Binder1 by GLOBAL MEDIA MIRROR LIMITED

NLC plans showdown with govs over unpaid salaries

Ooni: Leaders, members of Isoro cult perform rites’ passage

...demands review of minimum wage

ABUJA Wabba

Vol. 5 N0. 1173

governors that have refused to pay their workers. It said it was worrisome that despite the bailout by

igeria Labour Congress, NLC, has vowed to mobilise its members against state

OLUFEMI ADEOSUN

Friday, August 7, 2015

P.6

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2>>

National Mirror Online

N150

@NationalMirror

Mimiko’s govt stinks with corruption –Olanusi

OLAJIDE OMOJOLOMOJU

APC warns against another N7bn loan EFCC confirms petition, begins investigation

mpeached deputy governor of Ondo State, Alhaji Ali Olanusi, has alleged that the incumbent Olusegun Mimiko adCONTINUED ON PAGE 2>>

APC using DSS to intimidate opposition, electoral officials –PDP P.5

President Muhammadu Buhari (middle); Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo (fourth left) Dean of The Diplomatic Corps/Ambassador of Saharawi Republic, Amb Oubi Bachir (fourth right) and other Ambassadors during a meeting of the President with African Ambassadors Accredited to Nigeria at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

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Troops kill eight insurgents in Yobe P.4

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News

Friday, August 7, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Mimiko’s govt stinks with corruption –Olanusi CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

ministration in the state stinks to high heavens with entrenched corruption. Consequently, the former deputy governor disclosed that he had petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, with details of the sleazes that not only had taken place but continued in the Mimiko administration. This was just as the

EFCC has invited and quizzed the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Hon. Jumoke Akindele; Majority Leader, Ifedayo Akinsoyinu and Clerk of the House, Bode Adeyelu. Others also grilled by the anti-graft agency included the state’s Accountant-General, Fredrick Ajibokun, and the accountant of the state’s Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, OSOPADEC.

They were allegedly invited for questioning by EFCC based on the petition written by Olanusi, accusing his former principal of sundry corrupt practices. The former Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and Labour Party, LP, chieftain, who is now All Progressives Congress, APC, leader in the state described his former boss as “corruption personified.”

In a related development, Ondo State chapter of the APC has cautioned Access Bank Plc. against granting Mimiko a N7bn loan for “infrastructures,” saying that existing infrastructure on ground in the state have not justified the N44bn debts hanging on the neck of the state. Olanusi had told journalists in Lagos during the week that his erstwhile boss had plunged

Ondo State into N80bn debts and borrowing, which had pushed the state into stagnation. Debunking the allegation leveled against him to pave the way for his impeachment, Olanusi appealed to the people of the state to take their destiny in their hands and shut down the “corruption of the government” and insist on the “recovery of the stolen and looted funds.”

I-G Solomon Arase (right); DIG, Logistic and Supply, Mr Mamman Tsafe (2nd r); DIG investigations, Mr Dan’azumi Doma and Chairman, Police Service Commission, retired I-G Mike Okiro, during pull-out parade for superior Police Officers at the Force Headquarters in Abuja yesterday.

NLC plans showdown with govs over unpaid salaries the Federal Government to the defaulting states, they still could not discharge their obligations to the millions of workers on their payrolls. NLC President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, who spoke with journalists shortly after the National Working Committee, NWC, meeting in Abuja yesterday, also insisted that congress would resist merger of Ministries, Departments and Agencies if the process would lead to job cut. He attributed the failure of some states to pay their workers to profligacy, misplacement of priority and avarice. Wabba stated that after thorough assessment of the situation in the affected states, NWC resolved to personally and physically lead workers to demand the payment of their salaries.

The NLC boss also bemoaned the roles of banks in the whole episode, alleging that some bank managers collude with some state governors to deny workers of thief legitimate pay. He stated: “We are worried by the failure of some states to pay their workers despite the bailout by the Federal Government. “NEC will not fold its arms to watch workers salaries not being paid as at when due. It is an issue that we will follow up to its logical conclusion with specific actions and processes that will lead to tangible results. “We also want the Federal Government to follow it up with a view to looking at how those resources have been used to attend to those financial challenges. “Labour discussed the issue at the level of NEC and identifies states that have

been cunning and offer leadership to be there to personally lead workers to demand that these salaries be paid. “The issue of banks withholding these salaries will also not be taken for granted. We deplore a situation where banks for no reason, will also appropriate those funds that are meant for the payment of salaries. “Those banks will also be followed up with a well structured action to demand that those affected workers should not be made to suffer for the irresponsibility of those political leaders.” On the proposed merger of MDAs, Wabba, who expressed the readiness of labour to partner with government on the process, however insisted that the union would reject any plan that would lead to job cut. “One very important issue that is also key to us is

the issue of merger of ministries and agencies. We certainly believe that it is a process that we think should not end up in making workers to lose their jobs. “If it will transform the system, we will certainly be part of the process. But, if the end product is also to make workers lose their job, labour will not support and succumb to such type of decision,” he said. Wabba also demanded for the review of the N18, 000 minimum wage by the Federal Government. He said the union was in support of the government’s anti-corruption crusade being part of the initiatives to reposition Nigeria’s economy. According to him, the current minimum wage is unrealistic with the present economic reality. He said when NLC

agreed on the N18,000 minimum age with the Federal Government, the exchange rate was N140 to a dollar “but as at today, it is N220 to a dollar.” Wabba said Nigerian workers should be treated fairly by reviewing their salary upward in line with the present economic reality, adding that the minimum wage was no longer enough to sustain workers. He condemned the spate of corruption in the country, where privileged few cornered the resources belonging to all Nigerians, adding that NLC would support President Mohammed Buhari on his move to prosecute culprits. “The issue of corruption in Nigeria is mindboggling and unacceptable to us as this has caused many of us to be living in penury. CONTINUED ON PAGE 5>>

He accused Mimiko of forging and falsifying OSOPADEC Appropriation Law 2014, which led to the squandering of N18bn earmarked for the development of riverine and oil producing communities. He also alleged that Mimiko forged and falsified the 2014 Re-Ordered Budget, cover his tracks in the misappropriation of N6.7bn. Olanusi chronicled other allegations against Mimiko to include: alleged falsification of the House of Assembly resolution authorising the borrowing of N2.4bn for the Wealth Creation Agency, WECA; diversion of money meant for the Residency Card Project by the State Information Technology Agency, SITA; manipulation of the N27bn bond and diversion of its proceeds without the Security and Exchange Commission, SEC’s approval and falsification of records of the House of Assembly on his impeachment. Challenging Mimiko to explain to the people of the state why he is seeking another N7bn loan, Ondo APC called on the governor to account for all allocations collected from the Federation Account by his administration since its inception six years ago. Speaking through its Publicity Secretary, Omo’ba Abayomi Adesanya, APC accused Mimiko of creating a mess for the incoming government that would take over from him in 2017. Adesanya said: “We have it on good authority that the said N7bn loan was only meant for the completion of the ‘Dome Project’ and the Fiwas aye / O b a - I l e / A i r p o r t Road. These projects have been on since 2009. “Governor Mimiko should explain to the people of Ondo State why he should be seeking more loans for the completion of the project, when ‘N4.1bn was allocated’ for these projects in 2013.” APC added that previous loans had not impacted positively on the state economy, as the “Mimiko administration has CONTINUED ON PAGE 5>>

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Friday, August 7, 2015

Photo News

Friday, August 7, 2015

L-R: Deputy Managing Director, GMT Nigeria Ltd, Martin Thomle; Executive Director, Business Banking, Access Bank Plc, Titi Osuntoki; GMD/CEO, Herbert Wigwe; Group Head, Global Trade, Banjo Adegbohungbe, and, Chief Financial Officer, GMT Nigeria Ltd, Tim Maguire, at the official launch of Finance and Logistics Worldwide Scheme (FLOWS) by Access Bank Plc in Lagos, yesterday.

L-R: Executive Director, Enterprise Risk Management, Heritage Bank, Jude Monye; British Deputy High Commissioner, Ray Kyles; MD/CEO Heritage Bank, Ifie Sekibo and Acting MD, Enterprise Bank, Mary Akpobome at the presentation of ISO/INEC 27001:2013 certification award to Heritage Bank at the British Deputy High Commissioner’s Residence, Ikoyi, Lagos, on Wednesday.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

L-R: Author of Book, Mr Ohaeri Osondu; Chairman on the occasion, Sir David Fadairo and Assistant Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps Mr Kayode Olagunju during the Public Presentation of a book; The Potency of Public Enlighten on Road Crash Reduction in Nigeria in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: ROTIMI OSASONA.

L-R: Chairman, Stanbic IBTC, Mr Atedo Peterside; Chief Executive, Sola David-Borha and NonExecutive Director, Mr Dominic Bruynseels, at the Extraordinary General Meeting of the bank In Abuja, yesterday.

National News

Troops kill eight insurgents in Yobe

•Britain expresses assistance to Nigeria Ubong Ukpong ABUJA

igerian Army yesterday confirmed that its troops killed eight Boko Haram terrorists, who attacked villages in Yobe State, even as they also captured the insurgents’ food and fuel suppliers. A statement through its Director of Army Public Relations, DAPR, Col. Sani Usman, further disclosed that cows and goats were recovered from the insurgents. The troops also discovered streetlight poles

prepared for Improvised Explosive Devices, IEDs, while combing and clearing terrorists in and around Dikwa, Borno State. “During the painstaking operation, the troops discovered piles of street lamp poles cut into pieces by Boko Haram terrorists, which they used in making Improvised Explosives Devices. “In another development, during a cordon and search operation in Jakana village, the troops of 7 Division Garrison recovered 15 cows, 174 goats and a donkey from rustlers. “The animals have

since been handed over to their identified legitimate owners. The rustlers were apprehended and are currently undergoing investigation. “Similarly, troops have at Jehu near Jakana, arrested Mai Mustapha, a fuel supplier to Boko Haram terrorists and Madu, who coordinates buying of food items from neighbouring villages for the terrorists. “Additionally, early this morning (yesterday), Nigerian troops blocked elements that attacked Dumbuluwa village in Fika Local Government Area of Yobe State and had encoun-

Rwanda and Mr. Stephane De Loeckeras of Belgium. Welcoming the new envoys, President Buhari assured them that his administration will work with them to further improve existing bilateral relations between their respective countries and Nigeria. The President also as-

sured that the Federal Government will continuously engage with them and other diplomats serving in Nigeria on issues of common interest and benefit to Nigeria and their countries. “I look forward to working with you. We are excited to receive you in Nigeria and we are hopeful that our diplo-

ter with the terrorists. “The gallant soldiers killed eight terrorists. Unfortunately, 2 vigilantes were wounded by IED fragments,” Col Usman stated. Meanwhile, the move to win the ongoing war against the insurgents received another major boost yesterday with the resolve by Britain, to help in the fight. This was contained in a statement by the Defence Headquarters, DHQ, through its Director of Defence Information, DDI, Col. Rabe Abubakar. This is coming few days, after United States Congressmen visited the country to consider areas the US would assist in the fight.

Buhari receives new envoys of Belgium, Poland and Rwanda omeiza ajayi ABUJA

resident Muhammadu Buhari yesterday received letters of credence of three new ambassadors to Nigeria. The new envoys are Mr. Andrezj Dycha of Poland, Mr. Stanislas Kamanzi of

matic and economic relationships with you will be substantially improved during your time here. “The Nigerian business environment and the community are quite vibrant and we should be able to explore additional areas of common interest during your tenure,” the president said.

British Deputy Chief of Defence Staff on Military Strategy and Operations, Lt. Gen. Gordon Messenger, conveyed the British assurances, when he and other senior British military officers visited the Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, Maj. Gen. Gabriel Olonisakin at the Defence Headquarters, DHQ, Abuja. Lt. Gen. Messenger stated that the essence of the visit was to broaden the deep relationship and re-energise the bilateral cooperation between Nigeria and Britain. He pointed out that they came to Nigeria for deliberations towards identifying the ideal area of collaboration to be adopted in the fight against insurgency and the best way to make it work. He stressed that the fight against terrorism was a multifaceted problem that demanded strategy and careful exploration of grey areas in order to re-appraise the best support the British could offer. In his remark, Olonisakin expressed gratitude

for the planned assistance to enable Nigeria conquers Boko Haram insurgency. The CDS acknowledged all the assistance the Nigerian Armed Forces had enjoyed from Britain, especially in term of training and retraining of personnel for capacity building to crush the insurgents. He noted that the Nigerian Armed Forces was doing everything within its power to liquidate Boko Haram and its cells. This, the CDS said has received boost with the inauguration of new MultiNational Joint Task Force, MNJTF, and the appointment of a Nigerian Commander. MNJTF, he reiterated, is coordinating with the Nigerian Military command and control centre in the North East for effectiveness. Present at the occasion were the British Assistant Chief of Defence Staff on Defence Engagement, Rear Admiral Simon Ancona, top officials of British Embassy in Abuja and a list of high ranking Nigerian military officers.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

News

Friday, August 7, 2015

APC using DSS to intimidate opposition, electoral officials –PDP GEORGE OJI ABUJA

embers of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Senate caucus, have accused the Federal Government of using the Department of State Security, DSS, to harass and intimidate members of the opposition parties. The senators also alleged that the APC government is using the DSS to harass and intimidate officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, particularly in Akwa Ibom, Rivers and Abia states, with a view to upturning the elections in the three states, which were duly won by the PDP during the last polls. The PDP senators also claimed that the current war against corruption lacks transparency, fairness to all and appears to be aimed at political adversaries. Former governor of Akwa Ibom State and the Minority Senate Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio, made the allegation yesterday at the National Assembly while briefing Senate correspondents after the plenary. Akpabio said PDP senators were miffed at the role the DSS is currently playing in electoral matters in the country, which “ordinarily does not concern the security outfit.” “For emphasis, the PDP Senate caucus is worried, alarmed and shocked by the recent development in our polity where the DSS is now involved in electoral matters. “A situation where officials of the INEC in Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Abia states (all PDP states) are daily being arrested, detained and questioned on politically motivated corruption allegations, is worrisome and spells doom for our democracy unless the trend is reversed,” Akpabio said. The lawmaker further regretted that the arrest of electoral officials in states where APC did not win elections is a source of worry to the Senate caucus and indeed all lovers of democracy worldwide. The PDP senators said: “There is no provision in our laws that allows the DSS to meddle in a partisan manner in the political electoral

process.” They further stated that the elections in Akwa Ibom, Rivers and Abia states were held and adjudged successful and credible by Prof. Atahiru Jega, the erstwhile Chairman of INEC, noting that, “The intrusion by the DSS in arresting, coercing, intimidating and harassing INEC in a democracy is most condemnable.” In addition, the senators alleged that report reaching them had it that INEC officials were being forced by DSS to produce falsified documents to support APC candidates’ cases before the tribunals. The lawmakers urged DSS to focus its energy towards its primary roles of preserving peace, protecting lives, ensuring internal security and order, preventing mutiny or violent and unconstitutional takeover of government. The senators, while welcoming and declaring support for the crusade against corruption undertaken by the Federal Government, however, regretted the trend, which they said suggested that the war was selective and targeted at PDP stalwarts and states. The lawmakers in turn commended President Muhammadu Buhari for retracting the earlier comments credited to him that states shall benefit in his government to the extent of their votes. “If patronage were based on those who voted for Mr. President, 45 million Nigerians would be discriminated against, including many states of the federation. “The PDP Senate caucus calls on Mr. President to treat all Nigerians and states equally in line with his oath of office as elections are over and to distinguish between electioneering and governance thereby giving hope to all sections of the country, irrespective of party affiliations,” Akpabio noted. The lawmakers also commented on the current crisis between the staff of the PDP secretariat and members of the party’s National Working Committee, NWC, urging the workers to sheath their swords and stop externalising internal matters in their working environment. They commended the efforts of the NWC, while also passing a vote of confi-

dence on the leadership of the party headed by Uche Secondus. APC senators also reacted to the allegations of their PDP counterparts, particularly on the anti corruption fight as well as the alleged use of DSS for vendetta purposes. The APC lawmakers not-

ed that members of the ruling party are not spared in the war against corruption by government. Chairman of the Senate Ad-hoc Committee on Media and Publicity, Senator Dino Melaye, while reacting to the allegations said the anti-corruption war by the Federal Government was

not targeted at any particular party but all Nigerians who have one case or another to answer. Dino, who stated this yesterday, while fielding questions from Senate correspondents at the National Assembly, mentioned in particular, Mrs. Toyin Saraki, wife of the Senate

President, Bukola Saraki, who was last week invited and quizzed by officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on alleged corruption cases to buttress the point that there was no discrimination or sacred cows by government in the fight against corruption.

L-R: Former Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on the Diaspora, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa; her husband, Mr. Olusegun Erewa and Associate partner, Eko Akete Chambers, Ademola Fadipe, during a case filling against Diamond Bank and Punch Newspapers by Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa on case of defamation of character at the Igbosere Lagos High Court, yesterday. PHOTO: SAMUEL ADETIMEHIN

NLC plans showdown with govs over unpaid salaries CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

“Those responsible for corruption and stealing of our collective patrimony should be prosecuted and face the law if found wanting, this is the only way to make Nigeria work,” he said. He said that a lot of resources that should accrue to the state were being stolen by individuals and some privileged few. The NLC president called on the Federal Government

to encourage workers to expose corruption in their domain, adding that if workers were encouraged as whistle blowers it would help the country. He said the president should ensure that such workers were protected for acting as whittle blower, adding that no one should be victimised for such act. Wabba said the various probes by the anti-corruption agencies must not end up like others such as power

sector, fuel subsidy scam which ended without result. He called for speedy trial of suspects by the judiciary, adding that judges must not be allowed to henceforth grant injunctions against suspect. “The anti-corruption agencies must not relent in prosecuting corruption; that money must be recovered and put back into the country,” he said. The labour leader called for the diversification of the

economy, adding that a situation where the government would depend largely on oil revenue to run the country was inimical to its growth. He, however, warned the Federal Government against disengaging workers in the cause of the merging the MDAs, saying: “NLC would resist such move.” He said merging ministries with the sole aim of disengaging workers would be met with stiff resistance by labour unions.

Mimiko’s govt stinks with corruption –Olanusi CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

grounded the economy of the State.” It said: “In Ondo State, government taxes have weakened commercial activities. The poor masses are being denied government facilities through taxation.” Meanwhile, EFCC spokesman, Wilson Owujuaren, confirmed to National Mirror that the agency had received some petitions against Mimiko, adding that the anti-graft agency was working on the petitions. But reacting to the allegations by Olanusi, Ondo State government, speak-

ing through the state Commissioner for Information, Kayode Akinmade, described them as “the ramblings of an old man, whose blind ambition has deiven him to a dead end,” adding that there was no need for him to go town after petitioning the EFCC. Akinmade said he should rather allow the anti-graft agency to do its work and make public its findings, if there was really any case against the governor. Akinmade in a statement said: “The EFCC is an agency of government with the statutory responsibility of investigating allegations. Instead of jumping the gun,

Olanusi should allow the agency do its job, except he is telling the world that the agency is not competent enough or reliable enough to handle his petition without any bias. “Government wonders if Pa Olanusi’s expectation is that the graft agency should ride like an invading army arresting and detaining everybody in Ondo State on account of his petition. “Apparently Pa Olanusi is dazed as he has lost in his own game and his plans to impeach his boss fell flat on his face. Now spent and left in the lurch, he wants something to keep him in

the glare of the public and political relevance. “Where was Pa Olanusi when the alleged N18 billion was diverted? What action did he take? Or was he just discovering the alleged graft now that he had been fried in his own stew? What are the particulars of the alleged theft and what are the proofs behind his specious claims? “Now that he has assumed the position of EFCC spokesperson and petitioner rolled into one, Pa Olanusi can jolly well provide the juicy details of his phantom theft, including what he got then as a serving deputy governor.”

News

Friday, August 7, 2015

Ooni: Leaders, members of Isoro Cult perform passage rites Boladale BamigBola OSOGBO

assage rites for the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade, yesterday continued at Oduduwa Shrine, located within the palace in IleIfe, National Mirror reliably learnt. A source at Ile Oodua,

Ooni’s palace, told our correspondent that those involved were mindful of the time and hence, divided the rites to be performed among members of Isoro Confraternity. Isoro Cult, headed by Obadio, is the custodian of all other deities in IleIfe. Emese, an officer of

the confraternity, the group’s messenger, a palace source said, has been told to be at alert to carry out formal announcement of Ooni’s passage when the time comes, as well as other duties. It was also gathered that Osogun, Obalara and Lana and Emese, all subheads within Isoro Con-

fraternity, alongside other members, were handling each of the rites to be performed to save time. The leader of Isoro Cult, Obadio, said to be in charge of dialect and languages of gods and goddesses of the land, it was also gathered, was also deeply involved in the activities.

L-R: Senate Leader, Sen. Ali Ndume, Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki (2nd left), Ambassador of Mexico to Nigeria, Mr. Marco Antonia Garcia Blanco, and Chairman Senate Ad-hoc Committee on Media and Publicity, Sen. Dino Melaye, during the Envoy’s courtesy visit to the Senate President at the National Assembly, Abuja, yesterday.

TCN attains 101,088mwh wheeling capacity Chidi UgwU ABUJA

ransmission Company of Nigeria, TCN, yesterday announced the attainment of an alltime maximum energy of 101,088mwh wheeled across the National Grid in a day. In a statement signed by General Manager Public Affairs, Mrs. Seun Olagunju, TCN noted the achievement CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known as olaniyi Oluwakemi Temitope. Now wish to be known and addressed as ALAGBE oluwakemi temitope. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

formerly known as Miss Angela Kingsley Okor, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Angela Kingsley Obahor. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

formerly known as Joy Enejiata, now wish to be known and addressed as Moretti Joy Enejiata . All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

was made on Wednesday. According to the statement, the company, under the MHI management team, had articulated a short, medium and long terms grid expansion plans aimed at growing and sustaining improvement in the nation’s transmission grid. Olagunju in a statement said TCN has continued to pursue vigorously its grid expansion goals and ensure that its timelines were met. She added that the resolve of the company paid off in its ability to comfortably wheel 101,088mwh, the maximum energy ever moved along the CHANGE OF NAME

formerly known as Ifeoma Hope Uzokwe, now wish to be known and addressed as Ifeoma Hope Umeukeje. All former documents remain valid. General public take note CHANGE OF NAME

formerly known as Alabi Adewoye, now wish to be known and addressed as Mr Muyiwa Adeleke. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

nation’s transmission line on August 5, 2015. The TCN spokesperson noted that this new development is indicative of the networks growing capability to evacuate even more energy. The previous highest energy wheeled of 99,450mwh was attained on 31st October, 2014. Reaffirming its commitment to ensuring a robust and reliable transmission network, TCN assured that it will continue to work hard to build on the gains of its improved wheeling capacity. The Federal Government recently renewed its conCHANGE OF NAME

formerly known as Miss Angela Kingsley Okor, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Angela Kingsley Obahor. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

formerly known as James Princess Modupeoluwa Sonayon , now wish to be known and addressed as Oginni Modupe Sonayon. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

tract with Manitoba Hydro International of Canada for the management of the Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN. The initial three-year contract period which expires this month, has now been extended by one year. It will expire on July 31, 2016. A timely intervention by the World Bank and the Department of International Development, DFID, had saved Manitoba Hydro International from losing its contract with the Federal Government despite initial dissatisfaction of government with the Canadian firm’s performance. CHANGE OF NAME formerly known as Mrs. Ebiowo Victoria Isaac Ekiyor, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ebiowo Victoria Yamie Ekiyor. All former documents remain valid. NDIC and general public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

formerly known as Manuel Alunomoh Arcoven, now wish to be known and addressed as Shelu Lucky Arcoven. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. Felix Ayenero

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Mixed reactions trail FG’s re-establishment of national carrier olUsegUn KoiKi

he pronouncement by Federal Government on Wednesday to re-establish a new national carrier for Nigeria barely 12 years after liquidation of the former Nigeria Airways, has started generating reactions from stakeholders and professionals in the sector. While some described the idea as good for the sector, others discouraged the government from establishing another national airline for the country. President, National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers, NAAPE, Engr. Isaac Balami, said government was ill-advised on the liquidation of Nigeria Airways, saying its liquidation had practically collapsed the sector in the country today. Balami lamented that the airline before its untimely liquidation had the best ensemble of airline professionals, stressing that at a time, the airline’s engineers could carry D-Check on Boeing B737, noting that it added to the death of the country’s dream to establish and oper-

ate a Maintenance Repair and Overhaul, MRO, facilities. He declared that Nigeria Airways was responsible for the production of welltrained aviation professionals in piloting, engineering, marketing, cabin crew, dispatch, and every facet of aircraft operation. On his part, Publisher, Business Travel, Mr. Deba Uwadiae, called for fundamental attitudinal change from Nigerians towards any asset that belongs to government. He predicted that if there was no change of attitude, the proposed new carrier would go the way of the former. Uwadiae urged President Buhari not to rush into another national carrier especially when the President admitted recently that stealing of crude oil was still ongoing in his government. Besides, the President, Skyjet Aviation Services, Dr. Kashim Shettima, told our correspondent that before Buhari comes up with a new national airline, he should be properly briefed by professionals in the sector.

Reps to investigate JTF over burning of illegal refineries UBong UKpong ABUJA

ouse of Representatives yesterday said it would set up an ad-hoc committee to investigate activities of the Joint Task Force, JTF, in the Niger Delta area relating to the burning and destruction of equipment seized from illegal refineries. The House also mandated the ad-hoc committee (when constituted) to investigate activities of Nigerian Agip Oil Company with a view to ensuring that it carries out improvement of facilities to CHANGE OF NAME

formerly known as Chidimma Mercy Okonkwo, now wish to be known and addressed as Chidimma Mercy Okoye. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

formerly known as Etukudo Nsinyene Aniefio, now wish to be known and addressed as Aniefiok Treasure Nsinyene. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

forestall oil spills in the future and also determine the circumstance that led to the death of 14 people in Azuzuama community. In a motion entitled “urgent need to bring an end to the despoilation of the Niger Delta environment through the burning of equipment confiscated from illegal operators of refineries,” raised by Hon Douye Diri, Leo Ogor and 12 others yesterday noted that the JTF was set up in 2004 to protect pipelines, prevent operation of illegal refineries and generally maintain peace, law and order in the Niger Delta. CHANGE OF NAME

formerly known as Blessing Victor, now wish to be known and addressed as Onyeoziri Victor. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

formerly known as Hunye Olufemi Zansi, now wish to be known and addressed as Olufemi Iroko. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

News

Friday, August 7, 2015

N122m debt: Dabiri files N500m suit against bank, newspaper wale igbinTade

ormer member of the House of Representatives, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, yesterday filed a N500 million suit before a Lagos High court against Diamond Bank and the Punch Newspaper over N122 million debt she

allegedly owes the bank by another bank. Dabiri-Erewa also vowed to petition the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Solomon Arase, and demand investigation on how her name entered Diamond Bank’s list of debtors. Following the policy of naming and shaming

Customs, smugglers’ clash leaves 5 dead Femi OyewesO ABEOKUTA

t least, five persons were feared dead yesterday when operatives of the Federal Operation Unit (FOU) of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) engaged smugglers in a shootout at the everbusy Oju-Ore bus stop in Ota, headquarters of the Ado- Odo/Ota Local Government Area of Ogun State. National Mirror gathered that NCS FOU operatives had been on the trail of the smugglers from Owode-Yewa area in Yewa South Local Government before succeeding in intercepting the smugglers at Oju-Ore bus-stop. Eyewitness at the scene of the gun duel between the Customs operatives and the smugglers told our correspondent that the smugglers had evaded all the check points by bringing into the country three expensive cars. They are a brand new 2015 Toyota jeep, 2014 Range Rover jeep and another car before being intercepted somewhere close to their base in Ota by NCS roving van. Angered by the development, the smugglers allegedly alighted from their vehicles, called for reinforcement of their colleagues and engaged the Customs personnel in gun duel. Our source further explained that it took the intervention of operatives of the state special security outfit “OP MESA” as well as men of the Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) to over-power the smugglers. It was further gathered that stray bullets from the duel, which lasted about 45 minutes, however left five persons suspected to be passengers waiting to board vehicles critically injured and may have been dead before they were eventually rushed

to the State Hospital in Ota. Our correspondent further gathered that one of the vehicles conveying the Customs officers hit a passer-by and was taken to the same hospital for medical attention. When contacted, Public Relations Officer in charge of Zone A of the Customs Service, DSC Uche Ejesieme, who confirmed the shootout, also said that only one person was shot during the incident and that no life was lost. Ejesieme stated that the FOU operatives led by one Yahya Biri Usman intercepted the smugglers with brand new 2015 Toyota jeep and requested for the documents which the driver could not produce. He explained that what happened in Ota was a clear case of “Obstruction of Function” by some hoodlums who called their other colleagues out against men of the NCS while they were conveying the seized vehicle to their Ikeja office. While emphasising that nobody died during the incident, Ejesieme also said that one of the smugglers who was shot during the gun duel had been treated and discharged from hospital.

bad debtors by the Nigerian Deposit Banks, NDB, Diamond Bank had listed Dabiri-Erewa as one of the directors of Thriller Endeavours, which has a Non Performing Loan (NPL) of N122.9 million. In the Writ of Summons filed by her counsel, Adetokunbo Mumuni, she claimed never to have been involved in any scandalous activity, debt or inappropriate financial dealings. She said she did not and has never had anything to do with the said Thrillers Endeavours, adding that she was neither a subscriber to the Memorandum and Article of Association of the company, nor was she a director. She accused Diamond Bank of deliberate mischief in including her name as a director of Thrillers Endeavours, when she never had anything to do with the com-

pany. According to her, the second defendant (Punch) engaged in monumental mischief when it published her name on pages 1, 21 and 31 of August 4 edition, as a person whose company was indebted to the first defendant (Diamond bank). She claimed that her lawyers wrote the bank and the newspaper on August 5, with specific demands which were not met. The lawmaker alleged that as a politician, the publication of the story and her picture had occasioned monumental reputational injury to her. She claimed that Nigerians, who were positively and favourably disposed to her, have withdrawn and were avoiding her like plague to her discomfort and embarrassment, adding that she has been subjected to public opprobrium, ridicule of monu-

mental proportion. Consequently, she is seeking an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants and their privies from further publishing her name as a director of Thrillers Endeavours. She wants an order directing the defendants to render a public apology to her in three national newspapers including Punch, adding that the apology must be given the same prominence as the original story. Dabiri-Erewa is praying for a declaration that the defendants have defamed and injured her character by the said publication. She wants the court to award N500 million against the defendants jointly and severally, as damages her reputation as suffered as a result of the publication. The former lawmaker also wants an order of

court directing the defendants to pay, bear and be responsible for the sum of N3 million, she paid for the professional services of her lawyers in the matter. Speaking to newsmen in the court premises, DabiriErewa refuted the claim that she is indebted to the bank describing it as embarrassing and malicious. Accompanied to the court by her husband, Erewa and lawyer Mumuni, Dabiri-Erewa said the report has done considerable damage to her reputation and her family’s. She wondered how Diamond Bank listed her as a director of Thrillers Endeavours, adding that she has never heard name until the publication. She stated that her lawyers had gone to Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and her name was not among the directors of the said bank.

L-R: NUJ National President, Mr Abdulwaheed Odusile; National Secretary, Mr Shuaibu Leman; Chairman, NAN Correspondents Chapel, Rev. Felix Ajide and Secretary, Federated Chapel of NUJ, Vitorson Agbenson during a courtesy visit to the NUJ President in Abuja, yesterday.

Anambra/Kogi crisis: Reps ask police, army to intervene TOrdue salem ABUJA

ouse of Representatives yesterday waded into the ongoing boundary dispute between border communities of Anambra and Kogi states by urging the Chief of Army Staff, Gen Tukur Buratai and the Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, to deploy military personnel to the warring communities with a view to restoring

peace and security. The resolution followed a motion on matters of urgent public importance brought by Peter Obiano (APGA, Anambra) on “The Perennial War between Enugu-Otu and Eziagulu-Otu in Anambra State and Odeke/Echohon communities in Ibaji Local Government Area of Kogi State”. Obiano in the debate told lawmakers that the motion became necessary as many lives were daily being lost, and the need for the House

to step into the matter to restore peace and save lives. The motion, which was co-sponsored by Emmanuel Egwu from Kogi whose constituency also caters for the boundary communities involved in the crisis, revealed that the aforementioned communities have been engaging themselves in inter communal war over the years about ownership of land between them. Egwu, co-sponsor of the motion, noted that the cause of the current escalated hos-

tility was strictly due to the discovery of oil in the area. He stressed that if urgent steps were not taken to stop the crisis, it would snowball into a monumental national disaster. Speaker Yakubu Dogara also lent his voice to the motion, saying: “I was informed that there has been serious fighting within those border communities, which is why I allowed the point of order to sail through as anything that involves loss of lives and properties should be taken

very seriously.” Dogara added that the House set up an ad-hoc committee to visit and mediate among the warring communities.

Arase

South West

Friday, August 7, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

ABUAD teaching hospital ready in March ABIODUN NEJO ADO EKITI

L-R: New Head of Lagos Directorate, News Agency of Nigeria, Mr Joe Bankole; Director/ Head of Marketing, Mrs Kate Popoola; former Head of Lagos Directorate, Mr Jide Adebayo and his wife, Mrs Ifelodun Adebayo at a send-forth party organised for Adebayo by NAN in Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO:NAN

‘PHCN owes N6.5bn tax to Osun, other states’ BOLADALE BAMIGBOLA OSOGBO

efunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, before it winded down, failed to remit about N6.5 billion Pay-As-You-Earn, PAYE, deducted from salaries of disengaged staff from the coffers of the affected states, National Mirror learnt yesterday. The affected states include Abia (N417.08m), Adamawa (N139.30m), Benue (N410.75m), Delta

(N2.59billion), Kaduna (N759.39m), Ogun (N1.26bn), Osun (N601.93m), and Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS, N285.49m. Sources at Osun State Internal Revenue Service said some of the affected states were threatening to drag the management of Nigeria Electricity Liability Management Limited, ELML, which acquired the defunct PHCN, to court after all peaceful means to get the money failed. Commenting on the development, Acting Chair-

man, Osun State Internal Revenue Service, Dayo Oyebanji, lamented that Osun was being owed a whopping N601,926,925.81 when it has pressing needs to meet. He added that the amount could have assisted the government off-set part of the workers’ salaries. He said many of the affected states have intensified efforts through the Joint Tax Board, JTB, to make Nigeria Electricity Liability Management which acquired PHCN, pay the debt. He said: “We are very

much aware of the PHCN non-remittance of the PAYE deducted from their staff on behalf of Osun government and other states before it was privatised by the federal government. “It is a must for the companies/ministries/agency/ parastatals to remit PAYE deductions on monthly basis in accordance with section 76(4) under Personal Income Tax Act.” Oyabanji therefore appealed to the NELML to expedite action on the payment before it becomes legal matter.

Ekiti estate residents appeal against eviction ABIODUN NEJO ADO EKITI

esidents of Ekiti State-owned Irewolede Estate in Ado-Ekiti have appealed to the state government to give them more time to pay their debts to save them from being forcibly ejected. Some landlords in the estate were yesterday locked out of their residences for owing millions of naira being payment for the house sold to them on mortgage agreement and other arrangements by the administrations of Mr Segun Oni and Dr Kayode Fayemi. Chairman of Irewolede Estate Landlords’ Association, Ayo Orebe, appealed to the governor to grant the landlords more

time to respond to payment, saying the forced eviction could aggravate the poor economic situation of his members. Orebe, who was also a victim, however, blamed the Federal Mortgage Bank for its refusal to disburse funds to banks, claiming that some of his members had subscribed to the bank, which failed to remit same to the government. Personnel of the police and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, manned the gate of the estate yesterday giving access to only residents that had met their obligations. The security agencies had besieged the Estate at about 10am yesterday and evicted some alleged defaulters.

The governor had earlier constituted a committee, headed by the deputy governor, Dr Olubunmi Olusola, to interface with the landlords from where

a directive was given to them to pay the amount authorised by the mortgage agreement on or before August 5 or face mass ejection.

Kalu refutes debt allegation SAIDAT ALAUSA

ormer Minister of Finance and Transport, Dr. Kalu Idika Kalu, has said he has since ceased being the executive chairman of BGL Securities Limited, which was listed among debtors by the Nigerian Deposit Money Banks on Monday. He was reacting to a publication in a daily newspaper (not National Mirror) that BGL in which he was a director is among the first five companies on the lend-

ers list of a bank, which owe a combined sum of N23bn. In a statement by Kalu made available to National Mirror yesterday, he explained that he ceased being the non-Executive Chairman of BGL three years ago by a decision of its board in his absence. “It was said that I was re-assigned to chair its Advisory Board that has never since been set up. “It is therefore, not true that I am a director of BGL; the Security and Exchange Commission can confirm this fact if it is in any form of doubt.

ounder of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Aare Afe Babalola, has said the institution’s teaching hospital under construction will be ready in March next year. Babalola said although medical students of the university were currently undergoing clinical training at Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido-Ekiti (FETHI), such would be better at ABUAD Teaching Hospital where there would be no strike as obtainable in public institutions. He spoke in Ado-Ekiti shortly after he was decorated as Fellow of West African College of Medicine, WACN, in Accra, Ghana, last month. The WACN had conferred the award on Babalola in appreciation of ABUAD’s “modest efforts at bringing quality and functionality to bear on

the training of nurses.” Babalola, who frowned at incessant strikes by public medical workers who ought to always be on duty in view of the essential services they rendered, said he could no longer allow ABUAD medical students continue there. The ABUAD founder said this was among reasons the university decided to construct its own teaching hospital to ensure there was no disruption in its programmes. He described ABUAD as university of the future which he said had achieved unprecedented feats in its five years of existence, saying: “We are the example of what it takes to be excellent.” Babalola, who received the award from a director at ABUAD, Prof Yekini Lawal, who got it on his behalf in Ghana, said he accepted the honour from WACN in view of the status of the organisation, saying: “This award is a worthy one”.

Judge rejects application to bar journalists from court WALE IGBINTADE

n Igbosere Magistrate’s Court yesterday refused to grant an oral application seeking to bar journalists from covering the ongoing trial of son of Lagos business mogul, the late Chief Abdul-Rasak Sanusi, Sulaiman Sanusi. The defendant was arraigned before Magistrate I. O. Omotosho for illegal possession of firearm. The defendant’s lawyer, Rotimi Seriki, prayed the court to stop journalists from covering the matter as the stories reported were not true. He said each time the court adjourned the matter; journalists would publish it, adding that it was embarrassing the defendant. Seriki also stated that the defendant had been receiving threat text messages from unknown sources. But the magistrate said the court is a public place and that she cannot stop journalists from covering court proceedings.

She asked Seriki to formally file an application in that regard before her. The 48-year-old defendant is facing a count charge bordering on unlawful possession of firearm preferred against him by the police. The police prosecutor, Inspector Steven Molo, told the court that the defendant committed that alleged offence on October 16, 2014. He said the incident occurred at 2, Akanni Doherty Street, off Oba Akran road, Ikeja. Molo said an unregistered Dane gun of 64 inches length was found in the defendant’s possession, which he could not explain away. According to the prosecutor, the offence is punishable under section 27 (a) law of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 as amended. Earlier, the defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to him. Magistrate Omotosho granted the defendant bail and adjourned the matter to October 29 for trial.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

South-West

Friday, Augusst 7, 2015

Admission crisis: Group denounces JAMB boss’ critics

Pfizer, stakeholders deliberate on intellectual property

Kemi Olaitan

FranKa OsaKwe

IBADAN

non-gover nmental organisation, Oke-Ogun Development Council, ODC, has berated critics of the Registrar and Chief Executive Officer, CEO, of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board, JAMB, describing the man as a goal-getter, an innovator and an achiever with a golden touch. The group said this in a statement signed by its Acting President, Mr. Oladoja Oladele and General Secretary, Mr. Jare Ajayi respectively, and made available to journalists in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital yesterday, Apparently speaking against the backdrop of the controversy generated by JAMB’s recent prescription for reducing the agonies of candidates who could not secure admission into tertiary institutions in the country, the ODC maintained that the seasoned administrator acted with the best of intentions. The ODC, a community-based organisation from Oke Ogun area of the state, maintained that Ojerinde has proved his mettle as Nigeria’s first professor of Tests and Measurement in terms of the unprecedented innovations he has brought to examination management especially at the secondary and matriculation levels. “Besides nurturing the second school certificate final examination, the National Examination Council, NECO, Ojerinde introduced an accelerated result of examinations regime to Nigeria,” it said. The group added that the Computer Based Test, CBT, introduced by JAMB under Ojerinde brought Nigeria into the same orbit with what is obtainable in advanced countries globally as far as tests and examinations are concerned while with computerised system, results of JAMB-conducted examinations come out within a few days, if not hours.

L-R: Representative of the President, Societe Internationale De Chirurgre Orthopaedique Et De Tramautologre (SICOT), Prof. Mahar Halawa; National Delegate of SICOT, Dr Wahab Yinusa; Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health, Mr Linus Awute and Medical Director, National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi, Dr Olurotimi Odunubi, at the inauguration of SICOT Educational Centre in Lagos, yesterday.

