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Sultan advocates jail term for treasury looters

Buhari accepts Customs boss, Dikko’s resignation

Govt to recruit 10,000 policemen

corruption must be made to face punitive jail sentences no matter their position in

Tuesday, August 18, 2015

National Mirror Online

OMEIZA AJAYI ABUJA Abubakar

Vol. 5 N0. 1180

ultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, yesterday declared that those found guilty of

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Dikko

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FG seeks repatriation T of Okah from S’Africa

N150

ISE-OLUWA IGE ABUJA

...to complete jail term in Nigeria It’s news to us, says Adesina

here were strong indications, yesterday that the Federal Government is plotting to negotiate with South African government for the release of ex-militant leader and founder of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), Mr. Henry Emomotimi Okah, from prison. Okah was convicted two years ago by a South African court for the 2010 twin CONTINUED ON PAGE 2>>

APC hails renewed battle against B’Haram P.6

Experts, operators express mixed feelings over Naira free fall

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L-R: Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Police Affairs, Dr. James Obiegbu; Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III; Nasarawa State Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura; Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson; President Muhammadu Buhari and Inspector-General of Police, Solomon Arase, during the 2015 National Security Summit in PHOTO: STATE HOUSE Abuja, yesterday.

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Cultists kill 16 Kwara Poly students

P.12 Emefiele

Appropriate price: DPR to sanction erring petroleum marketers

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Tuesday, August 18, 2015

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Experts, operators express mixed feelings over Naira free fall

ome Nigerians yesterday bemoaned the sustained free fall of the Naira and its consequence on the proposed national economic rejuvenation. They said in Lagos that the depreciation of the local currency was tied to the absence of a defined economic blue print and bureaucrats to manage the economy. A lecturer in the Department of Accountancy, University of Benin, Dr Chijioke Mgbame, said the fluctuation of the Naira made it difficult for businesses to make projections. Mgbame said the hallmark of any good business plan lay in a stable exchange rate, price stability and business forecast. The don also said the fall in a nation’s currency would definitely lead to price hike for import dependent economy. He expressed disappointment at the orthodox approach being deployed to rescue the Naira from further nose diving. An economist in the Department of Economics and Development, Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, Dr Evans Osabuohien, said the recovery of the American economy was mounting pressures on the Naira. Osabuohien said the currencies of other African countries such as the Kenyan and Ugandan

shillings were also not insulated from experiencing fluctuations in their values. An importer of electronics, Mr Silvanus Ibe, said the rise and fall of the Naira was having a serious toll on his business. “Those of us in the import business are saddled with the responsibility of explaining to our customers the reason behind the rise in the price of our products, before they decide to buy. “The policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, on foreign exchange restriction is not helping our businesses to flow as usual. “Sometimes we are confused on what to do as the CBN rolls out its policies almost on daily basis. “This is not the best of time for huge investments since nobody is sure of what policies they will come up with tomorrow,’’ Ibe said. An importer of fairly used cars, popularly called “Tokunbo”, Mr. Chika Obodoagu, said importers were finding it hard to access dollar to import cars. Obodoagu said that if the situation persisted, some people might resort to smuggling dollars. He called for a more flexible foreign exchange policy that would not stifle cash flow in the economy.

Meanwhile, some operators of Bureau de Change, BDC, have attributed the recent appreciation of the Naira to the CBN’s direct sale

of foreign exchange to operators. A trader at the parallel market, Mr Abubakar Audu, said CBN’s consistent selling of dollar to

BDC operators, had led to marginal appreciation of the Naira. Naira late yesterday appreciated to N222 to the dollar compared

with N243 it traded at the weekend in the parallel market. The official inter-bank rate remained at N197 to a dollar.

Bristow crash: We will not hire foreign expertise –AIB

ccident Investigation Bureau, AIB, said yesterday it will not hire foreign experts to extract information from the black box of the crashed Bristow helicopter, if the need does not arise. General Manager, Public Affairs of AIB Mr. Tunji Oketunbi, disclosed this in Lagos. Oketunbi said its accident investigators had been well trained on how to handle the task. “At the moment, our in-

vestigators are up to the task to download the information from the device, but we may need technical assistance of foreign experts, if the need only arises.” Oketunbi said its accident investigators had been well trained by a Canadian firm, CAE Flightscope, supplier of the laboratory equipment on how to download content from any crashed aircraft black boxes. “The supplier of the laboratory equipment came

to Nigeria sometime ago to train our accident investigators on the use of the equipment for a week or so. “Our investigators are now competent to extract stored information from any black box brought to the laboratory but the supplier of the equipment may give technical support if the need arises,” he added. The country’s laboratory, which was constructed in 2011, was acquired for the purpose of downloading the contents of aircraft’s

black boxes. AIB used to spend millions of dollars flying the vital objects overseas to decode. Oketunbi said the training and technical support was part of its agreement with the supplier before the equipment was bought from the company. “This is part of our agreement before the equipment was purchased from them, it is not just to supply us the equipment, there is CONTINUED ON PAGE 5>>

Coalition Against Corruption on a solidarity march for President Buhari’s anti-corruption campaign in Abuja, yesterday.

PHOTO: ROTIMI OSASONA

FG seeks repatriation of Okah from S’Africa CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

bombing of the venue for Nigeria’s 50th Independence anniversary in Abuja and was sentenced to a 24year term. A reliable source who spoke with National Mirror yesterday, said that the planned release of the exmilitant leader was to enable him serve his term in Nigeria. Although the source did not say that Okah would be released into the free world immediately, he however hinted that the plan was to negotiate with the South African Government to release him to the Nigerian

authorities for the purpose of serving out his term in Nigeria. The purported move, the source said, is allegedly being spearheaded by some federal government officials working together with a former presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, who later jumped ship. They were said to have purportedly held several meetings with their counterparts in the South African government aimed at working out an agreeable method of releasing Okah to the Nigerian government.

The Presidency, however, yesterday denied knowledge of such plan. When contacted yesterday, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, said he did not have any information regarding moves by the federal government to facilitate the release of Henry Okah. Adesina said, “I don’t have information on it. If I have information on such matter, I will tell you,” he added. But the source yesterday insisted that the plan was at an advance stage and that the federal government

would not want to confirm. He said: “What they want to do had been done before. You remember sometimes when some drug convicts who were serving jail terms were outside the country were released to the Nigerian government to serve out their terms…” Henry Okah was convicted two years ago for the bombing that took place on October 1st, 2010 during Nigeria’s 50th Independence Anniversary in Abuja. He was arrested in Johannesburg a day after the Abuja bombing and charged to court. Although he denied

the allegation, his group MEND, accepted responsibility for the bombing. The bombing claimed the lives of 12 persons while 36 others were injured in the attack. On Monday, January 21 2013, a South African court convicted Okah of a 13-count charge of terrorism, including bombings in Abuja on October 1, 2010. Handing down the verdict, Judge Nels Claassen said, “I have come to the conclusion that the state proved beyond reasonable doubt the guilt of the accused. “The evidence of all the accomplices that worked

with him was not contradicted... I found that (Okah is the) leader, planner, funder, supplier... of car bombs used in Warri in March 2010 and on October 1 2010.” Claassen said Okah’s failure to testify meant evidence against him remained uncontested. Okah was thereafter sentenced to 24 years imprisonment and is currently serving at the Ebongweni Correctional Centre in Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa, after two failed attempts to escape from Leeuwkop Prison in Midrand and New Lock Prison in Pretoria.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Tuesday, August 18, 2015

Photo News

Tuesday, August 18, 2015

L-R: Head, Corporate Services Division, Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) Mr. Bola Adeeko; Chief Executive Officer, NSE, Mr. Oscar N. Onyema, OON; Chief Coach of Super Eagles, Mr. Sunday Oliseh; President, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Mr. Amaju Melvin Pinnick and Executive Director, Market Operations and Technology, NSE, Mr. Ade Bajomo, at the Closing Gong Ceremony when the Board of NFF paid a courtesy visit to the NSE with Sunday Oliseh, new Super Eagles coach, at The Exchange, yesterday.

L-R: CEO, EbonyLife TV, Mo Abudu; Managing Director/Africa Economist, Citi, David Cowan and CEO, Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc, Mrs. Sola David-Borha, during the Business in Africa Conference organized by Students and Alumni Africa Business Network, University of Cambridge, UK, recently.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

L-R:On-air-personality, Dotun Kayode of Cool FM; Brand Manager, Star, Obabiyi Fagade and talent manager, Efe Omorogbe, during the Benin leg of Star Music Trek at Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, at the weekend.

Clerk of the house, Apapa-Iganmu LCDA, Mr. Olawale Amisu and wife, Mrs. Aderonke Amisu (middle) with other staffs of Apapa Iganmu LCDA, during Amisu’s pen-down thanksgiving service after 35 years service in Lagos, recently.

National News

Buhari accepts Custom boss’ resignation Omeiza ajayi and Francis ezem

resident Muhammadu Buhari yesterday formally accepted the resignation of Comptroller-General of Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, Alhaji Inde Abdullahi Dikko.

Consequently, Mr Dikko is expected to proceed on voluntary retirement from today. National Mirror had last week quoted multiple reliable sources as saying Dikko may have resigned. Dikko, before his appointment as CG in 2009, was Assistant Comptroller General, ACG, in charge of headquarters. He had earlier in a letter to President Buhari dated August 3, notified him of his desire to proceed on voluntary retirement from today. The president’s approval was conveyed in a letter dated August 14 and personally signed by him. In the letter titled, “Voluntary retirement

from the Nigeria Customs Service”, Buhari thanked Mr. Dikko for his services to the county in the last six years. Although, there have been calls for the sack of Dikko, his resignation is seen as a soft-landing for a man who hails from the same area as the president. The approval read: “Dear, Alhaji D.I. Abdullahi, I write to acknowledge the receipt of your letter Ref. No. NCS/ ADM/HQ/P. 35802 of 3rd August, 2015 conveying your decision to voluntarily retire from the Nigeria Customs Service with effect from Tuesday, 18th August, 2015. “I note with appreciation your services to this nation, especially as the ComptrollerGeneral of the Nigeria Customs Service in the last six (6) years. “Accordingly, I hereby approve your voluntary retirement from the Nigeria Customs Service with effect from 18th August 2015. “I wish you the very best in your future endeavours. Yours sincerely; Muhammadu Buhari.” Dikko had in his letter

thanked the president for the confidence and trust reposed on him, saying by August 18, he would be six years in office as the Comptroller-General. He recalled that on assumption of office, he articulated six-point agenda which he vigorously pursued. According to him, the Service’s average monthly collection in 2009 when he took over was about N29bn, adding that the average monthly collection is currently between N90bn and N100bn. He said his decision to quit the Service was to pave way for younger officers to excel. Dikko held his last management meeting with top officers of the service yesterday. And in what appeared to be a valedictory speech during the regulatory Monday Management meeting attended by only top hierarchy of the service, the CG told the management that he needed to resign his position as the CG and move on with his personal life. He therefore urged the senior management team to uphold the tenets of the reform

processes he started, which he argued had earned the service the respect and admiration of other Customs administrations across the globe. It is being speculated that the Deputy Comptroller General in charge of Administration, Mr. John Atte may likely take over the position of the outgoing CG pending when

the Federal Government would announce a replacement. This is based on the existing trend in the past when the CG Administrations becomes the acting CG each time the substantive Comptroller General goes on vacation or is out of town. For instance, before now, the former Deputy Comptrol-

ler General of the Service in charge of Administration, Alhaji Garba Makarfi usually

ernment agencies to evolve before next year’s budget new policies to boost domestic manufacturing. He said: “We are in difficult times economically, but we’ll continue to do our best for manufacturing to pick up. We must begin to behave as if we have no oil at all. “We will gladly have policy somersaults, if it will mean more jobs, particularly for youths. “I campaigned on three major planks; to effectively secure our country; provide employment through revamping the economy, and wage a relentless war against corruption. I intend to keep faith with these promises.”

He lamented that the textile industry that employed about 320,000 people in the past only parades about 30,000 now. “It shows the carelessness of past governments, if almost 300,000 people lose jobs in a single sector. We have a clear idea of how we can stimulate employment and we will work very hard to do so,” Buhari said. MAN President, Dr Frank Udemba Jacobs had earlier appealed for a review of policies that stifle the manufacturing sector, noting that the importance of a robust manufacturing sector for the general well-being of the economy cannot be over-emphasised.

stands in for Dikko, whenever he was out of office. This precedence has however fueled speculations that Dikko might hand over to DCG Atte, pending the appointment of a substantive CG.

... orders review of economic policies Omeiza ajayi ABUJA

resident Muhammadu Buhari has said he would gladly reverse or abandon some inherited economic policies if doing so will lead to creation of more jobs for Nigerians.

The president made this known yesterday at a meeting with executive members of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, MAN. He directed the Ministries of Industries, Trade and Investment, and Finance, as well as Central Bank of Nigeria and other relevant gov-

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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Tuesday, August 18, 2015

Sultan advocates jail term for treasury looters CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

the country. The Sultan, in his keynote address at the one-day National Security Summit, held yesterday in Abuja, urged President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure that all ill-gotten wealth were forfeited and culprits prosecuted in accordance with ex-

isting laws of the federation. He expressed support for the ongoing war against corruption, even as he charged the president to ascertain the wealth of his aides before appointing them into offices. The Sultan added that the president should confiscate the wealth of any of

his subordinates anytime it is established that their wealth has surpassed their legitimate earnings. He also urged the president to “institute a national integrity plan for this country as soon as feasible”. This, he said, would help in reforming Nigeria and making it take its pride of

place in the comity of nations. He regretted that the last few years had been very bloody as people were killed with impunity. The Sultan advocated for the integration of traditional ways of policing into modern policing to achieve greater results in the fight

Traditional rulers at the 2015 National Security Summit in Abuja, yesterday.

NUC explains position on provisional licences to 11 universities

ational Universities Commission, NUC, yesterday said it gave provisional licenses to 11 private universities over a two-year period to enable them satisfy their registration requirements. NUC’s Director of Information, Malam Ibrahim Yakasai, offered the explanation while fielding questions from newsmen on the commission’s recent grading of private universities. He said NUC never described the affected 11 universities as sub-standard. “They are given provisional licences and an additional two years to make up their deficiencies to enable the commission issue them full operational licences,” he said. According to him, the commission used accredi-

tation of programmes, quality and quantity of academic members of staff as some of the criteria for the rating. Others include existence of functional laboratories, workshops, social amenities, infrastructure and security, an approved governance structure and a functional board of trustees. Yakasai listed funding, libraries and e-learning environment as some other requirements. “These minimum requirements must be met and respected by all universities in order to avoid risking sanctions of denial of accreditation of courses or closure,” said the spokesman. It would be recalled that NUC Executive Secretary,

Prof. Julius Okojie, presented permanent licences to nine other private universities on August 13, and granted two-year extension to eleven others. The affected 11 universities are Wesley University of Science and Technology, Landmark University, Rhema University and Samuel Adegboyega University. Others are Paul University, Oduduwa University, Tansian University, Baze University, Obong University, Achievers University and Wellspring University. The nine universities that received full operational licenses are Veritas University, Caleb University, Geofery Okoye University, Fountain University, Adeleke University, Western Delta University, Afe Babalola University, Salem

University and Nigerian Turkish Nile University. The director advised parents to stop sending their wards to neighbouring countries for university education as Nigerian higher educational institutions had come of age. He added that most Nigerian universities compete favourably with overseas institutions and rejected their rating by foreign bodies. Reacting, the Pro-Chancellor of one of the affected universities, Baze University, Abuja, Sen. Datti BabaAhmed, said the board of the institution would meet within the week to respond to NUC’s decision. Baba-Ahmed urged parents and other stakeholders to await the outcome of the board of trustees’ meeting.

Bristow crash: We will not hire foreign expertise –AIB CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

also technical support because it will take time, maybe over a period of time, to offer us technical support on anything we need from them. This is because our investigators cannot under-

stand the equipment overnight. “This is due to the fact that the equipment are not used on daily basis to have made them to be grounded enough with its handling. “You may have accident

today and you may not have one for the next two to five years. “And during the cause of using the equipment, the bureau may still need their technical support, and this supplier is just a

phone call away from us,” he said. Oketunbi said AIB was not under pressure to extract stored contents from the black box of the ill-fated Bristow helicopter that crashed on Wednesday.

against criminal activities in the society. Meanwhile, the federal government has said it is set begin the recruitment of about 10, 000 officers and men into the Nigerian Police Force. The Force whose staff strength is currently put at 309, 000 lost about 12, 000 of its personnel in the last four years according to documents recently released by the Police Service Commission, PSC. Of the remaining figure, National Mirror checks revealed that about 120, 000 officers and men are not on core police duties, as they provide private security for VIPs, institutions and other corporate bodies. Consequently, the police is left with just about 200, 000 officers and men who are saddled with the responsibility of providing security cover for a nation of over 170 million citizens. Immediate-past Inspector General of Police, Suleiman Abba, had before the last general elections submitted a proposal for the recruitment of at least 30, 000 personnel. However, President Buhari, while declaring the summit open, said the move would boost the efficiency of the force. He described the event as part of his effort to redefine the security architecture of the country. He said that his administration was also considering the expansion of Close Circuit Television (CCTV) monitoring system across major cities and towns to address national security challenges. While noting that the summit would help to galvanise community support and citizens’ consent for intelligence-led policing, Buhari promised that before the end of his four-year term, he would have developed a good security system for the country. According to him, the need for community input to policing and crime management in Nigeria had become very imperative, adding that he would soon unveil many youth empowerment programmes in order to reduce their attraction to crime. He commended the Inspector General of Police, IGP Solomon Arase, for ordering the dismantling of

police roadblocks which he said had often been an object of discord between citizens and the police. He said: “While it is understandable that unemployment, illiteracy, radicalisation, negative peer group influence, substances abuse and erosion of family and moral values are social factors that underline criminal tendencies, the reality remains that the task of addressing these challenges is that of parents, teachers, community and the state. “In other words, it is bottom to top operation. It is in acknowledgment of this that I have defined youth empowerment as one of the cardinal objective of our administration. “In furtherance to this, the federal government is planning to employ at least extra 10,000 officers and establish a properly trained and equipped federal antiterrorism multi-agency task force to effectively address the challenge of future insurgency in a sustainable manner. “In order to further strengthen the security of the public space, consideration is being given to the expansion of the (Close Circuit Television) CCTV monitoring system across major cities and towns in the country.” On his part, IGP Arase expressed strong optimism of a brighter policing for Nigeria. He however advocated the speedy passage of the Police Trust Fund Bill which has been pending before the National Assembly since 2012. According to him, the bill when passed, would address the funding gaps in the force, which more often had led to corruption and eroded professionalism. Expressing hope that the outcome of the summit would be made to form part of future efforts at police reforms, IGP Arase said the array of stakeholders at the summit was an eloquent testimony to the fact that Nigeria is now ready to present a common front to tackle crime. “For us as nation, there is no other auspicious time for this than now,” he said. The summit had as its theme “Community Partnership Approach to Internal Security and Crime Management.”

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Tuesday, August 18, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

NERC to Senate: Fixed charges not illegal Chidi UgwU ABUJA

igerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, yesterday opposed abolition of electricity Fixed Charges, FC, insisting there is nothing illegal about them. The Senate last Tuesday directed NERC to abolish the monthly

fixed charges being collected from electricity consumers by distribution companies. The resolution followed a motion titled, “Unfair trade practices of electricity distribution companies in Nigeria”, sponsored by Senator Sam Egwu and Senator David Umaru. But Chairman of NERC, Dr. Sam Amadi, maintained that fixed

charges were legal and cannot be abolished. According to him, any attempt to abolish the charges would affect the electricity market adversely. This is even as the commission urged communities placed on bulk billing to reject such and also insist on individual metering. The commission also revealed that it has abol-

ished connection of new customers without meters. According to Amadi, the fixed charges, which appear in different names, are not peculiar to Nigeria, as they are part of the electricity markets across the world. He, however, pointed out that the legacy problem of lack of generation capacity, which re-

sults in poor supply of electricity, could be the difference with the Nigerian situation. He explained that the purpose of the charges was to recover the capital and fixed costs of various operators in the industry. On bulk billing of residential customers, Amadi said the commission has already abolished it on a previous

ruling brought before it by a customer against the duo of the VGC Estate Management and the Eko Electricity Distribution Company, EEDC, in 2008. He hinted that a public consultation on a proposal to cap the amount an unmetered customer can pay is in the process of being completed by the Commission.

NSA assures military of logistics for war against insurgents Ubong Ukpong, ABUJA

ational Security Adviser, NSA, Maj- Gen Babagana Munguno, rtd, yesterday, reassured the military of President Muhammadu Buhari’s commitment to provide them with necessary logistics needed to successfully prosecute the on-going war against Boko Haram terrorists. The NSA, according to a statement by Nigerian Air Force, NAF, through its Director of Public Relations and Information, DOPRI, Air Commodore Dele Alonge, gave the assurance while on a visit to operational areas in the North-East, in company of Service Chiefs and the Inspector General of Police. He said while addressing officers and men of the NAF in Yola, General Monguno said they could go to bed with his assurance as he was speaking the mind of the President. “I am telling you this, and you can take it as if it is coming from Mr. President himself that

you are going to be given everything you require, not only for the operation but for your personal welfare. This is an assurance I want to give you,” said the NSA. Against the background of the recent presidential directive to the Service Chiefs to defeat the insurgents in 3 months, the NSA said the purpose of the operational visit was to enable his team assess the situation on ground and relate with the troops with a view to adequately identify and address observed challenges. Speaking further, the NSA noted that NAF has brought a lot of noticeable improvements in the war due to the aerial support provided to the ground troops. He commended the personnel for their commitment and patriotism. Mongonu urged them to keep the spirit high and to remain steadfast in their resolve to standup against the terrorists. “The operational areas visited by the NSA and his team include Damaturu, Maiduguri and Yola in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states.

Chief Executive, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Dr. Sam Amadi, briefing newsmen over response of NERC to the Senate query on fixed charge, estimated billing and sundry issues, in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

APC hails military’s stepped-up battle against B’Haram olajide omojolomojU

ll Progressives Congress, APC, has hailed the military for ramping up the fight against Boko Haram, saying the visible paradigm shift in the current approach to the battle against insurgents was yielding positive results. The party in a statement issued in Lagos yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said the rejuvenated military is now taking the battle straight to the insurgents, instead

of waiting for them to attack. He described as refreshing and reassuring the fact that Service Chiefs have been visiting the theatre of war in the North-East, not only to pep up the fighting men and women but also to meet with political and community leaders in the area. Mohammed said: “The stepped-up fight against Boko Haram has convinced Nigerians that indeed their military is getting its groove back, and can beat the three-month deadline set by President Muhammadu Buhari for

Appropriate price: DPR to sanction erring petroleum marketers

epartment of Petroleum Resources, DPR, yesterday warned oil marketers against buying or selling petroleum products above government regulated prices.

The warning was contained in a statement signed by DPR Deputy Manager, Communications, Mr. George Ene-

Ita. According to it, the warning stemmed from the persistent sharp practices in the petroleum products supply chain with regards to official pump price. “Dealers in petroleum products, who are either sellers or buyers, are hereby warned against buying or sell-

ing above government regulated prices. “Unlicenced third party buyers that operate outside the Petroleum Products Marketing Company, PPMC, Depots and Petroleum Pricing Marketers Association of Nigeria, DAPPMA, and Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria,

MOMAN, are hereby warned to desist or face the wrath of the law,” it said. The statement also warned marketers to desist from illegal diversion of the products. It said any marketer caught diverting petroleum products would either be fined N200 per litre or prosecuted.

Boko Haram to be defeated. “The renewed battle has also shown that President Buhari was right in directing the relocation of the military’s command and control centre from Abuja to Maiduguri. “Watching the video clip of Nigerian Air Force jets pounding targets in Sambisa Forest, the fortress of the insurgents, over the weekend arouses great pride in the military.” APC said thanks to President Buhari’s purposeful leadership and political will, Nigerian neighbours are now ready to contribute their full quota to the battle, with the latest news indicating that Cameroon has decided to triple its initial troops contribution to the Multi-National Joint Task Force, MNJTF, to reach 2,400. It added: “Also, contrary to the lies being propagated by the naysayers, President Buhari’s visit to the US has reset Nigeria’s relations with that country to the level where

the much needed military hardware are now being sent to Nigeria to increase the country’s military firepower.” Mohammed added that while the military must sustain its ongoing efforts to further degrade the fighting ability of the insurgents, it is important for all Nigerians to continue to support the troops in every way possible so that the monsters who have killed and maimed at will in the past several years can be defeated once and for all. He said: “We have always believed that the Nigerian military, which has distinguished itself globally since its first participation in a United Nations, UN, peacekeeping mission in the Congo in 1960, has what it takes not only to protect and defend Nigeria’s territorial integrity, but also to win even an asymmetrical warfare like the one against Boko Haram - under the right circumstances. We are glad that the military is now proving us right.”

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Residents protest incessant auto crash on Ilesa-Akure road BOlAdAle BAmigBOlA OSOGBO

he ever busy IlesaAkure express way was yesterday blocked for several hours by residents and indigenes of Erin Oke community, in Oriade Local Government area of Osun State, in protest of incessant loss of lives owing to accidents. Yesterday’s protest, it was learnt, was coming on the heels of an auto crash, which occurred Sunday afternoon, claiming three lives. Commuters travelling along the route, especially those coming from Abuja end were stranded for the duration the protest lasted. Narrating his experience, a commuter trapped in the protest, Adejuyigbe Thomas, in a chat with National Mirror said: “I was coming from Abuja and we just noticed long queue of vehicles shortly before Erin- Oke junction. “We later discovered that the people of the community were protesting over the frequent accidents at Erin-Oke junction. The demonstrators occupied the entire road, both sides making it difficult for vehicles to go through. It was a frustrating experience.”

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Tuesday, August 18, 2015

SON seeks export prohibition of uncertified products … as EU bans food import from Nigeria Olufemi AdeOsun ABUJA

tandards Organisation of Nigeria, SON, has canvassed for a law to prohibit export of products that have not been duly certified by the appropriate authorities. This is against the backdrop of the ban on some agricultural food import from Nigeria by the European Union. Some of the food items banned from Europe till June 2016 as a result of non-compliance with standards are beans, sesame

seeds, melon seeds, dried fish meat, peanut chips and palm oil. But the SON Director General, Dr. Joseph Odumodu, who commented on the ban at the sidelines of the launch of ‘Operation Flush’ in Abuja yesterday, said the best way to redress the unpleasant situation, was to discourage exportation of products that are not certified by the relevant agencies. ‘Operation Fluch’ is a local initiative of SON driving in partnership with the Civil Society Organisations, CSOs, to rid the

country of substandard products. According to him, till date, there is no law in Nigeria that mandates exporters to get certification from SON before shipping their products abroad. He said: “None of the products that were shipped out of the country had gone through any process of certification.As at today, there is no law that mandates an exporter to get a certification from SON before they ship their products abroad.’’ Now we need to get back to our Permanent Secre-

tary and other people to ensure that there is a template to guarantee that. The only thing government should do is to disallow exportation of products that are not certified. Once that is done, when you see any importer that contravenes that, you deal with him. On the significance of the launch of the Operation Flaush, Odumodu said it was an initiative aimed at cutting down on the level of substandard products from the present stage of 40 per cent to 10 per cent. According to him, the initiative which will be

L-R: Former Nigerian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Dr. Christopher Kolade; Chairman of the event, Prof. Anya O Anya; celebrant, Sam Ohuabunwa; and wife Stella Ohuabunwa; Rt. Rev James Odedeji and former governor of Anambra State, Dr. Peter Obi, during Sam Ohuabunwa’s 65th birthday and launching of the book, Paradim and the Porthacourt Volunteers in Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO: SAMUEL ADETIMEHIN

driving largely in partnership with the nation’s CSOs is aimed at expanding the scope of the war against substandard products by involving both the retailers and the wholesalers. “We have applied a number of solutions to reduce the level of substandard goods in Nigeria and we have only managed to reduce it to about 40 per cent. E-flush is meant to take it to about 10 per cent, which is the global average and that is our target. “Before now, we have actually been looking at manufacturers and importers, now we want to add to the value chain, the retailer and the wholesalers. What we are saying is that wholesalers should not stock or sell products that are not certified,” he added. He said the agency had got more power to deal with the issue of bad products, stressing that unlike before when it could not on its own remove substandard products from the shelf without recourse to the court, it could now do so for a period of three months. He added: “A lot has changed in the mandate of SON and we will use it to change the outcome of the level of substandard goods in Nigeria.”

Rivers: Wike fails to stop APC’s petition at tribunal ise-OluwA ige

ivers State Governor, Barrister Nyesom Wike, yesterday at the State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal failed to stop the petition filed by the All Progressives Congress, APC, to challenge his election of April 11, 2015. The APC and its governorship candidate in the state, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, had dragged the governor before the tribunal challenging his election on the ground that the election was marred by malpractices, irregularities and violence and called for the cancellation of the poll. But Wike last week, applied to the tribunal to quash the petition on the ground that it was not com-

petent and that it did not comply with section 18(1) of the Electoral Act 2010. He also claimed that the petition was not competent because the petitioner failed to pay the mandatory N100.00 pre-hearing notice fee as demanded by law and hence, it is deemed that petitioner has abandoned his petition in the face of the law. However, delivering ruling on the application, the tribunal headed by Justice Muazu Pindiga dismissed it and held that the petition was competent and that it complied with section 18(1) of the Electoral Act 2010. The tribunal held that the payment of the prehearing notice fee was not compulsory and not enough ground to dismiss a petition as claimed by the Wike. The tribunal therefore upheld the petition and dis-

countenanced the application for lack of merit and substance. Done with the ruling, the tribunal entertained several applications by all parties in the suit comprising an application seeking an order of the tribunal to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to move the election materials used for the April 11th governorship election from Port-Harcourt, Rivers State to the INEC headquarters in Abuja to enable the petitioner inspect them. Another application was argued by Wike to seek an order of the tribunal to stay execution of the ruling the tribunal made on June 11th which permitted the All Progressives Congress, APC, and its candidate to inspect the materials used for the election. Ruling in all the appli-

cation have been fixed for Wednesday. Wike and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, had on August 14, 2015 argued two separate applications seeking dismissal of the APC’s petition against the governor. In the petition, the APC and its governorship candidate in Rivers State, Dr Dakuku Peterside are challenging the victory of Wike of the PDP at the tribunal. Peterside who joined the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, as co-defendant is alleging that the gubernatorial election of April 11, which brought Wike into power was marred by widespread electoral irregularities, violence and malpractices. By the petition, APC and Peterside are specifically seeking nullification of the poll and for an order direct-

ing the conduct of a fresh election. However, Wike and PDP had prayed for an order of the tribunal dismissing the petition as being abandoned in consequence of non compliance with provisions of paragraph 18(1) of First Schedule to the Electoral Act 2010 as amended. The PDP counsel, Ken Njemanze (SAN), held that the petitioners failed to pay the necessary filing fees for the application made by their counsel, Chief Akin Olujimi (SAN), for issuance of Form TF 007(application for pre-hearing session). Payment of such fees is statutory and constitutes a condition precedent for the invocation of the jurisdiction of the tribunal, Njemanze said. Similarly, Emmanuel

Ukala (SAN), representing Wike also urged dismissal of the petition. Ukala held that failure to comply with provisions of paragraph 18(1) of First Schedule to the Electoral Act 2010 as amended with regards to filing of prehearing notice, “is fatal to the petition”. Chief F.O Orbih (SAN), who appeared for INEC adopted the submissions of Njemanze and Ukala. But in opposition to the two separate motions, petitioners’ counsel, Chief Akin Olujimi (SAN), urged the court to dismiss the applications for lacking in merit. He said the respondents forgot that the petitioners made a security deposit of N500,000 adding that a tribunal can kick- start a pre-hearing session by oral application.

