Fajobi, a renowned stakeholder in Nigerian entertainment industry, is the founder of E-Force, a distribution platform for movies.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Arts Lounge

Wednesday, July 8, 2015

25

ARTISTE UNCENSORED

I never dreamt of being a photographer –Ayo Akinwande

He is an architect turned photographer and has taken his new passion to an enviable height. Here is the story of Ayo Akinwande.

Isiguzo Destiny

A

yo Akinwande is a trained architect who graduated from Covenant University. In his journey to creative freedom, he found expression in the art of Photography and has since sought to expound his expressive and thematic scope. His work focuses on the performative possibilities of everyday life; drawing his props from the same palette. He strives to recreate surreal experiences which he believes through keen observation can be traced in memory and reality. He addresses social issues with the use of satire - while holding a light to interpersonal relationships. In this interview, Ayo narrates how he started his journey into photography. “I had never dreamt of being a photographer, I remember the 3rd year in school studying Architecture where I chose woodwork against photography as an elective. But as the saying goes, ‘When the student is ready, the teacher shall appear’ I found photography, it started by self-learning and once the creative part of me understood the basics, the journey towards the Art of photography began. And it’s still on-going”. Ayo feels comfortable with his love of snap shots and is making a career out it. For him, photography is creative freedom, he feels great with photography as a career path. He has found expression in the art of photography which has positively shaped his journey to creative freedom “it’s been an awesome experience for me so far and the future looks much brighter” he said.

The artist sees different things in an extraordinarily way and imitates it in his art, so many thing inspires creativity, it could be love, hatred, joy, melancholy, social maladies etc, for Ayo, the camera is only a tool for displaying that which has already been captured

in his mind. First, he always has the picture framed in his mind before he shoots.

Second, he pays attention to the light, the composition and the other elements to be included in the frame, most especially the little details. After all these, he then proceeds to press the shutter and through the images captured he engages the society in a photographic discourse, he describes it thus: “My work focuses on the performative possibilities of everyday life which cut across different spheres of life. But the primary influence on the social issues is my immediate environment per time and this fuels my creative energy. For instance, I recently shot a series titled “sweet pain, black market” which was influenced by the recent lingering Fuel Scarcity crisis in the country. And during the Presidential Elections, I shot a project titled ‘Vote Nigeria: For Change &Transformation’ which focuses on the need to have the interest of our great nation at heart while voting for our respective candidates”.

Ayo is talented and his talent is fetching him good money. Through the auction of some of his master, he has made fortune. When he was asked whether he has had a mind blowing auction, he said “yes” that “most of my works are mind blowing and in my young artistic journey, I have had a few mind blowing sales of some of my prints, which are not only rewarding but also propel me to improve on my game”. He added that “and at the same time, the term ‘Mind Blowing’ is relative”.

Ayo recently had a “mind blowing” exhibition titled, “Boju Boju”. He talked us through what made him come up with that exhibition.

“Boju-Boju has always been a familiar theme since childhood. First there was the playful hide and seek game usually played with my friends, and then there was the dreadful moment when we hid behind windows while the Oro Festival was in procession. Boju-Boju is a personal journey towards exploring the concepts of identity, perception, duality and the

Our objective of engaging the viewers in the Hide and Seek game was achieved as most of them got lost and the performance was enhanced by live sound from the talking drum, piano, saxophone

Band carefully hidden from the viewers.

which was playing by the

MIDWEEK JUMP Protecting People and the Environment art competition

O

multifaceted layers of human reality.

I made use of select West African masks, which hove around dif- ferent themes and also represent the masquerades encountered in my childhood and the use of nude models on the other hand, helped in illustrating the narrative which would have been distorted had they been clad”. How will Ayo rate his exhibition? He exclaimed it was an absolute success and gave more insight about “Boju Boju”. “From the planning to the execution and the installation, the entire process culminated into a great exhibition. Boju-Boju is a

pen call for entries for the National Art Competition for Children 2015 themed: Protecting People and the Environment. Eligible participants are students in JSS1 - SSS3 classes in Nigerian secondary schools. Deadline is July 30, 2015.Cash prizes are: 1st prize: 100,000 naira 2nd prize: 75,000 naira 3rd prize: 60,000 naira The 4th - 10th positions receive: 50,000 naira each Prizes are for both levels; JSS 1-3 and SSS 1-3.

Specifications: Format: Painting Medium: Poster, water color, oil cold or acrylic Size: Not exceeding 60cm x 45cm Colour: Any colour of choice The works must carry information like: Age, Class, School, Title of work, School stamp and principal’s signature as well as Protecting People and the phone number Environment

t r ave l l i n g exhibition and the current show at the Osh Gallery is the first phase of the project. The entire exhibition is stretched on a 100meter canvass and the installation represents the first sketch of this developing idea which will subsequently be fleshed out in four future presentations.

So as the story develops on a canvass which is a visual metaphor for a negative film, my thoughts gain more clarity”.

When he was asked to measure the success from what he thought of the attendees at the exhibition, he said “all the people who attended the exhibition had their minds blown away. It was shocking to them because most people are used to seeing art works hung on walls so our idea was an instant hit. Upon arrival, we gave the guests their respective ‘ARODAN’ (Maps) to guide them through the Maze. Our objective of engaging the viewers in the Hide and Seek game was achieved as most of them got lost and the performance was enhanced by live sound from the talking drum, piano, saxophone which was playing by the Band carefully hidden from the viewers. It was an awesome and unforgettable experience and the feedback we got from the viewers was emotional”.

2015 Short Story Day Africa opens

T

he 2015 Short Story Day Africa Prize is now open for submissions. The goal of Short Story Day Africa is to celebrate the diversity of Africa’s voices, and to foster the love of reading and writing African fiction.

The theme for this year’s prize is Water. Submissions are open to citizens and residents of any African country as well as to the Diaspora.

Stories must be between 3,000 and 5,000 words in length, and writers are welcome to submit stories in any fiction genre. The award for 1st Prize is R10,000 ($807), 2nd Prize is R2,000 ($161), 3rd Prize is R1,000 ($80). The Day Africa Prize deadline is 31 July.

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Arts Lounge

Wednesday, July 8, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

FAR AND NEAR

Ekpo Eyo boosts Calabar Museum Richard Ndoma

T

he family of late Prof. Ekpo Ekpo Eyo (OFR) on last week made a donation of books worth millions of naira to the Calabar Museum as part of the 3rd Prof.Ekpo Ekpo Memorial Lecture.

The books which are well-packaged in nineteen large ‘Ghana Must Go’ bags were written by late Prof. Ekpo Eyo who some participants at the event said was a historian par excellence.

The donation ceremony took place at Senate Chambers of the University of Calabar.

Speaking at the ceremony, the curator of Calabar Museum, Mrs. Ann Effiom mentioned some of the books published

by Prof.Eyo and donated to the Museum to include: ‘2000 Years of the Nigerian Arts and Evolution of Money’ , ‘From Shrines to Showcases’, ‘Masterpieces of Nigerian Arts’,2008 and ‘The Terra Cotas

of Calabar’,2008 amongst others.

Wife of the late author said the books are in Archaeology, Anthropology and Art History.

The curator who expressed joy at the donation, said, “the books are a treasure that you can not quantify in monetary terms; you can’t get them in the market”.

She urged the public to always visit the museum and take advantage of the books.

Making a formal handover of the books to the museum, widow to the late author, Mrs. Augusta Eyo said the family donated the books to the museum as their “little contribution to humanity”.

Mrs. Eyo urged Nigerians to always think of how to contribute to society than always expecting from government.

Earlier, chairman of the occasion, Prof.Olu Olat Lawal urged Nigerians to always exercise the things that unite them than the things that divide them.

Lawal called on other Nigerians to contribute in any measure to the development of society.

At AFRIMA’s Industry Nite

T

he All Africa Music Awards, AFRIMA held the special edition of Industry Nite on Wednesday July 1, 2015 at Spice Route, Victoria Island, Lagos and stakeholders were thrilled with freestyle, back to back tracks, both old and new from stars paraded to celebrate the continental award and the music from Africa.

The well-attended special edition of Industry Nite with AFRIMA which was in partnership with Beat 99.9FM was organised to create an avenue for interaction and bonding among the Nigeria music industry stakeholders as well as elicit awareness for the ongoing AFRIMA entry submission which closes July 20, 2015 across the world on the AFRIMA website, www.afrima.org.

Spotted at the event were some of the stars, artiste managers, industry veterans, media executives and Nollywood acts in Nigeria who came out to identify and celebrate AFRIMA. They included: 2Face Idibia; Timaya; Iyanya; Skales; Olu Maintain; KekeOgungbe, MD, Raypower/Kennis Music; Chris Obosi, MD Beat FM/Classic FM/Naija FM; HowieT, MD Baseline media; Afro beat maestro, DedeMabiaku; Femi Olajinbiti, country Manager, Bacardi; Efe

Omoregie, MD Now Muzik; Seun Soyinka, MD Quotent Edge; Azadus; Sheyman; Eedris Abdulkareem; Presh; Baci; Saeon; JJC; Sheyman and Kunle Afolayan among others.

Some of the performances that set the stage on fire were Phyno, Lil Kesh, Joel, Cynthia Morgan, Sean Tizzle, Adekunle Gold, Ninola, Simi, Aramide, Mr. 2Kay, Jeffrey, project fame winner, Charass, Sunkanmi, Harmony, Tjan and Rayce among others.

The Industry Nite with AFRIMA special edition was broadcast live by Raypower FM. The nite flow was marshaled by BEAT FM’s Olisa Adibua and Jimmie, and the master on the wheel unstoppable DJ Spinall dropping his hot mix at intervals to excite the audience.

The stage was superhot when the headliners for the nite, rapper, Phyno took on stage with his buzzing hit tracks after hit tracks. Fans were asking for more and the Regge/Ragga dance hall diva, Cynthia Morgan ensured the event ended on a climax.

The 2015 AFRIMA main awards ceremony will hold in Nigeria in November 13 to 15, amidst glittery, star-studded and world-class event with live performances and television broadcast to major media stations and countries around the world.

Calabar Musuem

Art festival contest kicks off nationwide Regina Otokpa

R

ecently, the premises of the Institute Français Du Nigeria in Abuja, was filled with artists eager to submit copies of their creative works in a bid to meet the deadline for the first round of the 9th edition of ‘Life in My City Art Festival’ (LIMCAF) and art competition.

Themed: ‘Beyond All Odds’, this year’s contest targets the artist as a tool with creative skill to interpret and address issues that highlight the resilience of the human spirit to adapt to changes, appraise the past, positively engage the present as well as lay a better foundation for the future.

Art works which scale through the first round would feature in an exhibition scheduled to kick-off from the 10th of July to 31st of July, at various zonal centres across the country from whence a maximum of ten creative

Sola’s Orobaba

H

ot on the heels of the single ‘Ragabomi’, which she released early this year, Sola is back with the hot, hip, fun and addictive ‘Orobaba’.

From the moment celebrated neo-soul artiste dropped the mic on her brand new single ‘Orobaba’, it’s been described enthusiastically as ‘addictive’.

Produced by DreSticks of Beverly Records, ‘Orobaba’ is Sola’s follow-up to ‘Ragabomi’.

No newcomer to music lovers, Sola has had previous hit tracks such as ‘Fall in Love’, ‘Iya’ and the more recent, ‘Ragabomi’. Sola has worked with notable hands in the industry like Cobhams Asuquo, TY Mix, Jeremiah Gyang and veteran Diran Olajoyegbe.

Now Sola brings her signature sultry-sweet voice and passionate fun appeal to make her brand new single ‘Orobaba’ a must-listen, must-love and must-share hit.

‘Ragabomi’, was produced by Netto of Cisum Productions and the video was directed by award-winning music director Akin Alabi, who’s made videos for prominent musicians like 9ice, Ayuba, Timaya, Paul Play, Julius Agwu, Onyeka Onwenu and so many others.

Sola

Art festival

works would be selected from each zone by a jury to participate at the Grand Exhibition to hold at the last week of October.

According to the Project Director, Alice O’Reilly, LIMCAF was initiated in 2007 to encourage artistic creativity and awareness of environmental issues, provide space through art for young people to make meaningful statements about the environment in the country; it encourages and empowers young artists throughout Nigeria by promoting and commercialising their creative endeavours on a national and international platform.

The exhibition for successful art works within Abuja zone would hold at the Thought Pyramid Art Centre, Wuse 2. The contest categorised in four, covers painting, drawing, mixed media, sculpture, installation, ceramics, graphics, multimedia, digital art, textile, photography and video art.

LIMCAF is an annual celebration of creativity in the Nigerian art landscape featuring exhibitions, symposia and workshops.

Business

Wednesday, July 8, 2015

Opportunities to practice by non-engineers are offered by government

28

Poorest 425m lack social safety nets coverage globally –World Bank

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Closing pre-paid metering gap mirage, despite assurances

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BOI urges applicants to seek BDSPs’ advice on loan processing SYLVA EMEKA-OKEREKE

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ank of Industry, BoI, has urged potential loan applicants to go through Business Development Service Providers, BDSPs, to ensure successful outcome of such applications.

The development financial institution had in November 2014, established 122 BDSPs to assist applicants package their loan applications while mentoring them on proper utilization of such loans, after it had been approved.

Executive Director, Business Development of the BoI, who decried the challenges being faced by loan applicants, said rejection rate of applications emanating from the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, MSMEs, is in excess of 90 percent ‘We receive poorly-prepared applications, which do not contain the information required to carry out proper appraisals. It was to address this problem, that in November 2014, we appointed 122 BDSPs through a competitive process’’, he said.

According to Olagunju, each BDSP has been mandated to submit 10 successful loan applications to BoI annually.

He said at this rate, the bank was expected to support at least 1,220 beneficiaries through BDSPs annually, amounting to more than

25 percent of the achievements in the last 13 years, when the bank assisted 4, 126 beneficiaries.

Olagunju envisaged that the operations of 1, 220 potential beneficiaries would lead to the creation of several thousands of direct and indirect jobs, especially among suppliers of inputs and distributors of their products.

“Whilst we still receive loan applications directly from prospective customers, we urge soonto-be-beneficiaries to go through this process. Our expectation is that, through this process, those who eventually benefit from the

BoI facilities would be customers with high integrity.

“As a substantially government-owned financial institution, most loan applicants approach us with a mindset of coming for their share of the national cake. There is need for a change in attitude to credit offered by Development Finance Institutions, DFIs; hence we conduct thorough appraisals of loan requests in line with best practices.

Globally, seven out of every 10 well-appraised loan requests stand very high chances of suc-

ceeding while only three out of every 10 un-appraised credits might just succeed.

BoI said, it is also partnering with research and innovative institutes to ensure efficient and effective technology in business developments.

The Executive Director said, the bank embarked on the initiatives to de-risk the SME sector, which is generally perceived to be highly risky by most lenders, who say that SMEs account for significant percentages of their non-performing loans.

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AIRLINES’ FLIGHT SCHEDULES

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

Lagos-Abuja (Sat): 08.00, 08.50.

Abuja-Lagos (Sat): 10.00, 15.00.

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

Dana Air

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Mrs. Anastasia Daniel-Nwobia, briefing State House correspondents after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari on activities of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, yesterday.

NAICOM confirms Bayode as NICON Insurance Managing Director he National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), the apex regulatory authority in nation’s Insurance sector, has confirmed the appointment of Mr. Bayode Samuel as the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of NICON Insurance Limited.

The confirmation was conveyed in a letter signed by Mr. Pius Agboola, Director (Authorization and Policy) on behalf of the Commissioner for Insurance and addressed to the Chairman of the Board of Directors of NICON Insurance Limited.

27

A statement by NICON Insurance’s Senior Manager (Corporate Affairs), Mr. Ade Adesokan, indicated that Mr. Bayode’s appointment was part of the Board of Directors’ resolution and firm desire to reposition the company for better service delivery to her esteemed customers and insuring public.

Adesokan stated that the new Managing Director was determined to re-establishing the presence of NICON Insurance Limited as a value creating world player in the Insurance world by delivering world-class products

and services as well as superior financial performance to all its stakeholders.

The new Managing Director of the company is a renowned technocrat and insurance professional of over 30 years experience. Until his new appointment, he was the Executive Director (Technical).

He was also the former Chief Operating Officer (Branch Acquisition, Network and Operations) of the Company, he added.

The statement clarified further: ‘Mr. Bayode started his insurance career in 1984 with the Leadway Assurance Company

Limited, where he rose to become the Head of Pensions Department in 1992 before joining Industrial and General Insurance PLC, as pioneer Head of Life and Pensions Division ‘In 1993, he set up and became the pioneer Managing Director of First Universal Insurance Brokers, a subsidiary of Universal Trust Bank of Nigeria (UTB), a position he held before his appointment as the Chief Executive Officer of Jones Simplix & Company Limited. The NICON Insurance Boss is happily married with children”, it added.

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

28

Executive Discourse

Wednesday, July 8, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Opportunities to practice by non-en The spate of building collapse in Nigeria in recent times has assumed a frightening dimension. Each of these incidents has always put Nigerian engineers on the defensive as the public always link every disaster in the construction sector to these professionals In this interview with OLUFEMI ADEOSUN, the President, Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), Engr.

Kashim Abdul Ali, describes the public perception as totally misplaced and could be likened to a conspiracy of sort against Nigerian engineers.

Sir, how would you rate Nigeria in terms of engineering development?

Any country is as developed as its engineering. Somehow in Nigeria, we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have sufficient consideration for engineering practice because we seem to think that anybody can practice engineering. In this case, you see people who had no business in the course of their lives with engineering, practising engineering in their old age. That is why it would appear we have not developed our human resources to deal with our challenges. Of course, by the world standard, we do not have enough because if you compute the ratio, it is pretty low. For instance, there should be one engineer to 2,000 people. But in Nigeria, our case is out of the range. Even at that, because of dexterity of Nigerians, we are able to do a lot of things and we should be able to do a lot of things to make the desired impact.

If those who are not supposed to practice the profession have infiltrated it as you pointed out, how successful is the role of COREN as a body charged with the responsibility of regulating the activities of engineering profession in the country in its efforts to deal with this anomaly?

COREN is an ethical institution. It does not have prosecutorial powers. We can only report cases that infringe on our law to appropriate law enforcement agencies, but as you know, I think even the law enforcement agencies are overwhelmed.

And these are not the cases that interest them. Sometimes, these opportunities to practise by non-engineers are offered by government itself and law enforcement agencies have challenges dealing with it.

We have cases which we have reported to them, but we have not got the needed support. But we are not deterred by that.

Recently we took some steps to partner with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Offences Commission (ICPC) because by its Act has some wide powers to make them able to invite and interview

Ali

individual no-matter how highly placed unlike the regular law enforcement agencies. We are going to use that to cut some excesses.We are also hoping that with the current leadership that does not condone sharp practices, all these issues would be addressed.

Could you give insight into some of the cases you have reported to the law enforcement agencies and the nature of infringement?

We have had cases where government, ministries and departments awarded consultancy and construction contracts to people who were not registered to practise. There are quite a number of cases

IT IS PAINFUL TO ME AND TO MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES TO SEE THE THINGS THAT ARE

HAPPENING IN NIGERIA. YOU WILL BE SHOCKED TO SEE THAT PEOPLE THAT ARE ACCLAIMED TO BE SO-CALLED EXPERTS, SOME OF THEM TRAINED IN THIS COUNTRY. SOME OF THEM, AS AT THE TIME

THEY GRADUATED, HAD NO OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN HANDS-ON IN THEIR OWN COUNTRIES

we have reported. The fact that we have a relationship with the ICPC is helping to some extent. For instance, there was a ministry that awarded consultancy services to 10 unqualified persons and we did a generic letter to all ministries to avail us with the list of consultancy services they had awarded in 2014. When they sent them to us and we reviewed it, we found out that many of them were not registered. We now wrote back to them intimating them about those that were not registered.

There were cases of those who even used forged documents to try to convince MDAs to give them job, but at the point of pre-qualification, the documents were sent to us for confirmation and we in-turn sent them to ICPC. Because we are not everywhere, we may not be able to detect all infringements, but we are developing a mechanism for determining all those. We are also saying that you can report cases to us and we will proceed with investigation.

Discipline and integrity are at the core

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Wednesday, July 8, 2015

Executive Discourse

29

ngineers are offered by government WE DON’T GET VALUE FOR MONEY BECAUSE WE OFTEN GET THE FIRST PARAMETER WRONG. WHEN YOU GIVE ENGINEERING JOBS TO QUACKS; YOU CAN’T GET VALUE FOR MONEY. IT IS WHEN WE BEGIN TO GIVE ENGINEERING JOBS TO ENGINEERS ONLY THEN CAN WE GET VALUE FOR MONEY tach to the issue of integrity and ethics of the profession.

Could you also give instances of registered engineers who have been punished for misconduct?

Of course, over the years, some of our colleagues who have fallen foul of the law have gone into the investigative panel and to the tribunal. At every point in time, there is always a case going on. Right now a case of unethical behaviour is going on at the tribunal. Judgment will be delivered on July 29. There is always a case to deal with.

There is nothing that is too small for us to look at. We look at the totality of the behaviour of the engineer, craftsman or technologist because in engineering, there is no room for error. This is because when an engineer makes a mistake, no matter how minute, something will give way. If he makes a mistake in designing a building structure, for instance, and it collapses, he could either die in the process or some else dies. If a machine has a problem, it could also result in major accident that could be disastrous. Either way, there is a problem.

By our own training, nothing too small to be ignored; every error is investigated.

And we need to be sure that you have done all that needed to be done before the error occurred. But if it is out of negligence, then you answer for it.

of engineering professional practice. As a body, how do you ensure that engineers adhere strictly to the code of professional practice and if any of your members err, do you have mechanisms to investigate and sanction such member?

The focus of COREN, in the first instance, is to maintain the essence of professional practice ethics. In this regards, we take the issue of discipline and compliance with our ethics very seriously. As a matter of fact the punishment for any deviation is intense and we have a mechanism for doing that. One, if there is any incidence of unethical behaviour by any registered engineer, we have a disciplinary investigative panel that will look into the alleged breach thoroughly. Where a prima-facie case is established, the matter is referred to Engineers Disciplinary Tribunal. The tribunal is constituted by the Chief Justice of Nigeria with powers to earn down judgment which can only be upturned by a Court of Appeal. It shows the severity and the importance that we at-

The issue of building collapse has been a recurring case in Nigeria in recent times. A case in point is the Synagogue Church of all Nations’ incident in which a lot of Nigerians and foreign nationals lost their lives. From the professional point of view, what do you think caused the building collapse?

We don’t regulate buildings; we regulate human beings and infrastructure for training them and infrastructure for practice. In every state, we have the Department of Development Control, who approves building and ensures that the right people are engaged to handle the job. The engineer is involved in the production of a building to the extent that it is a high-rise or it will be constructed in a difficult terrain. For instance, if you want to build a house in swam; you need the services of a geo-technical engineer to help design suitable foundation. Where you need a high-rise, you need a structural engineer to help you design the frames, the beams and the slabs to make it stand.

Where you engage any of the qualified professionals to do these and something happens, we as a body can take responsibility and hold such individual or group

liable for the collapse. The situation in our country is that everybody seems to think that engineering can be practised even without training. The lure is money.

In the particular case of Synagogue, I will not say much about it for now. But we will bring out the whole report on it very soon because it has both the technical and the criminal component. Our preliminary report indicates that no qualified engineer was involved in the design and management of the project. Something happened after the collapse which we are investigating. Like I said I won’t say much about it for now.

Most government contracts are often awarded to expatriate companies and the usual justification is the alleged lack of confidence in local engineers to do quality job. What is your reaction to this?

Well, for the sake of academic purposes, let me agree with you that they don’t have confidence in Nigeria engineers. But which is easier to do, to have confidence in who trained or in some who did not train at all? The situation we have is not that these jobs are not given to Nigerian engineers but given to another engineer; the jobs are given to non engineers. It is painful to me and to many of my colleagues to see the things that are happening in Nigeria. You will be shocked to see that people that are acclaimed to be so-called experts, some of them trained in this country.

Some of them, as at the time they graduated, had no opportunity to learn handson in their own countries. I know of a very big firm in Nigeria that is hyped, the CEO of that organisation came to Nigeria to do his industrial training as a student under a Nigerian engineer working in the company. He later graduated and came back, today he is the CEO. There is no truism in the fact that there is no confidence in us.

And if you don’t have confidence in the Nigerian engineers, who do you have confidence in? The best of nations are their engineers. It is a bit irritating when I hear people talk about this.

Unlike in other professions, the prevalence of quackery is more pronounced in engineering profession. Why do you think this is so?

The reason is not far-fetched. Engineering is a money spinning profession. It is in engineering that you have billions of naira projects in contracts award. So everybody wants to have a bit of it and as a result of that, there is a high migration. Engineering projects take the largest chunk of any nation’s national revenue. When you do road, telecommunication, power and wa-

ter supply projects, they are all engineering based. It is the money. Therefore, they use their political and social connection to get these jobs and because they are not competent, they do them badly. And when they do them badly, the engineers are held responsible. And it is a bit painful. We are beginning to think that there is a conspiracy of sort against Nigerians engineers.