Quit now, OPC faction tells Adams Kemi Olaitan IBADAN

faction opposed to the leadership style of the National Coordinator of the Oodua Peoples Congress, OPC, Otunba Gani Adams, has called on him to immediately resign his leadership of the group over alleged partisanship, abuse of power and highhandedness. The faction made the call after its meeting in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, shortly after a congratulatory visit to the state council of Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, over the election of Alhaji Waheed Odusile as the National President of NUJ. The acting Presi-

dent, National Coordinating Council of OPC, Alhaji Razak Balogun, said the call become imperative in view of the vote of no-confidence passed on Adams, stating that he has derailed from the ideals and vision of the group to liberate the Yoruba nation at large. Balogun and the other factional leaders also hinted that their faction was not out to discredit Gani Adams, but to put the record straight that members of OPC had passed a vote of no confidence on him, thereby calling for his immediate resignation before it is too late for him, adding, “he is only using the name of OPC to enrich himself.” “Gani Adams has lost

focus, he has derailed from the ideals and vision on which the OPC was founded as he has been using the OPC for self enrichment while he also believed in bloodshed to drive home his point and actualise his fraudulent acts,” he said. Balogun added that they were not out to cause any violence as the blood of their members is not worth wasting before they can send Adams away from the OPC. He also debunked the rumour that they were being sponsored by politicians; stressing that Adams involvement in politics which led to his collection of the alleged multi-billion naira pipeline project from former

President Goodluck Jonathan without benefiting the downtrodden members of the group was an unfortunate development which called for concern by all members. Comrade Adesina Akinpelu who was in the visiting team, also stated that the group would intellectually work to make things happen in their bids to make Adams resign without bloodshed, pointing out that he lacks respect for traditional rulers and elders of the race. When contacted to speak on the development, Adams described the leaders as faceless and that all of them have been expelled from the group and that all their allegations are baseless.

fizer pharmaceuticals and other stakeholders deliberated on the protection of Intellectual Property Rights, IPR, during the international intellectual property workshop organiSed by Anadach Group and Pfizer The stakeholders at the workshop tagged: ‘The Dynamic Role of Intellectual Property Protection in Promoting Innovation and Economic Development in Emerging Markets,’ in Lagos, drew attention to the current Intellectual Bill pending in the National Assembly. The workshop discussed intellectual property protection where attendees learnt about what to protect, how and where to protect it, what your protection covers and costs. Chairman, International Chamber of Commerce, ICCN, and Chairman, Guinness Nigeria, Mr. Babatunde Savage, launched a report on Intellectual Property and Innovation in Nigeria, IPIN, developed by the Business Action to Stop Counterfeiting and Piracy group, BASCAP. Director Global Security, Pfizer, Dr. Pierre Souverain, spoke on the counterfeiting of drugs by elements which have gone a long way in casting a bad name on the industry. Other topics discussed were: “Information and communication Technology intellectual property: Trends and Opportunities, “Creating unprecedented opportunities with visual arts, music, film and books,” where the panelist discussed on piracy and copyright.

Railway police nab 58 over rooftop train ride Francis suberu

o fewer than 58 suspected hoodlums were yesterday arrested by men of the Nigerian Police Force attached to the Nigeria Railway Corporation for allegedly riding on rooftop of a moving train between Mushin and Iju-Ishaga areas of Lagos. According to the Commissioner of Police, Nigeria Railway Corporation; Pius Imue, the suspects will be charged and prosecuted for endangering their lives

and the lives of other passengers on board. The CP who spoke in an interactive session with journalists shortly after the suspects were paraded, said the menace of rooftop riding has been a challenge that the police in conjunction with NRC management are prepared to tackle headlong. He said a number of measures including creating barriers on the top of the coaches to prevent hardened hoodlums from gaining access to the rooftop is being given serious consideration; even as he added that the police will

continue with intermittent raid on the hoodlums. “The commands along with NRC are strategising to block the already identified loopholes that the hoodlums are capitalising on to ride on the rooftop. ‘’We are prepared and ready to curtail the menace because it has a lot of security implications and it endangers the lives of people, especially the lives of those riding on the rooftop.” Acting Area Commander, Ebute Metta Junction, NRC, CSP Mangwe Sarah, who paraded the suspects said the operation was carried out after a careful

feasibility study of the situation. She said a team of police officers led by DSP Ishiaku Agwin, on Wednesday swoop on the hoodlums and arrested 58 out of about 200 of them who were riding on the rooftop at the time. CSP Sarah said the operation was prompted by series of complaints received by the command from the management of the Nigeria Railway on the activities of the hoodlums riding on the rooftop between Mushin and Iju-Ishaga axis; saying the police will not rest on their oars until the menace is totally eradicated.

Also speaking, the Railway District Manager, Lagos, Mr. Akin Osinowo, said the menace of rooftop riders has been with the Nigerian Railway Corporation for long, adding that the menace is highly pronounced in metropolitan areas like Lagos. He said: “Two things are responsible for this, Nigeria Railway is just a reviving means of transportation and for now, demand exceeds supply. The other reason is that most of our stations are porous; giving the hoodlums easy access. However, efforts are on to checkmate all that.”

South-East

Friday, Augusst 7, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Ex-N’Delta militants seek appointments …want Imo member in NDDC Chris Njoku, OWERRI

epentant Niger Delta militants in the oil-producing areas of Ohaji Egbema and Oguta Local Government Area of Imo State yesterday resolved to unite all youths in the area for purposes of demanding their rights in all federal and state establishments. They equally warned politicians to desist from causing problems among youths in the area, vowing to resist any attempt to stop them from getting their rights. Arising from a meeting of stakeholders in Owerri attended by over 200 youth leaders in the oil-producing areas, Convener/National leader, Orashi Camp of ex-agitator/BOT, Prince Emeka Igwe, said the youth leaders agreed to henceforth forge a common front in demanding their rights. They blamed politicians for the disharmony among them, saying that any politician that would cause problems among the youths for selfish purposes will be resisted henceforth. The meeting, which was attended by President, Imo Youth Council, Jeff Nwaoha, NDYM chair-

man, Chigozie Ohiri, ISOPADEC chairman, Oguta, Fatai Nwanwa, ISOPADEC Youth, Ohaji/Egbema, Nwulu John, president, Izombe Central Youth, Dennis Nwachukwu among others, resolved to stop fights among themselves when their rights were trampled upon. It also called for the ex-militants to reconcile and chart a way forward. They also appealed to Imo State governor, Rochas Okorocha, to appoint the ISOPADEC Director of Accounts, Mr. Donald Igbo to represent the people of Ohaji/Egbema Oguta and Imo State in the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, since the Federal Government had dissolved the board. While honouring him with an award as their patron, the Niger Delta youth forum of Imo State said Mr. Igbo had distinguished himself in his professional duties and service to his people and should be elevated to a higher level for more responsibilities. Responding, Igbo thanked the youth leaders, saying he would not disappoint Imo indigenes in particular and Nigerians in general when called upon to serve his fatherland in whatever capacity.

Swearing-in of new State Executive Committee of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Awka, Anambra, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

Cost of Enugu secretariat worries residents deNNis AGbo ENUGU

nugu State residents yesterday flayed Governor Ifeanyi Ugwanyi’s approval to inject N216 million into the uncompleted civil service secretariat in the state. The government of Sullivan Chime had announced a controversial budget of N13 billion for building the secretariat, another N4b for provision of ICT to the complex and another N4bn as variation

in the contract, yet the complex remains uncompleted. Arising from state executive council meeting in Enugu yesterday, Commissioner for Information, Dr. Godwin Udeuhele, announced the approval of N216 million for completion of facilities in the complex. The commissioner said: “The council approved the release of N216 million only to Arab Contractors OAO Nigeria Limited for the provision of electricity, water and other ancil-

lary works at the new State Secretariat complex.” He noted that the approval was sequel to a memo from the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Patrick Ikpenwa, who sought approval for release of the said fund to enhance effective utilisation of the new secretariat complex by workers. A civil servant working at the complex complained of moving the ministries into uncompleted edifice, adding that he was more alarmed by the approval

outstanding seven months pension arrears owed them by his administration. He expressed surprise that Okorocha considers the payment of salaries of workers as a burden, while he continues to earn his own salary and other entitlements from the public fund of the state for his wellbeing and family. Onyekwere said most members of the association received their last pension in October 2014, adding, “cheques issued to us by his government in November and December, 2014 all bounced.’’ He lamented that due to non-payment of the pension and other attendant economic consequences, retirees in the state were gradually falling sick and some had died. The ARPSIS chairman

also said other pensioners and workers in the state were equally groaning under non-payment of pensions and salaries. According to him, businesses were also dying out in the state as its economy has collapsed, noting that the situation was adversely affecting people of the state. Onyekwere however advised the governor to judiciously use President Muhammadu Buhari’s bailout funds to states to settle the workers and pensioners, as no excuse would be allowed. Also, the state chairman of Nigeria Union of Pensioners, NUP, Gideon Ezeji, decried the situation whereby Imo indigenes who served their fatherland meritoriously were allowed to face hardship.

Streetlights: Umahi warns vandals, promises better security of supervising each of the Retired perm secs accuse Okorocha of AliuNA GodwiN, ABAKALIKI

bonyi State Governor Dave Umahi has ordered security men to shoot on sight any hoodlum that tampers with any transformer that powers streetlights in Abakaliki, the state capital. The governor, who disclosed this on Wednesday while commissioning streetlights in the capital city, warned against vandalism and assured that his administration was committed to making life easy for residents of the state. He assured that armed security men would be deployed to man each spot where facilities powering the lights such as generating sets and transformers are, insisting that they would be mandated to shoot on sight. He said: “If you tamper with it, they shoot you down and we are also going to have supervisors that are going to have the contract

places where the transformers are situated.” Umahi noted that it was the wish of the government to see all the streetlight projects are completed, adding that some of the contractors were not cooperating with the government. “There are some of the projects that we awarded and the cost is such that we can no longer pay. You know what the economy is now; probably, they were awarded when the economy was much better. “Right now, you know the price of oil is going down daily and we asked these contractors who were highly mobilised to finish the job so we can arrange to pay them monthly. But many of them are not willing to do that,” he lamented. He stressed that his government was planning to terminate contracts of the uncooperative firms so that the government could get materials on credit to complete the projects.

maltreatment Chris Njoku, OWERRI

ssociation of Retired Permanent Secretaries of Imo State, ARPSIS, yesterday expressed dismay over the manner Governor Rochas Okorocha has been treating civil servants and pensioners in the state. The retired permanent secretaries also accused the governor of vowing to wipe them out by deliberately refusing to pay pensioners their arrears and gratuities. Addressing newsmen in Owerri on the plight of retired permanent secretaries, state chairman of the association and former head of service of the state, Chief Hyacinth Onyekwere, called on Okorocha to pay retired permanent secretaries the

of more funds by Ugwuanyi for the complex. A legal practitioner in the state, Festus Ogbonna, said: “I reject this new approval in its entirety. What happened to the N21 billion that Chime took, even with budget? Nigerians should turn their eyes to the fraud committed by the past regime in Enugu and Ugwuanyi should please detach himself from the crime. “Ugwuanyi should not release that money. Let the contractor get back to the man that awarded him the contract and sort things out with him to complete the project. Otherwise the EFCC should please do its job.” The commissioner also announced the State Executive Council’s approval of a reputable law firm to engage the Economic Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and Federal Government with a view to ensuring that properties forfeited to federal government by a recent order of the Federal Higher Court on July 8, are returned to the state government. Udeuhele gave the properties in question as companies belonging to former governor Chimaroke Nnamani, who has been under EFCC trial since 2007. The companies are Renaissance University Teaching Hospital, Ceuna Communication Limited (Cosmo FM), Capital City Automobiles Nigeria Limited and Rainbownet Limited.

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Reps urge FG to rehabilitate Itu-Calabar highway Ubong Ukpong ABUJA

ouse of Representatives yesterday in plenary mandated its Committee on Works, when constituted, to liaise with the Ministry of Works to ensure the rehabilitation of Itu-Calabar Expressway Under orders of the day’s plenary, Honourable Henry Okon Archibong brought a motion before the House, stressing the “urgent need for rehabilitation of Enen Atai- Mbak Atai-Oku Iboku sections of the Itu-Calabar Highway to avoid cutting off Akwa Ibom and Cross River states from the rest of Nigeria.” He noted that Itu-Calabar highway, which links Akwa Ibom, Cross River and Benue states, was a single lane road between two valleys and is suffering from severe erosion that has eaten deep into both sides of the road, thus leaving little room for motorists to manoeuvre, as a result of which commuters are usually stranded on the highway for several hours or days whenever a vehicle broke down on the highway. He pointed out that the single lane road was an all important and only road leading to Calabar Free Trade Zone and also used

South South

Friday, August 7, 2015

by petrol tankers hauling fuel from Calabar depot and trucks conveying granites from Cross River State quarry to other parts of the state, expressing concern that the erosion of portions of the road and other failed sections have paralysed economic activities of the state as a result of delay in transportation of goods through the deplorable road. The lawmaker also expressed concern over the incidents of petrol tankers and other haulage trucks falling on the road or causing accidents, leading to death of commuters, providing also opportunities for armed robbers to attack motorists. He called on the Federal Government to commence work on dualisation of the road and all other federal roads across the country in order to forestall further loss of innocent lives and property. The lawmaker also called on the Federal Road Maintenance Agency, FERMA, to carry out rehabilitation on the roads with a view to saving same from total collapse. The House, presided over by Speaker Yakubu Dogara, referred the motion which was unanimously carried, to its committee on works when constituted.

Community raises alarm over incessant kidnappings AmoUr UdemUde ASABA

alpable tension has gripped families and residents of OgwashiUku, headquarters of Aniocha South Local Government Area of Delta State, following renewed wave of kidnapping in the community. It was gathered that no fewer than five kidnapping incidents have been reported in the community within the past two months. It would also be recalled that the community was hit by a wave of high-profile kidnappings and cult killings in the last one year.

In an interview with our correspondent, Chief Peter Osume, a Port-Harcourtbased businessman, regretted the recent resurgence of criminality in the community, lamenting that the traditional institutions and security agents in the community have failed in their responsibility to address the security challenges in the community over the past two years. Also condemning the situation, Mr. Uwazu Ofordu described the situation in the community as very precarious and called for a decisive measure in tackling the security challenges facing Ogwashi-Uku.

While calling for the intervention of Special AntiRobbery Squad, SARS, of the Nigeria Police, and the military to checkmate the rising wave of violent crimes in the community, Ofordu argued that the security situation in the community was far above the capacity of the regular police to curtail. Also condemning the situation in the community, a woman leader, Deacon Katherine Okwumbu, said the recent kidnapping of 90-year-old Madam Helen Ojeogwu was a sacrilege against womanhood. She disclosed that women in the community can no

longer keep mute in the face of rising wave of kidnapping and cultism that have put the community in the spotlight over the past four months. Commenting on the situation, the state Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, DSP Celestina Kalu, said that security operatives are patrolling the community to ensure the safety of lives and property of the residents. The latest outcry by indigenes of the community is coming against the backdrop of the recent kidnapping of a 90 year-old grandmother, Madam Helen Ojeogwu in the community.

Host communities threaten NPDC operations TheophilUs onojeghen WARRI

il production activities in Delta State may be in for another round of disruption as host communities to OMLs 30, 34 and 65 of the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company, NPDC, have threatened to shut down oil facilities in their area. Leaders of the communities said NPDC has deliberately refused to implement the resolution of an agreement reached with HOSTCOM and NPDC on June 30, 2015. In a letter addressed to Managing Director of the oil firm and signed on behalf of aggrieved communities, Comrade Efe Okovwurie, Comrade Morrister Idibra, Chief Ede-

gware David, Mr. Wilson Kokarhaye, among others, they expressed anger over the breach of contract. They also issued a seven-day ultimatum to the company to address their grievances or risk facilities’ shutdown. They said the one week ultimatum was to enable NPDC to fully implement all agreed terms in the June 30 resolution, after which all its operations in OMLs 30, 34 and 65 shall be shut down. It warned NPDC to shun any move to reduce the 20 per cent mark-up attached to contracts being handled by indigenous contractors to 15 per cent, adding that such will instigate crisis in the host communities and create more troubles for NPDC.

L-R: Governors Emmanuel Udom of Akwa Ibom State; Adams Oshiomhole of Edo and Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos after NEC meeting in Abuja, yesterday.

Amnesty: Students abroad demand govt attention osAhon jUliUs YENAGOA

s Niger Deltans continue to hail President Muhammadu Buhari over his appointment of General Paul Boroh as Amnesty Coordinator, students under the amnesty programme, studying in Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, and other institutions abroad, who are currently going through hard times, have appealed to the new coordinator to quickly wade into the matter and resolve it amica-

bly before they are thrown out of school. The students expressed optimism that President Buhari would smoothly and truly maintain the Niger Delta Amnesty programme to a successful end to justify the huge economic contributions the region has made to the socio-economic growth and development of the nation. The students, under the aegis of Diaspora Students Studying Abroad, expressed hope that the new coordinator will bring his wealth of experience to bear on the success of the

programme by speedily resolving the hardship faced by beneficiaries of the programme. Some of the hardship include non-payment of tuition fees, which might make them lose their studentship, inconsistent payment of stipends, which has turned them into beggars in the streets, non-provision of sponsorship letter, which is a fundamental prerequisite for completion of the programme and if not provided would make them lose their studentship and face deportation from September this

year. Other challenges they mentioned include nonpayment of book allowances for 2014/2015 academic session, which has made them indebted to the school authorities. The students further called on the new coordinator of the programme to be aware that some students which the former handler of the programme thought have completed their programme have not, that it was wrong for the former education officer to ask students to return to Nigeria without their certificate.

North

Friday, August 7, 2015

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Reps urge presidency to strengthen security in Adamawa UBONG UKPONG ABUJA

ouse of Representatives has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to, as a matter of urgency, strengthen security in parts of Adamawa State ravaged by Boko Haram insurgency. The House also called on National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, to provide camps for hundreds of people now displaced. This followed a motion brought by Hon Buba Yusuf (Adamawa APC) on the devastation on people of Gombi/Hong Federal

Constituency by Boko Haram, which was unanimously adopted by members. According to Yusuf, the people most affected are Dugwaba, Guyaku, Garkida, Gaya and Hong Districts. Kamale Usman (Adamawa-APC), who supported the motion, said there was need to reintegrate the affected people into their immediate environment. The legislator argued that insurgent activities had left more than 75 per cent of the peoples’ houses burnt and their means of livelihood completely destroyed.

N1.17bn withdrawal: Reps probe Okonjo-Iweala TORDUE SALEM ABUJA

ouse of Representatives has set up an-hoc committee to investigate allegations that the Ministry of Finance under former Minister, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, withdrew over N1.17 billion from the Account of Sokoto Rima River Basin Development Authority, without approval. The motion for enquiry into the allegation was sponsored by Hon Musa Sarkin Adar (APCSokoto), and passed after a very short debate. In the motion, Adar told the House that “on March 11, 2015, the Federal Ministry of Finance caused the account of Sokoto Rima River Basin Development Authority to be credited with the sum of N1.17 billion for execution of capital projects in 2014 budget. However, the ministry without any cogent reason instructed the bank to keep the money on hold.” He also said that “on April 11, 2015, the ministry inexplicably made the bank to return the money to it, an action that rendered the authority incapable of discharging its contractual obligations and also stop the execution of projects.” The lawmaker, before adoption of his motion by the House, regretted that the said fund, which

was meant for agricultural purposes in Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara states, may have been diverted by the former administration of President Goodluck Jonathan for other uses. In passing the motion, the House resolved to set up an ad-hoc committee “to investigate the circumstances of the conditional release, subsequent retrieval of the fund and report back to the House within one month for further legislative inputs”. Besides, the House also resolved to call on President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure the completion of dualisation of the Keffi-Akwanga-Lafia-Makurdi-Enugu Road to ease free flow of traffic and reduce cases of accidents on the road.

MARCUS FATUNMOLE ABUJA

new set of leaders have been elected by the Abuja Newspapers Distributors Association, ANDA. The leaders, under the chairmanship of Joshua Orogun, are to steer the affairs of the organisation for the next two years. Orogun defeated his main rival, Benjamin Obute, in a re-run poll that took place in Abuja recently. Initial poll held by the group on July 11 this year had been cancelled, following alleged irregular-

The House therefore, urged Federal agencies such as NEMA, National Commission for Refugees, National Economic

Reconstruction Fund, among others, to resettle the displaced people back to their families. The House presided

over by Speaker Yakubu Dogara, in its plenary, also resolved that the agency should provide reliefs like building

materials, seedlings, fertilizer, among others, to enable the people restart their lives again.

IPAC moves to halt intra-party crisis OMEIZA A JAYI ABUJA

he Inter Party Advisory Council, IPAC, yesterday announced the setting up of a disciplinary committee to intervene in several intra-party crises in Nigeria’s political space. Chairman of IPAC, Dr. Yunusa Tanko, stated this when he led executive members of the council on a solidarity visit to leaders of the Labour Party, LP, in Abuja. Tanko expressed worries at the rate of in-

ternal crisis among political parties, urging politicians to adhere to the principles of internal party democracy. The IPAC leader, who described political parties as the engine of democracy, warned against political parties engaging in any act capable of truncating the country’s democracy, stressing that political crisis would always have negative effect on the smoothrunning of democracy in any nation. He appealed to LP leaders to imbibe the spirit of compromise

and settle their crisis out of court in the interest of the party. He also urged the party to cooperate with IPAC Peace Committee in ensuring that the leadership crisis was settled amicably, stating that any political party that wants to achieve success should not encourage division among members. He emphasised that the visit was part of the IPAC initiatives to ensure peaceful resolution of the crisis rocking the party hoping that peace would soon return.

Responding, LP Chairman, Alhaji Abdulkadir Salami, commended the initiative by IPAC to ensure party discipline and peace among members of political parties irrespective of interest. He promised to put in his best to ensure enduring peace in the party and thanked IPAC executives for the solidarity visit. It would be recalled that LP for some months now have been involved in leadership crisis that led the police to seal its headquarters in Abuja for two days.

Commissioner nominees for Adamawa at their screening in Yola, yesterday.

Abuja newspaper distributors elect new leaders ity and voided votes. In the annulled election, Orogun scored 138, while Obute scored 140 votes. Nine of the votes were voided and the number of votes cast increased by two more than 285 accredited voters, which prompted the re-run. In the re-run, Orogun defeated Obute by one vote, with each contestant getting 156 and 155 votes apiece. Five delegates from the seven constituencies making up the association participated in the exercise. The constituencies are Yo-

ruba, Arewa, Igbo, Akwa/ Ibom, Calabar, Middle Belt and Edo/Delta. Only 35 delegates, five each from the seven constituencies, participated in the election against the 285 accredited delegates in the earlier election. The association said the decision was taken to help reduce costs and minimise security threat during rerun. Chairman and Secretary of the Election Committee, Anieka James and Amos Glad respectively announced the election which

was conducted at the Area One newspaper distribution centre in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, amidst heavy presence of security officials. In his inaugural address, Orogun said his immediate priority was to reposition the association and make it occupy its pride of place. “We will leave no stone unturned to achieve this greatness,” he pledged. He added: “In the days ahead, those of us who have been elected to serve must show that we are men and women with pas-

sion to match hopes and aspirations of the masses. We must demonstrate the leadership vision and sacrifice to transform our association. We will develop new areas of understanding and collaboration; seek fresh ideas that will enrich our association.” Earlier, the immediate past president of the union, Otu Eno, said he inherited divided association and broken-down structures, but that he did not only ensure harmony among hitherto divided members, but also rebuilt the structures.

Friday, August 7, 2015

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Politics

Probe of past administration: Matters arising

Obiano charges APGA new leadership on national polity ADEOLA TUKURU ABUJA

ll Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, national leader and chairman Board of Trustees, BoT, Chief Willie Obiano, has charged the new national leadership of the party, led by Chief Dr. Victor Ikechuckwu Oye, to rise to the onerous task of rapidly leading APGA to a pride of place in national political and social landscape as a leading party for national unity and prosperity of

the people of Nigeria. In a communiqué issued at the end of the just concluded national retreat of the party in Abuja, the Anambra State governor also charged APGA leaders at all levels to provide critical and viable alternative to major political parties in Nigeria, that have failed to deliver on the dreams and aspiration of Nigerians for peace, security and development. APGA National Chairman, Dr. Oye, outlined APGA’s vision, mission and mandate in the coming

years, charging the national, regional and state leaders of the party to unite and work hard to ensure APGA filled the yawning gap in the nation’s polity. Dr. Oye also outlined the plans for the growth of

APGA and its administration at all levels, to provide a strong, cohesive political movement that would move Nigeria truly forward in the foreseeable future. APGA held a two-day retreat on strategic leader-

ship for all its national and state officials to prepare them for the serious task of transforming APGA into a first choice party for the rapid development of Nigeria. The retreat, which fo-

cused on the party’s vision and mission and the place of strategic leadership for the realisation of the overall dreams of APGA’s founding fathers and members, was declared open by Governor Obiano.

Olumoroti joins Kogi guber race, collects intent form WALE IBRAHIM LOKOJA

head of the November 21 gubernatorial election in Kogi state, Engr Olusola George Olumoroti, yesterday joined numerous aspirants to collect his nomination and intent forms at the All Progressives Congress, APC, headquarters in Abuja. Olumoroti in chat with newsmen in Lokoja , said his reason for contesting for the exalted position was borne out of the need to inject fresh ideas that can move the state forward. He pointed out that it was sad to see the state ranked 34th poorest state in the country in a recent World Bank rating, in spite of its enormous natural and human resources. He explained that the major problem confronting the state was that men of little ideas cocooned with unbridled desire for greed and corruption have been rul-

JAMES DANJUMA KATSINA

ndependent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has said it was considering pushing for the use of Smart Card Readers, SCRs, for future council elec-

ing the state, saying it was time for total change. Pointing out that he was the only aspirant who can truly be called the bridge between the old and young, he said he has contributed imAll Progressives Congress, APC, Kogi State gubernatorial aspirant, Otumba Suleiman Lanre (left) receiving the gubernatorial mensely in the last 15 years nomination form, from APC National Organising Secretary, Senator Oliseh Izunaso at the party’s National Secretariat in Abuja to the eradication of pover- yesterday. ty in the state through various empowerment schemes for youths and women, including widows. of the House at its next project to release all relEast state constituency. He said: “We are tired ALIUNA GODWIN evant documents that sitting. Others are: Works and ABAKALIKI of the old order, Kogi must The House also re- would aid the committee Transport; Agriculture bonyi State House and Natural Resources ceived an interim report in the completion of the emulate Lagos State in the of Assembly yes- and Rules and Business on the findings of an ad- assignment. area of development, and terday constituted headed by the House hoc committee set up to it is young vibrant and enThe Speaker, Rt. Hon. ergetic young men full of 22 standing committees to Leader, Hon Joseph Nwao- investigate ongoing proj- Nwifuru directed the ideas like us that can bring enable the House oversee bashi, representing Ezza ects at Ochudo secretari- committee to secure the projects in the state. the needed change. services of a structural North-East state constitu- at in Abakaliki. Speaker of the House, ency. “By the grace of God, if Chairman of the ad- engineer who would congiven the chance, I prom- Hon Francis Nwifuru ancommittee, Hon. duct an integrity test on The Chief Whip, Hon. hoc ise within one year to nounced the committees Chike Ogiji, representing Chris Usulor, represent- the buildings to avert jump start the state from during the House plenary. Ikwo South is in charge ing Ezza South said disaster that may arise The 22 standing com- of Information and state though the project had from the defects. its current socio-economic doldrums to a virile and mittees include Educa- Orientation Committee. It would be recalled only attained 50 per cent vibrant state which every- tion; Water Resources and The Speaker who an- completion, his commit- that the Ochudo secretarPublic Petition, Security nounced members of the tee noted that most of the iat project was built and body will be proud of.” It was gathered that and Conflict Resolution, committees and their buildings in the city had commissioned uncomOlumoroti was the 19th as- headed by the Minority chairmen noted that vice structural defects. pleted by former Goverpirant that collected the in- Leader of the House, Hon chairmen of the commitHe however requested nor Martin Elechi at the tent form as at the time of Maria Udenwachi, rep- tees would be announced the House to direct the twilight of his adminisresenting. Afikpo North- at the executive session company handling the tration. filing this report.

Ebonyi House constitutes 22 committees to oversee projects

INEC considering use of SCRs for LG polls

tions in the country. INEC commissioner in charge of Katsina, Jigawa and Kano states, Amb. Ahmed Wali, stated this during a meeting with political parties ahead of Saturday’s

by-election in Katsina State. Wali said states that would be conducting council polls in the nearest future would possibly be using SCRs to ensure quality exercise as seen in the last

general elections. Lamenting the challenge posed by thugs who often disrupt electoral processes during an election exercise in the country, he said such thugs were often sponsored

by their politicians, adding that such development was supposed to be a thing of the past in the country. Wali said Nigeria had grown democratically and that thuggery, violence and

other related ills ought to be things of the past, calling on politicians and other stakeholders to partner with INEC to ensure successful conduct of elections in the country.

Politics

Probing the immediate past administration has generated a heated debate in the polity, for and against. ROBERT AWOKUSE examines the consequences of such step.

Friday, August 7, 2015

Probe of past administration: Matters arising WHILE SOME SAY ‘PROBE JONATHAN,’ OTHERS OPINED ‘NO, PROBE THEM ALL,’

he revelations of mind-boggling corruption allegedly perpetrated by officials of the immediate past administration that are beginning to emerge in the country may have left indelible mark on Nigerians, especially, the revelation of the recently remitted funds by the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas, NLNG, to the federal purse. The NLNG saga became a reference point to attest to the corrupt practices that took place under the watch of former President Goodluck Jonathan-led Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, government. The incumbent administration, amongst other things, premised its campaign on the eradication of corruption, a resolution which has received commendations not only from Nigerians but also from international community. President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress, APC had in the build-up to the 2015 general election emphasised the need to stamp out corruption if any meaningful economic growth will be attained. As an indication that Buhari is bent on fighting the scourge to a standstill emerged when in a recent report, it was revealed that of the 36 nominees sent to the security agencies for screening as ministerdesignates, only three were returned with a clean bill of health, while the remaining 33 had corrupt practices linked to them one or the other. Following the revelations by NLNG about its numerous payments of dividends to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, which represented the Federal Government on its board, and which were never remitted to the federation account, there had been stringent calls from Nigerians for a holistic probe of the operations of the NNPC and the immediate past administration, as the administration has severally been accused of insensitivity to corruption. PDP’s exit One of the pivotal reasons the Jonathanled PDP government was kicked out was its lethargy in tackling corruption. Jonathan had on many occasions accommodated corrupt practices among top officials of his administration with impunity. The administration was allegedly linked with lootings, money laundering, theft, scam, fraud amongst others. His worst-hit came when he was quoted as saying that ‘stealing is not corruption,’ a remark that attracted hues and cries and knocks from different strata of the society. Recently, a US report revealed that a minister under Jonathan pocketed about $6 billion. Over N5 trillion government funds were stolen through fraud, embezzlement and theft since the former president assumed office. The Ribadu report on the oil and gas sector for instance, put daily crude oil theft at a high 250,000 barrels daily at a cost of $6.3 billion, N1.2 trillion a year. This puts the

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WHILE ANOTHER SCHOOL OF THOUGHT BELIEVES ‘PROBE IS A WASTE OF TIME

Buhari

total amount lost through oil theft in the six years of Jonathan’s government at over $37.8 billion. Reactions Heated reactions continued to trail NNPC operations and the government has been charged to compel the corporation to account for all the monies received within the period, especially in the area of dividends and other taxes paid by NLNG. The government was urged to beam a search light on not just NNPC and its transactions with NLNG, but also on former Ministers of Petroleum and Finance, Diezani Allison-Madueke and Ngozi OkunjoIweala respectively, who have been accused of culpability in their roles in the missing funds in the sector. Against this backdrop, the question agitating the minds of many Nigerians is that should all these mess be swept under the carpet? And the government should turn blind eyes to the massive corrupt practices and pilfering of the nation’s commonwealth? Opinion contrast The reactions trailing this development are quite revealing. The divides amongst Nigerians over the scope and selection of those to be probed is of concern. While some say ‘probe Jonathan,’ others opined ‘no, probe them all,’ while another school of thought believes ‘probe is a waste of time.’ Many Nigerians, rightly or wrongly, believed that the immediate past government was the worst that Nigeria has ever witnessed in terms of promotion of corruption, executive lawlessness and unimaginable highhandedness. More money accrued to Nigeria from the sale of crude oil during it reign, but little was achieved. There were also calls that the probe should be extensive, thorough, transparent and devoid of witchhunt. The second school of thought, which wanted a comprehensive probe of all past administrations, faulted Buhari’s decision to probe the last administration without ex-

tending it to previous governments. Its argument ws that Buhari will not be fair in his dealings if he limits the hammer-hit only on Jonathan’s administration while he ignores the governments of Olusegun Obasanjo, Abdulsalami Abubakar, Ibrahim Babangida and others. According to the school of thought, the corruption train in this democratic dispensation began from the military era, hence all activities and records from the military era must be investigated for equity and fairness to be upheld. Jonathan, although seems ready for probe, wants Buhari not to focus only on his administration, because according to him, it would amount to a witch-hunt; he said there are several things to probe in Nigeria. These submissions however were opposed by the first group who maintained that only Jonathan’s administration must be quizzed. The school of thought criticised the call for extension of the probe to other governments, noting that apart from stalling developments, Jonathan should have probed other governments if he was actually keen on tackling the menace, but because he has affiliation with corruption he left the scourge to fester to the detriment of the country’s reputation. The school of thought stated that Buhari cannot afford to go too deep into the past or else it will be destructive for his administration. It said there are some things one cannot close one’s eyes to while shining the torchlight into the dark excesses of our past. For it the cases of corruption recorded in the immediate past government were too evident with dire consequences on the economy, which must not be swept under the carpet. An adage says that a corpse buried having its leg stuck out cannot be over looked or pretended not to be seen. When there are trails all over of the monies in billions and trillions, then a responsible government cannot close its eyes to that. It is also argued that the President, aware that he has only four years minus two months, it will be foolhardy to spend all the time probing the sixteen-year PDP rule or include past military administrations. This will amount to time wasting, with resultant effect of zero-achievement. Most worrisome is the level of corruption with impunity which characterised the country in the last five years has to a large extent damaged our economy. And this is phenomenal!

Implications This resolution by the Buhari-led APC government has been raising some levels of fear in some people, especially those who have strong affiliations with the PDP, as Buhari may be clamping down on any government official, past or present, who is linked with corruption. While some analysts believe that this move is worthwhile, because by implication, it would trigger economic boost, as looted funds will be raked in and used judiciously to deliver dividends of democracy to the teeming masses, others submit that probing would halt development as much time devoted to this feat would greatly cost the government focus on the change mantra it anchored its campaign on. But these billions of dollars skimmed off by pathologically-corrupt public officials cannot be ignored because for any meaningful development to be effected, looted funds must be recovered to raise revenue, especially, with the dwindling revenue and fall in crude oil price. And obviously, no responsible government can afford to ignore the magnitude of corruption recorded in previous government, because doing so will amount to endorsing corruption and impunity. And how can the government of the day meet its obligations to the citizens if it refuses to recover the huge funds taken away by thieving officials. And of course for the fact that the past affects the present, it is just very rational for these corrupt officials in the past administration to be brought to justice in order to curb any further possible excesses of prospective government officials. The development at present speaks volume of the disposition of most government officials who are said to be on their toes in their discharge of duties. Without any alteration to existing statutes on corruption, anti-corruption agencies, which seemed to be in comatose in the recent past are working; there is no Minister of Power, yet power has improved; there is no Minister of Finance but the federal account has boosted as everyone is beginning to take their moral compass from the President. Apparently the fear of Buhari is the beginning of transparency and accountability. The implication of this also is that the campaign of aggressive probe of corruption cases will serve as deterrent to other government officials that may have tendencies of promoting corruption. Way forward Even if all the acts of corruption that were perpetrated during the tenure of the last administration are limited to what is now in the public domain, it is still absolutely exigent for the Buhari administration to do all it could to bring the perpetrators to book and recover looted funds. Many posited that the President must insist that those accused of corruption are properly investigated and punished if found guilty, irrespective of their positions and connections. They also advised that the judiciary must be impartial and fair.

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Politics

Friday, August 7, 2015

Could you give an insight to the benefit derivable to Nasarawa State from your recent visit to the US? I think the people of Nasarawa State should thank Almighty God for my having being part of this delegation. Apart from the exposure it has given to me on behalf of the state, I had the privilege to understand the concept of bilateral collaboration and cooperation. Secondly, it gave Nasarawa State the opportunity to highlight some of its potentials, and some of its needs to the quarters that could better handle such needs and potentials. I made sure that the most important potential the state has got properly introduced to the people in US. Also, we were able to scout for those that are highly interested in partnering with the state to exploit or together work with us on these potentials for the benefit of Nasarawa and the country at large in terms of revenue generation. But above all, once we get these people to come, it will be another greater opportunity for job creation, wealth creation and employment, which would all be the bye-products of such collaboration. Nasarawa State having been blessed with abundant solid mineral resources in commercial quantities; how was your discussion in the US fruitful in the exploitation of these potentials? The issue of solid mineral has to do with exclusive legislative list; this means virtually everything that had to do with mineral resources is exclusively in the hands of Federal Government. But the state can have so many benefits from it. The state will benefit from 13 percent derivation. But more importantly, the state is going to benefit tremendously from job creation. Because once the people come to participate in the exploitation of these minerals, a lot of state’s citizens will benefit. And apart from the general discussion, I was able to identify few entrepreneurs and investors, who have what it takes to actually prospect some of these mineral resources. So I am very sure that in the next few months, Nasarawa State will be amazed with the avalanche of people who will be coming in to collaborate and partner with the state for the purpose of exploiting the mineral resources of the state. Secondly, we have also discussed power. Power happens to be the focal point of any industrial development and without that the pace of development will be stagnated. I was able to contact some of the best outreach globally, who have experience in providing renewable energy within the Africa continent and they appear to be very ready to come to Nasarawa State for two reasons. One, because of the solar provision of our potentials; which is more than 70 percent available. Secondly, with

US trip, avenue for job, wealth creation –Al-Makura Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa state recently had a brief chat with journalists on the benefits derivable by the state for being part of the delegation that accompanied President Muhammadu Buhari on his state visit to the United States of America, USA. IGBAWASE UKUMBA brings the excerpts. IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS,

NASARAWA STATE WILL BE AMAZED WITH THE AVALANCHE OF PEOPLE WHO WILL BE COMING IN TO COLLABORATE AND PARTNER WITH THE STATE FOR THE PURPOSE OF EXPLOITING THE MINERAL RESOURCES OF THE STATE

Al-Makura

that initiative, Nasarawa State, being close to the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, will open a lot of unlimited opportunities for commercial activities. And one that I make sure of was issue of interest of cottage industries. Those industries are not going to require too much energy and solar energy could power such industries. Very soon, you will see not only exploitation of solid minerals but also provision of solar energy across the state, where people who do little small businesses that don’t require intensive energy will have the leverage to expand the scope of their businesses. What other issues were you opportuned to table during the visit for intervention by the US? As you are all aware that the American government and other advanced countries have that trust that once there is

a discussion and it is backed up with facts, they don’t decline in intervention. In less than 10 days only, they summoned us for a meeting; which was facilitated by the American embassy in Nigeria, where four governors attended and we discussed vividly on their plans towards assisting these states, especially in the area of healthcare delivery system for the benefit of their citizens and we brainstormed with them on that. It will not be long before they come in with their assistance in our secondary and primary healthcare facilities, which will reach our rural communities where majority of people are suffering and even those who are vulnerable are to as well be given a lift in order to bring development to the entire states. Luckily for us, Nasarawa State, alongside Lagos state were so far the only two states that the foreign partners have chosen to use as litmus test for their intervention programme in the areas of those who are suffering from diseases like HIV/AIDS by way of supplying them with drugs in that the disease should not continue to be a masquerade in our societies.

Jonathan ex-aide, Okoya, joins Bayelsa guber race OSAHON JULIUS YENAGOA

mmediate past coordinator of Abuja Metropolitan Management Council, AMMC, and former Commissioner for Special Projects during the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan as Bayelsa State governor, Arc Rueben Okoya, has join Bayelsa gubernatorial race. Okoya, who wants to run for the governorship under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, declared his intention at a media briefing in Yenagoa, saying that he was in the race to rebuild Bayelsa State and save it from its present decaying nature. He said: “Our mission is to stimulate and sustain the overall development of both human and material

resources of Bayelsa State and at the end, establish a culture of social justice, good governance, democracy and development. “We shall mobilise and organise the people to take active part in the development of the state by first assisting them to develop their goals and aspirations in life. The idea is that of mass participation in development.” Okoya, who oversee and coordinate the Abuja Environmental Protection Board, AEPB, among others, said the state lag behind in education, infrastructural development and human capital development, which he intend to correct if elected. He maintained that no investor will come to a state without the enabling environment, saying that the state has no reason to

spend millions of naira of tax payers’ money organising seminars and forum to woo investors, as investors will surely locate their destination when the environment is right with the right infrastructure put in place.

He also decried the lack of primary health facilities in most of the communities in Bayelsa as well as the poor state of public schools, saying he was shocked to see a school without chairs, table, blackboard and other

amenities that will make children learn appropriately. Identifying the problem of past administrations in the state as lack of vision, as they kick start many projects without looking

at the budget, he said: “I will look at the budget and undertake what the budget can do. The problem is that we try to do too much with the little money that comes in and that is why we have abandoned projects.”

How N15m was paid into REC’s account in one day –Witnesses ISE-OLUWA IGE ABUJA

obe State Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja yesterday heard how N15 million was allegedly paid into the account of the state Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, shortly before the April 11 gubernatorial election in the state. A star witness and acting branch manager of a new generation bank in Damaturu, Bama-aji Kukawa, made the disclosure before

the tribunal yesterday. Another staff of another new generation bank in Damaturu, Mr Umar Alkali, also confirmed that controversial lodgment was also made into the REC’s account. But Malam Yusuf Ali, SAN, counsel to the state governor, Ibrahim Gaidam described the allegation as baseless, saying that the petitioner was only out to entertain the court. The two senior staff of the affected two new generation banks, however,

disclosed, upon further probing that lodgments of N8 million and N7 million were made into the accounts maintained by the REC in the two banks on April 8. According to one of the witnesses, only N23,000 was in the account before the money was paid. Alkali, Operations Manager of the Damaturu branch of one of the banks, confirmed as authentic some of the documents and bank statement of accounts and tellers relating to the

lodgment. The REC and the ADC to Governor Gaidam, were joined as respondents in the petition. Kukawa in his evidence told the court that the money was paid into the account on April 8, three days to the governorship election, adding: “The account was not opened in my branch, so, we had to ask for the scanned copy of the statement of account from the branch where it was opened so as to be able to produce it in court.