South West

Tuesday, August 18, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Lekki robbery: Court restates order to produce suspect matthew irinOye

L-R: Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Stock Exchange, Oscar Onyema; Vice Chairperson, Investors Protection Fund (IPF), Fubara Anga, and member, Umaru Modibbo, during the IPF media parley, in Lagos, yesterday.

Ogun offensive question: CDHR seeks reinstatement of sacked teacher Femi OyewesO ABEOKUTA

ommittee for the Defence of Human Rights, CDHR, yesterday appealed to Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, to reverse the dismissal of Chief Examiner in the state's Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Emmanuel Adegbenro, who was sacked with five others found guilty for setting a secondary school examination question considered offensive to the state government. Addressing journalists yesterday in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital, the CDHR state chairman, Comrade Olayinka Folarin, premised his organisation’s plea on the fact that the affected teacher did not commit any offence to warrant being sacked, as the

said examination question was not particular of any state of the federation and as such does not aim at embarrassing the Ogun State government. Folarin further said the chief examiner, who until the incident, taught at Mayflower Secondary School, Ikenne, did not commit any offence to warrant being sacked, stressing that Adegbenro submitted the said "offensive question paper" to his superiors in the Curriculum Development and Evaluation Department, who were in position to either review or reject such in its entirety according to existing practice. Describing Amosun as "a listening governor, an advocate of human rights and workers-friendly,"the CDHR also demanded that the governor intervene in using his office to order reversal of Adegbenro's sack.

The committee also noted that the chief examiner deserved to be pardoned based on his past records, which it said, had brought honours and accolades to the state by winning many awards "with several commendable records" since 2011 when he assumed the position. CDHR also condemned the state's Head of Service (HoS), Mrs. Modupe Adekunle for upholding the recommendation of the panel that tried and found Adegbenro guilty of setting the 3rd Term year 2014/2015 English summary examination question, stressing that the panel misinterpreted the passage. CDHR emphasised that the HoS has not deemed it fit to sack the ministry officials who were allegedly involved in N1. 2 billion WAEC fee scam, but

resorted to sacking Adegbenro "who has not at any time defraud or commit theft since the period he joined the state's Teaching Service Commission, TESCOM. Having reversed the decision, the CDHR also demanded that Amosun should set up an independent panel to probe the activities of the HoS, Mrs. Adekunle as well as "other members of the kangaroo panel which has thrown the state into the present confusion." It would be recalled that the state government had last week sacked six officials of the state Ministry of Education which included an Acting Permanent Secretary and five others over the summary passage for the Senior Secondary School 1 in the third term Unified Examination in the state.

2 killed, one injured in train accident

wo passengers were said to have died, while one sustained severe injuries when two trains collided on Sunday in Agege area of Lagos State. Lagos Railway District Manager, RDM, Mr Akin Osinowo, confirmed this to the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, on Monday. Osinowo called on families of the deceased to come and collect the corpses at the Federal Medical Centre, FMC, Ebute-Meta, with

relevant information. Osinowo said the two casualties were passengers who illegally hanged on the rooftop of the moving train. He added that the injured passenger was currently receiving treatment in hospital. The district manager said the NRC Managing Director, Mr Adeseyi Sijuwade, has instituted a panel of inquiry to find out the immediate and remote causes of the incident.

According to him, members of the panel are Directors of Operations, Electrical, Mechanical, Signal and Intelligent Unit. “The Managing Director directed the heads of various departments to visit the site and interview eyewitnesses; visit the police station and make inquiries. “And also to find out the main causes of the accident and determine details and number of casualties. “Families of the deceased should bring a docu-

mentary evidence to support their claim, evidence of identity of the corpses, evidence of their relationship with the dead and a sworn affidavit. “After being certified, they will be referred to the police authority where we will ensure the bodies are released to them,” Osinowo said. The RDM appealed to commuters and the train users to value their lives and stop hanging on moving trains.

ustice Olabisi Ogungbesan of a Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja, yesterday ordered the Commissioner of Police and SP Abba Kyari (O/C State Anti-Robbery Squad) to produce one Ebi Tosan in court on August 20. It would be recalled that Tosan was arrested by the police on April 5, 2015, over alleged involvement in robbery attack on First City Monument Bank, FCMB, at Admiralty Way, Lekki, Lagos. Tosan was paraded before the press sometime in May 2015 as one of those who allegedly robbed the bank. Tosan, through his counsel, Chief S.W. Baidi, then filed an application for bail, claiming N1 million against the respondents for infringement of his constitutional right to personal liberty, freedom of movement and presumption of innocence. However, the trial judge refused to hear the application since there was no information from the Attorney General, who was later joined in the suit, as to the whereabouts of the applicant. Justice Ogungbesan said: "It will be fair if the Attorney

General is brought to court, they will be able to tell us where the boy is. It is an allegation and I want to hear from the Commissioner of Police. This is a weighty allegation and an allegation of robbery. I believe if you bring the Attorney General to court, you will have half of the problem solved. "I shall hereby adjourn to August 20 for hearing of the suspect's application. It is further ordered that the 1st and 2nd respondent produce the applicant on the adjourned date." Counsel to the applicant (Baidi) told the court that "the 20-year-old boy was going to school and was arrested by SARS that he participated in the Lekki robbery and was held since April 4, 2015. We have not seen this boy till date. We have served all the orders of court on police and they have not come to court. Infact, the Investigation Police Officer, IPO, told the boy's father that since they have met a lawyer, then let the lawyer show them where their son is." Baidi explained to the court that the urgency of the matter has to do with life of a citizen, saying "who knows if he can be the president of this country tomorrow, if alive.

Ambode pledges to embark on LG reforms

overnor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State on Monday pledged to embark on local government reforms with the aim of making the 57 local governments and local council development areas more responsive to the needs of the people. The governor, who made this known during a parley with members of the various Community Development Associations, CDAs, Community Development Councils, CDC, and other stakeholders, said the intention of his administration was to give governance back to the people in line with his objective to run an all inclusive government. He said his administration’s commitment to make community governance the springboard for economic and social development in the state prompted the establishment of a Ministry of Local Government and

Community Affairs, which has thus placed community development in the heart of its policy formation. Commending efforts of the over 3,100 CDAs and CDCs in the 57 local councils, Ambode used the occasion to announce the appointment of Chairman of the State Community Development Advisory Council, Alhaji Tajudeen Adeniyi Quadri, as Senior Special Assistant on Community Development Affairs, in a bid to utilise his over 20 years’ experience in the movement. He also disclosed that his administration would create a platform to recognise excellence in selfdevelopment efforts of the communities and reward same though provision of grants, assistance and other support through the local governments and local council development areas.

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South West

Tuesday, August 18, 2015

100 days after, UCH doctors call off strike Kemi olAitAn IBADAN

ssociation of Resident Doctors, ARD, University College Hospital, UCH, Ibadan branch, yesterday called on all its members to resume duty immediately, while negotiation continues with the hospital’s management. The doctors are resuming duty more than 100 days after embarking on an indefinite strike over

non-implementation of a grade level skipping as directed by Head of Service of the Federation. Chairman, UCH chapter of the union, Dr. Luqman Ogunjimi, who addressed a press conference alongside Secretary General, Dr. Anthony Ude, said the union decided to call off the strike following intervention from well-meaning Nigerians, including former President Olusegun Obasanjo, the Central Council of

Ibadan Indigenes, CCII, elders in the field of medicine and dentistry and the Medical and Dental Council Association of Nigeria, MDCAN, among others. He said: “Our members are hereby directed by the emergency general meeting of ARD, UCH, to go back to their duty posts by 8am on Monday, August 17, 2015, while negotiation continues.” While calling off the strike in the interest of

our patients, according to him, the association nevertheless, noted that the UCH management had the opportunity of paying the skipping allowance from the increased N940m from personnel subvention of the hospital. “Our stand as a congress is that this N940m can be used to pay skipping since payment of salary from personnel subvention can never be misappropriation, more importantly now that the

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, has expressly restated the directive for skipping,” he said. He urged the UCH management under the Chief Medical Director, CMD, Prof, Temitope Alonge, to give attention to other perennial local issues. These, he said, includes the deplorable and dilapidated call rooms, delay and non-promotion of members even after meet-

Ekiti contractors get 3-week ultimatum on MDG projects Abiodun nejo EKITI

L-R: Lagos State Amirul-Hajj, Dr. Abdul Hakeem Abdullateef; Governor Akinwunmi Ambode; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Dr. Yaqub Bashorun; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, Mrs. Ebunola Oladimeji; Director, Home Affairs, Alhaji Bashir Braimah and Managing Director, Medview Airline, Alhaji Muneer Bankole, during a one-day seminar for Lagos State 2015 intending Hajj pilgrims in Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO ADEYANJU OLOWOJOBA

Deception: APC asks Shelle to resign

ll Progressives Congress, APC, Lagos State chapter, yesterday called on Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state, Mr. Tunji Shelle, to resign for deceiving his party and Lagosians before the general elections. APC said Shelle’s gaffe led to the crushing defeat his party suffered in the elections. In a statement signed by the state’s APC Publicity Secretary, Mr. Joe Igbokwe, the party said Shelle should resign honourably and give way to a more competent person, having lost the governorship elections in 2011 and 2015 in Lagos State. “All over the world, when chairman of a party becomes a serial loser, he does not need anybody to counsel him to leave the stage for fresh hands, but not Shelle of Lagos

PDP. “If he is not blaming party leaders, he turns his miserable searchlight to the opposition and now he is blaming former President Goodluck Jonathan. “A totally devastated Shelle, who has been suffering votes of no confidence since the last election, told his party members in Amuwo Odofin, Lagos, that former President Jonathan allowed APC to get away with a lot of illegalities during the last elections, which led to his own defeat. “According to Shelle, if Jonathan had won the presidential elections, PDP would have used soldiers, police, DSS, SSS, civil defence, etc., to steal Lagos. “Now, Tunji Shelle must be told that the day Jonathan picked PDP ticket for the presidential

election was the day he lost the election. Jonathan should not have contested in 2011 given the political arrangement put in place after the June 12, 1993, election crisis to rotate power between the North and the South every eight years. “There was no way Jonathan would have won with eleven states in SS and SE against 25 states in the SW, NE, NW and NC. Two small zones in the SE and SS would not have defeated the four big zones of SW, NC, NE and NW. “Even if SS and SE voted 150 per cent beyond mathematics, Jonathan would not have won that election. In fact, the millions of votes Jonathan got was padded. That was the permutations, calculations and analysis empty heads and peevish school boys in PDP failed to take into

considerations. “In Lagos, Shelle was a living witness to many illegalities PDP and the law enforcement agencies unleashed on Lagosians,” he said.

ing all requisite conditions and unremitted pension fund deduction/ refusal of enrolment of members on the Contributory Pension Scheme. According to him, all these contributed to the failed negotiation of over 17 months prior to the commencement of the strike, while the hospital management remained defiant to the union’s agitation over the alleged injustices.

kiti State government has given a three-week ultimatum to contractors handling the 2013 Millennium Development Goals, MDG, projects in the state to complete and hand them over. Chairman, MDGs State Implementation Committee, Chief Dipo Anisulowo, who handed down the ultimatum during a review meeting of the second phase of MDG projects held with contractors in Ado-Ekiti, said the era of abandoned projects was over. He expressed dissatisfaction with the attitude of some of the contractors, and cautioned that government would not hesitate to sanction any of them found wanting. He said government required total commitment from its contractors and

would continue to patronise only those who did their jobs remarkably well, adding that the MDGs Office would also pay only contractors that completed their jobs satisfactorily. Anisulowo advised contractors handling borehole projects to work hand in hand with the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency, RUWASSA, in order to deliver standard jobs. Special Assistant to the Governor on MDGs, Prince Idowu Popoola, harped on the importance of quality and timely job delivery by contractors. Popoola also stressed the need for all stakeholders to support the efforts of the present administration at delivering dividends of democracy to the people in the, saying that every stakeholder had a role to play in order to achieve the desired result.

Police arrest 2 suspects for killing cop

olice in Lagos have arrested two commercial motorcyclists (names withheld) for allegedly killing a police corporal and snatching his official rifle. State Police Command’s spokeswoman, Patricia Amadin, who confirmed the arrest to the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, yesterday, said the police rifle had been recovered. Amadin said the incident happened on August 14 at 1st Avenue Junction, 4th Avenue, FESTAC Town, Lagos. She disclosed that the police always patrolled the area, but on the fateful day, they were attacked by about 30 motorcyclists.

Amadin said it was in the course of the attack that the corporal was killed. “At that point, the police patrol team sent a distress call to FESTAC Police Division around 1am on Friday that a patrol team along 4th Avenue had been attacked by about 30 motorcyclists. “The motorcyclists allegedly stabbed one of the policemen, one Corporal Emmanuel Emefiele, on the chest and he died on the spot. “The motorcyclists snatched the corporal’s official rifle and fled. The division then re-enforced and chased the motorcyclists and arrested two of the gang leaders.

“The snatched rifle and blood-stained knife used in stabbing the policeman to death were recovered in the home of one of the suspects,” Amadin said. The spokeswoman added that the corpse of the deceased policeman had been deposited in a public mortuary, while investigation continues. In a related development, Amadin said police also arrested a member of a robbery gang terrorising residents of Orile-Iganmu and recovered a locally made shotgun from him. She said the arrest was made on Sunday by Orile Police Division.

South East

Tuesday, August 18, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Anambra to curb truancy in workplace —SSG R A

Youths protest deplorable condition of Owerri-Port Harcourt road Chris Njoku OWERRI

nambra State government is set to introduce a clockin system to monitor its workforce and eliminate truancy, Secretary to the Government, Professor Solomon Chukwulobelu, has said. Chukwulobelu announced the measure in Awka on Monday when leadership of the Local Government Service Commission visited him. He said recent increase and prompt payment of workers’ salaries was an

indication of government’s commitment to workers’ welfare. “The state government will soon introduce IT system called clock-in and clock-out to put a stop to truancy, which is being noticed due to e-payment of salaries. “With the increment and prompt payment of workers’ salaries, I am calling for a comprehensive staff list to be in place to ascertain the workforce and assist government to plan due to lean federal allocation,” he said. Earlier, Dr Peter Egenti,

chairman of the commission, enumerated major challenges facing the body and called for support of government to move the local government system forward. Egenti promised implementation of the two-point agenda of the commission, which include discipline and productivity. He listed the challenges faced by the commission to include low productivity, diminished allocation, inadequate infrastructure, heavy logistics and irregular staff

records arising from favoritism, corruption and absence from duty. “We are in need of transportation, office space, staff quarters and electricity, we operate in difficult terrain and existing office buildings are dilapidated,” he said. In his vote of thanks, the Secretary of the commission, Mr Julius Akubue, commended the scribe for promising to partner with the commission for an improved unified local government system.

ampaging youths of Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area of Imo State over the weekend, barricaded the Owerri-Port Harcourt federal highway to protest abandonment of reconstruction work on the road. The angry youths blocked the road, which traverses the area at Umuapu and Umuagwo in the local government area, causing traffic gridlock. Eye-witnesses said there was traffic gridlock in the area for several hours, resulting in hundreds of cars and lorries that stretched to over 10 kilometres before state government officials dispersed the protesters. The rampaging youths barricaded the road, accusing the government of abandoning the road, which they said had grounded economic activities as well as resulted in erosion menace, flooding and marshy state of the road in the area. Addressing the protesting youths, Deputy Chief of Staff to Governor Rochas Okorocha, Kingsley Uju, regretted that the

Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, which is handling the road project, abandoned the construction work at Umuapu, resulting in cutting the road into two and incessant accidents in the area He lamented that business in the area had come to a halt because of the obstruction caused on the road by heaps of mud dumped there and assured the youths that if by next week the NDDC and its contractor failed to rectify the failed portion of the road, he would lead the youths on a protest to the commission. He pleaded with the demonstrators to allow traffic to resume on the road to enable commuters coming from Port Harcourt and those going to Port Harcourt from Owerri to reach their destinations on time. Speaking the mind of the protesting youths earlier, their leader, Mr. Festus Chukwu, from Umuogbuehi Umuapu, lamented that the abandonment of the road by the contracting firm has led to accidents which claimed several lives while their businesses have collapsed as their customers and business partners could no longer reach them.

...Also blackout in Ebonyi

…vandalise 3 vehicles as banks, markets are shut

L-R: Product Manager, OTC, Fidson Healthcare Plc, Mr. Femi Ajala; Divisional Manager (East), Mr. Olugbenga Olayemi; Managing Director, Okwutex Pharmaceuticals, Mr. Okwudili Ogwuoke and Field Sales Manager, Fidson Healthcare Plc, Mr. David Daniel, during Retail Reward Programme in Onitsha, recently.

Chris Njoku OWERRI

igeria Customs Service, NCS, Federal Operations Unit, FOU, Zone C, Owerri, has impounded a bulletproof car, including other seizures with a Duty Paid Value, DPV, worth over N441,685,968. Other items seized include 5,364 cartons of imported frozen poultry products (chicken, turkey and gizzard), which were deliberately concealed in Mercedes Benz trucks with used Jacuzzi bathing tubes, rolls of black polythene nylon bags, and crates of woods lining the walls of the truck. The products, which were impounded on the Benin, Agbor and Bayelsa/Port-Harcourt axis between August 13 and 14, 2015, respectively, have a DPV of N89,338,400.

Customs impounds bulletproof vehicle, others worth over N441m

…destroys 5,364 cartons of imported poultry products In addition, 100 vehicles with fake documents were impounded at the Benin Expressway, Agbor-Asaba axis and Aba/Owerri highway. The 15 vehicles included latest models of cars ranging from Toyota Camry (bulletproof) 2015 model without End-user Certificate, six Land cruiser Prado, Land cruiser VXR, Toyota Fortuner, Lexus LX 570 and M/Benz CLS 350, all 2014/2015 model worth N346,347,568.00. Also, 14 suspects are now in customs net in connection with the seized contrabands. Speaking with newsmen in Owerri, Customs Area

Controller in charge of the unit, Comptroller Dimka Victor, said four suspects were arrested in connection with the illegally imported frozen poultry products, and eight suspects for the smuggled vehicles. Dimka added that a total of 300 bags of 50kg rice with DPV of N6,000,000 was equally seized by officers at Ikom border in Cross River State, with two suspects arrested, adding that the suspects were helping in their investigations into the illegal importations of the seized items. While denouncing the rising tide of smuggling activities in the country despite the obvious conse-

quences of the unpatriotic business, he warned those still involved to desist forthwith in their own interest. “Smuggling of contraband goods has continued to damage the nation’s economy; and many families have been ruined as a result of the indulgence of some of their beloved ones in this obnoxious act.” The destruction of the imported frozen poultry products were carried out in the presence of officials of NESREA, NAFDAC and DSS in line with the recent launched “Operation Hawk Descend” to check the activities of smugglers of foreign poultry products.

AliuNA GodwiN ABAKALIKI

ouths in Afikpo, Afikpo North Local Government Area of Ebonyi State yesterday protested the increasing blackout in the area, resulting in burning three vehicles belonging to Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC). The youths, who barricaded entry and exit points in Afikpo town in protest of non-supply of electricity by the power distribution company, petitioned the state government over the blackout. Public institutions, including banks and markets were shut following the protest, which halted human and vehicular movements in the area. Prominent persons in the town, including Senator Azu Agboti, Rector, Akanu Ibiam Federal Poly, Uwanna, and travelers were turned back by the rampaging youths, who chanted war songs during the protest. A resident of the area, Egwu Idam, while speaking

with journalists said the youths had besieged the office of the distribution company as early as 7am and sacked the staff. He said in the process three vehicles of the company were vandalised. "Since seven months we don’t have light and we have been paying for light we don’t consume. We have been telling the power people to stop bringing us bills every month since they don’t give us light but to no avail. "Today, we have decided to say no to all these rubbish. We want the right thing done. It is either they give us light or stop bringing bills to us because we cannot continue to pay for what we don’t consume," he added. When contacted, Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Chris Anyanwu, who confirmed the incident, condemned vandalisation of vehicles of the power distribution company by the youths. He said Afikpo Police Area Commander and his team have been directed to calm the situation.

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Edo took $75m loan because PDP looted treasury —Oshiomhole

do State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, said the state was forced to take a World Bank development loan because the Federal Government led by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for 16 years looted the nation’s treasury and pauperised states. He, however, said it was a good thing that President Muhammadu Buhari came at the right time to stop liquidation of the country. The World Bank had approved a $225m loan for Edo State government in 2012, to be implemented in three tranches of $75 million per annum. The first tranche of the loan was approved by the National Assembly in 20122014 Federal Government External Rolling Borrowing Plan, while the second tranche was approved by the National Assembly last week. Speaking with reporters at Government House, yesterday, Governor Oshiomhole said: “If the PDP did not steal the money, we would not need to borrow. What we lost from the NLNG under the PDP Federal Govern-

South South

Tuesday, August 18, 2015

ment was about $11.6bn. “Edo State’s share of that money was more than N30bn. If you realise that from every $1bn, we get more than N2.7bn. So, if PDP did not steal and bleed the economy dry, our legitimate revenue stolen by past PDP government and its men is more than that. “PDP is simply not in a position to blame victims of their own looting, which is unprecedented in the history of the country. My hope is that they would be brought to justice. “You heard President Buhari saying last week that after they finished looting the treasury, they even borrowed to loot. You heard the President say they took a loan from China and they already taken $600m from the loan. By now, if they were still there, there would have finished the rest. “In the South-South zone, look at the debt profile, Edo is the least borrowed. The only major loan we have taken since I assumed office was N25bn bond out of which we paid over N20bn because we are paying N530 mevery month.”

I've not been transferred from Rivers —REC Dennis naku

PORT HARCOURT

esident Electoral C o m m i s s i o n e r, REC, of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in Rivers State, Mrs. Gesila Khan, has debunked claims that she has been transferred out of the state. Khan said she was still in charge there. She was responding to speculation that she had been transferred following recent developments regarding the conduct of the last general election in the state. It would be recalled that

Zakari, Acting INEC chairperson

the Department of State Service, DSS, had recently quizzed Khan along with some other officials of INEC in the state over allegations yet to be made public. But speaking with our reporter in Port Harcourt, Mrs. Khan said even if she

was moved, there was nothing wrong because it was the nature of the job. She said: “I am here and I am still here. I have not been transferred. If I have been transferred, I should not be sitting here; I should be picking my things. “Even if I am transferred, there is nothing wrong with that because it is government work and anytime you are called to move, you move. But for now, I have not been called to move.” On her reaction to the controversy surrounding her alleged refusal by the All Progressives Congress, APC, to release election materials for inspection, she

said she has nothing to regret, describing herself as a human resource practitioner. “No regret whatsoever. I am an HR (Human Resources) practitioner; so, anything you see in life, you move along with it. “You cannot predict man. They are free to think and say what they want. We have been working since. Today, it is either this document or another. “Some they want in long hand, while some they want in shorthand. So, the law says when they request, you give them and since the time is very short, we have to,” Mrs Khan said.

FRSC committee to reduce road crashes —Oyeyemi Dennis naku

PORT HARCOURT

ederal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, yesterday restated its determination to reduce carnage on the nation’s highways. Corps Marshal and Chief Executive of FRSC, Boboye Oyeyemi, stated this in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, during a programme tagged ‘Operation Scorpion’ targeted mainly at truck drivers. Represented by FRSC’s Deputy Corps Marshal in Charge of Training, Standard and Certification, Mr. Ademola Lawal, Oyeyemi said it was the corps duty to ensure that this category of transporters adheres to safety procedures. He said the training was aimed at making sure the roads are safe and the rate of road crashes involving tanker drivers and others are reduced to the barest minimum, adding that FRSC will continue to have annual certification of drivers. The corps marshal said drivers would be trained in

all areas, adding that medical examination would be conducted to determine their state of mind before handling their tankers. “Some of them may have eye problems, high blood pressure and other ailments unknown to them, which explains why we are starting with enlightenment to educate them on some of these things,” he said. He regretted that a lot of accidents have been recorded involving tanker drivers on the highways, saying FRSC cannot fold its arms and watch the situation continue. “Our training is going to be all encompassing. We are going to work on their temperament and psyche. We are going to let them know their actions on the highways,” he said. He noted that the roads belong to all and called on tanker drivers to have respect for other road users and to shun over-speeding, overloading, as well as to ensure that trucks were road worthy.

Ohaji/Egbema youths protesting the dilapidated Owerri-Port Harcourt express road, at Umuapu, Imo State, yesterday.

Alaibe, Lokpobiri, other defectors greedy politicians —Dickson OsahOn Julius YENAGOA

ayelsa State Governor Henry Seriake Dickson, yesterday, lambasted those who defected from the state’s chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, last Saturday, saying they are greedy and selfish politicians. A press release signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Iworiso-Markson, said while it was their right to decamp, it was important for the public to know why they decamped to the All Progressives Congress, APC. He stressed that they decamped because each one of

them wanted to be governor and the PDP platform is not available for them to pursue their ambitions. “So, they are going to the next alternative, which in this case is the APC, the party that has control at the centre, and by so doing, positioning themselves for federal appointments, which the PDP and I are not in a position to give. “And they are hoping somehow that federal might, by way of security and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, manipulation, will see their eventual flag bearer into the Government House, which is not going to be,” Dickson said.

He noted that he was firmly on ground in the state, adding that Bayelsans were of the view that his administration had done well and on election day they will turn out en masse to vote for him and the PDP. Dickson added: “We know the antecedents of each and every one of them and we are confident the people are not with them.” In answer to a question, Governor Dickson expressed confidence over his chances of being reelected, stating that having done well in delivering dividends of democracy to the people, he was sure of getting re-elected for a second term.

“I am sure. That is a PDP state and I have done well. It is not me saying it; it is the people of Bayelsa that are saying it. And they know them. So, let’s wait and see who their flag bearer would be against me,” Dickson said. It would be recalled that former Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Affairs, Chief Ndutimi Alaibe, embattled chairman of the party in the state, Col. Sam Inokoba (rtd), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri and others, defected to APC at the weekend. The defectors were received by National Chairman of APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun.

North

Tuesday, August 18, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Jubilation as recalled Plateau Varsity VC resumes

Cultists kill 16 at Kwara Polytechnic

JAMes AbrAhAM

Wole AdedeJi

JOS

lateau State University Vice Chancellor, Profesor Danjuma Sheni, who was recently reinstated by Governor Simon Lalong yesterday, resumed office amidst jubilation at the campus located in Bokkos, Bokkos Local Government Area of the state It would be recalled that Sheni was sacked by former Governor Jonah Jang in October 2014 as a result of series of disagreement with the former members of the governing council, led by Jang’s in-law, Professor Sam Ale. Jang also appointed Professor Stephen Mallo as Acting Vice Chancellor to replace him. But on Friday, Lalong reversed Sheni’s suspension and recalled him to office. Sheni, who resumed duty yesterday immediately suspended payments to all contractors, suspended all employments carried out by his predecessor and asked all deans, heads of departments and coordinators, who were in offices as at September 30, 2014 prior to his suspension, to return to their offices with immediate effect. He added that new acting heads of department will be appointed as soon as possible. He also set up four com-

mittees to carry out an audit of the personnel of the university, the finances and contracts award, student’s affairs and security, adding that members of the committee would soon be in place, while giving them seven days to submit their report. The vice chancellor, while addressing the staff in Bokkos on Monday, said, “The measures were part of the repositioning of the university and building confidence and addressing other sundry issues.” In his speech entitled: ‘A new beginning and repositioning of the university,’ Sheni said his resumption marked a new chapter in the governance and management of the institution. He said he had forgiven all those who had hands in his ordeal. Sheni said his main priority now is to pursue the accreditation of the university courses and bring the institution up to the standard envisaged by the founding fathers. He thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for making the change that brought him back possible. He was also full of praises for the staff and students of the institution, who stood by him throughout the period of his travail, promising that nobody would be witch-hunted for whatever reason.

ILORIN

ot less than 16 people suspected to be students were reportedly killed at the weekend when rival cult groups said to be ‘Aiye’ and ‘Eiye’ confraternities clashed at the Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin. However, about 30 suspects have already been arrested by the state Police Command in connection with the incident, according to investigations. The immediate cause of the bloody cult clash could however, not be ascertained as at the time of filing this report yesterday, but the polytechnic had been shut indefinitely. National Mirror gathered that the inci-

dent might have affected the last set of students who were rounding off their semester examination. Also, it was said to be traditional for the cult groups at the end of each session to do the last onslaught against one another to settle old scores with whichever group that had gained upper hands during the academic year. It was also gathered that such aggrieved groups often determine to ensure that some members of rival groups who should be graduating from the Polytechnic were never allowed to do so by snuffing life out of them in a most gruesome manner. National Mirror was also told that in executing such deadly operations, each group engages the

services of their members from other tertiary institutions within Kwara State and places like Oyo, Osun, Ekiti, Ogun and even as far as Lagos State which usually made it warlike operations. Speaking on the incident on Monday, the State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO Ajayi Okasanmi, confirmed the arrest of the suspects, pointing out that 14 of those arrested were found to be culpable after screening. The PPRO however, said investigations were still ongoing on the development; adding that the 14 suspects already found to be culpable would be charged to court for prosecution this week. Sources said one of the student killed was gunned

down during screening of aspirants for the Students Union Government’s election while another one was reportedly killed at Asa Dam road by suspected members of Eiye confraternity. An eyewitness said the death might have led to the renewed bloody clash among members of Eiye and Aiye confraternities which later spread to other parts of Ilorin metropolis such as Agbo Oba, Baboko, Saboline, Irewolede and Niger road. A Niger Road resident, who pleaded anonymity said: “It all started around 4 pm at the weekend. A victim who lived at Agbo Oba was reportedly killed beside a bridge close to the filling station at Oja Tuntun area of Ilorin.

FG committed to revamping economy –Osınbajo JAMes AbrAhAM JOS

ice President Yemi Osinbajo yesterday, reiterated the Federal Government commitment to revamp the economy for the betterment of Nigerians. The Vice President said the focus of the administration is to quickly revamp the economy and rebuild the country by galvanising collective energy towards a common purpose, saying the new focus calls for a paradigm shift. The Vice President spoke at the opening ceremony of Scenario Planning for National Change Workshop, organised by the National Institute for Policy a d Strategic Studies, NIPSS, in collaboration with Reos South Africa. The Vice President who was represented by the Head of Service, Mr. Danladi Kifasi, said the focus would involve a shift in both things the country is doing

and the way they are being done, adding that it would require a massive change of mindset and a new way of engaging for the future. He said with the important aspect of the society fractured, it can only find its way to work together through scenario planning to chart a common course, adding that scenario is one of the tools that can bring different people together and make the reason together for common goal. According to him, scenario planning uses the stories of what could happen in the future with diverse stakeholders to decide together how they want to influence the future. It refers to a variety of quantitative and qualitative analysis used to project the future pathways or back casts from a preferred end point. National Institute to champion the project and as well integrate the initiative into national planning and strategy development processes.