If you say engineering is money spinning venture, why have we consistently failed to get value for money, especially in government financed projects?

We don’t get value for money because we often get the first parameter wrong.

When you give engineering jobs to quacks; you can’t get value for money. It is when we begin to give engineering jobs to engineers, only then can we get value for money. Take your mind back to the PTF days (I am not saying this to patronise President Buhari); you will see that virtually all the projects undertaken were done professionally. At time there was diligent management of resources and the projects were well done. We need to have a reorientation; I pray that Buhari of that time we still remain the same. He has respect for Nigerian engineers.

If you were asked to set agenda for this new administration on how to develop the engineering profession, what would be your focal areas?

Engineering is a very conservative profession. Everything you do has a sequence and often accompanied by a time line. To do a road project, for instance, you need to have an idea, “I need to do a road from point “A” to point “B”. The first to on your mind is, “I want to do it”, next you need to have a visibility studies. You need to consider those invisible things that may ease your task or be constraints. After then you do a preliminary engineering design and you prepare your biding document.

Because by the time you are done with the final engineering design, you are able to know all the things you will require-all the actual length of the road, what would be its characteristic in terms of depth, the pavement and the width of the roadall the considerations, what obstructions are to be avoided, which one is supposed to be taken down, what should be the adjourning areas, the kind of land use and what do you do to abate. For instance, if you are going to construct a road through the residential areas, you need to do noise abatement. By the time you put all these together, you will have an idea of the estimated cost. It is after then you can call for biding of projects. Unfortunately we have not been doing that. That has made the cost of our projects unwieldy.

Secondly, it has perpetrated corruption in engineering to the point that a chunk of our national resources is frittered away.

My agenda to this administration is that, “please take out corruption from engineering projects.” We should do engineering as it is supposed to be done. When we achieve that, corruption will be minimise heavily and we will be able to free money to do other projects.

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Wednesday, July 8, 2015

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Protectionist policies’ll hamper maritime industry’s growth –Ship owners FRANCIS EZEM

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igeria Ship Owners Association, NISA, has said that Federal Government’s efforts of enhancing the growth of the maritime industry through protectionist policies might not yield the desired results.

The Government had enacted the Coastal and Inland Shipping Cabotage Act 2003, which provides that vessels to be used within the nation’s inland and coastal waters must be built and registered in Nigeria, owned and manned by Nigerians, as part of measures to check foreign domination of all segments of shipping in the country.

Secretary General of the association, Mr. Tunji Brown, who spoke at the 2015 edition of Nigerian Maritime Exhibition currently holding in Lagos with the theme

‘Nigeria: Regenerating Economic Growth through the Maritime Industry’, noted that the challenge of achieving a sustained growth of the nation’s maritime sector cannot be achieved through protectionist policies.

According to him, clear-cut, concise, and measurable strategic interventions remain crucial to stimulating the desired growth of the industry.

Brown said: “ These strategic interventions should serve as the blueprint for engineering the maritime industry’s evolution into a growth catalyst that will enable the transformation of Nigerian into a maritime power” While citing a 2003 report by Goldman Sachs, which predicted that Nigeria was one of the identified countries with the potential to be like Brazil, Russia, India and China BRIC, insisting that the maritime industry holds the key to the realisation of this predic-

Airbus leads Boeing on first-half orders

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uropean planemaker Airbus beat its U.S. rival Boeing on orders in the first half of this year, after a tight contest at last month’s Paris Airshow, but remained behind on deliveries, data showed on Monday.

Airbus said it had won orders for 382 aircraft in the first six months of the year and delivered 304 planes to customers.

After cancellations and conversions between models, net orders totalled 348 aircraft, it said.

Boeing said it had won orders for 325 aircraft during the period, or a net total of 281 after the same adjustments.

It delivered 381 aircraft in the first half, maintaining a lead over Airbus on the main driver for short-term revenues.

At the Paris Airshow, Airbus lagged Boeing in firm orders but upstaged its rival with a last-minute $14 billion provisional order for 100 planes from Hungarian budget carrier Wizz Air Airbus reported 124 firm plane

orders worth $16.3 billion at the June 15-21 event, as well as 297 commitments worth $40.7 billion.

Boeing reported 154 firm plane orders worth $20.2 billion at the show, plus 177 commitments worth $30 billion.

The Airbus order summary for June showed that half of the orders for six planes placed by Tunisian carrier Syphax Airlines had been cancelled, highlighting challenges facing the country’s tourism sector even before last month’s deadly hotel attack in the resort of Sousse.

Formed months after the Tunisian revolution in 2011, the private airline was once hailed as a rare Arab Spring success story. It has more recently run into difficulties, forcing 25-percent owner Telnet Holding to take a charge on its investment, and its shares SPHAX. TN have been suspended since November last year.

An Airbus spokesman declined to comment further on the cancellation.

tion through appropriate policies and programmes that would unlock the idle potential of the sector.

He also said that the strategies for achieving the vision of the nation’s maritime industry should therefore revolve around the simultaneous implementation of some initiatives that will focus on unlocking the potential of the in-

dustry.

The NISA-scribe argued that the maritime industry is critical to the growth and development of the Nigerian economy, as it is responsible for facilitating over 60 per cent of trading prospects including oil and gas, which is the mainstay of the nation’s economy. “ Nigeria accounts for over 60

per cent of the total seaborne traffic in terms of volume and value in the West African Sub-region with a Gross Domestic Product GDP, accounting for over 60 per cent of the total GDP of the 16 countries that make up the Economic Community of West African States ECOWAS”, Brown said.

L-R: Executive Director, Access Bank Plc, Victor Etuokwu; Executive Vice President, Business Development and Global Product, Moneygram, Alexander Hoffmann; Regional Manager, Anglophone West Africa, Moneygram, Kemi Okusanya and Vice President, Africa, Moneygram, Herve Chomel, during the inauguration of ‘MoneyGram Send’ services at Access Bank in Lagos, recently.

FCMB introduces ‘Savings Bumper Bonus’ package

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s part of its strategy to create added value for its existing and prospective customers, First City Monument Bank (FCMB), has introduced a bonus offer to customers in what it tagged, “Savings Bumper Bonus”.

The Bank explained in a statement that the offer would increase the percentage of interests accrued to its Savings Account holders and potential customers who open savings account with the bank..

With the interest calculated daily and paid quarterly, the Bonus interest is to be paid when an account holder limits his withdrawals to not more than once a month.

The Bank’s Divisional Head, Retail Banking, Mr. Olu Akanmu said that what FCMB had done by introducing Savings Bumper Bonus was another way of encour-

….offers 5% Interest aging the bank’s customers who had shown loyalty over the years, while inculcating savings habit among Nigerians, particularly the youths.

Akanmu was quoted as saying further that the offering was “the extension of our Bank’s financial inclusion programme and the need for the wide percentage of the unbanked in the society to come on board’’.

He added that one peculiar benefit, among others, which a holder of the savings account will enjoy, is an additional interest of 1.4 per cent, annualized over a quarter, besides the 3.6 per cent which is the industry average.

Other benefits include the fact that the Bank will not charge any monthly account maintenance fee, no matter the volume of the

customer’s account balance.

To make the account very easy to operate for wider convenience, FCMB guarantees that the customer will be given access whenever he needs it, whether from a branch, using the ATM, Internet Banking or the mobile banking service. To urgently draw from the savings account, all transactions will be free of charge, each month.

The bank which recently unveiled a refreshed corporate identity with the launch of its “world of opportunities” thematic campaign that highlighted the values of FCMB as a Bank that helps to identify, connect and harness opportunities unique to each individual, social class and other segments of the society, offers a number of other products in its savings bouquet.

Oil tumbles 6% after Greek ‘No’ vote, ahead of Iran deadline

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il prices tumbled their most in three months on Monday, with U.S. crude falling 6 percent, after Greece’s rejection of debt bailout terms and China’s rolling out of emergency measures to support its stock markets shook global markets.

Adding to the pressure on oil, Iran and global powers were try-

ing to meet a July 7 deadline on a nuclear deal, which could bring more supply to the market if sanctions on Iran are eased. The self-imposed deadline could be extended again, officials at the negotiations said.

U.S. crude has fallen 10 percent in all over three straight sessions and Brent over 7 percent in two

consecutive days, the biggest rout since January. The slump brought oil out of its narrow trading band of the past three months, risking a deeper slide ahead.

“Even without Greece, China’s stock market woes and Iran priming to hit the market with more barrels, the demand picture in oil has only been okay while the

supply picture has been phenomenal,” said John Kilduff, partner at New York energy hedge fund Again Capital.

“With these number of bearish elements weighing on the market now, the only thing of support has been the seasonal demand in gasoline, and even that will be going away soon.”

U.S. crude CLc1 was at $53.50 a barrel by 12:51 p.m. EDT, down $3.43 from its settlement on Thursday before Friday’s U.S. Independence Day holiday and below the 100-day moving average.

If the 6 percent drop is retained at the close, it will be the biggest daily loss in U.S. crude since a 7 percent drop on April 8.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Business News

Wednesday, July 8, 2015

Mid-year media, marketing deals total $53.7bn

Poorest 425m lack social safety nets coverage globally –World Bank

DAVID AUDU

TOLA AKINMUTIMI

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ergers and acquisitions in the media and marketing sectors totaled $53.7 billion in the first half of the year, down almost five percent from the same period last year, according to the Jordan Edmiston Group.

This disclosure came even as the volume of transactions in the sector increased by more than four percent.

The marketing and marketing technology subcategory saw the sharpest decrease in value during the period, the investment bank reported.

Deal value in the subcategory fell more than 24 percent to $12.7 billion, a tumble attributed to outsized transactions that boosted value in the first half of last year. Deal volume fell by more than nine percent compared to the year-earlier period.

Companies in the B2B marketing realm recorded several large transactions in the first half of the year. LinkedIn’s $1.5 billion acquisition of educational company Lynda.com marked a highlight during the time period, one of 11 transactions valued at more than $1 billion, the bank reported.

Twitter’s $533 million acquisition of predictive analytics company TellApart helped boost activity in the marketing subcategory, as did the $255 million investment that Kantar/WPP made in digital analytics company comScore.

Pitney Bowes acquired ecommerce solutions company Borderfree for $465 million, and MasterCard spent $600 million to acquire analytics company Applied Predictive Technologies.

“M&A activity in the U.S. continues at a brisk pace, due largely to positive economic trends and rising confidence in the corporate sector,” analysts wrote in a press release.

The overall media and marketing sector recorded a more than 4 percent increase in deal volume during the first half of the year, with the investment bank observing 1,125 transactions. Of those transactions, 278 fell within the marketing and marketing technology subcategory.

In the first half of 2014, the overall sector saw 1,078 transactions, with 307 of those transactions attributed to marketing and marketing technology.

he World Bank has reported that despite improvement in investments in social safety nets in developing countries, the poorest in the various countries were yet to be covered by the poverty-alleviation programmes.

The new World Bank Group’s The State of Social Safety Nets 2015 report released on Monday noted that about 55 per cent of the world’s 773 million poor and vulnerable people with acute needs, particularly in low income countries, stilled lacked safety nets coverage.

According to the Bank, more than 1.9 billion people in 136 lowand middle-income countries are

now on beneficiary rolls of social safety net programmes.

The report stated that in Africa alone, the number of countries setting up social safety net programmes had doubled over the past three years, as evidenced by rigorous evaluations that proved that the programmes worked.

It however noted that three quarters of the poorest people in low- and lower-middle income countries, and more than onethird of the poorest people in middle-income countries, lacked safety net coverage and remained at risk.

The multilateral institution therefore charged the affected countries to take action to close the coverage gap.

The report follows the recent joint statement by the heads of

the World Bank Group and the International Labor Organization (ILO), endorsing the goal of universal access to social protection - including safety nets- by 2030.

The Bank pointed out that the Third Financing for Development Conference scheduled to hold in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia next week, served as an opportunity to ensure that the international community has the means to make this vision a reality.

The World Bank Group President, Jim Yong Kim, and Guy Ryder, Executive Director, ILO, in their joint statement restated the two institutions’ “vision of social protection for all, a world where anyone who needs social protection can access it at any time.

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“The new development agenda that is being defined by the world community - the sustainable development goals (SDGs) - provides an unparalleled opportunity for our two institutions to join forces to make universal social protection a reality, for everyone, everywhere”, the statement added.

The social safety nets programmes include, cash and inkind transfers targeted to poor and vulnerable households, with the goal of protecting families from the impact of economic shocks, natural disasters, and other crises; ensuring that children grow up healthy, well-fed, and can stay in school and learn; empowering women and girls; and creating jobs.

Accenture boss, others task CIOs on tech trends ISAIAH ERHIAWARIEN

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ccenture, a global technology solutions provider and consulting company has sensitized Chief Information Officers, CIOs, in the fast moving consumer goods, FMCG, industry on the need to embrace modern technological trends and leverage on them to ensure effective utili-

zation and business growth..

Country Managing Director, Accenture Nigeria, Mr. Niyi Yusuf, who gave the charge at a CIO forum in Lagos said that there was a lot of technology trend in the environment such as social media, mobile, analytics and cloud (SMAC) that companies in the sector can leverage on for better performance.

He said that the large popula-

tion and high rate of mobile and Internet penetration in Nigeria were opportunities to grow their businesses by adopting new technology trends.

According to him, Accenture organised the forum to share its own thoughts on technology trends which the FMCG companies should be aware of and also take advantage of.

He said: “We are the second

L-R: Governors, Prof. Ben Ayade (Cross River), Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa( Delta), Managing Director, Fynefield Petroleum FZE, Mr. Gabriel Ogbechie and Executive Director, Mrs. Godrey Ogbechie, during the commissioning of Fynefield Petroleum FZE’s 40 Million capacity tank farm in Calabar.

largest country in the world where people access Internet on their mobile phones and what does that portend for a company in the FMCG sector, it boosts interest and it is also an opportunity.

“If you have a workforce that is mobile, also consumers that are mobile, you need to be mobile, to be where your customers are, as lots of Nigerians are on Yahoo, Google, Facebook and other social media platform, and if a consumer has bad experience about a product he can post it on the social media and it would spread wide.”, Yusuf added The Accenture boss said that technology trend in the country offered opportunity FMCG companies to be social and also be able to respond saying that the social media helps companies to sell their goods and services online.

He explained further that companies were able to offer information about their goods and services, track their goods, and take stock real time online information online which is data analytics.

LCCI hosts CBN-Private sector dialogue on forex policy ABOLAJI ADEBAYO

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he Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, LCCI, will today host a dialogue session with the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, on its foreign exchange policy in Lagos.

A statement by the Chamber indicated that the forum will offer

an opportunity for stakeholders to engage the CBN on the recent forex policies, especially the new list of items excluded from the forex market, the limitations imposed on the use export proceeds and related issues.

In addition, it would serve as a platform for the apex banking institution to share its perspectives with stakeholders on its policy

choices with regard to the management of the foreign exchange market. It promises to be a very valuable interaction.

Three Directors of the CBN, who are expected to constitute the panel of discussants include, the Director, Monetary Policy, Mr. Moses Tule; the Director, Trade and Exchange, Mr. Olakanmi Gbadamosi; and the Director, Financial

Markets, Mr. E. U. Ukeje.

Other panelists are, the Managing Director, Coleman Wires and Cables, Mr. George Onofowokan; Chief Executive Officer, Proshare Nigeria Limited, Mr. Femi Awoyemi, while the Managing Director, RTC Advisory Services Limited, Mr. Opeyemi Agbaje, will moderate the session.

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Agency chief tasks ad practitioners on professionalism, integrity DAVID AUDU

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roup Chief Executive Officer, Prima Garnet Africa, an advertising agency, Mr. Lolu Akinwumi, has tasked advertising practitioners on professionalism and integrity in business.

Akinwunmi who delivered a key note paper at an anniversary and lecture of Yes International Magazine in Lagos recently, noted that advertising is a global business built on best practices and also an intensely professional trade.

He said it is the lack of professionalism that is responsible for the collapse of many advertising agencies in Nigeria.

“Some of us are often amused when people retire from jobs as journalists, PR practitioners, marketing and brands people on the client side, and simply set up agencies; nine out of ten of such ven-

tures don’t survive. The casualty rate is high because the advertising profession is very demanding, is intensive and very tough”.

Akinwumi, who was the immediate past chairman of Advertising Practitioners of Council of Nigeria, APCON, also harped on integrity among practitioners and in business generally, advising that “being honest, open and transparent with employees, consumers, clients and shareholders will gain you respect and help you retain talented workers and loyal customers. On the other hand, dishonesty can undo the trustworthy image of a company.

“Talking of morality and integrity in business is incongruous, well almost. The conventional wisdom is that these cannot, or more like should not go together. One or two undiplomatic people would even tell me to go start a church if I was so hard on enforcing morality in business.

“I have a duty to speak about these things; indeed a duty to speak against them. Why? It is central to the reason why I became an entrepreneur and have remained one. I believe some of us should show that we can be in business and service without seeking unholy gain, without mortgaging our conscience, without soiling our fingers. Nigerians are not thieves by nature; neither are we dishonest. We have several millions of very hardworking, very honest compatriots’.

On marketing, he said every business must have a marketing plan. “It must be constructive and strategic. I know companies that don’t advertise but sponsor popular tournaments. Others get their publicity from their CSRs and similar projects. For others they use a lot of media relations. A company must have a plan to continue to communicate with current and prospective targets”.

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Technology has bridged information divide –Ericsson ISAIAH ERHIAWARIEN

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lobal IT vendor company, Ericson said that the technology available today had broken down the information divide, making it possible for young people everywhere to learn and receive a 21st century education.

Vice President, Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility, Ericsson, Elaine WeidmanGrunewald, who made the remark during an award on social contribution received by his company from Total Telecoms, said that Ericsson was recognised for the work that it had been doing in countries of the Africa continent where it operates.

She specifically noted that Er-

Nobel carpet wins Africa quality award SAIDAT ALAUSA

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L-R: Brand Manager, Star, Omotunde Adenusi; Sales Director Hubert Eze, and, Senior Brand Manager, Star, Chidike Oluaoha at the launch of Star Triple X, at the Star Triple X Experience Centre, Polo Park Mall, Enugu, yesterday.

AfDB approves $62m for technical, vocational trainings SYLVA EMEKA-OKEREKE

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xecutive Board of Directors, African Development Bank Group, AfDB, has approved a loan of $62 million to finance the second phase of the Technical Vocational Education and Training, VET, for skills development project in Kenya.

Already, Kenya is experiencing a skills gap, mainly for technicians and artisans, hence, the project is expected to play an important role in supporting emerging oil, gas and mining industry, which intends to employ between 42,000 and 98,000 people over the next 10 years.

Director for Human Development, Sunita Pitamber said, 80

percent of the country’s population are less than 35 years, as they bear the brunt of unemployment.

For instance, in 2009, youth unemployment spiked at 35 percent, compared to 10 percent for adults.

AfDB said one of the major challenges was the skills mismatch with the labour market needs and inadequate training.

A reformed TVET sector has the potential to develop relevant skills and significantly improve the employability of Kenya’s workforce, especially among women and youth.

The project aims at increasing access and equity, improve quality and relevance of TVET in line with the Kenya’s TVET Act of 2013.

As expected, the project would

strengthen faculties of engineering and applied sciences in the 33 target TVET institutions through engineering infrastructure and faculty development.

These include 4 TVET institutions for hearing and visual impaired students. At least 600 TVET tutors will be trained at diploma and degree levels in engineering and applied sciences.

It would also support the training of 3,000 youths (50 percent females) in relevant skills to increase their employability.

Furthermore, the project would support construction of hostels in some of the target TVET institutions, rural and marginalised regions, where it was reported that lack of hostels hinder girls access to these institutions.

icsson was recognised for its technology partnership with Connect To Learn, an initiative created in collaboration with Columbia University’s Earth Institute and Millennium Promise, with a specific focus on increasing access to quality education for girls.

Since 2010, ‘Connect To Learn’ has supported UNESCO’s “Education for All” goals by deploying mobile broadband and cloud solutions, combined with hands-on training in Information and Communications Technology, ICT, to schools in 12 African countries.

Following the initial rollout of the program, more than 36,400 students in Africa, from Ghana and Uganda to Tanzania and Djibouti have been able to access quality education resources via Ericsson’s cloud-based solutions.

obel Carpets and Rugs, a subsidiary of Lucky Fibres Plc, has been declared Africa’s Best Quality Rugs and Carpet brand at the 2015 Africa Quality Achievement Award.

Nobel Carpets and Rugs is the largest manufacturer of carpets and rugs in the whole of WestAfrica.

Speaking at the awards ceremony, General Manager Lucky Fibres Plc, Mr. Jitesh Pamnani, said that the award was a confirmation of the company’s commitment to producing top quality product offerings.

He said, “The award is a reaffirmation of what lucky fibres is doing in this country. We are a proudly made in Nigeria car-

pets and rugs brand. We are an ISO Certified company and this award highlights our commitment to continuously offer consumers products of the highest quality that meets international standards.

“Our products are also environmental friendly. Lucky Fibres started operations in 1989. Since then, we have been delivering carpets and rugs with consistent quality. We have different product range for commercial and residential purposes.”

According to him, Nigeria has the capacity to design and manufacture customised rugs and carpets to meet a customer’s specifications, and that the awards attest to the quality of its brand saying that Lucky Fibres customers are assured quality, appealing and reliable carpets at a very affordable price.

Dubai Int’l passengers’ traffic up 23% in May OLUSEGUN KOIKI

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ubai International Airport recorded a 23.2 per cent growth in passengers’ traffic in May reflecting runway maintenance a year earlier, the operator of the world’s busiest airport by international traffic has said.

Traffic rose to 6.27 million passengers from 5.09 million while flights increased by almost 50 per cent, Dubai Airports said.

An online report monitored by our correspondent stated that growth was powered by the Indian subcontinent and by additional connections to Eastern Europe

started by fly dubai and Emirates.

The airport was reduced to one runway in 2014 during maintenance, which lasted 80 days.

During the first five months of 2015, Dubai International welcomed 32,384,620 passengers, compared to 29,608,364 passengers during the same period last year, an increase of 9.4 per cent.

The number of flights rose dramatically in May to 34,017, an increase of 48.8 percent from 22,856 recorded during May 2014 due to the effect of the runway closure.

Year to date flight movements reached 167,510, up 12.6 per cent from 148,784 aircraft movements recorded during the same period last year.

Wednesday, July 8, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

EnergyWeek Oil, gas to account for 60% global energy demand 35 –ExxonMobil

Shell finalises investment decision on Appomatox field 36

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NERC unveils renewable energy devt plans 37

Closing pre-paid metering gap mirage, despite assurances

The Federal Government and others have at various times made promises to tackle many electricity meter-related challenges in the country.

CHIDI UGWU however reports that the problems which breed exploitation of consumers remain unresolved.

Pre-paid meter

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here is hardly any doubt that electricity meter, a device that measures the amount of electric energy consumed by a residence, business, or an electrically powered machine is a very important component in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI).

The Electricity distribution companies or Discos use electric meters installed at customers’ premises to measure electric energy delivered to their customers for billing purposes.

The meters are calibrated in billing units, the most common one being the kilowatt hour [kWh]. They are usually read once each billing period. The metering system is designed to benefit both distribution companies as well as consumers in that while energy prepayment meters if well handled

will increase the Discos’ revenue, it will also guarantee fair billing for customers.

For instance, since new meters are prepayment in nature, it is expected to reduce the overhead that usually characterize house-to-house recovery of revenue as was almost the case in the past. Analysts say the effective deployment of meters will also reduce administrative overhead for the Dis-

cos because it is electronic, meaning that most of the steps required in administering it can be automated.

The pundits, who hold this view say the pre-paid meter will reduce staff requirement and as a result reduce staff overhead, adding that Discos could as a result free more cash for investment in deployment of cash in other areas for improved service

SINCE NEW METERS ARE PREPAYMENT IN NATURE, IT IS EXPECTED TO REDUCE THE OVERHEAD THAT USUALLY CHARACTERIZE

HOUSE-TO-HOUSE RECOVERY OF REVENUE AS WAS ALMOST THE CASE IN THE PAST

delivery. According this school of thought the prepayment meters will also reduce corruption within the ranks of electricity workers since customers will pay their bills upfront, the era of collecting bribe to connect defaulting customers would gradually come to an end.

On the other hand, electricity consumers in Nigeria have always complained about the unfair billing method used by the Discos which in most parts, used estimated billing usually considered as outrageous but the meters would ensure fair billing for consumers. The Electricity Consumers Association of Nigeria (ECAN) said there have been complaints that customers were sent bills by the Discos, without any regard for actual energy consumed.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 34

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National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Closing pre-paid metering gap, mirage despite assurances CONTINUED FROM PAGE 33 But, the ECAN National President, Barrister Chijikoe James is optimistic that with the new energy prepayment meters, when fully deployed, energy consumers in Nigeria will only pay for actual energy consumed. According to the ECAN boss, the prepayment meter will enable the consumers to have control over consumption.