Editorial

Friday, August 7, 2015

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

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

EFCC on special courts for corruption cases

mong the crucial issues brought to the fore at a twoday workshop on ‘Budget Monitoring and Tracking’ organised by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for community-based organisations, their non-governmental and faith-based counterparts, the media and local government staff in Akure, the Ondo State capital, lately, was the need for the Federal Government to reform the nation’s judiciary to facilitate prompt prosecution of offenders; and the establishment of ‘Special Courts’ that would focus strictly on corruption cases. Director of Public Affairs Department of the Commission, Mr. Osita Nwajah, who held brief for his boss, the Chairman, Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde, on the occasion, voiced EFCC’s concern about what he termed “too much delay in the regular courts” in treating cases of corruption. “In a number of ways, the management of public funds is still secretive and accountability very poor. However, the budget, as we all are aware, comes from the government treasury and it includes the taxes people pay”, the anti-graft agency said. The EFCC is right. It may be added, however, that even with the strong anti-corruption message of President Muhammadu Buhari shortly before he was elected the nation’s President last March; and his deft moves to

tackle the monster after his inauguration on May 29, a period of less than three months, it is not improbable that some congenitally corrupt public officers could still be exploring all possible loopholes to ravage public coffers. Indeed, earlier reports had suggested the Buhari administration’s favourable disposition towards the setting up of special courts for the purpose of prosecuting public sector and other cases of corruption, including tax evasion. Our consistent position on the subject remains that special courts being established under the Buhari administration to handle corruption and related cases will buttress the seriousness of the government in its campaign against corrupt practices. Though former President Goodluck Jonathan, while swearing-in former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Mariam Aloma Mukhtar, in 2012, cited citizens’ complaints of delayed trial particularly in cases of corruption, terrorism and other matters of serious concern; and frequent calls for special courts or the designation of special judges to handle such cases. Mukhtar, however, said there was no need for special courts; stressing that a judge, two or three in the states can be designated to take care of the cases in question. The sad commentaries trailing EFCC’s effort in prosecuting cor-

IT IS WIDELY AGREED THAT NON-EXISTENT POLITICAL WILL AND THE BODY LANGUAGE OF EX-PRESIDENT

JONATHAN MADE NONSENSE OF HIS

PURPORTED ANTI GRAFT WAR ruption cases, however, justify the demand for special courts manned by judges with iron cast will to bring the corrupt to justice and fence off deliberate hindrances stalling quick, diligent and successful prosecution of public officers and other prominent individuals docked for corruption. We recall the distressing experience of former EFCC boss, Mrs. Farida Waziri, who alleged in 2009 that some senior lawyers were frustrating the fight against corruption by stalling the prosecution of their clients docked by EFCC. Waziri said such lawyers fraudulently obtained money from their clients under the guise of delivering same as bribe to officers of the commission to kill cases under investigation. She also said some unpatriotic lawyers exploited the weakness of the nation’s judiciary by filing frivolous applications to frustrate the trial of suspects for

ON THIS DAY July 31, 1991 The United States and Soviet Union jointly signed the START-I (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty - I) to reduce both countries’ stockpiles. The treaty was a bilateral agreement between the US and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR or Soviet Union) on the Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms. Though signed on July 31, 1991, the treaty entered into force on December 5, 1994.

Letters tothe theEditor Editor Letters to

July 31, 1992 China General Aviation Flight 7552 from Nanjing Dajiaochang Airport to Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport crashed after takeoff, killing 108 of the 116 people aboard. The flight crashed into a pond past the runway after taking off. Eight of the 10 crew members and 100 of the 116 passengers died. The number of fatalities was reported as 107 by the Chinese media, but most international media reported 108 fatalities.

corruption and money laundering. Lamorde inherited similar problems, too. Till date, the EFCC is yet to secure superior court orders to overturn dubious perpetual injunctions given against the prosecution of many former governors in power between 1999 and 2007, accused of money laundering and hair-splitting frauds running into billions of naira. Reports indicate that the country lost at least N350 billion to frauds allegedly committed by the suspects and their cronies. Last year, the EFCC made a budget estimate of N284.6 million to hire competent and reputable lawyers to pursue the trial of the affected politicians to logical conclusion. So far, however, no tangible result has been achieved in prosecuting the culprits. Worse still, most of them are not just freely enjoying their loot, a lot of them are occupying other political offices despite the cases pending against them. They also hold the public in utter contempt. It is widely agreed that nonexistent political will and the body language of ex-President Jonathan made nonsense of his purported anti graft war. But same cannot be said of Buhari presently. Therefore, the 8th National Assembly and judiciary should team up with the President to ensure cases of corruption and economic sabotage are handled with despatch, even if it entails setting up special courts.

x July 31, 2012 Michael Phelps broke the record set in 1964 by Larisa Latynina for the greatest number of medals won at the Olympics. Phelps II (born June 30, 1985) is a retired American swimmer and the most decorated Olympian of all time, with a total of 22 medals. The swimmer also holds the all-time records for Olympic gold medals (18 double the second highest record holders), among others.

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Views

Friday, August 7 2015

On the escalation of Boko Haram-induced violence Counter-terrorism Tips With

Ethelbert Oney ethelbertoney@zissltd.com, 08029929121 (sms only)

t does not seem credible that the best counterterrorism strategy is to do nothing proactive. It also does not seem prudent to ignore entirely the possibility that an offensive counterterrorism operation is a double-edged sword. One of the obvious concerns about aggressive counterterrorism operations is that it turns public opinion against a liberal democratic nation such as ours. Our approach has so far demonstrated the capacity of sparking increased recruitments by Boko Haram and increase in its violence against the Nigerian state. The most salient deterrence to BH menace should have been the ability to react repressively to their violence before it has gained much ground. The constraints upon our counter-attack capability manifested many years back. Existing evidence suggests that provocation is a tenable idea, given that terrorist tactics in general are often thought of as the preeminent weapon of the weak. A provocation strategy is plausible as it can serve to redress the imbalance between the group and us. Despite general agreement that violent groups strategically plan attacks, we know very little about the strategic in-

teraction that influences BH’s choices of attacks. A regular terrorist organisation targets land marks and important establishments such as the 9/11 twin towers buildings attacks by the Al-Qaeda, which demonstrated its sophistication. Boko Haram’s mode of attacks from the onset to date like - killing innocent worshipers in churches, mosques, etc - raises questions as to whether the sect really understood what it stands for and the cause it is fighting. Meaning that had we started dismantling the sect from the onset, it would have been an easy task since the members themselves did not understand their cause. There is no empirical evidence that groups strategically plan attacks in anticipation of state response. However, theory suggests that groups carefully condition their choice of tactics before unleashing terror except Boko Haram that combined terrorism and guerrilla tactics. Guerrilla attacks are associated with provocation of forceful state response, while terrorist attacks are associated with avoiding forceful response. The reason terrorist attacks are preferred to guerrilla attacks is that the state is generally better at employing effective forceful responses to guerrilla attacks. Groups are likely to provocatively use terrorist tactics as part of an outbidding process when multiple groups compete for support among a constituent population. There are a wide range of counterterrorism strategies that might be arrayed in terms of their likelihood of stimulating more violence and terrorist recruitment.

OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT WORKFORCE CHIEFS AND POLITICIANS SHOULD TRY TO BE MORE CONSTRUCTIVE AND DIPLOMATIC IN THEIR UTTERANCES As indeed, our choice of operations have stimulated more of both, it is naturally advisable to adjust the existing strategy. Even if our only counterterrorism strategy have substantially increased new recruitments and other available tactics do not that does not necessarily mean that tactics which can stimulate recruitment should never be used to some extent. Their benefits may exceed their downside if they are sufficiently effective. If some tactics are more likely than others to be perceived as outrageous or otherwise to stimulate relatively more new terrorist recruitment, then the optimal mix of terror control operations should vary, perhaps dynamically over time with the changing state of BH. In normal circumstances, where recruitment is concave in the number of terrorists and the effectiveness of counterterrorism tactics is proportional to the number of targets, then the intensity with which those recruitments stimulating tactics should be employed. In order to eradicate the sect’s existence in the long run, the extent to which offensive

tactics are used should decrease over time. More diplomacy or criminal justice system should be used and relied on mostly. Furthermore, our law enforcement workforce chiefs and politicians should try to be more constructive and diplomatic in their utterances. On few occasions, careless remarks have created more damages than good. And in most cases, innocent citizens pay with their lives and that of their loved ones because the dreaded BH sect unleashes random attacks on their closest victims due to the undiplomatic showmanship bravado in the media. The use of provocative words such as “we will crush them, we will wipe them out” should better be checked. Common sense demands that your enemy expects you at any time, publicising how and when you approach your enemy is not only wrong but alerting your enemy to restrategise or to attack you first. The only scenario opponents fight via the mass media using boastful languages to entertain their audience on how they will knockout the other in the first or second round is only a physical battle such as boxing and wrestling. The war against BH is an intelligence war and in such wars, understanding the opponent’s strength, weaknesses, the ability to know the sect’s next action by means of threat assessment, infiltration and quality intelligence gathering can reasonably end the violence. Definitely, it is not by blowing the trumpet, or the use of provocative languages.

Boko Haram and the imperative of dialogue ADEWUYI ADEGBITE

scalation of the murderous activities of Boko Haram even after the inauguration of the Muhamudu Buhari presidency is significant for two reasons. First, it put paid to some lies by the then ruling PDP on its origin and funding. The sect was said to be a North’s sponsored violent group to undermine the Jonathan government. Second, Buhari was said to be the sect’s sponsor. This was in spite of the attempt on the general’s life a few years ago in Kaduna. Until now, many believe the raging insurgency was to be the fulfillment of the alleged threat of Buhari to make the nation ungovernable for Jonathan if he lost the 2011 presidential election. In fact, the Jonathan presidency and PDP made this the kernel of their campaigns for 2015 general elections. There is no gainsaying the fact that Boko Haram has constituted a serious threat to the security of this nation. The activities of the sect since debuting six years ago resulted to the death of thousands of Nigerians and destruction of several property including the UN Building, Abuja. Besides, the economy of the north eastern part of Nigeria has been crippled by its activities. The abduction of 276 students at Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State on April 14, 2014, the whereabouts of many still unknown, has dealt a lethal to Nigeria’s

DIALOGUE WITH THE SECT APPEARS THE BEST OPTION FOR THE

BUHARI GOVERNMENT TO END THE IMBROGLIO international and bashed the credibility of our political and military leaderships. The only time our military acquitted themselves well was towards the twilight of the Jonathan administration, when the insurgents were flushed out from their hideouts in Sambisa forest and their arsenals destroyed or seized by Nigerian forces. However, the inexplicable resurgence in the activities of the sect since the advent of the Buhari administration has caused serious anxieties in and outside the country. In particular, the escalation in its suicide bombings has defied our military’s counterassaults. Boko Haram has been targeting innocent Nigerians and the bombings are becoming prevalent and intractable. The incessant and sporadic nature of the suicide bombing have caught the security forces napping and called to question the possibility of using force to end the insurgency. Meanwhile, opinions differ on whether the Federal Government should dialogue with the insurgents or not. Majority is of the opinion that the sect should be dealt with decisively in order to eliminate permanently

its threat level. The fact that the grievances upon which it unleashed a reign of terror on Nigerians were spurious tilted the opinion of many against dialogue. However, what makes dialogue imperative is that in spite of the gallant efforts of Nigerian security forces to destroy the sect, it has continuously been emboldened, daring and deadly in its operation. The fact that it is carrying out its suicide bombings unhindered with heavy casualties trailing such attacks makes dialogue imperative. From media reports, more than 600 Nigerians have been lost in the last two months or there about. Second, the continuing menace has become a drained pipe for tax payer’s money and the earlier the insurgency is nipped in the bud the better for the nation’s ailing economy. Third, our compatriots in the north east are at the mercy of the sect. Life has become nightmarish for them because no one knows when the next bomb will explode. Finally, is the image of the nation. It is remarkable that Nigerian security forces have distinguished themselves in United Nations-ordered peace keeping endeavours worldwide, however, their inability to put an end to the insurgency may cast doubts on their pedigree. All things well considered, dialogue with the sect appears the best option for the Buhari government to end the imbroglio so that peace will return to the nation. It is a fact that the sect has committed heinous crime, not only against this nation, but

against humanity; yet we cannot exonerate our government for not creation the enabling environment that will make it impossible for the sect to get relevance. President Buhari has a lot to do in this wise. He has trekked the path before and should be able to know how best to handle the situation. I am delighted to read in the media that Preisdent Buhari and his government are disposed towards dialogue with the sect, but not from a weak position. This is a welcome development. This means that the President, as the father of the nation, is not comfortable with the suffering of Nigerians, particularly those living in the affected areas. There is no doubt that opposition may arise against the dialogue option, but Buhari being a victim of the dreaded sect, should know how the shoe pinches. The Federal Government should put the necessary machinery in motion to identify the leaders of the sect for dialogue to begin in earnest. An adage says “if you use right hand to reprimand a child, we use left hand to draw him close to you”. Adegbite wrote via ayekooto05@ gmail.com Send your views by mail or sms to PMB 10001, Ikoyi, or our Email: mail@ nationalmirroronline.net mirrorlagos@ yahoo.com or 08164966858 (SMS only). The Editor reserves the right to edit and reject views or photographs. Pseudonyms may be used but must be clearly marked as such.

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Friday, August 7, 2015

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Buhari should watch it

I Save us from independent oil marketers

was among the people that advocated for leadership change in the country and thus strongly supported the change campaign that brought General Muhammadu Buhari to power following his victory at the last March 28 presidential election. Despite my support, I think I owe it a duty to Nige-

rians and even the country to point out the flaws of his government when they begin to manifest. Mr. President’s position on the House of Representatives leadership crisis necessitated this contribution. During his first meeting with the aggrieved members of the House,

President Buhari preached respect for the rules of the House, meaning the supremacy of the House rules over party constitution. I was very happy with the President and applauded the quality of his statecraft. Thereafter, the National Leader of the ruling APC, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who

ndependent oil marketers in Ogbomoso have become a clog in the wheel of progress of the town, and the earlier men of conscience voice out their concerns the better for the town and its economy. As at the time of writing this report, these shylocks have stopped selling fuel, thus making life difficult for the people, and adding to the agony which the economic recession in the country had imposed on them. The cartel has formed a parallel government in the town and thus undermining business. In actual fact, since the multinational oil companies like Total, Oando, Texaco, Master Energy, and even NNPC have closed shops or working skeletally, independent oil marketers have been employing their majority and unity to cheat the customers. Instead of selling at the normal price of N87 per litre, they sold between N110 and N105. In spite of that, they still ration the selling of the products. At times, when the task force visits the town, the visit is used as an excuse not to sell at all as being witnessed at the moment. Meanwhile, they have fuel in their stations. In the past, people believed that a prominent traditional ruler in the town, who doubled as an oil dealer, was behind the invincibility of and power wielded by the marketers. However, having leased out his filling station to the NNPC, one thinks the monarch would intervene to call the shylocks to order. The reverse is the case. There is no doubt that people are fed up with the murderous activities of the oil marketers and no one can say precisely what the reaction of the people will be if the unpatriotic conduct of the oil marketers are not checked. Abdulsalam Olalekan, Yaku Layout, Ayedaade, Ogbomoso Oyo State.

Letters to the Editor

Mother care with special protection.

PHOTO:ADEMOLA AKINLABI

Between the Eagle and EFCC

t is a known fact that when you fight corruption, corruption fights back, or how do we explain the recent fraud of a protest supposedly organized by some civil society organizations to cast aspersions on the leadership of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) by paying individuals to carry placards; some of whom did not even know why they were protesting nor could they articulate most of the writings on their cards. This behavior is probably not new to the EFCC. In fact, abuse and paid protests have been the order of the day whenever politically exposed persons are being prosecuted, but the EFCC must never be cowered into submis-

sion to the dictates of any individual, group of individuals or body corporate who are intent on damaging the image and hard earned reputation of the Commission. The EFCC as we know is the only acronym that gives looters and corrupt persons sleepless nights and sends chills down the spines of the fraudulent. The activities of the anti-graft agency have led to Nigeria being removed from the list of uncooperative countries by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), and the EFCC now enjoys goodwill, collaboration and partnership with the likes of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and UK Metropolitan Police to mention a few.

President Muhammadu Buhari enjoyed an impressive voters turn-out chiefly for his anticorruption stance. I understand that many politicians with questionable records also rode on the back end of the “change Hilux” but there will be no loot-absorber provided by the centre this time around and all the leeches whose existence and relevance depends on the funds they can suck off the nation’s coffers will soon be found out and cut off. My humble advice to the President and fellow Nigerians is to allow the eagle to be true to its nature. Let the eagle fly alone. It’s effectiveness, efficiency and glory lies in its independence. Olufemi Grey, Abuja.

EFCC and the Sule Lamido saga

here is a saying that only a tree with ripe fruits attracts stones, meaning that it is only an effective endeavor that attracts criticisms. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has, in recent times been experiencing a backlash from the press, owing to the fact that it has been inviting, arraigning and prosecuting a lot of politically exposed persons. The arraignment of the immediate past Jigawa State governor, Alhaji Sule Lamido and his two

sons by the EFCC has generated a lot of controversies, with the civil rights societies accusing the Commission of witch hunting. I beg to ask, when has carrying out ones mandate become a witch hunt? It will be worthy of note that no one is above the law and the Commission has the power to investigate and prosecute anyone found guilty of economic and financial crimes in and outside the country. The judiciary is an arm enabled by the constitution to determine if an individual charged to court

is innocent or guilty. The civil rights societies should stop allowing themselves to be used to raise unjustified alarm and allow the law to take its course. After all, an accused can only be convicted when it has been proved beyond reasonable doubt that he committed the said offence. It is high time the civil society groups supported the anti-corruption fight and let the EFCC and the judiciary do their job. Minguli Agu, Enugu.

maintained a different disposition, not minding the harm this could cause the nation, put plans in motion to force the Hon. Yakubu Dogara-led House to make necessary concessions that would favour his group to enable him pocket Nigeria as if this nation is an extension of his business empire. I am not happy President Buhari is not standing firm on his decision of respecting the rules of the House, which I believe are coterminous with the rules that represent the wishes of Nigerians. In his last meeting with the members of the House on the crisis, Mr. President told them to consider the party’s decision. Why? Is making Hon Femi Gbajabiamila the House Leader Nigerians’ wish or Tinubu’s? Before President Buhari’s last decision, Tinubu paid him a visit in his office. We don’t need to be told how Gbajabiamila had his way. It would be important to remind Nigerians that the same Tinubu wanted Senator Lawan as Senate President and Gbajabiamila as the Speaker of the House, but the plan fell flat. Tinubu wants things to be done according to his desires, simply because of the major role he played in the previous general elections, and the last one that got General Buhari the plum job. If President Buhari would continue to allow Tinubu to decide for him, I wonder if we can get the change we asked for. Nigerians are tired of political godfathers, who always want things to be done in a way that will advance their personal interests. Nigerians can’t sit and watch things go against their wish, Nigerians want positive change and not the usual change they have experienced in the hands of the immediate past administration. Senator Tinubu and his group should know that Nigerians are aware of what drives their interest in politics; Nigerians are aware of their sinister plan of hijacking the leadership of the National Assembly; and Nigerians are watching their steps and won’t allow them to execute their plan. President Muhammadu Buhari should know that Nigerians voted for him and not Senator Bola Tinubu; and Nigerians want him and not Bola Tinubu. The interest of Nigerians should be placed above any other interest. Awunah Pius Terwase, Mpape, Abuja (08179289948)

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Flavour

Friday, August 7, 2015

industry is doing well; everybody would want to be part of it. Nollywood is a very vital sector of our society that everybody must support. We will support you to end piracy,” he assured. “We want laws, and policies that will help us to do our business without interference. We want the participation of the government in the continuous development of the industry on film exhibition,” he said. However, the government of Buhari has indicated interest in fighting piracy to strengthen the industry against loopholes that hinder gainful venture into the industry.

It will be recalled that the President recently gave directives to security operatives to help clamp down on people making fortunes through piracy while the legitimate laborers are short–changed. He gave the directives in Abuja after receiving a briefing from the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Information, Dr Folasade Yemi- Esan and her directors at the Presidential Villa. The recent call by the Society of Nigeria Theatre Artists has added to the clamour on Buhari to help eradicate piracy as the wave of change blow through key sectors of Nigerian’s economy.

Nollywood is goldmiNe that has Not beeN fully exploited for gaiNful impact iN our

social-cultural system iN iNterrogatiNg

Nigeria. iNdeed,

Nollywood aNd NatioNal

security opeNs up a fresh vista oN how the curreNt security challeNges iN caN be addressed.

Nigeria

WEEKEND STARTERS

Seyi Law’s ‘Fast and Funny’

opular Nigerian comedian, Seyi Law marks his 10th year on stage as professional comedian in the country, the one week event will be closing down with the show titled “Fast and Funny” at Eko Hotel and Suites on August 9th 2015 by 5pm. Visitors will be entertained from all genres of entertainment; the event features music artistes like Olamide, Chidinma, Iyanya, Banky W, Oritsefemi, Korede Bello, Reekado Banks, Adekunle Gold, Di’ja, Lil’Kesh, Kiss Daniel, K Peace and many others. List of comedians include Seyi Law, Alibaba, AY, G o r d o n s, O m o b a b a , Emeka Smith, Mc Shakara, Funny Bone, Acapella, Elenu, Senator and others. Seyi Law

Code of Silence

ew movie titled Code of Silence from Royal Arts Academy with Nollywood Workshops is set to be released, the movie presentation will hold on Friday 7th August 2015 by 5:30pm in Lagos Nigeria. The movie features both Nigerian and Ghanaian acts like: Ini Edo, Patience Ozorkwor, Desmond Elliot, Omoni Oboli, Kofi Adjorlolo, Amaechi Muonagor, S h a w n Faqua, Makida Moka to mention of few. The movie is p ro d u c e d and directed by E m e m Isong. Emem Isong

Inside FCT P. 24-25

Film shop, inset Dr ayakoroma

Critics P. 22-23

takeholders of Society of Nigeria Theatre Artists SONTA, in the movie industry have called on the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration to intervene and put an immediate end to the lingering piracy in movie industry. This is even as many of them expressed their optimism that, if the movie industry which is a veritable tool for the promotion of cultural diplomacy is repositioned it will put an end to the issue of insecurity in the land. The National President of SONTA, Prof. Sunday Enessi Ododo was speaking in Abuja at the 28th Annual International Conference of the Society of Nigeria Theatre Artists (SONTA), organised by the National Institute for Cultural Orientation NICO, with the theme: Repositioning Nollywood for the Promotion of Nigeria’s Cultural Diplomacy and National Security. He appealed to the present government to help entertainment industry fight against piracy in the country, while extending the fight against corruption to private sector. According to him, as it is concerns Nollywood, piracy is the industry’s greatest headache that needs to be specially tackled to a halt. When this battle against piracy is won, Nollywood and its economic benefits shall have stronger footing and genuine impact on our economy. “Nollywood is goldmine that has not been fully exploited for gainful impact in our social-cultural system in Nigeria. Indeed, interrogating Nollywood and national security opens up a fresh vista on how the current security challenges in Nigeria can be addressed. “Repositioning the Nigerian film industry to play a key role in character transformation, national consciousness and security sensitivity shall be in the overall interest of all Nigerians. The film is a very potent medium with very wide reach and with mass mobilization appeal.

“Permit me to state that, if the present government was to go far in her change mission and national re-orientation, the answer is Nollywood,” he assured. Also, another stakeholder, the Executive Secretary of NICO, Dr. Barclays Ayakoroma revealed that state and the local governments could improve on their internally generated revenue through the Nollywood platform, urging them to pay attention to the sector. However, the 28th edition SONTA will no doubt provide a veritable platform for the exchange of ideas among theatre arts lecturers from tertiary institutions of learning within and outside Nigeria on how to reposition Nollywood, the second largest film industry in the world, in order for it to contribute significantly to the nation’s development in our quest to diversify the economy. He said; “There is no gainsaying that Nigeria will gain a lot from an intellectual exercise like this where academics are gathered to discourse on how to move Nollywood industry forward with over eighty (80) research papers already uploaded on the conference.” “The Conference has been informed by the need to direct the attention of states that could significantly contribute to their IGR through the platform of the Nigerian film industry. “What we lack is the will power to fight piracy as against what was done against fake drugs then. Piracy must be taken as a serious problem “We believe that Abia, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bayelsa, Delta, Enugu, Imo, Lagos, Oyo and Kano are states that could ride on the platform of film production and marketing to create jobs and generate employment for our teeming youths.” He said. A renowned producer and filmmaker Francis Duru, while expressing his passion for the industry, said that piracy is a criminal offence that must be checkmated as it is a common enemy for the players in the industry. According to him, “producers and marketers expect returns for their works, if the

AMAA hosts Sponsors Night in Lagos

frica Movie Academy Award (AMAA) an initiative of the Osigwe Anyiam Osigwe Foundation is holding a Sponsors Night slated for the 8th August 2015 at Oriental Hotel Victoria Island at 6.00 pm. It is billed to be a fun evening and edutainment realising that the creative industries can help Africa surmount its unemployment problems. The evening promises to be a very lovely evening of wine, dance but more importantly support for the creative industry. Peace Osigwe

Mirror Mongers P. 26

Joel AJAyi And isiguzo destiny

Arty

Piracy: Stakeholders in culture sector re-strategise

News P. 32, 33

16 PAGES OF ARTS, REVIEWS, LIFESTYLE AND BUZZ TO START YOUR WEEKEND

Artman In The House

Friday, August 7, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Nollywood needs strong Charles Anyabuike (Charles Kay) talks about his art and life in this inter interview with NGOZI EMEDOLIBE. Excerpts:

With Tolu Ajayi

ould it be proper to assume that you have quit filmmaking on a permanent basis? It would not be proper to say I have quit film making for good, one cannot run away from his shadow. Entertainment is my life, making movies is a big aspect of entertainment. Drama is the only aspect of the numerous things I do which I actually studied in a university and got a degree in, so I cannot jettison that because of any setbacks. I only took

filmmaka break from filmmak ing to give attention reto other more re warding activities until such a time indiwhen certain indi ces are in place. How soon should the fans expect you? Of course, I shall be back making films someday. It may not be in Nollywood, I have the knowledge and the ability to make movies conveanywhere I find conve nient and rewarding. As a rule, I don’t like to confine myself to borders set by others. But at the moment, if I have to make another movmov ie, it will be a HolHol lywood movmov ie. The only project on the a production I cards is am discussing with Obi Emelonye and Osita Iheme. It’s a script I wrote years ago and a script I have much faith in. Having worked with Obi Emelonye in the past and seeing how far he has come in directing, it’s only natural we do something again. Are you frustrated by Nollywood? I wouldn’t say the bitter experience was felt by me alone. I am sure you have noticed that many of us (pioneer movie makers) also took a break and are engaged in other aspects of entertainment.

As An Igbo mAn In entertAInment, of course I Am greAtly concerned About the dwIndlIng fortunes of Igbo lAnguAge.

with kids

At the stage when the marketers in Idumota felt they had become producers because they were bankrolling the productions, they could get some untrained production hands to write scripts for them, get some continuity chaps to direct for them, the industry spiraled downwards, as you are well aware of. At the end everyone lost. Where are those marketers today? Those of us who are professionals will always keep our head above water in whatever we decide to do, and we are doing quite well. I commend those who have stuck it out and are making quality movies for the cinema, bypassing the shylock marketers who wrecked the industry. Did you envisage a career in the creative world as a child? Definitely, I always knew that whatever else I would be engaged in; I would never stray far from the arts and entertainment. That’s what gives me fulfillment, creating beauty out of the seeming disorder in nature. The Incarnate was quite popular in those days? Thanks to people like you, The Incarnate was quite popular and well-received. I even picked up a couple of awards for that including the Anthill Africana awards. Commercially it was moderately successful, at least the marketer, Contech is still my friend today which means both of us smiled to the bank. But with what I know now, I could have made much more money out of it. Are there aspects of the production and distribution processes in Nollywood, you wish changed? Definitely yes! Production wise, there’s little that I would change, because I felt I did a thorough job. Distribution wise, oh, yes, there’s so much I would have done differently. Do you know a web-based company in New York was selling my movie online? I mean the video cassette? Somebody sold them the rights. I even

took the case to Copyright Commission but you know how these things are. After a while, I had to cut my losses and move on. What determines the kind of subject you treat in films? But yes, I scripted and produced a lot of blockbusters including Picture of a General, The Incarnate, Human Cargo, Kill the Minister, Ocean of Love, etc. My subject is usually determined by real events happening around me, real people, real experiences. I try to mould it into a form of art, and I throw in a lesson or two for the viewer to learn while being entertained. Which other areas or themes do you wish Nigerian filmmakers should concentrate on?

In Dubai

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Friday, August 7, 2015

Artman In The House

legislation against quacks

With Tolu Ajayi

I wouldn’t want any filmmaker to deviate from the theme he or she feels comfortable with, whether it’s a historical work or a futuristic fantasy, or a contemporary theme. But more work should go into the plot, characterisation and other aspects that make a great film. How did studying Theatre Arts at the Obafemi Awolowo University shape your craft? Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife defined me as an artiste. Prior to Ife, the arts were just a hobby, an interest. But after passing through the four walls of Ife, and having Uncle Wole Soyinka lecture me in my first year was a very deep experience that taught me discipline, focus and professionalism. It was a pity the Prof had to leave Ife after receiving his Nobel Prize. But we kept benefitting from the legacies he left with lecturers like Chuck Mike and others. What are some aspects of filmmaking in Nollywood that are not part of what you were taught in school?

First of all, we were not really taught filmmaking at Ife, though we all took a course in that. It was more of drama, stage production, script writing, production management, etc. But that was enough preparation for us to delve into Nollywood seamlessly at the beginning. Of course, one keeps updating his knowledge and developing oneself regardless of whatever activity one is engaged in. What’s your impression of the new order in Nollywood? Of course, Nollywood has changed. We are no longer seeing forty films released every week. The real professionals who remain are making higher quality movies are taking the movies to the cinemas, which is how it should have been done in the first place. The quacks have resorted to making soft-porn to make ends meet. Can you share what more changes you desire in the industry? I would like to see proper legislation in order to check quacks in the industry. I would like to see more people invest in

cinema chains as that is the main channel of distribution, before the CDs and DVDs. What fires your imagination in fashion? The funny thing is that the fashion has always been there. At Ife, I had a boy-band, a musical group called ‘The Shades’. We played gigs on campus and I always had a fashion show on the side. Doing my NYSC at Kano TV, I was designing attires for a lot of people. While actively engaged in making movies, I always had the fashion thing going. My imagination in fashion is something that was thrust upon me. I find myself creating pieces that always stand out and are unique. I thank God for that. What is your definition of a welldressed African? A well-dressed African is no different from a well-dressed Indian or European. We wear their suit and tie; they can also wear our tunics if they are well-made. In my fashion, I have tried not to confine myself to any particular style or culture. Africans wear my products. Chinese do. Americans do. There may be African elements in my creations but the designs are ultimately universal in scope. How is the Afro-Street collection doing? My new collection is tagged Afro-Lux Collection because there’s more luxury in terms of fabrics and design. As of now only my exclusive clients have access to the collection. I have not supplied the stores yet until after the series of shows I have lined up. You had an exhibition in Dubai… what was the reception like? My Dubai exhibition at the Sun and Sands Hotel was awesome, beyond my expectations. If my designs were accepted in a place that is fast becoming the fashion hub of the world, then I am greatly encouraged. I always say fash-

ion is show-business. As such, there is the show and there is the business. You must pay attention to both. At the end of the day, the question is how many people around the world are wearing your designs? That is the business. Who is on your list of clients in Nigeria? Oh no, my clientele here in Nigeria would not find that funny. That’s why it’s exclusive. But when the mass line rolls out, I would want everyone to be a client. Getting personal…You changed your profile on Facebook to ‘complicated marital status’. What does that mean? It means I am married but living apart from my wife. We are very close though, a close family, the kids, my wife and I. Have you ever thought of costuming in movies? Costuming in movies has never crossed my mind, there’s a great difference between fashion designing and costuming in movies. Do you share the concern that films in Igbo language are not being given adequate attention? As an Igbo man in entertainment, of course I am greatly concerned about the dwindling fortunes of Igbo language. It’s our duty as people involved in culture and the arts to ensure that the language does not become extinct. But it’s also the responsibility of every Igbo parent to ensure that their kids learn Igbo. What is next up your sleeves in terms of entertainment? Right now I am fully engaged in promoting my fashion brand around the world. When that is done and the label is up and running, I would do some writing; fiction and non-fiction. I am not getting younger, so I have to take things one at a time.

Costuming in movies has never Crossed my mind, there’s a great differenCe between fashion designing and Costuming in movies. With wife Ronnie

Critics

MUSIC

Friday, August 7, 2015

Body-flaunting in music

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

A look at most music videos and blogs reveals the passion for flaunting of biceps amongst male artistes. imolEayo FatuNasE

Flavour

FILM

Onah’s metamorphosis

Anthony Onah is one name that comes to mind when it is about short films. Here is why: Ngozi EmEdolibE

owadays, body flaunting is the selling point. Various musicians now indulge and believe that the best way to show their highlife is by exposing their body in music videos and social media. As said by one of Nigeria artistes who is best in this habit, he inclined that exposing body is showing self believe and confidence. Others said that is the best way to show how best they are working in gym. Mr. Flavor, Iyanya, D’banj, Peter Okoye, Solid Star to mention of few are the master in the game of “body flaunting”. These musicians indulge in exposing their body, the performance is not complete if they are not half-naked. To gain audience attention? Who can say! The believe is that it is better to show your sex appeal than having nothing to show, Thanks to them for the great distractions. Mr. Flavor, the highlife artiste is the master in the game, he believes in hard work. Hard work in the studio brings out Good music and the good hard work in the Gym brings about the good body that should always be exposed to fans most especially female fan. It’s obvious that whenever a male artist is performing and just decide to strip, female fans are always over joyous, good for them!

hen Afrinolly and MTN announced a short film competition in 2013, the mission was clear: to unveil budding filmmakers in Africa and give them the platform o unleash their talents. After three months and a supposedly competitive process, which deployed top of the range technological platforms involving online master classes and voting procedures, the judges have announced Dara Ju as the ultimate winning entry. Dara Ju, is a fifteen-minute long film with a ten-member cast written and directed by Nigerian filmmaker, Anthony Onah who is based in the United States. It is the story of Tunde and his mother, Gloria and portrays a young man (Tunde) who is not only in conflict with his cultural identity but his social class as well. Like most stories about African immigrants, the film dwells on one fundamental problem African immigrants who have spent time abroad usually encounter in an attempt to actually define who they are. Incidentally, this experience and concept which has won prizes even in the literary circles can only be imagined by people who have had the opportunity of living abroad. The idea of the film to infuse Yoruba language into some of the dialogues appears reasonable, considering the fact that cultural influence is one of the underlying factors in the production. How-

ever, the fluency of the characters in the language leaves little to be desired. While this kind of trend (poor pronunciation of words) is common amongst Africans who have lived long in foreign lands, the film could have compensated for this flaw with a line of dialogue suggesting that they have lived long abroad. The director may have overlooked this aspect considering that he has less than fifteen minutes to tell his story according to the guidelines of this competition. This constraint is also noticeable on the dinner table, where the camera failed to highlight what the gathering was all about. Showing Tunde scooping ‘something’ into his mouth was not enough as the camera could have panned the table to show that it was a dinner table.

With films like the Cure, true Colours, A history of ViolenCe, And dArA Ju ;And tWo AWArds from the

direCtors Guild of AmeriCA, onAh, Who hAils from

Benue stAte, does not Come ACross like A Green horn

Onah’s film Watching this film, it is easy to understand why the judges and voters settled on Dara Ju. From the opening shot, which highlights superb camera movement of Tunde dressing up, to the crisp picture and sound quality, it is obvious that this film would has left impressions as regards technical quality. Great commendation must be given to the sound-mixing and visual-effects team. Their contributions were impressive to say the least. As the film opens one would hear some background sound of vehicles, birds and winds, which captured the ambience of an American city. Particularly excellent was the synchronisation of the wind with the video of the tree showing from a glass window in the scene where Tunde was talking with his mother.

This sort of technical input is a notification to Nollywood to raise the bar in the production quality of their films. But Dara Ju’s outstanding performance would leave some controversial remarks especially as regards how African the entire film crew is. While the principal characters (Tunde and Gloria) are Africans, the technical crew is dominated by whites. But this will not be as controversial as how much of a beginner Anthony Onah, the director is. Although he started out some five years ago, he has so much under his sleeves to be considered an ‘aspiring filmmaker’. With films like The Cure, True Colours, A History of Violence, and Dara Ju ;and two awards from the Directors Guild of America, Onah, who hails from Benue State, does not come across like a green horn whom this competition is supposed to thrust to the limelight.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Critics

Friday, August 7, 2015

Body flaunting should Be addressed in the industry Because it is less relevant to their songs and the fans Hardly can there be any of Mr. Flavour music video and stage performance that he will never remove his shirt, At times, he don’t even bother himself to wear any. If there should be award night for body flaunting, the next master in body flaunting should be the Kukere Master fondly known as Iyanya, he is very good in that aspect, he is always confident to expose his physique, six packs they call it . Stage performances, music videos, social media, he is always revealing. Kokomaster popularly known as D’banj should be awarded the originator of body flaunting in Nigeria Music Industry, he has been in that game for long, we never can say, his body maybe the selling point and the best way to express himself on stage, Mr D’banj can never perform without removing his shirt. Body flaunting should be refer to as his hobby when it comes to his stage performance, is always the first to do when he gets on stage or next to do after the first song. This great Nigeria musician has generated a great interest in this habit, the show is not complete until they strip, the point is that what is the relevance of body flaunting in their music, does it makes the songs more meaningful, does it generate audience attention, does it makes their music more entertaining? Music videos should portrays positive message, they should create avenue towards broadcasting positive messages to millions of young people instead of teaching young generations on how to sell their bodies. Body flaunting should be addressed in the industry because it is less relevant to their songs and the fans, there is no need for body stripping if the song is good, they should do more of dancing, dramas, dance dramas, and chorography should be done and performed in music videos. The people are actually used to body stripping and it has become too common. New ideas and performance should be generated to make all this music video look different from the old ones. Instead of been too exposed, people will appreciate it and it will be more valuable when they see it ones in a while than flaunting it all the times, it is now a style to pose nude or strip in videos as some of the up and coming artistes are not falling for the style. They believe the fame lies in body exposing than working and bring out good music for the fans, body exposing plus little songs they think is the key to music fame. Artistes should try to control it, most of this video are watched by some of Nigeria new generation and what they see is best to them. They should be laws to ban music videos which are too exposing, not only females but also males.

BOOK

Third World problems

Africa has never been a poor place. For ages it has been the source of fabulous wealth for others, yet seldom for its own peoples. Howard w. FrencH

round the year 150 B.C., a Roman politician named Marcus Porcius Cato displayed a fresh fig before his Senate colleagues, which he said had been picked in Carthage just three days before. The point was to demonstrate that there was great agricultural wealth just across the narrow Mediterranean, and that the subjugation of their longtime rival would at last clear the way for Rome’s appropriation of it. Within 200 years, through conquest and colonization, North Africa, including Egypt, was supplying as much as 300,000 tons of corn per year to feed the Roman Empire. Figs were thrown in as a bonus. Fast forward roughly 16 centuries and one finds another budding empire, that of late-15th century Portugal, trading slaves taken from West Africa’s Benin coast and selling them in exchange for gold at a place called El Mina (the Mine) in present-day Ghana. Within little more than two decades, the gold production there accounted for a very substantial portion of the world supply and helped finance Portugal’s subsequent conquests in Asia. A little more than a century later, by which time European sea captains were making frequent trips around the southern tip of Africa on their way to the East, Table Bay, near the Cape of Good Hope, became a favored port of call, especially for English and Dutch ships. A small community of European settlers began to form there, and as their numbers grew, tensions rose with the native population of Khoikhoi. It culminated in a battle in 1659, in which the local inhabitants drove the settlers from five farms. In the negotiations that ensued, a Dutch participant recorded the Khoikhois’ grievance: “They spoke for a long time about our taking every day for our own use more of the land which had belonged to them from all ages, and on which they were accustomed to pasture their cattle. They also asked whether, if they were to come to Holland, they would be permitted to act in a similar manner?” No answer was recorded, although what followed serves up a rejoinder of sorts. A little more than 100 years later, the Cape Colony had gone from a settlement that measured 6 miles by 2 miles to cover an area of 110,000 square miles. The newcomers had reached clear across to the east of the country that is now South Africa. Stories like these, drawn from Martin Meredith’s new book, “The Fortunes of Africa: A 5,000-Year History of Wealth, Greed, and Endeavor” are all used to drive home a powerful point. The history of this continent can be summed up in one word: plunder. As one learns from the author’s abundant examples, plunder can take many forms: slavery, expropriation of land and resources, various kinds of financial exploitation, and enlistment as fodder in other people’s imperial wars. Mr. Meredith points out that in World War I, some 150,000

Africans served on the Western Front, where 30,000 were killed in action. In World War II, nearly 400,000 Africans served in the British Army alone. Mr. Meredith’s accounting, which is encyclopedic and roughly chronological, hopscotching from region to region, lays bare a fundamental defect in the way we usually think of the continent. Africa is not and has never been a poor place. Quite the opposite. For ages it has been the source of fabulous wealth for others, yet seldom for its own peoples. Although foreign domination is the central theme of this book, it is not the sole explanation for this pattern of deprivation. Indeed one of the stories in Mr. Meredith’s book is about a 14th-century ruler from the Mali empire who may have been the richest man to ever live. In 1324, King Mansa Musa visited Cairo en route to Mecca with a caravan carrying so much gold, which he squandered in such quantities, that the price of the metal was depressed for 10 years on world markets. The Malians had been preoccupied with discovering what lay on the far shores of the Atlantic at least a century before Columbus, but profligacy like this was their undoing. Today, the author notes that “much of the wealth generated by foreign activity flows out of Africa to destinations abroad,” but adds that Africa’s own elites hold much of the continent’s wealth in offshore bank accounts and in foreign property, contributing little to local development. Even the longtime specialist is likely to learn lots of things from this work because of the extraordinary amount of ground the author covers. Yet the decision to cover virtually all of Africa across the ages necessitates a breathless pace and seldom affords time to pause for anything much deeper than an exposition of the basic facts. Another unfortunate and ironic shortcoming, given the author’s apparent sympathy for the continent, is the dearth of African characters. History is told here mainly through the experiences of famous white people, like Belgium’s monstrous king, Leopold, who regarded Africa as a “magnificent cake,” and the arch-imperialist and dia-

although foreign domination is the central theme

of this Book, it is not the sole explanation for this pattern of deprivation mond baron, Cecil Rhodes, who explained his ruthlessness saying, “I would annex the planets if I could.” Despite this, there are gems of detail that crop up often enough to stop a reader on the page and to constantly reaffirm Mr. Meredith’s plunder thesis. Take this devastating example: On the eve of independence in the late 1950s, after centuries of taking and 70 years or so of colonial rule, sub-Saharan Africa’s 200 million people had only 8,000 secondary school graduates, most of which came from just two countries: Ghana and Nigeria. If the white man’s burden has been understood as the imperative duty of Europeans to share the fruits of Western civilization with Africans, it would be charitable to say they were taking their time. •French teaches at the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. He is the author of “China’s Second Continent: How a Million Migrants Are Building a New Empire in Africa.”