Bauchi State Governor Muhammed Abubakar (left) welcoming UNICEF Country Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ms. Jean Gough, during her courtesy visit to Government House in Bauchi, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

Protesters back El-rufai’s land recovery exercise A zA Msue, KADUNA

undreds of protesters yesterday declared support for Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-rufai’s land recovery exercise in public hospitals and schools. The protesters under the auspices of Nigerian Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, Kaduna State Market Association, New Panteka Old Students Association for Skill Acquisition, as well as GSM Hand set Sellers, after peaceful protest, stormed Sir Kashim Ibrahim House,Government House, entrance to register their support and encourage Governor El-rufai to go ahead with the exercise.

The large number of youths who carried placards with different inscriptions such as “ Don’t be afraid of anybody, just continue with the demolition exercise,” “ We are strongly behind you while you recover our stolen land from greedy politicians,” “ El-Rufai Save the future of our children and get back our school lands from the rich “ and several others begged El-Rufai to demolish any house or structure erected within any school premises or compound. The spokesman of the youth groups, Comrade Abdullahi Ladan, said the reason they came out enmasse to support the governor was informed by the conviction that he is doing a good work by recovering public hospital and school

lands acquired by the rich and powerful in the society. He also assured the governor that youths in the state have agreed to give him the necessary backing to demolish and rebuild structures suitable for learning. His words: “We are begging you not to be discouraged by the threats in some quarters and those in the corridors of power, just do the right thing for sake of posterity,” he said. Representative of NURTW, Alhaji Aliyu Banga, surrendered a Certificate of Occupancy, belonging to his house to the governor for demolition if it falls within the purview of illegal buildings. Responding, El-Rufai who had to climb a police armour tank at Govern-

ment House entrance to address the crowd, assured the youth of his commitment to develop and make Kaduna State a model state that will attract investors and sustainable development. He however, emphasised that in doing so, his administration will try to right the wrongs and blunders committed by previous governments in the state. The governor said: “We are not going back on recovering of all lands belonging to the state government, no matter who owns them,” he stated. Meanwhile, El-rufai urged the youth to remain law abiding and promised them that the change they voted is here.

Tuesday, August 18, 2015

SUPER TUESDAY

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Politics

‘Buharimania’ won presidential election for APC –Wada

14,43

obe State Governor Ibrahim Gaidam and his deputy, Engr Abubakar Aliyu, were returned elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC. At the April 11 gubernatorial poll were like their counterparts across almost all the states of the federation were sworn in on Friday May 29 by the state Chief Judge, Justice Garba Nabaruma. Gaidam was returned elected having polled, according to the Returning Officer, the Vice -Chancellor of the University of Maiduguri, Prof. Ibrahim Njodi, 334,847 votes to defeat Alhaji Adamu Maina Waziri of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, who polled 179,700 votes. In his inaugural address, Governor Gaidam thanked the people of the state for giving their massive votes to APC, describing the inauguration as the beginning of “a new mandate for change and sustainable development,” soliciting for prayers and support from all and sundry for God to restore peace and grant him wisdom and knowledge to continue to move the state forward. He said his administration will deploy necessary resources at its disposal to end insurgency, rebuild all destroyed communities so that Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, can return home and continue their normal lives. Gaidam also promised that in this dispensation, emphasis will be given to the construction of new airport with international standard, roads and drainage networks across the 17 council areas, provision of potable drinking water, agricultural transformation, poverty alleviation, improved quality of education and job creation. He further said opportunity for contribution and ideas from concerned citizens, traditional institutions and religious leaders will be given much priority by the administration in order to move the state forward, noting that, salaries of traditional rulers, who are custodian of culture, will be reviewed to enable them cater for their immediate needs. He said: “We have a heavy responsibility to all good citizens of Yobe State; we therefore pledge to discharge our responsibility, honestly, fairly and faithfully. Our duty as servants of the people is not only to serve, but to be seen to serve diligently and with every sense of responsibility, Insha Allah.” He noted that as himself and his cabinet members begin a new chapter in Yobe’s rich history, they require from their citizens hard-work, perseverance, sacrifices, support and prayers to enable then take the state to the next level. He therefore call on the supporters of other political parties as well as those who contested with him to join him in the great task ahead, after all they have the same objective: to improve the lot of Yobe citizens. To achieve the desired objectives, Gaidam said he shall continue to be sensitive and responsive to thoughtful suggestions and constructive inputs. Reviewing government’s activities in his first tenure, Gaidam admitted that his first term was characterised by travails and successes; travails because of the security challenges the state experienced, reiterating that the security challenges have retarded development and service delivery. He said: “The unprecedented and senseless acts perpetrated by insurgents have resulted in loss of lives and property worth billions of naira, untold hardships, relocations with widespread set backs on socio-economic activities including freedom of movement and even freedom of worship. “These also resulted in the state government spending over N12 billion to cater for logistics and upkeep of security operatives, renovation of destroyed infrastructure and various forms of assistance to victims of insurgency to date.” Noting that the resources would have otherwise been

Gaidam’s promises and challenges of governance INUSA NDAHI x-rays the promises made by the Yobe State governor, Ibrahim Gaidam, to the people of Yobe at his inauguration for a second term and the challenges ahead that may truncate the fulfillment of the promises. with his administration capping up all the previous efforts of building Yobe State with an acclaimed impressive array of developmental landmarks and sound institutions, he feel it is the time to adopt a “vision” and “mission” in order to give focus to developmental drive and service delivery. He noted that this is made more pertinent by adoption of modern Result Based Management in his developmental planning policies through collaboration with other development partners, particularly the UK based Department for International Development, DFID.

Gaidam

channeled to developmental projects for improving the lots of his citizens, he said: “In spite of the security challenges, we remain focused and as believers consider these challenges as a trial and a passing phase out of which we shall Insha Allah emerge better and stronger.” The new dispensation, he added, will give him the opportunity to cap and consolidate on the achievements of hi administration and continue with the implementation of planned programmes and policies to further move Yobe State to enviable heights. He said his performance testified to the overwhelming support the people of the state gave him and the APC to continue to pilot the affairs of the state, pledging that he would fulfill another vision not to jeopardise his people’s mandate. He emphasized that Yobe, having come a long way since its creation on August 21, 1991, and having experienced different administrations both military and democratic and

IN HIS INAUGURAL ADDRESS, GOVERNOR GAIDAM THANKED THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE FOR GIVING THEIR MASSIVE VOTES TO

APC, DESCRIBING

THE INAUGURATION AS THE BEGINNING OF A NEW MANDATE FOR CHANGE AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

DEVELOPMENT However, in an effort to revitalize the education sector, Gaidam said he will continue to pursue robust and dynamic educational programmes through rehabilitation and up-grading of existing educational infrastructure, provision of scholarship, counterpart funding, meeting teacher and teaching/learning requirements as well as formulation of incentive packages for teachers. Special attention, he noted shall be given not only to improving enrolment but the quality of teaching in both primary and secondary education. In view of this, he promised that the Umar Suleiman College of Education, Gashu’a will get government attention to enable it discharge its responsibilities of producing qualified teachers. Other state-owned institutions of higher learning will also continue to be given special focus with steps taken to ensure that the courses offered by them are made functional and relevant to the needs of the State. In the current dispensation, he also promised that policy focus in the health sector will be continuation of his drive on preventive and curative aspects of healthcare delivery including provision of free drugs for expectant mothers, children below 5 years and accident victims. He said: “We will equally ensure effective takeoff of the 200-bed ultra-modern hospital, Damaturu, while hospitals especially at Potiskum, Gashua and Geidam will be rehabilitated and provided with equipment, drugs, medical and para-medical personnel. Furthermore, in collaboration with development partners, he pledged to take responsive measures to combat malaria, polio, tuberculosis and other preventable diseases. On civil service relations, Gaidam said: “I wish to emphasise that in realisation of the fact that our charter for sustainable development of Yobe State cannot be achieved without the active backing of the civil servants, while thanking them for their continued support, loyalty and commitment, we will continue to partner with DFID and other development partners to build their capacity as a step towards evolving a performance driven and result oriented public service. “Let me reiterate that in the next dispensation, we will give societal re-orientation special focus to further ensure CONTINUED ON PAGE 44

Politics

Tuesday, August 18, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

‘Buharimania’ won presidential election for APC –Wada Kogi State Governor Idris Wada speaks to reporters in Lagos about the coming gubernatorial election, the last general elections, Kogi State’s resources and debt profile, among other national issues. DEBORAH DIDI brings excerpts: In the face of dwindling resources across the country, what course is your administration charting for Kogi State in terms of sustainability and survival? Kogi State is totally a civil service state. But, we have a lot of solid minerals that can be exploited to provide economic opportunities for our people. The Federal Government by the provisions of the constitution takes control of the mineral resources. The state government has limited role to play in terms of what it does in exploring the mineral resources. That is why the states are seeking the necessary permission and licences, from the Federal Government to exploit the mineral resources within the state. Again, the security situation in the country has made it quite difficult to attract the type of investors, who have financial capacity, to exploit solid mineral resources in the state. That is why we have focused on agriculture, which is a straight forward fact in terms of development and economic opportunities. We have created the enabling environment, which promotes agricultural development in our state. The people have invested in farming than it used to be. We are working with the Federal Government, World Bank and Agriculture Development Bank to establish farms in the state. We have acquired hectare of lands running into 30,000. We are now a rice growing state in Nigeria. We have got a lot of young people to invest in farming. We have equally made effort to improve on our internally generated revenue, IGR. We have increased it from about N150 million a month, to about N550 million. Remember that Kogi is a civil service state. We have invested in the Obajana Cement and there are smaller industries that are coming up as well. This we have done through our industrial promotion drive efforts. All these will eventually bring income to the state and she would be able to pay her workers and meet up other social responsibilities. There are other economic benefits that will accrue to the state in due course, given our efforts. We are promoting small and medium scale industries, creating conducive environment for enterprises in the state. We have reformed our land allocation and administration policy in the state. This is meant to promote the establishment of agriculture and encourage investors in the state. The reforms will take care of land allocation and the bureaucracy associated with it. All of these have made it easier for people to come and establish in the state and to promote industrial growth. In the last three and half years, we have been able to promote the establishment of cement factory, hoping that in the months ahead, it will be put on sale for public consumption. The foundation of the cement factory was laid about two and half years ago. These are some of the things we have done for the economic transformation of the state. The tourism centres in our state are being refurbished and renovated. The historical artifacts are being rehabilitated to promote tourism and generate income for the state. It will

workers up to date and embarking on infraw sstructure development, I can tell you that we don’t have N1 million to give to anybody. And d nobody has ever asked me for N1 billion for n anybody. What will I get from the chairman a tto invest N1 billion just to earn a ticket? So, llet us be realistic, when some of these things are said, we should question about the logic in them. So, it is just a figment of the people’s imagination. There is no basis or foundation for that kind of statement. How are you prepared to face the opposition in your state during election? With regard to the presidential election, won by the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Kogi State, it was basically because of Buharimania. It is a movement which many people boarded the train. That is why we are where we are today. It is not because the PDP is not doing well in the state. The PDP is on ground, it is a solid party and has added value to the lives of the people. We have structure in every local government, we have structure in every ward and we are confident we will win by the grace of God, in the next election. And if I will correct other wrong impression, the PDP won major of the seats in the Kogi State House of Assembly election. That is a reflection of the fact that once you remove the Buharimania out of the equation, PDP is solidly on ground, we will win the next election. As regards to performance, of course, you will not expect my opponents to praise me. They will always find something wrong. What we do as a sitting governor, our opponents will always see something bad in them.

Wada

increase the IGR of our state in the coming years; and strongly know these will become regular source of income for the state in the years ahead. In the past incumbent governors are given automatic ticket, but you are contesting with others for the position. It was also said the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Kogi demanded N1 billion from you to get its support for your ambition, how do you explain this? On the issue of automatic ticket, it has no place in the PDP. From my experience, the only person who has in a way got it in the PDP was the immediate past President of the country, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan. It was automatic in the sense that he was the sole candidate during the primary. There was primary and he was the only presidential candidate. The others withdrew before the day of the primaries. That, to an extent, was the only resemblance of automatic ticket. Normally, in the contest for leadership of the state, people show interest. Those who show interest see the incumbent as a challenge. And because you are incumbent, your second run for of-

fice is not as free. You are restrained until you are in office again. So, you don’t have the same space like those outside. You don’t have the same opportunities, as those who are outside, in terms of issuing statements. You are restrained, you have a lot of restriction because of the position you are occupying. That is why you see lots of people coming out to contest. But, all must go through a primary, even when nobody shows interest, you must go through primaries. It is a yes or no vote, that determines whether you get the ticket or not. I don’t know of any position in the PDP constitution that gives automatic ticket to anyone. It is the party leadership that pronounces it. When that is done, I will announce my interest, whether to contest or not. We are not at that point yet, you will hear from me when we get there. On the issue of the PDP and the leadership demanding money from me, that is a matter to ponder about. Whoever is insinuating that the sum of N1 billion was demanded from me is evil, it is a lie. It is part of this evil machination by people who don’t want progress. In Kogi State, we don’t have N1 billion to give to anybody, I can assure you. Having paid our

THE PDP IS ON GROUND, IT IS A SOLID PARTY AND HAS ADDED VALUE TO THE LIVES OF THE PEOPLE.

WE HAVE STRUCTURE IN EVERY LOCAL GOVERNMENT, WE HAVE STRUCTURE IN EVERY WARD AND WE ARE CONFIDENT

Your administration has been accused of not performing... You measure performance in context to the fund available to you. For instance, we are trying to build a flyover in Lokoja, which cost was put at about N4.6 million. In a state like ours, getting N4.6 million is a major challenge. In some states, this is nothing. Our average income per month is about N3.2 billion per month. Our salary base is about N3 billion per month. So we have challenges. But, if you look at the money that has come into the state during my tenure, you will agree that we have performed in terms of development of the state. We have done well with the fund available to us. The projects are there for you to verify. These are comments from our opponents, and you will remember the contest of my coming on board, that people who lost out despite our effort at reconciliation, have continued to hammer us. Some went to court, with two of them ending up at the Supreme Court level. Some of them are still in court despite the fact that we are approaching another election. In such an environment, they only look at what you have done wrong, but the reality on ground, is that we have performed. We have tried to follow due process; we have done well within the resource made available. What is the debt profile of the state and how are you reducing the cost of governance? In the effort to reduce the cost of governance, we have reduced many areas of waste as you can see. We are focused on ensuring that government business is done transparently well and in a competitive way. We are ensuring that government get value on whatCONTINUED FROM PAGE 43

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Tuesday, August 18, 2015

A PUBLICATION OF NATIONAL MIRROR NEWSPAPERS

Former militants urge FG to probe amnesty programme Theophilus oNojegheN WARRI

L-R; MD Niger Delta Power Project, Engr. James Olotu; Chairman Electricity Regulatory Commission, Dr. Sam Amadi and Permanent Secretary Ministry of Power, Amb. Godknows Igali, during the Presidential briefing at the State House, Abuja.

Community gives Chevron two weeks ultimatum to implement MoU

Rising from an enlarged meeting at the weekend, the people of Kokodiagbene community in Warri South West council of Delta State, have issued a two-week ultimatum to the American oil giant, Chevron Nigeria Limited, to implement the agreements entered into with the community to provide it with electricity supply otherwise the firm’s production activities will be disrupted. The oil rich riverside community is host to Chevron’s Otunana Flow Station producing well over 10,000 barrels of crude oil daily . The community stated that the pacts were signed in 1998 and that Chevron only gave them a generating plant 10 years after as a stop gap measure with a pledge to upgrade its gas facility at Otunana Flow Station to accommodate the community as it has done for communities hosting its Abiteye facility.

But as they explained Chevron was yet to implement the 1998 MoU, stressing that the community has been under total blackout as the generating plant has since packed up, while Chevron facility which is about 2kilometer from the community was well lit. A source in the community told our correspondent that the youths and women last week Thursday moved to shut down Chevron’s operations in the area if not for the swift intervention of the community leaders, who pleaded with them to exercise more patience, stating that the community does not want a temporal electricity arrangement. The source maintained that other communities hosting Chevron facilities were enjoying uninterrupted power supply courtesy of Chevron’s magnanimity and expressed dismay why the American oil company

was playing ‘’a hide and seek game’’ with Kokodiagbene community. Another indigene of the community who gave his name simply as Donald implored the state government to direct the oil firm to honour the accord with its host community, slamming the company for not living up to its Corporate Social Responsibility. The Community advised Chevron to deal with them directly without involving a mediator or the third party on the issue. The meeting also agreed to hand a two- week ultimatum to the company to enable it implement the Memorandum of Understanding signed with the community, failure of which they will shut down Chevron’s activities pending the resolution of the matter. Speaking with newsmen, Chairman of Kokodiagbene

‘Cocoa can replace oil’ RichaRd Ndoma, CALABAR

he international cocoa conference on Tuesday in Calabar said, cocoa beans has the capacity to bolster Nigeria’s economy, or even replace petroleum product which had always been known to be Nigeria`s number one income

earner. The conference which is organized by the leadership of Cocoa Association of Nigeria (CAN) in collaboration with World Cocoa Producers Organisation, with the theme ;Capacity building on Risk Management For Cocoa Small Holder Farmers was kickstarted without the Governor of Cross River state to declare the

conference open. President of Cocoa Association of Nigeria (CAN) Sayina Riman stated that the conference is convened to help critical stakeholders in the industry discuss Price Risk Management Project which had over the years critically impacted against small holder farmers in Nigeria and other Third World countries of

Community, Comrade Sheriff Mulade, said the leaders had to talk the Community’s youths and women out of closing down the firm’s operations, calling for restraints as the issue would be resolved amicably. He disclosed that the community in a bid to lift the burden off the firm bought some armoured cables about four years ago, but expressed worries that the firm was yet to extend the electricity supply on the pretext that the capacity of the gas plant was inadequate to accommodate the electricity need of the community. Comrade Mulade added that the leaders would continue to dialogue with Chevron and other stakeholders so as to sustain the already existing friendly business environment for the company to carry out its operations, but described as unacceptable a situation where firms do not live up to their biddings.

the world. Riman called for the establishment of cocoa desk at the governor`s office Calabar.”We need a cocoa desk in the governor`s Office. The entire cocoa value chain,that is our cocoa family have over the years enjoyed meetings in Calabar because our her serenity,peace and CONTINUED ON PAGE 16

ormer Niger Delta militants have urged the Federal Government to investigate the alleged misappropriation of some amnesty slots and inclusion of ghost-names into the Amnesty Programme by the immediate past Special Adviser and chairman of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Mr. Kingsley Kuku. They said the call to probe Kuku became necessary following alleged misappropriation of amnesty slots for former militant youths of Urhobo extraction in the phase three of the programme. The ex-agitators also commended President Muhammadu Buhari for his swift intervention in the payment of the monthly stipends following growing tension of possible scraping. Speaking on behalf of the youths at a news briefing in Warri, yesterday, a leader of the GbarigolorEwu Urhobo ex agitators, Lucky Johnson noted that the action of the former Adviser on Amnesty deprived Urhobo ex-militants for their exact slots in the programme. While hailing the President on the appointment of General Paul Boroh as the head of the amnesty programme, they observed that recent activities by President Buhari have proved he is a true patriot and a champion of equity and fair play. According to them, Boroh’s appointment has led to the inauguration of a six man committee to find ways to resolve the impasse in the third phase of the amnesty programme which has generated so much controversy especially as it concerns the Urhobo ex agitators. The former militants however pledged their unalloyed support of ex-agitators in their resolve to work with Buhari’s led government in ensuring a peaceful Niger Delta and Nigeria in general. Johnson added, “The third phase agitators who had earlier disarmed and gone through all the processes are yet to be integrated into the scheme.” The former militant leader advocated that there was need to stop the further distribution and payment of stipends until ghost names are detected and removed from the system.

Tuesday, August 18, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Police arrest 150 robbery suspects in C’River RichaRd Ndoma, CALABAR

he Police in Cross River said about 150 kidnappers, robbery suspects and other law offenders are now cooling their feet in police cell for allegedly disturbing the peace and transquility of the state. The Cross River Commissioner of Police, Mr Henry Fadairo,stated this on Monday

while briefing journalists in Calabar on the activities of the command in the last eight months between January to August 2014 . Fadairo stated that the arrest was made possible following tip up by members of the public adding that even when the police command made announcement that they would clampdown on criminals who indulge in any form of criminality in the state. Since the present clampdown on criminals in the state, about

150 suspects have been arrested in various criminal activities. This clampdown has yielded positive results as most notorious areas in the state now have their peace. ``We will sustain this effort in making sure that Crossriverians, business men, tourists and others go about their normal businesses without fear on insecurity’’,Fadairo stated. He said that, the suspects would be charged to court as

soon as courts resume sitting in Cross River State. I wish to appeal to the state government and the judiciary workers in the state to dialogue and resolve to end the ongoing strike. We have too many suspected criminals in our cells awaiting trial. We are supposed to charge them to court for trial, but the court rooms are under lock and key because of strike’’, he lamented.

The Police boss lamented on the high rate at which youths get themselves involve in crime and urged parents to do their best in monitoring the kind of friend their wards keep and counsel them properly. The police commissioner assured members of the public of their safety and solicits for provision of useful information that would assist the police to track down criminals.

‘Cocoa can replace oil’

CONTINUED FROM PAGE15 ambiance and for the fact that Cross River is a hub of Cocao trade in Africa. Executive Director of Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria, Prof. Malachy Akoroda in his keynote address said that cocoa has great hope for the country given the high demand for it around the world. “Cocoa is number one non-oil export earner for Nigeria even when it is not enjoying desired state support, push and encouragement for local farmers. The product has great hope. There are great demands for cocoa bye products in Western and Eastern countries but capacity to supply is limited”, he said. Prof Akoroda pointed out that the quality of cocoa produced in Nigeria was about the best because of the high breed species that are now made available to farmers. The Prof. Of Agronomy said that it has become possible for farmers these days to plant, nurture and have a high yield specie produce in six months adding that even within 18 months there could be unimaginable and bounty harvest against what was obtainable with the old species. “Anyone can plan this specie and make real good profit, so that, say, in 5 years it is possible for the farmer to make as much as N15 million in profit”,The plant breader maintained. But he lamented that pricing is what has been the major challenge because of factors like fertilizer, transportation and politics in the world cocoa market. Corroborating his views CAN president, Riman said cocoa business can change the economic fortune of Nigeria, adding that it is more sustainable than oil because there is possibility that oil can dry but cocoa will not. With the intensive cocoa activities, he was happy that much younger people are getting entrenched in the trade in Cross River State thereby ensuring the the future growth.

L-R Deputy Corps Marshal, Operations , Adei Abu; Sector Commander, Rivers State Command, Dele Kumapayi, and Head, Media Relations and Strategy, FRSC Bisi kazeen, during Operations Scorpion in Portharcourt.

Motorists hail Ayade for rehabilitating federal roads RichaRd Ndoma, CALABAR

he decision of the Cross River State government to carry out remedial works on federal highways in the state has brought commendation from motorists, especially those plying the CalabarOdukpani highway. Commending the state government for making the roads motorable, some of them praised Governor Ben Ayade for the remedial works, but insisted that the Federal Government must be alive to its responsibilities by ensuring that the road is quickly put in order. One of the motorists who spoke, Declan Ibe commended

the Governor for the initiative, but lamented that the condition of the road is very bad and hopes something will be done soon by the federal government. He expressed happiness at the ongoing efforts by Governor Ayade to temporarily fix the road. Also speaking, Promise Alozie, a tanker driver, thanked the governor for the ongoing efforts and called on the federal government to respond urgently by rehabilitating the road. Another motorist, who is a lecturer with the Cross River State University of Technology (CRUTECH), Dr James Ibe expressed satisfaction with the state’s urgent intervention on the road, noting that it is a very posi-

tive development which shows that the Governor Ayade- led government in the state is alive to its responsibilities. Giving insight on the efforts by the state government, the site engineer and Director in the Ministry of Works, Engineer Godwin Akeke said the ongoing work is an initiative of the Cross River State Governor Ayade aimed at bringing succour to those who ply the roads. “It would interest you to know that this is the only road leading to Calabar. There have been cases where people spent 8 to 10 hours and in some cases people have had to sleep on the road as a result of its bad state. This is a road that ordinarily should not take more than 30 minutes. Both-

ered by what Cross Riverians are made to go through on the road, Governor Ayade decided he cannot continue to see people suffer so he decided to intervene to put an end to the sufferings. “These are palliative measures to put the road in a reasonable state. This intervention will go further to cover the calabarItu road. The directive from the Governor is that we must keep the road motorable but insisted that the measures that have been taken on the road as intervention must stand the test of time.” Akeke appealed to Cross Riverians to appreciate governor Ayade for the intervention and urged the federal government to urgently carry out rehabilitation of the road .

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Tuesday, August 18, 2015

Traditional rulers and Nigerian politics BILKIS BAKARE

raditional rulers had been very involved in Nigeria’s governance right from the colonial period. For example, in the North where the British colonialists used the system of indirect rule, the emirs acted as their proxies. These expanded the powers of many emirs beyond the original boundaries of their emirates, as areas previously autonomous and without central leadership were annexed to their domains. In fact some of them were even regional governors. For instance, the then Ooni of Ife, Sir Adesoji Aderemi served as the Governor of Western Nigeria between 1960 and 1966. He was also the first African Governor in the British Empire and Commonwealth. The 1979 Constitution went a step further by giving the traditional rulers representation in the National Council of State, where they served as “brokers” between grassroots and the state government, involving in low-level conflict resolution and judicial gate-keeping, ombudsman ship and institutional safety-valve for overloaded and subapportioned bureaucracies. However, the current political dispensation gives little or no roles to these royal fathers as their appointment and promotion are now the responsibilities of their respective state governments. The staff of office, which symbolizes their politi-

cal authority, is given to them by the state governors. Their salaries and allowances are also determined by the state governors. The fact that they are now under the administrative control of state governors has, to a great extent, demystified the aura surrounding their spiritual and political authorities. Hence, unlike what used to be the case, traditional rulers now reign but no longer rule. The 1999 Constitution neither mentions the traditional institutions nor assigns any role for them in the political sphere. This has made the institution to be rather inactive, except perhaps, when political office seekers are in search of ‘royal blessings’ for their political endeavours. Ironically, when eventually voted into power, politicians don’t usually connect with the royal fathers on development and governance issues. The truth, however, is that traditional rulers can play useful roles in brokering peace and amity between the people and the state, enhance national unity, resolve minor and major conflicts and provide an institutional safety-valve for often inadequate state bureaucracies. In the area of security for example, the Nigeria Police have sometimes been overwhelmed by the share enormity of the work and new crimes, which now include terrorist threats confronting them and the citizens alike. Containing the scourge of the security challenges requires intelligence gathering at the grassroots. This is where traditional rulers are better positioned for assistance.

TRADITIONAL RULERS CAN PLAY USEFUL ROLES IN BROKERING PEACE AND AMITY BETWEEN THE PEOPLE AND THE STATE, ENHANCE

NATIONAL UNITY… The strategies for tackling security challenges in the country need to be restructured by reversing the pattern of security from top – bottom to bottom-up, where intelligence gathering, peace and amity building start from the grassroots, where the traditional rulers and traditional institutions will play a critical role. It is a known fact that Nigerian prisons are congested, mostly with detainees awaiting trials, often for minor offences that could have been settled out of courts. There is, therefore, a need to consider giving traditional rulers direct power to anchor Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR). This includes dispute resolution processes and techniques that act as a means for disagreeing parties to come to an agreement short of litigation. ADR basically is an alternative to a formal court hearing or litigation. Since its aim is reconciliation, traditional rulers are well positioned to drive ADR. In reality, the bulk of what traditional

rulers do is dispute resolution, and that is why they sit in their courts daily listening to cases and taking far-reaching and binding decisions on their subjects. What needed to be added here is formalizing it in law and allowing the courts to refer cases to them or require litigants to first take certain matters to the traditional court first and approach the formal court if not satisfied. Though traditional rulers in Nigeria may be said to be engaged in some of these already, it is still at very rudimentary level. To properly tap into the immense reservoir of resources at their disposal, there is a need to assign specific constitutional tasks for traditional rulers in the country. The enthronement of educated and enlightened minds as kings in modern day is now an added advantage for the kingship institution in the country. Gone were the days when illiterates were at the helm of affairs in our communities, the kingship institution is now peopled by professionals such as medical doctors, engineers, lawyers, retired generals, etc. So, they are in a position to make quality contributions to nation building. Since traditional rulers are closer to the grassroots, engaging them constructively is a straight way of bringing governance closer to the people. It is, therefore, in the interest of the people that traditional rulers should be co-opted into the process of governance in the country. Bakare is of the Features Unit, Ministry of Information & Strategy, Alausa, Ikeja.