“Consumers can now control their energy consumption. If one found him or herself using more energy, he or she can decide on what to cut-out in order to reduce energy consumption.

And keep in mind, cases of meter theft is bound to reduce; this is because each prepayment meter is tied to a smartcard, which means that a stolen prepayment meter will be useless without the smart card. Every prepayment meter has a unique identification number that can be tracked electronically. Therefore, consumers can be sure of meter security” he said.

James further noted that another great benefit of this electrical energy prepayment meters on Nigerian energy consumer is its potential for reliable power supply, stressing that the revenue of Discos will be proportional to actual energy used by consumers.

However, the provision of smart-meters to consumers across the country has remained a mirage despite the enormous importance of the device in the nation’s electricity sector. Millions of electricity consumers are still unable to get prepaid meters, in some cases years after payment, despite assurances by the government that they are readily available. Few months ago, the immediate past minister of power, Professor Chinedu Nebo, revealed that about 50 per cent of electricity consumers are yet to be adequately metered by the Discos.

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, the statutory agency mandated to regulate and monitor the Nigerian electricity industry, had in 2012, said that prepaid meters would be provided free to electricity consumers. That year, NERC told Nigerians that provision had been made for free installation of meters in the new electricity tariff, which took effect from June 1, 2012, adding that the distribution companies had been provided with funds to ensure that all customers were connected within 18 months.

But soon after, a counter directive was issued, mandating electricity consumers to pay between N25, 000 and N50, 000 for prepaid meters under the Credited Advance Payment for Metering Implementation, CAPMI, scheme. The scheme involves the manufacturing, importation, distribution and installation of new prepaid electricity meters to various classes of consumers. Under the scheme, nine contractors were prequalified to produce meters locally, while 15 others were granted licences to import meters directly. About 38 contractors are to be involved in the distribution of the meters, while 11 other contractors have been mandated to act as individual installers, aside the 61 others given the mandate as corporate installers. These two groups will install the meters for all classes of electricity consumers.

Chairman, NERC, Dr. Sam Amadi, said that CAPMI was introduced due to the slow pace of customer metering by the distribu-

Buhari

Amadi

Oladele Amoda

tion companies, DISCOs, as well as the high level of complaints received from customers and dissatisfaction with the current estimated billing practices. The Federal Government has announced a N213-billion facility which apart from settling the legacy gas debts which stood at N36billion was also believed to have been meant to enable the operators to improve infrastructure including closing the huge metering gap.

All these efforts also gave consumers the confidence that the meters would be readily available. But the reverse appears to be the case. Many electricity consumers are now at a loss as to their next line of action. Some consumers approached their DISCOs in a bid to acquire the meters and many met a brick wall. National Mirror investigations reveal that most of the DISCOs cannot boast of providing their customers with the required prepaid meters, even after they must have met the requirements of paying for them and filling the forms.

It was reliably gathered that the meters are currently unavailable. According to a source in one of the Discos, “Meters are unavailable now till the month of further notice.” Another staff of the company disclosed that “for now, there are no meters and management will notify customers once they are available.” She, however, noted that there is every possibility that before the end of the year, the meters would be available.

At Abuja Electricity Distribution Company, AEDC, Mararaba business unit, it was gathered that for a customer to get a onephase prepaid meter, such a person needs to pay about N28,832 while three-phased prepaid meter goes for N53,820. The customer is required to pay the amount at the unit’s designated account, and thereafter fill a form, which is to be returned within 45 days after the collection.

While claiming that the meters are available, and that they would be provided to the customer in time, an attendant at the

customer care unit of the company could not readily say how many customers had received their meters within the week. It is such unpreparedness on the part of the DISCOs to provide customers with the prepaid meters that has discouraged a lot of Nigerians from approaching them for new meters.

A trader at Garki Area 10, Abuja, John Ezenwenyi would not want anything to do with the officials of the AEDC, as far as getting a meter is concerned. Narrating his ordeal, he said after making several attempts to get a prepaid meter, convinced that it is more economical than the manual type, he has resorted to keeping his manual meter until the situation improves.

But Adonu Eze, a resident of Emene, Enugu State confessed that the initial challenge was raising the fund for the payment, then after struggling to raise the money, the procedure he was asked to go through was so cumbersome that he had to jettison the idea. “I don’t think I want to apply for the meter again. I know so many people who are frustrated in the attempt to get prepaid meters, I don’t think it is available as they will want us to believe,” he said.

Even those who were lucky to get the prepaid meter complain that the main objective of introducing the meters, which is to ensure correct and uniform billing system, has been defeated through illegal charges.

For instance, they are made to pay service charge, maintenance fee, Value Added Tax, VAT, and other sundry charges alongside the actual consumption charge. “We were told prepaid meters are pay-as-you-go, just like what obtains in the telecoms industry, but the reverse is the case here. When you buy a particular amount of units, instead of giving you the accurate number you paid for, some monies will be deducted as charges, and so you begin to wonder what is special about the prepaid meter,” James Ejiofor, an NYSC staff in Enugu, said.

The Assistant General Manager in charge of Customer Service Standard at NERC, Mr. Shittu Lawal confirmed that electricity customers have borne the burden of inadequate metering across the country, stressing that NERC as result has recently initiated a process that will cap the revenues that the Discos can generate from their customers through estimated billing.

Since its introduction in 2003, only a small percentage of Nigerians have been able to obtain the prepaid meters. To reduce the metering gap, the federal government approved the sum of N2.9 billion as subsidy for the supply and installation of prepaid meters to electricity consumers across Nigeria. The said amount was approved for disbursement under the now rested multiyear tariff order-1, MYTO-1. A committee was, however, set up to inquire what happened to the fund, and it found out that it was mismanaged.

Many Nigerians are quick to point accusing fingers at officials of distribution companies, who, they allege are not favourably disposed to prepaid meters. “Some of these officials are comfortable with the old system of billing customers by estimation, and through such act, they make more money for themselves. They know that if everyone has the prepaid meter, it will be difficult for them to make more money,” Ejiofor said.

However, many believe that finding a lasting solution to the metering debacle is paramount among the issues facing the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari in the sector. On the way forward, the President, Nigerian Consumer Protection Network, Kunle Olubiyo said Discos are financially stranded in that the N213 billion intervention loan can be easily accessed due to high interest rate by the commercial banks these monies were routed.

“The only way is to route these monies through infrastructural banks were the interest rate is considerable lower” he said.

While some consumers advocated ‘no meter, no pay’ for electricity bills solution, the Federal Government said plans are underway to roll out the modalities of sharing meters among the Discos and ensure that products are also purchased from indigenous meter manufacturers to entrench sustainable growth in the domestic manufacturing sector.

SOME OF THESE OFFICIALS ARE COMFORTABLE WITH THE OLD SYSTEM OF BILLING CUSTOMERS BY

ESTIMATION, AND THROUGH SUCH ACT, THEY MAKE MORE MONEY FOR THEMSELVES

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Energy Week

Wednesday, July 8, 2015

35

Oil, gas to account for 60% global energy demand – ExxonMobil UDEME AKPAN

A

major oil and gas operator, ExxonMobil has predicted that crude oil and natural gas will constitute 60 per cent of global energy demand by 2040.

In its 2015 Outlook, the company maintained crude oil and natural gas will continue to dominate the world’s energy mix for a very long period.

The Country General Manager, Public and Government Affairs, Mr. Paul Arinze confirmed in a statement that the use of nuclear will also record a significant growth during the period.

“Oil and natural gas will supply about 60 per cent of global energy demand in 2040.

Use of nuclear power and renewable energy will also grow, will peak around 2025 and then gradually decline. Evolving demand and supply patterns will open the door for increased global trade opportunities. The Outlook provides a window to the future, a view that ExxonMobil uses to guide our own strategies and investments,” he maintained.

He said while good, practical options to meet people’s energy needs continue to expand, understanding the challenges related to meeting these needs is important for individuals, businesses, and policy makers.

“Our world runs on energy – it’s fundamental to our way of life and growing our economy. While people’s needs and modern technologies continue to evolve, so too does the energy landscape.”

“The ExxonMobil Outlook is shared with public audiences around the world to broaden understanding of energy challenges and

Oil rig

opportunities all of us face in the years ahead.

This is even more important for an energy reach - and energy dependent - nation, such as Nigeria.”

“As the world population reaches approaches nine billion people in 2040, we are challenged to not just meet basic needs, but also to improve living standards throughout the world,” he maintained.

He indicated that the scale and nature of this challenge is readily apparent in ExxonMobil Outlook for Energy: A View to 2040, our long- term global forecast of energy supply and demand trends.

Arinze noted that it is important to understand the links between population growth, economic progress and the amount and type of energy used around the world.

He maintained that growing populations

advance economically over time and seek better living standards, which in general leads to increased energy use.

The general manager stated that the Outlook reveals key findings about how people use energy, how much we will need in the future and what types of fuels will meet demand.

He maintained that transportation demand will rise about 40 per cent, driven by expanding commercial activity. However, global energy used for personal vehicles will gradually peak and then begin to fall, as significant fuel economy gains offset growth in the worldwide fleet.

Arinze indicated that technology is enabling the safe development of once hardto-produce energy resources, significant expanding available supplies.

Joda committee canvasses DPR, NERC merger

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he Joda Ahmed-led committee has proposed for President Muhammadu Buhari’s consideration the merger of the Department of petroleum Resources, DPR and the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC. The committee, it was gathered made the proposal because of its expectation that the functions of the two agencies are related.

Specifically, the committee also feels that the placement of the two bodies under one management would ensure the production and supply of gas for the nation’s thermal power stations.

Consequently, the Finance and Economy sub-committee of the Ahmed Jodaled Transition Committee recommended the creation of the committee that would merge and streamline decision making processes between the two agencies and increase regulatory certainty and investor confidence in the power sector.

The committee advised the govern-

ment to consider the establishment of a uniform electricity pricing template for operators in the power sector, including the NERC, Transmission Company of Nigeria, Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc., Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, and its Nigerian Gas Company subsidiary as well as the Niger Delta Power Holding Company.

The recommendations also proposed the adoption of a new technological solution for streamlining and auditing all energy industry transactions at the NNPC. The committee expects that the recommendation would help manage risks in the above oil industry agencies and optimise operational and financial decisions in real time as well as report progress on activities, prepare balance sheet and project backlog on investment plans.

DPR is mandated to implement a Gas Pricing Regulation framework of 2007,

which provides the legal basis for gas supply to domestic market, particularly the power sector, to provide the energy required to power productive activities in the economy.

NERC has the responsibilities under the Electric Power Sector Reform Act to undertake the technical and economic regulation of the tariff, approval of capacity expansion and business plans in the electricity industry value chain.

The Commission indicated that it has noticed with concern the acute shortage in power supply and the attendant hardship Nigerians are passing through.

In the last couple of months, electricity supply has been generally poor on account of increase in vandalism in the run up to the April 2015 elections. But this bad supply condition has worsened in the last few days.

At present, 18 out of the 23 power plants in the country are unable to gen-

Commodity

Units

Price

Change

% Change

Time(ET)

Crude Oil (WTI)

USD/bbl.

53.25

-3.68

-6.46%

13:26:11

Crude Oil (Brent)

USD/bbl.

57.41

-2.91

-4.82%

13:26:46

TOCOM Crude Oil

JPY/kl

44,010.00

-1,590.00

-3.49%

13:25:55

NYMEX Natural Gas

USD/MMBtu

2.77

-0.06

-2.02%

13:25:46

Source: Bloomberg as at July 6, 2015

erate electricity due shortage of gas supply to the thermal plants with one of the hydro stations faced with water management issue. This has led to loss of over 2,000megawatts in the national grid.

This situation is further compounded by the recent industrial actions embarked upon by workers in the oil and gas industry, a development which is taking toll on other sectors of the economy.

Gas supplies to the thermal plants have been further constrained by the industrial actions of workers in the oil and gas industry.

The Commission had proactively engaged the gas supply companies and its licencees when two weeks ago discussion was held on how to firm up gas supply in order to increase power supply.

Unfortunately, not much progress was made through this meeting as the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and its subsidiary Nigeria Gas Company, disclosed of high incidence of vandalism in some areas that were relatively peaceful along its pipeline networks.

36

Energy Week

Oando appoints Muhammad Director, as Appiah-Korang resigns

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ando group has appointed Dr Tanimu Yakubu Muhammad as a non-executive director to the Board of the company effective June 30, 2015 as part of its strategy to move the fast-growing company to the next level.

Shareholders are hereby advised that pursuant to article 88 of the Company’s articles of association, the board of directors of Oando has appointed Dr Tanimu Yakubu Muhammad as a non-executive director to the Board of the Company effective June 30 2015,” Oando maintained in a statement.

“Dr Tanimu Yakubu Muhammad holds a first degree in Economics and an MBA in Finance from Bayero University, Kano. He also obtained a certificate in Marketing Research from the University of Ibadan, Oyo State.”

It indicated that, “Dr Tanimu Yakubu Muhammad’s working career spans a number of notable organisations during which he held such key positions as the Head of Department, Credit and Marketing, New African Merchant Bank Limited, the Head, Investment and Economic Desk, Afri-project Consortium Limited, Abuja, Honourable Commissioner, Ministry of Finance, Katsina State, Managing Director/CEO Federal Mortgage Bank, Abuja, Deputy Chief of Staff Federal Republic of Nigeria 2007/2008. “ The company stated that he was also the chief Economic adviser to the President and Commander in chief, Federal Republic of Nigeria In 2007.

Oando also indicated that shareholders are further notified of the resignation of non-executive director, Ms. Nana Appiah-Korang, from the Board with immediate effect.

“Ms. Appiah-Korang has tendered her resignation due to increasing demands of other professional interests. While serving on the Board, Ms. Appiah–Korang was an active member of the Board and its sub-committees and contributed to the improvement of Oando’s governance and risk management practices in keeping with global best practice standards,” it maintained.

Already, Oando PLC has entered in to an agreement with HV Investments II B.V., a joint venture owned by a fund advised by Helios Investment Partners and The Vitol Group, for a cash investment of US$276.8 million in Oando’s downstream business.

The post-investment 100per cent ownership structure is reflected in the voting rights below: Oando PLC will hold 49 per cent, HV Investments will hold 49per cent and a Nigerian Helios Affiliate will hold 2per cent.

Wednesday, July 8, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Shell finalises investment decision on Appomattox field

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major player in the global oil and gas industry, Royal Dutch Shell has expressed its commitment to deep water projects around the world.

This is aimed at ensuring that the company boosts its production capacity, thus assisting to meet increasing global demand as the deed water is known for commercial oil and gas reserves.

“We have announced the launch of the Appomattox deepwater development in the Gulf of Mexico – featuring our eighth and largest floating platform in the region – which adds to our strong global portfolio of deep-water projects. The most recent of these projects to come on stream was the Gumusut-Kakap floating platform off the coast of Malaysia.”

“Gumusut-Kakap is Shell’s first deep-water project in Malaysia. It is expected to achieve a peak annual production of 135,000 barrels of oil daily. The Gumusut-Kakap field is located in waters up to 1,200 metres (3,900 feet) deep. The platform is expected to reach an annual peak oil production of around 135,000 barrels a day and contribute up to 25per cent of Malaysia’s

oil production,” Shell maintained.

The company indicated that Gumusut-Kakap follows a number of successful Shell deep-water startups in 2014. In the US Gulf of Mexico, the Cardamom development has extended the production life of the pioneering Auger platform.

It indicated that oil from Cardamom is piped through Shell’s existing Auger platform, providing an additional peak production of 50,000 barrels of oil equivalent a day.

The company maintained that also in the Gulf, the Olympus platform started production from the new Mars B development.

It disclosed that Mars B is the first deep-water project in the Gulf to expand an existing oil and natural gas field with new infrastructure.

“Heavier than more than 300 Boeing 747 jumbo jets and 124 metres (406 feet) tall, Olympus is tethered with immensely strong mooring lines stretching thousands of metres down to the seabed. Combined future production from Olympus and the original Mars platform has the potential to reach an estimated 1 billion barrels of oil equivalent (boe).”

“In August Shell announced first oil at the Bonga North West project off Nigeria. This was a significant step forward for the Bonga project, Nigeria’s first deep-water development in water depths over 1,000 metres, which began producing, oil and gas in 2005.”

“All of these projects boost Shell’s contribution to meeting growing energy demand from deep water. Operating at extreme depths around the world requires advanced technologies, high safety standards and a responsible approach. Cardamom, Mars B and Bonga North west all make use of existing infrastructure, limiting impact on the marine environment,” it added.

It maintained that engineers designed the Olympus and Auger platforms to withstand the most violent storms that hit the Gulf, bringing high seas and hurricanes.

The company indicated that the projects’ advanced technologies must operate reliably under extreme water pressure and in icy conditions far below the ocean’s surface.

It maintained that such challenges are not unique to these devel-

Shell MD, Osagie Okubor

opments. Every deep-water project demands significant investment, major feats of engineering and detailed steps to protect people and the environment.

“Our deep-water activities extend from the Gulf of Mexico to the China Sea, from the Norwegian continental shelf to the waters off Nigeria’s coast. Shell has decades of experience in developing and operating deep-water projects. We produced around 370,000 boe every day from our deep-water projects in 2014, nearly 12per cent of our total global production.”

Group, others pledge support for local content UDEME AKPAN

T

he Movement for the Survival of the Ijaw Ethic Nationality in the Niger Delta, MOSIEND on Thursday pledged to continue supporting the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, NCDMB in its implementation of the Nigerian Content Act. Speaking when the group paid a courtesy visit to the Executive Secretary, NCDMB, Mr. Denzil Kentebe at his office in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Chairman of MOSIEND, Mr. Victor Eyororokum said the group collaborated

Kentebe

effectively with the Board under the tenure of the pioneer Executive Secretary, Dr. Ernest Nwapa and were keen to continue the relationship under the new helmsman.

He indicated that the group were particularly interested in capacity building and employment generation for their members and were keen to participate in the Nigerian Oil and Gas Parks Scheme (NOGaPS) and the Polaku Pipe mill project promoted by the Board.

Eyororokum informed that MOSIEND helped the Board to interface with youth groups in the Niger Delta, adding that concerted efforts were made to ensure that youths did not act aggressively and discourage planned industry investments.

He regretted that majority of their members who benefitted from oil industry training programmes were unable to get job placements afterwards and pleaded with the Board to help readdress the situation.

The Executive Secretary, NCDMB, Mr. Denzil Kentebe assured MOSIEND that their collaboration with the Board will continue under his leadership, especially with regards to

capacity building and participation in NOGaPS and Polaku Pipe mill project when they get on full steam.

He appreciated the group’s support in fostering a conducive environment for industry operations in the state, cautioning however, that the Board may never meet all its expectations.

The Executive Secretary advised that such trainees should form groups and bid for small industry contracts as there were gaps for small-scale companies in the oil and gas industry.

According to him, “That’s a better way for your members to utilise the training they got than coming to seek for paid employment. That way, they become employers of labour themselves.”

Kentebe also charged MOSIEND to identify tangible services the association can offer the Board and other players in the industry which will qualify for formal pay rather than relying on agencies like the Board for support.

The Federated Correspondents Chapel (FCC) of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Bayelsa State Council has promised to partner the Board in communicating the aspirations of the Nige-

rian Content Act and educating local communities on how they can participate in the oil and gas industry.

Chairman of the FCC, Mr. Samuel Ese who led members of his executive on a courtesy call to the Executive Secretary on Thursday underscored the role of the Board as it relates to opening the industry to involve the Nigerian people and retain key activities of the industry in-country.

He pleaded with the Board to partner their members in its activities so they would report the initiatives and achievements of Nigerian Content. He added that working closely with the Board will also aid the monitoring of operating and service companies to ensure they comply with provisions of the Act. Ese further requested for capacity building programmes for members of FCC in line with the Board’s mandate of training and supporting stakeholders of the industry. Such trainings, according to him will improve journalists’ understanding of the Nigerian Content Act, the Board’s relationship with other agencies in the oil and gas industry and how best the media can support the implementation process.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Energy Week

Wednesday, July 8, 2015

NERC unveils renewable energy devt plans UDEME AKPAN

T

he Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC has concluded plans to promote the development of renewable energy in the nation.

The Commission is currently seeking the opinion of stakeholders in the area of appropriate tariff.

The Commission maintained that in exercise of the powers conferred under Sections 32 (1)(b),(d) & (f), 32 (2) (a) & (g), of the Electric Power Sector Reform Act, 2005 (Act no. 6 of 2005), and all other powers enabling it on this behalf, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has developed regulations for procurement and pricing for renewable energy sourced electricity .

“Pursuant to the above, NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN to persons interested in sending comments to review the draft regulation and comment on the Qualifying Renewable Energy Generators, renewable energy portfolio, renewable energy quarter for each Disco and Bulk trader and cost assumptions for the feed in tariff.”

A source in the Commission indicated that the move is based on the conviction that appropriate tariff is im-

perative to the development of the sector.

Already, the Chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Dr Sam Amadi, has said that the Commission will ensure electricity customers pay only an efficient tariff.

Amadi said this as he gave insight into the removal of technical losses as a component of tariff chargeable by electricity distribution companies while receiving a threeman of delegation of the European Union.

The Commission earlier in the year put collection loss at zero value unless a distribution company makes case for its justification.

He said that the Commission questioned the framework that led to huge collection losses passed to electricity consumers and kicked against it because it was against international best practice and encouraged lack of performance on the part of the distribution companies. ‘’We want a transparent, participatory and cost reflective tariff. We have outsourced the tariff making process to the distribution companies and provided them strict guidelines. The regulatory question is about what should be passed to the consumers.

“One school of thought is

Solar panel

legalism and another is about what is right. So essentially, we ruled out collection losses and put it at zero,’’ Amadi said, adding that electricity distribution companies must consult with the consumers before it can approach the Commission for tariff review.

He informed the visitors that as part of Commission’s drive to enhance electricity supply, it has been advocating embedded generation, which is already yielding fruits.

According to him, ‘’the process of improving power supply lies with embedded generation. For now, Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company is making progress and other distribution companies would soon

follow suit.”

Amadi explained that the industry is between 80 and 85 per cent gas dependant but that gas pipeline vandalism has remained a big challenge. He enthused that the East West gas pipeline if completed on schedule by 2016 would open the door for massive gas supply.

According to him, the problem of gas shortage is affecting revenue flow and it if could be resolved the issue of cost reflective tariff would be easily resolved. In his words, “Noncommerciality of gas is a major constraint to gas supply as some of the generators are unable to sign gas contract that should provide then guaranteed supply’’.

Content had taken root in the operating companies and members of their group were the vanguards of the philosophy in their organisations.

The Executive Secretary, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Mr. Denzil Kentebe the Nigerian content presents a win-win situation for stakeholders.

Speaking in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State when he hosted to General Managers of Nigerian Content Divisions in the international oil companies (IOCs) who paid him a courtesy visit, the Executive Secretary explained that the Act was not being implemented in an oppositional manner whereby the Board and the operators viewed themselves as adversaries.

Kentebe said the Board decided from inception in 2010 to collaborate with the IOCs and other operating and service

industry stakeholders, adding that this model had proven very effective in stimulating compliance with provisions of the Act. He stressed that the developmental role of the Board was very critical and it involved close collaboration with stakeholders to develop in-country capacities and capabilities which make it possible to execute most industry projects hitherto taken abroad before the advent of the Act. Kentebe charged the companies not to rest on their oars as he is new on the saddle and in view of the operational challenges facing the industry at the moment.

He assured that the Board would work closely with Nigerian Content GMs to find solutions to problems their companies might have relating to Nigerian Content compliance in their projects.

IOCs committed to Nigerian content – Azogu

T

he International Oil Companies, IOCs have expressed commitment to the development of Nigerian Content in the oil and gas industry.

The General Manager, Nigerian Content, Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC), Mrs. Callista Azogu said the IOCs would continue to promote the

Azogu

content in the nation.

Azogu admitted that there were often challenges with operators complying with some expectations of the Nigerian Content Act, noting however, that such difficulties were always resolved with the Board to the benefit of all stakeholders.

The General ManagerNigerian Content Development, Chevron Nigeria Limited, Mr. Raymond Wilcox stated that their group and the Board pursued the same objectives, which included to increase the participation of Nigerians and utilization of Nigerian assets and facilities in the operations of the oil and gas industry, retain a greater part of the industry spend in-country and transform the Nigerian economy through the oil and gas industry.

He added that Nigerian

37

Conoil wins best outdoor advert award

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utdoor Advertising Association of Nigeria (OAAN) has declared Conoil as the overall winner of its prestigious annual exhibition and poster award for 2015.

According to OAAN, Conoil’s advert on its flagship engine oil, Quatro was adjudged the best in outdoor advertising in Nigeria. The company’s Quatro outdoor advert was also declared the best in the petroleum industry.

The award was held at the Intercontinental Hotel, Lagos, and had in attendance, captains of industries, top federal and state government officials, media and advertising gurus.

The OAAN Exhibition and Poster Award is the industry’s highest platform that rewards and promotes creative excellence in outdoor advertising.