Inside FCT

Friday, August 7, 2015

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Kubwa: Menace of rampaging burglars Omeiza ajayi

he security and well-being of the people is the primary purpose of government, so says the nation’s Constitution. Unfortunately, government has for many years abdicated in its responsibility to the people.

Many residents of the territory, like most Nigerians, have since become a government unto themselves. If a man provides water, security and power for himself, then constructs the road to his house and also engages in constructing drainages to channel water away from his house, what then is the justification for the existence of any government? What then is the justification for paying taxes? For instance, since July 1, most residents of Abuja who rely on the public water supply system have had to contend with inexcusable disruption in such services. First, the FCT Water Board was said to have discovered a pipe burst on its water supply major trunk line around Ushafa, Bwari Area Council. The development had adverse consequences for residents around Ushafa Army Camp, Law School, JAMB Office, Federal Government Girls College, the entire Bwari town, Dutse and Kubwa. Days after, the administration said there was another “sudden pullout of major water trunk line”, which occurred at Sokale village along Dutse Road. Due to the pullout, there was disruption of water supply to Gwarinpa I (Life-Camp), Gwarinpa II, Jabi, Utako, Kado, Karmo, Bwari and environs for many days. Unfortunately, while the construction company whose activities reportedly led to the “sudden pullout” was ready to fix it, some government officials had allegedly asked for money from the company in order to get government engineers to rectify the problem. And for days, residents of highbrow Jabi who were worst hit had to trek several metres to get water from some residential homes. However, residents of Kubwa were not so lucky as the development made many of them to resort to patronizing some local water vendors, popularly called “Mai Ruwa” in Hausa. Now, since the increasing wave of insurgency in some parts of the north, many able-

bodied youth, some who are among the Internally Displaced Persons IDPs have found their way into the nation’s capital. Without any major skills, some of them have taken up such jobs as water vending, commercial motor-cyclists and refuse collectors called “Baban Gbola” in Hausa. Interestingly, they neither owned the motorcycles nor the water or refuse carts. They are simply employees and they deliver returns to their bosses each day or week. Refuse collectors, scavengers as thieves Many refuse collectors in Kubwa today collect refuse in the day and valuables at night, albeit forcefully. As part of their morning refuse collection itinerary is the very important aspect of “intelligence gathering”. Ibrahim Adams, a legal practitioner who said his house was burgled by three men about a week ago said one of them was a refuse collector who had been to his compound severally to collect refuse in the past. “Having collected some refuse in the morning, he came back at mid-day when he thought all of us had gone out to work. Unfortunately, my wife’s grand-mother was in the house. “What he first did was to throw stone from outside to hit our roof. That way, if someone was at home, he was sure that the person would come out to find out who threw the stone. He did it twice, but my inlaw was praying then. Convinced that nobody was at home, three of them scaled the fence”, he said. He said their intention was to break into one of the cars, remove the battery and the stereo. “It was a passerby who saw them scale the fence that now alerted some people. By then, my in-law had opened the door too and she recognized the boy, but they escaped”, he added. Adams had since raised his fence with more blocks. The Mai Ruwa connection This group also operates like the scavengers. It is just that they are most likely to gather credible intelligence more than the first group. The reason is that many residents, who patronise them, often allow them access to their kitchens and even bathroom to discharge their water into domestic reservoirs. Residents around Phase Three, PW, Arab Road and Byazhin have often fallen victims to this group who exploit security weak-

Kubwa area nesses in such houses to their advantage. How Okada riders become thieves This set of people is more vicious when they decide to take to robbery. They have seen more money than both the refuse collectors and water vendors,so, when they want to steal, they go for something more valuable like generators, electronic gadgets, jewelries and money. Inside FCT checks revealed that because of the money they make daily, many of them often take to drugs like Tramadol, Roche, Rophynol and many other off-the-counter drugs. Apart from smoking Indian hemp around broken sewage pits or pit latrines, they are more likely to indulge in taking lizard dungs, which gives them so much “Dutch Courage” to attack their victims. At a house very close to the Dump site in PW, a group of thieves had broken in just days ago. One of them, Musa (not real name) who was allegedly caught and handed over to security operatives gave an insight into what

pushed him to crime. A week to the end of the Ramadan fast, he had travelled to his village in Talata-Mafara in Zamfara state. He squandered his savings during the celebration and also did not come back to resume his okada business as scheduled. Determined to remain afloat in business, the owner of the motorcycle had leased it to another person. By the time Musa came back, he was left high and dry. Broke, and with bills to pay, he had to look for an interim means to fend for himself, hence, the attraction to robbery. The police in the FCT had earlier restated its commitment to ridding the city of all forms of crimes and criminalities. Its spokesperson, ASP Anjuguri Manzah said the command’s crime preventive and crime fighting strategies are already paying off with the raiding of dark spots and arrests of many suspected criminals in recent time.

He said tHeir intention was to break into one of tHe cars, remove tHe battery and tHe stereo

How poor facilities fuel indiscriminate defecation jOel ajayi

he prevalent rate at which some residents have decided to engage in human waste disposal in the full glare of the public has been found to be as a result of the literacy level, lifestyle and inadequate facilities; and in some cases, non-availability of public toilets.

However, the serious environmental and health related problems posed by this menace, the relative authorities seem to have completely lost the battle, as residents in the suburb areas in particular, have gotten so used to public defecation and urination. Although, FCDA is making frantic efforts to make the city one of the most attractive cities in the world, through holistic improvement of infrastructure and provision of basic amenities, an environment that engenders good

health but this good initiative is being hampered by lack of effective sanitation system. Yet, an adage says ‘cleanliness is next to godliness’. Even though the menace is mostly prevalent in the suburb areas, when Inside FCT took a walk through Utako, Durumi in area one, Mpape, Garki 2, Jabi to mention but few are the testimony of the unrelenting efforts of some residents who just have to heed the call of nature at any convenient pot. The situation is so appalling that a drive through the Lugbe Federal Housing overhead bridge towards the City gate, morning or evening, would leave a sane person wondering how convenient it could be for any well-

balanced mind, to squat by the very open road and defecate right there in public. Upon further prodding into why this kind of barbaric attitude would continually increase rather than decreasing, it was revealed that everyone’s mindset and thinking have always and would always be different, and as such, the lifestyle and the exposure of some residents would not permit them to think such acts do not conform to societal tenets. According to Britus Bako who stays at the ‘Across’, a suburb area of Lugbe in the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), for someone who originated from a village background and comes into Abuja without access to either a pri-

He will tell you tHat it is better for Him to go to tHe busH instead of wasting a bucket of water

Dump site in Abuja

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Inside FCT

Friday, August 7, 2015

Farming picks up as rains intensify Marcus FatunMole

fter weeks of waiting for rain amidst waning hopes, farmers in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, are now tilling the ground for perhaps already belated farming activities. As if the firmament and the earth engaged each other in a fierce battle, rain that often links the two together disappeared for months, when traditionally, rain water was supposed to have sunk deep beneath the soil. Until recently, most of the crops that were hurriedly planted with the first set of rains in April this year had withered, stirring fears of food crisis in a city touted to be one of the fastest-growing on earth. Between April and early July this year, rain did not fall more than three times in most Abuja communities. And, more amazing is the fact that virtually all rains have since been falling in the morning! Since the rain has been falling, various crops have been springing up on the farms, as farmers dared most of the morning downpours to sow their seeds. Almost one-third of estimated three million people living in the FCT are farmers. Farm exists everywhere – along the highways, in the city, even in compounds of Ministers! Yet, many residents believe government’s policy on land use does not favour farming, as many undeveloped sites that could be used for farming lie fallow. In a typical year when rain falls as expected within May and late October in Abuja, the population of the city notwithstanding, there is usually surplus food to eat and export to neighbouring states namely Nasarawa, Niger, Kaduna and Kogi. Crops like yam, maize, millet, garden egg, guinea corn among others are planted in large quantity, especially by the original inhabitants, the Gbayis and Gwaris. Even though it is becoming less popular across the country, with increasing calls on government to resuscitate it, explore its potentials for massive job creation opportunities and de-emphasize

Corn field

rush for white collar jobs, Abuja remains one of the states in Nigeria where land is cultivated in large quantity for farming. Surprisingly, only a few farms in the nation’s capital are mechanised. Two things work in favour of subsistence farming in the city. First, there is vast arable land, fertile for both mono-cropping and mixed cropping. The land is also only good for annual crops, thus encouraging most residents who are on transit to farm and probably harvest their crops before being redeployed to other parts of the nation. Despite the passion people in Abuja has for farming, many factors discourage them from engaging in it. Apart from the Abuja Municipal Area Council, AMAC, where virtually all government institutions are located and governance taking place, many communities in other five

area councils in the city namely Abaji, Bwari, Kwali, Gwagwalada and Kuje cannot boast of basic amenities such as good roads, power supply, water among others that could help farming. Most crops waste on the farms because there are no good roads to bring them home. Hyped irrigated farming programmes of government are virtually non-existent in the city while storage facilities for farm products are lacking. A 58-year-old father of four, resident and farmer in the city puts his experience thus: “We are not encouraged by government to farm. When you hear government say it has released this or that billions of naira to farmer, don’t believe them; the money is shared among them to enable them start or boost their own farms. It doesn’t get any-

There is vasT arable land, ferTile for boTh mono-cropping and mixed cropping vate toilet or public toilet would as much prefer doing it out doors. “If you go to the villages or you were brought up there, and maybe due to work or some opportunity for a better livelihood in Abuja and then you end up in an area like across here, and maybe you don’t even have a toilet in your house, I am very sure that person will prefer using short put or just doing it in the bush and leave it to rotten with nature”, Bako opined. He added: “Even when you go to town and you are pressed on your way, unless you are in a building that has toilet or maybe you are close to a market place where you can pay as little as N50 to urinate or do anything, there will be no other way to probably relieve yourself at that moment”, he added. Mr. Joshua Igbokwe , a civil servant who reside in Durumi close to a popular area 1 was also of the opinion that the literacy of some residents is also contributory to the menace while inadequate facilities like water and public toilets in the place has also been contributory to this.

“With the various level of education everyone in this city has, you wouldn’t expect everyone to see anything bad in that habit. I have this neighbor who prefers going outdoors to defecate than using his own water closet in his house. “He will tell you that it is better for him to go to the bush instead of wasting a bucket of water to flush when he could simply use the same quantity of water to either bath or cook what he will eat, since he has to buy the water to use”, he said. Further investigations have also showed that environmental agencies like the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) seem so overwhelmed by their campaign of beautifying the Federal Capital Territory, while they turn a blind eye to this environmentally degrading menace which has left a lot of unwholesome stench in some parts of the capital city. Garki village remains one of the dirtiest areas in the FCT despite its proximity to some highbrow areas like Asokoro, Garki II, Area 3

where near people like us. We already know that we cannot benefit from any of such funds, except our “Baba” who has promised us change truly changes the situation for us. “All we are begging them to do for us is that they should allow us to use our land to farm when they are not ready to use it. Originally, the land belongs to us. But, our constitution has made it the possession of the government. We agree. But, they should allow us to keep farming on them when they are not ready yet to build on them. “If for instance a Minister or any government official takes a land from us, you see such a Minister remove our crops and the land will remain there for a long period. And, we would have to go into far places to look for land. “Baba” should help us look into this,” he pleaded. He also appealed to government to put in place basic amenities that would make life more comfortable for the farmers and other residents of satellite communities in the city.

and Area 11. A first-time visitor to the village would be welcomed by offensive odor oozing out of gutters, make-shift toilets and other outlets that have suffered prolonged neglect by sanitary authorities. Any open place in the district is a mini-toilets for some residents. A resident, Mrs. Jumoke Aliu, complained that their numerous appeals to the present administration have not yielded positive results. “It seems as if the FCTA has forgotten that human beings live here not animals; it is obvious that we are living in isolation because if we are not, we wouldn’t be treated like this. Look at everywhere, power is an epileptic so street light are out of the question and there are no good roads too. “With the inability of FCTA to solve this problem, we have to hire some people to do this cleaning work for a fee. I am appealing to this present administration to create an enabling environment through infrastructure and social amenities for people to pursue their legitimate goals”, Fatimah emphasised.

Mirror Mongers

Friday, August 7, 2015

In and out of courts

Ikpeazu’s new taste

ome people would be dismissing some gestures by politicians as ordinary but they are not, considering where Nigerians have been coming from since 1999, when this political dispensation kicked off. A few years ago, no Governor would bother to impress anyone by doing some odd things, save from when the elections are about to start. Yes, barely two months after ‘swearing-in ceremony’ some governors, have begun to fly economy class in air planes, just to drive home the fact that belts are being tightened here and there. One of such people who displayed the gesture is Governor of Abia State, Okezie Ikpeazu, who flew the economy class on Air Peace from Owerri to Lagos. But some people say it is publicity stunts. By the way, who would not, with the disciples of Alex Otti lurking around the corner?

Ikepeazu

Extra mile for stardom

he benefits of stardom are unquantifiable in the Nigerian context. Aside availing an attraction amongst fans, it is now a license to open doors in Nigeria’s political circle, which is why a lot of actresses, MM gathered are now ready to offer more than anyone can imagine in the race to attain this star status. Sometime ago, MM hinted how desperation to become stars in Asaba, Delta State has led to a situation where some girls now contribute money to shoot films, where all of them are paraded on the movie jackets (the movie, ‘Aso Ebi Girls’ is a typical example). That is however not comparable to a situation where some of them have to

ONE-SECOND &

With

ELIJAH AYODELE

pay producers (it should actually be the other way) to feature in movies. The latest fad, MM learnt is for actresses to pay specific fees to have their photos adorn the cover of the films they are featuring in after they have ‘settled’ the producers. With such credentials (pictures on movie jackets) in their handbags, MM learnt it becomes much easier to convince Abuja politicians who are crazy about hanging out with actresses that they are the right species. May be this is not as disheartening as the raging impression that there are spiritual solutions to stardom, which makes upcoming a actresses throng a town called Ozza in Edo State for powers.

Nigerians are vehemently opposed to same sex marriage proposals in the country in spite of the pressure by the Western world. Primate Elijah Babatunde Ayodele of INRI Evangelical Alaseyori Church, reacts to the issue:

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and his wife of over twelve years, Emma Ike, had filed a divorce suit against the actor on allegation of domestic violence, the actor was quick to squash it as mere rumour and insisted that his marriage was intact, claiming he had not received any divorce notice.

Emeka Ike

meka Ike now seems to be living out his life in courts. From the eviction court tussle with his landlord over the property on which his school was situated, to the battle for the presidency of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, AGN, and now his divcorce mess. When the news broke that Emeka Ike

Kenya missing Jim Iyke

o, he did not go to visit President Uhuru Kenyetta. But residents are wont to miss him following the thrills that heralded every action of it. Yes he inked a mouthwatering acting deal in London for a movie, ‘My Life in Crime’ about Nairobi. But the job, which MM gathered availed Jim Iyke some good dollars was also a source of bruised ego for him. The film ‘My Life in Crime’ is starring Jim Iyke as Jack Zolo, the lead character but that pitched him against the writer of the three books, My Life In Crime, My Life With A Criminal and My Life In Prison adapted for the film. The author of the book, John Kiriamiti, had heard Jim on the set and almost screamed at Jim Iyke’s interpretation of the character, Jack Zolo, whom he said speaks like Kenyans, not Americans. Jim Iyke, who likes sounding like an American brought in the borrowed (wanna, gonna, gotta) to the character, and this was roundly criticised. According to the author, ‘‘whoever has read the book has told me they read it thrice or four times and as you know in the book I wasn’t acting I was doing it for real.”

x marriage, do America has legalised same-se ca? you see that coming to Afri

In his words then: “As I’m talking to you now, I have not received any divorce notice. Nothing like that happened. I have not received any letter from anybody. I am a Christian, we don’t divorce”. Barely a week after his claim, the case came before a Lagos Island customary court where his wife’s petition for dissolution of their marriage was heard. Though Emeka was not in court his counsel was and so were Emma and her counsel. Emeka’s counsel prayed the court to adjourn the case for the next hearing to six months, citing possibility of settlement between the couple before then. “My client is ill but I will try my possible best to ensure that he comes on the next adjourned date. We indulge the court to give us six months from this day to see if there is possibility of settlement between the couple.

should not t will come to Africa. Buhari waste of e rely on America. It’s a mer give him not will a time because Americ will take this and lly ecia what he wants esp psychoand ally tion emo him so much from ssarece unn logically, thereby draining him ing gett is a eric Am ily. It’s one of the places rely not st mu ari Buh why it wrong, and it’s much on America.

Jim Iyke

Friday, August 7, 2015 22 Shawwal, 1436

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Call to Worship

On the authority of Anas bin Malik, the servant of the Messenger of Allah, the prophet said: “None of you [truly] believes until he wishes for his brother what he wishes for himself.”

RELATED BY BUKHARI AND MUSLIM

Aversion to wealth accumulation

my brother, I warn you against amassing wealth to exceed others. You should stick to what is sufficient of the permissible things and then consume it with the intention of serving (God). Be a lover of humbleness for fear of poverty and trust in Allah for your sustenance, be confident in His judgment, cheerful in the time of trials, satisfied in the time of abundance, still thankful during misfortunes, patie4nt when blessed, praising Allah, may He be exalted. Be modest, fleeing away from the love of exaltation and exceeding others in riches. Oh my brother hold fast to contentment (with what is sufficient) for surely this is the barrier between you and (the attractions of) this world; it is the key with which the good of the hereafter is to be opened. So when Allah favour you with the virtue of contentment, praise Him and beware of becoming misery for the miserly one is estranged from Allah, the Messenger of Allah, and paradise. But he is closer to the hell.

the matter now.’ He said, ‘Then let me go, O Commander of the Faithful.’ How excellent it was of Alexander (the Great) when a slander defame a man before him and he said, ‘If you wish, we will take you to your friend on condition that you should speak in front of him, or if you wish, we will let you go.’ He said, ‘Then let me go.’ Alexander said, ‘We release you now; keep away from evil so that evil may keep away from you.

Keeping Away from Backbiters and Flatterers The leader will scrutinize the blaming of backbiters and the praise of flatterers. How many

On Pardon and Forgiveness ‘Authority cannot go with revenge nor leadership with self-esteem and self-admiration. Be it known that it is better that you should pardon wrongly in one thousand cases than to punish wrongly in a single case.’ If a transgressor wrongs you through his foolishness kill him by goodness not by evil. For a wrong-doer, if he has committed the error, will be encompassed by (divine) pardon and if he is innocent, he will be encompassed by (divine) justice.

Prevention of Slander and Rumor-Mongering As for preventing slander, there is God’s word; ‘If an ungodly man brings you tidings, verily it’, to the end of the verse. Hudhayfa said he had heard the Prophey say, ‘No backbiter will enter Paradise.’ And it is reported that the Prophet said, ‘Shall I tell you who are the evil men among you?’ They replied, ‘yes indeed, O Messenger of God.’ He said, ‘Among the evil ones in your midst are those who carry slander about, those who make mischief between close friends and seek out faults.’ Ibn Qutayba related that the Prophet had said, ‘Neither a dayyuth nor a qalla will enter Paradise.’ A dayyuth is a man who bring men from an amir (‘s confidence), meaning that a slander ceaselessly defames a man strongly favoured by the leader, until he is uprooted’. When the Bishop of Najran met ‘Umar b. al-Khattab he told him, ‘O Commander of the Faithful, beware of the killer of the Three.’ ‘Who is he? He replied, ‘The man who comes to the leader with false news and the leader accepts it; thereby he kills himself, his friend and the leader.’ It is related that a man told tales of his neighbor to al-Walid b. ‘Abd al-Malik. Al-Walid said to him, if you wish we will send (somebody to him) with you; (even) if you are telling the truth, we will hate you, but if you are telling lies we will punish you; however, if you wish, we will drop

Big deal about economic team 28

distant one shave t h e y brought near and how many that were near have they driven far! How many foes have they caused to be loved and how many friends have they made to be hated! How many stronghold has the slanderer wrecked with his lips, and not with iron axe! So banish the slanderer far from you. How many a rightly guided sage had he made to look foolish! And some there are who praise much, then blame much, and they blame much, then praise much, so that you may he hard put to it to know whether they praise or blame. So look into every matter and be cautions of your allies in all things.

Kogi 2015: I will rescue Kogi from current abysmal position –Dr. Habeeb

Keeping of Secrets

I say, and success is from God: God has said, relating the story of Jacob: ‘He said, “O my son, relate not your vision to your brothers, lest they devise a plot against you.” When Joseph divulged his dream in the presence of Jacob’s wife, she told him brothers, and this how what befell him came about. It is related in a tradition, ‘Seek the help of secrecy in achieving your aims’ Know that keeping secrets is a commendable practice for all mankind and a necessary quality for leaders, and an essential duty for deputies and personal staff. Ali b. Abi Talib said, ‘Your secret is your captives so long as you do not tell it, but when you do, you become its captive.’ And know that those whom you can trust with secrets are more difficult to find and less numerous than those propyou can trust with property, and that to look after prop erty is easier burden and carry it alone, though he cannot keep a secret. He who keeps back his secret cirattains his part of your blood, so do not let it cir culate in veins other than your own; and if you tell it, then you have shed your blood. ‘umar b. Abd al-Aziz said, ‘Hearts are repositories and lips are their locks, and tongues their keys; so let every person guard the keys of his secrets.’ It is said that the most patient person is he who can endure keeping his secrets without telling them to his friend who may, one day, become and enemy of his. Amr b. Al-As said, I have never blamed a man who divulged a secret I told him for if my heart could not contain it, then how much less could his,’ it has been said: It use to be said: The hearts of noble men are the tombs of secrets. A wise man once said, ‘What you hide from your enemy let not your friend come across, if telling is inevitable, let it be to a friend who is capable of giving good counsel, sincere, faithful in keeping secrets and of should judgment, religious and affectionate. Do not deposit your secret with one who asks for it, because the one who are to have something deposited, is treacherous.’ Be it known, too that to divulge the secrets of other is worse than divulging your own because (such a habit) shows itself to be one of two things; either breach of faith, if you have been entrusted with it; or slander if it is hearsay. A certain sage told his son, ‘O my son, be generous with wealth in the right places and miserly with secrets towards all mankind.’

Quoted from: Principles of Leadership According to the Founding Fathers of the Sokoto Caliphate Collated and edited by Hamid Bobboyi with the Compliments of His Eminence Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar mni, CFR, LLD, Sultan of Sokoto

Love and reverence for Holy Qur’an 30

Call to Worship

22 Shawwal, 1436 Friday, August 7, 2015

Big deal about economic team

wonder why some people do not even get shame. If it were to be in other sane clime, many people who are still running their mouth should be behind bars by now. Or how on earth can one describe the utterances of some elements in our midst? It was reported recently that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, said that the absence of an economic team in the third month of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration may lead the country into economic quagmire and doldrums. How far has the purportedly set-up economic team of the past administration taken the nation with some of the revelations we are witnessing in the last two months? Why can’t they just hold on and give the new administration some time to put its house in order before making unnecessary criticisms? In a statement by Olisa Metuh, National Publicity Secretary of PDP, the party said; “In the past, we had given examples of the devastating effect of lack of an economic team and a clear-cut fiscal policy by this administration as evidenced in the lull and painful decline in the stock market, spiral rate of inflation,

the disastrous outing of the government team in bilateral talks during the recent visit to the United States of America and the shambolic state of our economy at present. “This confusion has been extended to operations and regulations of the foreign exchange transactions in Nigeria wherein the government is making it impossible for honest Nigerians to engage in free trade and regulate their personal activities as guaranteed by the constitution, and this is clearly an agenda to illegally impose a communist economic regime on Nigerians.” PDP noted that in a desperate attempt to create a semblance of movement out of the clearly motionless and stoic state

How far Has tHe purportedly set-up economic

team of tHe past administration taken tHe nation

L-R: Naibatul-Amirah, Lagos FOMWAN, Alhaja Ramota Olaniyonu; Amirul-Hajj Lagos State, Ustadh Abdul-Hakeem Abdul-Lateef; Alhaja Amudalat Amusan, Lagos State Deputy Governor, Alhaja Idiat Adebule, Lagos Amirah of FOMWAN , Dr. Sariyu Ashiru, and other executive members at the Lagos FOMWAN’s family Day recently.

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THE PLATFORM with

Sekinah

of affairs of this government, the APC led government has reeled out bans and complete clampdown E-mail: sakinah207@yahoo.com t: 08055102994 on free trade. “One begins to wonder At this stage in our nation building, therefore whether we are not heading criticism must be done in order to bring back to the era of import duty licenses about a reformation and improvement, and regulation of commodity prices.” not when full work is yet to commence These are people who should be cover- but just for some people to become fault ing their faces in shame for putting the pickers unnecessarily. country in a big mess and they still have Because prayer can turn around forthe effrontery of running their mouths. tunes of nations, Nigerians prayed ferAnyway, it is high time they realize the vently for good government by upright fact that many Nigerians are wiser now leadership which has been granted. It and gone are the days of impunity unlim- has been confirmed that when prayer is ited. made with all its due requisites, it can The nation is now on the right path turn around fortunes of nations. That is to greatness as envisaged by millions of the stage we are now in the history of our well-meaning Nigerians and nothing can nation and we must keep up the prayers turn back the hand of that moving clock! for our leaders.

Lawal

Kogi 2015: I will rescue Kogi from current abysmal position –Dr. Habeeb AdAm AbdullAh

he Kogi State governorship aspirant on the platform of APC, Dr. Yaqeen Habeeb has reiterated his determination and commitment to rescue the state from its current abysmal state into one of great recognition in Nigeria just as he called on all Kogi indigenes to support the new era of change in the state by giving him their support in the coming primaries and elections. Also, the Okun Development Association, ODA, of Kogi State has endorsed his candidacy for the state’s gubernatorial election. In a letter signed by Sanya Asepo and J.O. Olorunnipa, ODA’s chairman and secretary respectively, it was made known that in a view to bring out the best man for the task ahead among the aspirants; a committee was set up and the group gave recommendations that Dr. Habeeb and Rt. Hon. Clarence Olafemi from Okun axis and Baba Ali Suleiman (Lokoja/Koto axis) emerged the best from the western axis of the coalition. “This decision came up as a result of their enviable track record in their personal achievements politically and among the grassroots.” Also, during his appearance on a cur-

rent affairs program of Channels TV, Sunrise, Dr. Habeeb lamented the poor state of infrastructure in the state which many well-meaning indigenes of the state want changed for better, the economic guruturned politician solicited for the support of Kogi indigenes to lead the good people of the state to enviable economic and infrastructural development. In his reaction to the argument of the opposition party that the state revenue from the federation account is not enough to provide needed basic amenities, Dr. Habeeb wondered why a serious government will be depending solely on federation account at this age to provide needed amenities for her citizens when there are many economic opportunities that can generate revenue for the state internally. He made it known that his focus is to develop the state through industrialization by creating jobs to drastically reduce unemployment as well as improve infrastructure in the state. He also called on other politicians to be guided by the principles of service to their father land rather than self-interest in the build up to the elections so that the electorates can enjoy the much needed dividends of democracy.

Cross section of invited guests at the event.

A cross section of the graduands at the occasion.

All Progressive Congress, APC, Kogi State gubernatorial aspirant, Dr. Yeqeen Habeeb and his wife Dr Mrs Munirat Yusuf-Habeeb, shortly after received party nomination form at the Party Secretary Abuja on Tuesday.

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Call to Worship

Friday, August 7, 2015 22 Shawwal, 1436

Then Muslims burst into tears “O MANKIND! Fear your Lord and be dutiful to Him! Verily, the earthquake of the Hour (of Judgement) is a terrible thing [22:1]” The first and second verses of chapter 22 (Surah al-Hajj) were revealed at night while the Prophet was on a journey. He called out to the people and recited it to them. He asked them: “Do you know which day it is? They replied: “Allah and his Prophet know better.” Then he told them: “That is the day when Allah will tell Adam, take out (of your) offspring) the portion of hell. He will ask: ‘Oh Lord, how many shall I take out? He will be told, “Take out nine hundred and ninety nine out of every one thousand”. Then the Muslims burst into tears, the kind of which he had

never seen before. By the morning, they did not saddle (their rides), fold their tents and cook in pots. People were either crying or engrossed in a sorrowful thought. Then he raised his voice and said: “Fear Him (Allah) with regards to forsaking what He has commanded and venturing into what he has prohibited.” The opening of this verse is just like that of Q4 : 1. Allah exhorts man to fear Him. It is by this they will be able to be conscious of the reality and catastrophic effect of the earthquake of the Hour. Fear of Allah will make them to be involved in endeavours, which can salvage them on the day when the promised earthquake will rock the world or its attendant aftermath of being adjudged to hell or paradise. Thus, Allah personally calls on man to fear his Lord. Man has no

other reasonable choice than to fear his Lord who has made his existence possible and has also continued to sustain him with His provisions. Courtesy even demands that at least, he should appreciate this favour. To do this, man is supposed not to have time for other things but continuous thanksgiving to Allah for continuous favour too. Fearing Allah is not as we fear our fellow men because of the harm or loss they can cause us. It will be untenable for you to fear Allah because you do not want to suffer loss in what He has bestowed on your as bounties. It will also be wrong to fear Him because you are in need. Fearing Him should be a matter of worship. It is your God-consciousness in living according to His commandment. It is your being fully aware

IN HIS LIGHT with

USTAZ

A. ZAFARAN e-mail: zatabumuneeb@yahoo.com

Man has no other reasonable choice than to fear his lord that He sees the most hidden motif in the recess of your heart. It is your desperate avoidance of the minutest sin for fear of its counting against you on the day to Judgement. Such a taqwa will transform you into an angel on earth, transmit the waves of the hereafter into your veins and arteries, transfer you to the cosmos of virtue, translate your worship into being a true slave of Allah and ultimately make you

triumph in the two worlds. In a way, the introductory segment signifies that the pre-requisite for safety on the terrible day of the earthquake is taqwa. On the other hand, its entire verse serves as a prelude to the eschatological phenomenon. It informs, in advance, the encounter with one of the scenes of Qiyaamah (Judgement Day). TO BE CONTINUED NEXT WEEK

At the Oyefeso’s Nikkah T he Haven Event Center, Ikeja GRA Lagos became the envy of many Nigerians last Saturday, August 1st, 2015, when the daughter of Alhaji Musibau Oyefeso, former LASIEC Commissioner and his wife, Alhaja Fatimat, retired First Bank Senior Manager, Lateefah, exchanged marital vows with her heartthrob, Muhammad Adetoro. As Lateefah and Muhammad were

ushered into the hall, the elegance of the bride dazzled. They smiled and greeted everyone. It was glitz, glamour and indeed a very joyful mood. The chairman of the occasion, Governor Rauf Aregbesola noted that marriage is a thing of joy and advised the couple to obey Quran injunctions, communicate their feelings to each other as well as be best of friends.

L-R: Bride’s father, Alhaji Musibau Oyefeso; the Bride, Lateefah, Governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and the Groom, Mr. Muhammad Adetoro; representative of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget, Mr. Adebayo Sotade.

L-R: Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr. Idiat Adebule and her husband, Alhaji Saheed Adebule; APC National Legal Adviser Dr. Muiz Banire, and Alhaji Akeem Kosoko

L-R: Groom’s parents, Alhaji and Alhaja Adetoro, parents of the Bride, Alhaji Musibau Oyefeso, former LASIEC Commissioner and his wife, Alhaja Fatimat, retired First Bank Senior Manager

L-R: Alhaji Wale Sonaike; member, Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. AbdulSobur Olawale; Senator Ganiu Solomon and Former Lagos Housing Commissioner, Mr Bosun Jeje.

L-R: Mufti, Conference of Islamic Organisations (CIO), Sheikh Dhikrullahi Shafi’I; Executive Secretary, Muslim Ummah of South West Nigeria (MUSWEN), Prof. Daud Noibi; Baba Adinni of Lagos, Sheikh AbdulHafeez Abou and other dignitaries.

L-R: Chairman, Protea Hotel Alhaji Lateef Owoyemi; another guest; wife of Osun State governor, Alhaja Sherifat Aregbesola; wife of APC National Legal Adviser, Mrs. Funmilayo Banire and former Lagos Education Commissioner, Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye.

Call to Worship

22 Shawwal, 1436 Friday, August 7, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Every Friday with

Khalifatul

Ahmadiyya

Love and reverence for Holy Qur’an

ecently a short video clip was shown to Hazrat Khalifatul Masih of an African Maulawi teaching the Holy Qur’an to adults and beating them pitilessly on making minor mistakes. Someone whose language is not Arabic and is of an older age 17 to 18, or perhaps older, cannot pronounce each letter accurately like a person who has been trained to recite the Holy Qur’an (called qari). It is because of such attitudes that people shy away from reading the Holy Qur’an and many non-Arab Muslims do not know how to read it. The Holy Qur’an should of course be taught to foster its love and eagerness to read. Recently a Japanese lady who lives in the UK and took Bai’at some time ago came to meet Hazrat Khalifatul Masih. She said that with the grace of God she finished her first reading of the Holy Qur’an in three years and wished to read it to Hazrat Khalifatul Masih. She read Ayatul Kursi in a most moving manner. Indeed, the main thing is love for the Holy Qur’an and reading it in a moving way. Simply making guttural sounds for pretence like a qari is not the objective. God commands to read the Holy Qur’an slowly, thoughtfully and with one’s best pronunciation. It is not easy to enunciate the Qur’an like Arabs, some Arabic letters cannot be pronounced with pin-point accuracy by non-Arabs unless they are raised among Arabs. Indeed, the Japanese lady could not pronounce some letters precisely. Listening to her gave the impression that it must be quite difficult for quite a few, if not all, Japanese people to articulate some Arabic letters. The main thing is love for the Word of God and not affected recitation like a qari. No qari or Arab can be a match for the loving grace of God and His Messenger (may Allah be pleased with him) had for Hazrat Bilal (may Allah be pleased with him) owing to the fact that he could not pronounce some Arabic letters. People from other religions are coming in the Jama’at and a large number of Muslims do not know how to read the Holy Qur’an. Many of our missionaries are faced with this fact in Africa. Teachers of the Holy Qur’an should teach it in a manner that instils it love and eagerness to learn it. May God reward the Pakistani lady who not only taught the Japanese lady to read the Holy Qur’an but instilled its love in her! The main objective is not to recite the Qur’an like a qari; of course it is important to continue to read the Qur’an in an improved way but it is not right to simply stop reading it just because we cannot pro-

nounce some letters. What we should do is attempt to make our pronunciation as close as possible to the original and continue to improve ourselves. Hazrat Musleh Maud (may Allah be pleased with him) said that it is not right to attempt to pronounce each word of the Qur’an like a qari because God has not given us the capacity to do so. He said his late wife Umme Tahir’s father was very keen about teaching of Holy Qur’an and had kept tutors for his children for the purpose. These tutors were very harsh and would beat the children a lot when mistakes were made. They would insert twigs between the children’s fingers and put pressure on them for their mispronunciation. As related in last Friday sermon once an Arab came to meet the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) and on hearing him pronounce an Arabic letter in a Punjabi accent he said (God forbid) how could he be the Promised Messiah when he could not even pronounce the letter. This was indeed most impertinent of the Arab. Every country has its own accent. Hazrat Musleh Maud (may Allah be pleased with him) said that Indians pronounced the Arabic letter in two ways whereas its pronunciation was different. Since Arabs themselves say that only they can pronounce the letter, what room is there then to criticise others? Arab Ahmadis should keep this in view. The large majority of them understand but some people have the trait to be boastful. A Pakistan woman married to an Arab speaks with a guttural sound and thinks she has the correct pronunciation whereas she does not. Had she kept this to her person Hazrat Khalifatul Masih would not have mentioned it but it has come to his knowledge that she derides Pakistanis when in company and says they do not know how to read the Qur’an and cannot properly pronounce Arabic. This is followed by Arabs ridiculing Pakistanis. Hazrat Khalifatul Masih said he did not mean all Arabs ridiculed, perhaps the family she is married into does so. Islam has to win hearts of all ethnicities and make them familiar with the Word of God, in fact instil its love in hearts. However, people read it with their own accents and owing to love for the Qur’an everyone tries to read it in their best way possible. Indeed, attention should be given to read it thoughtfully and properly and those who know the correct pronunciation should help others rather than ridicule them.

L–R: Secretary Wasiyya Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at Nigeria; Alhaji Zakariyah Junaid, Muallim Abdul Haadi Babarinde, Sectretary Waqf Nao (Child Dedication), Alhaji Muslihuddeen Ademoye, former Principal Jamia (Missionary training College), Maulana Zikrullah Tayo Ayuba, and representative, Sadr Majlis Khuddam, Comrade Muftau Bakare during a Day Waqf Nao (Child Dedication) Seminar held at Ojokoro, recently

Participants at the Seminar

L-R; Ademola Ruqayyah,Bello kereemah,Ajibade Hikmah,Amzat Ruqayyah and Busari Barakah at the 10th graduation ceremony of TAAS Group of Schools, KM15, Amunigun Village, Abeokuta Road, Ibadan.

Let’s be good role models –Adebule to FOMWAN

s the Federation of Muslim Women’s Associations in Nigeria, FOMWAN, Lagos Chapter, held its annual Family Day celebration at the National Stadium, Surulere-Lagos recently, Lagos State deputy governor, Alhaja Idiat Adebule has called on FOMWAN members to continue to serve as role models to the young ones and continue to train their children in the way of Allah. Also speaking, the State Amirah, Dr. Sariyu Ashiru, urged Muslim women to always aspire to reach the peak of their

career as well as take proper upbringing of their children as a priority. According to her, they should not be scared of taking part in politics and aspiring for top management positions in their various fields of endeavour. The programme is the biggest annual event of FOMWAN to mark the end of Ramadan fasting period and celebration of Eid-ul Fitr featuring activities such as lecture, Qur’an reading competition, kiddies funfair, empowerment programmes among others.

Place your adverts here for optimal reach Zakat Is 2.5% Of YOur tOtal Wealth knOWn as nIsab after havIng fulfIlled all OblIgatIOns, paY YOur Zakat

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Friday, August 7, 2015

L-R: Retired Commandant General, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, Dr Ade Abolurin; Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo and Chief Mrs. Ronke Abolurin, during the visit of the Abolurins to the Alake in Abeokuta.

People In The Mirror

L-R: Reverend Ogaba Isaac Ogaba of Wesley Chapel; Guest speaker/former Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Lagos State, Mr. Ben Akabueze and Convener, Words of Wisdom Session for Young Professionals, Sir Demola Aladekomo, during the Words of Wisdom Session with Ben Akabueze at Wesley Chapel, Lekki, recently.

L-R: Lion Aare Lekan Owolabi, District Chief of Staff; Lion Tunji Edward, District Cabinet Treasurer; Lion Taiwo Adewunmi, 1st Vice District Governor; Lion Dr. Funke Adebajo; DG, Lion Kayode Olabiran, District Cabinet Secretary; Lion Sola Aregbesola, District Chief of Protocol and Lion James Oyeyemi, Personal Assistant to DG, at the Devotional Thanksgiving Service of Lions International District 404B-2 at St. Agnes Catholic Church, Maryland, Ikeja, to mark the beginning of its 2015/2016 Lionistic Year Tenure.

L-R: Controller General of Prisons (CGP), Mr Ezenwa Ekpendu; Controllers of Prisons, Enugu State Command, Sir Ikechukwu Uchenwa; Edo State Command, Mr Etowa Nkanu; National President, Prisons Officers Wives Association (PROWA), Mrs Lizzie Ekpendu and wife of former Minister of Interior, Mrs Ori Moro, at a Memorial Service in Honour of Mother of the CGP, Ezinne Anna Ekpendu at Mbaise Community of Imo State, yesterday. PHOTO:NAN

Team Leader, Basic Registration and information System of Nigeria (BRISIN), a Project Team under National Planning Commission, Dr. Anthony Uwa (left) and Director General, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mr. Mike Omeri, during a courtesy visit to NOA Corporate Headquarters in Abuja, yesterday.

L-R: Senior Vice President, Digital, Porter Novelli, Jesse Soleil; Head PR/Brand Management, Konga.com Tomiwa Akande, and Chairman/CEO, C&F Porter Novelli Nn’emeka Maduegbuna, at an interactive session with select bloggers organised by C&F Porter Novelli in Lagos, recently.

L-R: Early Year Foundation Expert, United kingdom, Mrs. Olaitan Ogunseye; Deceased son-in-law, Mr. Isaac Yinka Folorunsho; his wife/deceased daughter, Barrister Olusola Folorunso and Governorship Candidate, Alliance for Democracy, 2015 Election, Dr. Bolaji Ogunseye, during the burial ceremony of Pa Owen Oluwole Sholanke in Lagos…recently.