Of religion, morality and politics in Nigeria ALEX O. ATAWA-AKPODIETE

eports have it that there are 389 ethnic nationalities in Nigeria. This lack of ethnic homogeneity is compounded by the various religions we have in the country. Though our uncorroborated statistics from the National Bureau of Statistics purportedly states that the country is split evenly between Christians mostly in the South and Muslims mostly in the North, there are other religions, especially our traditional African religion. The phrase traditional African religion is questionable as some theologians will argue that Christianity originated from Africa and was eventually exported, only to be re-imported to us, in an anglicized form. My focus in this piece is looking at the interplay of religion, morality and politics in Nigeria, using Christianity and Islam as a general backdrop. Recently on a trip with some fellow lawyers, our discussion on corruption, religion and essentially morality reminded me of an article I wrote four years ago, wherein I asked which was worse, adultery or corruption. Only a naïve person will deny that our moral values have declined as a nation. A gentleman stated that some years back, a young girl would have been ashamed to have even the straps of her brassiere showing in a dress. Nowadays, some clothes are made to intestinally reveal the bra, and young girls will expose their bra and cleavages to entice a man under the guise of being sexy or fashionable. We discussed the

incessant adultery committed by married men and women in the country, with searchlight beamed on married women at NYSC camps sleeping with young men. Also, we discussed why men and women cheat, with a particular man stating that he only cheats when he travels. Given the Durex condom research that painted Nigerian women as the most unfaithful women in the world, the issue of DNA tests came up. It was jovially agreed that if DNA tests were readily available in Nigeria, many homes would be broken because a lot of men will discover that the children they raised were not biologically theirs. In fact, many married women have been embroiled in controversy over lying to their husbands that they were pregnant, only to go outside to “buy” a child and bring it home to the unsuspecting husband. Then there are the ones that even their husbands encourage to go outside and bring back pregnancy. At the end of the day, we still came back to our discussion on morality and politics. With the prevalence of churches and mosques everywhere, why is there still so much corruption and wickedness in the country? A friend of mine stated that he does not like the idea of prayers being offered in many offices before the beginning of the work day, especially at government offices. He also pointed out that in some markets, the traders have morning devotionals (praise and worship session) before the start of the day. My friend is a Christian but was pointing out the hypocrisy of these people. The same civil servant that just finished praising God will go into the office to find a

WITH THE PREVALENCE OF CHURCHES AND MOSQUES

EVERYWHERE, WHY IS THERE STILL SO MUCH CORRUPTION AND WICKEDNESS IN THE COUNTRY?

means to embezzle money or frustrate a contractor that has not “shown appreciation.” He further added that the trader will leave the morning devotion and immediately start plotting how to defraud or overcharge a customer to increase his profit. I reminded him that will not happen in civilized clime where strictly sectarianism is practiced. My Muslim friends were not left out of the discussion. How can a Mallam or Alhaji go to the mosque at 2pm, pray religiously five times a day and still swindle you or siphon billions of naira from the pension funds or national coffers. Even with the privilege of marrying four wives, some Muslim men still have concubines outside. Morality is usually a set a values in a community. Is it that infidelity, morality and corruption are now acceptable values in Nigeria? If so, maybe we should stop deceiving ourselves and endorse them. In fact, we should tell our President not to bother with the fight against corruption because our re-

ligion, morality and politics accept it. Maybe we should stop complaining when we see girls, in the name of ‘runs’, chasing after sugar daddy politicians. If we celebrate politicians and fraudsters that display their ill-gotten wealth without concern about the source, then are sending the message of “just get the money, no matter how”? A friend simply admitted that he had not stolen not because he is righteous, but because he had not got the opportunity! In fact, he said he was looking and “praying” for the opportunity to steal money because everyone he knows has stolen money from government. He even bemoaned how a “small” boy he trained was appointed SA and all of a sudden is displaying wealth with reckless abandon. President Muhammadu Buhari was elected on an anti-corruption agenda. This means Nigerians are tired of the dearth of moral values; we are tired of the stealing with impunity. Many husbands and wives are tired of the other spouse philandering and untrustworthiness. Rev. Atawa-Akpodiete, a public affairs analyst and consultant, wrote from Asaba, Delta State via Profatawa@gmail. com and can be contacted on 08138391661 (SMS ONLY) 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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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

WAEC and SSCE exam-debtor states

he West African Examinations Council (WAEC), some days back, announced the release of the May/June 2015 Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) results. Head of National Office of the Council, Mr. Charles Eguridu, revealed that out of the 1,593,442 candidates that wrote the exam, 616,370 or 38.68 per cent obtained credits in five subjects and above, including English Language and Mathematics. He said the result was a slight improvement when compared with that of last year in which about 529,425 candidates or 31.28 per cent of total candidates had five credits in English and Mathematics. For 2013, the figure was 637, 760 or 38.30 per cent of the total number of candidates. However, all that paled into insignificance with reports that WAEC withheld the results of candidates in 13 states whose governments were yet to settle the examination body’s fees which they undertook to pay on behalf of their wards. The results would also not be fed to the internet to prevent the affected candidates from assessing them, until the fees are sorted out. The Council had earlier threatened to withhold the results of candidates from 19 states involved in the exam fee debt totalling about N4 billion; but scaled down the number to 13 as at the time the

result was released, most probably because some of the states settled their bills or entered into agreements of sorts with WAEC. Out of the total number of 1.5 million candidates who sat for the May/June 2015 SSCE, WAEC withheld 118,101 results. The rather harsh decision by the Council has attracted varying responses from the Nigerian public, some for and others against. But it is not unlikely that the debtor states had been engaging in such deals in past years and redeeming their bills when the going was good. Feelers from WAEC equally suggest that the exam body had persevered in pressing, through repeated appeals, for the payments, all to no avail, before using the result seizure as a bargaining chip to recover the debts. But should WAEC become insistent on extracting its pound of flesh, those that would suffer most for what passes as punishment for the non-prioritisation of the need to settle the examination fees by the defaulting states would be the innocent candidates caught in the crossfire. Cognizance must be taken of the facts that the students were not privy to the probable nonseriousness of their states with their education enterprises, except when used for political gimmickry; they neither superintended the pervasive corruption

August 18, 1989 A leading presidential hopeful, Luis Carlos Galan Sarmiento, was assassinated near Bogota in Colombia. Sarmiento (September 29, 1943 – August 18, 1989) was a Colombian journalist and liberal politician who ran for the presidency of Colombia on two occasions, the first time representing the Liberal Party in 1982, which he lost to Belisario Betancur. He had declared himself an enemy of the dangerous and influential Colombian drug cartels.

THE EXAMINATION BODY MUST NOT BE INSISTENT ON PUNISHING HELPLESS CANDIDATES BECAUSE OF THE IRRESPONSIBILITY OF THEIR LEADERS in the land nor the outlandish and profligate lifestyles of their erring states’ leadership; they did not force down the price of crude in the international market; and indeed, the SSCE candidates whose fate WAEC has hung on the balance are not to blame for the recent free fall in the value of the naira. In addition, they constituted no stumbling block to federal or state governments’ diversification of their economies; and are not responsible for the pathetic internally generated revenue (IGR) profile of most states. The candidates are supposed to be happy beneficiaries of a service which any government with a sense of social responsibility; and which truly bothers about the welfare of its citizens and the future of its leaders of tomorrow, owes its citizenry. Unfortunately, neither the security nor the welfare of Nigerian citizens, which every

ON THIS DAY August 18, 2005 A massive power blackout struck the Indonesian island of Java, affecting almost 100 million people in one of the largest and most widespread power outages in history. A transmission line between Cilegon and Saguling, both in West Java, failed at 10:23 am local time; leading to a cascading failure that shut down two units of the Paiton plant in East Java and six units of the Suralaya plant in West Java.

responsible government worldwide ought to accord requisite premium, attracts a passingglance treatment in the land, despite extant constitutional provisions. Though all fingers and blame now point to WAECfees-defaulting governors, similar experiences trail the Federal Government, whose education ministry permits all manner of sharp practices and arbitrariness in federal secondary schools. Of late had been reports of how parents of children in Federal Government Colleges are forced to pay huge sums classified as Parents-Teachers Association (PTA) fees year-in-year-out for the purpose of building new classroom blocks and hostels; in addition to tuition and all manner of other fees charged. Any suggestion that WAEC should not pile pressure on the debtor states to pay up is unpatriotic and, therefore, objectionable. But the examination body must not be insistent on punishing helpless candidates because of the irresponsibility of their leaders. This being an admission season, WAEC owes its debttrapped candidates the bounden duty of ensuring none of them is denied admission or other vocations on account of the seized results. Our hope is that this impasse has impacted lessons on both debtor-states and WAEC.

August 18, 2008 President Pervez Musharraf of Pakistan resigned due to the threat of impeachment. Musharraf (born 11 August 1943) is a retired four-star general and a Pakistani politician who seized power through a military coup d’état in 1999. He served as the tenth President of Pakistan from 2001 until 2008. Prior to that, he was the 13th Chief of Army Staff and was also the tenth Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

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Tuesday, August 18, 2015

Investors commit $1.8bn to finance agirbusiness in Nigeria

UNEP Report: FG seeks implementation of Ogoniland oil spill recommendations 25

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CBN moves to enforce payment system rules, policies

AIRLINES’ FLIGHT SCHEDULES Med-View Airline

Vessel carrying cargo on high sea

Budget 2015: Experts list fiscal options for performance as revenue plummets

With over 85 per cent of her foreign exchange earnings sourced primarily from crude oil and its derivatives, Nigeria’s economy appears set for worsening times in the months ahead with the likely negative implications for national development programmes and welfare of millions of her poor and vulnerable citizens. TOLA AKINMUTIMI reports on possible ways out of the fiscal quandary for the country based on experts’ perspectives.

ast week, the grim realities that the lingering rout in benchmark prices in the global crude oil market could linger than earlier anticipated became clearer as China’s devaluation of her national currency, Yuan, sent ripples across the global economic landscape. Experts are now projecting that the crisis that the lingering oversupply of crude that has characterized the international crude oil market may be heading for the worst, with the possibility that oil prices could crash to its lowest ebb as was witnessed during the 20082009 global economic crisis. Specifically, they foresee that the devaluation of the Yuan by China, the world’s second largest crude oil consumer, coupled with the desire of non-OPEC oil producers to increase supply, may crash prices to an all time low of $30 per barrel within the next few weeks, unless OPEC members counter with cut in supplies.

OPEC had penultimate week raised its forecast of oil supply surge from non-member countries even as oil prices become more unpredictable because of the unknown factors around the impact on U.S. shale production on the global market. This is just as indications suggest that the market may further be heading for its biggest glut in recent years if sanctions imposed by the US and the European Union, EU, on Iran over the country’s nuclear weapons are lifted within the next two months as analysts have anticipated. It is against the backdrop of these uncertainties that analysts believe that oil exporting countries, particularly Nigeria, would be hard hit fiscally under the emerging developments thereby making capital budget targets difficult to meet as gaps between revenue accruals and expenditure may yawn wider in the months ahead.

For instance, with the approved benchmark for crude oil in Nigeria’s 2015 budget at $53 per barrel and an exchange rate of N190.00 to one dollar; 2.2782 million per barrel crude oil production per day; and deficit gross domestic product of -1.12 per cent, analysts believe that making the budget work would require substantial fiscal retrenchment strategies by the government. Appraising the current fiscal challenges of the country and what needed to be done to entrench fiscal discipline in public governance, the Emir of Kano, Mallam Muhammadu Sanusi II, believed that one of the options open to the government to cope with the challenge of dwindling revenue from crude oil sales was complete ending of the fuel subsidy regime. The former Central Bank of Nigeria’s, CBN’s, Governor lamented that the subsidy regime was the most unfortunate thing to happen in the nation’s public finance system, as it constituted the easi-

est way to defrauding government through phony importation of fuel claims and siphoning billions of dollars from the public vault by fraudsters. He said: “One of the major challenges of the country over the years, in spite of its abundant resources, has been over-dependence on oil revenue and lack of structural reforms. This is caused by irregular budget cycle, fiscal indiscipline, huge cost of governance, poor budgeting ethics, implementation processes and weak structures and these have continued to contribute to poor economic performance. ‘’We spend so much and generate little revenues. We can begin to restructure our economy by fixing the revenue chain and blocking the leakages. And one way of doing that is by stopping subsidy because it gives room for corruption in our country, ‘’ the Emir added. On the level of abuses that charCONTINUED ON PAGE 20

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

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Experts chart fiscal options for performance as revenue plummets CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19 acterized the fuel subsidy regime over the years, the seasoned finance expert pointed out that Nigeria was losing as much as $140 million dollars monthly on kerosene subsidy given the level of abuses that characterized it. To ensure that the yawning budget deficit in the fiscal year does not become totally unmanageable and thereby cause serious dislocations todevelopmental plans, Sanusi advocated the need for the Buhari-led administration to take some measures, including total removal of the subsidy as well as downsizing of the public service workforce, in order to conserve funds for capital budget implementation onsocio-economic programmes that bear directly on the welfare of ordinary people. Anchoring his views on a similar hub, a seasoned management and financial consultant, Dr Biodun Adedipe, pointed out that curbing the leakages in public finance remained an option Nigeria can explore to achieve fiscal discipline and improved capital budget performance. While describing the current measures of the present administration to fight corruption and ensure accountability in public finance as desirable for the economy, the financial expert explained that despite the pricing headwinds in the global crude market, the country could still sustain its economic development agenda if all leakages in revenue sources are plugged. Adedipe, who is also the B. Adedipe Associates Limited, recalled that even when the crude oil price fell below the current level, particularly in 1999 when Nigeria began the present democratic experience and the price crashed to as low as $10 per barrel, the country was able to cope through the adoption of appropriate financial management policy options. He said: “Primarily, the President is going in the right direction in terms of tightening the leakages which is one of the major challenges facing our economy in recent years. I have said this repeatedly that the problem of our economy is not revenue dwindling per se, but fiscal indiscipline on the one hand and the other hand is the leakages. “ If we can plug the leakages and also bring our expenditures in line with the reality of our situation and the objective we want to achieve, then we will make progress. If you look historically at the price of crude oil on the one hand we have had occasions when the price of crude went down as low as $10 and this was just in 1999 when we began this democratic experience and it improves gradually. “Even at the time it was thirty something dollars per barrel, we started to grow our external reserves which means it is not so much about where the price is but making efficient management of our resources. Of course, if you consider, let me just give you a simple illustration. “ If we can save 200,000 barrels per day of crude oil that is stolen at the current market price that would put N1.44 trillion on the table. So, that is why it is significant. Compare that to the budget of this year, that is about one third of this year’s budget, just saving 200,000 barrels per day can put that much on the table. So, if we work on the leakages we don’t need to worry so much about where the crude price is. Even if it goes down for as low as $25 per barrel for scenario analysis, Nige-

Dr. Biodun Adedipe

President Buhari

Prof. Aliu

ria can still survive”, Adedipe added. In his remarks, the President of Nigeria Cassava Growers Association, NCGA, Pastor Segun Adewumi, believed that focusing on non-oil sector development, especially by exploring the opportunities availed by the agricultural sector, would go a long way to provide the buffer for the country to survive the current fiscal problems. According to him, increasing operational efficiency of the agricultural value chains by providing the needed monetary and other supports to farmers would improve productivity, improve supply agricultural produce to processing companies and their export capacity to global market. To Dr Boniface Chizea, a seasoned financial analyst and management consultant, Budget 2015 is well and thoroughly challenged as it will appear that the new administration is not particularly concerned about its implementation. According to him, it remains a notorious fact that the country has not had good record as a country with budget implementation as the implementation of any plans be it Vision 2010- Vision 2020 or FSS 20-2020 never mind the budget which to all intents and purposes is an Annual plan. He clarified: “We graft beautiful budgets that end up adorning shelves in offices without implementation and it is therefore little surprising that this country has not made the sort of focused progress it should have made by now. President Buhari recently mandated the National Planning Commission to go ahead and reduce the recurrent budget in Budget 2015 but there was no talk regarding the N800 billion that has been included in the budget for capital expenditure. “The fact remains that there will be no development if all we do is concern ourselves

with recurrent expenditure. What will facilitate development in the economy, it goes without saying, is the implementation of Capital Budget. It would even now appear that the implementation of the Capital budget in 2015 will be further undermined by the falling price in crude petroleum products. “It will be recalled that the budget benchmark was $53 per barrel and most certainly it is not looking good the prospects of meeting this benchmark and once we have shortfall in this connection it goes without saying that the implementation of the Capital Budget is going to be further affected and therefore we should expect the President to submit a supplementary budget for legislative consideration as soon he appoints the ministers that will help him run the affairs of the country”, Chizea predicted. He explained that the situation with the 2015 budget was further challenged with developments elsewhere and particularly the sentiments which expect the monetary authorities to undertake further devaluation of the national currency, adding that with this expectation, investments inflow particularly portfolio investments will be put on hold until this expectation is satisfied. Chizea, a former top banker, pointed out that the Chinese government’s recent action regarding its devaluation of the Yuan would impact negatively on the Nigerian economy as it will direct foreign investment flow to China to the neglect of Nigeria and possibly other primary commodities exporting countries. He lamented that as a nation Nigeria faces both quantity and price challenges in the oil market as the country is not being able to find buyers to meet its daily quota of crude oil production due to the fact of the US, other OPEC and non-OPEC producers who are now making inroads into traditional markets for Nigerian oil including the Chinese market. The management Consultant argued that the unfolding scenario in the global oil markets looked pale for the implementation of budget 2015. Another development expert, Professor Sola Aliu, believed that the current prices of crude oil in the international market remained a cause for concern, as it is already affecting the execution of the 2015 capital budget, noting that the speculation that the price will fall further to below $40 per barrel will surely cause pain and severe difficulty for Nigeria as the economy is too dependent on oil for comfort. Aliu, a former United Nations Development Porgramme, UNDP, consultant however pointed out that rather than bemoaning the crash in crude oil prices and supply

whirlwinds sweeping through the market, they should be considered a blessing for the economy. He explained: “I am a firm believer that “obstacles are what test our hearts, minds and bodies so that we can acquire wisdom and build our stamina for greater things.”From experiences: “was it the good or tough times that taught you the most?” It is when we didn’t get that promotion, or when we lack resources that we are forced to find solutions and build our inner core of resilience. The greater your inner resilience, the greater potential you have for enacting a better tomorrow! On the way out of the fiscal turmoil for the country, the former university don canvassed the need for managers of the economy to “soften around the challenge rather than engage in panic measures. In order to solve the envisaged problems, we need to digest the situation, and create opportunities around them. “We need to seek alternative ways to fund our budgets. When things reach this rock bottom place, our creative instincts should guide us towards alternative positive paths that have hitherto been neglected. We need to engage our creative mind and address our potential production areas and turn them into dynamic production centres. We have allowed free oil money to neglect home-based production activities; rather we import everything (including toothpick). “Agriculture, solid minerals, Internet and social media services, sports and recreation, entertainment, etc are areas we must redirect our production energy. Entrepreneurship should drive our citizens to energize the socio-economic climate and turn Nigeria into a net exporter of goods and services resulting in positive cash inflow into Nigeria. “It can no longer be acceptable that, a land with fertile arable land and a healthy active and trained population, that can add value to our local produce, is a net importer of food, daily needs and petroleum products. We simply have to channel the potential energy of our youthful population to produce enough food to feed ourselves. The hard times ahead should create entrepreneurial ventures that cater for our needs and lead the nation to a better and prosperous tomorrow”, Aliu canvassed. As the uncertainties of the global crude oil market continue to put primary commodity exporter countries in tangling fiscal quagmire, the consensual position of experts is that internal fiscal discipline complemented by appropriate monetary policies is the only option for Nigeria to sail through the ongoing turbulent times.

if we work on the

leakages we don’t need to worry so much about where the crude price is.

even if it goes down for as low as $25 per barrel for scenario analysis,

nigeria can still survive”, adedipe added.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Business News

Tuesday, August 18, 2015

Investors commit $1.8bn to finance agribusiness in Nigeria DaviD auDu

he Nigerian agricultural landscape and businesses is set to experience turn around as group of investors have committed the sum of $1.8 billion (about N360 billion), to develop agriculture and agribusiness in the country The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Arc. Sonny

Echono, disclosed this during the first Annual General Meeting of the Nigerian Agribusiness Group, NABG, and inauguration of the Agribusiness Investment InterMinisterial, AIM, working group on Thursday in Lagos. While commending the bold steps of the group, Echono charged them to turn these commitments into real investments to help create jobs for Nigeria’s teeming population of youths and women, and to also help lift millions of farmers

out of poverty. “Your recognition that smallholder farmers are the largest private sector group in Nigeria has helped to foster economic growth in rural Nigeria as you provide guaranteed off-take markets for millions of smallholder farmers across the country,” he said. Acknowledging the private sector as the engine of growth of any economy, he however lamented that for decades the private sector in agriculture was unfortunately crowded out, and agriculture was treated just

Flood after a heavy downpoor

100 foreign jets registered so far in Nigeria —NCAA Olusegun KOiKi

he Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, Capt. Muhktar Usman has disclosed that the agency registered so far about 100 foreign registered private jets. He also disclosed that currently, there were 30 certified schedule operators, over 400 inservice aircraft registered in the country, 46 corporate jets and 130 helicopters flying the nation’s airspace regularly. Usman, who said this at the weekend at the maiden interaction of all public relations / information managers of all the parastatals and companies in the Nigerian aviation industry in Lagos, assured that the government would continue to strengthen the aviation industry and ensure a convenient environment for all operators to grow the industry. He also restated the agency’s commitment to safe and secured environment for all users of the

airports through its objective oversight functions He said: “Therefore, if indeed we agree that in aviation there is mass movement of passengers and cargo within the orbit, ensuring safety is quite paramount and critical. This forum however, is to take a cursory look at our information dissemination as it relates to handling and reporting safety vis-à-vis incidents and accidents. “It is not entirely a new discussion in various fora, but the approach requires tinkering. There is need for a unified communication and integration among all the information managers of all the agencies. We should put on the table a synergy and a robust working relationship among all of you. When I say all of you, this includes the public relations apparatchik of NCAA”, Usman added. He pointed out that the basic principles of air navigation were identical to general navigation, which included the process of planning, recording and

controlling the movement of aircraft from one place to another. While advising the media to exercise caution while reporting occasional air returns when they occur to avoid creating unnecessary panic among air travelers, the NACA boss listed some of factors influencing successful air navigation as, piloting an aircraft from one end to the other without getting lost, breaking the laws applying to aircraft or endangering the safety of those on board or on the ground.

Capt. Muihktar Usman

as a development program, with dominance of government. “We have ended the dominance of government and I am optimistic that the private sector will lead Nigeria in restoring its past glory in agriculture”. NABG is an organized private sector group comprised of all value chain stakeholders, from farmer associations and farmer cooperatives to input suppliers and aggregators- food processors, logistics, packaging, market research and consumers insights, media and communications, money deposit banks, commercial banks, Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, insurance and microfinance companies, among others. According to the permanent Secretary, NABG is helping government to ensure that Nigeria regains its past glory in agricultural production and productivity and in export trade of agricultural fresh produce. “NABG is helping us to set policy direction for the ongoing reforms of the agriculture sector”. He expressed confidence that the group will continue to attract viable local and foreign direct investments into agriculture and agribusiness together with other development partners and MDAs. Reflecting on agriculture in Nigeria, he explained that when in 2013, the ministry commissioned a study of 75 leading agribusinesses in Nigeria to determine the nature of challenges being faced by agribusiness investors in Nigeria, the result he said

showed that infrastructure was the most serious of about 72 per cent, followed by financing 56 per cent and supply security 55 per cent. Government regulations, tax and policies accounted for 53 per cent. Other constraints included human capital 45, security 39, land 24 and government coordination 19 per cents, respectively. He however assured that government is working to eliminate these constraints at the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. “Permit me to say that the top four constraints are being addressed head-on. For example, through the development of the Staple Crop Processing Zones (SCPZs) and Agribusiness Investment Regions (ABIR), we are addressing the issue of infrastructure and security of supplies constraints; “We are leveraging Commercial Agriculture Credit Scheme (CACS) and Nigerian Incentive Based Risk Sharing for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL) and Funds for Agricultural Financing in Nigeria (FAFIN) for financing; ‘We are leveraging the Growth Enhancement Support Scheme (GES) and Agribusiness Investment Regions (ABIR) to ensure security of supply of raw materials”, Echono assured. The Nigerian Agribusiness Group can help in these areas, by articulating the position of private sector agribusinesses on matters relating to policies, legal and regulatory environments.

Global airlines’ share prices up 4% in July – IATA Olusegun KOiKi

he International Air Transport Association, IATA, has reported an upward swing in Airlines share prices by four per cent in July, outperforming the broader market projections. The association however stated that airline share prices were in decline throughout Q2 as a result of investor profit-taking, particularly in the United States, as well as the strength of the US dollar, which was placing upward pressure on US-dollar denominated costs for non-US airlines. The July rally in airline shares was buoyed by a fall in fuel prices as well as the release of strong profit results for Q2 2015 in all major regions. Initial Q2 financial results show strong profit improvement in all major regions. A sample of 25 airlines showed that the industry financial performance improved significantly on the year ago period at the operat-

ing and net profit level. The agency reported that the increase in share prices was driven by North American airlines, where consolidation and lower fuel costs had resulted in a significant boost to profitability. Airlines in Asia Pacific and Europe also showed gains on a year ago, supported by cost cutting measures as well as easing fuel cost pressure. IATA noted further that crude oil prices fell below $50/ bbl in January, the lowest price seen for the past six years and added that since then, there had been two small rallies while the most recent was a 15 per cent increase in May compared with the prior low in March. It said July saw further decline in oil prices, by 5 per cent compared to June. Crude oil prices are now $53/bbl, or 54 per cent down on the 2014 midyear high. The recent weakness reflects expectations of supply increases from Iran and the US.

Business News

Tuesday, August 18, 2015

Anambra State attracts $2.4bn FDI in six months Udeme AkpAn

he Anambra State has attracted investments from foreign investors worth $2.4 billion between January and June this year, the State Governor, Dr Willie Obiano, has confirmed. The investments were attracted through the efforts of the state’s Investment Promotion and Protection Agency, ANSIPPA. Obiano, who gave this hint while delivering a lecturer at Pan Atlantic University in Lagos said the agency conducted due diligence on prospective investors, procured the necessary documentation in record time and made the entire process of settling down for business easy to all classes of investors. He said ANSIPPA had turned out to be one of the visionary initiatives of his administration; given its contribution to the development of state, particularly by attracting investments valued at $2.4billion in the past sixteen months. The Governor said: “These in-

vestments cut across Agriculture, Trade & Commerce, hospitality, housing, electricity generation, health and oil and gas. While we are expecting more investors to join the queue, Anambra has so far signed up Coched Farm Ltd, Delfarm Ltd, Ekcel Farms Ltd, Grains & Silos Ltd, Joseph Agro Ltd, Lynden Farms Ltd, Integrated Farms Ltd all in theAgricultural Sector. In the Transport Sector, we signed on IRS Consult Nigeria Ltd and Temple SYC Inspection Ltd. “In the Hospitality Sector, we signed on Cardinal Developers and Trust Ltd. In the Power and Energy Sector, we signed on Falcon Corporation Ltd and UDIPPCO Ltd. In the Trade and Commerce sector, we signed on Africa Capital and Business Support Ltd. In the Industrial Sector, we signed on Richbon Nigeria Ltd and in the Housing Sector, we signed on Efab Properties Ltd and Cotabs Engineering Ltd. As our profile continues to rise in the investment community, more investments will certainly come to Anambra State. “We quickly restructured our

revenue-earning sources and introduced the use of ICT in revenue collection. This ensured greater efficiency and transparency in our accounting processes. We deployed biometric machines to capture the profiles of all civil servants and weed out ghost workers from our databank. That plugged all leakages in the sector and saved the state a large sum of money,” Obiano added. The governor maintained that the changes impacted immediately on the internally generated revenue, IGR, of the state, thereby enabling the state to meet some of its fiscal obligations. He remarked that it was a similar foresight that made the government to re-organize its revenue structures and improve monthly revenue generation from the previous N500 million monthly generation to N1.3bn within a period of one year. The governor indicated that the target was to generate N3 billion monthly in the months ahead by exploring other revenue generation options to increase the current figures.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

NSE confers fellowship status on 18 engineers

…..as Jega, two others get Society’s special recognition

he President, Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) Engr. Ademola Olorunfemi, has conferred fellowship awards on eighteen deserving engineers with the admonition that they should always strive justify the confidence repose on them. This is even as former Independent National Electoral Commission boss, Prof Attahiru Jega, the National Power Training Institute of Nigeria (NAPTIN), the National Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Spectrum Engineering Limited and Prof. Attahiru Muhammadu Jega, also bagged the NSE special merit awards. Speaking during the conferment ceremony in Lagos at the weekend, the President of the professional association, Engr. Ademola Olorunfemi, urged the awardees to always uphold the ethic of the profession. Olorunfemi stated that the conferment of fellowship was not the end in itself, but a means to an end, adding that the awardees should see the elevation as an impetus to do more to lift the engineering profession. He also enjoined them to continue to be worthy ambassadors of the profession by ensuring quality service to the people and the nation at large. The NSE boss said, “I welcome our new Fellows and congratulate them for earning this elevation by dint of hard work and dedication. However, and more importantly, I want to implore you to see this conferment as a wake-up call; a special way to galvanize you and

boost your interest in contributing the more to the development and growth of your primary professional constituency – the NSE, the engineering profession and the nation in general. “Fellowship is not an end in itself but an opportunity to be of greater service to our Society; supporting its projects and programmes and lending voice to promote any of its pursuits and advocacy where possible. I therefore charge you to see yourselves as worthy ambassadors of NSE, especially at this time in our history when we are on a threshold of self-discovery.” Speaking on the special merit award, Engr. Olorunfemi said the former INEC boss, Attahiru Jega bagged the award for conducting one of the most peaceful elections in the country. He said: “We want to specially applaud Prof. Attahiru Jega, OFR, who led the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) creditably well during his tenure. We appreciate his principled and focused leadership style which paid off after the elections. “It is unforgettable how he redeemed Nigeria’s image within the comity of Nations. Prof. Jega introduced technology in our electoral process and resisted the attempts to discredit it. He stood firm on integrity in the face of avalanche of intimidation and remained calm under unbridled last minute provocation. His innovation and courage are worthy of celebration.”, the NSE President alluded.

Digital advertising watchdog to tackle five key issues dAvid AUdU

T Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, Chief Executive Officer, Mr Oscar Onyema (left), presenting a corporate gong to Berger Paints Nigeria Plc’s Managing Director, Mr Peter Folikwe, during courtesy visit of Berger Paints management team to the Exchange recently.

Kebbi Govt plans dry port on Nigeria, Benin Republic Border

ov. Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi and Republic of Benin officials at the weekend commenced discussions on the establishment of a dry port on Nigeria/Benin border. Prior to the meeting, the governor had met with the country’s President, Boni Yayi, in Cotonou on measures the parties needed to do to contain disputes on the two countries’ borders and by so doing, strengthen their bilateral relationship. The Governor told President Yayi that the Borno State Govern-

ment intended to establish a dry Port at Illo, a border town with Benin Republic to promote economic activities and reduce tension in the area. Bagudu also said that the state would construct roads and provide other services to encourage people along the border to encourage economic activities within the border region. President Yayi, who directed Dr Samuel Katcho, General Manager, Port of Cotonou, to lead the Benin delegation in the discussion, pledged to en-

sure the success of the project, especially as it would foster bi-lateral economic activities between Nigeria and his country and by extension, promote African integration. Katcho, who estimated that 35 per cent of business activities at the Cotonou port involved Nigerian businessmen, expressed optimism that the dry port project would be beneficial to both countries in terms of bilateral trade and peaceful co-existence of the nationals.

he Internet Advertising Bureau, IAB, is set to announce a series of statements to address “mounting criticisms” of the digital advertising sector. Each of the five statements in the “IAB Believes” series, to be published once a day next week, will cover issues of brand safety, viewability and fraud (ad verification issues), then ad blocking and privacy (consumer-led issues). The IAB said each of the statements will set out a concise industry position, the direction for each challenge and demonstrate how they are being tackled. The United Kingdom chief executive of the IAB, Guy Phillipson, described the statements as a “call to action” to focus energies on digital’s biggest issues. He said, the increasing role of data and automated technologies in the online ad trading process

means ad verification, be it viewability, ad fraud or brand safety and privacy, has rightly come under increasing scrutiny. “However, it’s time to turn up the volume on the solid progress we’re making in tackling these issues in collaboration with partner trade bodies, domestically, overseas and technology vendors.” Stressing the IAB creed, Phillipson noted that the IAB believes in brand safety online through maintaining processes that ensure a safe environment for ad trading, by minimising the risk of misplacement, protecting the integrity and reputation of brands, and stifling the funding of content and services that infringe copyright. “The IAB also believes in maximising ad viewability by working across the industry with accredited technology partners to develop cross platform standards. Our goal is to achieve effective viewability, engagement and attention for advertisers’ online campaigns.

Tuesday, August 18, 2015

Jobs & Career

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Oil workers caution FG on industry’s reform StorieS: i Saac a Sabor

he Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers and Petroleum, and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, (NUPENGASSAN), have expressed their concern over the ongoing approach of government toward the reform programme in the Oil and Gas Industry without engaging the organised labour in the industry The joint union in the statement indicated that it was fully in support of the fight against corruption and that the fight itself should not be turned against workers whom Government swore to protect.