The panel of judges for the highly competitive award was drawn from among the sub-sectors relevant to the practice of advertising in the country including Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON), Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria (AAAN), Advertisers Association of Nigeria (ADVAN), OAAN, Media Independent Practitioners Association of Nigeria (MIPAN), the Academia, Brand Journalism Desk and the Consumer Protection Council.

This year’s edition was the ninth in the series and had over 110 entries submitted for the various categories from telecommunications to banking, diary food and beverages, non-alcoholic drinks, oil and gas, household products and automobile. Others include pharmaceuticals/cosmetic information/ computer and technology (ICT), alcoholic drinks, electrical/electronics, public service and real estate.

According to the organisers, Conoil‘s advert won the grand poster award because of its creativity and originality, the ease of product identification and effective illustration of its visual. The judges also considered the relevance of its message, its simplicity, credibility and impact.

The theme for this year’s event, “Be Bold”, was chosen, according to OAAN, “because of our conviction that creativity is largely a product of ingenuity and it takes thinking out of the box to come up with a message that will connect the mind and the pocket of the viewer with the product.”

Commenting on the award, Conoil Management said they were pleased and excited, adding that “the award is a reflection of our dedication, initiative and talent as Team Conoil. It is yet another proof of our trail-blazing position in the downstream sector of the petroleum industry, and the nation’s business community in general.”

38

Energy Week

Afren gets permission to convene meeting

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he High Court of Justice in England has granted Afren Plc permission to convene scheme meeting.

The company maintained in a statement that Wales has issued an order dated 30 June 2015 granting the Company certain directions in relation to a scheme of arrangement under Part 26 of the UK Companies Act 2006.

“The proposed scheme of arrangement relates to the proposed financial restructuring of the Company’s (a) 11.5per cent senior secured notes due 1 February 2016 (b) 10.25% senior secured notes due 8 April 2019 and (c) 6.625% senior secured notes due 9 December 2020.”

“The Court’s directions include permission to convene a single meeting for Scheme Creditors for the purpose of considering and, if thought fit, approving the scheme of arrangement,” it indicated.

The company which maintained that the Scheme Meeting will be held on 29 July 2015 stated: “Further details of the Scheme Meeting are provided in the Notice of Scheme Meeting attached to this press release. The Scheme, Account Holder Letter, Explanatory Statement and related documents are available from the Company’s information agent, Lucid Issuer Services Limited.”

It indicated that capitalised terms used in this Notice of Scheme Meeting have the same meanings as in the proposed scheme of arrangement under Part 26 of the Act between Afren plc and the Scheme Creditors.

“The Scheme Meeting will be held at the offices of White & Case LLP, 5 Old Broad Street, London EC2N 1DW, United Kingdom on 29 July 2015 commencing at 8:30 a.m. (London time). All Scheme Creditors are requested to attend at such place and time either in person or by proxy.”

“Scheme Creditors may vote in person at the Scheme Meeting or they may appoint another person, whether a Scheme Creditor or not, as their proxy to attend and vote in their place. Each Scheme Creditor or his proxy will be required to register his attendance at the Scheme Meeting prior to its commencement.”

Afren plc is an international independent exploration and production (E&P) company with a Premium Listing on the London Stock Exchange (symbol AFR) and a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index.

It is said to be a dynamic, entrepreneurial organisation with a portfolio of world-class assets located in several of the world’s most prolific and fast-emerging hydrocarbon basins in Africa and the Middle East.

Wednesday, July 8, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Electricity generation drops to 3,655mw UDEME AKPAN

E

lectricity generation has dropped from over 3,700megawatts, mw to 3,655mw as a result of reduction in gas supply to power plants.

Investigations showed that the fall in gas supply was fuelled by pipeline vandalism in some oil producing areas.

“A source in a major gas supplying company who confirmed the development over the weekend maintained that the vandals might have mistaken the pipelines to be carrying petroleum products.”

However, the Presidential Task Force of Power indicated that the nation’s power stations collectively generated 3,655mw of which 3,565.09mw was distributed while the balance was used to stabilise the system.

The Director General of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr. Muda Yusuf said supply would likely improve following expected increase in rainfall.

Yusuf who explained that increased rainfall has culminated in increased use of hydro stations to generate electricity added that whenever it rains heavily, the nation always witness an improvement in

power because of improved performance of hydro plants.

“There are indications that the coming of the rainy season has swelled the dams to generate more power than in the past. Consequently, the nation’s hydro stations have done better than they used to do in the early part of the year when there was not much rainfall.”

The Director General tasked stakeholders to ensure they sustain the relatively high level of supply, and even increase it further in order to meet the great expectations of consumers in the coming months.

This may be an uphill task as investigations showed that the sector is threatened by many challenges, including lack of funds, low gas supply, poor facilities, vandalism and inadequate meters.

Already, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC has indicated before the recent improvement, it had noticed with concern the acute shortage in power supply and the attendant hardship Nigerians experienced.

It maintained that in the last couple of months, electricity supply had been generally poor on account of increase in vandalism

Power plant

in the run up to the April 2015 elections. But this bad supply condition has worsened in the last few days.

“At present, 18 out of the 23 power plants in the country are unable to generate electricity due shortage of gas supply to the thermal plants with one of the hydro stations faced with water management issue. This has led to loss of over 2,000megawatts in the national grid. This situation is further compounded by the recent industrial actions embarked upon by workers in the oil and gas industry, a development which is taking toll on other sectors of the economy. Gas supplies to the ther-

mal plants have been further constrained by the industrial actions of workers in the oil and gas industry.”

“The Commission had proactively engaged the gas supply companies and its licencees when two weeks ago discussion was held on how to firm up gas supply in order to increase power supply. Unfortunately, not much progress was made through this meeting as the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and its subsidiary Nigeria Gas Company, disclosed of high incidence of vandalism in some areas that were relatively peaceful along its pipeline networks.”

that it has stepped up efforts to maintain stability in the supply and distribution of petroleum products nationwide.

The Corporation disclosed in statement that it has enough stock of petrol to service the country for 25 days at a national consumption rate of 40 million litres per day even as it has stepped up product distribution to petroleum marketers and NNPC Retail outlets across the country.

While calling on members of the public to refrain from panic buying, the NNPC said it has sufficient stock of petrol at its coastal depots in Port Harcourt, Warri, and Calabar besides the stock it holds in the national strategic reserves.

The Executive Secretary of DAPPMA, Mr. Olufemi Adewole who called early maintenance of refineries said the rehabilitation of the plants would culminate in increased refining and supply of products.

He emphasised that the nation should look beyond existing refineries if the nation’s fuel demand is to be met.

Consequently, he made a strong case for deregulation in order to encourage investors and other stakeholders.

“It is not that marketers are not willing to construct new refineries

in the nation. The truth is that the environment does not encourage investment in the sector. The Federal Government had in the past issued licenses to investors to build refineries. But none of them did so.

That shows that there is something wrong with the sector that affects the construction of the refineries.”

“For instance, it is wrong for the government to peg the prices of some petroleum products, including petrol and expect investors to stake resources in the sector. They would not invest because they believe that the forces of demand and supply should be allowed to determine prices in order to enable them recover their investments. This is imperative because they should be able to break even after about five – seven years. Even the banks would not fund the investments because they expect to get their monies back.”

The Executive Secretary also called for the construction of Greenfield refineries which NNPC proposed in late 2005 as a strategic response to a lack of visible progress on the 18 Licenses issued by Government for Private Refineries in 2002 and also, the negative consequences of massive importation of petroleum products.

Fuel scarcity worsens in Lagos, other cities UDEME AKPAN

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he nation’s fuel scarcity has worsened as a result of the inability of oil marketers to embark on importation.

Investigations showed that it is only the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC and a few other companies have the capacity to import fuel into the nation.

Consequently, the nation is blessed with limited stocks to meet demand, currently estimated at 40 million liters per day.

People queuing for fuel

It was also learnt that the situation is worsened by some challenges at the depots and jetties, including the inability of tanker drivers to move freely at Apapa, Lagos where the jetties are located.

A survey showed that long fuel queues which had virtually disappeared a few days ago have emerged in Lagos and its environs.

Our Correspondent noticed that illegal operators who charge arbitrary prices have also emerged in the area.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) stated

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Wednesday, July 8, 2015

Industry & SMEs

39

Experts harp on benefits of alternative energy to industrial growth Despite efforts geared towards boosting power supply for socio-economic development, getting electricity to the nation’s industrial sector still remains a mirage. This worrisome situation has spurred industrialists and other stakeholders’ renewed call for alternative energy sources as survival imperative for their entities. ABOLAJI ADEBAYO reports.

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ver the years, the woe of Nigerian industrial sector has been blamed largely on power supply.

Despite sundry policy measures by government to make power available in the real sector, there seems to be no lasting solution to the problem yet, despite the unbundling of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, over a year ago and activities of its successor Gencos and Discos.

In a bid to find solution to the incessant power crisis in order to drive industrial growth in the country despite its power predicament, experts and other stakeholders have reiterated their campaign and support for the provision of alternative sources of energy to boost socio-economic situation of the country.

In their campaign, they appealed to the new government to put in place policies that would support and promote the provision and consumption of renewable energy among Nigerians, pointing out that without such policy framework and guidelines, renewable energy may not work well for the country.

The stakeholders have identified sunlight, human and animal waste, wind, water and geothermal heat as potentially viable options of alternative energy that could end decades of unstable electricity in the nation’s industrial sector if the opportunities of the sources are efficiently explored.

They claimed that about 4,000 megawatts the country currently generates cannot be sufficient for just a single industrialised state, noting that renewable energy is key to sustaining the country’s industrialisation drive.

Alternative energy

Buhari

Okuribido

NIGERIA IS ENDOWED WITH SOURCES OF RENEWABLE ENERGY SUCH AS SOLAR, WIND, BIOMASS, HYDROPOWER, GEOTHERMAL AND OCEAN WAVES IN ADDITION TO FOSSIL FUEL SOURCES The President of Council for Renewable Energy In Nigeria, CREN, Chief (Mrs.) Anita Okuribido said what was needed for renewable energy to materialise as in other countries was leadership that would be ready to spearhead the renewable energy project.

She explained that between 70 and 90 per cent of the power energy used in other countries like Brazil were generated from renewable energy sources.

Okuribido said, “Renewable energy

is cheaper and harmless. What we need in Nigeria is good leadership and good policy, we have all the resources. I hope the change will start any time soon.”

Also speaking to National Mirror, the National President of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, NACCIMA, Chief Bassey Edem, who was optimistic on the consistent campaign for the alternative source of energy, believed that that was a good pointer to the economic transformation of the country, which could only be achieved when the Organised Private Sector, OPS, take up its responsibility of advocating and partnering with Government on germane economic issues.

Explaining the concept of renewable energy, Edem said that renewable energy replaces conventional fuels in four distinct areas especially electricity generation, hot water/space heating, motor fuels, and rural (off grid) energy services.

“Rapid development of renewable energy and energy efficiency is resulting in significant energy security, climate change mitigation and economic benefit. In international public opinion survey, there is a strong support for promoting renewable energy sources such as solar and wind. While many renewable energy projects are large scale, renewable technologies are also suited to rural and remote areas and developing countries”, he said.

He however admitted that it cannot

be denied that renewable energy had the ability to lift the poorest nations to new levels of opportunities for a prosperous and sustainable future since we cannot do many things today in our daily (personal/business) life without the use of energy.

Edem explained: “It is pertinent to note that for the country to sustain its leadership role in the area of commerce and industry among other African countries, it must be ready to promote and utilize renewable energy delivery and create economic empowerment and transformation in the rural and urban population in all spheres of life.”

He therefore urged government and Private sector to come up with a definite strategy that would eventually be used as a model for economic transformation of the entire nation.

The Director General, Energy Commission of Nigeria, ECN, Professor Eli Jidere Bala explained that in 2003, the National Energy Policy, produced under the arrowhead of the Energy Commission of Nigeria, was approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

The policy articulated for the use of all viable energy sources for sustainable national development and with the active participation of the private sector in line with government’s economic policy.

He noted that renewable energy was one of the energy types articulated in the policy, noting that the policy also covered energy efficiency and conservation, amongst many other issues. He also noted that the policy has been reviewed in 2013.

According to him, the only way forward to the realisation of renewable energy in Nigeria is for the government and all other stakeholders to be more proactive with the policy.

Bala said: “Nigeria is endowed with sources of renewable energy such as solar, wind, biomass, hydropower, geothermal and ocean waves in addition to fossil fuel sources.

“The energy from these renewable sources can be transformed to supplement the final energies, from conventional energy, needed to grow the economy in a sustainable manner in the short and medium term; and to serve as substitute, when petroleum becomes uneconomical to exploit.

“However, adequate policies, programmes, incentives and legal instruments as well as adequate funding are imperative to support and grow the penetration of these new energy sources into the nation’s energy supply mix.”

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Cocktail

Wednesday, July 8, 2015

Large wave washes out fireworks at New Jersey shore town

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July 4 fireworks display was ruined in Seaside Heights Saturday when a wave washed out the decorations.

A New Jersey town’s Fourth of July celebration was a real washout.

Seaside Heights had to cancel its planned display on Saturday night after a wave rose over the setup and destroyed the fireworks, the borough said in a Facebook post.

Seaside Heights apologized for the cancellation and said they had to keep the fireworks closer to the surf than normal to comply with a state law that requires

the decorations to be 120 feet from the spectators.

But the tide was higher than normal and a wave soaked the fireworks.

“Wet fireworks = no fireworks,” the borough said.

“Every fireworks event after Sandy has been a challenge because of the consequences of beach erosion.”

The beachside resort, which hosted the popular MTV reality show “Jersey Shore,” has had its problems since Hurricane Sandy in 2012. In addition to massive beach erosion, many properties still have not been rebuilt.

Girl, 11, pulls out her own tooth with a crossbow

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he tooth fairy is a friend to all children losing their baby teeth but this girl obviously felt she needed to earn the tribute under the pillow.

Yanking her loose tooth using a crossbow most definitely beats the classic door handle trick.

There was no tears from this tough girl as

she felt the new gap with her tongue admiring her shot.

Not only did she successfully extract her tooth but also hit the cardboard target.

While her father must be proud, he must be wondering now how much money he (sorry, the Tooth Fairy) should put under her pillow.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Oddities

Matt Stonie tops Joey Chestnut in hot dog eating contest

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att Stonie shocked the competitive eating world Saturday by upsetting Joey “Jaws” Chestnut at the Fourth of July hot dog eating contest at Nathan’s Famous in Coney Island, thwarting Chestnut’s bid for a ninth straight victory.

Stonie, 23, who finished second last year, downed 62 hot dogs and buns, beating Chestnut by two. Both are from San Jose, California.

As thousands of spectators observed the eaters on an elevated stage, the next closest competitor ate 35 hot dogs.

“I trained hard for this.

This is actually amazing,” Stonie told ESPN, which broadcast the competition live like the major sporting event its biggest fans say it has become.

Afterward, Stonie, holding his fist in the air in victory, said he came into the competition confident and prepared in his quest for the $10,000 prize and the coveted mus-

tard yellow winner’s championship belt.

“We don’t just go up there and eat hot dogs. We practice for this. We prepare our bodies,” Stonie said. “It was a tough contest. Joey brings it all. I had to push really hard to beat him. But I feel great.”

Stonie had defeated Chestnut in the past year in com-

petitions featuring Twinkies, poutine, pumpkin pie and gyros.

Chestnut, smiling in defeat, said he was slow and couldn’t catch Stonie, who entered the match weighing just 125 pounds to Chestnut’s 230 pounds.

“I’ve been looking for competition for a long time and

I finally have it,” he said, vowing to return next year.

“He made me hungry.”

Chestnut, 31, had built himself into a champ with his string of victories, which included setting the record in 2013 by swallowing 69 franks. He twice reached 68 but last year had fallen off to 61.

Joey Chestnut, left, and Matt Stonie compete in Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest men’s competition Saturday July 4, 2015 in the Coney Island section in the Brooklyn borough of New York. Stonie came in first eating 62 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes. Chestnut came in second eating 60 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes. (AP Photo/Tina Fineberg)

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Civil Service

Wednesday, July 8, 2015

41

FG promises well-equipped civil service OMEIZA AJAYI AND REGINA OTOKPA

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n order to realise the electioneering campaign promises made

by President Muhammadu Buhari, the Federal Government has assured of its resolve to develop

a well-equipped civil service. Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mr. Danladi Kifasi, disclosed this rececntly during a session with civil servants in commemoration of the Civil Service Week in Abuja.

According to him, a Structured Mandatory

Assessment-Based Training Programme (SMAT-P) has been put in place to equip civil servants with basic skills and knowledge needed to discharge their duties in a more professional, knowledgeable, competent and effective manner. He said his office having identified the need

to build the capacity of the civil service across board, developed the SMAT-P in partnership with reputable international training organizations and worldclass experts.

He said, “The curriculum and training material for the scheme have been fully developed in part-

Rector, Federal Polytechnic, Oko, Anambra State, Prof. Godwin Onu (4th left), member representing South-East on Tertiary Education Trustfund (Tetfund) board of trustees, Dr. Chinedu Onu (5th left) with other members during an inspection visit to the polytechnic in Oko, recently.

PHOTO: NAN

Okorocha vows to fight corruption in Imo civil service CHRIS NJOKU OWERRI

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mo State Governor Rochas Okorocha yesterday vowed to fight corruption in the state civil service as he is concerned about the rising wage bills in the service.

The governor who met the state labour unions over the threat by workers to embark on 7 days warning strike, decried the rate at which pensions of Imo state is rising daily and staff salaries also rising, pointing out that there are corruption in the system and government has resolved to fight it ..

He told the leadership of

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ational Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has reiterated the need to end early and forced marriage, saying that it constitutes a serious human rights abuse.The Executive Secretary of the commission, Prof. Bem Angwe, made the call in Abuja at an event organised by the commission to mark the Day of the African Child. Angwe, who was represented by his

the various labour organizations in the state lead by the NLC chairman, Comrade Austin Chilakpu that the government had resolved to pay the workers the outstanding two months salaries, but decried the rate at which bad eggs among them spoil the rest of the good ones.

The governor however commended the civil servants for being diligent in their duty post.

“I want to appreciate workers in Imo state for showing understanding for non-payment of few months salary;” pointing that it was as a result of economic situation in the country and

thank Imo workers for their understanding.

Okorocha assured the workers that arrangements have been concluded to clear two months salaries to workers and one month to teachers.

The governor also said that the union has resolved that there would be no room for ghost workers and any one found would be dealt with as his administration will not condone any form of absenteeism.

He recalled that Imo state government was the first state in Nigeria to pay minimum wage of N20,000 to its workers as well as all health workers professional entitle-

ment; adding that government expect justification by public servants in Imo state in terms of performance for the development of Imo state.

In their separate speeches, the NLC chairman, Comrade Chilakpu, TUC Chairman and NMA Chairman, Comrade Dr. Hyacinth Emele, Paul Akalazu and JNC, Lady Ogini Austina declared that the union would not support absenteeism and nonchalant attitude of workers to their work and stressed the need for labour to have regular meetings with the state government in order to bridge the communication gap.

NHRC advocates end to early marriage Special Assistant, Mr Harry Obe, said that early and forced marriage could represent a threat to both the child and the society. ``Statistics show that 15 out of 20 countries with the highest rate of early child marriage are in Africa.

Early and forced marriage is any marriage before the age of 18.``It is a marriage where

one of the parties does not have the power to prevent or end.``Early and forced marriage is a serious human rights abuse, which threatens not just children, but the society at large. ``This menace undermines the rights and development of children as it impacts on their emotional, physical, psychological,

health, education, economic well-being and dignity. ``Critical human rights violated by this practice include the rights to education, the right to health, the right to family, equality and non-discrimination, employment, freedom of movement, freedom from violence and access to reproductive and sexual health care.

nership with the Management Development Institutes, both local and international training experts. The OHCSF is currently receiving nominations from MDAs for the commencement of the programme in July 2015.”

Kifasi further noted that given the dwindling economic resources in Nigeria, and the need to encourage the in-country capacity building, a circular had been issued restricting foreign trainings and trips by public servants.

“Specifically, the circular stated that most training activities should now take place in Nigeria and that attendance at the foreign events should now be at no cost to government.

The effect of the circular is that there has been a drastic reduction on the number of requests for permission to travel abroad.

“This has saved government a lot of money in the short time that it has been in force and has the potential of growing

locally based training in Nigeria. The OHCSF has embarked on some key initiatives that have the potential to reposition the civil service in particular and the public service at large.

“The OHCSF looks forward to working with the new administration to carry forward these initiatives and other schemes aimed at creating a modern civil service that focuses on delivering high-quality service to citizens,” he added.

Chairman of the Civil Service Commission, Deaconess Joan Ayo, also revealed that the commission has suspended transfer of civil servants, due to its capacity to demoralize them.

“Transfer has been put on hold, because it is not giving way for young service officers to move forward. When the system allows for transfer, those permanently in the state service rise faster than the person been transferred,” she said

Experts want maritime institution

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maritime expert, Capt. Fola Ojutalayo, has called for the upgrade of maritime training institutions in the country to reduce capital flight occasioned by training of cadets abroad. Ojutalayo, who is also a Senior Lecturer at the Federal College of Fisheries and Marine Technology, Lagos, made the call in an interview with newsmen in Lagos.

He said if well equipped, indigenous maritime training institutions could provide the required training for maritime personnel. ``Why is it that we cannot develop our institutions here in Nigeria; upgrade them to the level where we can sponsor these people. ``Let them go to these institutions, get their training and right there in the industry they go and practice? ``Why should we send them abroad? What is it

they are doing there that we cannot do here? So, is still the same problem of human capacity development and system’s problem. ``You can imagine all those trainings they are sponsoring them for are being paid for; they are not for free. That is capital flight. ``If they use the money, pump them judiciously with all commitments into the maritime institutions in Nigeria. ``You have the Maritime Academy of Nigeria in Oron; you have the Federal College of Fisheries and Marine Technology; both of them are Federal Government institutions. Why can’t we upgrade them?`` Ojutalayo described the training of seafarers by NIMASA in several countries abroad as ``misplaced prioirity``, saying that the ships in the country might not have the capacity to absorb them.

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Civil Service

Wednesday, July 8, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Refugee Commission makes case for adoption of IDPs draft policy ADEOLA TUKURU ABUJA

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ational Commission for Refugee Migrant and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI) has said it’s planning to renew its effort to facilitate the speedy adoption of the draft IDP policy by the Federal Executive Council.

The Federal Commissioner, Hadiza Sanni Kangiwa, during the post IDP conference advocacy mission yesterday in Abuja further said it will serve towards the prevention

and protection of Nigerians and even non Nigerians from incidences of displacement and ensure the rehabilitation, resettlement, return or reintegration after displacement.

She explained that the commission in 2012 organized a high level meeting with relevant stakeholders in the area of protection, care and maintenance of internally displaced persons.

According to her, the result of the summit was the birth of draft National Policy on internal displacement that outlined

the rights and obligation of IDPs, the responsibilities of government, humanitarian agencies, host communities and armed groups in a humanitarian crisis.

“The draft policy drew consultation from several relevant national agencies, UN agencies, INGOs, NGOs, CSOs and members of the academia and was

validated by the meeting in July 2012,” she said.

Kangiwa also assured that the government of Nigeria will continue to be committed to the principles of international protection towards IDPs, Refugees, Asylum seekers, stateless persons and indeed all persons in need of protection.

Also, the country rep-

resentative of United Nations High Commission Refugee (UNHCR), Mrs. Angele Dikongue Atangana, said they will continue to support the sensitization/advocacy mission in Nigeria and the country’s commendable response to internal displacement, which we hope will highlight some best practices that could serve as a model

to other ECOWAS countries who have yet to embark on domestication process.

She stated that Nigeria has been a pioneer in the IDP- related fora as the first conference on this issue held in Abuja in 2006 to begin discussions that subsequently led to the drafting and adoption of the KC in October 2009.

NSCDC is reducing unemployment via sport –Abolurin JOEL AJAYI ABUJA

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ommandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Dr. Ade Abolurin, has said that civil defence under his authority has reduced unemployment in Nigeria through sports.

He said that men and officers of the corps, has represented the country at various International sporting events with unaccountable laurels, thereby making the athletes established and international figures.

The CommandantGeneral of the corps, said this while attending an open trial Championship organized by the Nigerian Judo Federation, in preparation for the forthcoming All African games.

Abolurin who also lamented the plight of Nigerian youths who are roaming about the street without, employment, added that, Nigeria has a lot of blessed young men and women, if well harnessed to full potential.

“I know that this corps has done well in sports both at local and international level. Most of themI can tell you were

discovered from state of hopelessness to stardom.

“I want to urge the present government to support sports in Nigeria; I want to advocate the judicious utilization of funds approved for the training of athletes.”

The CommandantGeneral, who was decorated by the NJF as grand patron and blue belter, while playing host in the two day trials at the Civil Defence academy Abuja, I appreciate the gesture, even when I am on the way out but it will live as a reference point to the good work the corps have rendered in the development of sports and in creating employment opportunities” While speaking before conferring the grand patronship, to Dr. Abolurin, the President of the NJF Dr. Musa Oshodi, reiterated his board’s readiness in surpassing the target given to it by the NSC. He also thanked the civil defence on playing host to the Federation.