L-R: Jude Anyigbo (Past President, Eagle Toastmasters Club), Oyin Egbeyemi (President, Eagle Toastmasters Club), Ambassador Vincent Okobi (Charter President, Eagle Toastmasters Club), Blessing Momoh (President, Seaside Toastmasters Club), Patrick Oluyide (Division Director, Toastmasters Division F, District 94), during the Eagle and Seaside Toastmasters Clubs’ Celebration of their Presidents and 10-year presence of Toastmasters in Nigeria at the Change of Guard Ceremony held recently.

Arty News

Friday, August 7, 2015

AFRIMA jury screens entries

Regional Director, Eastern Africa and Co-Producer, AFRIMA, Mike Strano

iSiguzo deStiny

he International Committee of All Africa Music Awards, AFRIMA, in partnership with African Union Commission, AUC, has announced a staggering submission of entries with a total of 2,558 for AFRIMA2015 edition at the close of submission of entries on Friday, July 31st, 2015. The entries were received on the AFRIMA website and social media platforms from African artistes, record companies, and music/entertainment journalists from across the continent and the Diaspora whose works were produced between May 31, 2014 and July 31, 2015 in accordance with the stipulated guidelines by the academy of the jury of AFRIMA. The entries received for the 2015 edition is progressively higher than the 2014 edition of 2,025 entries with 79.2%. Out of the entries received this year, 73 were from music and entertainment journalists across Africa against the total of 38 entries (52.1%) from the same category in 2014. Others entries were from artistes, songwriters, video directors, music producers and record companies. According to the Chairman, International media committee of AFRIMA, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, “The International Committee is excited about the quality of entries received this year as many

were from accomplished artistes in African music. The impressive 2015 edition entries received is a reflection of growth and acceptability of the vision and ideals of AFRIMA’s commitment to communicate Africa to the rest of the world via art, music, tourism and entertainment.” As part of the adjudication process which will last for 7days, the submitted works will be further screened by a 13-person jury panel which represents the 5 regions of Africa and the diaspora from the following countries: Kenya, Senegal, Republic du Benin, Uganda, Morocco, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon, UK and USA as well as a representative from the African Union. Following the adjudication process, a nomination list will be released to the public on a later date in August 2015 to vote for a nominee in each of the 33 categories of the award. Speaking on the 2015 entries received, Co-Producer and Regional Director, East Africa, AFRIMA, Mike Strano restated “In line with our integrity, transparency and AFRIMA core values of FACE IT (Fairness, Authenticity, Creativity, Excellence, Integrity and Transparency), we will always ensure that the adjudication process, pre-selection process, the auditing phase, the nomination process, the voting process and the eventual winning stage are all transparent.”

Kelani launches online TV

Tunde Kelani on set

imoleayo FatunaSe

opular filmmaker Tunde Kelani is set to launch his new online tv forum where fans can stream and watch his past and present pro-

S World Queen

ister Babynwa Ezenwosu Nwakwu may appear so unassuming, but a close encounter with her will reveal that she is not only talented but ambitious as regards making the world a better place with her talent. The lady who has some inspirational songs to her credit at an interactive session revealed her

ductions. The avenue is channeled to the African medium in which fans are exposed to the wide range of his works including dramas, documentaries, movies, interviews and other genres of his specialization. The online platform is named

tundekilani.tv will be available via web and mobile devices, It is set to begin operation by Friday 7th of August. The Nigerian cinematographer who has been in the fore front in the Nigeria film industry for over 21years acknowledge that the platform is to showcase African culture and also an attempt to respond to the yearnings of teeming fans of rich African themed contents on the go. The African Cultural channel will be showing the Award Winner’s past and present productions, other producers’ works, contents related to African culture and works from the Mainframe Productions that will be aired on the Channel. Some of which includes, “Campus Queen” “Agogo Ewo” “Oleku” “Maami” and “Palm Wine Drinkards” by Amos Tutuola.

‘Quintessential Colossus’ chronicles Duduyemi Saidat alauSa

eritage Books has honoured successful businessman and elder statesman, Chief Oyekunle AlexDuduyemi with a 370-page biography book. The book titled, Quintessential Colossus was part of the activities for the 80th birthday of Chief Alex-Duduyemi. Speaking at the book launch and presentation, the Chairman on the occasion, former interim President of Nigeria, Chief Ernest Shonekan said that attaining the age of 80 years in today’s world is not by any personal might but by the sheer grace of God. Describing the celebrant as a great philanthropist, he said one of the lessons the upcoming generation should imbibe from him is that they must be bold, focused, committed and determined to succeed wherever they find themselves. In his keynote address, former Deputy Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Tunde Lemo said the celebrant’s suc-

Here comes ‘World Queen’ ngozi emedolibe

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

new stance in the world as she re-strategises to reposition the world. “I have been brimming with this message”, she says. “I have had to keep it within me for a while but I think the time has finally come for me to let the world know what I am made of. In fact, people who know me will tell you that over time I am being asked when I would unveil the message, but the time is ripe now, because God has ordained this day.” She actually started her career

cess story is indeed a clear testimony that it does not really matter how bad things are today, but with consistency, resilience, doggedness and grace of God, one can emerge successful despite obstacles. He enjoined youths to learn from his way of life which can help them excel in life. Reviewing the book, ViceChancellor, Federal University, Ndufu-Alike Ikwo, Ebonyi State, said the biography is deep in cultural attributes and the achievement of Chief AlexDuduyemi. The book which has five sections with epilogue and acknowledgement according to him, had in detail the life of the philanthropist, how to keep a spouse for life and about an entrepreneur who believed in education and excellent upbringing. Prof. IbidapoObe recommended

that the book should be given to every school in Osun State where the celebrant comes from more especially to best students in Junior Secondary classes. According to him, this will motivate a large number of children with the ‘I can attitude.’ The author of the book and Managing Consultant, My Heritage Books, Oluneye Oluwole said at the event that ‘fact and fiction’ style was used so anyone that picks the book especially youths will be carried along.

in the military but had to quit the air force after ten years, in spite of the criticisms that trailed the move. “When I left the military people blamed me, but I knew what I wanted. Today they would see me and refer to some of my colleagues but that is not what I am after. I am after the message God has given to give to the world”. With about 30 songs in her kitty, World Queen says some of the revelations given to her include

the fact that the world should uphold God’s cardinal principles. She also warned all terrorists in Nigeria that their time is up, “In fact, they should surrender themselves and seek forgiveness from God now”. How did she start music? “I started at the age of 6. My father noticed that I had special gifts when it came to music and actually predicted I was going to be a great child. As a child I really loved to sing”.

Alex Duduyemi

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Arty News

Friday, August 7, 2015

Blessing Eberechi Martins has got loads of swag; this is one female talent striving so hard to break out. Also Known as Blinky or ‘Blinky Blinks’ by fans, she credits the absence of more female talents in the music industry to negative societal perception in this interview with REGINA OTOKPA. Excerpts:

Plight of female artistes in Abuja –Blinky

How would you rate entertainment in Abuja? It is really slow but recently the different players are trying so hard playing their different roles to bring it up gradually. It is getting better. What role do you have to play in the Kubwa Artiste Movement? I am the second in command; we have been able to reach out to lots of artistes.

How would you describe yourself? I am from Imo state; I am a National Diploma holder. I have done some couple of jobs aside music but right now I am fully on music and my stage name is Blinks. People call me Blinky, Blinky Blinks but my stage name is Blinks.

What is the objective of KAM? We want to create a platform for artistes in Abuja especially artistes in kubwa. We need to be heard, we want to be invited to meaningful shows, we also want to see how we can come together to promote an artiste to break out. We are trying to create a body that all artistes who are members will feel safe and feel they will be appreciated.

What prompted you into music? I like singing a lot When did you start off music as a career? I started going to the studio way back 2004, I recorded some songs then but I started professionally 2007.

Do you think ladies are being represented in the music industry well? No, we are just few and I know we have more Indies that can excel. As a lady and an entertainer, you get to be tagged with so many names and most people don’t like that and as a result shy away from their talents.

How has it been since 2004? It has been good, rough and tough. I am prepared for it, I just have to blend in but it’s okay. What was the difference between when you started and now? The difference was going to the studio to sit and watch other people record their songs. It was not that I didn’t know how to sing then, but I felt I needed to learn. I met Mecoyo in 2007, he started teaching me how to record songs professionally away from the normal way of just singing. He taught me the procedures to be able to have a standard song, how to write songs, how to voice, how to do my backup and ad libs. He recorded my first song and it was very good. What kind of songs do you sing? Anyone that is trending. We are Nigerians and we do anything from gospel to rap, reggae, hip hop provided it would sell and my fans get to hear it and they like it. How many songs do you have in the market now? I have just two out there but in-house I have a whole lot. By a whole lot, what exactly are we looking at? About ten songs. What could be the reason for locking ten songs up in the locker? Music entails money, it has been difficult. I don’t have sponsors so I have to struggle to promote myself. I cannot just go ahead to meet a blogger and plead with him to push my songs online, I would need to pay up some amount of money. The songs I have put there are the much more I can do for myself now. I know I have to also get some videos out as well but before I can do that I need financial buildings or a sponsor but since I have none for now, I am taking it slow. What moves have you employed to get sponsorship for your music?

Blinky

PeoPle kePt Pestering me to go

lagos but when i got to lagos, the to

music crowd was too much

People kept pestering me to go to Lagos but when I got to Lagos, the music crowd was too much. Every house has an artiste, on the streets everybody is singing, even when I went to the studio there were hundreds of artistes flocking in and out and before you can get contact with those who can help, it takes a long process and I wasn’t ready to waste my time like that; to just stay in Lagos doing nothing besides chasing for sponsors. I reasoned it was better I come back, do a song, try as much as I can to get it online, carry out extensive promotion and continue to hope someone would listen to it. I have some friends who deejay for radio stations, sometimes they play my songs and I believe one day luck would smile on me. But there is this belief that Lagos is where it happens entertainment-wise? I am an Abuja artiste, I am not based in Lagos. If I am going to Lagos, I should have a platform here and at least one quarter of the people in Lagos should have listened to my songs and when they finally meet me they should have an idea of my work and worth. I cannot go to Lagos as an underground artiste and expect things to work,

we need to start struggling from the scratch and begin to make it after a process, I have been in this industry for about ten years so I know what I am saying. I better continue here and when it happens that I am being heard here by everybody, I know definitely one quarter of the people in Lagos would have heard so when I am going to Lagos I will be confident that before three months I should have met my target.

Have you ever been tagged negatively? Not me actually, I go to the internet a lot and I see a lot of things people say which doesn’t speak well of upcoming female artistes especially when we pose for pictures or put on our costumes for shows. They forget we are just entertaining, we are not like that. We can’t just dress like that and start moving about. Most of such comments discourage a lot of ladies, they don’t feel safe.

Tell us about your two official songs and what inspired them? The first one is a love song it was produced by Mecoyo titled ’Silent Loving’ I featured Iceman. The second one is a konto kind of song ‘Position’ and it was produced by Tso.

What was your family’s reaction when you announced intentions to face music? I didn’t get any opposition because my mum sings in the church choir, my dad songs as well as my younger ones. They too are in the entertainment industry.

What inspired each of the songs? For ‘Silent loving’ I just wanted to come out with something different and catchy, something anyone who listens to would fall in love with and want to sing over and over again. The period I released my second song ‘position’ Konto was the trend, Timaya and everybody was producing Konto so I decided to do the female version of it. How well have people received your songs beginning from Abuja? When I perform in shows they sing along so I know they are satisfied for now. People have also been downloading my songs and I have been receiving positive feedbacks on both songs. Abuja music industry is dominated by men, how has it been working in their midst? It wasn’t strange for me because in my house we have more of guys, I am the only girl. It is like a normal every day routine and I am so comfortable.

As an artiste what would you want to see being done differently in the industry? I would have loved all those artistes who have made it already, who have struggled to get to where they are to start doing underground programmes for talents. They shouldn’t just sit down there buying Gucci wristwatches, chains and they rest of it. If we have more record labels, we will have lots of good artistes in Nigeria. They shouldn’t just get someone related or close who they feel can sing but they should go down to the grassroots and organize talent hunts, It will ease up the stress for upcoming artistes because it is not really easy for us doing all these on our own. What advice do you have for female artistes? Be yourself, do your thing as long as it makes you happy and you have a target which includes to benefit from music, forget about what ever anyone else is saying. For artistes generally, remain focused and be disciplined. Put God first because he is the source of our inspiration.

Escape

Olawale Oluwadahunsi WITH AGENCY REPORTS

ost of Egypt’s rain falls in the winter months. South of Cairo, rainfall averages only around 2 to 5 mm (0.1 to 0.2 in) per year and at intervals of many years. On a very thin strip of the northern coast the rainfall can be as high as 410 mm (16.1 in), mostly between October and March. Snow falls on Sinai’s mountains and some of the north coastal cities such as Damietta, Baltim, Sidi Barrany, and rarely in Alexandria. A very small amount of snow fell on Cairo on 13 December 2013, the first time Cairo received snowfall in many decades. Frost is also known in mid-Sinai and mid-Egypt. Egypt is the driest and the sunniest country in the world and most of his land surface is desert.

Friday, August 7, 2015

Savouring the

Egypt presents a combination of Arab and Africa, and could mean fun for tourists.

Biodiversity Egypt signed the Rio Convention on Biological Diversity on 9 June 1992, and became a party to the convention on 2 June 1994. It has subsequently produced a National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, which was received by the convention on 31 July 1998. Where many CBD National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plans neglect biological kingdoms apart from animals and plants, Egypt’s plan was unusual in providing balanced information about all forms of life. The plan stated that the following numbers of species of different groups had been recorded from Egypt: algae (1483 species), animals (about 15,000 species of which more than 10,000 were insects), fungi (more than 627 species), monera (319 species), plants (2426 species), protozoans (371 species). For the fungi, including lichen-forming species, for example, subsequent work has shown that over 2200 species have been recorded from Egypt, and the final figure of all fungi actually occurring in the country is expected to be much higher.

Languages The official language of the Republic is Modern Standard Arabic. The spoken languages are: Egyptian Arabic, Sa’idi Arabic, Eastern Egyptian Bedawi Arabic, Sudanese Arabic, Domari, Nobiin, Beja, Siwi and others. Additionally, Greek, Armenian and Italian are the main languages of immigrants. In Alexandria in the 19th century there was a large community of Italian Egyptians and Italian was the “lingua franca” of the city. The main foreign languages taught in schools, by order of popularity, are English, French,German and Italian.

Culture

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Ancient Egypt Egypt is a recognised cultural trend-setter of the Arabicspeaking world, and contemporary Arabic and Middle-Eastern culture is heavily influenced by Egyptian literature, music, film and television. Egypt gained a regional leadership role during the 1950s and 1960s, giving a further enduring boost to the standing of Egyptian culture in the Arabicspeaking world. Egyptian identity evolved in the span of a long period of occupation to accommodate Islam, Christianity and Judaism; and a new language, Arabic, and its spoken descendant, Egyptian Arabic which is also based on many Ancient Egyptian words. The work of early 19th-century scholar Rifa’a al-Tahtawi renewed interest in Egyptian antiquity and exposed Egyptian society toEnlightenment principles. Tahtawi co-founded with education reformer Ali Mubarak a native Egyptology school that looked for inspiration to medieval Egyptian scholars, such as Suyuti and Maqrizi, who themselves studied the history, language andantiquities of Egypt.

Literature Egyptian literature traces its beginnings to ancient Egypt and is some of the earliest known literature. Indeed, the Egyptians were the first culture to develop literature as we know it today, that is, the book. It is an important cultural element in the life

of Egypt. Egyptian novelists and poets were among the first to experiment with modern styles of Arabic literature, and the forms they developed have been widely imitated throughout the Middle East. The first modern Egyptian novel Zaynab by Muhammad Husayn Haykal was published in 1913 in the Egyptian vernacular. Egyptian novelist Naguib Mahfouz was the first Arabiclanguage writer to win the Nobel Prize in Literature. Egyptian women writers include Nawal El Saadawi, well known for her feminist activism, and Alifa Rifaat who also writes about women and tradition. Vernacular poetry is perhaps the most popular literary genre among Egyptians, represented by the works of Ahmed Fouad Negm (Fagumi), Salah Jaheen and Abdel Rahman elAbnudi.

Cinema For over 100 years, more than 4000 films have been produced in Egypt, three quarters of the total Arab production. Egypt is considered the leading country in the field of cinema in the Middle East. Actors from all over the Arab World seek to appear in the Egyptian cinema for the sake of fame. The Cairo International Film Festival has been rated as one of 11 festivals with a top class rating worldwide by the International Federation of Film Producers’ Associations. Omar Sharif is considered the most famous actor in Egypt star-

ring in Hollywood and winning two Golden Globe Awards.

Music Egyptian music is a rich mixture of indigenous, Mediterranean, African and Western elements. It has been an integral part of Egyptian culture since antiquity. The ancient Egyptians credited one of their gods Hathor with the invention of music, which Osiris in turn used as part of his effort to civilise the world. Egyptians used music instruments since then. Contemporary Egyptian music traces its beginnings to the creative work of people such as Abdu El Hamouli, Almaz and Mahmoud Osman, who influenced the later work of Sayed Darwish, Umm Kulthum, Mohammed Abdel Wahab and Abdel Halim Hafez whose age is considered the golden age of music in Egypt and the whole Middle East and North-Africa. Prominent contemporary Egyptian pop singers include Amr Diab and Mohamed Mounir.

Dance Today, Egypt is often considered the home of belly dance. Egyptian belly dance has two main styles -raqs baladi and raqs sharqi. There are also numerous folkloric and character dances that may be part of an Egyptianstyle belly dancer’s repertoire, as well as the modern shaabi street dance which shares some elements with raqs baladi.

Museums Egypt has one of the oldest civilisations in the world. Thus, it has been in contact with many other civilisations and nations and also has been through so many eras, starting from prehistoric age to the modern age, passing through so many ages such as; Pharonic, Roman, Greek, Islamic and many other ages. Because of this wide variation of ages, the continuous contact with other nations and the big number of conflicts Egypt had been through, at least 60 museums may be found in Egypt, mainly covering a wide area of these ages and conflicts. The Three main museums in Egypt are; The Egyptian Museum which has more than 120,000 items, theEgyptian National Military Museum and the 6th of October Panorama. The Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), also known as the Giza Museum, is a planned museum of artefacts of ancient Egypt. Described as the largest archaeological museum in the world, the museum is scheduled to open in 2015. The museum will be sited on 50 hectares (120 acres) of land approximately two kilometres from the Giza Necropolis and is part of a new master plan for the plateau.

Festivals Egypt celebrates many festivals and religious carnivals, also known as mulid. They are

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Friday, August 7, 2015

treasures of Egypt

Escape

usually associated with a particular Coptic or Sufi saint, but are often celebrated by Egyptians irrespective of creed or religion. Ramadan has a special flavour in Egypt, celebrated with sounds, lights (local lanterns known asfawanees) and much flare that many Muslim tourists from the region flock to Egypt to witness during Ramadan.

Cuisine Egyptian cuisine is notably conducive to vegetarian diets, as it relies heavily on vegetable dishes. Some consider koshari (a mixture of rice, lentils, and macaroni) to be the national dish. Fried onions can be also added to koshari. In addition, ful medames (mashed fava beans) is one of the most popular dishes. Fava bean is also used in making falafel (also known as “ta’meyya”), which may have originated in Egypt and spread to other parts of the Middle East. Garlic fried with coriander is added to mulukhiyya, a popular green soup made from finely chopped jute leaves, sometimes with chicken or rabbit.

Tourist Attractions Mosque of Ibn Tulun Built between 876 and 879 AD, the Mosque of Ibn Tulun is one of the oldest mosques in Cairo. It was commissioned by Ahmad ibn, the Abbassid governor of Egypt. The mosque is constructed around a courtyard, with one covered hall on each of the four sides. The minaret, which features a helical outer staircase similar to that of the famous minaret in Samarra, was probably built several centuries later. Parts of the James Bond film The Spy Who Loved Me were filmed at the Mosque of Ibn Tulun

Dahab Dahab is located some 85 km (53 miles) north of Sharm elSheikh on the Gulf of Aqaba, near the southern tip of Sinai. Once an isolated coastal village, Dahab turned into a hippie hangout in the 1980’s and became something of an “alternative resort”, mixing cheap accommodation with a laid back lifestyle. Activities such as wind surfing, snorkeling, scuba diving and camel and jeep trips make it one of the most popular destinations along the Red Sea.

Siwa Oasis Located in the Libyan Desert, Siwa Oasis is one of Egypt’s isolated settlements, with 23,000

people, mostly ethnic Berbers. Located on an old date trade route, Siwa was an oasis vital to the trade route, as the natural springs and shade giving palm trees gave travelers respite from the desert. With the collapse of the Roman Empire, Siwa began its decline. In recent decades tourism has become a vital source of income. Much attention has been given to creating hotels that use local materials and play on local styles.

Abu Simbel Abu Simbel is an archaeological site comprising two massive rock-cut temples in southern Egypt on the western bank of Lake Nasser. The twin temples were originally carved out of the mountainside during the reign of Pharaoh Ramesses The Great in the 13th century BC, as a lasting monument to himself and his queen Nefertari. The complex was relocated in its entirety in the 1960s, when the temples were threatened by submersion in Lake Nasser, due to the construction of the Aswan High Dam. Abu Simbel remains one of Egypt’s top tourist attractions.

The Valley of the Kings The Valley of the Kings near Luxor is a valley where, for a period of nearly 500 years from the 16th to 11th century BC, tombs were constructed for the kings

and privileged nobles of the New Kingdom. The valley contains 63 tombs and chambers, ranging in size from a simple pit to a complex tomb with over 120 chambers. The royal tombs are decorated with scenes from Egyptian mythology and give clues to the beliefs and funerary rituals of the period. All of the tombs seem have been opened and robbed in antiquity except for the famous tomb of Tutankhamun.

Red Sea Reef The Red Sea, off the coast of Egypt, is one of the most beautiful places in the world to go diving. The waters of the Red Sea are renowned for their spectacular visibility and features some of the most exotic seascapes. With its wide expanse of coral formation on the reefs, it is home to thousands of different sea creatures. Red Sea beach resorts Mideast-Egypt Luxor Horo

are located on both sides of the sea, on the east side and part of the Sinai peninsula is the long established Sharm el Sheikh and its neo-hippy counterpart, Dahab. On the west coast of the Red Sea lies relatively old and touristy Hurghada and a cluster of new resort towns.

Karnak Although badly ruined, few sites in Egypt are more impressive than Karnak. It is the largest ancient religious site ever

built, and represents the combined achievement of many generations of Egyptian builders. The Temple of Karnak actually consists of three main temples, smaller enclosed temples, and several outer temples located about 2.5 kilometers north of Luxor. One of most famous structures of Karnak is the Hypostyle Hall, a hall area of 5,000 m2 (50,000 sq ft) with 134 massive columns arranged in 16 rows.

Giza Necropolis The Pyramids of Giza, situated in the immediate vicinity of the southwestern suburbs of Cairo are the undisputable top attractions in Egypt. The pyramids at Giza were built over the span of three generations – by Khufu, his second reigning son Khafre, and Menkaure. The Great Pyramid of Khufu is an awe-inspiring 139 meters (455 feet) high making it the largest pyramid in Egypt, although nearby Khafre’s Pyramid appears to be larger as it is build at a higher elevation.

Friday, August 7, 2015

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Tackling menace of truck drivers with ‘Operation Scorpion’

he statistics no doubt is alarming. Just in six months, the number of road traffic crashes stands at 4,421 with about 2,418 having lost their lives across the country. while the number of persons injured is noted to be 14,315; the number of persons involved is numbered as 29,446 as the number of vehicles involved is reported as 7,467. with the official half year statistics for 2015 obtained from the website of the frsc showing this disturbing report, it has been observed that about 80 per cent road accidents are those involving articulated vehicles. while the federal road safety commission, frsc, seems not folding its arms in addressing the continuous reckless driving habit and negative attitude of truck and trailer drivers on nigerian roads through its four cardinal programmes, namely, education, enlightenment, subtle force and full enforcement, last week, the commission commenced a major operation against truck and tanker operations code named “operation scorpion”. according to the commission, it is aimed at ensuring that operators of the vehicles abide by traffic rules and regulations to prevent fatal crashes involving them as recorded across the country at the beginning of the year. code-named: “operation scorpion,” to depict the painful effects of scorpion sting, the exercise was initiated by the corps marshal of the frsc, boboye oyeyemi, following the spate of road traffic crashes involving trailers and trucks, with the specific aim at addressing the chaotic manners that the

Articulated vehicles accident

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The recenT deaThs, pain and

sufferings broughT on nigerians resulTing from havocs caused by falling Tankers laden wiTh fuel and unsecured conTainers carrying Trucks have become an embarrassmenT To The naTion

vehicles operate on the nation’s highways. The operations, which commenced in the early hours of monday, along the lagos-ibadan expressway, where majority of the vehicles ply, is being prosecuted by Zone 2 headquarters of the frsc with all the component commands as well as the neighbouring commands in oyo state participating. according to bisi kazeem, the frsc’s head of media relations and strategy, the exercise is a fallout of the various strategies being put in place to deal practically with the challenges which truck and trailer operations pose to the nation. kazeem said after advocacy, enforcement of the relevant traffic rules must follow. he opined that frsc corps marshal, boboye oyeyemi, stated that the frsc has a four point agenda, which are education, enlightenment, subtle force and full enforcement. he added that enough advocacy and enlightenment programmes have been carried out jointly with the stakeholders. “whoever that has not learnt a lesson on the safety messages we preached at the various forums over the period must be prepared to bear the consequences of violating the traffic rules as we commence full en-

‘

Efforts by the Federal Road Safety Commission to reduce the spate of road accidents involving articulated vehicles across Nigeria through its recently launched “Operation Scorpion,” seems to be on course with the arrest and prosecution of 537 trucks and trailer drivers. Adejuwon Osunnuyi reports

forcement,” he stated. oyeyemi contended that from the beginning of the year, the corps had been in full consultation with the various transport unions on the need for their members to comply with the traffic rules and regulations in the collective resolve to ensure safer road environment. he further stated that part of the resolutions reached during the courtesy calls he made to the unions leaderships was the need to organise mega rallies at the various parks across the country with a view to sensitising members of the public, particularly the drivers, to be safety couscous. oyeyemi said: “we have been on that programme, including the national summit on haulage operations, which was held in abuja, with a plan of action drawn by the participants. “while we sustained the advocacy with other stakeholders to enable every operator put his house in order, the full enforcement, which would commence with trucks and trailers, is, therefore, the logical manifestation of the advocacy programmes we have been holding. “furthermore, from 1st september, 2015, the special operation on petroleum tankers, as jointly agreed to by the stakeholders, would commence.”

apparently, the “operation scorpion” has no doubt been achieving some levels of success. within the first week of its launch, no fewer than 537 offenders have been arrested and prosecuted. The raid covered 139 kilometers from ojota, ikorodu road interchange in lagos state to iwo road, in ibadan, oyo state from July 27 to July 31, 2015. it, however, resulted in the arrest and prosecution of 537 trucks and trailer drivers during the period. The Zonal commanding officer federal road safety corps Zone 2 command headquarters, lagos, assistant corps marshal nseobong akpabio, while reviewing the one- week operations with his corridor commanders in lagos, pointed out that the first phase of the operation was designed to focus on the drivers of trucks and trailers on the ever busy lagos – ibadan expressway. akpabio stated that it has been observed over time that the driving habit of these set of drivers on nigerian roads has been a thing of concern. “The recent deaths, pain and sufferings brought on nigerians resulting from havocs caused by falling tankers laden with fuel and unsecured containers carrying trucks have become an embarrassment to the nation, hence the need to address it squarely,” he said. akpabio pointed out that “the 537 trucks and trailer drivers were apprehended based on the designed objectives of “operation scorpion” special patrol which was to optimally deploy the human and material resources available to the corps to ensure compliance to traffic

rules by the drivers who have been dubbed by many nigerians as “killers on the wheel” were all prosecuted at various mobile courts in lagos, ogun and oyo states respectively.” “They were arrested for violation of various traffic offences especially the operations-focused offences of trucks moving with unsecured containers, lane indiscipline, rickety vehicles, overloading, driving with wornout tyres and driver’s license violation among others.” “personnel of the corps drawn from all frsc formations along the corridor from lagos sector command headquarters to ojota unit command, lagos; mowe, sagamu, ogere and ogunmakin unit commands all in ogun state and finally frsc operatives from oyo state coordinated by the sector commander oyo with operation base on oluyoye unit command. The corps marshal & chief executive boboye oyeyemi who led the national headquarters team, also participated in the exercise from lagos to ibadan,” he said. The assistant corps marshal informed his corridor commanders that with experience of the recent past week operations, the corps marshal has approved the extension of the special operation to other routes nationwide as the corps is determined to continue with high level of enforcement for compliance to all traffic rules and regulations by all road users while plying the nation’s highways. akpabio said: “on the first day of the operation, over 80 trunks were apprehended and their drivers were summarily tried by mobile courts, which conduct summary trials, saying that all the personnel and logistics of the Zone are being deployed for the exercise. “The special operation is the initiative of the national headquarters, abuja, and the choice of lagos as the launching point was informed by the high concentration of trailers and trucks on lagos-ibadan expressway.” akpabio added that the exercise is being carried out simultaneously at ogere, mowe, shagamu, ogunmakin areas of lagos and ogun states, where majority of the vehicles pass through to various parts of the country, stressing that the Zone is being joined by neighbouring commands in oyo state with oluyole, eleyele, mokola and moniya, serving as strategic units in that state.

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Friday, August 7, 2015

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Kia Motors boss bemoans low demand for new cars in Nigeria

L-R: General Manager Planning & Strategy, Mr. Bawo C. Omagbitse, Member, Dr. Ayodele Ogunsan, Managing Director of PAN Nigeria Limited, Alhaji Ibrahim Boyi, Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (middle); Executive Director Finance, PAN, Alhaji Jumat Alli Oluwafuyi, MD/CEO Infinity Group, Mr. Johnson Sehinde and and Head Corporate Communications, Musa B. Usman (1st right) during the PAN’s Board of Directors’ visit to the VP’s office recently

Auto policy: Osinbajo reiterates govt’s support for local auto firms

ice President Yemi Osinbajo has assured the local vehicle industries that the new administration will always take a responsible decision that will promote and protect the local industries. He gave the assurance when he received the Management of PAN Nigeria Limited who paid him a congratulatory visit in his office, at Presidential Villa Abuja. The Vice President Osinbajo expressed delight with the interest generated by the Federal Government’s National Automotive Development Policy (NADP), which so far has attracted about 15 automobile plants into the country. While assuring PAN Nigeria the support of the new administration, under the leadership of President Muhammadu Bu-

hari, the Vice President stated, “Peugeot has an advantage over all the assembled plant in Nigeria, because you started the assembly plant with government many years ago.” He expressed his pleasure with the quality, standard and beauty of the Peugeot vehicles now on offer to customers. The Vice President noted that either Nigerians resort to imported cars, new or ‘tokunbo’ because they believe that these cars are cheaper. He therefore hoped that PAN being the leader of automobile sector in the country would work towards making their cars more affordable, without compromising quality that it was known for over the decades. Reacting, the Managing Director, PAN Nigeria Limited, Mr. Ibrahim Boyi congratulated the Vice President on their election and successful inauguration. He assured the Vice President of the company’s support

and prayers for the new administration to succeed. “We have no doubt on your commitment; we have no doubt on your ability to deliver. We also have no doubt that your election will certainly give Nigerians new lease of life and opportunities.We will continue to pray for your success to enable this administration meet the lofty expectations of the masses.” The Managing Director said. Mr. Boyi who took time to intimate the Vice President about the company, its past, present and the future plans, expressed dissatisfaction with some previous government policies which led to demise of the first generation auto assembly plants in Nigeria. He explained that PAN was able to survive due to the dogged interest exhibited by its technical partner, AP France and the financial intervention of the Asset Management Company (AMCON), the new owners of PAN.

KYB appoints APT as Nigeria’s OE distributor

YB, suppliers of OE (Original Equipment) and aftermarket shock absorbers and struts, has appointed APT (Auto Parts Technology) as its official distributors in Nigeria. The company is introducing OE to Nigeria’s evolving market to help restore confidence in the aftermarket segment of the country’s automobile market and essentially, reinstate vehicles’ original handling and control. A part of KUNECH Group, owners of AutoNation Africa, a leading automotive service company, APT seeks to synergies with Tokyo-Japan based KYB to restructure Nigeria’s aftermarket with OE supplies and increase vehicle and plant performance beyond original handling and control. KYB is a $4.2billion worth

global manufacturers of a variety of world class ride control products used as original equipment and replacement parts in automobiles, motorcycles, trucks, specialty vehicles, buses, aircraft, railroad cars and agricultural applications. The varied uses and application of KYB products and equipment demonstrate her commitment to helping create a safer, more efficient and more comfortable society says APT National Parts Manager Tushar Gomase. Addressing parts marketers at the inauguration of APT headquarters in ASPAMDA Plaza, Trade Fair Complex Lagos, Tushar urged them to discard old habits and embrace world class standard, adding that: “We are proud to be associated with KYB and together we will transform Nigeria parts’ market

and restore confidence of plant and vehicle owners as well as independent garages in parts sourced locally.” APT already has a large stock of OE including batteries, filters, cooling systems, brake pads with linings; suspensions, engine parts, belts, lubricants and tyres sourced from KYB and other well-known manufacturers based in Korea, Japan, and Indonesia. The OE produced by KYB covers major brands from America, Europe, Japan, Korea and China. While the company similarly has several accredited parts’ dealers at the popular Ladipo, Idumota and Obalende markets in Lagos and Ibadan, Oyo state it said there are plans to appoint dealers in Kano, Abuja, Benin City, Onitsha and Port Hartcourt by September.

ew months after setting up its assembly plant in Nigeria in line with the Federal government auto policy introduced to encourage local production of vehicles, the Chief Commercial Officer, Kia Motors Nigeria, Sandeep Malhotra, has expressed his concern that despite the company’s huge investment, it was yet to break even as demand for new cars in the country is still relatively low compared to pre-owned vehicles. Malhotra stated this during a facility tour of the multi billion naira assembly plant of the company in Lagos by journalists. According to him, for the industry to be revolutionised and to contribute immensely to the country’s IGR, the government needs to stay true to the policy and clamp down on the unchecked influx of imported used cars, popularly known as “tokunbo” vehicles. He reasoned that if the Federal government’s auto policy holds sway wherein the 70 per cent duty is implemented and the prices of used cars soar higher, there would be an attendant shift in the demand and customer preference which will directly impact on the supply of locally assembled new cars in the country. While revealing that the plant has the capacity to produce 27,000 vehicles in a year, Malhotra said there is a provision to increase the production lines, based on rise in demand. He however stated that Kia Motors Nigeria remained resolute and committed to the long term investment in the auto industry despite the short term challenges currently faced. Reinforcing the company’s

Malhotra

unwavering commitment to the industrialisation of Nigerian economy and its indelible contributions to the success of the auto policy, it has invested heavily in the assembly plant. Its state of the art technologies are arguably at par with any renowned and international plant in the world as the plant now prides itself on the production of nine models and their respective trims in the country with over 2500 units rolled out since its launch in April, 2014. Culminating in several months of construction, installation of technologically advanced equipment and the training of its staff, the sprawling complex has been built to the high standard of Kia Motors Corporation. Presently, the assembly plant assembles Kia models, such as best-selling Kia Rio, Cerato, Optima, Sportage and the all-new 2015 Kia Sorento recently unveiled globally amongst others. With no prejudice and utmost transparency to help in alleviating the rate of unemployment in the country, the Chief Operation officer, Gitesh Yagnik pointed out over 85 per cent of the employees were sourced locally from top Nigerian universities as they have undergone a top notch intensive training program and capacity development before been employed into the plant. In his words, “We now have 150 trained and qualified engineers that can be compared to international standard and over 50 support staff running the operational and assembly process cycle of the plant.” Apparently, the plant is people-focused. “We believe our strength is in our employees rather than machines.” He said. In tandem with all automobile assembling/manufacturing plants in new market practice globally, the plant kicked off with semi knocked down where painted and trimmed bodies are shipped from an established plant in one box, mechanicals in another, join the two, add some locally sourced transmission fluids, air conditioner gas and the host of others.

Cocktail

Friday, August 7, 2015

Dog upstages baby seeks food from woman

Utah baby who declined coaxing from his parents to say “mama” was upsta g ed by the f amily do g appearing to utter the word. Sam Giovanini posted a video to YouTube showing the baby and do g standing side-byside in front of the eating mother as she re peatedly prompts the child to “say

mama.” T he f amily do g, Patch, whines in an apparent bid for some of the mother’s food and eventually lets out a sound that bears a strong resemblance to “mama.” T he parents said Patch was not successful in g etting any of the human food, but was rewarded for his new vocal trick with a treat.

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Oddities Oddities

Giraffes drop in for breakfast at Kenyan hotel

video filmed at a popular Kenyan hotel shows off one of the accommodation’s most unusual tourist draws: breakfast with giraffes. “Eating Breakfast With Giraffes in Africa,” a video uploaded to YouTube by Discovery’s Seeker Stories, shows how the giraffes liv-

ing on the grounds of The Giraffe Manor hotel in Nairobi poke their heads into windows to share breakfast with hotel guests. “You really appreciate the size of a giraffe’s head when it’s in your cereal

bowl,” photographer Robin Moore says in the video. The hotel is on the grounds of a 140-acre sanctuary run by the African Fund for Endangered Wildlife’s Giraffe Center. The facility’s website

said the herd of Rothschild giraffes visit in the mornings and evenings,”poking their long necks into the windows in the hope of a treat, before retreating to their forest sanctuary.”

Lexus unveils Hoverboard with demonstration video

utomaker Lexus unveiled its longteased Hoverboard in a demonstration video shot at a special Barcelona skate park. The video, posted to YouTube by Lexus International, features pro skateboarder Ross McGouran taking the Hoverboard for a spin around a Barcelona “hoverpark,”

a skate park with metal installed under wood painted to look like cement. A second video shared by Lexus details the science behind the board, showing how the steam emanating from the device comes from liquid nitrogen being used to cool internal superconductors to -321 degrees

so they can magnetically push against the metal under the park, causing the board to hover. “The Lexus Hoverboard represents true innovation and imagination, together pushing the boundaries of technology even further,” Lexus said in the demonstration video’s description.

A giraffe pokes its head through a window at Giraffe Manor in Nairobi to receive a treat from a guest.

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Friday, August 7, 2015

Business Maritime

Skepticism, anxiety mount over planned re-introduction of CTN

Plans by the Nigerian Shippers Council, NSC, to reintroduce the Cargo Tracking Note, CTN, earlier cancelled in the nation’s ports system have continued to elicit mixed reactions from industry stakeholders with skepticism and anxiety hallmarking their views on the project. The Council, however, believes such fears over the project are needless, given its potential benefits for stakeholders and the economy in the medium and long terms. FRANCIS EZEM reports.

hen it was first introduced in Nigeria on January 11, 2010 by the Nigerian Ports Authority, the process of administering the Cargo Tracking Note CTN was replete with controversies, fraud and secrecy, as stakeholders were not carried along. It was in response to the public outcry arising from the implementation of the policy that made former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2012 directed that it should be discontinued. These circumstances that surrounded the coming on stream of the scheme and its eventual cancellation may have also influenced stakeholders’ response to the proposed reintroduction of the CTN by the NSC, which is currently the commercial regulator for the port industry in Nigeria. The CTN, which is not alien to most import-export trade jurisdictions across the globe, is a web based high technological tool for import and export of goods that allows the generation of online real time statistics. It is also an international verification solution and cargo procedure, which facilitates the monitoring of cargo while on transit. The scheme, which is also operational in many shipping nations to enhance cargo security, helps the authorities monitor cargo origin, quantity and other shipment information and automatically generates cargo information alert to the port of destination. Meanwhile, Executive Secretary/CEO of the council, Mr. Hassan Bello, who spoke recently on the proposed reintroduction of the scheme, said that the CTN platform is all about advanced cargo information system, which critical to fastening the process of clearance of imports at the seaports, as it will promote advance information on cargo coming into the nation’s seaports. He also allayed stakeholders’ fears that apart from increasing the cost of operation, the new system would cause delays in the delivery of cargo. According to him, CTN is an online real time issue and cannot in anyway delay the clearance of imported goods from the seaports. .Other key benefits associated with the system include provision of a common platform for the Nigeria Customs Service, terminal operators, shipping companies and other government agencies such as Standards Organisation of Nigeria, National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control NAFDAC and Nigerian Plants Quarantine Service NPQS, etc. “The CTN that was introduced earlier brought a lot of delays, and it was not accepted by the industry because it had cost

Bayero

Bello

THE CTN THAT WAS INTRODUCED EARLIER BROUGHT A LOT OF

DELAYS, AND IT WAS NOT ACCEPTED BY THE INDUSTRY BECAUSE IT HAD

COST ATTACHED. BUT THIS ONE IS NEITHER AT ANY COST TO THE NATION’S ECONOMY NOR TO THE SHIPPERS DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY Dikko

attached. But this one is neither at any cost to the nation’s economy nor to the shippers directly or indirectly”, Bello said. It is also expected that the new system would facilitate online real time delivery of the electronic ship manifest in advance simultaneously to all the relevant agencies at the port, which before now was given to them when the ship is about to berth in Nigeria. The CTN will therefore checkmate pilferages and leakages and cargo loss while in the harbor since the consignments are tracked from port of origin to port of destination. It was gathered that the NSC-has com-

menced consultations and enlightenment of relevant stakeholders comprising government agencies and private sector operators with a view to educating and sensitising them on the critical role of the new system in efficient port operations.. We cannot introduce the new system until we have introduced it to the stakeholders; recently we held consultations with the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Alhaji Abdullahi Dikko where we introduced it, given that the service is critical to the success of the system” , he also said. The council has also met with the freight forwarding community, even as plans are being concluded to hold similar consultations with other private sector groups such as members of the Manufacturers Asso-

ciation of Nigeria MAN and the National Association of Chambers of Commerce, Mines and Agriculture NACCIMA and other trade groups. But even with these series of consultations, many stakeholders are still cynical, especially given the earlier experience when NPA imposed the scheme on the shipping community in the country with the promise that it would both enhance cargo security and efficiency, which it never did. For instance, President of National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents NCMDLCA, Mr. Lucky Amiwero, insists that it was not possible for the new system not to attract additional payments on the part of the shippers (importers and exporters). He argued that the new system must be attached to a particular service, which makes additional levy or cost arising from that imperative. “There is no way the new CTN will not attract additional charges because it must be tied to a particular service head but for now stakeholders have little or nothing to do about it since the Federal Government has already given its approval to the new scheme”, he said. Amiwero argued that as the commercial regulator of the port industry in Nigeria committed to reducing the cost of doing business, the NSC should ensure that the new system does not expose shippers to additional charges. However, President of Institute of Freight Forwarders of Nigeria IFFN, Dr. Zeb Ikokide, who sounded more ambivalent to new scheme, cautioned that stakeholders should wait to see the operational modalities of the scheme, insisting that it is too early in a day to complain. While differentiating the new scheme from the old one, he argued that both are different from each other even as circumstances under which they are introduced are quite different; adding that it will be quite fine if does not come with additional cost on the shippers, but noted that it might increase documentations. “In my opinion, we should give the new system a trial based on the promises and assurance of the NSC but I can also assure you that if it comes with additional cost, people will resist it”, he said emphatically. It is therefore instructive for the NSC to live to its promise in order to retain the confidence of the stakeholders, especially given its strategic position as the commercial regulator with the mandate to scruitinise tariff increases.