According to the statement that was jointly signed by Comrade Francis O. Johnson, President of PENGASSAN and his NUPENG counterpart, Comrade Igwe Achese, and their General Secretaries Comrade Bayo Olowoshile and Comrade Joseph Ogbebor, respectively, they noted that the ongoing exercise portended a great danger in the hydrocarbon resources sector, if workers are meant to bear the brunt of the fight on corruption. It stated: “The ongoing exercise does not show any act of fighting corruption and blocking any leakages. We dare the new GMD of NNPC, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu to recover the stolen trillions of Naira in the Sector than retiring and sacking of

innocent workers. We see the action as an act of cover up”. The joint union pointed out“that further to their social partner’s status, they are strategic players in all spheres and areas of the industry’s operation. In that regard, they have been making persistent effort to reach out to Mr. President Muhammadu Buhari on the issue but are being kept in the dark by those in charge of protocol.” The union leaders however restated their commitments to protect and defend job security and welfare is paramount and cannot be sacrificed, adding that they shall approach government steps and actions that are viewed as dialectical or capable of suppressing our

TUC disagrees with FG over planned VAT rate hike

he Trade Union Congress (TUC) has disagreed with the Federal Government over its plan to increase the rate of value-added tax (VAT) from five to 10 percent apparently to boost to government revenue. The President of the labour union, Comrade Bobboi Bala Kaigama, stated that the move was totally uncalled for against the backdrop of the prevailing biting poverty and destitution worsened by the inability of many state governments to pay salaries to civil servants. The Congress noted that the increase in VAT being proposed by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), contradicted the agenda of the President Buhari-led government which is poised to restore hope to the masses and faulted the Service’s claim that the tax regime undermines the ability of the president to deliver on his campaign promises. TUC stated: “This develop-

Kaigama

ment has made it impossible for the public sector to stimulate the private and informal sectors of the economy, thereby grinding the economy to a standstill. We therefore consider the proposed increment as evil, satanic and lacking human face.” “The fact that the country depends on crude oil exports for over 70 percent of government revenue and over 90 percent of foreign exchange is not debatable. The chairman of FIRS, Sunday Ogungbesan, needs not preach that; he should save us the stress. “After all, even the president was aware of the current scenario when he made the promises. In fact we advise the president to beware of wolves in sheep’s clothing within his administration, persons whose main motive is to play the good boys to the detriment of the people,”, the labour union added. It argued further that the proposed increment would enthrone poverty and create untold hardship in all spheres of life, as most goods consumed by the masses are vatable, noting that just as happened after each increment in the prices of petroleum products, prices of goods will increase across board, and purchasing power will drastically reduce. TUC pointed out that not only would prices of vatable goods soar but staple food will virtually disappear from the dinner table of the average Nigerian, thereby compromising his health, and we know the im-

plications of that in a nation where access to basic medicare is a luxury. It queried: “How efficient has the government been in monitoring and enforcing the payment of VAT at the current rate of five per cent, and how effective has been the utilisation of the VAT that has been collected over the years? Should the poor masses of the country be blamed if, as the chairman claims, only 125,000 out of 450,000 corporate entities pay tax to the government?” “Whatever the answers to these questions may be, surely the government and Mr. Chairman need not be reminded that Nigeria can and should also generate substantial revenue from bitumen, tin, gold, limestone, iron ore, coal, etc.” “Now let us ask ourselves this question; have government agencies entrusted with the responsibility of collecting taxes demonstrated the will to attain optimal collection? In other words, have they demonstrated the courage and wherewithal to collect up to 50% of the projected tax revenue? Our answer is a capital “NO” because they have been involved in compromises for pecuniary considerations, a habit that has rendered useless many a Nigerian agency”, the TUC added. The labour union advised the President to immediately call FIRS team to order before they rubbish his administration

missions and objectives as a labour movement with all the steps required. They alleged further that they were being put on the spot as representatives of organized workers in the oil and gas industry to react to the manner that Government is now treading and introducing to carry out change while none of the critical challenges of the Review of Industry Policy and Fiscal Framework, Cash Call and Counterpart Funding obligations, Stability of the downstream oil and gas sector, amongst others remained unattended to. “The gale of abrupt loss of jobs currently sweeping through our apex oil Company, the NNPC, is sending very wrong signals to our members throughout the oil and gas sector as per job security which is making our members agitated.” “It is pertinent to state here that this present Administration promised jobs creation throughout the entire strata of the economy. However, actions like these are likely to have the opposite effect.” “We believe people are not the problem but the structure put in place. If there are strong structures and Institutions, the organization will be a more effective place. So instead of a blanket sacking of

Kachikwu

workers which other Organizations are likely to key into, Government reforms should be geared into putting in place, effective and strong structures and institutions that will meet the numerous challenges currently bedeviling the Oil and Gas Sector in particular and the Nation in general.” However, they commended the president for reinstating the former Managing Director of Nigeria Ports Authority, Mr. Habibu Abdullahi, who was sacked by the past administration and urged President Buhari to prevail on the Group Managing Directtor of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Dr. Ibe Emmanuel Kachikwu, to stop the ongoing sack action in the Corporation and set up a team to review his action for justice, equity and fairness.

Why American teens aren’t working summer jobs anymore

his was supposed to be a better year for teenagers to land summer jobs, and July has always been the peak month for such positions. Things haven’t worked out that way, according to the Labor Department’s latest jobs report. On an unadjusted basis — which is probably fairer given the question is seasonal jobs — there was a 1.2 million increase in teen employment last month compared with the average for the school months of January through May. That was close to last year’s tally, yet well below all but two years since the 1950s. Worse yet, at 41.3 percent,

the July labor force participation rate of teens was the lowest for the month in the postWorld War II period. The teenage summer job has been going the way of telephone booths and the cassette tape for decades. The length of the downward trend has been masked by the fact that it’s hard to tease apart teen summer jobs from teen employment more generally. Looking at the jump in the labor-force participation of teens in July over the average for the school months, it’s clear that summer jobs peaked in the mid-1960s and have been sliding since.

Jobs & Career

Tuesday, August 18, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

AfDB restates commitment to youth employment

he African Development Bank is working on providing youth with the skills, education and jobs they need to secure their future. The assurance was given by the Bank last Wednesday as the world marks the 2015 International Youth Day, as it recognized the importance of African youth, the future of the continent. With almost 200 million people between the ages of 15 and 24, the African continent boasts the youngest population in the world. By 2045, the figure is expected to double. A statement posted on the AfDB website to commemorate the IYD showed that a recent study by the United Nations cited jobs and education as top priorities for Africans in the post-2015 era. The My World Survey findings are in line with what experts have previously described as a risk. This is high unemployment, which calls for urgent need to ensure economic development that creates job opportunities and builds skills, particularly for youth. According to the 2014 African Finance Outlook Report, Sub-Saharan Africa’s population is reportedly growing at the fastest rate in the world. Over 65 percent of people living on the continent are below 30 years old and 200 million of them are aged between 15 and 24 years. Reflecting on the youth population and the job challenge in the continent, outgoing AfDB President, Donald Kaberuka, said that population growth in regions such as the Sahel remained very high, as high as 3.9 per cent, while internal migration had accelerated with up to 40 per cent of people now living in unplanned, poorly equipped cities and towns, amidst squalor and unemployment. He explained: “As a result, young people – around 15 million of who en-

ter the labour market each year – cannot find jobs, either because few are available, or because their skills do not match the needs. And in some regions, as they cannot find jobs or see hope for the future, they become easy victims to terrorist groups, or human traffickers promising them imaginary El Dorados, only for them to perish in the Mediterranean.” The AfDB is involved in various initiatives aimed at empowering youth on the continent. In Tunisia for example, the Souk At-tanmia initiative, has already contributed to creation of 400 jobs, most of them in regions with high unemployment rates especially among youth and women. The projects involves among others, offering training in entrepreneurial skills. The Bank recently met with the International Cocoa Organisation in Abidjan to explore ways of boosting Africa’s cocoa industry. The focus is on how to increase business and employment opportunities for youth and women. Africa produces 73 per cent of the world’s cocoa, 70 per cent coming from Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Cameroon and Nigeria. Agriculture is seen as one of the sectors with potential to create employment for youth. A proposed project, ENABLE Youth (Empowering Novel Agri-Business-Led Employment for Youth in Agriculture), is another initiative through which the AfDB seeks to reach out to close to 800,000 youth in 20 countries in southern, eastern and western Africa regions. The programme will be designed to appeal to disenfranchised young African adults through a comprehensive outreach approach that will see them receive life-skills education (effective and functional job training) and information on proven technologies and opportunities. The programme will also come with

10 best job interview tips for job-seekers (Continued from last week) 6. Be Authentic, Upbeat, Focused, Confident, Candid, and Concise. Once the interview starts, the key to success is the quality and delivery of your responses. Your goal should always be authenticity, responding truthfully to interview questions. At the same time, your goal is to get to the next step, so you’ll want to provide focused responses that showcase your skills, experience, and fit -- with the job and the employer. Provide solid examples of solutions and accomplishments -- but keep your responses short and to the point. By preparing responses to common interview questions (see #2), you’ll ideally avoid long, rambling responses that bore interviewers. Always attempt to keep your interview responses short and to the point. Finally, no matter how much an interviewer might bait you, never badmouth a previous employer, boss, or co-worker. The interview is about you -- and making your case that you are the ideal candidate for the job. Read about more interview mistakes in our article,

7. Remember Body Language, Avoiding Bad Habits. While the content of your interview responses is paramount, poor body language can be a distraction at best -- or a reason not to hire you at worst. Effective forms of body language: smiling, eye contact, solid posture, active listening, nodding. Detrimental forms of body language: slouching, looking off in the distance, playing with pen, fidgeting in chair, brushing back hair, touching face, chewing gum, mumbling. 8. Ask Insightful Questions. Studies continually show that employers make a judgment about an applicant’s interest in the job by whether or not the interviewee asks questions. Thus, even if the hiring manager was thorough in his or her discussions about the job opening and what is expected, you must ask a few questions. The smart job-seeker prepares questions to ask days before the interview, adding any additional queries that might arise from the interview. (To be concluded next week) (Source: http://www.quintcareers.com)

Workers in an office

20,000 internships, 10,000 agribusiness startups, and 30,000 new jobs in rural

and urban areas, leading to incomes of at least US $450 per month.

Job vacancies CWAY Nigeria Drinking Water Limited, Lagos Position: Water Treatment Sales Manager Requirements •Bachelor degree or above, majored in Environmental/ Chemical/Food Science. •At least 3 years experience of water industry, water treatment project experience is preferable. •Good skills of communication, analysis and presentation. •Result oriented and able to work under pressure. Application Deadline - 25/ Aug/2015 (Source – jobseekers.ng) Company -May & Baker Nigeria Plc Positions – Truck Driver & Generator Technician in Ogun State May & Baker is an equal opportunity environment characterized by our core value of Customer Delight, Innovation, Passion for Excellence, Faith in God, Integrity & Teamwork. We seek to recruit qualified and competent personnel through a competitive selection process and provide them with world class opportunities that enhance and build their careers. Company: The Nigerian Bottling Company Job Title: Management Trainees Job Field Administration, Secretarial, Engineering, Technical, Finance, Accounting, Audit, Logistics Procurement, Store-Keeping, Sales, Marketing Job Summary

The Coca-Cola Hellenic Management Trainee Programme is designed to identify talent through an accelerated development curriculum. The objective is to develop and retain the successful and talented graduates to fill critical leadership positions in the future through a work-based and instructional driven learning. (Source – jobseekers.ng) Company - Pro-Health International Job Title - Project Accountant Job Field Finance, Accounting, Audit Location - Abuja Pro- Health International was founded in 1991 by four medical professionals: Drs. Mark Umoh, Efem Iyeme, Owido Udofia, and Iko Ibanga, who were concerned about taking free, quality healthcare to rural communities in Africa where easy access to healthcare was a challenge. Job Summary The Project Accountant will be responsible for the IPSAN project under PHI. He/ She will be responsible for financial transactions of assigned project. He or she will ensure timely banking operations, contracts and payroll transactions of the project. He or She will assist in the supervision of Finance Officers and ensure that project accounts are properly maintained and reported in line with donor requirements and timelines. (Source – jobseekers.ng) Company – Citibank Limited Job Title - Executive Assistant

Job Purpose: To provide high-level support to the office of the Managing Director/CCO to including managing all liaison, logistics and administrative activities to ensure the overall efficiency and effectiveness of the office. Key Responsibilities: •Provide key support on special projects including research and analysis. •Act as direct liaison between the CCO and all the business heads and manage communications between the CCO’s office and regional and division offices •Attend weekly management meetings with the CCO and country Management Committee and ensure all minutes are circulated and filed in the appropriate systems. •Organize and coordinate all meetings and events directly related to the CCO’s office including Board Meetings, Credit Committee Meetings, Staff Town hall Meetings and other related meetings, amongst others. (Source – jobseekers.ng) Company - Equal Access Nigeria Job Title - Accountant Reporting Responsibility: •The Accountant will report to the Finance and Administration Manager of Equal Access Nigeria (EAN). Overall Responsibilities: •The Accountant will oversee the financial operations of the organization and ensure timely and accurate financial reports and practices including cash management, payroll, financial disbursements, ledgers etc. (Source – jobseekers. ng)

Tuesday, August 18, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Real Estate & Environment

UNEP Report: FG seeks implementation of oil spill recommendations Globally, the menace of oil spills and the implications for socio-economic wellbeing of the people and the environment have never lost public focus as victims always cry for remediation interventions from agents of such environmental degradation of their territories. In Nigeria, the case remains the same over the years. Recent order by the Federal Government directing Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC, has continued to attract stakeholders’ comments, with most of them seeing the measure as desirable for sustainability of Ogoniland. SYLVA EMEKA-OKEREKE reports.

arely few weeks after President Mohammadu Buhari directed the Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC, to commence the cleaning up of the massively degraded Ogoniland by oil spill associated with the company’s oil exploration in the Niger Delta region, environment analysts have lauded the Federal Government’s as desirable for the Ogoni people and Nigeria. The President, whose directive came years after the United Nations Environmental Pro-

Is there a Case for a Dual Real Estate System?

gramme, UNEP’s report on environmental restoration in Ogoniland, also approved the compositions of the Governing Council and Board of Trustees of Hydrocarbon Pollution Restoration Project, HYPREP, majorly facilitated by the recommendations of the UNEP. UNEP, had following its findings on the oil spillage in 1993, recommended total clean-up of Ogoniland in order to restore the region while sustaining its development. SPDC, which discovered oil in Ogoni land

in 1957, had been mandated by the international environmental agency to release funds for the restoration of the area. It however announced a £55 million payout for the spills. Its Chief Executive Officer, Ben van Beurden had during the spillage, announced the company’s contribution of $1 billion for the restoration of the area. Consequently, van Beurden promised to raise $330 million, about £214 million out of $1 billion with the remaining funds to be raised

NOSDRA may sue SNEPCO over oil spill menace 27

by other shareholders in Shell Petroleum Development Corporation Joint Venture, SPDC. Some of the joint ventures include, the Nigerian National Oil Company, NNPC, which holds 55 percent of the shares; Total, TEPNG holds 10 percent while Agip (NAOC) holds 5 percent. It would be noted that Shell exploited oil from the region, until it was forced out of the CONTINUED ON PAGE 26

Property prices may rise in Spain

Real Estate & Environment

Tuesday, August 18, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

UNEP Report: FG seeks implementation of oil spill recommendations CONTINUED FROM 25 country in 1993 due to the growing pollution. While accepting responsibility for the clean-up, van Beurden noted that the funds would not be released, until Nigerian government establishes a satisfactory governing structure by appointing commissioners to oversee the clean-up process, which President Buhari did recently. Amnesty International, AI, had questioned the initial funding as well as the proposed method for the clean-up, warning that the region might not be restored, if necessary actions were not taken to ensure holistic approach. According to AI, “if Shell’s ineffective clean-up methods were not fully overhauled; its impact would be limited. It is scandalous that Shell, which wants the world to trust it had failed to properly implement the UN’s expert advice on oil spill response, after a long time”. AI however warned that the problem of environmental contamination in Ogoniland should not be treated as a mere technical clean-up as it might lead to failure, adding that long-term sustainability must be included to put an end to the widespread pipeline sabotage, crude oil theft as well as illegal refining, causing environmental degradations in the region. Experts in the environment sector said, there appears to be light at the end of the tunnel as the present administration has announced its plan to implement the report by setting up a restoration fund, four years after a damning United Nations, UN, report urged the Federal Government as well as oil industry to act urgently. A stakeholder in the region and former Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress in Rivers state, Mr. Dakuku Peterside has lauded President Buhari for fast-tracking the long-expected implementation of the UNEP report. According to him, such move would not only address environmental issues in the region, but also restore the region to its former status. Peterside said, ‘this move obviously is historic and promises to ameliorate other challenges facing Ogoniland. Once again, Mr. President has demonstrated that he is a man of honour.’’ “During his campaign stops in Rivers state shortly before the election, he promised our people that his government would look into the UNEP report and the challenges facing the people of Niger Delta. Less than three months into his administration, the President has already taken a giant step in this regard. He is indeed a man of his words’’, he added. Also a University don, Dr Luka Buba said the move is a right step in the right direction, noting that the clean-up would regenerate the environment, expressing optimism that agricultural activities as well as aquatic life would return to the land, after the clean-up. According to him, the clean-up is a starting point, urging the Federal Government to address other areas affected by oil spillage. ‘’When the environment is cleared, it will be regenerated and will promote agriculture because for now, their farming activities and aquatic life have been killed due to water pollution. When the clean-up is done, fish will be able to live and will be of tremendous benefit to Ogoni people and the nation’s economy in general’’, he stated. A Non-governmental organization, NGO,

Shell MD, Osagie-Okunbor

Buhari

the Health of Mother Earth Foundation, HOMEF, said that the implementation of the plan is coming four years, after it was recommended, describing the move as very apt. Its Communications Officer, Mr. Oluwafunmilayo Oyatogun also called for the renaming of the body saddled with the exercise from Hydrocarbons Pollution Restoration Project, (HYPREP, to `remediation’ project. According to the NGO, the objective is to remediate the environment, not to restore pollution. Experts said the long-delayed $1 billion clean-up of heavily oil-contaminated Ogoniland in Niger Delta is fast becoming a reality. As agreed, the fund would be overseen by representatives of Ogoni people, the United Nations, the oil prospecting companies operating in Nigeria as well as government itself while stakeholders are expected to pay an initial $10 million into the fund. Members of the governing council and their representatives include, the Ministry of Petroleum Resources (One Representative), Federal Ministry of Environment (One Representative), Impacted States (One Representative), Oil Companies and the NNPC (4 Representatives), Ogoniland (Two Representatives), United Nations System (One Representative) while the Secretariat would be headed by the Project Manager. Similarly, the composition of a Board of Trustees for the HYPREP Trust Fund included one representative each from the Federal Government, NNPC, International Oil Companies, Ogoniland and the United Nations System.. Presidential spokesman, Mr. Femi Adesina said a contribution deposit of 10 million United States dollars would be made by stakeholders within 30 days of the appointment of members of the Board of Trustees for the Trust Fund, which would be responsible for collecting and managing the funds from contributors and donors. According to him, the clean-up would commence in earnest with the President’s inauguration of the HYPREP Governing

Council and the Board of Trustees for the Trust Fund, just as a new implementation template has been evolved at the instance of the presidency. An environment expert, Mr. Clem Ekpeyong told National Mirror that there were still some major issues to be addressed for a smooth clean-up exercise, saying the civil society organizations need to be represented. ‘’The role of the civil society in the struggle for the clean-up exercise in the region is very necessary’’, he added. Ekpeyong, who recalled that the report is taking a longer time to implement, said President Buhari is committed to his campaign promises. ‘’Government should look at other affected areas by the spill and I am sure that if given the time, they will also address other areas’’. Experts have also urged the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency, NESREA, to enforce laws governing oil exploration and exploitation in the country. Federal Government should urge the body saddled with the responsibility to design a master plan that would be enshrined in national law. ‘’There has to be national policy in the entire Niger Delta region dealing with oil pollution and degradation of the land so that we will have a comprehensive or holistic approach to dealing with it. The government should bring in environmental experts to access the spillages’’, experts stated. Some environment analysts have chided some oil firms over the growing environmental and industrial pollutions in the country. The last administration had raised alarm over environmental and water pollutions in the country, noting that the nation’s environment is at a crossroad, as water is being polluted by domestic, industrial and agricultural activities. It noted that the nation’s landscape is being degraded and suffocated with all sorts of wastes, adding that, ‘’the air we breathe is becoming more polluted than ever before from indoor and outdoor activities”.

During his campaign stops in rivers state shortly before the election, he promiseD our people that his government woulD look into

the unep report anD the challenges facing the people of niger Delta. less than three

months into his aDministration, the presiDent has alreaDy taken a giant step in this regarD

With the increase in oil spillage, coupled with environmental pollution, it will become very risky for the citizens to live. Experts said although the money may be small compared to what the company and its likes pay in European countries and United States of America for lost sources of livelihood and development, however, it opens the stage for accountability, better remediation measures and possible positive community relations. They also urged the people of the region to arm themselves with the UNEP report, other documents as well as evidence to seek internationally acceptable clean-up measures and adequate compensation. Experts said such degradation constitutes biological and chemical alterations, otherwise known as pollution. This, according to them, occurs when harmful gases, dust or smoke enters into the atmosphere, thus making it very difficult for plants, animals as well as human beings to survive as the air becomes dirty. Petroleum refineries also release hydrocarbons and various chemicals that pollute the air while also causing land and water pollutions. Beyond oil spills, mining is another factor as it is the process where minerals below the earth are extracted using large equipments. During the process, dust and chemicals are released in the air, causing massive air pollution. This is one of the reasons responsible for the deteriorating health conditions of workers. The effects are numerous and they include, respiratory and heart problems. They could create respiratory and heart conditions along with cancer among other threats to the body system. Several millions are known to have died due to direct and indirect effects of air pollution. Children exposed to air pollutants are said to have commonly sufferer from pneumonia and asthma. Another direct effect is the immediate alterations that the world is witnessing due to Global warming. With increased temperatures worldwide, increase in sea levels and melting of ice from colder regions and icebergs, displacement and loss of habitat have already signaled an impending disaster, if actions for preservation and normalization are not undertaken. Also, Ozone exists in earth’s stratosphere and is responsible for protecting humans from harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays. Earth’s ozone layer is depleting due to the presence of chlorofluorocarbons, hydro chlorofluorocarbons in the atmosphere. As the ozone layer will go thin, it will emit harmful rays back on earth and could cause skin and eye related problems. Natural sources of pollution include dust carried by the wind from locations with very little or no green cover, gases released from the body processes of living beings (Carbon dioxide from humans during respiration, Methane from cattle during digestion, Oxygen from plants during Photosynthesis). Smoke from the combustion of various inflammable objects, volcanic eruptions etc along with the emission of polluted gases also make it to the list of Natural sources of Pollution. While looking at the man-made contributions towards air pollution, smoke again features as a prominent component. The smoke emitted from various forms of combustion like in bio mass, factories, vehicles, furnaces among others.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Real Estate & Environment

Tuesday, August 18, 2015

MORTGAGE NOTES MORTGAGE NOTES with Malik Egbunike Email: malik@gmail.com

Fasanya-Osilaja

Is there case for a Dual Real Estate System?

reetings all. I was involved in a very enlightening discourse with a valued older financial guru recently who has been extensively involved in the Nigeria market, and he made a statement that really stuck with me. In his opinion, it will be almost impossible to have a unilateral mortgage finance system in Nigeria due to certain unique features of the Nigerian housing market. I was quite surprised to hear this because this person has been in the industry for over 30 years, so I asked for his reasons for such a drastic statement. He basically reiterated that the mortgage finance products in the Nigerian industry today, by their very nature can only be offered to a very select clientele, and that there would always be a vacuum in the higher property market. He went further to discuss his reasons: 1. The Purchase Price Dilemma: The prices of property purchased in Nigeria seem to automatically establish parallel pricing based simply on the mode of acquisition. Properties with a mortgage component seem to sell for lower prices than those purchased for cash. As is universally known, real estate has long been the preferred investment tool for ill - gotten gains. The danger with this scenario is the fact that the people who try to hide such ill-gotten wealth do not negotiate a realistic market based price for the properties they buy. As a result, similar properties in the same vicinity end up selling for wildly different prices. 2. The Mortgage Qualification Dilemma: If the typical upper level civil servant cannot afford to purchase the properties being sold by their own state, then the problem has not been solved. They would have been priced out of the market because they cannot (or should not be able to) pay cash for their desired property. As a result, the “luxury market” should not even be considered at any point, in the development of a relevant mortgage industry in Nigeria. In fact, he felt that the mortgage financiers would be best advised to stick to trying to sell to the lower end of the market

rather than trying to source both high and low markets. Indeed, if the NMRC tried to make a play for the upper price level properties, their funding would be used up in a jiffy. 3. The NMRC Guidelines (Implementation) Dilemma: One of the areas in which our company is training mortgage staff and consulting the most for them in, is in the practical applications of the NMRC guidelines. It is clear that the said guidelines will not work for every loan, but it is especially evident that they will not work for the luxury market. Again, the issue of debt ratio was his biggest concern. His contention was that if mortgage practitioners are forced to grant credit using the ratios set forth in the guidelines, no one would qualify for the higher priced properties. According to him, Nigeria is a market that must take into consideration the “doctrine” of “income derived from other sources” in the underwriting of most mortgage loans, even of the lower priced property market. Otherwise, most homeowners today would not have qualified for the purchases they made. The sheer amount of such “other income” for luxury properties, if they were subject to the same guidelines, would put them well beyond reach. 4. The Goal/Specialization of the Mortgage Practitioners: He believed that forcing the entire market into a “one size fits all” mortgage guideline box could cause an upheaval in the industry. As it is, different companies have found their niches in the areas they are most comfortable operating. It would be a disservice to force anyone to operate outside of their specialization and emphasized that there would a backlash from the industry if this was seen to be the case. I actually agreed with a lot of the issues the gentleman raised, but as always, my take on the matter is that we must start from somewhere. It is agreed that right now, the market is such a mess

that any sudden changes might upset it fragility. The fact remains that the market has to be standardized and sanitized, and if we don’t start to work on it, it will only continue to get worse. So, my view is that we have to start the process, watch its practical implementation, and amend as we move forward. Nothing is impossible, not even the standardization of the Nigerian mortgage system. I would really like to know what you all think regarding the above. Do you agree that a dual market is the only way out for the Nigerian mortgage industry? Have the NMRC guidelines forced you to alter your business model? How are you getting the job done? I look forward to hearing from you soon. In the mea ntime, please feel free to put up your comments and/or questions, and as always, make it a great day.

Flooding: Stakeholders seek funding support for affected states StorieS by olufemi AdeoSun

nvironment stakeholders have urged the Federal Government to mandate the Ecological Fund Office to release funds to the states that were recently ravaged by flooding. As palpable signs of more flooding loom in the land, no fewer than five states have already experienced devastating form of flooding with its attendant consequences on the people’s lives and the environment. One of the resolutions reached at the end of a one-day stakeholders round table on preparations for 2015 flood management organised by the Federal Ministry of Environment, was that intervention funds should be made available to states that were affected by flood from ecological fund to help improve, construct necessary infrastructure and provide support for those already displaced. Other stakeholders at the meeting include, commissioners of environment in the frontline states, officers of the Federal Ministry of Water Resources, Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET), Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), National Emergency Management Agency, Civil Defence , Federal Road Safety Commisson(FRSC) Fire Service, among others. The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Environment, Mrs Nana Fatma Mede, who read the communiqué at the end of the meeting, lamented the tragic effects of the 2012 flooding, blaming

the preponderance on poor land use system. She expressed the readiness of the federal government to address all flood-related problems in order to avert loss of lives and properties, assuring that government had put in place adequate measuresto take care of any impending flooding. Also speaking, the Director-General of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET), Dr Anthony Anuforum, said NIMET released the rainfall prediction for 2015 on March 12, pointing out that early warning must always be marched with early action. He said, “The advice we have is for people to pay close attention to these predictions. Now, the fear at this moment among Nigerians is whether we are going to experience the kind of flooding we experienced in 2012 and if it happens, what are we going to do. But on a continuous basis, we are monitoring the rainfall pattern,” he said. Anuforum, however, a allay people’s fear, stressing that rainfall in itself does not necessarily translate to flooding, saying the concern was the information regarding impending release of water from Lagdo Dam. “Because once the Lagdo Dam is opened, there is likelihood that the soil along River Benue; all the locations along River Benue, will get very easily saturated and when the soil is saturated, even moderate amount of rainfall can cause flooding in those areas,” the DG explained.

Hong Kong landlords may be forced to cut rents

ong Kong landlords could be forced to cut rents as currency weakness reduces mainland spending power, xxxxxalready poor sales. The denting yuan devaluation could force Hong Kong’s retail landlords to cut rents as it threatens to erode mainlander shopping in the city, say analysts. A weaker yuan means mainland tourists will now be spending in a more expensive Hong Kong dollar, denting the city’s retail sales even further. “Shopping in Hong Kong will get more expensive for mainlanders,” said Nicole Wong, regional head of property research at CLSA, “Landlords need to be more realistic [in setting their rents].” Wong said retail rents would in any case have to correct in view of the ongoing slump in mainlander spending here and that the yuan devaluation would only steepen the fall.

ABOUT THE WRITER Malik Egbunike is FNIVS, FIoD, CBIFM Chairman, Total Facilities Management Limited. For feedback, please send e-mail to malik@gmail.com

Big mainland spenders had already been skipping Hong Kong and flying directly to Europe, taking advantage of a cheaper currency, she said. The euro has lost nearly 18 per cent in the past year. The yuan has lost more than 3 per cent against the US dollar since the People’s Bank of China shocked the markets by devaluing the currency by 1.85 per cent on Tuesday, the most

in one day in more than 20 years. “Any meaningful depreciation of the yuan could further dampen Hong Kong retail sales as mainland visitors’ spending represented 38 per cent of Hong Kong’s total sales in 2014, compared to below 20 per cent prior to 2008,” wrote Bank of America Merrill Lynch analyst Raymond Ngai in a note to clients. (Source - property.hk/eng)

MTR Corporation Limited announces interim HK$8.19 billion net profit

TR Corporation Limited yesterday said interim net profit beat estimates to rise 3.5 percent to HK$8.19 billion from a year back thanks to contribution from property sales. Including property development profit, net profit from underlying businesses surged by 55.5 percent to HK$6.83 billion in the first six months, beating estimates. An interim dividend of 25 HK cents was declared, up 2.94 percent from a year ago. Revenue rose 3.8 percent to

HK$20.21 billion, among which revenue from Hong Kong transport operations rose 5.4 percent to HK$8.15 billion. Booking in the sales from the third phase of Lohas Park in Tseung Kwan O, Hemera, helped the company gain HK$2.31 billion from property development, up more than 10 times from last year. The company, led by chief executive officer Lincoln Leong Kwok-kuen, plans to tender out two or more projects at Lohas Park, depending on market conditions.