According to Dr. Oshodi, athletes selected in the trials will soon embark on international training camp of Benin Republic, Togo, and Ghana prior to NSC, National camping for the All African Games.

L-R: NEMA Director-General, Muhammad Sidi; Director-General, Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution, Prof. Oshita Oshita and former Super Eagles assistant chief coach, Daniel Amokachi, during the 4th Dialogue and Peace Iftar Dinner and awards ceremony in Abuja, recently.

Sports commission to restore power supply in National Stadium JOEL A JAYI ABUJA

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ew Director General, National Sports Commission, NSC Mallam Alhassan Yakmut has assured of his readiness to work together the sporting media in a bid to project the commission in good light.

Mallam Yakmut who spoke when he received executive members Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, SWAN FCT Chapter described sports urged the media to always partner with sports commission in its activities.

Yakmut, the immediate past director in

charge of grassroot sports in NSC noted that efforts are top gear to return the country to glory days in sports with careful discovery and selection of athletes who are based in Nigeria.

According to him, “an athlete like Blessing was discovered here in Nigeria before she moved outside Nigeria. Currently, some of our athletes are camp and some will be resuming camping soon.

And 90% of athletes that we intend to use are based in Nigeria and soon we intend to make use of 100% athlete who are based in the country.

“We have abundant talents in Nigeria who can be nurtured to rep-

resent the country in any international event.”

Talking about his relationship with the Media, the NSC DG remarked “I have not for once asked any journalist why he wrote against me because there is also fundamental human right that allow freedom of speech.

All I’m asking is for the media to investigate and balance their stories.

“I could remember sharing the same room with Journalists whenever I travel out for any outside assignment. This is the kind of relationship I expect sports administrators and Sports Writers to have.

“Journalist doesn’t need to write any nega-

tive story on sports because of the impact it has on the public.”

He also revealed that the commission has already started plans to restore power supply from the public source adding “We are even making arrangement to ensure power supply from three different power sources.

We intend to use solar for most street lights, diesel in case of power outage as well as restore the public power supply source.”

Earlier, FCT SWAN Chairman Kayode Adeniyi congratulated the new DG and pleaded for his support to enable members of fourth estate of the realm do their duties efficiently.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Don’t blame Tinubu for NASS crisis –Reps member Deborah Didi

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member of the House of Representatives, representing Lagos Mainland federal constituency, Hon. AbdulRaheem Olajide Jimoh, has cautioned those pointing accusing fingers at the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and former governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu over the crisis rocking the National Assembly.

In his reaction to the crisis, Jimoh stressed that Tinubu is not dictating to the party and whoever accuses him of not doing well amongst party members is an ingrate.

He averred that Asiwaju Tinubu was the brain behind the formation of the APC, adding: “This man worked with others for the party to stand and succeed in the last general elections, so nobody should ridicule him.

“Whoever says that Tinubu is dictating to the party is an ingrate. Such a person needs to fear God. Nobody has the right to ac-

Politics

Wednesday, July 8, 2015

cuse him of any wrong doing at all.”

On the leadership tussle in the National Assembly, Jimoh said: “The position of the party is supreme despite personal ambition from various caucauses.”

Jimoh said that the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara should apologise to the party and all its leaders for going against the position of the party.

He said: “What we are experiencing in the National Assembly is a kind of misunderstanding amongst the lawmakers on the leadership positions in the two chambers.

“We have over 200 APC members in the House of Representatives, if we don’t agree to follow the party’s position on the House leadership, we should go back to the floor of the House and vote for those who would occupy the other offices.

“I stand on the party’s position on the principal offices of the two chambers because we were all elected on the platform of the party. Therefore, we should all respect its decision at any point in time.”

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Kwara cabinet: Party chieftains fight over slot in Ilorin Wole Adedeji ILORIN

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hieftains of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, in Alanamu, Ilorin West Local Government Area of Kwara State are now set to fight dirty among themselves over the choice of a commissioner to represent them in the state government.

APC had last month requested each of the 16 local government areas in the state to field three nominees out of which one would be

selected for appointment in the state cabinet.

The party had warned that such nominees must reflect representations of the women, youth and party loyalsts.

It would be recalled that immediately Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed was returned elected for a second term, APC leader in kwara State and Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki, who is also the governor’s godfather had declared that only the governor and his wife were sure of their positions in government.

He dismissed any feelings by individual members, no matter how influential, to get easy patronage from the government by way of appointments.

However, in Alanamu Ward in Ilorin West, home of Saraki, the choice of who to nominate had become a war among party members with Hon. Moshood Mustapha, a former member of the House of Representatives on one side and the rest of the other members on the other side.

Mustapha was said to have imposed one Mr. Ab-

dulrasaq Abosioyeniyan on the members as his choice to become commissioner calling the bluff of members reported to be elders of the party in the ward.

The electronic as well as print media in the state were awashed with the bluff of the former federal lawmaker, who was to have told aggrieved APC members “to go and wait for their time.”

The matter as at the time of filing this report yesterday was still a contentious issue in the area engendering local tension.

NADECO, human right activists call for Abiola’s immortalisation Ayo Esan

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ational Democratic Coalition, NADECO, leader, Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu, rtd, former President of the Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, Mrs Priscilla Kuye and other human right activists have commended the acclaimed winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, late Bashorun MKO Abiola for sacrificing himself for Nigeria’s democracy just as they described the 1993 election as a referendum by Nigerians for democracy.

Speaking yesterday at the 17th commemorative anniversary of the demise of Abiola, organised by Campaign for Democracy, CD, and Women Arise for Change Initiative, WACI, in Lagos, Kanu said the 1993 presidential election was much more than an election but a referendum urging Nigerians to do everything to make Nigeria great.

He said: “On June 12, Nigeria actually had a referendum not just election.

It was a contest between military and civilian ad-

ministrations. As we gathered, we upheld the spirit of Nigeria. As we remember Abiola, we must bear in mind that we have a struggle to defend true federalism.”

In her address, CD and WACI President, Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin, called for posthumous recognition of Abiola as President of Nigeria, adding that the deceased’s portrait should be displayed among past Nigeria’s Presidents and Heads of State.

She also urged the Federal Government to name the national stadium after Chief Abiola, saying while he was alive he was the pillar of sports in Africa.

Okei-Odumakin also called on President Muhammadu Buhari to set up a judicial commission of inquiry to unravel how the high treason was carried out in custody.

Abiola’s daughter, Mrs. Hafsat Abiola-Costello, said his father sacrificed himself for Nigeria’s democracy and therefore called on Nigerian leaders, especially in public offices to sacrifice their comfort for the growth and development of the country.

L-R: Mr. Anya Okeke; Executive Director, Women Aid, Prof Joy Ezeilo and Executive Director, Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre and Mr. Auwal Musa, during the Civil Society Group Working Gender Mainstreaming and Governance Advocacy to commend the appointment of Mrs. Amina Zakari as acting INEC Chairperson in Abuja, yesterday.

PHOTO: ROTIMI OSASONA

CSOs seek Zakari’s confirmation as INEC chairman Robert Awokuse

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coalition of civil society organizations, CSOs, has canvassed the permanent appointment of acting chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Mrs Amina Zakari.

The call was made in Abuja at a press conference by civil society groups working on gender mainstreaming and governance advocacy in Nigeria.

In her remarks, Prof Joy Ezeilo of the Women Aids Collective, WACOL, noted that the recent appointment of Mrs. Zakari as acting chairman of INEC after the expiration of Prof Attahiru Jega’s tenure had generated unnecessary negative comments from the opposition party.

She said it is notewor-

thy that the integrity of the acting chairperson of INEC has not been questioned, adding that this should been the major consideration, given the delicate and politically sensitive role of the institution.

Applauding the effort of President Muhammadu Buhari for taking the first step towards fulfilling his electoral promise to empower Nigerian women, Ezeilo emphasised that the appointment of a woman to head the electoral umpire is not only unprecedented, but shows sensitivity to gender equality.

She said: “As has been bandied about by some groups that Mrs. Zakari’s appointment overrules the mandate of Prof Jega, we wish to disabuse the minds of the general populace on this issue as it is the constitutional right of Mr. President to appoint who-

ever he wishes to steer the hallowed tide of INEC as an acting chairman in the same vein.

“The fear that the appointment could lead to tinkering with electoral processes should be allayed as the former chairman of INEC made great effort to set up strong institution that any attempt by future leaders of the commission to thwart the processes will be easily detected.

Executive Director, Civil Society for Legislative and Advocacy Centre, CISLAC, Auwal Musa, noted that that the change promised by the ruling party cannot be completed without the inclusion of women in leadership position both in the executive and the legislature.

His words: “We want to say that this change that we all cried and voted for cannot be complete with-

out mainstreaming women in leadership position.

“We also want to say that as long as it is not about integrity, competency and bias deficit, we think that this appointment is merited and should be of health and the President should be encouraged to do more.”

State of the Union, SOTU, representative, Anya Okeke, explained that there “is protocol on the rights of women in Africa, and those protocols are instruments that Nigeria is a signatory to and we are also saying that Nigerians should also obey those protocols.”

He added: “We have all the instrument that backed and supported women to be in leadership positions, Nigeria will be failing in this duty if we don’t ensure that women are included in the right positions and are given their dues.”

44

Politics

Chidi Ugwu ABUJA

A

guber natorial hopeful and leader of All Progressive Congress, APC, in Kogi State, Prince Abubakar Audu, has promised to liberate the state from degenerating into a failed state if re-elected in the forthcoming gubernatorial election.

Audu, a former governor of the state, spoke through his media team in a statement yesterday in Abuja, maintaining that rather than self-serv-

Wednesday, July 8, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Kogi 2015: Audu promises to liberate Kogi ing, he was on a mission to rescue the state and bring it back to the cradle it was known for.

Assessing the current condition of the state, Audu regretted that Kogi State has become the most underdeveloped and backward state in the country, adding that the state is traumatised and therefore, requires urgent teamwork to liberate it.

He declared that the

unpleasant situation in the state informed his resolve to yield to calls on him from concern Kogites who are disappointed with current development in the state.

He explained that the pressures on him to recontest the governorship poll “is because of what I did when I was in office some 13 years ago.”

He said: “When I was in office as the executive

Governor, Kogi State was rated the fastest growing state in the whole federation and I was the best performing governor in Nigeria.”

“My detractors will have nothing to fear because I am not coming for vengeance. All my time will be preoccupied with infrastructural development and human development. So I won’t think of vendetta, that is not my

mission.

“It is only because what they did to me is haunting them and that is why they are on that assumption. As far as I am concerned I have more important things to do than thinking about who offended me and who did not offend me that is not my mission.

“Kogi State has become the most underdeveloped state in Nigeria, the most backward state in Nige-

ria. So you can see why people are clamouring for my return so that we will regain the lost glory and by the special grace of God I will do that.”

The former governor left the office on May 29, 2003 and there is a renewed intense pressure on him by majority of the people across the three senatorial districts in the state asking that he should come back in 2016 to continue the good work.

FCT court affirms Emmanuel as A’Ibom gov, dismisses G22 case Olajide mojolomoju

I

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (right) and Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State after a meeting in Abuja, recently.

Rep warns against sectional leadership Omeiza Ajayi ABUJA

A

member of the House of Representatives, representing Esan West/ Central/Igueben federal constituency of Edo State, Joe Edionwele has warned Nigerian leaders against a resort to sectionalism in administering the country.

He said Nigeria does not need sectional or provincial leader at this critical point in its history; rather, what she needs is a functional leader that will right the wrongs of the past.

This was against the backdrop of concerns about recent appointments made

by President Muhammadu Buhari, with some analysts accusing him of ethnic bias.

Edionwele told journalists in Abuja that pertinent questions regarding what went wrong in the past that brought the country to its current predicament must be asked.

He stated: “The leader the country needs now is not a provisional leader. The nation needs a functional leader. We need a leader that will ask question of

yester years that we used to have groundnut pyramid and cotton in the North, cocoa in the West, Rubber and palm oil in the Eastern part of the country.

“We need a leader who will ask what went wrong and offer solution; a functional leader that will remember that we used to have Nigeria Airways, Nigeria railways, Nigeria boat yard or water ways. A leader who will ask where

are they, what went wrong and see how he can reactivate the transport systems.

We need a leader that will remember that we used to refine oil in Nigeria, what happened to the refineries and reactivate them.”

Obviously angry over the current state of affairs in the country, he urged President Buhari to immediately swing into action and remedy some of the things that require urgent and decisive

actions.

He said: “We need a leader that will ensure job security. One of the major problems causing corruption in the civil service is lack of job security. In those days, civil servants know when they are employed and how they are going to end. They are paid as at when due, their tenures were guaranteed and their pension assured; that is the change we need now.”

t was another legal victory for Akwa Ibom State governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel, as a Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting In Jabi, Abuja, on Monday, July 6, dismissed another suit which had sought to nullify his election.

The FCT High Court presided over by Justice Halilu held that it lacked jurisdiction to entertain a preelection matter which had taken place in Akwa Ibom State and consequently dismissed the case for lack of jurisdiction.

A gubernatorial aspirant in Akwa Ibom State, Mr Ime Effiong Ekanem, acting for himself and other aspirants under the aegis of G22 had gone to court after the Akwa Ibom State Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, gubernatorial primaries and obtained an injunction that Emmanuel’s name should not be forwarded to the Independent National

Tribunal fixes July 22 for pre-hearing in Kalu’s petition George Opara AWKA

T

he National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Umuahia has adjourned to July 22 the prehearing on the petition filed by former governor of Abia State and candidate of the Progressive Peoples Alliance, PPA, Dr Orji Uzor Kalu, against the election of Mao Ohuabunwa of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, as the senator representing Abia North senatorial zone.

At the mention of the petition yesterday, tribunal chairman, Justice Adeniyi Adegbanjo, advised Kalu’s lead counsel, Chief Kelvin Nwufo, to take advantage of the progress madealready in the consolidated petition of the candidate of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA David Onuoha-Bourdex, a day earlier, to expedite his presentation.

Adegbanjo then adjourned the matter so as to accommodate interlocutory applications on the consolidated petitions,

urging all counsel to the petition to file all interlocutory applications before that date.

Speaking with journalists after the session, Nwufo said consolidation of the petitions was to save time even as he expressed confidence that his client has a good case.

He said he wants his client to be declared winner of the election or the entire election nullified because the election was substantially marred by irregularities.

On the outcome of inspection of electoral

materials, he said it was discovered that some of the ballot papers bore identical thumb prints, showing that it was done by the same individual.

Nwufo said the adjournment was for continuation of pretrial and main hearing, adding that implication of the consolidation of the petitions was that if at the end they win the tribunal would have to decide between Kalu and OnuohaBourdex, who has stronger case and declare him as the winner.

Electoral Commission, INEC, as PDP candidate for Akwa Ibom State.

Although the injunction was later vacated by the court to offer temporary reprieve for Emmanuel, Ekanem had insisted that the court should disqualify the governor.

Ruling on the substantive suit, Justice Halilu, adopted a sole issue for determination to wit: “whether the court had the requisite jurisdiction to entertain the suit, same having emanated from the conduct of a primary election conducted in Akwa Ibom State.”

Resolving the issue, Justice Halilu held that statutes conferred jurisdiction on a court and not the Rules of Court as erroneously argued by the plaintiff in his written address.

He said since the plaintiff ’s claims before the court was to be examined in assuming jurisdiction, upon an examination of the plaintiff ’s claims, it was not in doubt that the subject matter of the suit was the propriety or otherwise of the conduct of a primary election which took place in Akwa Ibom State and same did not fall within the territorial jurisdiction of the court as conferred on it by the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria being the statue conferring jurisdiction on the court.

The court averred that the only effect of the provisions of the FCT High Court Rules was only to determine matters within the judicial division of the FCT High Court, where the defendants are resident and not to donate jurisdiction to the FCT High Court where it obviously lacked jurisdiction.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Capital Market

Wednesday, July 8, 2015

FG to sell N70bn in bonds Johnson Okanlawon

D

ebt Management Office, DMO, plans to sell N70 billion worth of bonds next week, its seventh debt auction this year.

Data from the DMO website said yesterday that it will issue N40 billion in five-year paper and N30 billion in the 20-year debt, using the Dutch Auction System on July 15.

Research analysts at FBN Capital had said that DMO the government may issue bonds worth between N180 billion and N240 billion in September.

Head, Markets, at FBN Capital, Olubunmi

Ashaolu, said the forecast was based on DMO’s provisional issuance calendar for the third quarter which ends in September.

The research firm noted that the debt office was selling the existing fiveyear and 20-year benchmarks at 15.54 per cent, adding that it has the unenviable task of issuing the calendar amid fiscal uncertainty.

“The 2015 budget was finally signed off by the last President. To an extent, the market was bought into the idea that the new administration will bring greater fiscal discipline. We expect that it will deliver, but not in time to make a marked impact in the third quar-

ter,” he said.

Ashaolu said there could be a supplementary budget ahead of the full exercise for next year, adding that the idea broadly is to meet spending pledges by the plugging of leakages.

He cautioned against over-expectation, saying that as “the leakages were not created overnight, so they cannot be immediately stemmed”.

However, the Nigeria’s total debt rose to N12.1 trillion as of March 2015, up from N11.2 trillion at the end of December 2014.

The DMO said on its website that foreign debt stood at $9.46 billion at the end of March, equiva-

lent to about 15 per cent of total debt and down from $9.71 billion at the end of 2014.

Nigeria said in 2013 it wanted to increase the amount it borrowed overseas to 40 per cent of all debt over a three-to-five year period to tap into loose monetary policy in advanced economies.

But as oil prices plunged last year, government revenues slumped, leaving Abuja struggling to pay bills including state salaries. The currency has also come under intense pressure.

Nigeria’s states are now in debt to the tune of N658 billion, the governor of Zamfara state said recently.

Market indicators record marginal decrease

Johnson Okanlawon

A

ctivities at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) on Tuesday recorded a marginal decrease with Market Capitalization dropping by 0.20 per cent.

The Market Capitalization which opened at N11.75 trillion lost N22 billion to close at N11.53 trillion.

Similarly, the All-Share Index lost 53.86 points or 0.20 per cent to close at 32,390.26 against the 32,444.12 achieved on Mon-

day.

United Bank for Africa Plc recorded the highest price loss to lead the losers’ chart, shedding N1.35 to close at N174.15 per share.

Stanbic IBTC Plc came second with 60k to close at N158.50, while Nigerian Breweries dropped 56k to close at N150.01 per share.

Cement Company of Northern Nigeria lost 40k to close at N11.60 and Guinness decreased by39k to close at N163.80 per share.

Conversely, Neimeth International Plc led the

gainers’ table, growing by N15.79 to close at N31.59 per share.

Forte Oil followed with a gain of N8.90 to close at N188.65, while Mobil Oil gained N7.30 to close at N153.31 per share. University Press increased by 45k to close at 6.50, while Ecobank Transnational Incorporated appreciated by 44k to close at N22.49 per share.

Zenith Bank emerged the most traded equity, accounting for 42.67 million shares worth N837.153 mil-

lion.

Mansard Insurance followed with an exchange of 19.03 million shares valued at N56.13 million, while Wapic Insurance sold 18.51 million shares worth N9.25 million.

Vitafoam came fourth with 18.38 million shares valued at N106.51 million and FBN Holdings exchanged 12.79 million shares valued at N105.16 million. In all, investors spent N2.99 trillion on 217.13 million shares in 3,737 deals.

Source: NSE

Inter-Bank Rate Naira Market indicators All-Share Index 32,380.26points Market capitalisation 11.10trn

Stock Updates GAINERS COMPANY

OPENING

CLOSING

CHANGE

% CHANGE

NEIMETH

1.34

1.47

0.13

9.70

STANBIC

24.55

25.75

1.20

4.89

VONO

1.24

1.30

0.06

4.84

PHARMDEKO

2.15

2.25

0.10

4.65

STERLNBANK

2.07

2.16

0.09

4.35

CONTINSURE

0.96

1.00

0.04

4.17

WEMABANK

0.97

1.01

0.04

4.12

CILEASING

0.50

0.52

0.02

4.00

FO

192.00

198.00

6.00

3.13

UBCAP

1.35

1.38

0.03

2.22

CHANGE

% CHANGE

LOSERS COMPANY

OPENING 4.56

4.28

-0.28

-6.14

EVANSMED

1.00

0.95

-0.05

-5.00

BERGER

11.24

10.68

-0.56

-4.98

NASCON

8.00

7.61

-0.39

-4.88

LIVESTOCK

2.28

2.17

-0.11

-4.82

UBN

9.35

8.91

-0.44

-4.71

DANGSUGAR

6.65

6.34

-0.31

-4.66

ETERNA

2.45

2.34

-0.11

-4.49

DANGFLOUR

3.44

3.29

-0.15

-4.36

OANDO

15.69

15.05

-0.64

-4.08

.S. stocks fell more than one per cent on Tuesday, with the S&P 500 index trading below a key technical mark, as concerns of a slowdown in China weighed on commodity prices and investors fretted over aid talks for Greece as it runs out of cash.

The declines pushed the S&P and the Dow Jones Industrial Average into negative territory for the year, while the Nasdaq fell to a two-month low a day ahead of the start of the earnings season in the United States.

A euro zone summit, starting at 12 p.m. ET in Brussels, will decide if Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras’ latest proposal is enough to keep the country in the euro zone.

The pressure to negotiate a deal is high as Greece is

Description

U

income from overseas. Corporate profits are expected to have fallen 3 percent in the second quarter, according to Thomson Reuters data.

Rate (%) Inflation

8.2

MPR

13

Crude oil price

$58.96

CLOSING

UBA

FGN Bonds

At 11:37 a.m. ET the Dow Jones industrial average .DJI was down 203.74 points, or 1.15 per cent, at 17,479.84 and the Nasdaq Composite .IXIC was down 86.12 points, or 1.73 per cent, at 4,905.82.

The S&P 500 .SPX was down 23.26 points, or 1.12 per cent, at 2,045.5, below its 200-day moving average.

Eight of the 10 major S&P 500 sectors were lower. The materials index .SPLRCM index led the declines with a 1.8 per cent fall, weighed down by a strong dollar and the slide in commodity prices.

The dollar index .DXY was up 0.86 per cent at $97.12, its highest level in a month, and the rise in likely to weigh on sentiment on the eve of the earnings season.

A stronger dollar reduces

US Dollar

$1

N196.95

Wall St. drops as China hits commodities, Greece crisis drags running out of cash and the European Central Bank has tightened funding ahead of a July 20 deadline for Athens to repay $3.9 billion of bonds to the ECB. Adding to the negative tone, a continuous slide in Chinese stocks weighed on an already ravaged global commodity sector, with prices of copper, coal, natural gas and iron ore falling toward their 2015 lows.

“Investors are concerned about China because that is a long-term issue. A slowdown in that economy has a much bigger and longer lasting impact,” said Michael Joyce, President of JoycePayne Partners.

“Even if Greece were to leave the euro, it will have little long-term effect on the market. Right now, it’s just a lot of noise.”