Business Maritime

Friday, August 7, 2015

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Collapse of Customs’ scanners threat to national security –Group STORIES: FRANCIS EZEM

takeholders under the aegis of Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents, NCMDLCA, have raised a fresh alarm over the total collapse of the multibillion scanners taken over by the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, from the three service providers under the Destination Inspection scheme. The Federal Government had signed a seven-year Build, Own, Operate and Transfer BOOT contract with three service providers, which provided Computerised Risk Management System for imports as well as installation of scanners at air and seaports as well as the various borders, which were handed over to Customs December 2, 2013. In a protest letter dated July 28, 2015, addressed to President Muhammandu Buhari and signed by its president, Mr.

One of the Mobile scanners inherited by Customs

Lucky Amiwero, the group said that the scanners have all collapsed less than two years after the service inherited them un-

der the BOOT contract arrangement. According to the group, following the collapse of both the

Operators laud re-appointment of Okpo as MAN’s Rector

aritime operators have hailed the decision of the Federal Government on the re-appointment of Rector of Maritime Academy of Nigeria, MAN, Mr. Joshua Okpo, for another two-year term, an indication that the Rector would complete the statutory four years of two terms. Special Adviser to President Muhammandu Buhari on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, had in a statement late week said the president has reappointed the rector for another term of two years Some stakeholders, who commented on the reappointment, noted that it was a right step in the right direction, as it would make for continuity instead of the usual policy summersault that characterise most government agencies in the maritime industry. Chairman of the Ports Con-

sultative Forum, Otumba Kunle Folarin, one of the stakeholders, who spoke in an interview, noted that in his two-year sojourn as the CEO of the academy, the rector has taken steps to bring it to international reputation He also said that apart from resolving the other internal crisis that rocked the 32-year old academy, the recort has also been able to reconcile the warring host communities, a development that affected the performance of the academy. He however urged the government to take urgent steps towards increasing the funding of the academy, especially recent approval for it to transform into a degree awarding institution, which has already received the nod of the International Maritime Organisation IMO. Managing director of KAMANY Nigeria Limited, an in-

digenous oil and gas firm, Mr. Charles Okerefe, who also commended the government, said it would further boost the drive to reposition the institution. Okerefe, who is also a lecturer with the Certified Institute of Shipping CIS, while expressing displeasure over the inability of some cadets from the academy to do their mandatory sea time training due to paucity of funds, urged the government to take steps to address that. Okpo was appointed Rector of MAN Oron in 2011 by former President Goodluck Jonathan but his appointment was not confirmed until April 16, 2012. Okpo, was until his appointment in 2011, director at the Federal Ministry of Transport, during the crisis era in the academy was mandated to revamp it also manage its metamorphosis to a degree awarding institution.

CMA CGM takes second Guyanamax boxship

rench container line CMA CGM took delivery of the CMA CGM Marseille, the second container ship in its three-vessel Guyanamax series, from South Korea’s Hyundai Mipo Dockyard last week.. This 2,100 TEU vessel is 190 meters long, 30 meters wide, and will sail under the flag of the United Kingdom. The CMA CGM Marseille will

be positioned on the North Europe-French Guiana-North Brazil (NEFGUI) line. This 42-day rotation joins directly North of Europe, the Caribbean, French Guyana and North Brazil each week. The vessel will call: Algeciras, Rotterdam, Tillbury, Rouen, Le Havre, Philipsburg, Port of Spain, Degrad des Cannes, Belem, Fortaleza, Natal and Al-

geciras. The Guyanamax series is composed of the CMA CGM Cayenne, delivered on July 21, the CMA CGM Marseille, and the CMA CGM Saint Laurent, scheduled for delivery in September. All three vessels will be positioned on the NEFGUI line, increasing its capacity by 18 per cent.

mobile and fixed scanners installed at the air, seaports and land borders, the service has resorted to manual inspection of imported cargo, which in addition to posing a great risk to national security, also impedes trade facilitation efforts of the Federal Government. “The Scanners handed over to Nigeria Customs Service have all collapsed, as all process relating to scanning in the ports are now done physically, bringing us back to complete manual era with lengthy, cumbersome

and costly process at the ports”, the letter said. The group also said: “All the components of Destination Inspection have collapsed, they include, the: scanners for trade facilitation and security, the risk assessment system, which collapsed due to non-functioning of the scanners, Pre- Arrival Assessment Report PAAR, encumbered with various duplications, imposition of illegal procedure that negates trade process and removal of all core dispute resolution mechanisms” Amiwero who also took a swipe at the management of the service, accused it of illegal imposition of value and flagrant disregard for the statute of procedure, which resulted to massive diversion of vessels to neighbouring West African ports. “The process of valuation and classification handed over to Customs has witnessed illegal imposition process and flagrant disregard of the statute of procedure, which resulted to massive diversion of vessels to neighbouring West African ports and the loss of goods by Importers due to this reckless imposition”. The group therefore called on the government to commence an urgent reform of the service with a view to cleaning up the mess created by the current management.

MISC doubles quarterly net profit

alaysia-based MISC Berhad, a shipping arm of Petronas, has more than doubled its net profit in the second quarter of 2015, mostly due to improved performance of the company’s petroleum shipping business. The company reported MYR 772.6 million (USD 199.3m) net profit for the quarter ended June 30, as compared to RM 344.6 million (USD 88.9m) net profit in the corresponding quarter a year earlier. MISC’s revenue for the quarter of MYR 2,6 billion was 2.4% higher than MYR 2,54 billion recorded in 2QFY2014. The increase in revenue was mainly due to improved freight rates in petroleum business, revenue recognised from an Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) project in the current quarter and finance lease income contribution of a Floating, Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) unit which commenced in September 2014.

Meanwhile, a smaller fleet of operating vessels in chemical business, lower earning days in LNG business and different phases of project construction in heavy engineering segment caused a decline in revenue of the respective businesses in the current quarter. MISC says that its financial performance for the remaining quarters of 2015 will continue to be supported by secured recurring income from a portfolio of long term contracts in the LNG shipping and offshore business segments. The company expects the strength in the petroleum shipping segment to be carried into the second half of the year, barring any material cutback in global oil production. Full year financial performance of the petroleum shipping segment is expected to show a marked improvement over the performance of 2014. However, chemical shipping prospects still remain mixed.

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Friday, August 7, 2015

BoI supports solid minerals sector with N24.6bn loan –MD OLUFEMI ADEOSUN

he Managing Director, Bank of Industry, (BoI), Mr. Rasheed Olaoluwa, has put the loan portfolio provided for the development of the solid minerals sector at N24.6 billion. Olaoluwa, who spoke at the opening session of a One-Day Solid Minerals Sensitisation Forum organised by the Bank in Abuja, disclosed further that the bank had also established dedicated business groups for agro processing and solid minerals. The event was organised to highlight the opportunities in nation’s solid minerals sector and sensitize both local and foreign investors to the investment and returns potential. He said that in view of the challenges facing the economy owing to the decline in revenue as a result of oil glut in the international market, the bank had decided to improve funding to the sector. According to him, the sensitization program is part of measures by the bank aimed at stimulating

private sector investment into the solid minerals sector. He lamented that while other African countries had leverage on the huge potential in the solid minerals sector, with revenue accruing from it accounted for over over 70 per cent, Nigeria had yet to benefit from the sector. The BoI boss said there were about 44 solid minerals in the country that had been identified by the Federal Government that would generate investments, cre-

ate jobs and reduce the level of poverty in the country. He said, “Before independence Nigeria has a solid mining industry.The economy then started relying extensively on petroleum from the 1970s. The dwindling oil revenue in recent times has made solid minerals a tool for diversification and this can be leveraged for economic growth as recommended by the United Nations economic commission for Africa in its 2013 report.

“The mining sector is the gold mine for many Africa countries. Zambia derives more than 70 per cent of its revenue from copper, Ghana from gold, and Namibia from uranium”, Olaoluwa added. The development banker noted that the BoI had realised the potential in the sector, stressing that this had enabled it to realign its operations to the financing of the sector through the Nigeria Industrial Revolution Plan. “The NIRP which was launched

in February 2014 was done to improve diversification and competitiveness. The BoI has fully aligned its operations with the objectives of the NIRP with the launching of dedicated business groups “Our total loans to the solid minerals industry stands at N24.6bn. The Federal Government has also identified 44 solid minerals that are available in commercial quantities in Nigeria,” he added.

BPE pledges support for PTAD on implementation of mandate TOLA AKINMUTIMI

irector General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Mr. Benjamin Dikki, has pledged to collaborate with the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) for execution of its mandate for the benefit of pensioners in the country. A statement by the Bureau’s Head, Public Communications,

Alex Okoh, quoted the BPE boss as lamenting that pensioners in the country had in the past suffered untold hardship necessitated the establishment of the Directorate, saying that in view of its roles in alleviating pensioners’ plight, it must be supported by well-meaning individuals and corporate bodies. Receiving the management team of PTAD, led by its Director General, Mrs. Nellie Mayshak, which paid a courtesy visit to his office last Tuesday, Dikki assured

that BPE would assist the Directorate by providing database on pensions paid to ex-workers of privatized companies in the country as well as assist with human resources where necessary. He frowned at the past mismanagement of pension funds by managers in the private and public sectors resulting in people who had served their fatherland prompted the reforms of the Pension Sector that gave rise to the Pension Act being promulgated. Earlier, the Director General

of PTAD, Mrs. Nellie Mayshak, had said that funding pension liabilities in the private and public sectors posed a great challenge to her organization; hence the need to collaborate with the BPE on the way forward. She disclosed that insurance companies which were underwriters to pension funds in the country had in their custody N7 billion which they were not willing to release but have instead mounted a campaign to discredit PTAD.

NPC inaugurates Committee for 21st Nigerian Economic Summit TOLA AKINMUTIMI

L-R: Engr. Adeniyi Talabi, Chairman, Storage and Agro –Processing Committee, Sir Oloche Edache, Chairman, Agricultural Extension Services Committee, Permanent Secretary, FMARD, Arc. Sonny Echono, Mr. Damilola Eniaiyeju, Chairman, Cotton Committee and Prof. Yusuf Abubakar, Chairman, Grazing Reserves and Stock Routes during the submission of the Reports of the Four National Committees on the revitalization of the agricultural sector on Wednesday in Abuja .

ecretary to the National Planning Commission, Bassey Akpanyung, on Tuesday inaugurated the Joint Planning Committee (JPC) for the 21st Nigerian Economic Summit The Nigerian Economic Summit is an annual economic stakeholders’ forum being organised jointly by the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), representing the private sector and National Planning Commission (NPC), representing the public sector Members of the JPC were drawn from both the Public and Private Sectors and the aim was to ensure effective delivery of the 2015 Summit.

Naira closes N218 to dollar as CBN curbs speculation JOHNSON OKANLAWON

WITH AGENCY REPORT

entral Bank of Nigeria, CBN, has directed commercial banks to pay for their dollar purchases 48 hours in advance, after banning them from accepting foreign currency cash deposits to curb dollar demand and stem illicit financial flows. Dealers said banks would struggle to buy the United States currency on-behalf of customers

while the ban on dollar cash deposits would stem speculation. The apex bank had in June curbed access to interbank currency market to preserve its foreign reserves. The move led to the diversion of dollar demand to the black market, weakening the currency. “We are now required to deposit the naira equivalent of our total forex bids to the central bank 48 hours in advance before its intervention,” a dealer told Reuters. The CBN was not immediately

available to comment. The measures led to a sharp increase in interest rates on the interbank market, traders said. “The new measure has taken out some huge naira liquidity in the market and putting pressure on the cost of funds among banks,” one dealer said. The overnight lending rate jumped to 50 per cent on Thursday from 12 per cent the previous day, amid low liquidity as some banks scrambled to stock up on the naira to back up their

forex demand with the central bank. The Communications Adviser to the CBN, Mr. Ugo Okoroafor said the ban on dollar cash deposits with commercial banks was aimed at curbing the increasing dollarization of the economy”. The naira has lost around 15 per cent against the dollar this year. It closed at N197 to the dollar on the interbank market, the same level it has closed over the last two weeks.

Akpanyung stated “indeed the Economic Summit has become the largest and most prestigious annual economic forum for policy makers and captains of industry from the public and private sectors of the Nigerian economy, as well as representatives of the academia, civil society organizations and development partners to interact and share thoughts on key issues and challenges facing the Nigerian economy, with a view to evolving a common strategy and policy framework for addressing them” He also stressed that the efficacy of the public private partnerships (NESG/NPC) exemplified by the Summit in Nigeria has been proven in developed and emerging markets leading to unprecedented growth and development in leading countries of the world, insisting that this conviction led Chief Ernest Shonekan to inaugurate the first annual Nigerian Economic Summit in 1993. ‘’ The efficacy of public private partnership exemplified by the summit in our country has been proven in developed and emerging markets leading to unprecedented growth and development in leading economies. This conviction led Chief Ernest Shonekan to inaugurate the first Annual Nigerian Economic Summit (NES) in 1993, as a national platform to promote public private sector dialogue towards accelerated national development’’.

Business News

Friday, August 7, 2015

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Nigeria needs N38bn to revive textile sector –Committee ADEOLA TUKURU ABUJA

he Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, FMARD, has estimated that the country needed N37.2 billion to revive the nation’s textile industry. President Muhammadu Buhari had directed the ministry to look into the resuscitation of the CTG industry in fulfillment of some of his campaign promises, following which it set up a committee for the assignment. Part of the committee’s rec-

ommendations submitted to the Ministry on Wednesday, indicated that the revival of the moribund industry would require the injection of N37.2billion in the sector between the period of 2016-2019 as well as the exploitation of the N100 billion CTG fund domiciled with the Bank of Industry. The Committee pointed out that the proposed fund would support as working capital of operational textile mills and resuscitation of about 80 closed mills as well as 23 closed ginneries. The fund would also support all sections of the cotton, textile and garment sector.

The Committee Chairman, Engr Damilola Eniayeju, who disclosed this while submitting its report and recommendations on the resuscitation of the CTG industry, said that the Committee proposed that fiscal incentives should be given to the sector rather than financial resources. The committee recommended that deliberate effort should be employed by both federal and state government to promote local fabrics. They recommended that Nigeria can promote local fabrics through uniforms for defense, schools and private sectors to en-

able the country have sense of belonging like what is being done in the rice sector and make textile sector boom. He identified some of the challenge confronting the industry to including smuggling and dumping of foreign textile materials from Asian country, lack of electricity supply, poor access to water among others. This he said has led to the reduction in the number of textile industry from 182 in the 80s to 34 industries that is now running. The committee also called for financial support from the Na-

tional Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA) to enable it deploy Biotechnology Cotton (BT COTTON) at confined fields at trial level while the Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR) introgress BT protein in existing varieties as well as produce haploid cotton. It also further recommended that on seed cotton marketing, Agriculture Ministry, Ministry of Trade and Investment should work closely to establish the Cotton Corporation of Nigeria to revive cotton production and competitiveness.

NIPC signs pact with China chamber of commerce on FDI OLUFEMI ADEOSUN ABUJA

L-R: Executive Director, Operations and Services, Sterling Bank Plc., Mr. Yemi Odubiyi, Prof. Nnenna Okore, Honouree; Prof. El Anatsui , University of Nigeria, Nsukka and Managing Director, Kachifo Limited, Mr. Muhtar Bakare at the reception organised in honour of Prof. Nnenna to mark her promotion to Professor by North Park University, Chicago, Illinois, USA held at the weekend in Lagos.

SYLVA EMEKA-OKEREKE

igeria may have been losing over N500 million annually on imported electric bulbs into the country. Investigation by National Mirror showed that about 50 percent of imported bulbs were below acceptable quality standards, thus leading to loss of revenues by importers as well as the buyers. According to SON’s laboratory tests, the measured life of bulbs in the Nigeria averaged between 200 to 480 hours, instead of internationally-recommended measured life of 10,000 hours. A source close to SON, who

he Nigerian Investment Promotion Council on Wednesday signed a pact with the Qingdao International Chamber of Commerce for Private Sector, China to facilitate investment inflow into the country. Speaking shortly after signing the MoU with the Chinese delegation led Mr. Shang Yongle in Abuja, the NIPC Executive Secretary, Mrs. Uju Hassan-Baba, said the commission would help facilitate movement of machineries of any investor willing to set up factory in Nigeria. She the MoU became imperative in order to take advantage of

Nigeria loses N500m annually on imported electric bulbs –Investigation pleaded that his name should not be in print, disclosed that when SON discovered that the country was losing so much revenue, the agency quickly increased its surveillance, leading to the clamp down on light bulbs as well as lamps entering into the country. “Hardly have any major commercial centre in Nigeria not been visited by eagle-eyed SON officials on the lookout for huge loads of the low-quality bulbs. I can authoritatively tell you that the agency under Joseph Odumodu has recorded huge success in

the sector’’, the source said. He said that the dump sites around Nigeria had seen millions of defective light bulbs destroyed by the SON, noting that in spite of the danger associated with substandard products, importers as well as their collaborators are not ready to give up on the business due to its high profit margin. “For them, requirements like SONCAP with compulsory preshipment test and inspection scheme are serious restrictions, thus leading to faking of SON-

CAP certificate as well as fraudulently, obtaining SONCAP certificates. Importers also undermine product inspection on standards and quality by obtaining waivers’’, SON stated. It would be recalled that between 2011 and 2013, SON seized and destroyed imported substandard electrical cables worth billions of naira. The substandard cables are made of iron, instead of copper, as some were coated with copper to deceive unsuspecting buyer.

the existing economic and bilateral cooperation between Nigeria and China Hassan-Baba added that under the MoU, the two organizations would proactively encourage Chinese businessmen to invest in Nigeria, particularly in the key sectors of the economy. She listed some of them to include woodwork (furniture manufacturing); cement manufacturing, glass production, garment and diaper manufacturing as well as railways. According to her, NIPC would facilitate and support the admission of such investments in accordance with relevant laws and regulations She commended the delegation for choosing Nigeria as a preferred investment destination among the other countries of Africa and assured the commission’s support in ensuring that the purpose of the MoU is achieved. “We are hopeful that this visit will kick-start a long term cooperation and collaboration between the NIPC and the Qingdao international chamber of commerce for private sector.”, Hassan-Baba projected. The NIPC boss also explained that the commission would liaise with relevant institutions of government in facilitating the grant of relevant approvals and licenses to interested Chinese businesses from the QICCPS in accordance with relevant legislations.

NDIC introduces Deposit Insurance System curriculum in universities, others TOLA AKINMUTIMI

he Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) has introduced Deposit Insurance System (DIS) into the curricula of Nigerian universities and other tertiary institutions as part of the on-going efforts toward enhancing public

awareness on its mandate and operational activities. A statement by the management of the Corporation, indicated that the DIS programme commenced with two courses: “Fundamentals of Deposit Insurance Scheme” and “The Practice of Deposit Insurance” which were designed for students of Business Administra-

tion, Economics, Banking & Finance, and Accounting. “Fundamentals of Deposit Insurance“ was specifically designed for 300 level students while “The Practice of Deposit Insurance” was for 400 level students. The introduction of the programme is intended to enhance the knowledge of both undergraduate and post-graduate

students of universities and students of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN). This will go a long way to enhance the quality of potential staff of banks as well as promote financial literacy and financial inclusion. Meanwhile, the DIS courses have already commenced at the Ahmadu Bello University

(ABU), Zaria while six other first generation Nigerian universities namely, University of Lagos; University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN); Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU); Bayero University Kano (BUK); University of Ibadan (UI), Ibadan; and University of Benin will start running the courses as from next academic session.

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Refineries to produce 90% of capacity after TAM –NNPC UDEME AKPAN

he Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, has concluded plans to put 90 per capacity utilisation at the end of its ongoing Turn Around Maintenance, TAM, of the nation’s four refineries. The Group General Manager Services of the Corporation, Mr. Abubakar Muhammed, gave the assurance at the ongoing 4-day International Conference of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) and exhibitions in Lagos. He said that out of the 90 per cent production capacity of the country’s output crude production, about 40 per cent would be on Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, (petrol), adding that additional refineries would be expected at the long and short term to increase the country’s refining

capacity and domestic consumption. Muhammed restated Federal Government’s commitment to gas development and revival of gas infrastructure. He said that the nation was in need of renovation and passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) that would define the country future oil and gas production and generation. According to him, crude oil theft has been a major challenged in the country, adding that the decline has been impacted on the on the average sale of government equity crude, with an average joint venture cash call budget of about $600 million per month. He clarified: “This comes at a time when the cash call budget has remained unattainable in the last few years. Management of funding is our most immediate challenge and innovative financing approach is currently being

developed to address the issue.” “Another challenge is the development of shale oil in Nigeria’s largest market US, this has forced Nigeria to look for alternative market in Asia. Despite these challenges we are focusing on strategic realignment of our crude oil exports to graphically and more direct and user transactions in sustainable markets.” Muhammed said that crude theft and pipeline vandalism and crude oil as impacted on production in the last four years in 2010 to 2014 from 2.4 million barrels per day in 2010 to about 2.0 million barrels per day in 2014. The Managing Director, Exploration and Production Nigeria Ltd, Mrs Elisabeth Proust, noted that Nigeria had very tremendous gas reserve, about 46 trillion standard cubic feet (TCF) of the reported 178 tcf of discovered gas resources is currently developed or under development.

Ijewere, Utomi, others to speak at EDC’s 9th SME Conference

he 9th Annual SME Conference of the Enterprise Development Centre (EDC) with the theme “SMEs: the Emerging Horizon”, is scheduled to hold next month in Lagos. Organisers of the event, Enterprise Development Centre, EDC, stated that the first session of the conference will focus on Politics, Policies and SMEs: Matters Arising; while the second session will feature a discourse titled, Stop Complaining - Embrace Innovation. The third session is tagged, Conversation with the CEO. The Keynote Speaker is a fellow of the Institute of Management Consultants of Nigeria and Senior Faculty at the Lagos Business School, Professor Pat Utomi. The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Coscharis Group, Dr Cosmas Maduka is Guest Speaker.

ICT key to Africa’s financial market growth –AfDB SYLVA EMEKA-OKEREKE

irector of Financial Sector Development of the African Development Bank, AfDB, Stefan Nalletamby, said technology-based products and innovation could support reliable data collection on creditors while eliminating the main obstacles to credits for the Small and Medium Enterprises in Africa. Digital Financial Services, DFS, as well as Development Agenda in Africa were parts of resolutions taken at the panel discussions, organized by the AfDB and Making Finance Work for Africa, MFW4A, of the third International Conference on Financing for Development, FfD3, in Addis

Ababa. It was however noted that technology products and services have not received enough attention within the international development community. He said that only four of the Sustainable Development Goals currently refer to as ICT, is yet to be considered by participants as a major contributor to inclusive growth. Minister of Development Cooperation, Digital Agenda, Telecom and Postal Services of Belgium, Alexander de Croo identified DFS as a key driver of the formalisation of African economies. Going further, the Executive Secretary of the African Capacity-Building Foundation, ACBF, Emanuel Nnadozie, noted how

digital payments are central to domestic resource mobilization because they channel informal savings into the formal financial system. “There is growing evidence that digitising payments boosts transaction efficiency reduces costs and drives financial inclusion’’. Vice-President of CSR at Ericsson Group, DFS, Elaine Weidman said such can be as much as 75 percent cheaper than traditional banking in low-income countries. The exponential growth of mobile phone subscriptions in SubSaharan Africa, from 90 million to 650 million over the last 8 years, offers considerable opportunities to grow the market for mobile financial services.

Other speakers are The founder of DO.11 Designs, a furniture making and interior decoration company, Mrs Ifeyinwa Ighodalo; and the Co-Founder and CEO of Supermart, Mr. Raphael Afaedor; Senator Babajide Omoworare; An Executive Director, Heritage Bank, Mrs. Mary Akpabome; A prominent businessman and financial expert, Mr. Emmanuel Ijewere; and General Manager of Uber Lagos, Ebi Atawodi. Every year, EDC brings together its members and other SME stakeholders both in the public and private sector to meet and discuss contemporary issues affecting growing small businesses in Nigeria. This networking event serves as a forum that strengthens the entrepreneurial space and contributes largely to the continuous development of the SME ecosystem.

LCCI tasks CBN on forex management ABOLAJI ADEBAYO

Shareholders voting at the Extra-Ordinary General Meeting of Stanbic IBTC in Abuja yesterday.

agos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, LCCI, has expressed serious concern over the current method of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, in managing foreign exchange. In a communiqué signed by its President, Mr Remi Bello, the Chamber noted that the current model of foreign exchange management has negative consequences on investors as well as stability of foreign exchange market. It therefore called for an urgent and more strategic framework for the management of the market. It also urged President Muhammadu Buhari to quickly set up an economic team to interface with the CBN, the Organised Private Sector, OPS, and key economic ministries to design sustainable

model for the management of the exchange market. Although, the OPS acknowledged the efforts of the Central Bank of Nigeria to protect foreign reserves and stabilize exchange rate, it however decried the current macro-economic challenges facing the country, especially the decline in foreign exchange inflow. It however expressed concern over the fiscal outlook of all levels of government and weak capacity of governments to meet their financial obligations. It said, the intervention of the Federal Government in mitigating the conditions of the states and local governments had commended, however noting that the current situation underscores the imperative of economic diversification and prudent management of state resources.

Airtel kicks off life-changing CSR initiative ISAIAH ERHIAWARIEN

irtel Nigeria has kickedoff the second edition of its Corporate Social Responsibility, CSR, initiative, Touching Lives with a call for nomination. Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Airtel Nigeria, Mr. Segun Ogunsanya said Season 2 of its CSR project is a ground-breaking approach to corporate social investment. Ogunsanya said Airtel’s Touching Lives project, is aimed empowering, uplifting and creating life-changing opportunities for underprivileged individuals, communities as well as groups in

the society. He said telco is rolling out the second edition of the revolutionary programme based on monumental successes recorded with the first edition. According to him, Airtel went the length and breadth of the country last year, scouting for people, who need supports, noting that “the journey yielded great results as we touched the lives of many Nigerians’’ He said, “At Airtel, we believe that for us to be a great company we must be a good company and we are very much committed to earning our social license – the love and acceptance of the people we serve’’.

Friday, August 7, 2015

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Farmers restate commitment to wheat production, seek policy continuity At the recently concluded annual national wheat planning meeting in Zaria, which was organised by the Lake Chad Research Institute based in Maiduguri, in collaboration with International Centre for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), Tunis, Nigerian farmers re-assured that given the right support, they can produce wheat to meet national requirements. ABOLAJI ADEBAYO captures their views in this report.

heat farmers across the country have restated their commitment to producing wheat in larger scale in order to meet national needs and enable government to process the excess harvests for exports. The farmers, who spoke during their just concluded meeting in Zaria, however hinged the realisation of their dreams on the continuity of the Agricultural Transformation Agenda, ATA, and wheat value chain component and urged the new administration to sustain the agenda for national benefits. They disclosed that the country, being the leading export destination and the third overall largest importer of USA wheat, spends over N700 billion of foreign exchange annually on its importation, arising from persistent deficits between domestic needs and local production. Leading the team of speakers in support of wheat agenda, Mallam Sani Laden from Zamfara State, who has 35 years of farming experience in Bakolori, drew a comparison between earlier years and the period between 2011 and 2014. Laden, a farmer of wheat, rice, sweet potato, beans and maize, and the current chairman of Talata Mafara Water Users Association, recalled that a bag of wheat was sold at N2,000 before the appointment of Dr. Akinwumi Adesina as Minister, which has now increased to N15,000 per bag. Laden, who promised the farmers’ support for any incoming minster that uphold and improve on the existing policies made by the former minister, warned that they would not hesitate to protest and critisise any shortcoming that may be caused by derailing from the good policies. He noted that the ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development under Adesina provided seed and fertilizer for the farmers, while the Ministry Of Water Resources brought tractors. The Project Manager of Bakolori Irrigation Scheme, Lawal Maidoki, said Bakolori

alone had the capacity to cultivate 15,000 hectares of wheat, adding that Nigerian farmers could produce the required wheat for both local consumption and exportation if given the necessary support. Also speaking, the Chairman of Kebbi State Wheat Farmers, Abdullahi Saidu Argungu, disclosed that he produced 2,000 metric tons of wheat in 2013/2014 and has increased it to 5,000 metric tons in 2014/2015. “Flour Mills of Nigeria tested our wheat and attested that our wheat is good. In Kebbi State warehouses, we have mopped up 300 metric tons of Atilla (varieties of wheat) and farmers are happy at N15,000 per 100 kg. Wheat, compared with rice, is not hard to grow as over 2,000 registered farmers are now doing wheat. Farmers are aware that one needs little money to do wheat,” Argungu said. Based on the regional advantages peculiar to each state and with mandate on wheat improvement, some of the participants suggested that each state should specialise in specific varieties so as to encourage offtakers and millers. This, they believed would ensure uniformity as they argued that if various varieties are grown and aggregated together, their non-uniformity might discourage the millers. For instance, the representative of Plateau State’s Agricultural Development Programme, Engr. Philip Gonap, who spoke about the advantage his state has over many other wheat-growing states, explained that irrigated and rain-fed wheat production was

possible in Plateau. He added that the state has nine local government areas with temperate weather while eight local government areas have tropical weather. Also, an agricultural extension official at the Institute of Agricultural Research, IAR, Zaria, Aminu Sharifai, noted that the wheatproducing states were 10 among which there were two hubs of wheat programmes: the Kano and the Maiduguri hubs, each made of three innovation platforms. Sharifai spoke about what he described as the “reawakening of wheat production activities in Nigeria,” leading to “increase in wheat yield per hectare from 2 to 6 metric tons (or 40 to 60 bags per hectare, up from 10 bags per hectare).” The 10 states are Kano, Jigawa, Borno,

Buhari

Adesina

WHEAT SEED PRODUCTION FOR 2014 TO 2015 RECORDED AN 82 PER CENT INCREASE OVER THE PREVIOUS YEAR WHILE IN THE 2015 TO 2016 WHEAT

SEASON, THE AREA OF LAND TO BE CULTIVATED HAS BEEN ESTIMATED AT 150,000 HECTARES

Kebbi, Gombe, Yobe (included, but inputs not provided for beneficiaries, due to security challenges), Sokoto, Zamfara, Bauchi, Plateau and Katsina. The Yobe case would have brought the total number to 11. But the numbers of states effectively covered were 10. However, the President of Borno State Youth Farmers, Baba Gana Tijjani, who acknowledged that the Lake Chad Research Institute has trained 100 youth farmers, lamented that, due to insurgency, activities have been halted. One of the new opportunities arising from the wheat value chain is that of local seed production. So far, the following companies have been identified as registered seed companies recognised in the wheat value chain: Rahama Integrated Seed Venture (Kano), Premier Seed (Zaria), Maina Seed (Kano), Nwobodo Seed (Jigawa), and farmers’ outgrowers. There appears to be no problem in getting seed to produce wheat locally at this stage. It was disclosed that wheat seed production for 2014 to 2015 recorded an 82 per cent increase over the previous year while in the 2015 to 2016 wheat season, the area of land to be cultivated has been estimated at 150,000 hectares. Meanwhile, 6.0 metric tons of breeder seed, 15,000 metric tons of foundation seed and 30,000 MT of certified seed, plus 15,000 MT, representing a 50 per cent of farmers’ retention, will be needed. The President of Wheat Farmers’ Association of Nigeria, Salim Muhammed, noted that the wheat programme had been receiving the industry’s attention. According to him, the initial request of 1,000 MT has been made by millers; but they have been asking for 50,000 MT monthly, that is about 600,000 MT annually. He said 1,000 farmers at 4 MT per hectare will produce 400,000 MT per annum, which is yet to meet the 600,000 MT requested by the milling industry. In his remarks at the forum, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Development, Mr. Sonny Echono, who was represented at the occasion by Mrs. Karima Babangida, said that 38,951 farmers benefited from the seed distributed at 10 per cent subsidy. He disclosed that budget had been set aside for buy-back of the wheat produced. Dr. Gbenga Olabanji, who is also the executive director of Lake Chad Research Institute, with mandate on wheat improvement, suggested that each state should specialise in specific varieties so as to encourage off-takers and millers. He said that this approach would ensure uniformity and that if various varieties were grown and aggregated together, their non-uniformity will discourage the millers. In conclusion, he advised that “all hands must be on deck to make agriculture work for the country.”

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Capital Market

Friday, August 7, 2015

Custodian and Allied pre-tax profit rises 21% ...Equities shed 0.3%

Johnson okanlawon

ustodian and Allied, a life and non-life insurance company, has announced a profit before tax of N3.34 billion for the half year ended June 30, 2015, an increase of 21 per cent. The company profit after tax rose to N2.62 billion for the six months period, while shareholders’ funds grew to N24.42 billion from N22.49 billion, as at December 31, 2014. A non-bank financial institution quoted on the Nigerian Stock Exchange with investments pension fund administration, trusteeship and property holding businesses, has a total assets of N54 billion.

The company has proposed an interim dividend of 6 kobo on every 50 kobo ordinary share will be paid to shareholders whose names appear on the register on August 14, 2015. The Custodian Group consists of Custodian and Allied Plc (the holding company), Custodian and Allied Insurance Limited, Custodian Life Assurance Limited, Custodian Trustees Limited and CrusaderSterling Pensions Limited. Meanwhile, trading in equities continued on a positive note on the Nigerian Stock Exchange yesterday, as investors’ appetite on stocks with good earnings rose further.

Specifically, the All Share Index appreciated 0.29 per cent to close at 31,495.73 points, compared to the increase of three per cent recorded the preceding day to close at 31,403.75 points. Market capitalisation gained N32 billion to close at N10.79 trillion, compared to the increase of N324 billion recorded the preceding day to close at N10.76 trillion. PZ Cussons Plc led the gainers’ table with N3.00 or 10 per cent to close at N33.00 per share, followed by Transcorp Plc with 24 kobo or 9.76 per cent to close at N2.70 per share. Evans Medicals Plc rose six kobo or 9.52 per cent to close at 69 kobo per share, while Nigerian Breweries Plc gained N7.67 or 6.04 per cent to close at N134.72 per share.

Fidson Healthcare Plc was up 15 kobo or 4.81 per cent to close at N3.27 per share. On the flip side, Flourmills of Nigeria Plc dropped N1.62 or 4.99 per cent to close at N30.84 per share, while Premier Breweries Plc shed 16 kobo or 4.91 per cent to close at N3.10 per share. Honeywell Flour Plc fell 13 kobo or 4.73 per cent to close at N2.62 per share, while Union Bank Plc declined 36 kobo or 4.68 per cent to close at N7.34 per share. Learn Africa Plc was down five kobo or 4.59 per cent to close at N1.04 per share. A total of 532.3 million shares valued at N5.33 billion were exchanged in 4,402 deals.

Flour Mills drops 5% on disappointing earnings Johnson okanlawon

llour Mills shares yesterday shed most in the last seven days, as the company’s bottomline and topline shrank in the second quarter. The company’s share which stood at N32.46 per share the preceding day fell N1.62 or five per cent to close at N30.84 per share. The consumer goods company, which its shareholders recently endorsed N40 billion rights issue, has shares outstanding of 2.6 million, while its market capitalisation as at yesterday stood at N80.9 billion.

It posted a full-year profit before tax of N7.72 billion, down by six per cent from N8.22 billion recorded in the same period of 2014. The company’s profit after tax however grew by 57.87 per cent to N8.47 billion on the back of what analysts described as a tax credit of N738 million and positive surprises of N395 million and N542 million on the other comprehensive income and minority interest lines. The company’s unaudited results for the year ended March 31, 2015, which it filed with the Nigerian Stock Exchange, showed that its gross earnings fell to N308.76 billion in the year to March 31,

compared with N325.79 billion recorded in the corresponding period of 2014.. The Chairman, Flour Mills, Mr. John Coumantaros, was quoted as saying at an Extraordinary General Meeting in Lagos that the funds would help the company to reduce its debt burden, lower its interest charges and augment its working capital. Analysts at FBN Capital Limited, while commenting on Four Mills’ results for the three months ended March 31 2015, said the results showed that the profit before tax improved markedly to N4bn, compared to N624 million in the fourth quarter of 2014 due to a one-off gain of N14.2

European shares dip on weak results

uropean shares fell yesterday, with weak corporate results weighing on enzyme company Novozymes and Deutsche Post even as UK stocks outperformed on receding rate-hike fears. The pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index, which rose 1.3 per cent in the previous session, closed down 0.8 per cent at 1,589.38 points. The euro zone’s blue-chip Euro STOXX 50 index declined by 0.2 per cent. Novozymes slid by around 13 per cent after reporting second-quarter earnings below expectations. Deutsche Post’s shares also fell after cutting its 2015 profit outlook. Weak oil prices also weighed on energy stocks. However, Belgian finan-

cial company KBC rose three per cent after it posted higher profits. Reinsurer Munich Re firmed 1.5 per cent on an improved outlook. The rise in Munich Re enabled Germany’s DAX to slightly outperform the region, though Deutsche Post put a drag on the index when it lowered its profit target. Britain’s FTSE was a big outperformer, down only 0.1 per cent, after a slew of Bank of England data showed the central bank was in no hurry to raise interest rates. Greek stocks also recovered after slumping for the past three days, although many investors have cut their exposure to the debt-ridden country. “We retain our more favour-

able view on European equities,” Oliver Wallin, investment director at Octopus, said in a note to clients. “However, we reduced European holdings in July as we await opportunities to buy back into the market when the situation in Greece becomes clearer.” According to data from Thomson Reuters StarMine, 59 per cent of companies on the European STOXX 600 index have met or beaten market expectations for their results this quarter. Along with the robust corporate results, economic stimulus measures from the European Central Bank have also propped up European stock markets this year, enabling them to shrug off lingering

billion on disposal of investments (basically divestments of the FMN’s 15 per cent shares in UNICEM). “Excluding this gain, the FMN would have reported a pretax loss of N10.2 bilion. Thanks to a tax credit of N1.1billion and a positive contribution of N1.2 billion on the minority interest line, profit after tax grew 59 per cent yearon-year to N6.7 billion. “Again, if we strip out the extraordinary gain of N14.2 billion from the sale of investments, the company would have reported an after-tax loss of N7.5 billion for the quarter (vs. -N10.0 billion in Q4 2014),” the firm said.

concerns over Greece’s debt problems. Rate (%) Inflation

8.2

MPR

Crude oil price

$58.96

Source: NSE

Inter-Bank Rate Naira

US Dollar

N197 Market indicators All-Share Index 31,495.73 points Market capitalisation 10.80trn

Stock Updates GAINERS COMPANY

OPENING

CLOSING

CHANGE

% CHANGE

30.00

33.00

3.00

10.00

TRANSCORP

2.46

2.70

0.24

9.76

EVANSMED

0.63

0.69

0.06

9.52

127.05

134.72

7.67

6.04

FIDSON

3.12

3.27

0.15

4.81

MAYBAKER

1.37

1.43

0.06

4.38

ACADEMY

0.73

0.76

0.03

4.11

CUSTODYINS

4.04

4.20

0.16

3.96

MOBIL

150.01

155.00

4.99

3.33

DANGFLOUR

3.05

3.15

0.10

3.28

CHANGE

% CHANGE

LOSERS COMPANY

OPENING

CLOSING

FLOURMILL

32.46

30.84

-1.62

-4.99

PREMBREW

3.26

3.10

-0.16

-4.91

HONYFLOUR

2.75

2.62

-0.13

-4.73

UBN

7.70

7.34

-0.36

-4.68

LEARNAFRCA

1.09

1.04

-0.05

-4.59

OANDO

12.45

12.00

-0.45

-3.61

WEMABANK

0.93

0.90

-0.03

-3.23

SKYEBANK

2.19

2.12

-0.07

-3.20

ETI

20.60

20.00

-0.60

-2.91

UBCAP

1.38

1.34

-0.04

-2.90

FGN Bonds

Offer

Bid

Description

Price

Yield

Price

Yield

13.05 16-AUG-2016

1.03

97.86

15.37

98.01

15.21

15.10 27-APR-2017

1.72

99.55

15.36

99.70

15.26

16.00 29-JUN-2019

3.90

101.46

15.47

101.76

15.37

15.54 13-FEB-2020

4.52

100.42

15.41

100.72

15.31

16.39 27-JAN-2022

6.48

104.08

15.37

104.38

15.30

14.20 14-MAR-2024

8.60

94.77

15.31

95.07

15.24

Closing Market Prices of July 30, 2015

Treasury Bills Maturity Date

Bid

Offer

Exchange

Rates (N)

12-Nov-15

14.46

15.04

WAUA

270

USD

197

04-Feb-16

13.91

14.95

EURO

214

14-Jul-16

14.21

16.40

CFA

0.32

YEN

1.64

Tenor

Rate (%)

SWISS FRANC

202

O/N

32.7083

POUNDS STERLING

293

16.0437

17.2311

SDR

273

18.3485

NIBOR

The Fixings of August 6, 2015

Friday, August 7, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Community Mirror The current governor of Rivers State and PDP are afraid of me getting appointment at the national level, because that will determine the politics of Rivers State. Former Governor of Rivers State – Rotimi Amaechi

Family petitions IGP over subversion of justice, police harassment Dare akogun

he Ipetoro family of Ogijo area of Ogun State has petitioned the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Solomon Arase over the alleged subversion and delay of justice in a land tussle between the families by a police officer who has the sympathy of a faction. The petition dated August 5, 2015 signed by their legal adviser and a copy made available to reads in part “It will be recalled that the said petition was approved and assigned to Federal SARS, Abuja for prompt inves-

tigation into veracity or otherwise of the allegation contained in the petition. “A total number of 22 suspects were arrested and were granted bail on the conditions that they should make themselves available on the date agreed for further investigation thereof. The suspects to our client’s amazement never honoured the invitation and they refused to the return to the police as we write this petition. “Instead the said persons wrote a petition to Ogun State Police Command, Eleweran Abeokuta against our client

on frivolous allegations,” the statement said. The family further alleged that the said petition against was masterminded by one Usman Akaun a retired DIG,CSP Adesina OC X-squad, Eleweran and one Sheriff Akaun. “Our Clients were reliably informed that CSP Adesina is working in conjunction with retired DIG Usman and Sheriff

Akaun to making sure that the said persons who were used by a faction of the family to cause injury and mayhem in the community get away without any punishment,” the statement alleged. The family further alleged that CSP Adesina was directed to hand over the case file at the Ogun State Command to the officers of the Federal SARS for

investigation but he refused, boosting that he will frustrate the investigation of the petition. The family however appealed to the IGP to attend to the petition by continuing with the investigation forthwith, as the family does not want to take laws into their hands or embark of reprisal that might lead to communal clash.