Real Estate & Environment

Tuesday, August 18, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Source: www.housebeautiful.com

NOSDRA may sue SNEPCO over oil spill menace T

he National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) has threatened to take legal action against Shell Nigeria exploration and Production Company (SNEPCO) if it fails to pay the over $3,600 fine imposed on it as a result of the 2014 Bonga oil spill. In a letter signed by the Director-General of the agency, Sir Peter Idabor, and addressed to SNEPCO,

the agency stated that it would not hesitate to institute a law suit against the oil firm if it fails to pay the said sum as compensation and administrative costs. SNEPCO was said to have failed to effect clean up on the impacted site within the stipulated period, as provided in the agency’s Act and Regulations. It will be recalled that despite the fact that the incident was

caused by equipment failure and the admission by the then Managing Director that 40,000 barrels of crude oil spilled into the Atlantic Ocean, no attempt was made by the oil company to provide relief materials for the shoreline fishing communities with respect to the acute and chronic impact of the crude oil on the environment. NOSDRA had in 2014 issued a notification of sanction to the oil

Housing cost sparks global inflation

lobal policymakers have been concerned about inflationary pressures after the shilling weakened sharply against the dollar, raising the benchmark lending rate by 150 basis points earlier this month. Core inflation, which excludes food, metered water and fuel prices, also rose to 5.4 per-

cent from 4.9 percent in June, the Uganda Bureau of Statistics said. On a monthly basis, the headline inflation rose by 0.4 percent from a decline of 0.9 percent in June. Electricity, fuel and utilities inflation went up by 4.5 percent from a rise of 0.2 percent in

June. “Increase in prices was recorded for clothing, footwear, rent charges, cement, charcoal, firewood, petrol, diesel and kerosene,” the bureau said. Food inflation fell during the month mainly due to a decline in the prices of vegetables and fruits.

company with regards to the Bonga spill incident but the oil firm has neither paid compensation to the affected shoreline communities nor provided relief materials to them, as directed by the agency and the House Committee on Environment.

nquiries from international buyers for property in Spain have reached record breaking levels at a time when prices are still falling but demand could push up values in popular areas. Spanish property portal Kyero, which lists more than 200,000 homes from 3,000 estate agents, said it has had its busiest ever quarter and properties prices from 50,000 to N100,000 are proving most popular. The firm’s latest quarterly

Two Indian firms sign contract to build Ethiopian road

report shows that 28 percent of all enquiries were for properties at N100,000 or less and they are also proving popular with domestic buyers. The report also suggests that prices could start rising because of the demand. Valuations Company Tinsa has released data which shows that a total of 35 popular locations have seen price raises between the first quarter of 2014 and the same period in 2015. The previous year saw just four of those areas register price increases. The upward

Prope

movement indic erties in the N5 soon have to up what they are lo The Kyero re coastal areas ar with second hom day home with cante, home of t popular provinc port with 31 perc on that region. M popular area, ac quiries.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Tuesday, August 18, 2015

Real Estate & Environment

Canada housing index impressive —Research

verage residential property prices in Canada were 9.6% higher year on year in June while sales activity is up 11% compared to a year ago, the latest index data shows. On a monthly basis national homes sales edged back, however, down 0.8 percent from May to June, according to the index from the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA). But sales levels in May and June marked the strongest monthly readings in more than five years and June sales

erty prices may rise in Spain

cates that those seeking prop50,000 to 100,000 range might p their budget in order to get ooking for. esearch confirms that Spain’s re some of its most popular me buyers looking for a holieasy access to beaches. Alithe Costa Blanca, is the most ce, according to the Kyero recent of all enquiries focusing Malaga was the second most ccounting for 15% of total en-

‘Spain’s beaches offer some fantastic, family friendly holidays and many of those buying here want to own a property within a short walk or drive of at least one beach. Apartments are by far the most popular choice, accounting for 39 percent of all enquiries during the last quarter, 10 percent ahead of villa enquiries,’ said Kyero founder Martin Dell. ‘Many families like the idea of owning an apartment that comes with a shared swimming pool that the condominium company maintains. It’s less hassle and expense than owning a villa with its own pool,’ he added.

The Kyero report also reveals that it is three bedroom properties that command the most interest, with 32 percent of all enquirers looking for properties of that size. Two bedroom properties came a close second, with 30 percent of total enquiries. Meanwhile, the Tinsa data shows that overall the average price of new and used homes declined by 1.1% in the first half of 2015 compared to the same period of 2014 but the Mediterranean Coast and Islands standing have performed better.

were up from the previous month in about half of all local markets, led by increases in Hamilton-Burlington and in the Durham Region of the Greater Toronto Area. And average prices are being pulled up by growth in Greater Vancouver and Greater Toronto. Without these two locations then year on year growth is just 3.1%. Also, the monthly increase in sales there was offset by monthly sales declines in Ottawa and Montreal. The actual, not seasonally adjusted, national average price for homes sold in June 2015 was $453,560 but excluding Greater Vancouver and Greater Toronto it was a more modest $346,904. Low interest rates are helping boost consumer confidence and home sales activity this summer, according to CREA president Pauline Aunger. But she added that low interest rates are benefiting sales in some areas more than others. All real estate is local, with trends affected by a combination of local and national factors. Gregory Klump, CREA’s chief economist, explained that records sales prices in Greater Toronto

would be even higher were it not for an ongoing shortage of listings for single family homes in the area. ‘The combination of strong demand and a shortage of listings are continuing to fuel single family home price increases,’ he added. The number of newly listed homes for sale was little changed, down a marginal 0.2 percent in June compared to May, marking the third consecutive month in which they remained stable. There was roughly an even split between the number of local markets showing an increase in new listings and those showing a decline. The national sales to new listings ratio was 57.2 percent in June. Although little changed from its reading the previous month, it is up from the low of 50.4 percent in January when it reached its most balanced point since March 2013. The ratio has risen steadily along with sales over the first half of the year while new supply has remained stable. A sales to new listings ratio between 40 and 60 per cent is generally consistent with balanced housing market conditions, with readings above and below this range indicating sellers’ and buyers’ markets respectively.

Real Estate & Environment

Tuesday, August 18, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Coalition’s $600bn carbon bill claim ‘weird’, says CCA boss

he Australian independent Climate Change Authority is engaged in a public war of words with the environment minister, Greg Hunt, over the government’s assertion that “Labor’s climate policy” would impose a “$600bn carbon bill”, saying the claim is “weird” and “misleading”. The prime minister on Tuesday unveiled a new greenhouse gas reduction goal of reducing emissions by between

26 per cent and 28 per cent of 2005 levels by 2030. A day before the announcement, the Daily Telegraph revisited modelling done in 2013 for the CCA of a 40 to 60 per cent emissions reduction target, in a front-page story headlined “ALP’s $600bn carbon bill”. The paper argued the cost was attributable to Labor because the party has said it would base its long-term targets on up-to-date advice from

the CCA. Labor has not yet announced its preferred 2030 target. Abbott then used the same figure to claim Labor’s policy would “hit our economy with massive and unmanageable costs, massive increases in power prices, massive increase in the hit on families’ cost of living”. But in a statement released late Friday, CCA chairman and former Reserve Bank governor Bernie Fraser said:

“Others have wrongly claimed that the authority’s own modelling shows that the 40 to 60 target would impose very high costs – in the order of $600bn – on the economy. This is not correct.” Within half an hour Hunt had issued a retaliatory statement, saying “the modelling clearly shows the cumulative hit to GDP from Labor’s carbon tax would be more than $600bn by 2030 in nominal terms”. In an interview with Guardian Australia on Saturday, Fraser insisted the government’s assertion was wrong. “Some people who don’t understand modelling draw inferences that really can’t be drawn,” he said. “This is a good illustration of the difficulties modelling can create when misinterpreted to derive misleading meanings.” “This $600bn figure is not drawn from any logical process and it becomes weirder and weirder the more that you look at it. It compares a scenario where Australia has a 44 per cent target by 2030 and the rest of the world is taking very strong action, with a scenario where Australia has no target and does nothing and the rest of the world does very

little, almost nothing at all. It is the inferred cost difference between those two scenarios. “If you wanted a figure with some logical credibility or relevance you would model the cost of the government’s 26 per cent target and a 40 per cent target for 2030 and look at the difference between those two.” In fact the government has received modelling of the economic cost of its own target and a target similar to the one it asserts Labor will adopt. That modelling, by leading economist Warwick McKibbin, showed the 26 per cent target would shave between 0.2 per cent and 0.4 per cent from Australian GDP in 2030, but the same modeling found that based on similar assumptions, a 35 per cent target would cut only 0.3 per cent to 0.5 per cent and a 45 per cent target would cut between 0.5 per cent and 0.7 per cent. The $600bn figure is based on a GDP cost in 2030 of over 2 per cent. The government has not yet released that modelling, but says it will do so in coming days. It had intended to abolish the CCA but could not get the support of the Senate to do so. (Source - theguardian.com)

Astronomers discover Costa’s last stand: Climate change could ‘young Jupiter’ see tourists swap the Med for the Baltics

The expansive 4,500 square meter property allows for the creation of buidling estate

he traditional summer holiday in Spain and other popular Mediterranean holiday destinations is at risk from droughts and forest fires because of global warming, a European commission report says. In contrast, northern European countries could see a rise in tourist numbers and related income, according to the analysis by the commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) As parts of Europe become seasonally inhospitable, tourists are likely to change the length and timing of their holidays – as well as their destinations – the centre says. Spain and Bulgaria were likely to be the biggest losers from climate disruption, the paper says, while Estonia, Latvia, Slovenia and Slovakia would gain the most. “Altered climatic conditions may influence the relative allure of many regions,” the study says. “Under current economic conditions, the 2100 climate could lower tourism

revenues by up to 0.45 per cent of GDP per year in Mediterranean EU regions, while other EU regions in northern Europe could gain up to 0.32 per cent of GDP.” The JRC’s analysis combined accommodation and travel cost estimates with a conservative assumption of a 2C (3.6F) rise in temperatures this century. Such a rise would probably increase desertification, droughts, forest fires and the widespread death of animals, such as dolphins, from disease, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). As summers become hotter and drier in southern Europe, the JRC study predicts that people will take shorter holidays, and take more of them outside the current peak season. “One could expect that tourists would distribute their holiday pattern more evenly during the year and take shorter holidays in order to benefit, for instance, from more clement weather conditions during the

other seasons,” it says. Jacqueline McGlade, the chief scientist for the United Nations environment programme (Unep) said the report was modest but robust, and that tourism operators should be doing more to prepare for the effects of a warming continent. “It is absolutely clear that the comfort zone for humans in the Mediterranean is going to be under seasonal threat from climate change,” she told the Guardian. “In the short term it will be disruptive but it is also an opportunity for the industry to offer the public different types of travel experience that cater to more diverse tastes and styles than just the sunshine beach holiday.” She said the industry should also become more aware of increasingly common extreme weather events, such as dust and sand storms, and adapt its loss and damage insurance policies – and back-of-the-brochure weather information – accordingly. (Source - theguardian.com)

stronomers have discovered a planet 100 light years away that looks a lot like Jupiter once did and may offer new insights on how planets are formed, researchers said Thursday. Known as 51 Eridani b, it is the first exoplanet detected by a new instrument called the Gemini Planet Imager (GPI), according to the report in the journal Science. It is “the first young planet that probably looks like Jupiter did billions of years ago, making it currently our most important corner-piece of the planet formation jigsaw puzzle,” said Travis Barman, an associate professor of planetary sciences at the University of Arizona. The star it circles, 51 Eridani, is just 20 million years old — fairly young considering the Sun is about 4.5 billion years old. Enshrouded in methane, the planet is about twice the mass of Jupiter — the largest planet in our solar system — and contains the strongest methane signature ever detected in the atmosphere of an alien planet.

Its temperature is estimated to be about 800 degrees Fahrenheit (427 Celsius), hot enough to melt lead. “This is exactly the kind of planet we envisioned discovering when we designed GPI,” said James Graham, a University of California, Berkeley professor of astronomy and the GPI project scientist. “We wanted to find planets when they’re young so we can figure out the formation process.” The Gemini Planet Imager was designed to discover faint, young planets orbiting bright stars. The instrument is about the size of a small car and is mounted on the eight-meter (yard) Gemini South telescope in Chile. It began operating in December 2014. A separate NASA mission known as the Kepler space telescope searches for planets by studying the dim in starlight that can be glimpsed when a planet passes in front of a star. Kepler’s main goal is to find Earth-like planets that might be able to support life. (Source – mb.com.ph)

Tuesday, August 18, 2015

Aviation

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Stakeholders rate AIB high on aviation safety, despite challenges Stakeholders and professionals in the Nigerian aviation industry agree that the Accident Investigation Bureau, AIB, is proactive in its responses to safety issues despite the numerous challenges it is contending with in the task of aligning its safety measures with global best practices. Olusegun Koiki writes.

ccident Investigation Bureau, AIB, is one of the agencies under the Ministry of Aviation whose primary objective is to improve aviation safety by determining the circumstances, causes of air accidents, serious incidents and making safety recommendations intended to prevent recurrence in the future. The essence of AIB’s investigation and recommendation is not to apportion blame or liability, but to prevent repetition in the future. Stakeholders and professionals in the sector have, over the years, accused the Bureau of not living up to expectations in the discharge of its duties as several incidents and accident reports were not in the public domain as required by the International Civil Aviation Organisation, ICAO, recommended practices and standards. The inability of the agency to upload the major incidents and accident reports on its website and to the public created a kind of mistrust and communication gap between it and the public, raising doubt about the efficiency of the technical personnel of the agency to professionally handle reports. But, all the cynicism about the technicality and professionalism of accident investigators appeared to have been debunked in the last 14 months as the current management under the leadership of the Commissioner, Dr. Felix Abali, released to the public 12 incidents and accidents reports, including eight whose release had been stalled for years were released to the public with safety recommendations. This is despite the fact that the agency is confronted with several challenges, which included paucity of funds to embark on more developmental projects and first responders in case of an accident. The Chief Executive Officer, CEO, Centre of Aviation Safety and Research, CAS-R, Engr. Sheri Kyari, in an interview with our correspondent on his assessment of AIB in the past year, said that it was important for stakeholders and professionals in the sector to be carried along in the procedure of accident and incident investigations and reports. While agreeing that the bureau is confronted with challenges in the discharge of its duties, he nevertheless charged the agency to at least twice in a year call a stakeholders meeting where some of its reports would be deliberated upon by professionals in the sector. He added, “Even if it is just an inci-

AIB Commissioner, Abali

Engr. Kyari

Another chAllenge we hAve is thAt of funds. AiB doesn’t generAte revenue And we depend for money from the cApitAl

Budget.

As it stAnds now, we hAve three

per cent of the five per cent ticket sAles…

dent, they can report to the public so that we will know and learn from it. This would make the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, to ensure that the airlines are implementing their safety recommendations. If they do that, they would help the industry greatly. “Just recently, within two weeks, two incidents occurred on the Lagos Airport runway, those are things that once they are able to investigate the cause, they should come out to the public and tell them the cause of the accident so that we can know those who are at fault. This would enable corrective measures to be taken. If they were able to do that, they will be helping the industry greatly.” He however noted that all the reports released by the agency were believable and had helped in preventing recurrence of such incident or accident in the sector. Also, an aviation analyst and former pilot in the defunct national carrier, Nigeria Airways, Capt. Samuel Odewunmi identified government restriction as one of the factors militating against the performance of AIB in the past years. He further called on the National Assembly to give the government enabling laws that would ensure that the agencies function very well and measure up to international standards in the discharge

of their duties. Another aviation analyst, Mr. Chris Amokwu commended Abali for uplifting the bureau since he came onboard in March, 2014. According to him, in the last one year, AIB, had constructed and completed a wreckage hangar, which is for reconstruction and minor tests in accident investigation, adding that ICAO recently recognised the agency as the most competent accident investigation body in the sub region and could render its expertise when needed and play leadership role within the continent. Commenting on the challenges facing AIB, the CEO, Dr. Abali mentioned first responders, pathologists and coroners activities as some of the factors preventing it from carrying out accelerated investigations, adding that inadequate funding too contributed to its slow performance. In case of an accident, the pathologists and the coroners help in determining whether the flight crew was intoxicated or under the influence of drugs and the identification of the bodies through the DNA test. When they do that, they are not under our jurisdiction. So, it becomes very difficult to get the result as fast as we would have loved to. “Another challenge we have is that of

funds. AIB doesn’t generate revenue and we depend for money from the capital budget. As it stands now, we have three per cent of the five per cent ticket sales charge by airlines, which is not enough. So, it becomes very challenging to work with such resources when it comes to accident investigation and running the organisation.” On the performance of the bureau in recent time, he disclosed that AIB had constructed a Flight Data Recorder/ Cockpit Voice Recorder, FDR/CVR laboratory from CAE/FlightScape of Canada, which would enable it to download data from both flight recorders promptly during accident investigation, rather than taking them overseas for downloading. He emphasised that two regional offices were being built in Kano and Enugu to enhance its response time to accident notification, insisting that the bureau had enough technical personnel to handle incident and accident investigations in the industry. He added, “On research, windshear phenomena research in conjunction with Nigerian Meteorological Agency, NIMET, is on-going with first and second phases completed. We also have technical personnel with cognate experience who have been adequately trained as accident investigators, boosting our technical capabilities. “The bureau has also put in place a programme for reaching out to local communities around the airports considering the fact that most accidents occur during take-off and landing. This is aimed at educating them on what to do during occurrences and secure their cooperation. Also, we have enlisted young graduates who are currently undergoing training to take over from the current ageing workforce.” Abali informed further that AIB recently trained some aircraft maintenance engineers at the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, NCAT, on fixed wing who are currently undergoing OnThe-Job-Training in one of the major airlines in the country. He however said that the engineers were undergoing training on rotary wing at the airline in order for them to have balanced training as investigators for the sector. “The Bureau has a robust human capacity development programme for its staff considering the specialised nature of its operations. All staff go on training and re-training programmes, workshops and conferences to update themselves in their various fields,” he added.

Aviation

Tuesday, August 18, 2015

Aviation fuel, biggest challenge to airline operators – Obakpolor StorieS: oluSegun KoiKi

he skyrocketing price of Jet A1 otherwise known as aviation fuel in the local parlance has been identified as a major challenge confronting Nigerian airline operators and not charges collected by the agencies. An aviation stakeholder, Grp. Capt. (rtd) John Obakpolor told our reporter in an interview at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, MMIA, Lagos that Jet A1 costs 49 per cent of the airlines’ overhead cost and called on the Federal Government to device a mean of reducing the cost to about 15 per cent. He insisted that if such drastic reduction was carried out by the government, the airline operators would be able to expand their scope and employ more technical personnel. He recalled that some few years ago, a litre of fuel was sold at N40 per litre and had shoot up to between N145 and N165 per litre in 2015. He said, “The so called aviation experts have been proffering solutions that should not even be mentioned, but the problems of the operators in the country is not taxes and other charges, but the fuel is too exorbitant. “It costs 49 per cent of their overhead cost, reduce that one to 15 per cent and they would make profit whether they pay tax or not. What

NCAA DG, Usman

Airside shegzzy4live2000@yahoo.co.uk 08186007273

Need to improve safety in Helicopters operations

T L–R: Former Chief of Defence Intelligence, Major General S.Y. Audu (rtd); Head, Corporate Communications, Dana Air, Mr. Samuel Ogbogoro and Head of Security, Mr. Ossai Edwin Ayogu during the presentation of an award of excellence to the airline as the ‘Best Security Conscious Airline 2014/15’ by the International Institute of Professional Security.

was costing N40 before is now N145 per litre. How can you breakeven with N40.00 to N145.00? How many percentage increases? That’s about 365.5 per cent. Tackle that and let the refineries work at optimal level because it is the same kerosene, but the Jet A1 is just one step higher. You will be killing two birds with one stone.” Also, the Chairman of Airlines Operators of Nigeria, AON, Capt. Nogie Meggison, said the issue of high cost of aviation fuel had been a recurring issue that must be addressed in the country. Meggison declared that aviation fuel takes substantial percentage of airlines operating cost, but said that the high cost of aviation fuel was affected by a chain of supplies.

He maintained that the current problem started in Nigeria on January 16, 1996, during the regime of late Gen. Sanni Abacha when the pipeline supplying aviation fuel to the airport was shut down. Meggison said the pipeline may have corroded 26 years after it was shut down by the military for no reason and called on the Federal Government to look into the issue as it would do airlines a lot of good. The AON boss decried that 26 years after the pipeline was shut down, there are now 200 to 300 fuel tankers at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, MMA, Lagos, road claiming to be supplying fuel to the airport, which he said also contributed to the increase in price of aviation fuel in the country.

NCAA decries non-compliance with 5% TSC directive by airlines

he Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, has described as absurd the withholding of the five per cent Ticket Sales Charge, TSC, by indigenous airlines operators. The agency however vowed that it would recover the TSC from all the operators in the country, saying that the collection of the charge was in line with global standards and NCAA 2006 Act. The Director-General, NCAA, Capt. Muhtar Usman, made this known over the weekend at the maiden interaction of all public relations/information managers of all the agencies and companies in the country’s aviation industry.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Usman insisted that the collection of charges especially the TSC by the agencies didn’t affect the operations of the airlines, stressing that the money was collected from passengers on behalf of the agencies by the airlines and wondered why they found it difficult to remit such to the appropriate quarters. The 5 per cent TSA is a charge on tickets sold to passengers by airlines, collected in trust by the carriers on behalf of the agencies. The TSA is shared among agencies like NCAA, the Nigeria Airspace Management Agency, NAMA, Nigeria College of Aviation Technology, NCAT, the Accident Investigation Bureau, AIB, and the Nigerian Meteorological Agency, NIMET. Usman explained that NCAA was a self-sustaining organisation and funded its activities including salaries and training from the TSA, stressing that most of its training were done abroad and expensive. The authority said that it would be part of the name and shame game by complementing its position with paid advertorial in five national newspapers as final warning to consistent defaulters. He said, “We are now ready to commence recrimination of the debtor airlines according to the pro-

vision of the law. I wish to use this opportunity to correct a serious misconception been sold to the public by some airlines. NCAA has reports that some airlines are purporting the 5 per cent TSC is being paid to us from their earnings. This they say is adversely affecting their operations. “Let me again refer to section 12 (1) of the Civil Aviation Act 2006, which says that “there shall continue to be a 5 per cent air ticket contract, charter and cargo sales charge to be collected by the airlines and paid over to the Authority.”

he last week’s Bristow Helicopter crash with the registration number 5N - BDG – 760540 from the nation’s oil rigs crash into the lagoon at the Third Mainland Bridge around Oworonshoki Area of Lagos on its way to the Murtala Mohammed Airport, MMA, Lagos was the third the helicopter company would have in the last eight years. The first of the crash was in 2007 when its line training captains boarded and crashed a Bell -412 EP helicopter with the registration number 5NBIQ and the manufacturer’s serial number 35385 on August 3, 2007 in a field at Qua Iboe Terminal, QIT, heliport, Eket, Akwa Ibom. The second of the crash was on July 14, 2011 when one of its helicopters with the registration number 5N-BMM crashed

at the Port Harcourt International Airport, PHIA. Accident Investigation Bureau, AIB, in its report said that the two pilots onboard were captains, which contravened the policy of the company. In all the crashes above, over 20 souls were lost. Airside says it is high time the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, looked critically into the operations of helicopter companies in the country especially that one of Bristow helicopters. Airside insists no fixed wing operators anywhere in the world could survive three crashes in a spate of eight years. So, it is necessary for the regulatory body to focus its searchlight more on the rotary wing operators to safeguard lives. A stitch in time saves nine, they say!

Now that accident has re-occurred, what’s next?

n the last few months, the Nigerian aviation industry had experienced several preventable incidents that made aviation stakeholders and professionals to shiver and warned of imminent danger. The Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Binta Bello showed concerns with her summon of the agencies’ Chief Executive Officers, CEOs, to Abuja, followed by another meeting in Lagos barely a week after the first one. Avid aviation analysts usual warn that if care is not taken, persistent incidents are invitation for an accident waiting to happen. And the accident came last Wednesday with Bristow Helicopters! Just like every other sincere analysts, Airside in the

past one month had raised the alarm at least twice in this column that the agencies including operators should role up the sleeves of their shirts and tighten all the loose ends, but nothing as usual was done to change the occurrence by those in charge. Airside insists a lot still needed to be done to ensure a safe haven for air travellers in the sector. It is unfortunate that souls were lost in the crash, but one hopes we have learnt our lessons to prevent recurrence. Airside suggests that the regulatory body should focus its search light more on the operations of Bristow Helicopters (Nigeria) Limited. May the souls of the departed rest in peace.

NAMA flags off training for ATCs, engineers over CPDLC

he Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, NAMA, said it has commenced another round of training of air traffic controllers and engineers at the Lagos Area Control Centre ahead of the Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Contract/ControllerPilot Data Link Communication, ADS-C/CPDLC, billed for deployment next month. The agency stated that the training, which took place at the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, training hall at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Lagos was meant to

sensitise and train staff on the installation and usage of the facility. The Acting General Manager, Public Affairs, NAMA, Mrs. Olajumoke Adetona, stated that apart from the agency’s staff who partook in the three days training which was declared open by the Managing Director, Engr. Ibrahim Abdulsalam, other technical personnel of parastatals and stakeholders in the sector also participated in the programme. In his opening speech, Abdulsalam noted that the decision to deploy ADS-C/CPDLC to Nigeria was in line with the agency’s vision of

being a leading Air Navigation Service Provider, ANSP, in the world by deploying modern technologies for Communication, Navigation, Surveillance and Air Traffic Management within the country’s airspace. He maintained that the agency’s efforts at developing Nigeria’s Air Traffic Management, ATM, and airspace capacity such as this were geared towards safely and effectively accommodating increasing flight operations in an aviation sector that has witnessed remarkable growth and structural expansion over time.

Insurance

Tuesday, August 18, 2015

Kari tasks professionals on human capital devt, ethics

he newly appointed commissioner for Insurance, Mr Muhammed Kari, has urged professionals in the industry to ensure that “training is of paramount importance to the institute for the development of practitioners.” He gave the charge in his key note address at the investiture of Lady Isioma Chukwuma during her investiture as the 47th president of Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria, CIIN, last week in Lagos. He said that the Commission had held preliminary discussion with the Rector of the Centre for Insurance and Financial Management Studies (CIFMS)

towards developing acceptable curriculum for the training of different level of practitioners and an annual mandatory refreshers training thereafter. He also advised the new President of CIIN to see that it becomes a one stop shop for the teaching of good ethics and building good characters as it relates to the practice of insurance. Kari said: “If we truly practice as professionals that we say we are, we should be mindful of our actions and how we carry ourselves. We should be seen as men and women of proven integrity,

we should avoid unethical practices because it will not only send bad signals to the public, it will further erode the little respect left.”

Importance of Insurance in our lives

nsurance is a risk coverage that an individual purchases to ensure that loss or damage due to uncertainties is paid for by the insurance company. An insurer is the one that sells an insurance policy to an individual. The individual on whose name the policy is, is the insured. Once an individual purchases an insurance policy, the insurance company is liable for reimbursement and compensation of any loss that occurs in accordance with the terms and conditions of the policy. Every individual that purchases insurance has to make a payment for coverage offered by the insurance company, this amount is called a premium. Insurance companies offer different premium terms that are suitable for customers. The rates on insurance premium differ drastically depending on the type of policy purchased. If the coverage on the policy is basic, premium rates are low. Insurance policies that cover all major risk, loss, or damage are expensive. Most individuals are not aware of the amount of insurance cover required. If you’re one among these it makes sense to seek help for insurance advisors. Every insurance company has experts that advise indi-

viduals on different types of insurance. Individuals can discuss their requirements with insurance agents to get a clear perspective on the right insurance policy. Individuals should make sure they opt for a policy that offers comprehensive coverage. People find it frustrating when claims made are rejected by insurance companies. Remember, an insurance company only pays in accordance with what is included in the terms of the policy. Expense on any scenario that is not included in the insurance policy is solely to be borne by the policy holder, and not the insurance company. An individual should have a clear understanding of inclusion and exclusions of perils before signing the insurance contract. Individuals have to submit claim forms to insurance companies to receive compensation or reimbursement. Because of the rising number of fraudulent activities among policy holders, insurance companies are strict about evaluation and securitization of claims made by individuals on their policies. Insurance companies reimburse an amount only after they are fully convinced that the claims on the policy are genuine. An insurance company

compensates losses for policy holder from the premium amounts received from various policy holders. The costs on insurance vary among insurance companies. It is recommended that individuals compare rates offered by different insurance companies before they purchase an insurance policy. Insurance companies realize individuals are busy and are unable to find it difficult to reach a physical location to purchase insurance. Most insurance companies sell insurance online to make it convenient for individuals. Individuals can avail of discounts on insurance if they have an excellent credit score. Every insurance company takes into consideration creditworthiness of an individual. Although individuals realize the importance of insurance, only few avail of insurance policies. Individuals can get comprehensive information on different types of insurance from the internet. Purchasing insurance helps cover risk and save a substantial amount of money. Changes in economic conditions are responsible for drastic fluctuations in premium rates. To find low costs on insurance, individuals have to shop smart in accordance with requirement. Source: www.insurancetipssite. info

Automobile car insurance policy -3 tips to save money By DaviD acklanD

Kari

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

utomobile car insurance can be pricey, but there are ways to lessen the hit in the wallet. Many people choose one car insurance company and stick with it for years, even though it is likely they could have found a better deal elsewhere. People do not enjoy shopping for car insurance and therefore they simply stick with what they have. If you are one of those people you may be surprised to learn that you may be wasting hundreds of dollars per year. The first way to save on your auto insurance policy is to see what discounts you may have overlooked in the past. Many trade organizations, unions, alumni associations, and companies negotiate special rates with auto insurance companies for their members or employees. In some cases these savings can be substantial. Another great way to save money on your automobile insurance is to make your insurance company aware of the safety features of your vehicle. Automatic restraint systems, alarms, and GPS location devices

may all qualify you for savings. Also if you do not use your vehicle often you may qualify for even more savings. Many insurance companies offer discounts to people who drive less than a certain amount of miles per year or who take public transportation to work. The very best way to see a substantial savings on your car insurance premiums is to shop for a new policy online. There are web sites that will allow you to enter your driving history and then they will forward the information to several automobile insurance companies. After reviewing your information these auto insurance companies will then offer you a quote on a new policy. These competing quotes can often differ by hundreds of dollars from your existing policy. Hopefully the above three tips will help you to save a significant amount of money on your next automobile car insurance policy. If you are very luck you may even be able to combine all three tips which will put a lot of your hard earned money back in your pocket where it belongs. (Source - automotive.einnews. com)

EPIC ranks 12 in insurance journal’s ‘top 100 independent property casualty agencies’

PIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants, a retail property, casualty insurance brokerage and employee benefits consultant, has been ranked #12 among the Insurance Journal’s “Top 100 Independent Property Casualty Agencies.” The ranking is based on total property and casualty agency revenue for 2014 and includes only those agencies whose business is primarily retail not wholesale. EPIC’s 2014 P&C revenue was $112,906,889, nearly double their 2013 P&C revenue of $58,262,000 when EPIC was ranked #25 on this same list. Since last year’s ranking EPIC has grown from 418 employees to over 700 nationally. This growth has continued to expand EPIC’s specialty practice areas including, Agribusiness, Energy Construction, Financial Institutions, Food and Beverage, Healthcare, Hotels/Hospitality, Life Sciences/Technology, Municipalities, Non-profits, Real Estate/Property Management, Renewable Energy, Transportation/ Logistics/Warehousing, Water Districts and the Wine Business. “We are honored by and proud of this recognition,” said John Hahn, EPIC’s CEO. “It is a meaningful ‘peer to peer’ view of how we stack up nationally against other independent brokers. Our growth and expansion lets EPIC deliver even more of the services our clients want and need, while creating added opportunity for our people,” he continued. “We had an incredible year in 2014 and the best is yet to come.” (Source - send2press.com)

Insurance

Tuesday, August 18, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Stakeholders set agenda for new Insurance Commissioner With the appointment of Alhaji Mohammed Kari as the new National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) boss by the President recently, stakeholders in the industry have identified some key areas he needed to focus on in order to move the industry forward. ISAAC ASABOR captures their views.

takeholders that spoke with National Mirror want the new insurance helmsman to make insurance attractive to low income earners, address the issues that cut across ratecutting as well as look into the statutory deposits with CBN, enforce compulsory insurance and awareness. More importantly, virtually all the stakeholders that reacted to the change of leadership at NAICOM wanted Kari to build on the foundation already laid by Fola Daniel. When asked of the issues he would want the new insurance regulator to address, the Managing Director of African Alliance Insurance Company Plc, Mr. Ojeme Alphonso Okpor, simply replied by saying that Alhaji Kari “knows what to do” being a professional with cognate experience spanning decades. Speaking in the same vein, the Managing Director of Anchor Insurance, Mr. Mayowa Adeduro said the new NAICOM boss should build on the foundation which his predecessor had already laid. Adeduro’s position aligns with those of many Nigerians who believe that consolidating on major agenda set by his predecessor would impact positively on the industry and reposition it on the path of sustainable growth in the years ahead. Mr. Jide Orimolade, the Managing Director of Law, Union and Rock Insurance, who spoke on several issues affecting the insurance industry, said that the new insurance regulator should improve upon the achievements of Daniels. He condemned the unprofessional practice of rate cutting in the sector which he wanted Kari to prioritise amongst other key issues he should focus on during his tenure. He also wants him to address the issues of statutory deposits with CBN, enforcement of compulsory insurance as

Chukwuma

Commissioner for Insurance, Mohammed Kari

I wIll say that we are not yet at that level that Is desIrable because the

penetratIon Is stIll low.

people are not

very conscIous of Insurance and they do thIs across the country well as further creating more insurance awareness. On the issue of rate-cutting, he said “that while competition is good, price should not be the only basis for competition as this has led to intense price war which has invariably robbed the industry of huge amount of premiums yearly. Orimolade pointed out that insurance companies need to “focus on creating value for customers and adopt risk-based pricing rather than rate-cutting. He said there is need for product innovation, increase in awareness as well as build trust and confidence in the customers by keeping the ultimate promise of prompt claim

settlement”. To the insurance expert, the foregoing are the issues that should be addressed by the new insurance commissioner There is no denying the fact that majority of the stakeholders that spoke with National Mirror on what they would want Kari to achieve in his tenure as commissioner for insurance and NAICOM’s chief executive officer are mostly managing directors of various insurance companies. Against the foregoing background, there is no denying the fact that the views of those who commented should serve as a template from which the new

insurance commissioner could leverage on in order to achieve success. In her views, the new President of the investiture of the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN), Lady Isioma Chukwuma, noted that it would not be difficult for Kari to meet the expectations of the stakeholders that want him to consolidate on the achievements of his predecessor. Chukwuma, who lamented that the industry was yet to get to where it ought to be in terms of its contribution to national development, advocated the need for the industry regulator to strengthen its enforcement mechanisms with a view to ensuring that the prevailing abuses in the sector are curtailed. She said: “I will say that we are not yet at that level that is desirable because the penetration is still low. People are not very conscious of insurance and they do this across the country. The rate of penetration is still very low and that is why everything is being done to create awareness that is necessary and hopefully, people would be encouraged to take insurance policies and give it attention that they require. According to her, the new NAICOM chief would do the industry a lot of good if he could focus on the area of compliance enforcement because it is one thing to lay down the policy guidelines, it is another thing to enforce them. She projected that “if the regulator can help us impress it upon the necessary organizations and agencies to carry out enforcement, this will also help the industry” Finally, industry analysts and most people with fair knowledge of the industry believe that it will be desirable for the new NAICOM’s helmsman to consolidate on the achievements of his immediate predecessor to pave way for a more virile insurance industry for the country, in terms of its penetration and contribution to the nation’s economic growth.