45

Offer

Bid Price

Yield

Price

Yield

13.05 16-AUG-2016

1.11

98.58

14.44

98.73

14.29

15.10 27-APR-2017

1.81

100.46

14.76

100.61

14.66

16.00 29-JUN-2019

3.98

102.91

15.00

103.21

14.90

15.54 13-FEB-2020

4.60

101.78

14.98

102.08

14.89

16.39 27-JAN-2022

6.56

105.77

14.97

106.07

14.90

14.20 14-MAR-2024

8.69

96.42

14.94

96.72

14.87

Closing Market Prices of July 7, 2015

Treasury Bills Maturity Date

Bid

Offer

Exchange

Rates (N)

01-Oct-15

12.73

13.13

WAUA

270

07-Jan-16

12.49

13.33

USD

197

EURO

214

02-Jun-16

12.65

14.29

CFA

0.32

YEN

1.64

Tenor

Rate (%)

SWISS FRANC

202

O/N

4.8933

1M

13.3829

POUNDS STERLING

293

3M

15.4080

SDR

273

6M

15.9984

NIBOR

The Fixings of July 7, 2015

Capital Market

46

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Wednesday, July 8, 2015

Stock exchange daily equities summary Daily Summary as of 07/07/2015 Printed 07/07/2015 14:32:25.025

Equities as at July 7, 2015 Daily Summary as of 07/07/2015 Printed 07/07/2015 14:32:25.025

Daily Summary (Bonds) No Debt Trading Activity

1st Tier Securities Sector

Company name

Daily Summary (Equities) Daily Summary (Equities)

No Of Deals

Quotation(N)

Quantity Traded

Value of Shares(N)

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

Daily Summary as of 07/07/2015 AGRICULTURE Totals Printed 07/07/2015 14:32:25.025 CONGLOMERATES Diversified Industries JOHN HOLT PLC. TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATION OF NIGERIA PLC U A C N PLC. Diversified Industries Totals Activity Summary on Board EQTY CONGLOMERATES Totals CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Building Structure/Completion/Other COSTAIN (W A) PLC. Building Structure/Completion/Other Totals Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

Symbol FTNCOCOA OKOMUOIL PRESCO

No. of Deals 1 25 7 33

Current Price 0.50 28.99 34.00

Quantity Traded 78,400 121,281 32,362 232,043

Value Traded 39,200.00 3,549,771.63 1,088,887.60 4,677,859.23

Symbol LIVESTOCK

No. of Deals 18 18

Current Price 2.17

Quantity Traded 264,727 264,727

Value Traded 575,182.28 575,182.28

496,770

5,253,041.51

Current Price 0.94 2.67 41.00

Quantity Traded 49,446 9,731,475 308,868 10,089,789

Value Traded 44,501.40 26,013,033.30 12,844,179.85 38,901,714.55

10,089,789

38,901,714.55

51

Symbol JOHNHOLT

No. of Deals 7 72 45 124

Daily Summary (Equities) TRANSCORP UACN

124 Symbol COSTAIN

No. of Deals 10 10

Current Price 0.78

Quantity Traded 123,890 123,890 Page

Value Traded 95,153.50 95,153.50 12 1 of

Infrastructure/Heavy Construction JULIUS BERGER NIG. PLC. Infrastructure/Heavy Construction Totals

Symbol JBERGER

No. of Deals 11 11

Current Price 48.50

Quantity Traded 48,473 48,473

Value Traded 2,342,923.16 2,342,923.16

Real Estate Development UACN PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT CO. LIMITED Real Estate Development Totals

Symbol UAC-PROP

No. of Deals 17 17

Current Price 10.20

Quantity Traded 43,749 43,749

Value Traded 466,421.41 466,421.41

216,112

2,904,498.07

Value Traded 1,478,876.80 11,672,485.85 2,952,194.00 93,814,774.87 310.00 109,918,641.52

CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Totals CONSUMER GOODS Beverages--Brewers/Distillers Daily Summary as ofBREW. 07/07/2015 CHAMPION PLC. Printed 07/07/2015 14:32:25.025 GUINNESS NIG PLC INTERNATIONAL BREWERIES PLC. NIGERIAN BREW. PLC. PREMIER BREWERIES PLC Beverages--Brewers/Distillers Totals Beverages--Non-Alcoholic Activity Summary on Board EQTY 7-UP BOTTLING COMP. PLC. CONSUMER GOODS Beverages--Non-Alcoholic Totals Food Products DANGOTE FLOUR MILLS PLC Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © PLC DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY FLOUR MILLS NIG. PLC. HONEYWELL FLOUR MILL PLC MULTI-TREX INTEGRATED FOODS PLC NATIONAL SALT CO. NIG. PLC N NIG. FLOUR MILLS PLC. U T C NIG. PLC. Food Products Totals Food Products--Diversified CADBURY NIGERIA PLC. NESTLE NIGERIA PLC. Food Products--Diversified Totals Household Daily Summary as Durables of 07/07/2015

VITAFOAM NIG PLC. Printed 07/07/2015 14:32:25.025 VONO PRODUCTS PLC. Household Durables Totals

Personal/Household Products P Z CUSSONS NIGERIA PLC. UNILEVER NIGERIA PLC. Activity Summary on Board EQTY Personal/Household Products Totals CONSUMER GOODS CONSUMER GOODS Totals Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © FINANCIAL SERVICES Banking Daily Summary as of 07/07/2015 ACCESS BANK PLC. Printed 07/07/2015 14:32:25.025 DIAMOND BANK PLC ECOBANK TRANSNATIONAL INCORPORATED FIDELITY BANK PLC GUARANTY TRUST BANK PLC. SKYE BANK PLC Daily Summary as of 07/07/2015 STERLING BANK PLC. PrintedActivity 07/07/2015 14:32:25.025 Summary onFOR Board EQTY UNITED BANK AFRICA PLC UNION BANK NIG.PLC. FINANCIAL SERVICES UNITY BANK PLC Banking WEMA BANK PLC. ZENITH INTERNATIONAL BANK PLC Banking Totals on Board EQTY Activity Summary

Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services FINANCIAL SERVICES AFRICAN ALLIANCE INSURANCE COMPANY PLC Banking AIICO INSURANCE WEMA BANK PLC. PLC. CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE ZENITH INTERNATIONAL BANK PLC PLC CORNERSTONE INSURANCE COMPANY PLC. Banking Totals EQUITY ASSURANCE PLC. Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services GREAT NIGERIAN INSURANCE PLC AFRICAN ALLIANCE INSURANCE COMPANY PLC GUINEA INSURANCE PLC. INSURANCE LASACO ASSURANCE PLC. © Published byAIICO The Nigerian Stock PLC. Exchange CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE PLC LINKAGE ASSURANCE PLC CORNERSTONE INSURANCE MANSARD INSURANCE PLC COMPANY PLC. EQUITY PLC. MUTUALASSURANCE BENEFITS ASSURANCE PLC. GREAT NIGERIAN INSURANCE PLC N.E.M INSURANCE CO (NIG) PLC. GUINEA INSURANCECO. PLC. NIGER INSURANCE PLC. LASACO ASSURANCE PLC. REGENCY ALLIANCE INSURANCE COMPANY PLC LINKAGE ASSURANCE PLC SOVEREIGN TRUST INSURANCE PLC Daily Summary as of 07/07/2015 MANSARD INSURANCE PLC STANDARD TRUST ASSURANCE PLC Printed 07/07/2015 14:32:25.025 MUTUAL BENEFITS ASSURANCE PLC. STANDARD ALLIANCE INSURANCE PLC. N.E.M (NIG) PLC. WAPICINSURANCE INSURANCECO PLC NIGER INSURANCE CO. PLC. Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services Totals REGENCY ALLIANCE INSURANCE COMPANY PLC SOVEREIGN TRUST INSURANCE PLC Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © STANDARD TRUST ASSURANCE PLC STANDARD PLC. Activity SummaryALLIANCE on BoardINSURANCE EQTY WAPIC INSURANCE PLC FINANCIAL InsuranceSERVICES Carriers, Brokers and Services Totals Micro-Finance Banks FORTIS MICROFINANCE BANK PLC Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © NPF MICROFINANCE BANK PLC

38

Symbol CHAMPION GUINNESS INTBREW NB PREMBREW

Daily Summary Symbol 7UP Symbol DANGFLOUR DANGSUGAR FLOURMILL HONYFLOUR MULTITREX NASCON NNFM UTC

Current Price 5.90 146.24 19.50 139.25 3.26

Quantity Traded 261,642 79,290 152,224 668,062 100 1,161,318

No. of Deals 20 20 No. of Deals 33 51 48 26 1 28 1 2 190

Current Price 194.00

Quantity Traded 13,578 13,578 Quantity Traded 310,361 Page 1,180,413 251,111 70,973 100 529,317 180 711 2,343,166

Value Traded 2,602,091.60 2,602,091.60 Value Traded 1,034,218.69 2 of 12 7,661,728.31 8,404,876.84 239,019.10 50.00 4,079,365.15 3,087.00 355.50 21,422,700.59

Current Price 3.29 6.34 34.00 3.47 0.50 7.61 18.05 0.50

Symbol CADBURY NESTLE

No. of Deals 25 56 81

Current Price 35.05 850.01

Quantity Traded 54,578 27,892 82,470

Value Traded 1,933,865.00 23,282,551.35 25,216,416.35

Symbol VITAFOAM VONO

No. of Deals 21 22 43

Current Price 5.75 1.30

Quantity Traded 368,289 490,117 858,406

Value Traded 2,066,137.06 637,097.10 2,703,234.16

Symbol No. of Deals Current Price Daily Summary (Equities)

Quantity Traded 452,936 364,505 817,441

Value Traded 13,822,518.14 15,422,690.80 29,245,208.94

PZ UNILEVER

42 38 80

30.12 42.00

743

5,276,379 Page

191,108,293.16 12 3 of

Symbol No. of Deals Current Price ACCESS 128 5.40 DIAMONDBNK 15 4.16 ETI 35 22.00 FIDELITYBK 52 1.68 GUARANTY 303 26.62 Daily Summary (Equities) SKYEBANK 43 2.34 STERLNBANK 37 2.16 UBA 253 4.28 UBN 46 8.91 UNITYBNK 26 2.49 Symbol No. of Deals Current Price Daily Summary (Equities) WEMABANK 55 1.01 ZENITHBANK 385 19.07 1,378

Quantity Traded 6,940,471 392,592 2,170,290 2,170,722 15,725,753 679,645 3,417,911 15,619,382 379,725 2,611,234 Quantity Traded 16,059,895 84,757,416 150,925,036

Symbol AFRINSURE Symbol AIICO WEMABANK CONTINSURE ZENITHBANK CORNERST EQUITYASUR Symbol GNI AFRINSURE GUINEAINS AIICO LASACO CONTINSURE LINKASSURE CORNERST MANSARD EQUITYASUR MBENEFIT GNI NEM GUINEAINS NIGERINS LASACO REGALINS LINKASSURE SOVRENINS MANSARD STACO MBENEFIT STDINSURE NEM WAPIC NIGERINS REGALINS Daily Summary SOVRENINS STACO STDINSURE WAPIC

Quantity Traded Value Traded 500 250.00 Quantity Traded Value Traded 651,228 625,990.43 16,059,895 15,798,192.56 2,106,050 2,106,050.00 84,757,416 1,614,223,064.11 200 100.00 150,925,036 2,228,261,312.52 100 50.00 Quantity Traded Value Traded 100 50.00 500 250.00 198 99.00 651,228 12 Page 4 625,990.43 of 500 250.00 2,106,050 2,106,050.00 10,000 5,000.00 200 100.00 27,127 77,245.57 100 50.00 133,848 66,924.00 100 50.00 65,487 47,180.64 198 99.00 20,000 10,000.00 500 250.00 500 250.00 10,000 5,000.00 100 50.00 27,127 77,245.57 50 25.00 133,848 66,924.00 80,200 40,100.00 65,487 47,180.64 530,573 265,286.50 20,000 10,000.00 3,626,761 3,244,901.14 500 250.00 100 50.00 12 Page 5 of 50 25.00 80,200 40,100.00 530,573 265,286.50 3,626,761 3,244,901.14 Quantity Traded Value Traded 16,050 86,991.00 12 Page 5 of 600 650.00 16,650 87,641.00

Symbol FORTISMFB NPFMCRFBK

Micro-Finance Banks Totals Mortgage Carriers, Brokers and Services ASO SAVINGS AND LOANS PLC Mortgage Carriers, Brokers and Services Totals

Symbol ASOSAVINGS

Other Financial Institutions AFRICA PRUDENTIAL REGISTRARS PLC CUSTODIAN AND ALLIED PLC FBN HOLDINGS PLC FCMB GROUP PLC. ROYAL EXCHANGE PLC. STANBIC IBTC HOLDINGS PLC UBA CAPITAL PLC Other Financial Institutions Totals

Symbol AFRIPRUD CUSTODYINS FBNH FCMB ROYALEX STANBIC UBCAP

FINANCIAL SERVICES Totals HEALTHCARE Healthcare Providers UNION DIAGNOSTIC & CLINICAL SERVICES PLC Healthcare Providers Totals

No. of Deals 21 70 17 220 1 (Equities) 329

No. of Deals

Current Price

No. of Deals1 22 55 3859 1,3782 1 No. of Deals1 12 221 91 27 16 18 22 11 11 71 65 87 2 78 1 (Equities) 1 1 5 7 78 No. of Deals 2 2 4

0.50 Current Price 0.96 1.01 1.00 19.07 0.50 0.50 Current Price 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.96 0.50 1.00 0.51 0.50 2.83 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.72 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.51 0.50 2.83 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.72 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 0.50

No. of Deals 47 33 367 32 3 72 45 599

Current Price 2.75 3.90 7.96 2.95 0.50 25.75 1.38

Current Price 5.42 1.05

2,060

Symbol UNIONDAC

No. of Deals 2 2

Current Price 0.50

Value Traded 37,394,832.39 1,631,511.04 47,749,813.45 3,606,459.01 421,506,217.16 1,581,551.73 7,268,254.33 67,712,209.32 3,403,079.24 6,386,128.18 Value Traded 15,798,192.56 1,614,223,064.11 2,228,261,312.52

Quantity Traded 369 369

Value Traded 184.50 184.50

Quantity Traded 1,979,267 3,444,275 10,387,574 3,071,309 1,150 3,985,610 1,135,829 24,005,014

Value Traded 5,507,494.99 13,648,156.31 82,584,965.12 9,195,798.94 575.00 97,216,095.30 1,575,184.68 209,728,270.34

178,573,830

2,441,322,309.50

Quantity Traded 20,100 20,100

Value Traded 10,050.00 10,050.00

1st Tier Securities Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Sector

Company name

HEALTHCARE Pharmaceuticals EVANS MEDICAL PLC. FIDSON HEALTHCARE PLC GLAXO SMITHKLINE CONSUMER NIG. PLC. MAY & BAKER NIGERIA PLC. NEIMETH INTERNATIONAL PHARMACEUTICALS PLC PHARMA-DEKO PLC. Pharmaceuticals Totals

Page

6

of

Quotation(N) No. of Deals 40 5 24 12 31 1 113

IT Services NCR (NIGERIA) PLC. TRIPPLE GEE AND COMPANY PLC. Activity Summary on Board EQTY IT Services Totals ICT Processing Systems Processing Systems CHAMS PLC Processing Systems Totals

Packaging/Containers BETA GLASS CO PLC. Activity Summary on Board EQTY Packaging/Containers Totals INDUSTRIAL GOODS INDUSTRIAL GOODS Totals Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © NATURAL RESOURCES Metals ALUMINIUM EXTRUSION IND. PLC. Metals Totals

5,284,389

29,574,139.82

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 100 100

Value Traded 50.00 50.00

Symbol No. of Deals Current Price Daily Summary (Equities)

Quantity Traded 50 250 300

Value Traded 523.50 402.50 926.00

Quantity Traded Quantity Traded 20,100 20,100

Value Traded Value Traded 10,050.00 10,050.00

115

Symbol OMATEK

No. of Deals 1 1

NCR TRIPPLEG

Symbol Symbol CHAMS

1 1 2

11.02 1.69

No. of Deals No. of Deals 2 2

Current Price Current Price 0.50

5

Integrated Oil and Gas Services OANDO PLC Daily Summary as of 07/07/2015 Integrated Oil and Gas Services Totals Printed 07/07/2015 14:32:25.025 Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors BECO PETROLEUM PRODUCT PLC CONOIL PLC ETERNA PLC. FORTE OIL PLC. MOBIL OIL NIG PLC. Activity Summary on Board EQTY MRS OIL NIGERIA PLC. TOTAL OIL AND GASNIGERIA PLC. Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors Totals Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Exploration and Production SEPLAT PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LTD Exploration and Production Totals

11,026.00

Page Quantity Traded 393,646 103,428 117,336 61,340 122,733 5,000 29,895 432,821 1,266,199

7 of 12 Value Traded 8,298,896.29 1,104,611.04 4,351,657.63 699,876.00 21,106,896.42 3,650.00 139,569.70 44,588,707.08 80,293,864.16

No. of Deals 22 3 24 6 23 2 6 45 131

Current Price 21.10 10.68 41.00 11.40 172.00 0.76 4.90 103.00

Symbol CUTIX

No. of Deals 5 5

Current Price 1.50

Quantity Traded 59,000 59,000

Value Traded 92,458.04 92,458.04

No. of Deals 4 4

Current Price 36.00

Quantity Traded 1,670 1,670

Value Traded 61,641.00 61,641.00

Daily Summary (Equities) Symbol BETAGLAS

140

Symbol ALEX

No. of Deals 1 1

1,326,869 Page Current Price 10.43

80,447,963.20 8 of 12

Quantity Traded 100 100

Value Traded 991.00 991.00

100

991.00

1

Symbol JAPAULOIL

No. of Deals 2 2

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 350 350

Value Traded 175.00 175.00

Symbol OANDO

No. of Deals 182 182

Current Price 15.05

Quantity Traded 2,985,239 2,985,239

Value Traded 45,904,376.84 45,904,376.84

No. of Deals 4 4 16 (Equities) 76 15 5 20

Current Price 0.50 40.85 2.34 198.00 148.00 50.54 151.00

Quantity Traded 9,439,700 7,900 215,300 622,583 28,294 609 121,644

Value Traded 4,719,850.00 306,599.00 503,363.64 119,927,241.63 4,316,568.36 29,244.18 18,480,228.85

Symbol

No. of Deals 140

Current Price

Quantity Traded 10,436,030 Page

Value Traded 148,283,095.66 12 9 of

Symbol SEPLAT

No. of Deals 12 12

Current Price 336.05

Quantity Traded 10,698 10,698

Value Traded 3,597,344.41 3,597,344.41

13,432,317

197,784,991.91

Symbol BECOPETRO CONOIL ETERNA Daily Summary FO MOBIL MRS TOTAL

OIL AND GAS Totals SERVICES Automobile/Auto Part Retailers R T BRISCOE PLC. Automobile/Auto Part Retailers Totals

20,500

Symbol ASHAKACEM BERGER CAP CCNN DANGCEM DNMEYER PORTPAINT WAPCO

NATURAL RESOURCES Totals OIL AND GAS Energy Equipment and Services JAPAUL OIL & MARITIME SERVICES PLC Energy Equipment and Services Totals

Current Price 0.95 3.48 44.00 1.57 1.47 2.25

Value of Shares(N) Value Traded 1,126,066.00 184,457.00 23,002,393.32 1,012,036.50 4,014,137.00 225,000.00 29,564,089.82

ICT Totals INDUSTRIAL GOODS Published

by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Building Materials ASHAKA CEM PLC BERGER PAINTS PLC CAP PLC CEMENT CO. OF NORTH.NIG. PLC DANGOTE CEMENT PLC DN MEYER PLC. PORTLAND PAINTS & PRODUCTS NIGERIA PLC LAFARGE AFRICA PLC. Daily Summary as ofMaterials 07/07/2015 Building Totals Printed 07/07/2015 14:32:25.025 Electronic and Electrical Products CUTIX PLC. Electronic and Electrical Products Totals

Quantity Traded Quantity Traded 1,144,770 55,700 522,919 661,100 2,779,800 100,000 5,264,289

HEALTHCARE Totals ICT Daily Summary as of 07/07/2015 Computers and Peripherals Printed 07/07/2015 14:32:25.025 OMATEK VENTURES PLC Computers and Peripherals Totals

336

Symbol RTBRISCOE

No. of Deals 2 2

Current Price 0.77

Quantity Traded 4,500 4,500

Value Traded 3,330.00 3,330.00

Symbol REDSTAREX TRANSEXPR

No. of Deals 9 9 18

Current Price 4.75 1.39

Quantity Traded 16,387 221,200 237,587

Value Traded 75,525.66 294,196.00 369,721.66

Symbol CILEASING

No. of Deals 11 11

Current Price 0.52

Quantity Traded 785,450 785,450

Value Traded 408,404.00 408,404.00

Symbol IKEJAHOTEL TRANSCOHOT

No. of Deals 14 1

Current Price 3.65 7.86

Quantity Traded 226,140 10

Value Traded 792,203.40 81.00

Symbol

No. of Deals 15

Current Price

Quantity Traded Page 226,150

Symbol ACADEMY LEARNAFRCA UPL

No. of Deals 16 5 9 30

Current Price 0.95 1.25 6.03

Quantity Traded 137,474 45,100 21,650 204,224

Value Traded 125,379.34 55,476.46 124,454.50 305,310.30

Road Transportation ASSOCIATED BUS COMPANY PLC Daily Summary as of 07/07/2015 Road Transportation Totals Printed 07/07/2015 14:32:25.025

Symbol ABCTRANS

No. of Deals 9 9

Current Price 0.51

Quantity Traded 538,741 538,741

Value Traded 271,377.91 271,377.91

Transport-Related Services AIRLINE SERVICES AND LOGISTICS PLC NIGERIAN AVIATION HANDLING COMPANY PLC Daily Summary as of 07/07/2015 Transport-Related Services Totals Printed 07/07/2015 14:32:25.025

Symbol AIRSERVICE NAHCO

No. of Deals 3 30 (Equities) 33

Current Price 2.08 5.02

Quantity Traded 5,000 397,054 402,054

Value Traded 10,715.00 2,086,429.30 2,097,144.30

No. of Deals 5 5

Current Price 3.25

Quantity Traded 18,100 18,100

Value Traded 55,930.00 55,930.00

No. of Deals 1231 1

Current Price 1.50

Quantity Traded 2,416,806 1,000 1,000

Value Traded 4,303,502.57 1,550.00 1,550.00

217,133,861

2,991,612,471.29

Courier/Freight/Delivery RED STAR EXPRESS PLC TRANS-NATIONWIDE Daily Summary as of 07/07/2015 EXPRESS PLC. Courier/Freight/Delivery Totals Printed 07/07/2015 14:32:25.025 Employment Solutions C & I LEASING PLC. Employment Solutions Totals Hotels/Lodging IKEJA HOTEL on PLC Activity Summary Board EQTY

TRANSCORP HOTELS PLC SERVICES Hotels/Lodging Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Hotels/Lodging Totals Printing/Publishing ACADEMY PRESS PLC. LEARN AFRICA PLC UNIVERSITY PRESS PLC. Printing/Publishing Totals

Support and Logistics Activity Summary on Board ASeM CAVERTON OFFSHORE SUPPORT GRP PLC Support and Logistics Totals CONSUMER GOODS Food Products SERVICES Totals PLC MCNICHOLS Activity on Board ASeM FoodSummary Products Totals

Daily Summary (Equities)

Daily Summary Symbol CAVERTON

Daily Summary (Equities) Symbol MCNICHOLS

EQTY Board Totals

CONSUMER GOODS GOODS Totals CONSUMER Food Products MCNICHOLS PLC ASeM Board Totals Published

by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Food Products Totals

3,736

Symbol MCNICHOLS

1 No. of Deals 1 1 1

Equity ActivityGOODS Totals Totals CONSUMER ASeM Board Totals

Exchange Traded Fund Equity Activity Totals

Name LOTUS HALAL EQUITY ETF NEWGOLD EXCHANGE TRADED FUND (ETF) VETIVA GRIFFIN 30 ETF Exchange Traded Fund Exchange Traded Fund Totals Name ETFLOTUS BoardHALAL TotalsEQUITY ETF NEWGOLD EXCHANGE TRADED FUND (ETF) VETIVA GRIFFIN 30 ETF ETPExchange Activity Traded Totals Fund Totals

ETF Board Totals Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

No Of Deals Symbol EVANSMED FIDSON GLAXOSMITH MAYBAKER NEIMETH PHARMDEKO

Current Price 1.50

1,000 Quantity Traded 1,000 Page 1,000 1,000

3,737 1

Daily Summary (ETP) Symbol LOTUSHAL15

NEWGOLD Daily Summary (ETP) VETGRIF30

Symbol LOTUSHAL15 NEWGOLD VETGRIF30

217,134,861 1,000

Value Traded 10 792,284.40 of 12

1,550.00 Value Traded 1,550.00 12 of 1,550.00 1,550.00

11

2,991,614,021.29 1,550.00

1

1,000

1,550.00

3,737

217,134,861

2,991,614,021.29

No. of Deals 2 1 1 4 No. of Deals 24 1 1 4 4

Current Price 10.47 2,239.00 14.80 Current Price 10.47 2,239.00 14.80

Quantity Traded 20 50 50 120 Quantity Traded 20 120 50 50 120 120

Value Traded 209.90 111,950.00 740.00 112,899.90 Value Traded 209.90 112,899.90 111,950.00 740.00 112,899.90 112,899.90

4

120

112,899.90

4

Page 120

12 12 112,899.90 of

Page

12

12 Published

by The Nigerian ETP Activity TotalsStock Exchange ©

Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

of

12

Monday, July 8, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

47

Community Mirror The whistle blowers Bill if successfully passed into will further help because we face a lot of problems with people who blow the whistle because their lives are sometimes threatened.

ICPC Chairman – Ekpo Owo Nta

Nasarawa disburses relief materials to communal crises victims Igbawase Ukumba LAFIA

N

asarawa State government has disbursed 20 trucks of relief materials to Alakyo village and 19 other communities affected by communal crises in the last two years.

Distributing the items at Government House, Lafia, Governor Umaru Tanko AlMakura said his administration was worried at the plight of affected communities, who lost their belongings as a result of the crisis.

The governor said t the relief materials distributed to the communities were a collaboration between the United Nations High Commission for Refugees, UNHCR, and the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA. According to Al–Makura’s explanation, “the gesture was a special intervention meant to alleviate the hardship being faced by the victims and to as well assist them in their farming activities.”

He said that the gesture will go a long way in boosting food production in the state con-

sidering that the victims were predominantly farmers”.

“Government considers plight of the victims very disturbing and that is why as a responsible government, we shall continue to intensify efforts towards their wellbeing and those of the entire citizenry,” he maintained.

The governor who regretted the negative impact which the communal violence had on the economy of the state, however expressed delight that the situation has been brought under control hence appealed to the people of the state to embrace

peace as it was the only panacea for the much needed development of the state.