NAFDAC accuses whistle-blower director of ties with drug counterfeiters Dare akogun

ational Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, says its Director General, DG Paul Orhii, is being targeted by drug counterfeiters who are out to infiltrate the agency, accusing its former finance director, Ademola Mogbojuri, of getting involved with drug counterfeiters and allowing himself to be used by them. The allegation came in response to the invitation of NAFDAC’s, Orhii, to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, after Mr. Mogbojuri had accused him of corruption. However the agency’s director of Special Duties /Public affairs, Abubakar Jimoh, denied that the NAFDAC boss was arrested by the EFCC as widely reported in the media recently. He claimed the EFCC invited Mr. Orhii to applaud him for his courage to engage his defiant subordinate. According to him “There’s nothing unusual about this but to applaud the DG for his courage to want to engage the recalcitrant director who has decided to dance naked in the public and become a willing tool in the hands of the counterfeiters

to infiltrate derail an organized system,” “The visit was a normal and routine process for those who are familiar with the procedure of an investigative agency like EFCC. “There is no hue and cry about this visit since it was normal for anyone who is accused to respond and clear his name accordingly. The DG was never arrested as being portrayed by these online portals, Jimoh claimed. The EFCC had on Monday invited Mr. Orhii after a petition against him was written by the former finance director. Earlier in the month, former finance director of NAFDAC, Mr. Mogbojuri, allegedly accused Mr. Orhii of being behind the shady deal and financial recklessness at the agency.

A street urchin nabbed for scooping fuel from a fallen tanker on Ikorodu road, Lagos recently. PHOTO: SAMUEL ADETIMEHIN

No OPC member died in Agbamu - Community Spokesman Wole aDeDeji ILORIN

he Agbamu community, in Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara State has denied the news making rounds that three people died during the 10th Coronation Anniversary ceremony of the monarch of the town, Oba Samuel Olusola Dare. It was widely reported in some

national dailies (excluding National Mirror) that three members of the Oodua People’s Congress, OPC who had been allegedly suspended from the congress died in a fracas that ensued during the celebrations. The clash was said to have arisen between the suspended members of the Otunba Gani Adams faction of OPC who allegedly took advantage of the attendance of the OPC leader

Suspect in alleged rape, suicide arraigned in Ondo ojo oyeWamiDe AKURE

28-year-old man, Odunayo Bayo, has been arraigned before a Chief Magistrates’ Court in Ondo town for alleged sexual assault and an attempt to commit suicide. The accused was said to have

unlawfully had canal knowledge of a 14-year-old girl, one Comfort Sunday, at Bolorunduro on July 31 at about 2pm. According to the prosecutor, Sergeant Olagbayi Bernard, who read the charge sheet, the suspect also attempted to commit suicide on August 2 at about 1pm at the Nigeria Police Station cell, Bolorunduro Division.

Olagbayi said the accused attempted to kill him by using a long sleeve shirt to hang himself to the ceiling in the cell and thereby committed an offence. He added that the offences were contrary to and punishable under sections 218 and 327 of the Criminal Code Cap 37Vol1 Laws of Ondo state of Nigeria 2006.

as the ‘Baba Oba of Agbamu’ to vent their anger over their suspension from the group. However, in a statement by the spokesman of Agbamu, Professor Rotimi Olawepo in a statement said that the anniversary rather witnessing a commotion as widely speculated, recorded a large turnout of people talk less recording any casualty. According to him, the celebration witnessed a large crowd of between 3,000 and 5,000 people with many royal fathers’ in attendance as well respected dignitaries because of the names that are sons and daughters of the sleepy town. Professor Olawepo added that with heavy presence of both the police and the National Security Civil Defense Corps, NSCDC there was no iota of breakdown of law and order at the event

Capital Market

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Friday, August 7, 2015

Stock exchange daily equities summary Daily Summary as of 06/08/2015 Printed 06/08/2015 14:32:53.053

Equities as at August 6, 2015 Daily Summary as of 06/08/2015 Printed 06/08/2015 14:32:53.053

Daily Summary (Bonds) No Debt Trading Activity

1st Tier Securities Sector

Company name

1st Tier Securities

Daily Summary (Equities)

No Of Deals

Quotation(N)

Quantity Traded

Value of Shares(N)

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

Symbol OKOMUOIL PRESCO

No. of Deals 22 12 34

Current Price 26.00 31.00

Quantity Traded 291,604 115,900 407,504

Value Traded 7,414,561.55 3,560,678.38 10,975,239.93

Symbol LIVESTOCK

No. of Deals 28 28

Current Price 1.95

Quantity Traded 887,031 887,031

Value Traded 1,738,771.05 1,738,771.05

1,294,535

12,714,010.98

Quantity Traded 21,852,663 783,160 22,635,823

Value Traded 57,675,914.68 28,988,509.40 86,664,424.08

22,635,823

86,664,424.08

Quantity Traded 15,900

Value Traded 10,494.00

AGRICULTURE Totals

CONGLOMERATES Diversified Industries Daily Summary as of 06/08/2015

TRANSNATIONAL Printed 06/08/2015 14:32:53.053 CORPORATION OF NIGERIA PLC U A C N PLC. Diversified Industries Totals CONGLOMERATES Totals CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Activity Summary on Board EQTY Building Structure/Completion/Other COSTAIN (W A) PLC. CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Building Structure/Completion/Other Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Building Structure/Completion/Other Totals

Symbol TRANSCORP UACN

No. of Deals 208 32 240

Daily Summary (Equities) Symbol COSTAIN

Current Price 2.70 37.00

240

No. of Deals 1

Current Price 0.68

Symbol

No. of Deals 1

Current Price

Quantity TradedPage 15,900

Value Traded 13 1 of 10,494.00

Infrastructure/Heavy Construction JULIUS BERGER NIG. PLC. Infrastructure/Heavy Construction Totals

Symbol JBERGER

No. of Deals 2 2

Current Price 45.58

Quantity Traded 50,000 50,000

Value Traded 2,165,500.00 2,165,500.00

Real Estate Development UACN PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT CO. LIMITED Real Estate Development Totals

Symbol UAC-PROP

No. of Deals 15 15

Current Price 9.02

Quantity Traded 246,898 246,898

Value Traded 2,230,859.94 2,230,859.94

312,798

4,406,853.94

CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Totals CONSUMER GOODS Beverages--Brewers/Distillers CHAMPION BREW. PLC. GUINNESS PLC Daily Summary as ofNIG 06/08/2015 INTERNATIONAL Printed 06/08/2015 14:32:53.053BREWERIES PLC. JOS INT. 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. Beverages--Non-Alcoholic Totals CONSUMER GOODS Food Products DANGOTE MILLS PLC Published by The NigerianFLOUR Stock Exchange © DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY PLC FLOUR MILLS NIG. PLC. HONEYWELL FLOUR MILL PLC NASCON ALLIED INDUSTRIES PLC N NIG. FLOUR MILLS PLC. Food Products Totals Food Products--Diversified CADBURY NIGERIA PLC. NESTLE NIGERIA PLC. Food Products--Diversified Totals Household Durables Daily Summary as ofNIG 06/08/2015 VITAFOAM PLC. Printed 06/08/2015 VONO14:32:53.053 PRODUCTS PLC.

Symbol CHAMPION GUINNESS INTBREW JOSBREW NB PREMBREW

Personal/Household Products P Z CUSSONS NIGERIA PLC. UNILEVER NIGERIA PLC. Personal/Household Products Totals Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Value Traded 8,764,034.00 25,553,176.00 536,132.25 1,510.00 146,941,226.47 248,000.00 182,044,078.72

Symbol 7UP

No. of Deals 23 23

Current Price 192.50

Quantity Traded 522,774 522,774

Value Traded 100,620,728.60 100,620,728.60

Symbol DANGFLOUR DANGSUGAR FLOURMILL HONYFLOUR NASCON NNFM

No. of Deals 40 41 71 28 26 4 210

Current Price 3.15 6.02 30.84 2.62 6.80 13.99

Quantity Traded 3,556,912 Page 778,356 7,605,675 755,520 187,480 10,100 12,894,043

Value Traded 13 211,156,312.45 of 4,695,881.22 257,029,097.00 2,013,451.52 1,246,351.00 134,345.00 276,275,438.19

Symbol CADBURY NESTLE

No. of Deals 1 32 33

Current Price 35.05 850.01

Quantity Traded 625 74,957 75,582

Value Traded 20,812.50 64,119,542.05 64,140,354.55

Symbol VITAFOAM VONO

No. of Deals 15 8 23

Current Price 5.74 1.08

Quantity Traded 789,957 113,100 903,057

Value Traded 4,371,554.64 116,493.00 4,488,047.64

Symbol

No. of Deals 25 48 73

Current Price 33.00 37.81

Quantity Traded 345,241 245,941 591,182

Value Traded 10,695,760.81 9,717,737.70 20,413,498.51

CONSUMER GOODS Totals FINANCIAL SERVICES Banking ACCESS BANK PLC. Published by The NigerianBANK StockPLC Exchange © DIAMOND

18,218,391

647,982,146.21

ECOBANK TRANSNATIONAL INCORPORATED FIDELITY BANK PLC GUARANTY TRUST BANK PLC. SKYE BANK PLC STERLING BANK PLC. Daily Summary as of 06/08/2015 UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA PLC Printed 06/08/2015 14:32:53.053 UNION BANK NIG.PLC. UNITY BANK PLC WEMA BANK PLC. ZENITH INTERNATIONAL BANK PLC Banking Totals

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services AIICOSERVICES INSURANCE PLC. FINANCIAL Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE PLC EQUITY ASSURANCE PLC. CONSOLIDATED HALLMARK INSURANCE PLC INTERNATIONAL ENERGY INSURANCE COMPANY PLC LAW UNION AND ROCK INS. PLC. LINKAGE ASSURANCE PLC AXAMANSARD INSURANCE PLC N.E.M INSURANCE CO (NIG) PLC. ASSURANCE CO. © PLC. Published byPRESTIGE The Nigerian Stock Exchange REGENCY ALLIANCE INSURANCE COMPANY PLC STANDARD TRUST ASSURANCE PLC WAPIC INSURANCE PLC Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services Totals

Micro-Finance Banks Daily Summary as of 06/08/2015 NPF MICROFINANCE BANK PLC Printed 06/08/2015 14:32:53.053 Micro-Finance Banks Totals Mortgage Carriers, Brokers and Services RESORT SAVINGS & LOANS PLC Mortgage Carriers, Brokers and Services Totals Other Financial on Institutions Activity Summary Board EQTY

AFRICA PRUDENTIAL REGISTRARS PLC CUSTODIAN AND ALLIED PLC FINANCIAL SERVICES Other Financial Institutions Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © & TRUST PLC DEAP CAPITAL MANAGEMENT FBN HOLDINGS PLC FCMB GROUP PLC. ROYAL EXCHANGE PLC. STANBIC IBTC HOLDINGS PLC UBA CAPITAL PLC Other Financial Institutions Totals

UNILEVER

701 Symbol No. of Deals ACCESS 210 DIAMONDBNK 70 ETI 30 FIDELITYBK 76 GUARANTY 312 SKYEBANK 59 STERLNBANK 9 UBA 121 UBN 38 UNITYBNK 23 WEMABANK 24 Daily Summary (Equities) ZENITHBANK 463 1,435 Symbol AIICO

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

Quantity Traded 29,685,063 Page 5,109,964 300,378 10,923,476 65,668,987 2,776,969 261,315 30,382,419 204,879 3,320,763 1,090,649 52,782,379 202,507,241

No. of Deals 19

Current Price 0.82

Quantity Traded 1,929,243

Current Price 0.93 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 2.80 0.64 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50

Quantity Traded 126,939,369 6,111 24,000 100 100 100 222,094 4,166,679 600 Page 1,320 100 52,745,119 186,034,935

Symbol NPFMCRFBK

No. of Deals 10 10

Current Price 1.00

Quantity Traded 167,000 167,000

Value Traded 163,073.00 163,073.00

Symbol RESORTSAL

Daily Summary

No. of Deals 1 (Equities) 1

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 2,200,000 2,200,000

Value Traded 1,100,000.00 1,100,000.00

Symbol AFRIPRUD CUSTODYINS

No. of Deals 67 24

Current Price 2.89 4.20

Quantity Traded 2,496,476 1,002,100

Value Traded 7,154,578.71 4,205,906.45

Symbol DEAPCAP FBNH FCMB ROYALEX STANBIC UBCAP

No. of Deals 1 734 40 1 24 56 947

Current Price 0.64 6.75 2.65 0.50 21.90 1.34

Quantity Traded Page 6,649 57,432,792 2,234,180 7,667 11,701,451 3,182,722 78,064,037

2,480

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 3,500 3,500

Value Traded 1,750.00 1,750.00

Symbol EVANSMED FIDSON GLAXOSMITH MAYBAKER NEIMETH

No. of Deals 4 16 9 10 17 56

Current Price 0.69 3.27 40.00 1.43 1.45

Quantity Traded 70,100 580,988 20,980 680,214 747,993 2,100,275

Value Traded 48,069.00 1,871,675.76 835,683.10 963,896.84 1,079,908.46 4,799,233.16

2,103,775

4,800,983.16

Page

Integrated Oil and Gas Services Totals OIL AND GAS Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors CONOIL PLC ETERNA PLC. Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © FORTE OIL PLC. MOBIL OIL NIG PLC. MRS OIL NIGERIA PLC. TOTAL NIGERIA PLC. Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors Totals

SERVICES Automobile/Auto Part Retailers R Tas BRISCOE PLC. Daily Summary of 06/08/2015 Automobile/Auto Part Retailers Totals Printed 06/08/2015 14:32:53.053 Courier/Freight/Delivery RED STAR EXPRESS PLC Courier/Freight/Delivery Totals Daily Summary as of 06/08/2015 Printed 06/08/2015 14:32:53.053 Employment Solutions Activity Summary Board EQTY C& I LEASINGon PLC. SERVICES Published by The NigerianSolutions Stock Exchange © Employment Employment Solutions Totals

Activity Summary on Board EQTY Hotels/Lodging IKEJA HOTEL PLC SERVICES Hotels/Lodging Totals Employment Solutions

Employment Solutions Totals Printing/Publishing ACADEMY PRESS PLC. Hotels/Lodging LEARNHOTEL AFRICA PLC IKEJA PLC UNIVERSITY Totals PRESS PLC. Hotels/Lodging Printing/Publishing Totals Printing/Publishing Road Transportation ACADEMY PRESS PLC. ASSOCIATED LEARN AFRICABUS PLCCOMPANY PLC Road Transportation Totals UNIVERSITY PRESS PLC. Printing/Publishing Totals Transport-Related Services AIRLINE SERVICES AND LOGISTICS PLC Road Transportation NIGERIAN AVIATION HANDLING COMPANY PLC ASSOCIATED BUS COMPANY PLC Transport-Related Services Road Transportation Totals Totals Daily Summary as of 06/08/2015 Printed 06/08/2015 Support14:32:53.053 and Logistics Transport-Related Services CAVERTON OFFSHORE AIRLINE SERVICES AND SUPPORT LOGISTICSGRP PLCPLC Support and AVIATION Logistics Totals NIGERIAN HANDLING COMPANY PLC Transport-Related Services Totals

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

Quantity Traded

Value of Shares(N)

No. of Deals 22 22

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 578,520 578,520

Value Traded 289,260.00 289,260.00

Symbol CHAMS ETRANZACT

No. of Deals 1 1 2

Current Price 0.50 3.60

Quantity Traded 7,000 200 7,200

Value Traded 3,500.00 684.00 4,184.00

585,720

293,444.00

Symbol ASHAKACEM BERGER CAP CCNN DANGCEM PAINTCOM PORTPAINT WAPCO

Daily Summary

No. of Deals 22 14 5 8 75 9 3 51 187 (Equities)

Current Price 22.00 9.50 37.95 9.50 181.00 1.00 3.77 103.00

Quantity Traded 70,307 65,700 4,452 11,538 376,577 340,000 35,000 4,028,280 4,931,854

Value Traded 1,593,085.75 622,565.76 163,171.92 106,632.00 68,014,509.75 348,100.00 125,766.35 414,903,900.58 485,877,732.11

No. of Deals 7 7

Current Price 1.64

Quantity Traded 109,000 109,000

Value Traded 182,140.00 182,140.00

Symbol CUTIX Symbol BETAGLAS

No. of Deals 2 2

Current Price 43.00

Quantity Traded Page 2,500 2,500

196

Value Traded 13 7 of 104,445.00 104,445.00

5,043,354

486,164,317.11

Symbol BOCGAS

No. of Deals 3 3

Current Price 4.86

Quantity Traded 8,045 8,045

Value Traded 37,167.90 37,167.90

Symbol ALEX

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 10.35

Quantity Traded 3,400 3,400

Value Traded 33,694.00 33,694.00

11,445

70,861.90

Symbol JAPAULOIL

No. of Deals 4 4

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 62,700 62,700

Value Traded 31,350.00 31,350.00

Symbol OANDO

No. of Deals 368 368

Current Price 12.00

Quantity Traded 9,438,877 9,438,877

Value Traded 119,812,039.28 119,812,039.28

Symbol CONOIL ETERNA FO MOBIL MRS TOTAL

No. of Deals 57 3 52 21 1 16 150

Current Price 36.87 2.34 200.00 155.00 49.66 155.25

Quantity Traded 141,224 22,920 Page 1,178,307 81,492 80 9,430 1,433,453

9 51,111.60 of 13 237,528,989.88 12,629,592.42 3,774.40 1,486,143.00 256,452,756.10

Symbol SEPLAT

No. of Deals 18 18

Current Price 300.00

Quantity Traded 24,425 24,425

Value Traded 7,385,184.75 7,385,184.75

10,959,455

383,681,330.13

Daily Summary (Equities)

OIL AND GAS Totals

540

Value Traded 4,753,144.80

Symbol RTBRISCOE

No. of Deals 5 5

Current Price 0.68

Quantity Traded 48,274 48,274

Value Traded 31,398.10 31,398.10

Symbol REDSTAREX

No. of Deals 3 3

Current Price 4.60

Quantity Traded 15,218 15,218

Value Traded 69,902.94 69,902.94

No. of Deals 1

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 50,000

Value Traded 25,000.00

Daily Summary (Equities) Symbol CILEASING

Daily Summary (Equities) Symbol No. of Deals Current Price 1

Page Quantity Traded 50,000

Symbol IKEJAHOTEL

No. of Deals 4

Current Price 3.85

Quantity Traded 14,500

Symbol

No. of Deals4 Current Price 1 No. of Deals Current Price 0.76 No. of Deals2 Current Price 1.04 45 3.85 6.03 41 8 No. of Deals Current Price No. of Deals 2 Current Price 0.76 0.54 52 1.04 12 6.03 8 No. of Deals Current Price 2.00 No. of Deals9 Current Price 29 4.77 2 0.54 38 2

14,500 Quantity Traded 50,000 Quantity Traded 60,000 Quantity Traded 551,687 14,500 1,000 14,500 612,687 Quantity Traded Quantity Traded 60,000 50,600 551,687 50,600 1,000

Symbol ACADEMY Symbol LEARNAFRCA IKEJAHOTEL UPL Symbol Symbol ACADEMY ABCTRANS LEARNAFRCA UPL Symbol AIRSERVICE Symbol NAHCO ABCTRANS Symbol Symbol CAVERTON AIRSERVICE NAHCO

Value Traded 53,225.50 53,225.50 Value Traded 25,000.00 Value Traded 45,600.00 Value Traded 574,752.83 53,225.50 5,730.00 53,225.50 626,082.83 Value Traded Value Traded 45,600.00 27,318.00 574,752.83 27,318.00 5,730.00

612,687 Quantity Traded

626,082.83 Value Traded 751,783.50 Value Traded 1,470,712.57 27,318.00 2,222,496.07 27,318.00

No. of of Deals Deals Current Current Price Price No. 18 3.99 9 2.00 18 29 4.77 38

Quantity Traded Traded Quantity 688,092 369,870 688,092 301,730

Value Traded Traded Value 2,644,815.10 751,783.50 2,644,815.10 1,470,712.57

No. of Deals 18 18

Quantity Traded Page 688,092 688,092

671,600

Daily Summary (Equities) Symbol CAVERTON

10 of 13 Value Traded 25,000.00

Quantity 369,870 Traded 301,730 50,600 671,600 50,600

Current Price 3.99

EQTY Board Totals

2,222,496.07

2,150,971

Value Traded 11 of 13 2,644,815.10 2,644,815.10 5,700,238.54

Page

532,289,480

5,329,385,104.67

Quantity Traded 100 100

Value Traded 50.00 50.00

100

50.00

4,401

Daily Summary (Equities) Activity Summary on Board ASeM

Value Traded 13 5 of 4,055.89 390,485,674.32 5,969,384.58 3,833.50 257,010,136.01 4,254,042.55 669,087,612.01 3,696,906,494.62

Activity Summary OANDO PLC on Board EQTY

Exploration and Production SEPLAT PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LTD Exploration and Production Totals

Value Traded 1,578,783.60

Symbol UNIONDAC

Integrated Oil and Gas Services

Value Traded 118,056,013.17 3,055.50 12,000.00 50.00 50.00 51.00 629,003.20 2,684,216.92 300.00 13 4 of 660.00 50.00 26,372,559.50 149,336,792.89

468,973,213

Electronic and Electrical Products ActivityCUTIX Summary PLC. on Board EQTY Electronic and Electrical Products Totals INDUSTRIAL GOODS Packaging/Containers Published byBETA The Nigerian Exchange © GLASS Stock CO PLC.

NATURAL Daily Summary asRESOURCES of 06/08/2015 Totals Printed 06/08/2015 14:32:53.053 OIL AND GAS Energy Equipment and Services JAPAUL OIL & MARITIME SERVICES PLC Energy Equipment and Services Totals

6,010,080.16 16,772,694.89 1,636,152,417.24 6,028,649.94 545,112.05 126,808,729.40 1,564,905.90 6,975,852.30 971,629.96 911,854,918.46 2,877,219,016.72

No. of Deals 8 2 2 1 1 1 14 16 2 1 1 19 87

INDUSTRIAL GOODS Building Materials ASHAKA CEM PLC BERGER PAINTS PLC CAP PLC CEMENT CO. OF NORTH.NIG. PLC Daily Summary as of 06/08/2015 DANGOTE CEMENT PLC Printed 06/08/2015 14:32:53.053 PAINTS AND COATINGS MANUFACTURES PLC PORTLAND PAINTS & PRODUCTS NIGERIA PLC LAFARGE AFRICA PLC. Building Materials Totals

Metals ALUMINIUM EXTRUSION IND. PLC. Metals Totals

Value Traded 144,623,312.23 13 318,910,714.19 of

Symbol CONTINSURE EQUITYASUR HMARKINS INTENEGINS LAWUNION LINKASSURE MANSARD NEM PRESTIGE REGALINS STACO WAPIC

FINANCIAL SERVICES Totals HEALTHCARE Healthcare Providers UNION DIAGNOSTIC & CLINICAL SERVICES PLC Healthcare Providers Totals

Current Price 4.81 3.68 20.00 1.55 24.70 2.12 2.07 4.15 7.34 2.10 0.90 17.20

Quotation(N)

ICT Totals

NATURAL RESOURCES Chemicals B.O.C. GASES PLC. Chemicals Totals

Quantity Traded 1,836,300 190,500 30,310 1,000 1,093,643 80,000 3,231,753

Daily PZ Summary (Equities)

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

No Of Deals Symbol COURTVILLE

Packaging/Containers Totals

Current Price 4.90 137.00 18.24 1.58 134.72 3.10

Household Durables Totals

ICT Computer Based Systems COURTEVILLE BUSINESS SOLUTIONS PLC Computer Based Systems Totals

INDUSTRIAL GOODS Totals

No. of Deals 52 80 8 1 197 1 (Equities) 339

Daily Summary

on name Board EQTY Sector Activity Summary Company

Daily Summary (Equities)

OIL AND GAS Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors CAPITAL OIL PLC Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors Totals

Symbol CAPOIL

No. of Deals 1 1

OIL AND GAS Totals

Current Price 0.50

ASeM Board Totals

100

50.00

Equity Activity Totals

4,402

532,289,580

5,329,385,154.67

Daily Summary as of 06/08/2015 Printed 06/08/2015 14:32:53.053

Daily Summary (ETP)

Exchange Traded Fund Name LOTUS HALAL EQUITY ETF

Exchange Fund NEWGOLD Traded EXCHANGE TRADED FUND (ETF) Name GRIFFIN 30 Exchange ETF Published byVETIVA The Nigerian Stock © Exchange Traded Fund Totals

Symbol LOTUSHAL15 NEWGOLD Symbol VETGRIF30

Daily Summary (ETP)

No. of Deals Current Price 1 10.36 1 2,083.00 No. of Deals Current Price 1 14.30 3

Quantity Traded 10 52 Quantity Traded Page 10 72

Value Traded 103.60 108,316.00 Value Traded 12 of 143.0013 108,562.60

ETF Board Totals

108,562.60

ETP Activity Totals

108,562.60

Transition

Friday, August 7, 2015

Lucy Tataobuzogwu

adam Lucy Tataobuzogwu of Abavo Central, Ika South Local Government area of Delta State died on Sunday, June 14, 2015 at the age of 81. Her remains will be buried immediately after a church service on Friday, August 14, 2015 at her residence, 50, Obi Palace road, Abavo Central while a Christian wake-keep will be held a day earlier at the same venue. The late Tataobuzogwu was born into Ogbuigwe’s family at Ekwuoma community near Abavo central and her father was a famous and successful farmer and blacksmith. She started her formal education at Abavo before she left for Sapele to join her elder brother, Pa J. C. Ogbuigwe(of blessed memory). While in Sapele, she was trained as a seam mistress and graduated in 1951. A year af-

ter, she came back home to start her sewing business and later got married to Peter Omotele Tataobuzogwu (now deceased), who then was a technician with Post &Telecommunication Department in Ibadan. She was relocated with her husband to Ibadan and settled for family life and much later relocated to Offa, Meko, Lokoja, Benin City and finally Lagos due to frequent transfer of her husband from the office. As a grassroots person, Madam Tataobuzogwu was instrumental to the formation of the women’s wing of Abavo Town Union which is not only functional till today but has branches spread nationwide. She was a committed Christian and had been with the Anglican faith till God called her home. She was one of the foundation members of Saint John’s

Anglican Church at Aliohen, Abavo and she was also among those responsible for the establishment of Saint Peter’s Anglican Church in Obi Central, Abavo. Because of her dedication to the service of God, the Anglican Communion bestowed the title of “Ezinne” and “Ezinna” on her and her husband who died last year at the age of 92. That was not all. Madam Tataobuzogwu was a disciplinarian and kind-hearted. Those who came in contact with her and still alive could testify that she was indeed a caring and loving personified. She is survived by many children including Mr. Benson Tataobuzogwu, Mrs. Patience Onyijeh, Hon. Sunday Tataobuzogwu, Ms Comfort Tataobuzogwu, Mrs. Cordelia Biose, Mr. Bernard Tataobuzogwu, Mrs. Joy Ogundare, Mr. John Tataobuzogwuand Pastor Mercy Onuegbu as well as many grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Blanche Cobb

lanche Arrington Cobb was an American super centenarian who was the world’s eighth-oldest living person, the fourth-oldest living American resident and the second-oldest living Floridian behind Antonia Gerena Rivera Cobb was born on September 8, 1900, in Jesup, Georgia. There

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she grew up. When she moved to Folkston, Georgia, she met Johnnie Cobb Jr., whom she married December 24, 1920. After 37 years of marriage, in 1957 her husband died and Blanche promised that she would never marry another. She had 13 children, 22 grandchildren, 39 great grandchildren and four great-great grandchil-

dren. Cobb lived in Jacksonville, Florida since 1978. Until death, she lived with her daughter Mae Shields. Cobb credited her long life and good health to love of God, people and potatoes. For her 100th birthday she made 48 sweet potato pies and every single one of them was eaten. Described by her daughter as a very Christian lady who never allowed smoking, drinking, guns or card-playing in her home. Otherwise, though, her home was “al-

ways open” to family, friends and just about everyone in the neighborhood. In a tribute letter for Cobb’s 103rd birthday dinner, several of her great-grandchildren wrote that they will always remember how “Great-grandma still goes to church every Sunday. She puts on her dancing shoes, her nice dress and her hat, and she goes to her services. She says her favorite verse in the Bible is the whole Bible. Cobb died at age 114 years 235 days.

News

Alleged slander of Ojora: Court hears octogenarian’s defence August 31 Olanrewaju OlatunbOsun

n octogenarian, Chief Fasasi Olorunlogbon standing trial for alleged defamation of the Ojora of Ijora, Oba Fatai Aromire will on August 31 commence his defence against the accusation levelled against him. Olorunlogbon is facing a twocount charge of giving false information to the Commissioner of Police against the Ojora of Ijora and ne Chief Amuda Yu-

suf (Asoju Oba). Chief Olorunlogbon had in his petition dated July 4, 2011 written to the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State over alleged threat to his life and malicious damage to his property. However, after investigation police charged the octogenarian for allegedly giving false information to the police. At the resumed hearing of the trial, Chief Magistrate O I Adelaja adjourned the matter after the defence lawyer;

Mr. Ajayi Fatoki concluded his cross-examination of second Prosecution Witness (PW2), Chief Yusuf Ojora. Chief Ojora in his testimony told the court how he was arrested and detained by the police following a petition written against them by the defendant (Chief Olorunlogbon) He told the court that the defendant is occupying part of the land belonging to the Ojora family. However, when asked by the

Tanker kills policeman in Lagos

A police sergeant attached to the Taskforce for dismantling tanker traffic in Apapa area of Lagos was on Tuesday crushed to death by a tanker. The spokesperson for the Lagos State Police Command, Patricia Amadin, confirmed the incident on Wednesday. Mr. Amadin, who said the

deceased was identified as Lukas Abashi, disclosed that the driver of the vehicle with Reg. No. ANC 66 XA escaped after the accident. She said the policeman died at the spot after tanker ran over him. The police spokesperson said the driver attempted to

escape with the vehicle, but for the intervention of other members of the taskforce who used motorcycles to pursue him. She said the police office was on official duty at the time of accident, adding that the tanker has the inscription TOTAL.

defence lawyer, to describe the portion of the land, the witnesses told that court that he did not know precisely part of Ojora land the defendant is occupying. Chief Ojora had in his examination in chief told the court that sometimes in August 2011, police arrested him and the Ojora of Lagos on an alleged petition that they burnt and demolish the house of the petitioner. He told the court that he was detained at Panti Police station until the Monarch invited his lawyer to bail him from Police custody. When asked if he was detained along with the Ojora of Lagos, he said ‘’I was detained then Kabiyesi sent for his lawyer and I was released on bail’’ However, the octogenarian had prayed the court to dismiss the suit on the ground that as at the time of his arraignment on October 31, 2011, Section 125(e) of the Criminal Code Laws of

Lagos State, under which he was charged, had become extinct. According to him, the effect of a repealed law is to obliterate completely from the record as if it has never been enacted. “It must be seen as a law that never existed except for the purposes of those actions which were commenced, prosecuted and concluded while the law was in existence’’. He argued that since there was no application from the prosecution to amend the charge, the only option left was for the court to quash the charge against him. But, in a counter affidavit, police prosecutor led by Cyril Ejiofor told the court that the application id defective. According to him, the reference number on the application was F/12/2011 rather than F/72/2011 which is the reference number of the suit before the court.

Friday, August 7, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

World News

Let me be clear: The United States will not accept restrictions on freedom of navigation and overflight, or other lawful uses of the sea –United States Secretary of State, John Kerry

Over 200 feared dead in latest migrant sea tragedy PAUL ARHEWE

WITH AGENCY REPORTS

opes faded of finding survivors of the latest Mediterranean boat tragedy, in which an estimated 200 migrants drowned, yesterday as rescue ships were called to the aid of more migrant boats in the same area. Vessels from the Italian and Irish navies and humanitarian agency Medecins sans Frontiers (MSF) saved more than 370 people from a capsized boat thought to be carrying up to 600 on Wednesday, the Italian coast guard said. They recovered 25 bodies but found no more survivors after scouring the waters overnight. Italian vessels continued to search the area on Thursday, a coastguard spokesman said. Initial reports put about 700 passengers on the overcrowded fishing boat but interviews with survivors - mostly Syrians fleeing their country’s civil war - reduced that estimate and the figure could still change. Seas were very calm on Thursday, perfect conditions to attempt the sea crossing, said a Reuters photographer aboard the privately funded Phoenix, a vessel run

An Italian navy boat from the ship, Francesco Mimbelli, approaches a rubber dinghy carrying migrants during a rescue mission

by MSF and the Migrant Offshore Aid Station. The Phoenix was responding to a distress call for a boat carrying about 500 people, he said. The coastguard picked up 381 on Thursday morning, while an Italy navy ship took 101 from a large rubber boat, and the MSF vessel Argos rescued 87, according to their Twitter accounts. The Italian navy said it was handing out life preservers to “numerous” migrants on yet another boat. Wednesday’s tragedy occurred when the boat flipped over as an Irish rescue vessel approached, probably because desperate passen-

gers surged to one side as they spotted the ship, LE Niamh, on its way to help them. “What happened here was because the boat was so overloaded, and the conditions were such that the boat started taking on water and it listed to one side, capsized and sank, all in the space of two minutes,” Irish Defence Minister Simon Coveney said on Irish state radio RTE on Thursday. The Irish ship is part of the European Union Triton mission, which was expanded after up to 800 migrants drowned in a shipwreck in April. LE Niamh is heading toward the

Sicilian port of Palermo, where it will arrive on Thursday afternoon with most of the survivors. The Mediterranean Sea is the world’s most deadly border area for migrants. More than 2,000 migrants and refugees have died so far this year in attempts to reach Europe by boat, compared with 3,279 deaths during the whole of last year, the International Organization for Migration said on Tuesday. People smugglers, mostly based in Libya and charging thousands of dollars for passage, have sent more than 90,000 migrants by sea to Italy so far this year, the UN refugee agency says. Italy took in 170,000 in 2014. This summer’s mass arrivals in both Italy and Greece show Europe’s migrant crisis is worsening. Immigrants fleeing violence and poverty at home continue to pour in from Africa and the Middle East. Many of the newcomers look to move swiftly to wealthier northern Europe, including to Britain from Calais, France. In Calais, nightly attempts by large groups of migrants to force their way through the rail tunnel linking France and Britain have provoked public anger and severely disrupted the flow of goods between the two countries.

Zuma defends failure to arrest President Bashir

udan’s President Omar Hassan al-Bashir speaks to the crowd after a swearingin ceremony at green square in Khartoum, June 2, 2015. South African President Jacob Zuma defended the decision to let Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir evade an arrest warrant and leave the country in June,

Bashir

saying on Thursday the wanted leader had had immunity as a guest of the African Union. Bashir - accused of masterminding genocide during Sudan’s Darfur conflict - was allowed to leave an AU summit and fly home in defiance of a local court ruling ordering his detention under a warrant from the International

Criminal Court (ICC). “Bashir’s coming to South Africa, it was on the invitation of the AU (African Union),” Zuma said in his first comments on the incident since Bashir’s departure. “He is the guest of the AU,” Zuma told opposition politicians who demanded an explanation in parliament. Bashir’s exit triggered an international outcry and highlighted deep rifts between the global court and African powers who have accused the ICC of bias against the continent. The Hague-based tribunal - set up to try the worst crimes when local courts fail - has so far only charged Africans. Mmusi Maimane, head of the opposition Democratic Alliance, caller Bashir “a man wanted ... for genocide against Africans,” and asked Zuma why he had not kept

previous promises to enforce the warrant - as all ICC members are bound to do. Zuma told parliament Bashir would have been detained if he had visited South Africa as an individual, rather than as a delegate to an AU summit. Pretoria has said it will review its membership of the ICC and challenge a high court ruling that found the state erred in letting Bashir leave. Zuma received support from one of his most vocal critics, opposition firebrand Julius Malema, who told parliament on Thursday: “We are not going to agree for the arrest of an African leader in South Africa to polarize Africa and make South Africa an enemy of the whole of Africa.” Bashir has dismissed the ICC charges and says he does not recognize the court.

WORLD BULLETIN

‘Sierra Leone has 4 Ebola cases’ Sierra Leone has only four recorded cases of Ebola, the West African nation’s head of Ebola said yesterday, adding that he is hopeful the countdown to zero can soon begin. Two of the cases have proven negative after treatments, and the other two, in the north Tonkolili district, are in treatment, said National Emergency Response Centre chief Alfred Palo Conteh. “The end of this virus is in sight,” he said. The Tonkolili district remains a worry, he said. Authorities last week quarantined 500 people after a man died from Ebola. The district had not had a single case of Ebola in five months. The victim contracted the disease in the capital, travelled to his home village, and was treated for a fever at the local hospital but authorities didn’t call the Ebola emergency number.

Egyptian president launches nationalist New Suez Canal Egypt staged a show of international support yesterday as it inaugurated a major extension of the Suez Canal which President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi hopes will power an economic turnaround in the Arab world’s most populous country. The former armed forces chief, who led a military takeover two years ago but ran for president as a civilian last year, told a ceremony attended by leaders of France, Russia, Arab and African states that Egypt would defeat terrorism. The $8 billion New Suez Canal project was completed in just one year instead of three on Sisi’s orders, but economists and shipping analysts question whether there is sufficient traffic and east-west trade to meet its ambitious revenue targets.

Puntland seeks aid as Somali militants enter its territory Somalia’s Puntland region needs more help from the central government and the African Union to fight al Shabaab militants, especially equipment and ammunition, the president of the semi-autonomous region has said. Al Shabaab, which controlled Mogadishu and southern Somalia until it was driven out of the capital in 2011, has been pushed out of major strongholds by the Somali army and the African Union peacekeeping force AMISOM. It has regrouped in the Galgala hills of Puntland, outside the AMISOM area of operation.

World News

WORLD BULLETIN

Argentine president defends Cabinet chief Argentina’s president defended her Cabinet chief yesterday against a media report that implicated him as the mastermind in the killing of three men allegedly connected to an ephedrine trafficking ring. President Cristina Fernandez said the accusations against Anibal Fernandez are a politically motivated attack by the opposition aimed at affecting Sunday’s primary elections. Anibal Fernandez is running for governor of Buenos Aires province. In the Channel 13 report, one of the men convicted in the 2008 killings said the hit was ordered by the Cabinet chief via an intermediary. The president said she doesn’t believe the allegation. Her administration has long been at odds with Grupo Clarin, one of Latin America’s biggest media conglomerates. Channel 13 is part of Grupo Clarin.

WADA approves anti-doping laboratory in Qatar The World Anti-Doping Agency has approved the accreditation of a new laboratory located in Qatar’s capital for anti-doping analysis. The lab has successfully completed the requirements of WADA’s accreditation process, which started in 2014. WADA President Craig Reedie says that “Qatar is a key player in the sporting world, and so its laboratory will play an increasingly important role in improving the anti-doping analytical capacities in Qatar and the wider Middle East region.” The Qatari lab is the 35th in the world currently accredited by WADA and the eighth in Asia.

ens of thousands gathered in Hiroshima yesterday to mark 70 years since the dropping of the first atomic bomb, with opinion still divided over whether its deadly destruction was justified. Bells tolled as a solemn crowd observed a moment of silence at 8:15 am local time (2315 GMT), when the detonation turned the bustling city into an inferno, killing thousands instantly and leaving others with horrific injuries to die a slow death. Children, elderly survivors and delegates representing 100 countries were in the crowd with many placing flowers in front of the cenotaph at Peace Memorial Park, as doves were released into the air. American B-29 bomber Enola Gay dropped a bomb, dubbed “Little Boy”, on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945, in one of the closing chapters of World War II. Nearly everything around it

Friday, August 7, 2015

elatives of those missing on Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 are angry at apparent mixed signals over whether part of the plane has been found. Malaysian PM Najib Razak said experts in France had “conclusively confirmed” the wing part found on an island in the Indian Ocean was from the aircraft. But French investigators stopped short of confirming the link, only saying it was highly likely. Chinese relatives staged a protest outside the airline’s Beijing offices. The Boeing 777 was travelling from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing on 8 March 2014 when it vanished from radar. It had 239 people on board, most of them Chinese. Debris found on the remote French island of Reunion a week ago - a wing part known as a flaperon - was the first possible physical trace of the aircraft. Experts in the French city of Toulouse are carrying out tests on the aircraft piece. Najib, in an announcement that came after the first day of tests, said investigators had “conclusively confirmed that the aircraft debris found on Reunion Island is indeed from MH370”. Malaysian transport minister Liow Tiong Lai said elements of

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

MH370 plane search: Families vent anger over inquiry

Security officers carrying broken wing of the MH370 found at Reunion Island’s shore

the flaperon, including the paint colour, matched with maintenance records for the missing flight. He also said, in another development, that more suspected plane debris had been found on Reunion, including window panes and seat cushions. Those items had been sent to

French authorities to be verified, he said, although French investigators have denied this. Mr Liow said he understood why the French team had been less categorical in their conclusions over the flaperon, saying: “We respect their decision to continue with their verification.” French prosecutor Serge Mack-

owiak has said only that there are “very strong indications” that the flaperon does belong to MH370, adding that confirmation would only come after further tests. The BBC’s Hugh Schofield in Paris says Mr Mackowiak’s wording does not suggest he has doubts, but that he is exercising legal caution.