Price should not be only basis for competition – Orimolade

he Managing Director of Law Union & Rock Insurance Plc, Mr. Jide Orimolade, has cautioned against the increasing prioritization of price in the industry operators’ strive for larger share of the market. The industry expert explained that whereas effective pricing has its benefits, it should not be the only criterion driv-

ing competition as this will deny the industry of its revenue potential if over-prioritised by operators. He said: “While competition is good, price should not be the only basis for competition as this has led to intense price war which has invariably robbed the industry of huge amount of premiums yearly. He said insurance

companies needed to focus on creating value for customers and adopt risk-based pricing rather than rate-cutting as well as pursue innovation in product development, increase in awareness and build confidence in the customers by keeping the ultimate promise of prompt claim settlement. On the issue of statutory deposit with the Central Bank of Nigeria,

CBN, he said it would be nice if the new Commissioner could push for improved interest rate than what currently obtains. This is just as he commended the efforts of the Commission and advocated the need for increased enforcement drive, including the setting up of an Insurance Task Force by the Commission in conjunction with other stakeholders,

to further improve on the level of compliance. Orimolade, during an interactive chat with journalists when he paid a courtesy visit to the new Commissioner for Insurance, Alhaji Mohammed Kari, said that the “appointment attests to his hard work, diligence and passion in contributing towards the growth and progress of the Nigerian insurance

industry”.

Orimolade

Money

Tuesday, August 18, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

CBN moves to enforce payment system rules, policies In order to curb fraudulent activities in the financial sector to barest minimum, the Central Bank of Nigeria has unveiled plans to sanction erring banks, microfinance banks , primary mortgage institutions, mobile money operators and other payment system providers for any infraction of the regulatory guidelines. UDO ONYEKA reports.

he Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN has vowed to sanction any institution that violates monetary policy rules and guidelines as a strategic preventive option aimed at minimizing frauds in the financial system. Recent signals in the financial services sector indicate that the wave of frauds was causing stakeholders serious concern such that strict enforcement of the regulatory tools had become more imperative than ever before now. For instance, the Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation, NDIC, in its 2014 annual report said Banks recorded N25.61bn fraud in 2014. According to the report the rate of fraud in the banking sector rose by 182.77 per cent from 3,786 cases in 2013 to 10,612 cases as of December 2014 and the amount involved within the period under review increased by N3.81bn or 17.5 per cent from N21.8bn to N25.61bn. The report said that as a result of the increase in the level of the fraud in the industry, the expected/actual loss rose from N5.76bn in 2013 to N6.19bn in 2014. It attributed the fraud rate increase to the astronomical rise in online banking transactions including fraudulent transfers and withdrawals. “The Deposit Money Banks reported 10,612 fraud cases in 2014 compared with 3,786 cases reported in 2013, representing an increase of 182.77 per cent. “In the same vein, the amount involved increased by 3.81bn or 17.5 per cent from 21.80bn in 2013 to 25.61bn in 2014. “Also the expected/actual loss increased from 5.76bn in 2013 to 6.19bn in 2014. The increase of 7.57 per cent in expected/actual loss in fraud and forgeries was mainly due to the astronomical increase in the incidence of web-based, online banking, Automated Teller Machine and fraudulent transfer/withdrawal of deposit frauds,” the report said. Corroborating the rising cases of fraud in the sector, Chairman of Nigeria Electronic Fraud Forum ,NeFF, Dipo Fatokun, who is also Director of Banking and Payments System, CBN, the number and size of frauds against organisations are increasing just as the volume and size of transactions are equally on the increase. Also, Head, Information System Security, Nigeria Inter Bank Settlement Systems, NIBSS, Olufemi Fadairo, said that 2014 was quite alarming in terms of fraud as it recorded very high vol-

CBN Gov. Emefiele

NDIC MD, Umaru Ibrahim

The DeposiT Money Banks reporTeD 10,612 frauD cases in 2014 coMpareD wiTh 3,786 cases reporTeD in 2013, represenTing an increase of 182.77 per cenT ume of fraudulent transactions, noting that the unreported cases were far higher than the reported cases of frauds perpetuated in the system. Therefore to curtail this ugly trend the CBN in a circular dated July 29 and signed by Fatokun to all Deposit Money Banks, Microfinance Banks, MFBs, Primary Mortgage Institutions, Mobile Money Operators, Switches and other payments system service providers said it would sanction erring banks / epayment service providers for infractions of payments system rules and regulation. “Further to the provisions of section 47(3) of the CBN Act 2007, requiring the CBN to ‘prescribe rules and regulation for the efficient operations of clearing and settlement system’, the bank hereby stipulates the following applicable sanctions to erring banks and payments system service providers for infringements of extant guidelines, circulars, rules and regulation issued by the bank on all forms of electronic payments system”, the circular said. According to the circular, for the ATM some of the infractions and penalties include; non compliance with payment card industry data security standard, PCIDSS, attracts a fine of N250,000 and a penalty charge of N50,000 per week for as long as non compliance persists. Others are non compliance of ATM terminals with EMV levels 1 and 2 attracts fine and penalty as PCIDSS non compliance. “Failure to provide audit trails and journals for ATM transactions attract

fine of N50, 000 with full refund to the customer. Downtime of ATM for more than 72 hours without cogent reasons attracts fine of N100, 000. Non availability or non functional help desk contacts attracts fine of 100,000 and penalty charge of N50, 000 per week for as long as non-compliance exists and Failure to respond to the customer/ CBN on ATM complaints within 72 hours attracts fine of 100, 000 per day”, the circular stated. The CBN said in case of Transaction Switching Services any infraction of the guideline attracts initial fine of N100, 000 and full liability for compromise due to non-compliance. It also said for bulk payments and ACH, any infraction attracts penalty stipulated on the guidelines on Electronic Payments of salaries, pensions, suppliers and taxes in Nigeria. On the issue of card issuance, stored value/ prepaid cards and debit cards, the CBN said banks are to be fully liable for any fraud arising from the use of the card. And that disciplinary action would be taken on bank staff found culpable. “On Point-of –Sale, PoS fraud arising from non-compliance with transaction value limit, the scheme operator is liable for amount above set limit. Lack of inter operability and inter connectivity to other systems would attract directive to operator to disable the PoS. “On rendition of returns and late submission of monthly returns attracts fine of N50, 000m per day of delay”, it said.

The apex bank further said promoters of companies that engage in e- payment operations without obtaining CBN approval would be prosecuted and the companies closed down, “ adding that non compliance with any other CBN e- payment directive or circular shall attract fine of N50, 000 per week of non compliance and full liability for any fraud arising from non compliance.”. Also the circular said that the CBN would apply name and shame of responsible officers and entity, blacklisting of operator or service providers and removal from office of principal officers of operators and service providers in some cases. However, as part of efforts to nip the menace in the bud, Fatokun had said early this year that the NeFF forum has created an avenue for information exchange and knowledge sharing on fraud issues among key stakeholders to foster collaborative and proactive approach to tackling the challenge and limiting occurrences and losses. According to him, this will proffer solutions that restore public confidence on card usage and electronic payments in general. Fadairo, however disclosed that internet and ATMs remain the most popular channels for e-fraud while Point of Sales (PoS) terminals have been discovered to be the preferred channel of cash out for fraudsters. Taking polls on the last two years’ data of NIBSS, it appeared that in 2014 there was 1,461 e- fraud volume, with attempted value of N7.8bn and actual loss value of N6.216bn. For the previous year, the fraud volume recorded was 855 with attempted value of N19.149bn, while actual loss value was N485.194m. Giving further analysis on the reported cases of frauds in the past two years, Fadairo explained that while there was a significant rise of up to 78 per cent in the volume of fraudulent cases in 2014, the value of attempted fraudulent transactions reduced, noting that there was a huge increase in the moneys that were actually lost to fraudsters. He said further analysis show that the percentage of actually lost value as against attempted fraud value increased up to 77 per cent from 35 to 80 per cent within one year. According to him, the fraudulent cases help to emphasize the need for more security measures in handling payment cards as individuals, and improved security practices as corporate bodies to help minimize fraud rates.

Global Business

Tuesday, August 18, 2015

Investors to look at Fed, earnings with China filter

nvestors will comb through Wednesday’s minutes of the most recent Federal Reserve meeting for indications on how the U.S. central bank will react to the recent yuan devaluation and the further decline in oil prices. The recent outperformance of bank stocks and underperformance of utilities, both on expectations of higher Treasury yields, support current market bets that the Fed will raise rates for the first time in nearly a decade after its mid-September meeting. The performance gap between the two sectors widened in favor of financials to its largest since May 2008 shortly after the Fed’s July meeting. But this week, following the nearly three per cent devaluation in China’s currency and a steepening decline in oil prices, it narrowed to its tightest in more than a month. Strategists at Bank of America/Merrill Lynch said in client notes in the past week that China’s move may be the early stages of a near 10 per cent devaluation of the yuan against the U.S. dollar CNY= over the next year. Such a move could translate to a 5-per cent drop in Brent crude LCOc1, they said. “Most likely, there will be more volatility in the market and part of the reason is oil prices and the worry that somehow the price of

oil is a reflection of inflation and deflation,” said Quincy Krosby, market strategist at Prudential Financial in Newark, New Jersey. “The lower [oil] goes, the more it is a deflationary barometer. The lower it goes, the more difficulty the Fed has raising rates.” The Fed mentioned “earlier declines in energy prices” on its latest statement on July 29, and their downward pressure on inflation. Since that day, U.S. crude CLc1 has fallen more than 12 per cent. Even if the yuan seems to have stabilized, its 3-percent drop against the U.S. dollar and the possibility of a further slide will continue to be something to watch for highly exposed companies. The devaluation did hit companies in several sectors, including high-end retailers like Coach (COH.N) and Tiffany (TIF.N). Apple (AAPL.O), which gets about 23 per cent of its revenues from China, according to Morgan Stanley, tumbled this week to a near seven-month low. For importers from China like Target (TGT.N), Walmart (WMT.N) and Home Depot (HD.N), both reporting next week, the tailwind is expected

China’s Central Bank Gov. Zhou Xiaochuan

to be offset by the expectation of a slower global economic growth, according to Michael Yoshikami, CEO of Destination Wealth Management in Walnut Creek, California. Estee Lauder (EL), expected to post earnings on Monday, is among the first high-end retailers to report after the yuan devaluation. Its stock was on track on Friday to close the largest weekly drop since late May. “The whole Chinese luxury goods market, especially imported beauty products, has been on fire for years, but in the last year things have really turned around,” said Kim Forrest, senior equity research analyst at Fort Pitt Capital Group in Pittsburgh.

Eurozone economy grows by 0.3%

he economies of the 19 countries that use the euro grew by about 0.3 per cent between April and June, according to official figures. The first estimate from Eurostat marks a slight slowdown from the 0.4 per cent registered in the first quarter. The statistics agency also announced that inflation in the eurozone was 0.2 per cent

EU Bank President Mario draghi

in July, unchanged from June’s figure. Earlier, it was announced that France’s economy did not grow at all between April and June. But growth in the first three months of the year was revised up from 0.6 per cent to 0.7 per cent the statistics office Insee said. The German economy grew 0.4 per cent, up from 0.3 per cent in the first quarter. Italy’s economy grew 0.2 per cent, slowing from 0.3 per cent the previous quarter. In the wider 28-member EU, GDP grew 0.4 per cent, which was unchanged from the previous quarter, while inflation was 0.1 per cent in July, unchanged from June. Eleven member states reported deflation in the month, with Cyprus recording the biggest drop at -2.4 per cent. Malta reported the most inflation at 1.2 per cent. French finance minister Michel Sapin said his country’s

economy was still on track to reach the government’s forecast of one per cent growth for the year. He highlighted strong exports, which grew 1.7 per cent in the quarter, having grown 1.3 per cent in the previous quarter. Growth in consumption by households slowed sharply from 0.9 per cent to 0.1 per cent, while production of goods and services contracted slightly. Exports also grew strongly in Germany, helped by the weaker euro. Finland’s economy recorded a second quarter of contraction, down 0.4 per cent having recorded negative growth of 0.1 per cent in the first quarter. On Thursday, preliminary figures from Greece suggested its economy grew a considerably better-than-expected 0.8 per cent in the second quarter, while the first quarter’s figure was revised from a 0.2 per cent contraction to zero growth.

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Exclusive: Germany’s Mann + Hummel buys U.S. peer for $1.3-1.4bn

erman car parts maker Mann + Hummel is buying U.S. firm Affinia’s auto filter unit for $1.3-1.4 billion, a person familiar with the transaction said on Sunday. The deal is the third within a year in which a U.S. auto supplier is bought by a German peer, following ZF’s takeover of TRW and Mahle’s acquisition of Delphi’s air-conditioning unit. Consolidation has heated up in the sector, as valuations are high and suppliers are vying for size in a battle over pricing power in talks with car makers. Canada’s Magna scooped up Germany’s Getrag in mid-July, while Fiat Chrysler is said to be exploring a sale of its auto parts unit Magneti Marelli. Affinia’s private equity owner Cypress put the company’s filtration business, which last year posted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization of $156 million, up for sale this year, asking investment bank Baird to find a buyer. The asset also attracted interest from peers including U.S.-based Donaldson, France’s Valeo and Germany’s Freudenberg.

Mann + Hummel and Affinia were not immediately available for comment outside business hours. Affinia is the former replacement parts business of car parts maker Dana, which sold the unit to Cypress and co-investor OMERS in 2004 for $1.1 billion. The filtration business, which specializes in after-market oil, fuel, air and coolant filters, posted 2014 sales of $967 million. Affinia’s South America unit, with annual revenues of $430 million, was sold separately in June. Last year, Affinia’s chassis components business was sold to FederalMogul. The whole group had net debt of $766 million at the end of 2014.

Germany Chancellor, Angela-Merkel

Hedge funds added Apple shares in second quarter, filings show

op U.S. hedge funds bought new shares of Apple Inc(AAPL.O) during the second quarter or added to their existing positions, ahead of a decline in the value of shares of the iPhone maker. Filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission released on Friday showed David Tepper’s Appaloosa Management LP held 2.5 million shares of Apple as of June 30, a new position, and that Cliff Asness’ AQR Capital Management added 718,283 shares in the quarter to bring its total holdings to 7.6 million. Other so-called 13F filings showed Philippe Laffont’s Coatue Management added 860,000 Apple shares during the three months ended June 30, giving it 8.5 million shares in all, and that London hedge fund manager Nevsky Capital LLP added 751,000 shares of Apple in the quarter, increasing its stake to 2.6 million shares. Apple shares gained less than 1.0 percent during the second quarter to close at $125.43 on June 30. The stock is now about 8 percent lower, closing at $115.96 on Friday, after the company gave a weak fourth-quarter revenue forecast and missed some iPhone sales targets. The decline could have exposed the second-quarter hedge fund buyers to losses, though some might

have exited Apple before it fell from a high of $132.07 on July 20. At the end of the first quarter Apple was one of the most popular stocks owned by hedge funds, according to Goldman Sachs research. Their analysis of 685 hedge funds with nearly $1 trillion in equity assets found 69 of the funds had Apple among their top 10 holdings. Still, during the first quarter of this year a number of hedge funds cut their stakes in Apple as its shares rallied, previous filings showed. Apple remains the most valuable U.S. company, with a market capitalization of $657 billion. Among other hedge funds, filings showed Tiger Eye Capital LLC added 25,000 shares of Apple to bring its total stake to 356,502 shares, filings showed.

Apple phone

Tuesday, August 18, 2015

Capital Market

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Recapitalization: Prospects for operators’ inability to meet Sept deadline high Johnson okanlawon

he Association of Stockbroking Houses of Nigeria, ASHON, has expressed fears that the persistent downward trend in the nation’s stock market would negatively affect stockbrokers’ recapitalisation plans. Under the new minimum capital base, the capital requirement for brokers/dealers was increased from N70 million to N300 million. That of brokers was raised to N200 million from N40 milion, while that of dealers was hiked to N100 million from N30 million. The minimum capital requirement for issuing houses was increased from N150 million to N200 million, while that of underwriters was raised from N100 million to N200 million. Registrars saw their minimum capital requirement increased to N150 million from N50 million, while the requirement for trustees was increased to N300 million from N40million. Rating agencies were not left out as their minimum capital requirement was increased to N150 million from N20 million. The Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, which had initially announced December 31, 2014 as the deadline, extended the deadline by nine months in December after repeated calls by operators for an extension, and possibly a review of the capital requirement. The operators had argued that insisting on the deadline and withdrawing the licences of those who failed to meet the deadline would throw the market into crisis, given the several challenges now undermining its growth. They pointed to the dwindling prices of crude oil and the impact on the economy, especially the forced devaluation of the naira and the hike in interest rates, as reasons for the call among other things. Although activities in the capital market are still depressed with the stock market’s performance for the year in negative territory, the SEC said it would stick with the deadline. A circular, dated June 1, 2015, to the market operators read in part, “The Securities and Exchange Commission wishes to remind all Capital Market Operators who have yet to comply with the new minimum capital requirement to do so before the deadline of September 30, 2015. “Note that the commission is committed to this deadline and would not grant any further extension.” The ASHON President, Mr. Emeka Madubuike, said that continuous dilution in the value of equities was a big threat to the exercise. “The major issue we have in this recapitalisation programme is the dilution in value

NSE DG, Oscar Onyema

Madubuike

There are people who, as of December, haD meT The requiremenT anD are in Danger of going below The requireD level Due To The sliDe in The markeT because the market has lost over 33 per cent since October,” he said. Already, a committee from the NSE and Central Securities Clearing System , CSCS is already working toward that deadline and in the next few weeks, those that will meet the target would be known. Madubuike pointed out that some members who had shored up their capital using equities were in danger of going below the new capital base announced by the SEC in 2013. He said

that most stockbrokers’ assets were in equities, noting that the lull in the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) would affect their capitalisation exercise. According to him, there are people who, as of December, had met the requirement and are in danger of going below the required level due to the slide in the market. “This is something we need to talk about if the trend continues in the next few weeks, whether to use a prior date as the valuation date,”he said.

He said that the association had drawn the attention of the commission to the development, noting that it would engage SEC if the trend continued. The ASHON president said that the association’s major objective was to ensure that all members remained in the market, operating at one level or the other. The investment expert, however, warned that people should not be frustrated out of the market in the name of capitalization, adding that the classification of the new capital base for stockbrokers would help the market because people would be accommodated. He explained further that people would make business decisions to determine at what level they wanted to operate, whether as a broker/dealer, broker or dealer or stockbroker. Meanwhile, the President of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede has expressed support for the recapitalisation of market operators, saying stock broking companies would meet the September 30 deadline. He said “Our view at the NSE is that stronger and more capitalised members, means a better and stronger market. So we are endorsing it wholly. I think the SEC was very magnanimous in extending the deadline from December 2014 due to the oil price crash and other events of 2014 to give our members a bit more time to get themselves ready for recapitalisation. “The nine months extension ends in September, and it is my believe that by then, members of the exchange, broker dealers among others, would have done what is necessary to meet the capital requirement.”

Morgan Stanley’s fragile five swells to 10 in selloff

orget the “Fragile Five.” These days, strategists at Morgan Stanley are worried about what could be called the “Troubled Ten.” That’s how many nations they say are particularly at risk since China devalued the yuan. While the analysts haven’t used the term themselves, it’s as good a description as any for the currencies -- from the Brazilian real to Peru’s sol and South Korea’s won -- which have trading ties making them susceptible to a slowdown in the world’s secondbiggest economy. “It’s all about vulnerability,” said Hans Redeker, the Londonbased global head of foreign-exchange strategy at Morgan Stanley. “Major victims of the policy change this time are currencies of countries with high export

exposure and export competitiveness with China.” Morgan Stanley was right about the Fragile Five. Those currencies include four of the developing world’s eight worst performers since the phrase was coined in 2013. The real, together with Turkey’s lira, South Africa’s rand, the Indian rupee and Indonesian rupiah, have suffered as rising global interest rates make it more difficult for the countries to finance their current-account deficits. For Redeker, the biggest challenge now is a lack of global growth. While central banks in Japan, Europe and the U.S. have rolled out record stimulus, the world’s economy will expand at the slowest pace since 2009 this year, according to International Monetary Fund forecasts.

That “lukewarm” recovery means China won’t be able to rely on exports to drive expansion, said the strategist, whose firm was the second-highest ranked forecaster of the dollar versus the yuan, according to data compiled by Bloomberg for the four quarters ended June 30. In turn, the slower growth will also put China’s trading partners in the crosshairs. There’s some overlap between the Fragile Five and the new at-risk list, with the rand and real to be found in both. Also vulnerable to China’s slowdown are the Thai baht, the Singapore and Taiwan dollars, the Chilean and Colombian pe-

sos, Russia’s ruble and the won and the sol, according to Redeker. China is the top export destination for most of the countries on the troubled 10 list, data compiled by Bloomberg show. The nation accounted for 37 percent of South Africa’s exports and 30 percent of South Korea’s in 2014. Investors were jolted last week as China implemented the biggest depreciation of the yuan since 1994, raising concern that authorities plan to use a lower exchange rate to shore up the weakest growth in more two decades. (Source – Bloomberg. com)

Features

Tuesday, August 18, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Malnutrition: A silent killer

t a two-day Media Dialogue on Child Malnutrition organised by the UNICEF in Kano, Kano State on August 6 and 7 2015 to sensitise the public on the scourge that malnutrition among under-age children has assumed in Nigeria, participants were unanimous that the situation required a multi-dimensional approach to resolve, no matter the challenge it posed. In situations that call for urgent attention, the norm is always to turn on the government at all levels for solution. Among the participants at the dialogue was Head of Nutrition at the Federal Ministry of Health, Dr. Chris Osa Isokpunwu, who, as expected, spoke on behalf of government. Although Isokpunwu acknowledged the trend of malnutrition in the country, which also described as disturbing, he told the gathering that government was not less concerned than other stakeholders in the quest to reduce malnutrition to the barest minimum. “Government is working hard at fashioning a sustainable approach to stem the spread,” the top health ministry official posited. “We are in concert with governments at the state levels and agencies as well as corporate organizations and individuals. In addition, we are also engaged in several collaborative efforts with major charity organisations across the world. “I think we are achieving results but we won’t stop working while expecting more positive results from our efforts.” Despite all this, why is the scourge still threatening to overshoot the bar, as it were? Isokpunwu said the blame should be placed squarely on the public. “Government needs support,” he said. “We have launched awareness campaigns aimed at upgrading our effort. But the communities across Nigeria should also take it up from us since they are the ones closer to the people for whom the campaign is meant. “Educating members of their communities cannot be a oneoff thing. We have told them they must continue to educate their people, especially on preventive measures.” It can be easily concluded that malnutrition has a direct link to poverty since it is often seen as being prevalent among the poor in the society. Nothing could be more shortsighted, Isokpunwu countered.

Recently, the UNICEF organised a media dialogue to sensitize the nation about the widespread nature of malnutrition among Nigerian children. In this atricle, AFOLABI GAMBARI, who was in Kano to cover the event, reports that urgent measures are required to stop the time bomb threatening the future of our children

It Is agreed that government alone cannot fInd solutIon to malnutrItIon.

nonetheless, no IndIvIdual

or organIsatIon can supercede government whIch has sole oblIgatIon to draw out sustaInable polIcIes and programmes for Dr. Chris Osa Isokpunwu spoke on behalf of the Federal Government

any cause

Dr. Isokpunwu (l) and other speakers at the event

“It is all about making children between ages 1 and 5 eat the right food at all times,” he further said, stressing, “Even among the children in Ikoyi and Victoria Island of Lagos, there is malnutrition. Likewise, it will surprise many that mal-

nutrition is also prevalent in areas of Nigeria where massive farming takes place and large quantity of food is produced. So, it means that although malnutrition is linked to poverty, it is also linked to ignorance.” But UNICEF’s Head of Me-

dia and External Relations, Mr. Geoffrey Njoku, contended that government has not done enough, considering the huge resources at its disposal. “It is agreed that government alone cannot find solution to malnutrition. Nonetheless, no indi-

vidual or organisation can supercede government which has sole obligation to draw out sustainable policies and programmes for any cause,” Njoku said. The UNICEF official was short of declaring that government has abdicated its responsibility to the country’s under-age children who he described as future leaders and hope of the nation. “We have seen how much attention government across board has paid to the kidnapped Chibok girls and the various efforts being employed to rescuing them,” he told the audience. “Without attempting to take anything away from government’s effort aimed at making the innocent girls come back alive, let me hasten to say that 230 kidnapped girls cannot be equal in proportion to over 2.3million Nigerian kids between ages 1 and 5 who die of malnutrition yearly, in addition to the one-third of children population in the country who suffer stunted growth due to malnutrition. “Interestingly, however, the amount required to launch a comprehensive war against malnutrition in Nigeria is little, compared to millions of dollars that are spent by government and individuals in government

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Tuesday, August 18, 2015

that must be stopped

Mallama Hajaratu Mohammed and her malnourished boy, Saidu

year-in and year-out. All we need at this time is a collective change of heart and passion for the less-privilege.” Njoku’s submission is also corroborated by the fact that government often focuses on development without linking the negative impact, namely that a population of stunted people can ultimately pose adverse effects on the development, no matter the funds expended on the “development drive”. Further illumination on the foregoing sufficed at the Yan ‘Awaki Primary Health Care Centre, where participants at the dialogue visited during the two-day event. Located in the densely Yan ‘Awaki suburb of the ancient Kano City, the centre, commissioned on December 31 2007 by the administration of former governor Ibrahim Shekarau, depicted a place in dire need of urgent sustenance. The muddy entrance, itself depicting a lack of sustainable drainage system around the area, could discourage firsttime visitors who might be led to believe there is no activity inside the centre. At being ushered in, the sight of women and their stunted children waiting for treatment was not particularly palatable. Few of the distraught mothers got their spirit lifted nonetheless, probably believing that the visitors who looked well-fed and brightly had “brought us good tiding from the government”, until the Matron on duty, Mrs. Maryam Abdullahi, told them in Hausa that, “These visitors have not brought you anything as gifts. They are journalists and UNICEF officials. They have come only to see your condition and

Features

Matron of the Yan ‘Awaki Primary Health Care Center Maryam Abdullahi (in red head gear) played good host to media dialogue participants at the center

Participating journalists at the media dialogue

then see areas where they can sensitise the public to come to your assistance in quick time.” As the Matron spoke, relief overwhelmed the parents. The eyes of her lieutenants glowed, as though they also got the relief they desired. The mothers who came to the center with their stunted children numbered about 25 and the Matron informed that they could be more on other days, depending on their scheduled appointment. Perhaps, the most pathetic attraction was from Mallama Hajaratu Mohammed, whose 24-month-old boy, Saidu, could still not walk nor eat alone. Indeed, he was scarcely aware of his environment. “I didn’t know my son was suffering from malnutrition as I saw

his weight loss only as another ailment to be treated and cured fully with time,” the mother told National Mirror in Hausa. “But I became uncomfortable when I discovered that there could be more to his stunted growth, especially as children of his age in the neighbourhood grew normally. It was here (at Yan ‘Awaki Primary Health Centre) that I was made to understand he had suffered malnutrition,” she added, tears streaming from her eyes down the cheeks as emotion overwhelmed her. ”I need help to keep my son alive and when the Matron told you people (journalists and UNICEF officials) that we need help, I was touched and now I believe the help is on the way,” the ago-

nised mother further said. There are about 30 more malnutrition treatment centers in Kano in what seemed the government’s determined effort at curbing the scourge, according to information obtained at the Yan ‘Awaki center. In view of the threatening spread of malnutrition, however, not a few of the visitors concluded that the efforts to kill the “silent killer” are still far-fetched, except and until a media campaign is launched and sustained. No one can deny the fact that children’s nutritional status is the reflection of their overall health, as is the “cornerstone for their survival, health and development.” It is also certain that benefits of addressing malnutrition can

be felt in a nation’s health, education, economy and even earnings for families in particular and the nation in general. But is there really a sustainable method of preventing malnutrition, even in an ailing economy as Nigeria’s? Dr. Isokpunwu has an answer: “The 1, 000-day period, from the start of a woman’s pregnancy until her child’s second birthday, represents a critical window of opportunity. Adequate nutrition during this period can avert malnutrition, ensuring that children have the best possible opportunity to grow, learn and rise out of poverty. When nutrition is not optimised during the 1, 000-day window, the effects are often irreversible.”