The paramount ruler of Doma chiefdom, Alhaji Ahmadu Ogah Onawo, who spoke on behalf of the benefitting communities, said the gesture was an indication that Governor Al-Makura shares in the circumstances of his people, as-

Fight against crime a collective responsibility - CP Aderanti Dare Akogun

I

Scene of an accident on Arroma Government House Road in Akwa, at the weekend. PHOTO: NAN

Community leader preaches against social vices Shuaib Musa

B

aale of Oke-Ira Layeni town in Ajeromi/Ifelodun Local Government Area of Lagos, Chief Taiwo Hassan Olayeni, has disclosed that acts of hooliganism have become a thing of the past in his domain.

Chief Olayeni, who ascended the throne on January 18, 2015 took it as a challenge to curb the habits that once reigned in the community be-

fore his enthronement.

Chief Olayeni stressed that before his installation as Baale of Oke-Ira, there were illicit acts too numerous to mention in the area, but when he came, he liaised with people of different parastatal right from police, landlord, tenants, parents and guardians.

He made the promise of providing jobs and opportunities for the jobless and provide succor to the youths in order to get rid of hooliganism and other vices in the com-

munity and the state at large.

According to him, “We have made a lot of callings to various parastatal and they have all risen up in our favor. We have their supports and they asked us to come to them for assistance in any time.

“We hope to do better than before with these undiscarded resolution. He said he who struggles to make a total satisfaction must surely sacrifice himself in the curse of the job,” he added.

suring that traditional heads in various communities would ensure that the relief materials get to the intended targets.

The relief materials which were distributed to the victims include fertilizer, herbicides and knapsack sprayers, mattresses, roofing sheets, bags of both rice and beans, among other relief materials.

mmediate past Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Kayode Aderanti, has challenged Lagosians to unanimously join hands with the police in the war against crime.

Aderanti, who made the call at the weekend during a novelty match tagged “Kick off crime” between the Crime Reporters Association of Nigeria (CRAN) and the combined teams of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN)/ Performing Musicians Association Of Nigeria (PMAN) at the National Stadium, Surulere, said the fight against crime was a collective responsibility and should not be left for the security agencies alone.

Mr. Aderanti, who took the ceremonial kick-off for the match, noted that everybody should join hands in the war against crime, saying that “ it does not mean that people should carry arms and start chasing criminals up and down, but that civilians should give out useful information that would assist the police and other sister agencies to kick out crime, especially armed robbery, kidnapping and piracy in the society”.

Aderanti who was represented by the Divisional Police Officer, DPO, Bode Thomas, Mr. Akin Adamu praised the two competitors for their initiative in preaching against crime, he advised other corporate organisations to emulate the good gesture of CRAN and AGN/PMAN

in the fight against crime.

“With this Novelty match, the Police are encouraged to do more in their fight against crime. We are going to fish out criminals, especially armed robbers, kidnappers and Pirates wherever they are hiding.

“We will not wait till they strike, we will be proactive in our action and pick on them before they strike but whenever they succeed in committing their dastardly act, we will as usual fish them out.

CRAN President Comrade Christopher Oji, the Captain the all conquering CRAN team to defeat the AGN/PMAN team stated that, “The essence of the match is to preach to our teeming population, especially the youths that crime does not pay.

“You may succeed in crime but in a short while nemesis will catch up with the criminal.

The consequences of crime are as devastating as it may have been too late for the criminal and regret will be the reward,” he noted.

On his part President of AGN, Mr. Emeka Ike called on the Police to intensify their war against Piracy stating that, “Pirates are reaping where they did not sow and as such must be fished out to face the consequences of stealing and reproducing other people’s works.

We will suffer and another lazy idiot will be enjoying our sweat. We want those who play our music and show our films to also pay us our royalties”

48

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Community Mirror

Monday, July 8, 2015

Ajah community accuses police of aiding land grabbers Dare Akogun

R

esidents and land owners of Alabeko Estate in Ajah area of Lagos has pointed accusing finger at the Lagos State police command for allegedly Aiding a Land grabber to illegally acquire lands in the area.

Narrating their ordeals to our reporter, Chairman of Alabeko Estate Residents Association, AERA, Mr. Uba Offorbuike, stated that the community had not known peace since one Rotimi Orimisan, a land prospector, resorted to brigandage to grab a larger chunk of land from the estate.

According to him “we met with the Omonile from whom

we bought our land; they told us they didn’t sell any land to Rotimi Orimisan (the prospector).

After meeting the land owner, we were within the estate when the OPC thugs attacked us with cutlasses, broken bottles and other offensive weapons.

“I was shocked when the police, who are supposed to play neutral role, joined them to attack us using tear gas on us.

In the process, one of us, Mr Rotimi Ojo, was stabbed with a bottle on his right hand,” Uba added.

It was reliably gathered that members of Odua Peoples’ Congress (OPC) thugs allegedly recruited by Rotimi Orimisan and allegedly supervised by about eight police officers from MO-

POL 23, Obalende.

It was alleged that the officers complemented the miscreants’ who stabbed three people and destroyed some houses and properties, by dosing the residents with spray tear gas while the attack lasted.

Some of the policemen who were mostly wearing police T-shirts had no name tag on their uniform The unprovoked attack on the residence happened on Saturday 27, 2015 after the landowners (Omonile) held a meeting with residents over the illegal encroachment into their properties by Rotimi Orimisan.

During the attack, one Rotimi Ojo, former General Secretary of the estate was stabbed on his right hand with a bottle

and also hit with a shovel on his head. He was immediately rushed to Doren Specialist Hospital, Ajiwe in Ajah where he was operated upon and still on admission.

The thugs also descended on an eight-room bungalow belonging to one Alfa Isiaka Kelani, destroying the window glasses. The wife of the victim was not spared as she was treated to several slaps by the thugs despite her visual disadvantage. Another resident, one Olaseni Obafemi was not lucky as he was hit with a shovel on his head and hand while others sustained various degrees of injuries.

The Divisional Police Officer, (DPO) Omolabi Oviebo in the area whom we learnt was visibly angry at what happened said police have no busi-

ness taken side with a complainant but out to make peace between warring factions.

It was learnt that since Rotimi Orimisan has been threatening to grab a portion of land belonging to the estate and using the OPC and mobile policemen from MOPOL 23 stationed there in a make shift plank, the DPO was said to have personally visited the portion of land and told the police not to threaten residents again, but each time the DPO leaves, they violates his instructions while they shoot sporadically into the air every time.

When contacted on phone, the Lagos State Police spokesperson, DSP Kenneth Nwosu didn’t pick his phone and a text message sent to him was also not responded to as at press time.

Ekiti traders protest alleged land allocation scam Abiodun Nejo ADO EKITI

T

Victim of the attack in Ajah, Rotimi Ojo on hospital bed

NAFDAC seals mall over fake wine Dare Akogun

O

peratives of the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, has sealed a popular mall in Lagos that stocks and sells fake wines and spirit.

The regulatory officers of NAFDAC from its Investigation and Enforcement Directorate invaded the three branches of the mall located in Ajah, Gbagada and Magodo-Isheri areas of the state alongside security operatives

and newsmen.

Confirming the sealing of the mall, team leader of the Magodo-Isheri operation, Mr. Andy Tamanuwa, who is a chief regulatory officer, stressed that the exercise was a routine one targeted at ensuring that consumable products meet with regulatory standards.

Tamanuwa said, “There were complaints received about the sale of cloned wines and spirits against the company and which were discovered to be true when we got here to inspect the place. We found the products and accordingly

seized them. They will be evacuated from the outlet for further investigations.”

“The exercise was extended to the Gbagada and Ajah outlets of the mall and they were equally sealed following same discoveries,” he added.

He noted that the confiscated items were mainly popular brands and expensive alcoholic imported beverages.

It will be recalled that the agency, in recent weeks, has redoubled its effort in wiping out counterfeit products in circulation across the country.

raders at the burnt Erekesan Market in Ado Ekiti yesterday protested against alleged extortion on land allocation at the new Awedele Market.

The traders, who stormed the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, accused the Iyaloja of Ado Ekiti, Chief Mrs Waye Osho, of collecting N19,000 from each of them without provision of the expected market spaces.

The police in Ado Ekiti arrested and detained Osho at the police headquarters over allegation that she illegally collected N93 million from some traders and refused to allocate spaces to them at the market.

It would be recalled that following burning of the Erekesan Market during the clash between driver unions and Hausa/Fulani traders, the state government gave the traders September 8, 2015 deadline to relocate to either Awedele Market or Agric Olope Market built by the immediate past Governor Kayode Fayemi government for proper reconstruction to be conducted on the market.

One of the protesters, Mrs Joke Aduloju, a cloth seller at the market, said members of her group paid N19, 000 each to

Osho and lamented that many were yet to be allocated spaces, calling on the government to seriously address the issue for them to be able to meet the September 8 deadline.

The representatives of the Igbo traders, Mr Richard Uzokwe and the youth wing, Mr Richard Folamade, urged the government to take over land allocation at Awedele to restore normalcy and douse the raging tension.

They appealed to the government to include some of the traders in the Committee on Land Allocation constituted by the government, to be able to identify authentic members.

But Osho described the allegation as untrue, adding that her arrest was politically-motivated and attempt to rope her into a phantom fraud allegation.

Osho said that she entered into a lease holding agreement with O’odua Group during Fayemi’s administration for land allocation at Awedele with the promise that a sum of N3, 000 would be paid yearly by each trader into the company’s purse.

The Commissioner for Lands, Mr Tayelolu Otitoju, appealed for caution, saying the payment to Iyaloja on land allocation in the new market was illegal, adding that forms would be issued out soon for proper exercise that would benefit all traders operating in Erekesan market.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Politics

Wednesday, July 8, 2015

Yohanna Mathias

A

damawa State governor, Mohammed Umaru Jibrilla, may have stricken the very few first right chords and taken commendable steps with his first few appointments and contract awards in the state.

The governor has appointed a few personal aides including the Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Dr. Umar Bindir; the Chief of Staff, CoS, Alhaji Abdulrahman Abba Jimeta; Director of Protocol, his publicist, Yohanna Mathias, as his Chief Press Secretary, CPS, as well as Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General, Barrister Bala Silas.

The few appointments so far made by Governor Jibrilla have correctly reflected the state’s diversity and multiethnic and religious composition. Although there are dissenting voices from a few indigenes who have expressed their disapproval and seriously questioned one or two of the appointments, the entire state is agreed and happy that the governor made the best of choices, selected competent hands and versatile technocrats that will surely help with the arduous task of transforming a backward, terribly broke and grossly underdeveloped state.

In the recent past, lopsided appointments, and hiring of incompetent and dysfunctional people to run the affairs of government contributed immensely to the poor state of affairs and the continued drift and gross underdevelopment of the state.

The pack of educated and ill-tempered individuals saddled with the responsibility of advancing the general welfare of the people of the state did not engender hope; rather it brought on board leaders who disappointedly ensured that governance was transformed from its traditional role of public service to personal aggrandizement.

This unbridled and perverted vision of leadership that has plagued Adamawa State in the past did not help the state nor promote her development aspirations; it only led to the stagnation of the state and made her trail behind her neighbours in all spheres of human endeavours.

Senator Jibrilla (Bindow) has therefore come at the right time and within a very short time in office, has taken the right steps to change this unfortunate and retrogressive trend with his visionary leadership. The initial projects his administration has embarked upon have clearly given hope to the deprived and depraved people of Adamawa State, with new development projects, especially the new road contracts that are meant to open up the grossly neglected parts of Yola metropolis and the rural areas in the state that have not known government development programmes since Nigeria’s independence in 1960. Among the roads projects for either construction or rehabilitation are the new Jambutu-Ngolomba-Bwaggare road, 8.2 kilometre; Njoboli-Njoboliyo-Rugange road, 9.3 kilometre; Labondo-

49

Adamawa: Jibrilla striking the right chord In the recent past,

lopsided appointments, and hiring of incompetent and dysfunctional people to run the affairs of government contributed immensely to the poor state of affairs and the continued drift and gross underdevelopment of the state

Jibrilla

Gwakrah-Koh-Borrong road, 34.6 kilometre; Kwanan Waya-Namtari Manga road, 4.2 kilometre.

Others are the New Demsa-Old Demsa KodpmunKwaine road, 28 kilometre; Kpasham-Gumari-Yanga road, 15.2 kilometre; Bille-Gumari W/Hamawa-Mayo Belwa road, 15.5 kilometre and Gyawana-Hadiyo-Lamurde road, 12.8 kilometre.

While performing the historic ground breaking and flagging off ceremony for the road contracts, Governor Jibrilla (Bindow) did not mince words when he told citizens of the state that he has begun a deliberate move to construct and improve rural access roads in order to enhance, improve and promote the tempo of economic activities of the rural dwellers of Adamawa State.

The governor made it abundantly clear that he would not apportion blame to any of his predecessors or their administrations for the late take-off of the road projects to open up the state, but stressed that the roads were delayed for over one and a half years for lack of political will on the opart of former actors in governance of the state.

He was emphatic that his government is government for

the people, and that he would work strenuously to improve the wellbeing of the people, irrespective of dwindling resources from the federation account.

Governor Junrilla has begun his tenure on a good footing. His initial appointments and road contracts have shown that his leadership will no doubt deliver on promises made to the electorate during the electioneering campaign and provide the dividends of democracy that have eluded the citizens of Adamawa State in the past 16 years.

The quality of the personnel he has hired so far to compliment his government and the roads contracts he awarded to open up neglected parts of the state are surely signs of better things to come. With the commitment to maintain his patriotic zeal and unshaken resolve to fast track socioeconomic development in Adamawa State and improve the wellbeing of the citizens, the record Governor Jubrilla will set as a development wizard in the next four years will confound his compatriots, if not the totality of Nigerians. The fine takeoff has shown the striking of right chords and therefore foretold the good things the future holds for the state and its people.

•Mathias is the Chief Press Secretary to Adamawa State governor

Stop intimidating Ekweremadu, PDP tells APC Olajide Omojolomoju

C

hairmen of state chapters of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, have warned the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government of the All Progressives Congress, APC, to stop the unnecessary intimidation and harassment of the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu.

The warning was contained in a statement issued in Abuja yesterday by chairman of Conference of PDP State Chairmen, Dr. Emmanuel Agbo, who is also the PDP chairman of Benue State.

The PDP chieftains declared that they would mobilise members of the party across the country to resist any further attempt to harass and intimidate

Ekweremadu, whose election by his colleagues as Deputy Senate President to Senator Bukola Saraki of the APC was, according to them, as a result of his outstanding performance in

the previous sessions of the Senate.

They call on the APC to accept the outcome of the election of the presiding officers of both chambers of the National Assembly which took place on June

9 in good faith and concentrate on giving Nigerians the change they promised them devoid of complaint.

The statement reads: “We, the state chairmen of the PDP want to express unequivocally that any at-

tempt to further harass and intimidate the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ekweremadu, a highly respect member of our great party, will be met with nationwide resistance by our membership across the en-

Kemi Olaitan

Buhari, speaking with journalists in Ogbomoso after the 3rd annual Ramadan lecture sponsored by him for the adherents of Islamic religion of his senatorial district, wondered how many appointments the President has made to warrant being accused of tribal sentiment to the unenviable tag of nepotism already placed on his head.

It will be recalled that President Buhari has so far made 10 appointments, nine of which are Northerners

leaving only one to their Southern counterparts.

But Buhari, a chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, kicked against such assumption, saying: “How many appointments do we have, how many has he made? You see this is part of the problems we have in this country.

“I am always surprised the way people jump to conclusion, let’s even assume that he has made 10 appointments so far and all of them are from his home-

town, do you know how many appointments are at the federal level aside the cabinet members? When you say nepotism, it is too harsh word to use. What is the percentage of people he is yet to appoint compared to what he has made so far? Let me fault some of these arguments without speaking for Mr. President, because some may begin to say he is defending him because he is his name sake and that is why he is biased, it is far from that.”

Alleged nepotism: Senator berates Buhari’s critics IBADAN

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member of the National Assembly representing Oyo North senatorial district of Oyo State, Senator Fatai Buhari, has faulted critics of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, over alleged tilting appointments so far made by his administration in favour of Northerners.

tire country.

The APC and its government had better start paying due attention to the renewed spate of unprecedented violence and mass killings by the insurgent Boko Haram sect.

The government having ingloriously failed to show any understanding of the problems facing Nigerians and lacking completely in any solution is advised to own up to their ineptitude than harass statesmen and play politics with sensitive issues of national interest.

“The APC government better be reminded that Nigerians are fed up with its national anthem of ‘meeting empty treasury’.

It should wake up from its slumber and address the irretrievably collapsing Naira under its watch.”

50

Wednesday, July 8, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

World News London had been attacked on July 7 2005 and our unity was in our grieving as we survived the horror.

– THE BISHOP OF LONDON, THE RIGHT REV. RICHARD CHARTRES

Afolabi Gambari

WITH AGENCY REPORT

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reece is asking for a new European bailout as it runs short of time to prevent a deepening financial crisis forcing it out of the euro.

Greek officials met their counterparts from around Europe at press time yesterday, although observers believed the 11th hour efforts could be too late.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel also confirmed that the clock was running down fast as she arrived for talks in Brussels.

“It’s not a matter of weeks, we have only a few days,” Merkel said.

Meanwhile, Greece needs cash fast as its banks have been shut for a week, and cash withdrawals have been capped, even as the country has pension payments to make.

Greeks voted overwhelmingly to reject Europe’s most recent offer of help in a referendum on Sunday after Europe had pushed for more spending cuts and tax increases. Greeks want a new bailout deal to include easier terms and the cancellation of some of their debt.

But yesterday’s series of meetings got off to a bad start

Greece cash squeeze: Time runs out for bank customers

Frustrated bank customers at an ATM in Athens, yesterday

when new Greek Finance Minister Euclid Tsakolotos turned up without a written proposal, saying only that it would be delivered by today.

“The big problem is that there’s no trust anymore between the finance ministers in the Eurogroup and the Greek government,” Malta’s Finance Minister, Edward Scicluna,

said.

Observers also believed that if formal negotiations began, both sides would still fail to agree terms.

Other countries using the euro have already stumped up billions in emergency loans for Greece over the past five years, and they worry about throwing good money after bad.

Finance ministers from Finland and Slovakia made clear that canceling more Greek debt, following a similar exercise in 2012, was unacceptable.

“Debt relief is the most delicate issues for the majority of countries,” Slovak Finance Minister, Peter Kazimir, said, adding, “For my country, it’s a red line.”

US church gunman gets fresh charges

T

he gunman who killed nine black churchgoers in the US last month, Dylann Roof, has been charged with three additional counts of attempted murder.

Roof, 21, already faced nine counts of murder and one weapons possession charge for the shooting in Charleston, South Carolina, on June 17.

The victims were shot and killed after a Bible study meeting.

The attempted murder charges relate to three people who were present during the attack but survived.

A woman and a small child survived by playing dead while Roof left a third woman alive to tell others about the crime.

Roof reportedly sat with the group for nearly an hour before he pulled out his handgun and

started shooting.

One survivor recalled him saying: “You all rape women and you’re taking over our country.”

After the attack, a friend of

Dylann Roof

Roof ’s said he had previously complained that “blacks were taking over the world” and “someone needed to do something about it for the white race”.

Roof, who was arrested the day after the shooting more than 200 miles away in North Carolina and then flown back to Charleston, is due back in court in October.

WORLD BULLETIN

Militants claim Kenya killings Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility yesterday for a night attack on two homes in north eastern Kenya’s Mandera County.

The attack killed at least 14 people and injured 11 others, according to Mandera County Commissioner, Alex Nkoyo.

The compound housed primarily quarry workers.

The attack began around 1 a.m. when a group of men using a variety of weapons attacked the compound, Nkoyo said.

The commissioner said an explosive device, something other than a hand grenade, was used to blow open a gate to the compound. The attackers then entered and started shooting.

“Many people were sleeping outside to escape the heat. When the attack began, those who were able to do so ran inside the houses, followed by the gunmen,” Nkoyo added, stressing, “Those killed were local laborers and workers from other parts of Kenya.”

‘WHO unfit for emergencies’ The Ebola crisis proves the World Health Organization (WHO) lacks the capacity and culture to deal with global health emergencies, says a damning independent report, commissioned by the WHO itself.

The review panel says WHO was too slow to act to get on top of the deadly virus which has now killed more than 11, 000 people in West Africa, calling for an urgent overhaul of the organisation.

It has already admitted that it waited too long to declare Ebola a public health emergency of international concern.

WHO Director General, Margaret Chan, admitted in May it had been overwhelmed by the Ebola outbreak, saying it shook this organization to its core.

SADC standby force due soon A Southern Africa Development Commission standby force could soon be a reality, as an ongoing Special Forces planning conference in Kariba, Zimbabwe looks into the final logistics of its establishment.

The state media reported yesterday that the conference, which was attended by 66 delegates from the region, was also looking at mapping training exercises set to start next month.

The exercises would help mould a SADC Special Force (SSF) which will also contribute to the African Union (AU) standby force, the report said.

The idea of the SSF was mooted in 2007 after regional countries resolved to contribute troops to defend member states from revolts and aggression.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

North

Wednesday, July 8, 2015

51

Lalong begs unpaid workers, signs 2015 budget JAMES A BRAHAM JOS

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overnor Sımon Lalong of Plateau State yesterday asked workers in the state to be patient with his administration over the challenge posed by backlog of salaries.

Lalong, who made

the appeal during the swearing in ceremony of a new Head of Service, Mrs. Huldah Fwangchi, at Rayfield Government House in Jos, noted that the government had begun paying salaries and would sustain the payment as promised.

He said: “On our

part as government, we will continue to be responsible to our people, knowing we owe them qualitative service for their sacrifices in bringing this government into place. We, however, count on your support to succeed.”

The governor, while expressing confidence in

the new Head of Service to deliver as a thoroughbred bureaucrat, career civil servant and lawyer, urged her not to disappoint the people who look up to her to use her office to drive the process of good governance in the state, Meanwhile, the gover nor yesterday signed

into law the 2015 Appropriation Bill that members of the state Assembly passed recently.

The last administration on December 23, 2014 presented to the House an estimate of N215,465,835,418.

The House deliberated on the budget and

passed a budget of 215,457,618,204.72 only for the year.

Lalong said the budget would be funded from internal and external revenue sources amounting to N111,513,644,192, while the rest ıs financed from Internal Loans and government bonds.

Again, FCT wins NNPC science contest CHIDI UGWU ABUJA

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L-R: Plateau State Deputy Governor, Prof. Sonni Tyoden; Governor Simon Lalong and Speaker, State House of Assembly, Mr. Peter Azi, during the governor’s signing of the 2015 appropriation bill in Jos, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

PDP rejects council dissolution in Plateau JAMES ABRAHAM JOS

P

eoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Plateau State yesterday rejected dissolution of the 17 council areas in the state and asked the affected council bosses to return to their duty posts.

“The dissolution is of no effect and unenforceable.

Our chairmen remain the rightful chief executives of their respective LGAs and have been instructed not to heed any illegal declaration,” the state’s PDP chairman, Raymond Dabo, said during a world press conference yesterday at the party’s headquarters in Jos. Governor Simon Lalong had on Monday announced sack of the elected council bosses in the state, citing the power conferred on him by the Nigerian Constitution and the Local Government Edict.

The governor also dissolved all members of the executive arm, councillors and other political appointees in the council areas.

The sacked council chairmen were elected last

year on the platform of PDP and are yet to serve out their tenure.

The PDP chairman, who described the governor’s action as a political blunder and betrayal of all Plateau people, noted that such acts of illegality would have been avoided had the governor constituted his cabinet and appointed a substantive Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice to advise him.

Citing section 74 of the Local Government Law of 2005 which states that “a local government council shall stand dissolved after the expiration of a period of three years commencing from when the chairman took oath of office, the PDP chairman said the governor must abide by due process as stipulated by law.

Dabo maintained that the Local Government law was enacted when the current governor was Speaker, state House Assembly. He therefore expressed regret that Lalong could revoke the same law he was part of its making despite an existing court injunction restraining the All Progressive Congress, APC-led

administration from going ahead to unseat the elected council chairmen.

The party boss also lamented what he called the absence of government in Plateau since the APC administration was sworn in on May 29, describing the development as dangerous for the state and one heading on a “suicide mission.”

Some of the anti-people policies of the APC administration in the state the PDP listed include arbitrary loan acquisition

without recourse to due process, misappropriation/duplication and poor prıorıtisation by government as witnessed in the N2.4 billion contract awarded to renovate the Presidential Lodge. Other allegations include the ratification of impunity as seen in the unlawful suspension of Shendam council chairman, Mr Kemı Nshe, as well as the unlawful dissolution of council executives and appointees.

econdary school students from the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, have again won science quiz competition organised by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC. The victory in the NNPC 2015 Annual Quiz makes it the fourth time the FCT has won the national competition, which is in its 14th edition having kicked off in 2002.

The trio of Andrea Dallacosta of Christ the King College, CKC; Suleiman Ibrahim and Egbunu Mudi, both of School for the Gifted, Gwagwalda Area Council, represented the North Central zone in the competition.