ISIS claims Saudi mosque suicide blast

suicide bomb attack on a mosque in Saudi Arabia has left 15 people dead, the interior ministry said. A senior Saudi official said the mosque in Abha, close to the Yemeni border, was used by the security forces. The Islamic State (IS) group says it carried out the attack. The group has already claimed

two deadly attacks on Shia mosques in May. IS last year urged its followers in Saudi Arabia to sow sectarian hatred by targeting the minority Shia population. Saudi officials said the bomb in the latest attack went off while members of the security forces were in the middle of prayer.

Interior Ministry spokesman Maj Gen Mansour al-Turki said preliminary findings from the investigation suggested the suicide bomber had been wearing an explosive belt. The death toll was initially put at 13, but the interior ministry later said two of the wounded had died. In May, a suicide bomber

killed at least 21 people in an attack on a Shia mosque in Qatif governorate. A week later, another attack at a Shia mosque in Dammam left four dead. Last month Saudi authorities arrested 431 suspected members of IS, accusing them of plotting suicide attacks on security forces and mosques in various parts of the country.

Japan marks 70th anniversary of Hiroshima atomic bombing was incinerated by a wall of heat up to 4,000 degrees Celsius -- hot enough to melt steel. “As the only country ever attacked by an atomic bomb... we have a mission to create a world without nuclear arms,” Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told the

crowd. “We have been tasked with conveying the inhumanity of nuclear weapons, across generations and borders.” Japan plans to submit a fresh resolution to abolish nuclear weapons at the UN general as-

sembly later this year, he said. US Secretary of State John Kerry, at a regional diplomatic meeting in Malaysia, described the bombing as a “very, very powerful reminder” of the impact of war. US ambassador Caroline Ken-

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Hiroshima bows in front of a cenotaph for victims of a 1945 atomic bombing to mark the 70th anniversary, yesterday

nedy and under-secretary for arms control Rose Gottemoeller, the most senior Washington official ever sent to the service, attended Thursday’s ceremony. This year’s memorial comes days ahead of the scheduled restart of a nuclear reactor in southern Japan -- the first one to go back on line after a two-year hiatus following the tsunamisparked disaster at Fukushima in 2011. While Abe has pushed to switch reactors back on, public opposition remains high after the worst nuclear accident since Chernobyl in 1986. Japan’s nationalist leader has also been criticised for efforts to expand the role of his pacifist country’s Self-Defence Forces, changes that open the door to putting troops into combat for the first time since the war.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Dare akogun

ational Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, has alerted state governments and communities along River Benue of possible floods following information from Camerounian authorities to release excess water from Lagdo dam. This is contained in a

North

Friday, Augusst 7, 2015

Lagdo dam: NEMA alerts on flood press statement issued by the agency yesterday by southwest zonal spokesperson, Ibrahim Farinloye, and made available to newsmen in Lagos. Director General of NEMA, Sani Sidi, according to the statement said the Camerounian authorities in Garuoa have indi-

cated that between now and November 2015 there would be routine release of water from Lagdo dam due to excessive amount of water presently contained in the dam. Sidi said the authorities have also warned those living around the dam and along River Benue in

Garoua up to the Nigerian side to be alert and prepare to evacuate in case of flooding. He called on the frontline state governors, State Emergency Management Agencies, first respondents and relevant authorities to alert the communities at risk and prepare

safe locations for possible evacuation. The NEMA DG also said the agency has dispatched the alert to the affected state governors and was following up with appropriate advocacy. It would be recalled that the release of excess water from the dam

in 2012 contributed to massive flooding of communities along the river. Consequently, in 2013, the two countries reached an agreement that Cameroun was to give early warning to enable Nigeria put in place proactive measure to prevent destruction of lives and properties.

FMC Jalingo doctors reject calls to resume work justin tyopuusu, JALINGO

Intending Muslim pilgrims collecting their bags in preparation for the 2015 Hajj exercise in Gombe, yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

Polio: Bill Gates lauds Kano govt abDulgafar olaDimeji KANO

ill Gates has hailed the success recorded by Kano State government in the fight against the dreaded polio disease, as all 44 local councils of the state failed to record any case this year. He also congratulated the people of Kano and its developmental partners for the feat, adding that a year without any recorded case of polio in the Nigeria is cause for commendation and celebration. Gates spoke at the MidYear Review (video conference) with Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, and business mogul Aliko Dangote, at Kano Government House. He further tasked the state government and its partners in the fight against the disease to keep up the good work and sustain the record. He stressed the need to ensure the tripartite arrangement on routine immunisation among the Kano government, Dangote Foundation and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

serves as a model for other states in the country. He assured that the Gates Foundation will extend its contribution to the tripartite agreement another one year, and stressed the need for the state government to ensure timely release of its counterpart contribution to the funding and also strengthen the accountability mechanisms in the immunisation process. Governor Ganduje pledged to ensure prompt release of funds and efficient tracking of routine immunisation activities in the state as part of efforts to achieve total polio eradication in the state. He said at the inception of his administration on May 29, challenges cropped up but were promptly addressed. Ganduje hailed the commitment shown by the state Emirate Council in the battle to eradicate the disease, adding that the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II had warned that any traditional leader in his domain whose community fails to cooperate with health officials during immunisation would

be summarily dethroned. The governor stated that besides improving existing health facilities, his administration recently embarked on the construction of gutters in parts of the state capital as part of efforts to consolidate the health care delivery system in the state. He said though the state government has achieved remarkable improvement in the provision of facilities and implementation of immunisation programme strategies, as testified to

by development partners, focus would be centered on special planning for prevention of importation of polio by Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs and nomads. Dangote, represented by the C.E.O, Dangote Foundation, Dr. Zouera Youssoufou, said the outcome of polio immunisation activities in Kano was encouraging, and stressed the need for the scheme partners to recognise and give incentive to those who played critical roles in attaining the feat.

ederal Medical Centre, Jalingo chapter of Association of Resident Doctors, ARD, has rejected calls by the Medical Director, Dr. Inusa Wiza, to return to work, insisting that he should first heed their demands. President of the association in the hospital, Dr. Moses Abimbola, revealed the union’s position at a press briefing in Jalingo, Taraba State yesterday. Abimbola urged Wiza to stop deceiving the public on the matter but implement the circular from the Federal Ministry of Health dated July 29, directing all Chief Medical Directors and Medical Directors of federal health institutions to the country to implement skipping without further delay. Wiza had repeatedly appealed to resident doctors in FMC to consider the plight of the people who are suffering because of the strike and return to work. Insisting they would not call off the strike until their demands are met, Abimbola urged the MD to emulate his colleagues in other centres who have implemented skipping

100 per cent or open his books like others for them to know the level he can implement. The circular signed by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health, Linus Awute and made available to newsmen at the briefing reads in part: “All CMDs/MDs are directed to use this circular in guiding the implementation of skipping, believing that it is this lack of interpretation and implementation of the circular in tertiary hospitals that has given rise to the ongoing industrial action.” The striking doctors, citing the circular and other correspondences, appealed to the MD to implement skipping and all other issues relating to the industrial action which are pending before him. “Other hospitals like University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Federal Medical Centre Azare and Gombe among others, have implemented skipping. FMC Yola has opened its books and it was discovered they can only implement 50 percent, and they are implementing; why is our case different? The MD should toe the path of honour and do same,” Abimbola said.

Kaduna plans single treasury account …asks banks to shut govt accounts a za msue, KADUNA

aduna State government yesterday revealed its decision to commence implementation of the Treasury Single Account (TSA) framework by next month. A statement signed by Samuel Aruwan, the Special Assistant, Media and Publicity, disclosed that the governor, Nasir el-

Rufai, gave the directive at a meeting with officials of the banks hosting the state government’s many revenue and expenditure accounts. The statement said as part of the process of attaining the goal, banks that maintain the accounts of the government have been put on notice to close them and remit the balances to the Central Bank of Nigeria which will host the state’s TSA.

The meeting was also attended by the Kaduna branch Controller of CBN. El-Rufai said after the establishment of TSA, the state government would open specified sub-accounts with CBN and commercial banks. The banks present assured the governor that within five working days of receiving formal instructions from the state government, they would close the accounts and remit the balances to the TSA.

While thanking the banks for their continued support, the governor assured them that a future session will be organised to explain how the new TSA and sub-accounts would work. The statement also disclosed that selected revenue-holding accounts will be excluded from this directive. “The government will publish needed Treasury Circulars and other instructions to give effect to these decisions.”

CHANGE OF NAME

Friday, August 7, 2015

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly addressed and known as Miss Aluko Damilola Motunrayo now wish to be called and addressed as Mrs Ademilua Damilola Motunrayo. All former documents remain valid, TEPO State of Osun and general public should please take note.

OKONKWO: Formerly known as Miss Amalachukwu Cassandra Okonkwo, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Amalachukwu Cassandra Chukwurah. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

Olumide Ayegbo detailed teller nos 0204050 teller nos 0204050 for 5 classified Adverts, including the previously send msg.

ADDITION OF NAME formerly addressed and known as Miss Adeyemi Nafisat Temitope, now wish to be called and addressed as Mrs Kareem Nafisat Temitope. All former documents remain valid, general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly known and addressed as Miss Akintoye Ojo Grace Temitope, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Abulefon Grace Temitope. All former documents remain valid and general public take note. teller no 9348917,paid 2250

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly known and addressed as Miss Fariyike Olubunmi Abosede now wish to be called Mrs. Adekunle Olubunmi Abosede. All former documents remain valid, general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as MAKINDE SAFIU ATANDA, now wish to be known and addressed as MAKINDE SAMUEL ATANDA. All former documents remain valid; National Orientation Agency (NOA) and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly Known and Miss Sonola Kafayat Temitayo, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Sobowale Kafayat Temitayo. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

FAMILY CHANGE OF NAME We the family of PRINCE AUSTINE OKOEGWALE. Now wish to be known and address as PRINCE AUSTINE IBHASUEMOJIE. MRS PATIENCE IBHASUEMOJIE. AUSTINE IBHASUEMOJIE(JUR). KENNY IBHASUEMOJIE. ELLIS IBHASUEMOJIE. All former Documents remain valid, general public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as MISS ADESANYA OLUWABUSAYO RACHAEL, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. BALOGUN OLUWABUSAYO RACHAEL. All former documents remain valid; Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) and general public take note

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Miss Oladimeji Adenike, Now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Adekinle Hannah Adenike. All other documents remain valid. General public take note.

This is to inform the public that Chinwendu Nkechinyere Nnenna and Analechi Nkechinyere refer as one person but now known as Analechi Nkechinyere Chinwendu. All former documents remains valid general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known as MISS. SHARON IBINABO AMACHREE, now wish to be known and addressed as MISS.SHARON IFEOMA NKEM IBENEZIM. All former Documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

Formerly known as OBAH SANDRA ARIBIBIA, now wish to be known and addressed as OPUDA SANDRA ARIBIBIA. All former Documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I Formerly Known And Addressed As Miss Onwuzurigbo Chiamaka Glory Now Wish To Be Known And Addressed As Mrs Ojiako-Chigozie Chiamaka Glory. All Former Documents Remain Valid General Public Take Note.

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS NEBONTA CHEKWUBE LORRITHA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS OKOLI CHEKWUBE LORRITHA. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly known and addressed as MISS NWAGBARA ADAORA SANDRA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS ANIH ADAORA SANDRA. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS ACHINIHU IFEOMA PAMELA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS OKOYE IFEOMA PAMELA. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

BAKARE: I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Bakare Atinuke Olutayo, as well as Miss Bakare Tinuke Olutayo, now wish to be known, called and addressed as Mrs Okewusi Atinuke Olutayo. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME Akogwu: I, Formerly Known And Addressed As Ginika Elizabeth Akogwu, Now Wish To Be Known, Called And Addressed As Ginika Elizabeth Nzenwata. All Former Documents Remain Valid. General Public Should Please Take Note.

PUBLIC NOTICE

> This is to inform the General public that I , Mrs. Mojibola > Omolola Olowu on behalf of Adeola Olowu and Olayinka Olowu > the beneficiary of Mr. Adeyemi Olowu Estate of 20, Adewale > Crescent, Oshodi, Lagos (Formerly Plot 84 Block G , Oshodi > Residential Scheme, Lagos) according to Letter of > Administration, applied for Land title document at Lagos > State Lands, Bureau, Alausa. > Any objection to the application of the above should be > forwarded to the Permanent Secretary, Lands, Bureau, Alausa, > Lagos State within 2weeks of this Publication. > Signed :- Mrs. Mojibola Omolola Olowu

PUBLIC NOTICE

SUPER ABUNDANT EVANGELICAL MISSION

The General public is hereby notified that the above named church has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja for the registration under part ‘C’ of the Companies and Allied Act No. 1 of 1990. THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Mr. Samson Olatunde Fasanya - General Overseer 2. Mrs. Latifat Olusola Akinboye - Treasurer 3. Mr. Sunday Olatunji Fasanya Member 4. Mrs. Esther Oluwafunke Fasanya Member 5. Mrs. Abiodun Otolori Ogunbiyi - General Secretary AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: To preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. To raise Disciples of Christ through sound biblical teachings. To train and equip believers to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ. Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, plot 420 Tigris Crescent , off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days from the date of this publication. Signed: ADEWALE DISU & CO. 08038265179

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly OMATSEYE CLARKSON OKOH now wish to be known as OMATSEYE CLARKSON JULIUS GARGA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Miss Adekanola Taiwo now wish to be known and called as Mrs Lewis Taiwo Ann. All former documents remain valid, Civil Service Commission State of Osun and general public should please take note .

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CONFIRMATION OF NAME This is to confirm that Idowu Olalekan Rasheed is the same one person as Tiamiyu Idowu Olalekan, that henceforth wish to be called and addressed as Tiamiyu Idowu Olalekan. All former documents remain valid, Eco Bank Plc and general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME . Formerly known and addressed as Miss Olatunde Deborah Titilola now wish to be addressed and called as Mrs Aderinto Deborah Titilola. All former documents remain valid, general public should please

CHANGE OF NAME Adebiyi: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Adebiyi Elizabeth Oluwayomi, now wish to be known and address as Mrs Balogun Elizabeth Oluwayomi. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Kuye: Formerly known as Miss Kuye Kafilat Abisola, now wish to be known and address as Mrs Kuye – Akintola Kafilat Abisola. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly Known And Addressed As Miss Olonade Ayoka Azeezat. Now Wish To Be Known And Addressed As Mrs. Adejuwon Ayoka Azeezat. All Former Documents Remain Valid. General Public Take Note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly Known And Addressed As Miss Okegbo Dorcas Aanu. Now Wish To Be Known And Addressed As Mrs. Fadeyi Dorcas Aanu. All Former Documents Remain Valid. General Public Take Note.

CHANGE OF NAME FORMERLY known and addressed as NNENNA AMI EKE UGURU, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS NNENNA AMI KAYODE- LAWAL. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME This is to inform the public that Ota Nwoke Stephen and Agbo Stephen Nwoke refer as one person but now Agbo Stephen Nwoke all former documents remain valid general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Miss Ukpai Sorochi Confidence, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs prosper Sorochi Confidence. All former documents remain valid general public take note

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

This is to confirm that I Lawal Toyibat Olayinka and Lawal Toyibat Olusola is the same person bearing the two names. All former documents remain valid. Eco bank and the general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME I Formerly Known And Addressed As Miss Mofunanya Chinyere Gloria Now Wish To Be Known And Addressed As Mrs Mgbeafulu Chinyere Gloria.All Former Documents Remain Valid General Public Take Note

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as MISS VICTORIA NANCY SUBAIR now wish to be known, called and addressed as MRS VICTORIA NANCY ADEYEMI All Documents and certificates bearing my former names remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly known and addressed as MISS SHOETAN OLUWAYEMISI ELIZABETH, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS JOSEPH OLUWAYEMISI ELIZABETH. All former Documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I Formerly Known And Addressed As Miss Mmaduka Chidebe Nkiruka Now Wish To Be Known And addressed As Mrs Uzor Nkiruka Chidebe. All Former Documents Remain Valid General Public Take Note

CHANGE OF NAME formerly known and addressed as MISS OKWOR CHEKWUBE STEPHEN, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS UGWUOKE CHEKWUBE STEPHEN. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS ANYAEGBUNAM GERALDING UDOCHUKWU now wish to be known and addressed as MRS JIDEOFOR GERALDINE UDOCHUKWU. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public should please take note

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS MBAKA LILIAN ELOCHUKWU, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS IKEMBA LILIAN ELOCHUKWU. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly known and addressed as MISS UGWUANYI CHARITY ONYINYE, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS ONU CHARITY ONYINYE. All former documents remain valid. NYSC, UNIBEN and general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly known and addressed as MISS NWADIOGBU OBIAGELI HELEN, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS EZE OBIAGELI HELEN. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly known and addressed as MISS ACHUKWU ADANNA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS UKPABI ADANNA. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly known and addressed as MISS CHUKWU VIVIAN, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS OFFORBUIKE VIVIAN. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

Formerly known and addressed as new Bethel Model now wish to be known and addressed as Eco Group of Schools Ltd. (Rc 1239602) Emene Enugu East L.G.A., Enugu State. All former documents remain valid. Enugu State Ministry of Education, West African Examination Council, WAEC and NECO, NABTEB and Federal Ministry of Education and general public should take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known as Miss Anunandu Obianuju Jacinta now wish to be known and address as Mrs Ibeabuchi Obianuju Jacinta. All former documents remains valid. Eboyin State University and public take note.

This is to certify that, EZEH HYACENTH CHIMDI and KING HYACENTH CHIMDI refers to one and same person, but now wish to be known and addressed as KING HYACENTH. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

LOSS OF DOCUMENT

> This is to inform the General public of the Loss of Original > LSDPC Allocation Letter of Plot 84 Block G, Oshodi > Residential Scheme, Lagos State, belonging to Late Mr. > Adeyemi Olowu. All efforts to trace the said document proved > abortive. Lagos State Lands Bureau, LSDPC & general > public should take note. Signed :- Mrs. Mojibola Omolola Olowu. FAMILY CHANGE OF NAME

We formerly known as Njoku Chika Grace, Njoku Uzoamaka, Njoku Chukwuebuka Emmanuel and Njoku Kosisochukwu now wish to be known and address as Mrs Ezeabukporo Chika Grace, Ezeabukporo Uzoamaka, Ezeabukporo Chukwuebuka Emmanuel and Ezeabukporo Kosisochukwu. All former documents remains valid. Public please take note. CHANGE OF NAME formerly known as Miss Rose Adindu Nwanyi Sunday, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Rose Nwayi Sunday Nlemedim. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME formerly known as Momoh Chiladakis Irene Agunofuwa, now wish to be known and addressed as Murray...Bruce Irene Aguwofuwa. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

PUBLIC NOTICE

HOUSE OF HONOURS FRIENDS CLUB

This is to inform the general public that the above named Organization has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part ‘C’ of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 1990. THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Ofoedu Anayo - Chairman 2. Ugochukwu Okoye 3. Azudiugwu Ikenna Dennis AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To foster peace amongst members 2. To assist members in time of difficulties 3. To promote unity, progress, understanding and co-operation among its members. 4. To foster the culture of brotherly love, promote social and economic wellbeing of the members. Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja, within twenty-eight (28) days of this publication. SIGNED: Chairman

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known as Mrs Nkoli Faith Nnabugwu now wish to be known and address as Miss Nkoli Faith Alphonsor Chukwuoma. All former documents remains valid. Public note. CHANGE OF NAME formerly known as Miss Okere Ann Ada , now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Omojoror Ann Ada. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

SCHOOL CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAMES

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known as Miss Nnaji Amuche Jacinta now wish to be known and address as Mrs Azikpontu Amuche Jacinta. All former documents remains valid. Public take note. CHANGE OF NAME formerly known as Miss Love Nkechi Modo, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Love Nkechi Okeiyi . All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

PUBLIC NOTICE

ABLAZE ITERNATIONAL GOSPEL CENTER JOS This is to inform the general public that the above named Organization has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part ‘C’ of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 1990. THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Rev.Lawrence Abiodun Laniyi Chairman 2. Pst. Mrs. Tayo Laniyi Secretary 3. Pst. Malachi Nelson Peter Treasurer 4. Elder Anthony Gunok Member 5. Pst. Emmanuel Samuel Toge Member AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To pray, Preach, teach until the kingdom of this world becomes the kingdom of our God and his Priest in order to establish the kingdom. 2. To spearhead the end time revival, to raise Godly alters in the nations of the world. Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja, within twenty-eight (28) days of this publication.

SIGNED: Chairman

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Friday, August 7, 2015

The Gunners can compete for titles this season. But they have to consider signing more quality playerss

Sport

Tanzania battle: Oliseh to list 18 foreign pros

–Arsenal legend, Thierry Henryy

EPL:

City banks on Iheanacho, Sterling to regain title M

anchester City is brimming with optimism with Coach Manuel Pellegrini “absolutely sure” of winning the Premier League title back this season and midfielder David Silva eyeing Champions League glory. Pellegrini says that he would rely on Kelechi Iheanacho and new buy from Liverpool, Raheem Sterling, to win back the title taken by Chelsea at the end of last season. City, who conceded four goals in both their defeats against Real Madrid and Stuttgart in

pre-season friendlies, finished eight points behind champions Chelsea in the English Premier League last season. “I am absolutely sure that we are going to have a very successful season. We must bring back the title here to our fans,” the 61-year-old was quoted as saying by Sky Sports. “We are sure, as I have just said, that we are going to bring it back. We had a good pre-season.” With the sale of Stefan Jovetic to Inter Milan and Edin Dzeko being strongly linked with a move to Roma, City is poised

to start the season with only two frontline strikers in Sergio Aguero and Wilfried Bony. But the Chilean manager insists, “We have Kelechi (Iheanacho), that is a young player who I think must find a place here in our squad. “(Raheem) Sterling can also play in front. I think we are going to bring in other players but not in that position.” City, who won the Premier League title in a close finish in 2013-14, kick off their campaign with a trip to West Bromwich Albion next Monday night.

Iheanacho in action for Man City

FIFA presidency: CAF rejects Liberia’s Bility EVEREST ONYEWUCHI

he Confederation of African Football (CAF) has declined to back Liberian Football Association (LFA) President, Musa Bility, in his bid to become the next FIFA President. Bility, 48, is one of four men to have expressed their interest in standing in next year’s February 26 election to replace outgoing

FIFA boss, Sepp Blatter. After its Executive Committee meeting in Cairo, Egypt yesterday, CAF said in a statement sent to our correspondent, “In view of the elections for the FIFA presidency scheduled for 26 February 2016, the Executive Committee also received a request from Mr. Musa Bility, president of the Liberian Football Association. The latter had the opportunity to explain the reasons that motivated

his decision to run for the future election of the FIFA presidency. “After a fraternal exchange, full of sincerity and cordiality, the CAF Executive Committee decided unanimously not to offer the requested support of CAF to Mr. Musa Bility, whilst wishing him luck in the continuation of his endeavour. “To preserve the interests and unity of African football, it was agreed that Africa will give time

to explore all options and decide. “The CAF Executive Committee will meet on 27 and 28 October 2015, following the closure of nominations for the FIFA presidency.” Bility is only the second African ever to make a bid for the job. Brazilian Zico, Frenchman Michel Platini and South Korean Chung Mong-joon are the other names in the frame to stand in the election.

The Liberian has had a difficult relationship with CAF in recent years. In 2011 he declared that he would vote against Blatter in that year’s FIFA elections, in contrast to most of his African colleagues. And in 2012 he -and the Liberian FA - took a case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) over changes to the way CAF elects its president, which favoured incumbent Issa Hayatou.

Sports

Friday, August 7, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Mourinho optimistic about Swansea opener

Lionel Messi

‘headbutts’ Roma player B

arcelona forward Lionel Messi is lucky not to be sent off following a clash with Roma defender Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa during a pre-season friendly. Instead the Argentina international received a yellow card as the Spanish champions won the match 3-0 thanks to goals from

himself Neymar and Ivan Rakitic. Barcelona will begin the defence of their title against Athletic Bilbao on 23 August. “During Wednesday’s Joan Gamper Trophy match between Barcelona and Roma, Lionel Messi and Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa got into some sort of altercation. I have no idea what the dispute was

EPL Fixtures (Saturday) Manchester United v Totten ham Hotspur Norwich v Palace Leicester v Sunderland Everton v Watford Chelsea v Swansea Sunday Newcastle v Southampton Arsenal v West Ham Stoke City v Liverpool

about, but it had to be something serious considering the confrontation ended with Messi headbutting Yanga-Mbiwa and then grabbing Yanga-Mbiwa’s throat”, a player said. It probably sounds strange, especially considering Messi’s typically calm behavior on the field.

Mourinho

Another Wilshere blow for Arsenal

PSG unveils Di Maria

rench champions Paris St Germain yesterday unveiled Angel Di Maria as their latest blockbuster signing. The former Real Madrid midfielder, whose £59.7 million transfer to Manchester United a year ago set a British record, underwent a medical in advance of the announcement, according to the Qatari hospital which conducted the tests. Di Maria, who failed to win a regular starting place under Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal last season, skipped United’s recent pre-season tour of the United States. The English giants are thought to be prepared to take a loss on the player, with a transfer fee in the region of £44.5m reported to have been agreed.

Messi

helsea manager Jose Mourinho is happy with his side’s preparations ahead of Saturday’s Premier League opener, despite the champions losing 1-0 to Fiorentina in their final friendly on Wednesday night. Gonzalo Rodriguez scored the only goal in the 35th minute, sealing the win for the Italian side. Chelsea, who start their Premier League title defence at home against Swansea City, won two of their four pre-season friendlies, both on penalties, and also lost the Community Shield match against London rivals Arsenal. “We have the real football on Saturday and today we couldn’t face this game in another way,” the 52-year-old was quoted as saying. “We got competitive minutes against a good team who played for a result and gave us a very good training session. “It’s a long season with 10 months of competition, and I’m happy with where we are.”

Wishere

rsenal supporters received the bad news they had been fearing with the club confirming yesterday that England midfielder Jack Wilshere’s latest injury is a hairline fracture. “I had a bad surprise because it is a hairline crack in his fibula that makes him a few weeks out,” manager Arsene Wenger said. “There is minimal damage apart from the bone damage - there is no damage at all apart from that.”

Optimism about the club’s most serious championship challenge for many years had been due in part to Wenger having a full squad at his disposal as he attempts to build on two successive FA Cup wins and a third-place finish in the Premier League. The gifted Wilshere was to be an important part of that continuing progress, but the manager must now do without him for the first few weeks of the new campaign starting this weekend.

Tanzania battle: Oliseh to list 18 foreign pros

uper Eagles Coach, Sunday Oliseh, has proposed a squad of 18 foreign-based professionals and five home-based players for next month’s AFCON qualifier in Tanzania. “Oliseh wants to list 18 professionals from overseas for the match in Tanzania, while five places will be left for the players in the local league. But some have asked that he increases the number of the players from the league,” a top official informed AfricanFootball.com. The foreign-based pros are expected to fly directly to Dares Salam, where they will join up with the coaches and the players from the league, as the camp expected to open on Sunday, August 16, in Abuja with players from the domestic league. Nigeria under Stephen Keshi struggled to beat lowly rated Chad 2-0 in Kaduna in June. The match against Tanzania, another minnow ranked 140 by FIFA yesterday (as against Nigeria’s 53rd position), will be Oliseh’s first since assuming the Super Eagles helm last month.

Oliseh

US Open:

Murray suffers surprise defeat

ritish world number three Andy Murray suffered a surprise second-round defeat to unseeded Russian Teymuraz Gabashvili in the Washington Open. Murray, 28, had chosen to play an extra tournament in the runup to this year’s US Open, which starts in New York on 31 August. But after a bye to the second round, the top seed lost 6-4 4-6 7-6 (7-4) to the 30-year-old world number 53. “It wasn’t like I was blown off the court,” said the Scot. He will now play Masters events in Montreal and then Cincinnati in the next two weeks in preparation for Flushing Meadows. Gabashvili hit 11 aces and had to break back at 5-4 down in the third set as Murray served for the match, before going on to win the tie-break. “It was the first hard-court match for four-and-a-half months with only four or five days of preparation, so I was happy with how I moved and did certain things on court.”

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sports

Friday, August 7, 2015

WAPOGA: Ado Poly wins 34 medals in Ghana

MANDATE

THE

SYLVESTER IKUEJAMOYE

…LASPOTECH, YABATECH shine ABIODUN NEJO ADO EKITI

contingent of Federal Polytechnic Ado-Ekiti to the Third West Africa Polytechnic Games Association (WAPOGA) shone brightly in Accra, Ghana by clinching 36 medals to place fourth at the sub-regional games. The Polytechnic contingent known as “Team Fedpolad” at the games won 10 gold, eight silver and 16 bronze medals. Host Accra Polytechnic came first with 19 gold, 12 silver, and 24 bronze medals, while Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH) was the first runner-up with18 gold, 12 silver and 10 bronze medals, with Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) emerged third with 13 gold, 6 silver and 15 bronze medals.

Among other laurels, Team Fedpolad with 89 athletes clinched gold in taekwondo. A statement from the institution’s Deputy Registrar, Information, Prince Ade Adejolu, in Ado Ekiti yesterday said the team received accolades and standing ovation at the contingents’ march past at the main bowl of the Accra City Stadium, during the opening ceremonies of the event. Rector of the Institution, Dr. Taiwo Akande, who is a member of the WAPOGA Council, also received an award at the closing ceremony of the games in recognition of her diligence and overall contributions to the development of sports among polytechnics in the West African sub-region. The third WAPOGA games, tagged “Accra 2015” held between July 25 and August, 1 2015.

Ifeanyi Ubah urges Dangote, others to invest in Nigerian football

usinessman and Chairman of Capital Oil, Chief Ifeanyi Ubah, has tasked well-meaning Nigerians at home and in the Diaspora to join hands in uplifting the standard of Nigerian football. Ubah who is the owner of FC Ifeanyi Ubah, one of the clubs currently in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) particularly expressed confidence that Alhaji Aliko Dangote would rather invest in the country’s football instead of putting his vast resources into the game else, as reported in the media recently. Speaking shortly after he was honoured as the Patron of Nigerian Nation-wide league (NNWL) yesterday in Abuja, the former goubernatorial candidate in Anambra State said sports development in any part of the world cannot be left solely in the hands of government. “One, it’s about youth development, it’s about enterprise, and it’s

about creating awareness in the youth in the world. And I believe with the rebranding of the Nigeria Football Federation, I am sure that we would have a lot of smiles at the end of the day,” Ubah said. He maintained that with concerted efforts the NNWL would witness a turnaround, while assuring that with his new position in the premier league, he has been challenged to do more for Nigeria football.

Ubah

mopheys13@gmail.com 0805-407-1194 94 4 (S (SMS SMS S only) onlly))

Abolurin exits with flag flying high

cannot certainly remember when exactly l first met Dr. Ade Abolurin, but l guess it should be around 2005. It was a period l was neck deep in the rebranding process for the emerging umbrella for sporting activities for public servants in Nigeria. I was a t that

also come to realise from historical antecedents of reformers new blazers that they are like trojans that must brush aside all forms of barriers or odds that

time t h e N a tional President of the Federation of Public Ade Abolurin Service Games in Nigeria and l was runm a y ning my second term in office. want to obNeedless to say that Dr. Abol- struct or interject their mission. urin stood behind me solidly The emergence of Dr. Abolthroughout my second and third urin as the Commandant-Genterm in office. He was with me eral of the Nigeria Security and in prayers and was with me in Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) all ways for the greater part of was the miraculous turning my 12 years as president of the point that the then unknown organisation. and unrecognised voluntary orThat a hard working man ganisation needed to have life must have a resting time is not breathed into it to experience an in doubt. That a man working uncommon breakthrough. This with passion must have a set man turned around the fortunes goal is also not in doubt. That of this organisation so much a determined man in most cas- so that it suddenly became the es does not accept failure and toast of all. Most of us who are would want to make a difference known friends of the man are alis also a matter of fact. I have ways under pressure from many people who are determined to be enlisted into the organisation. Aside from the other marvelOld Parade Ground, FCT, saw ous things he did while in ofthe emergence of a male team fice, Abolurin is one man that from Benue State and a female knows the powers, potentials, team from Plateau to represent the north region in the national finals. Airtel’s Regional Operations oing good always has Director, North, Wole Abu who no alternative. But be was in company of the Zonal rest assured that you Business Manager, North Cencannot satisfy everybody. No tral, Lynda Umeh and Regional matter how good you are, you Trade Marketing Manager, North, should expect opposition. They Nasihu Abdulmajid were at the are everywhere. They have no Abuja Regional finals to present other mission than to plot the the awards to the winners.

ARS 5: Port Harcourt zone kicks-off PAUL EREWUBA

he Port Harcourt Regional Championship of the ongoing fifth edition of Airtel Rising Stars (ARS) U-17 football tournament has kicked off at Liberation Stadium, Port Harcourt. Matches among the male and female teams from Imo, Rivers, Enugu, Akwa-Ibom and Anambra states are already being played at the venue where hundreds of football fans from Port Harcourt

city have converged. The regional championship run from Thursday 6th to Saturday 8th August, 2015 when the winners will emerge. Thereafter, Lagos will host the last leg of regional championship at the Legacy Pitch, National Stadium, Surulere, between the 14th and 16th of August. The Lagos region will have participants from Ogun, Oyo, Lagos, Ondo and Edo States. Last Saturday, the Abuja Regional Championship held at

opportunities and the advantages inherent in sports. He has been able to use sports to achieve further greatness for the NSCDC. I have been monitoring his great exploits in sporting activities and l can say from my vantage position in sports matters either as sports columnist or as a sports administrator that Abolurin’s record, towers far and above others of his peers when compared with others with particular reference to the years of existence of the organisation. I know of a truth that the civil defence has produced both Africa and Commonwealth champions in various sporting events. I’m also aware that Abolurin eats sport, drinks sport, sleeps with sport, wakes up with sport and prays for sport. I have come to realise that part of the secret for his tremendous success while in office was his knack for fairness, love for all, and his determination to compete fairly without hurting anyone which is the global spirit of sports. The overwhelming conclusion on the stewardship of Dr. Abolurin at the NSCDC is that, the man met an organisation with practically no flag but by the grace of God he was able to put one together, hoist it and undoubtedly left it flying among equals. It is only natural to continue in prayers for the flag to continue flying without hitch. It means a lot to all right thinking and progressive minded people to continue to see the flag flying. Nigerians would want to see more medals from the NSCDC stable. Nigerians would also want to see more athletes produced from the NSCDC while their statutory responsibilities continue to enjoy the support of all Nigerians. I have no doubt that Dr. Abolurin will remain the ever sports loving man that he used to be both either within or outside the service. I dare say that he has come, he has seen and has clearly conquered. You have fought a good fight and I have no doubt that you have won a befitting crown. Well-done, the peoples’ General. It is well with you.

Hard, but bitter truth

downfall of progressive minded people. They are simply devil personified. Always prepare to encounter them but the good news is that you will overcome. It’s a hard, but the bitter truth. Until next week Friday, stay out of trouble and God bless Nigeria.

WORLD RECORD

Largest trick roping loop by a male

Vol. 05 No. 1173

Friday, August 7, 2015

N150

The largest trick roping male was achieved by Charlie Keyes (USA), who spun loop around him fed to 107 ft 2 in, at Will Rogers International Wild West Expo in Claremore, Oklahoma, USA; 22 April 2006.

Orji Uzor Kalu’s ‘war’ against Theodore Orji

nly a novitiate schemer or jester with inexhaustible capacity for mischief seeks equity with unclean hands. Caesar’s wife must be above suspicion to be taken seriously. For, equity, which in its simplest reduction means fairness, does not permit justice for anyone looking for it with soiled hands. ‘Mr. A’ , call him Orji Uzor Kalu, former Abia State Governor, was officially indicted and arraigned in court for alleged treasury looting when he served as governor between 1999 and 2007. He has not been exculpated as yet. It is common knowledge that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC), in 2007, arraigned him before a Federal High Court in Abuja on a 107-count charge of money laundering, official corruption and criminal diversion of public funds amounting to N5.6 billion. The court’s verdict was that he had a case to answer. However,

iger Woods says his season could end after the PGA Championship next week. He accepts that next week’s US PGA Championship in Wisconsin could signal the end of his season. The former world No

FRIDAY WITH Dozie Okebalama

dozieokeama@yahoo.co.uk 08164966858 (SMS only) the former Abia governor, since 2007, has been doing everything permissible within the country’s ridiculously compromised and castrated criminal justice system to avoid being tried and brought to justice for the alleged crime. Among the first steps he took through his lawyers to scuttle the case was an exparte order he secured from an Abia State High Court about the middle of 2007, challenging the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court to entertain the case. He failed in that bid and approached the Appeal Court to set aside the ruling of the Federal High Court which insisted that it had jurisdiction to go on with the case. Early in the second quarter of 2012, the Court of Appeal in Abuja ruled that the EFCC should go ahead with the case at the Federal High Court. In a unanimous ruling, the appellate court resolved all the grounds of appeal in favour of the respondent (EFCC) and dismissed Orji Uzor’s appeal for lack of merit. A major highlight of the ruling was that the ex-parte order of the Abia High Court asking the Federal High Court to stay all proceedings against Orji Uzor was a racquet suit aimed at frustrating his arrest and subsequent prosecution. But still scared of justice and his shadows, Orji Uzor approached the Supreme Court and prayed it to set aside the judgement of the Court of Appeal which upheld his prosecution.

ORJI UZOR SHOULD BE COURAGEOUS ENOUGH TO BOW BEFORE JUSTICE INSTEAD OF CONNING

ABIANS WITH THE TA DISTRACTION In March 2013, the EFCC cried out at the Federal High Court, Abuja, that he was resorting to all manner of legal tactics to delay his trial for the alleged fraud; an obvious reference to his pending appeal at the Supreme Court. Counsel to EFCC, O. Ololagbe, said at the resumed hearing: “My Lord, this matter has dragged on since 2007 when the accused was arraigned and does not seem to have made any headway”. The presiding judge, Justice Adamu Bello, adjourned the matter to July 8, 2013 for the report of progress from the Supreme Court on the matter. But whatever progress or otherwise made on the case in the Supreme Court is so far not to public knowledge. What has been very visible, however, is Orji Uzor’s hounding and haunting of ‘Mr. B’, his successor-turned nemesis, former Governor Theodore Orji, now the senator representing Abia Central Senatorial District, his wife and son, whom he outlandishly accuses of squandering Abia’s N474 billion between 2007 and 2015. Vulnerabil-

ity, however, does not refer only to the weak and helpless; or to women and children in times of awesome mortal danger. It also covers that man or woman who, knowing full well that his house is of glass, chooses to recklessly throw stones at neighbours’ glass houses. Not only this writer is peeved when nub is scant in grave allegations; and when nuance is muddled up in matters that border on morality, lawfulness and integrity, as we now see it in the irresponsible integrity war a former governor is now waging against a fellow former governor in Abia State. One writer, Steve Osuji of ‘The Nation’ newspaper vividly captured it recently in his “OUK vs TA: The limit of knavery”. Steve said in that short piece: “The unwary in the land may have been led to believe that Abia State is the worst run in the last four years. This is the result of sustained and relentless campaign of calumny against him (TA Orji) by his predecessor, OUK. Using the instrumentality of two national newspapers and some of the best columnists in the land, OUK literally tied TA to stakes throughout his tenure… In fact there must be something utterly sinister about the proverbial pot going on a road show to prove that the kettle is black”. Steve said Orji Uzor cleverly overlooked his era as Abia governor, when he ran the state like a “family provision store”. William Penn, the founder of Pennsylvania United States, has been credited as the first to use the English phrase – Pot calling the Kettle black – in his work: ‘Some fruits of solitude’ (1693). Pen says: “For a covetous man to inveigh against prodigality, an atheist against idolatry, a tyrant against rebellion, or a lyer against forgery, and a drunkard against intemperance, is for the pot to call the kettle black”. Orji Uzor should be courageous enough to bow before justice instead of conning Abians with the TA distraction or his family’s romance with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Sport Extra Woods targets high finish in US PGA Championship 1 is languishing in 189th position in the FedEx Cup standings after a tied18th finish at the Quicken Loans National, needing to rise 60 spots to qualify for the end of season PGA Tour play-offs.

The 39-year-old acknowledges that failure to improve his ranking with a high finish in the fourth and final major of the season will leave little to be gained by playing in the Wyndham Champion-

ship, the final event of the qualifying period. Victory at Whistling Straits would move Woods into the top 60 in the FedEx table while a second-place finish could see the 14time major winner sneak

into the all-important top 125. “By playing well in the PGA, that determines whether or not I’ll play Wyndham, and obviously the rest of the FedEx Cup play-offs,” he said.

Woods

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