The FCT students came first with 130 marks at the final results, closely followed by Lagos State with 120 marks, while Katsina scored 105 marks to come third.

Also, Akwa Ibom scored 100 marks, Anambra 85 and Gombe came last with 75 marks in the quiz.

Group Managing Director of NNPC, Dr. Joseph Dawha, noted that the corporation instituted the

competition with the belief that science and technology presents limitless opportunities to bringing development to the nation by making it relevant in the global economy.

Dawha also said that beginning from this year, the bursary has increased to N250,000, up from N100,000 each year.

According to the NNPC boss, the token support has helped in the development of science and technology in the country.

The NNPC also pledged to continue to sponsor the annual national quiz among secondary school students in order to encourage the study of science-based subjects in the country.

It promised to continue to impact positively on the lives of secondary school students through the competition.

The corporation stated that the Grand Finale of the annual quiz that held yesterday drew finalists from Akwa Ibom, FCT, Gombe, Anambra, Katsina and Lagos states who competed in English language, mathematics, chemistry, physics, biology and General knowledge.

5 feared killed in Niger communal clash …Emir intervenes PRISCILLA DENNIS MINNA

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t least, five persons are feared dead and 11 others seriously injured following a violent clash between two villages in Agaie Local Government Area of Niger State allegedly over farmland dispute.

Also, many houses, two cars: a Sharon and Golf Volkswagen, 18 motorcycles as well as domestic animals were set ablaze in

the communal clash last Tuesday.

For over four years, Mazza and Tswachiko villages were said to have been engulfed in crisis over a piece of farmland, which escalated that day, resulting in the deaths of four members of the feuding communities.

It was also gathered that the fifth person, who sustained injury during the attack, died in hospital early Monday.

By Tuesday morning further violence had broken out between the two

parties, when members of Tswachiko were accused of farming on the land, contrary to directive of the paramount ruler of the area, Emir of Agaie, Yusuf Nuhu.

The action of the Tswachiko people, it was learnt, angered those of Mazza community, who allegedly reacted violently by attacking their rival village on the farm leading to the death of a youth (Twaschiko).

Following that morning’s incident, Tswachiko village mobilised and

launched a counter attack on Mazza village in which three people were killed and wreaked havoc in retaliation.

On a visit to the farmland and the two villages on Tuesday, the Emir of Agaie condemned the violence, describing the incident as senseless and unwarranted.

He ordered the indefinite suspension of the chiefs of the two feuding communities and placed a ban on farming activities on the land until further notice.

52

Wednesday, July 8, 2015

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Miss Faleye Oluwatosin Abiola, now wish to be known as Mrs Oladoja Oluwatosin Abiola, All former documents remain valid.

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OKPE: I, formerly known and addressed as Okpe Onyeka Okonwo, now wish to be known and addressed as Okonkwo Onyeka Venatus. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

1. Mathias Tsado 2. Yusuf Leinge ÀIMS AND OBJECTIVES:

1. To contribute to the development of the society by taking advantage of the strength of individuals.

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, P.M.B 198, Maitama, Abuja, within 28 days from the date of this publication

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Wema Bank PLC, Remo North Local Government and general public take note .

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CHIME: I, formerly known and addressed as Miss. Chime Fidelia Chinenye, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Okeke Fidelia Chinenye. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

This is to inform the general public that the above named Foundation has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for Registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) 1990

THE TRUSTEES ARE:

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MARTINS: Formerly known and addressed as Martins Christianah Oluwabunmi, now wish to be known and address as Mrs Itodo Christianah Oluwabunmi. All former document remains valid. State Universal Basic Education, IBTC Pension Managers and General public take note.

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PUBLIC NOTICE

THE ROCK BREAKERS GLOBAL MINISTRY This is to inform the general public that the above named Ministry has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja for Registration Under Part C of the Company And Allied Matters Act 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE:

1. Miss Gift Oghenerukevwe Gariagan 2. Mr. Derrick Onome Akarah

ÀIMS AND OBJECTIVES:

1 Setting up and run orphanages and to partner with new and existing motherless babies homes for donations and contributions within Nigeria, Africa and in other continents.

2. Setting up shelter (homes) for the homeless and aged people with the approval of the appropriate government authority in Nigeria and other African nations.

3. Setting up and operate full scholarship scheme for the less privileged in rural communities in Nigeria and Africa as well as providing free feeding for children of age 3 – 18 in Nigeria and environs.

4. Bringing succor and relief materials to victims of accident, rape, domestic and child abuse, war, flood and the detainees.

5. Providing free medical treatment for newborn babies and educational materials and reliefs and school bus for college students school in distant communities in Nigeria and Africa.

1. Pastor Gabriel Bello 2. Pastor Adewale Aiyedun jeremiah 3. Mrs Rebecca Bello 4. Pastor Alero Florish Nanna

- President - Secretary - Treasurer

ÀIMS AND OBJECTIVES:

- Memeber

1.To win soul to Jesús Christ and bring restoration to captives 2. To raise missionaries for Christ and send them around the world 2. To carry out any function to further these aims and objectives.

Any objection to t’he registration should be forwarded to t’he RegistrarGeneral corporate Affairs commission (CAÇ) pilot 420 TIgris crescent Aguiyi ironsi street, maitama Abuja within 28 danys of this publication

SIGNED: SOLICITOR

SIGNED: PASTOR OLUFEMI GABRIEL BELLO. PRESIDENT PASTOR ADEWALE AIYEDUN JEREMIAH. SECRETARY

THE KLANS KLUB INTERNATIONAL

GETUP AFRICA INITIATIVE The general public is hereby notified that the above named organisation has

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Maitama, Abuja, within 28days of this publication.

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

for registration under part ‘C’ of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 1990.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Isaiah Philip, now wish to be known and addressed as Ishaya Philip. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

FOOTPRINTS OF GREATNESS FOUNDATION

SIGNED: SECRETARY

THE OLD BOYS GREATER ASSOCIATION OF CANAAN CITY The general public is hereby notified that the above named organization has applied

CHANGE OF NAME

JALINGO: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Saratu Ifeoma Jalingo now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Saratu Ifeoma Ubi. All former document remains valid. All authorities concerned and General public should please take note.

PUBLIC NOTICE

HOPE PLATFORM INITIATIVE

THE TRUSTEES ARE:

I, formerly known as Miss Onyendi Chizuroke Deborah, now wished to be known and addressed as Mrs Effiong Chizuroke Deborah.

All former documents remain valid.

The general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

OKOLI : Formerly known as Miss Okoli Chigozie Confidence, now wish to be known and address as Mrs Ibeh Chigozie Confidence. All former documents remains valia.

First bank of Nigeria Plc and public note.

PUBLIC NOTICE This is to inform the General Public that the above named has applied for the registration to corporate affairs commission under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, No 1 of 1990

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly known and called Miss Rachael N.Yisa henceforth wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Rachael N.Majin. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

KASUMU: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Kasumu Modinat Busola Oluwatoyin, now wish to be known and address as Mrs Kasumu-Mustapha Modinat Busola Oluwatoyin. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

The general public is hereby notified that the above named organization has applied for registration under part ‘C’ of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE:

PUBLIC NOTICE

applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for Registration Under Part “C” of The Companies And Allied Matters Act,1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE:

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Emmanuel Obi Njok 2. Asuquo Okon Nyong 3. Prince Etim Lawson 4. Akaninyene Okon Udo 5. Itam Etim Hogan PRINCIPAL AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE:

1.

3.

5.

7.

9.

1. To promote unity and solidarity among members

1. To forge unity, peace and co-operation among members.

2. To act in solidarity with one another in tackling the challenges of moral decay, strife, poverty, hunger, and disease in the society.

1. To promote agro processing and cottage industries.

2. To promote skill exchange between members and technical partners within and outside the organisation for micro and medium scale enterprises development .

3. To empower the grass roots of the society through grants assistance for income generating activities and self reliance.

Any objection to the registration of the organization should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Any objections to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General Corporate Affairs Commission, plot 420 Tigris crescent off Aguiyi Ironsi street, maitama,, Abuja. Within 28 days of this Publication

SIGNED: A.E.OKPA, ESQ 08063533833

SIGNED: BAR. BOLU AWOFOLAJU.

2. To seek to promote youth development and empowerment and to engage in activities ancillary to same.

Any objection to the registration of the organization should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

SIGNED: A.E.OKPA, ESQ 08063533833

Dr. Ekong George Udoroh Ema Okon Ndon John Uloshi Adie John Abel Briggs Ifiok Okon Udoh

2. Mr. Babafemi Oluwabusayo Dada 4. Ibe Prospect C. 6. Mfon Edet Essang 8. Ubong Michael Otipekung 10. Olusegun Mukhail Ogunbanjo

PRINCIPAL AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE:

1. Babajide Adetutu (Mr) 2. Kehinde Oluwemimo (Mr)

PRINCIPAL AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE:

Wednesday, July 8, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

53

Sport

Djokovic eases into last eight

I am too emotionally attached to Anfield not to look back sometimes from the USA. It’s the truth

54

–Former Liverpool captain, Steven Gerrard

Sharks ready for Heartland in Calabar today

Fed Cup:

Tornadoes set to strike Lobi

N

iger Tornadoes Head Coach Abdul Bidemi Biffo has said his team will avoid mistakes against Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) side, Lobi Stars in today’s Federation Cup match.

The Nigeria National League (NNL) side will battle the Pride of Benue in Round of 32 clash at the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano.

Biffo said his side will muster the needed strength to outmuscle the former champions.

“We are confronted with the heavyweight of former champions and a FA Cup traditional side, so we cannot afford to make any mistakes on Wednesday.

...as Kurukuru dares Rangers

“We will double our effort to match them in every department of the game and will do everything we can to come of the match unscathed,” Biffo said.

He added, “Our target is to inch into the round of 16 move up the ladder knowing that four matches will be standing between us and a continental ticket.

“We do not have any injury worries right now, so will be fielding our best legs. We are positive they will deliver the goods.”

The Minna-based side ousted Nigeria Nationwide League (NNWL) side Zabgai FC in the round of 64 while Lobi Stars edged Junior Spotlight to pave the way for the round of 32 clash.

Similarly, Edo State giant-killers, Kukuruku Dragons, are back on the road as they

battle Enugu Rangers at the Ilorin Stadium.

Kurukuru defeated BJ Foundation in the final of the Edo State competition, and then prevailed 3-2 over God’s Time FC from Delta State in the play-off round.

In the Round of 64, the Dragons saw off Nigeria Professional Football League side, Giwa FC 7-6 on penalties after both teams drew 2-2 in regulation time.

At the UJ Esuene Stadium, Calabar, Heartland FC and Sharks FC will slug it out in one of only two all-Professional Football League clashes, the other being the fireworks between FC Ifeanyi Ubah and Bayelsa United at Oleh Township Stadium.

A total of 13 matches will be played this evening in the men’s competition, with the other three coming up tomorrow.

The Fixtures Enyimba

vs

Remo Starsq

Lobi Stars

vs

Tornadoes

Heartland

vs

Sharks

Sportlight FC

vs

BJ Foundation

Kano Pillars

vs

Plateau

Kwara United vs

ABU Zaria

Kukuruku

vs

Enugu Rangers

Makwada

vs

Nasarawa

Ifeanyi Ubah

vs

Bayelsa United

Akwa United

vs

Peacemakers

Wikki Tourists

vs

Tornadoes

J. Atete

vs

Prime FC

Abia Warriors

vs

Crown FC

Jalingo FC

vs

Dolphins FC

Papilo FC

vs

FC Taraba

AFN names LOC for World, AAG trials

T

he Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) has named a sevenman Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the 2015 AFN/Cross Rivers State All Nigeria Athletics Championships.

A statement released by the spokes-

man of the federation, Olukayode Thomas, noted that AFN had yet to fix a date for the event.

It said, however, the event would serve as trials for the selection of the athletics team to the Beijing 2015 IAAF World Championships and the Brazza-

ville 2015 11th All Africa Games.

According to the statement, Tunde Abdulkareem, the Vice-President of AFN is the Chairman of the committee and Bamiduro Olumide, as secretary.

The members are Olukayode Thomas, Nesiama Omatseye, Gloria Chuk-

wukere, Kenneth Anugweje and Falilat Ogunkoya.

President of the AFN, Solomon Ogba, was quoted in the statement as appealing to the LOC members to work hard to ensure a successful staging of the championship.

Sports

54

Wednesday, July 8, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Wimbledon Open 2015:

Djokovic eases into last eight D

efending champion Novak Djokovic yesterday moved into the Wimbledon quarter finals after a delayed five-set win over Kevin Anderson.

The world number one fought from two sets down to even the match before bad light called a halt to proceedings on Court One but he took the fifth set 7-5 in another evenly-matched contest.

He faced two break points early in the deciding set with Anderson looking refreshed following a night’s rest.

Djokovic

But Djokovic held on, with the 14th seed failing to strike, and it was a big opportunity spurned as his big serve let him down at the crucial moment.

Two double faults in a row by Anderson at 5-5 provided two break points for the defending champion.

He only needed one, returning Anderson’s next serve right to the South African’s feet who could only volley into the net.

Anderson raced into a 0-30 lead with Djokovic serving for the match, but last year’s Wimbledon champion again showed his mettle to come through as a backhand

from Anderson on match point floated beyond the baseline to wrap things up.

“I think Kevin served exceptionally well. At times I was really helpless with my return. It was very difficult to read his serve,” the Serb said.

“To come back and win in five definitely gives me great satisfaction and confidence for the next challenge.

“I congratulate Kevin for a great effort. It wouldn’t have been undeserved if he’d won this match.”

Salah faces ‘uncertain future’

C

helsea winger Mohamed Salah could see himself training with the English Premier League champion this week, despite being linked with a permanent switch to Italian Serie A club Fiorentina.

According to Salah’s agent, Ramy Abbas, the Egypt international’s proposed move to Fiorentina has taken a new turn, as he could return to Stamford Bridge.

“Mohamed will go to the training camp with Chelsea on Thursday and he will be there with his team mates,” Abbas said.

The latest report came after Fiorentina’s threats to Salah and possible suitor Inter Milan, leaving the player to rely on his parent club to decide his future.

Meanwhile, Salah has been heavily linked with the likes of AC Milan, Wolfsburg, West Ham and Atletico Madrid.

Song

Salah

Hammers set for Song capture

W

est Ham United will announce the permanent signing of Barcelona midfielder Alex Song this week.

The Hammers have reached an agreement with Barcelona to take the 27-yearold midfielder on a permanent basis after the Catalans initially demanded £6million.

Song was in the stands at Upton Park last Thursday to watch West Ham beat

FC Lusitans 3-0 in the first leg of their UEFA Europa League first qualifying round tie.

The former Arsenal midfielder, who is surplus to requirements at Barca, wants to remain in London after spending last season on loan at West Ham. West Ham is hopeful of confirming his signing, along with that of right-back Carl Jenkinson on a second successive season-long loan from Arsenal.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sports

Wednesday, July 8, 2015

AAG 2015:

Divine Oduduru is top among the invited players

AFN invites 50 for camping T

he Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) has invited 50 athletes to camp for Congo 2015 All Africa Games.

Technical Director of AFN, Navy Captain Omatseye Nesiama, said the athletes’ camp will officially open at the AFN High Performance Centre University of Port Harcourt this week and directed the invited athletes to contact AFN Secretary General, Olumide Bamiduro, for necessary details.

“Substitutions will be made to both athletes and coaches dependent on performances posted at the remaining competitions leading up to the National Trials,” Nesiama said, adding that a consortium of coaches had been invited to manage the camp in the interim before a formal coaches interview/selection exercise that would take place at the end of the national trials.

According to the technical director, the invited athletes include Igbinosun Isoken, Ezealah Nkem, Imhoaperamhe Nicholas, Odele

Keshi: Onigbinde unsure of contract breach

Tega Peter, Cecilia Francis, Oduduru Divine, Adeloye Oluwatosin, Ossai Rita Vivian, Orukpe Erayokan, Ogunmola Tobi and Nathaniel Samson Oghenewegba.

Others are Ayemoba Grace, Francis Ruth Oluwakemi, Oshinbanjo Temidayo, Martins Ogierakhi, Okon Samuel Etim, Abdullahi Bashiru, Ossai Rita, Akpofa Faith Daisy, Okorie Henry Akindunjoye Johnson and Emoghene Timothy.

Nwoye Augustine, Anigbata Grace, Obiora Arinze, Okpara Theddus, Nwanaga Kelechi, Kure Samuel Adams, Ezeofor Kenechukwu, Oladimeji Oluwatoyin, Okulaja Babajide, Anota John Oluwashola, Euphemia Edem and Chinazom Amadi are also included, as well as Brume Ese, Uju Anoliefo, Eucharia Ogbukwo, Eke Onwuka Kalu, Olajide Abiola, Chibunna Chido, Ibrahim Blessing Ibukun, Hope Idhe, Henshaw Queen, Oguh Faustina, Elegbede Bamidele, Adeyemi Kazeem, Abike Egbeniyi, Hamadjam Soudi and Ismaila Sadjo.

NSA 2015: Panel outlines media criteria Afolabi Gambari

T

Paul Erewuba

F

ormer Super Eagles coach, Chief Adegboye Onigbinde, says the Nigeria Football Federation will be in breach of contract if it is not stipulated in the agreement signed with the sacked coach Stephen Keshi that the latter should not seek employment while still on the NFF payroll.

Onigbinde, who spoke to National Mirror yesterday, averred that the NFF might have violated the contracts terms with the seeming hurried nature of the sack.

“I may be right or wrong but the assumption is that they (NFF) must have followed the contents of the contract before taking that decision,” Onig-

55

Onigbinde

binde said.

“And somebody may assure me that there is a clause in the contract which forbids Keshi from applying for another job while he is on that job, but I don’t know because I don’t have a copy of the contract.

“I believe the NFF must have studied the contents of the contract, but if that is not stipulated in the contract, then the NFF has breached the contract,” the seasoned football administrator added.

he Award Panel for Nigerian Sports Award, in collaboration with the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), has outlined criteria for the media category of the 2015 edition of the award in response to the yearnings and popular demand by sports journalists in Nigeria.

The four categories stipulated in the Nigerian Sports Award are Sports Journalist of the Year (Print), Photo Journalist of the Year, Radio Sports Jour-

nalist of the Year and Television Sports Journalist of the Year.

Chairman of the Award Panel, Mr. Ikeddy Isiguzo, said yesterday that the criteria for the media category of the award became necessary due to popular opinion of the journalists and the panel’s resolve to uphold integrity of the award.

“We have decided to yield to the call of sports journalists to set criteria for the media category of the Nigerian Sports Award to ensure more transparency in the process for selecting winners of the award” Isiguzo said.

“The criteria for the award

as set by the award panel and SWAN stipulates that for any Journalist to win in any of the categories, he or she must first be nominated for a category.

“The top 5 nominees with the highest number of votes in each category will be shortlisted and will be invited to submit their works as entries for the award to be screened by a select body of Sports Editors.

“The identity of the body of editors that will serve as judges would be made public during the Gala Night of the 2015 edition, which is billed to hold in Lagos in November.

Ojez partners players’ union Ifeanyi Eduzor

C

hief Executive Officer of Ojez Entertainment Sport Limited at the National Stadium, Lagos, Mr. Joseph Odebeatu, has reached out to the concerned group of Nigeria Players’ Union to seek solution to the crisis that has rocked the players’ body for more than a decade.

National Mirror learnt that Odebeatu’s effort is in conformity with his spirit of philanthropy.

The Ojez owner, who signed a partnership with the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) for the 2015 Olympic Day Run last weekend, said he would also partner with the ex-players to host their members, music and nollywood celebrities monthly with a view to creating a plat-

form for the advancement of the stakeholders’ cause.

“I want to give them a sense of belonging in the society and make them realize that their services to the nation are not in vain.

“The partnership is also to encourage them to sustain the peace which they are about to achieve with the resolution of the crisis that has destablised their union.

WORLD RECORD Longest human chain (length) Vol. 05 No. 1151

N150

Wednesday, July 8, 2015

On 11 December 2004, over 5 million people joined hands to form a human chain, 1,050 km (652.4 miles) long from Teknaf to Tentulia, Bangladesh.

Reappraisal of the power sector reform

F

ollowing the passage of the Electric Power Sector Reform Act in 2003 under the Chief Olusegun Obasanjo administration, hopes were raised of improved power supply in Nigeria. However, many years after, the performance of the sector has remained at best epileptic.

In spite of the efforts by successive administrations to address the problems in the sector, the rot in the sector has persisted. The Obasanjo government was said to have spent about $16 billion on the sector with not much to show for it. The Dr. Goodluck Jonathan administration achieved a significant milestone when it successfully unbundled the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) into 18 different successor companies and privatized the power gener-

Guest Columnist

Emeka Nwosu

ation and distribution chains of the sector.

The Federal Government only holds on to the transmission chain, which it controls through the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN). However, Manitoba Hydro International (MHI) of Canada manages this segment for TCN through a contract signed in May 2012. And because of the massive network of infrastructure it has all over the country, the TCN is critical to the success of the power sector reform. It is perhaps important to note that the India National Grid, one of the companies that participated in the bidding process, has challenged the transparency of the process in court. Under the contract, Manitoba was supposed to transfer specialized and technical skills to Nigerians. The value of the contract, which is to last for three years, is put at $23 million, and it is subject to renewal for another period of two years.

The contract has come under heavy criticisms because of the abysmal performance of MHI in the last three years.

There is also the issue of the true identity of Manitoba. It had all along been erroneously thought that the Federal Government, through the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), entered into a management contract with MHI. The truth, however, is that the management contract was entered into in May 2012 with a Nigeriaowned company, Manitoba Hydro International Nigeria Limited (MHINL), which is not known to have any affiliation with the Canadian firm. Some of the shareholders, who are mainly politicians, include a for-

ON THE BASIS OF AVAILABLE AND

VERIFIABLE FACTS, THE

MANITOBA

MANAGEMENT CONTRACT DOES NOT DESERVE A RENEWAL mer Minister of Power, who is represented on the Board of MHINL by his spouse.

Under clause 14 of the contract, the renewal is subject to satisfactory performance by the contractor, after which the confirming party (BPE), may at its discretion, communicate to the contractor its intention to renew the contract on the expiration of the initial term of 36 months.

Critical stakeholders in the power sector are of the opinion that MHINL has failed to improve the power situation in Nigeria three years after its engagement. They have, therefore, called for termination of the contract. Part of the case against the company are that there is no evidence of improved wheeling capacity of the National Grid; no evidence of expansion and improvement of the National Grid; no evidence of entrenchment of international best practices and good governance, and no meaningful refurbishment and rehabilitation of sub-stations and transmission lines.

But MHINL solely blames their poor performance on political interference and the failure of its Nigerian counterparts to

meet up with their obligations under the contract. Curiously, the first set of Nigerian counterparts led by Engr. Sola Akinniraye was unceremoniously sacked, and a new set of Nigerian professionals appointed in August 2013. It is, therefore, obvious that the problem may not be with the Nigerians but lack of capacity on the part of MHINL. The company has not added any value to the National Grid, as transmission capacity has remained at an abysmal low level of between 3000 and 4000MW. It is very painful to note that in spite of the huge resources that have been expended on the power sector through such management contracts like the type in question, Nigerians have continued to live with outages, and in most cases outright darkness. On the basis of available and verifiable facts, the Manitoba management contract does not deserve a renewal.

Since the company has failed to transfer neither the required skills nor requisite technology, renewing the contract would amount to rewarding non-performance and gross incompetence.

If the contract must be renewed, Manitoba Nigeria must show evidence that it is affiliated with Manitoba Hydro International of Canada and can draw from the technical skills of their experts in Canada. If this is done, the management contract can be renegotiated to management consultancy.

Under a consultancy agreement, the Federal Government should be able to enter into technical consultancy with MHINL in key areas that are of needed technical value to the system, such as System Operation, Transmission Service Provider and Market Operations. The less technical areas such as Finance, Administration, and Human Resources would not need their involvement. This appears the most reasonable path to toe in the circumstance.

Nwosu, a public affairs analyst, wrote from Abuja via cdnwosu2@ gmail.com

Sport Extra

Pay default: Mayweather loses WBO belt

P

ound for pound boxer, Floyd Mayweather, has officially been stripped of the WBO welterweight belt he took from Manny Pacquaio in May. Mayweather claimed the first WBO title of his career

when a wide points verdict against Pacquiao took his unbeaten record to 48-0.

He later hinted at relinquishing one or more of his multiple belts ahead of one final fight in September this year, only to object

when the WBO sanctioned a contest for its vacant title between Timothy Bradley and Jesse Vargas.

The organisation relented and gave Mayweather a deadline to meet its criteria for a champion, includ-

ing making a payment of $200, 000 from his Pacquiao purse and giving up his WBC and WBA light-middleweight titles. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The WBO World Championship Committee is allowed no other alternative

but to cease to recognize Floyd Mayweather as the WBO welterweight champion of the world and vacate his title,â&#x20AC;? a statement said yesterday.

Mayweather has 14 days NFF President, Aminu Maigari to appeal the verdict.

Mayweather

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