Global Business

Exclusive: GE expected to win EU approval for $14bn Alstom deal

eneral Electric (GE.N) is expected to secure EU approval for its proposed 12.4-billioneuro ($13.8 billion) bid for French peer Alstom’s (ALSO.PA) power business, its largest ever deal, two people familiar with the matter said on Friday. The green light from the European Commission will come 14 years after it rejected General Electric’s (GE) attempt at a $42 billion takeover of Honeywell International (HON.N), despite clearance by U.S. authorities. The EU veto resulted in a barrage of criticism from U.S. officials, including U.S. President George W. Bush. The current deal has the backing of the French state, which will buy up to 20 per cent of Alstom from construction group Bouygues (BOUY.PA) once the GE bid is cleared. The U.S. conglomerate, which offered concessions to head off the Commission’s worries about the deal a month ago, improved its package last week. “GE is likely to get approval,” one of the sources said. The second source said GE had originally offered to divest some manufacturing and services activities and research and development units around the world, including

Cadillac

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

J.C. Penney loss narrows as Sephora stores help attract shoppers

.C. Penney Co Inc (JCP.N) reported a smaller-than-expected quarterly loss, helped by demand for home goods and high-end Sephora beauty products, indicating that the department store operator’s turnaround efforts were starting to pay off. Shares of the company, which also said the current quarter was off to a strong start, rose as much as 9 percent in early trading on Friday. J.C. Penney has been increasing the number of stores run by popular beauty brand Sephora — owned by luxury giant LVMH (LVMH.PA) — within its stores to attract shoppers. “Having Sephora in stores helps J.C. Penney drive sales, but it also en-

Alstom product

a facility in Switzerland and Alstom’s Power Systems Manufacturing operation. It was not clear what changes GE had made to improve its offer. GE shares doubled their gains after the Reuters story and were trading one per cent up at $26 at 1757 GMT. The people said Italian company Ansaldo Energia, which is 40 per cent owned by Italian statebacked investment fund Fondo Strategico Italiano and another 40 per cent by China’s Shanghai Electric (601727.SS), was seen as the preferred buyer for the assets. Commission spokesman Ri-

cardo Cardoso and Alstom declined to comment. The Commission has set a Sept. 11 deadline for its decision. GE spokesman Jim Healy said: “We submitted a remedy package that addresses the Commission’s concerns and preserves the economic rationale of the deal.” The EU antitrust authority in June warned of the reduced competition in Europe resulting from the deal as GE’s only rival would be Germany’s Siemens (SIEGn. DE), with Ansaldo seen as a niche player. A third global rival would be Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems.

Hedge funds take fresh look at General Motors in second quarter everal prominent hedge fund managers made bigger bets on U.S. automaker General Motors (GM.N) during the second quarter, despite the company’s battling a deadly ignition defect and tangling with shareholders over its stock price. Greenlight Capital’s David Einhorn bought 7.9 million shares between April and the end of June, raising his investment to 14.6 million shares. Einhorn had told investors about the stake but details on how much he actually bought were

Tuesday, August 18, 2015

only released on Friday in a regulatory filing. For Einhorn it marks the return to a company he had long invested in but exited nearly a year earlier. Soroban Capital opened a new position in GM, buying 3.5 million shares, while Leon Cooperman’s Omega Advisors bought 1.8 million shares, raising the firm’s stake to 3.6 million shares. Investment managers are required to say what they owned at the end of every quarter and these socalled 13-F filings, while backward

looking, often highlight new investment trends. GM ranks as one of the most iconic U.S. companies. But it faced a distracting battle with shareholders earlier this year when a group threatened to mount a proxy fight for board seats in order to push the carmaker to give some of its cash to investors. The company approved plans to buy back $5 billion in stock. Hedge fund mogul David Tepper was one of the investors pressuring the company early in the year and in the second quarter his Appaloosa Management bought an additional 3.5 million shares, raising its stake to 18.8 million. Taconic Capital Advisors, a longtime investor, bought only a few more shares, to push its investment to 8.2 million. Kyle Bass’ Hayman Capital, one of the dissident investors, kept its stake unchanged. Faulty ignition switches have been linked to more than 100 deaths. But stronger second-quarter earnings helped the stock price gain last month even though it is still off 10 percent for the year, closing at $31.50 on Friday.

J.C. Penney Stores

courages shoppers to visit, so it helps to drive customer traffic,” Neil Saunders, chief executive of research firm Conlumino, said. “Those people may then go on to buy other things.” J.C. Penney set up more Sephora outlets within its stores following pressure from activist investor Bill Ackman during an ill-fated attempt to go upmarket. Sephora outlets accounted for 12 percent of the company’s sales last year, along with women’s accessories. J.C. Penney had 515 Sephora stores as of Aug. 1. Home products at J. C. Penney are selling well because it has relatively less competition than fashion, Saunders said. J.C. Penney’s net loss narrowed to $138 million, or 45 cents per share, in the second quarter ended Aug. 1, from $172 million, or 56 cents per share, a year earlier. Excluding items, the company reported a loss of 41 cents per share. Revenue rose 2.7 per cent to $2.88 billion. Analysts on average had expected a loss of 48 cents per share and revenue of $2.86 billion, according to Thomson Reuters .

Greece crisis: IMF calls for Greek debt relief after bailout approved

he International Monetary Fund has called on eurozone ministers to offer Greece debt relief, following the approval of a new bailout deal. Greece will receive up to 86bn euro (£61bn) in loans over the next three years, in return for tax rises and spending cuts. IMF chief Christine Lagarde welcomed the agreement, but warned Greek debt had become unsustainable. She said the country needed significant relief “well beyond what has been considered so far”. “Greece cannot restore debt sustainability solely through actions on its own,” she added. The BBC’s Adam Fleming in Brussels says finance ministers will consider possibly writing off some of the country’s debts in the autumn. The first tranche of loans will be for 26bn euro. This will include 10bn euro to recapitalise Greek banks and 16bn euro in several instalments - the first of which will be for 13bn euro and will be delivered in time for Greece to repay about 3.2bn euro to the European Central Bank (ECB) by 20 August. European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said the deal sent a message “loud and clear” that Greece will stay in the eurozone. It comes at a political cost for

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, who has faced a rebellion in his left-wing Syriza party. More than 40 MPs voted against him when parliament decided on the bailout agreement on Friday, after all-night talks. He managed to push it through with the help of members of the opposition. Dutch Finance Minister Jeroen Dijsselbloem, who chaired the Eurogoup meeting where the deal was hammered out, said he was confident it would “address the main challenges facing the Greek economy”. He acknowledged that dealing with debt was an important issue, especially for the IMF, but Germany has so far been vehemently against any debt “haircut” that would cost creditors billions of euros.

Juncker

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Tuesday, August 18, 2015

Police arraign self-acclaimed monarch for felony

Church of Latter Day Saint cleans up cemetery

Theophilus oNojegheN

RichaRd Ndoma

WARRI

he Police in Warri, Delta State have arraigned selfproclaimed monarch of Okere-Urhobo Kingdom, Chief Kesiena Okumagba before a Warri Magistrate Court 1 for an offence of felony by instigating youths to attack the Divisional Police Officer, DPO and men of the B’ Division of the Nigeria Police Force. In a separate case, the police are also charging Chief Okumagba for impersonation and other actions capable of breaching the existing peace in Okere-Urhobo Kingdom, Warri. The police had told the court that Chief Okumagba on 7th of August, 2015, conspired with others now at large to commit an act of felony in which serious assault were inflicted on the DPO and officers of the B’ Division which is a punishable offence under the criminal code of the Delta State 2006. Copies of the charges obtained by National Mirror reads, “That you Chief Kesiena Okumagba on the 7th day of August, 2015, at the Okere community, Warri, in the Warri Magistrate District do conspire with others now at large to commit felony in which serious assault by instigating youths to attack DPO B’ Division and his men, thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 516 of the Criminal Code Law Cap.C21 Vol. Laws of Delta State, 2006.” Other separate charges read, “That you Chief Okumagba sometimes between sometimes in January till date in OkereUrhobo kingdom...do conduct yourself in a manner likely to cause breach of peace in OkereUrhobo kingdom thereby committed an offence punishable under section 249(d) of the criminal code Cap. C21 volume 1, law of Delta State 2006. 21st day of July 2015, at the aforementioned district did represented yourself as the Orosuen of Okere-Urhobo kingdom by publishing yourself in the Vanguard newspapers that God chose you to be the king over Okere-Urhobo kingdom and thereby committed an offence under section 484 of the criminal code.” The accused however pleaded not guilty to the charges.The magistrate in charge of the case, Chief Magistrate Ena Odjugo however granted the accused bail.

CALABAR

he Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints at the weekend took its quarterly sanitation exercise usually embarked upon by members of the church to weed the grass on the bushy cemetery at the Spring Road, Essien Town and to the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH) premises. The Latter Day members who numbered about 500,came out enmasse with machetes, hoes and mow machines to clean up the two environments. Leaders of the sanitation team and Stake President Calabar Nigeria South Ephraim Ebong and President Calabar South Nigeria Stake, Victor Bassey stated that the clearing down of over grown grass at the Accident and Emergency/maternity and children wards of the hospital was in partial fulfillment of the social responsibility which the church owed the public. A staff of the hospital, Eugene Osim said he was happy with that development, saying that with the cutting down of the Over grass at the Premises,night duty hospital workers who were in the habit

of being afraid of being terrorized by hoodlums can now go on night duty with nursing any fear of being harrassed by a hoodlum by miscreant who used to hide on the over grown grass to do their nefarious activities. Bassey and Ehraim, said that the sanitation exercise was organized by the public affairs department was part of the social responsibility which the church owed the public. Victor Bassey is the President Calabar Nigeria stake of the Latter Day Saint doubles as a lecturer at the English Department, University of Calabar and his counterpart who is also another President Nigeria Calabar South Stake Ebong Ehraim told journalists shortly after they finished cleaning up the Essien Town Cemetery and the UCTH bushy premises said that the Church decided to take its sanitation exercise to the cemetery because there was rumour making the rounds within the area that hoodlums do take refuge in the cemetery adding that because of the forest like nature of the abandoned cemetery crimanals had taken the place as their save heavens. The stake Presidents main-

tained that the sanitation exercise embarked upon by the Latter Day Saint would help to beautify the abandoned cemeteries adding that cemeteries if properly taken care off can sometimes be made to serve as recreational centres In some developed and advance societies adding that whereas here the reverse is the case in Africa there are allowed to served as a save heavens for criminals to take refuge. “Let the death be happy even in their place of rest and allowed to rest in a clean environment just as we do keep our houses clean let their place of rest be clean too”The stake president maintained. The Church of Latter Day Saint presidents urged the Cross River State government not to allow the cemetery to be dirty and bushy as if it were a refuse dung and described the cemetery as a place meant for the departed souls and love ones and stressed that it should be kept clean for the love ones. The duo said that every one would benefits from this selfless service adding that initially when members were ask to take the exercise to the cemetery almost all members who participated in the exercise retorted

“000h! why the cemetery” but immediately they saw their leaders kickstarted exercise, all participants swung int action. Reacting to the exercise,Paramount Ruler of Calabar Municipality and Ndidem of the Quo Nation,HRH Ndidem Dr.(Bar) Patrick Inok Oqua the V,said urged the church to inform the community whenever such a sanitation exercise comes up again so that he could ask his subject to join the Church in the cleaning exercise adding that afterall it is the community who are going to be be the major beneficiary of the sanitation execise. Representative of the Paramount Ruler,Ntufam Hayford Edet promised to join hands with the church to strengthen the next sanitation exercise adding that the Quo community were interested in the things of the Lord. “God had decided to increase us right from the day we started Quo for Christ Crusade.Our young girls started geting married at their prime,we no longer pour libation that our parents poured.Right from the moment that we. Embraced the things of God fortune began to pour on us”The Monarch said.

L-R: Delta State Deputy Commander NDLEA, Anietie Nse Inam; Director of Pharmaceutical Services, Ministry of Health, Pharm.(Mrs) Kate Ekouye and State Commander NDLEA, Mr.Frank Hanachor , during the 2015 NDLEA / NAPPMED Seminar on the Dangers of Drug Abuse Senisitation in Delta State.

FRSC committed to reducing accidents –Oyeyemi deNNis Naku, PORT HARCOURT

orried by the rising cases of road crashes, the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC said it was determined to ensure that accidents on the nation’s highways are reduced. Corps Marshal and Chief Executive of the FRSC, Boboye Oyeyemi stated this in Port Har-

court, Rivers State during a programme tagged ‘Operation Scorpion’ targeted mainly at truck drivers. Represented by FRSC’s Deputy Corps Marshal in Charge of Training, Standard and Certification, Mr. Ademola Lawal, it was the corps duty to ensure that the this category of transporters adhere to safety procedures. Oyeyemi said the training was aimed at making sure the roads

are safe and the rate of road crashes involving tanker drivers and others are reduced to the barest minimum, saying the FRSC will continue to have annual certification 0f the drivers. He said the drivers will be trained in all areas, adding that medical examination would be conducted on them to determine their (truck drivers) state of mind before handling their tankers.

“Some of them may have eye problems, high blood pressure and other ailments unknown to them; which explains why we are starting with enlightenment to educate them on some of these things,” he said. He regretted that a lot of accidents have been recorded involving tanker drivers on the highways, saying that they cannot fold CONTINUED ON PAGE42

Tuesday, August 18, 2015

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Gershom Bassey wants lawyer sacked, petitions INEC RichaRd Ndoma, CALABAR

ational Assembly Lawmaker representing Cross River Southern Senatorial district,Sen. Gershom Bassey has petitioned Chairman for Independent Electoral Commission,INEC Mrs. Amina Bala Zakari over alleged bias and incompetence of the commission’s lawyer Eni Okoi in the defense of a

petition filled against him at the election petition tribunal Prince Bassey Edet Otu. Otu, candidate for the labour Party is challenging the declaration of Gershom Bassey PDP candidate as winner for the Cross River Southern Senatorial district election by the Independent Electoral Commission. According to a petition which is addressed to INEC Chairman and made avail-

able to National Mirror in Calabar,Bassey expressed displeasure and disappointment in the activities and attitude of the INEC lawyer, Mr. Eni Okoi, and stressed that he has not only displayed his inability to diligently oppose the petition on behalf of the commission but had on several occasions publicly shown his bias and sympathy for the petitioners ( prince Otu of the Labour Party)

Barrister Eni Okoi’s perceived incompetence, bias and lack of commitment to the defense of the commission is now common knowledge in the eyes of the Tribunal, parties, counsel and other litigants/members of the public who throng the Tribunal during hearings. The Counsel openly shows his preference, interest and sympathy for the petitioner’s cause. He is always late to the Tribunal sittings and in the re-

L-R: Account Manager, Brandlife Limited, Vincent Umoh; winner of the Community Wash-a-thon, Mrs Chinyere Aholu; Brand Manager, Morning Fresh, Mina Georgewill and Territory Sales Manager, Morning Fresh, George Agwulonu, during the Prize Presentation to Winners of the Morning Fresh Community Wash-a-thon Competition in Port Harcourt, Rivers State at the weekend.

Gov. Dickson inaugurates volunteers scheme osahoN Julius YENAGOA

ayelsa State Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson on Monday charged beneficiaries of the State Volunteer Scheme to complement the efforts of security operatives to check criminal activities and other forms of social vices in their locality. Governor Dickson, who gave the charge at the presentation of stipends to beneficiaries at the secretariat of the Volunteer Scheme in Yenagoa, emphasized that, their primary responsibility was to collate communitybased intelligence on criminal acts such as kidnapping, cultism and other vices capable of breaching the peace in their domains. He urged the youths to liaise

with the Coordinator of the scheme, Chief Superintendent of Police, Mr. Emmanuel Asufi Idowu or its secretary, who doubles as Special Adviser on Youths, Mr. Felix Bonny Ayah as, “timely and correct information is key in assisting security agencies take proactive measures.” Describing the volunteers as ambassadors of the Restoration Government, Governor Dickson gave them kudos for their loyalty, steadfastness and peaceful disposition, which he noted, was largely responsible for the stability in the state. The Governor also pointed out that, the scheme was established to provide some form of social security for the volunteers whose membership were drawn from the 8 local government areas of the state until

they could find gainful employment and advised the youths to be wary of the antics of those who would want to destabilize the polity for their parochial interests. “I know that you carried a rigorous recruitment process out of which you have selected 3000 youths who are localized in their communities. Let me use this opportunity to state the sole purpose for this scheme, which is for the empowerment of youths. It is also meant to give welfare support for youths until they find their feet. “From this volunteer scheme, we expect you to rise up and become entrepreneurs; set up your own business with our support. From this scheme, we expect you will grow and find other useful jobs to grow and once you get that done, others will take

your place.” In his remarks, the Commissioner for Youths and Sports Development, Chief Collins Cocodia said 988 youths have so far received training in various fields, ranging from pipeline welding, solar energy among others as well as 115 youths in the oil and gas industry. Speaking, the State Coordinator of the Bayelsa Volunteer Scheme, Chief Superintendent of police, Mr. Emmanuel Asufi Idowu noted that, the government has released N46 million for the payment of allowances of the beneficiaries of the scheme. Responding, a beneficiary of the scheme, Mr. Collins Talent applauded Governor Dickson for his youth friendly posture and pledged their support to the present administration.

FRSC committed to reducing accidents –Oyeyemi CONTINUED ON PAGE41 their arms and watch the situation continue.Continuing, the Corps Marshal said, “Our training is going to be all encompassing. We are going to work on their temperament and their psychic. We are going to let them know their

actions on their highways,”he said, adding that the training will not be restricted to highway codes alone.”He noted that the roads belong to all and called on the tanker drivers to have respect for other road users and to shun overspending, overloading, as well as to en-

sure that trucks are road worthy. The FRSC officials also took the programme to Oyigb Local Government Area of the state where the Deputy Corps Marshal in-charge of Operations, Adei Abu addressed newsmen. Abu said the programme start-

ed in Lagos, saying no fewer than 40 persons have been arrested for various offenses including fake drivers’ license, worn out tyres among others, saying their penalties would be determined by mobile courts sitting at the various spots.

ply he filed at the Tribunal he did not front load result sheets for the election. He did not even plead most of them. In his application for the extension of time to file and serve the 3rd Respondent’s (INEC) reply to the petition, the affidavit in support of the application was deliberately marred with irreconcilable irregularities and inconsistencies designed to make the application fail”He said. Bassey averred that he had lost confidence in the ability and competence of Okoi to effectively represent the commission in the defense of the petition which is challenging his election and urged the nation`s INEC boss to replace the commission`s counsel with another lawyer who is competent to diligently prosecute the Commission’s defense. It is obvious that if Mr.Okoi is allowed to continue in this manner and is not replaced I will be greatly prejudiced as the Commission will not be able to defend the election it conducted, which I justly won”, Gershom maintained. reacting to the petition, Eni Okoi alleged that he has been constantly harassed by the 1st respondent and 2nd respondents (Gershom Bassey and PDP) and their agents stressing that the 1st respondent (Gershom Bassey) had personally had on several occasions called his telephone line that he (Okoi) should meet him at his residence at Asari Iso, Calabar to “perfect an inglorious and unethical act by stepping down for a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) to lead me at the Tribunal against the contemplation of my brief ”. Barr. Okoi alleged that former Attorney General, Barr. Attah Ochinke, State Secretary of the PDP, Hon. Goddy Ettah, Hon. Bassey Ewa and others had been calling his mobile phone and insisting that he allows a SAN lead him in the matter in order “ to falsify the 3rd respondent’s documents. “Attah Ochinke had during our telephone conversation on Saturday 4th of July, 2015 threatened that they (himself and his allies) could make anything happen. “Due to threats received I had to on Saturday 5th of July approach the Federal Housing Police to carry out surveillance at my private residence in order to secure the lives of my family members. I have also had to move out of my private residence in order to forestall any attack on myself and to ensure the safety of my family members.

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Politics

Tuesday, August 18, 2015

Kogi PDP elder advisory council endorses Wada for second term WALE IBRAHIM LOKOJA

head of the November 21 Kogi State gubernatorial election, Kogi State Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Elders Advisory Council, PDPEAC, has endorsed the candidacy of the incumbent governor, Captain Idris Wada for second term. Former governor of state and chairman of PDPEAC, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris, disclosed this while briefing the newsmen about the resolution of the council after a closed door meeting in Lokoja at weekend. Alhaji Ibrahim Idris explained that Captain Idris Wada has performed very well, stressing that Kogi PDP Elder Advisory Council and critical stakeholders have resolved that Wada should be allowed to contest for the second tenure. He pointed out that machinery should be put in place to ensure the return of Captain Wada as governor of Kogi state during the November 21st gubernatorial election in Kogi state. On the salient issue of Power rotation, the former governor stated that PDP has now arranged for power shift from 2019 at expiration of Captain Wada’s tenure of office. Alhaji Ibrahim Idris also commended Captain Wada for his efforts towards developing the state, adding that he is optimistic that if Captain Wada is elected for second term his record in terms of development will be achieve greatly. He assured that the

•Says power rotation to commence in 2019 party will come out victorious and stronger in the November 21st, 2015 governorship election in the state, stressing that the party has learnt its lesson from the party’s low performance in the last general election. He noted that with the credible performance of the party in the state House of Assembly elections, shows that the party has what it takes to maintain its leadership position in the states called on the member of the PDP elders advisory council to re-double their efforts towards victory, saying that with the calibre of people who constitute the council, the party has nothing to fear. “We have learnt our lessons from the presidential and national assembly elections. Our outing in the state House of Assembly elections shows that we can make the difference with determination. With the calibre of people I am seeing here we have nothing to fear. With hard

work we are sure of retaining our leadership position in the state. “Our party has done very well in terms of infrastructural development. We have what it takes to campaign. We are a party to beat in the next election,” he main-

tained. All those who spoke the three senatorial districts Central, West and East respectively also assured that the party has the structure on ground to ensure that the governorship position does not slip from the party.

Among the Party chieftains present at the meeting include the former Deputy Governor of Kogi state, Chief Patrick Adaba, Gen. (rtd) Salihu Ibrahim, Prince Olusola Akanmode, former Secretary to Kogi state Governor, Alhaji Musa Amadu,

Rivers State All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship candidate Chief Peterside Dakuku with Senator Magnus Abe, after being tear gassed PHOTO: ROTIMI OSASONA during a protest at the INEC headquarters in Abuja, recently.

APC chieftain drums support for aspirant WALE IBRAHIM LOKOJA

chieftain of the All Progressive Congress, APC, in Kogi State, Nwadinobi Kelechi, has described, Sunday Odoma Edibo, an aspirant on the platform of the party as the only real change agent Kogi needs to overcome its present woes.

Speaking with journalists in Lokoja, the

Mr. Timothy Omara, Ambassador Usman Bello and former SSG, Chief Olushola Ojo. Others are commissioners, members of the state Assembly, former chairmen of local council and host of party loyalists.

Kogi State capital yesterday, Kelechi stated that with its present level infrastructural decay and requires an experienced person like Edibo to save it from imminent collapse. He stated that Edibo remains the most transparent, credible and experienced amongst the numerous aspirants jostling for the ticket of the party and urged

delegates to vote massively for him in the forthcoming delegate election of the party. He expressed confidence that given his background as a former tutor and lecturer; Edibo will transform the educational sector, which Kelechi said is in a very bad shape due to the misrule of the PDP government in the state. He called on all other

aspirants to put the interest of the state and its people ahead of personal interest by allowing Edibo to fly the flag of the party in the gubernatorial election slated for November for the overall transformation of the state. He said: “I urged all the other aspirants to put the interest of the state, the people and the party above any personal interest by al-

lowing him (Edibo) to fly the flag of our great party. He is the man to beat.” He stressed the hope that Edibo will work towards generating massive employment opportunity through the effective development of the agricultural sector, thereby reducing unemployment, youths’ restiveness, poverty and under development.

‘Buharimania’ won presidential election for APC –Wada CONTINUED FROM PAGE 14 ever money we spend on projects. We are ensuring the completion of projects being executed and prompt delivery. On labour matters, we are very sensitive to the nature of our state; it is a civil service state. We ensure that the issue of down-sizing does not arise, trying to accommodate as many workers as we can within the resources available. We are blocking leakages and ensuring prudent management of resources available. For any project that we embark on, we properly cost them and award them to competent and reliable contractors to execute for us. We are also trying as much as possible to improve our IGR. Our financial system is

now computerised, reducing the use of paper work. These are efforts to reduce waste. The money to be accrued from this will go a long way, for the benefit of the state. On the debt profile, we have very low debt profile. We have overdraft of N1 billion, we have about N1.5 billion in term of money that is taken as counterpart funding for primary education. We have a bond that we subscribed to in the capital market amounting to N20 billion, which we have drawn N8 billion so far. We are using the bond money for the tourist projects, most of the projects are in the degree of 40 percent completion. We still have close to N12 billion to draw. We are in the process of doing that. That is our debt so far.

Some governors appealed to government for bailout, but some said it is loan for state. What is the real position? There are different elements on the bailout. Many states have fallen behind in the payment of salaries due to their workers. This became a national issue; the governors met and approached Mr. President on the matter. Governors did not use the word bailout, we went for financial restructuring. The governors were not disposed to that word bailout. But, two elements that I would recall are that, there were some monies that came from the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas, NLNG, money. That money was part of the dividend and part of the tax. It is the money that comes into the

federation account, and is shared among states on the basis of revenue allocation formula. Some people took that for bailout. In the presentation to Mr. President, we asked for short term loans for states that will be extended to five or seven years’ repayment. So that states will be able to accommodate the payment of salaries and structure our finances. More so, the tenure of bond in Nigeria is seven years; the Federal Government bond is within 20 and 25 years. We requested that those who have taken this bond, the Federal Government should reduce the amount the states pay every month for the bond. The issue of direct bailout was not agreed to, it was money to pay workers and restructure our finance.

Politics

Tuesday, August 18, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Gaidam’s promises and challenges of governance CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13 sustainability of the Shariah institutions that have been put in place. With gradual eradication of insurgency, the state will partner with other governments, agencies, Islamic religious organisations and Ulama groups to embark on de-radicalisation programme in order to forestall re-emergence of insurgency.” Likewise, in keeping with the important role played by traditional rulers as custodians of cultural heritage, norms, and values, the governor said his administration shall continue to improve on the welfare of emirs and other traditional rulers. In this regard he said a committee is working to review the salaries and overhead cost of emirate councils which is even overdue, to enable them effectively complement the efforts of government in promoting social peace and law and order and in mobilizing our citizens to embrace government policies and programmes. He added: “We will equally continue to accord priority to issues of peace, security and harmony among our citizens. Our administration will continue to render every assistance, support and cooperation to the security agencies in the state to achieve the objectives of crime free, secure, peaceful and prosperous society. “Based on our conviction that the activities of insurgents will come to an end very soon, Insha Allah, the state government has embarked on assessment of the destruction caused by the six-year insurgency in all the affected areas with a view to partnering with the APC-controlled Federal Government in order to carry out rehabilitation, reconstruction, re-integration and re-settlement programmes. “In this connection, let me make a loud and passionate appeal to the Federal Government under our able President Muhammadu Buhari, to establish a North-East Development Commission, NEDC, to execute a Marshal Plan for the sub-region.” Meanwhile, assenting the 2015 budget at Government House, Damaturu, the governor said that the N80.6 billion budget, with a reduction in recurrent expenditure of N815 million, was however the most realistic and people-oriented budget, because of the present economic situation and challenges of financing the budget. His words: “It is clear that the present economic situation poses serious challenges to us. Despite these challenges, I wish to assure this gathering that government shall continue to be accountable, prudent,

UNLESS THE OUTCOME OF THE PETITION AGAINST HIS ELECTION

FAVOURS HIM,

GAIDAM’S PROMISES TO THE PEOPLE OF

YOBE MAY REMAIN WHAT IT IS, JUST PROMISES

Gaidam

and transparent in spending public funds to meet its obligations of providing social services to the citizens. “In order to achieve this objective, we must be ready to make some sacrifice and consider ourselves as stakeholders in the development of the state. Let me assured you all that this occasion is not a mere signing of a document.” Gaidam also insisted that: “We will conduct government business strictly within the appropriation law with a view to achieving the objectives of improving the quality of life of the people.” On how to finance and implement the budget, he said: “As a way out of our predicaments, we must intensify our Internally Generated Revenue, IGR drive through effective revenue collection and ensure that leakages are blocked and all revenues generated are remitted into government accounts. “Accordingly, Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs must also avoid incurring unnecessary expenditures or liabilities.” He therefore, called on the entire people of the state to continue to rally round his administration to enable it fully implement policies and programmes that could impact positively on people’s lives. He also directed the office of the Secretary to the State Government and the Ministry of Budget and Planning to come up with the necessary guidelines for budget execution and monitoring. Defending the increase in capital expenditures, the Speaker of the Yobe State House of Assembly, Alhaji Adamu Dala Dogo, said that after extensive deliberations, analysis and wide range consultations with MDAs, Civil Society Organisations, CSO and other Stakeholders, the House deemed it necessary to “slightly reduce recurrent expenditures from N43.51 billion to N42.69 billion.” He said with this reduction, total capital expenditures stood at N37.91 billion or 47 per cent of the assented budget of N80.6 billion. He also congratulated the governor for conceiving a budget that is alanced, realistic and people-oriented aimed at achieving the

state’s goals of rapid socio-economic transformation. Dogo however noted: “The contemporary issues confronting us today are many but the dominant one is the urgent need for revitalization of the socio-elegant activities in the state which this budget seeks to squarely address by giving priority to the enhancement of education, fostering unity, peaceful and harmonious co-existence among the people of the state, stimulating economic growth, creating employment opportunities and encouraging communities to embark on self-help projects. “We also commend the harmonious working relationship existing between the Executive and Legislature. This relationship is based on mutual respect, cooperation and understanding and has enable us achieve successes in many areas of human endeavor.” But the major challenge that may come the way of Gaidam in implementing all these lofty programmes for his people is the petition challenging his declaration as winner of the April 11 gubernatorial election by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC by the PDP and its candidate, Alhaji Adamu Waziri. A new twist was introduced to the hearing of the petition last week, putting his fate in the balance, as details of two bank accounts of Yobe State Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, Mr. Abu Zarma, who conducted the 2015 general elections, showed that N15 million was lodged into his accounts few days before the April 11 election. This stunning revelation has been admitted into evidence by the tribunal. Two officials of Diamond Bank Plc and Zenith Bank Plc respectively, tendered the exhibits before the tribunal currently conducting its proceedings in Abuja. The bankers were subpoenaed to appear before the tribunal as witnesses in the PDP and Waziri petition, which is praying the tribunal to annul the election of Governor Gaidam. The petitioners alleged that the election that produced Gaidam was marred by several electoral malpractices and substantial non-compliance to the Electoral Act. The PDP insisted that it could prove that Yobe REC, Zarma, was paid N15 million bribe by the APC candidate, Governor Gaidam. Sequel to an application by the petitioners, the Justice Mojisola Dada-led tribunal summoned the banks to adduce proof of the cash lodgments, which it has admitted into evidence. Among the exhibits tendered and admitted by the tribunal were documents from Diamond and Zenith Banks, including account statements, photocopies of tellers used for the lodgments of the funds and account opening forms, all bearing Zarma’s name.

Joined as respondents to the petition before the tribunal are: Gaidam, APC, the INEC, Yobe REC and Assistant Superintendent of Police, Zakari Deba, the Aidede-Camp, ADC, to Gaidam. The petitioners alleged that Gaidam’s ADC, Deba, paid N8 million into the Diamond Bank account of Zarma and N7 million into his Zenith Bank account on the same day. The transactions were said to have been perfected on April 8, three days before the governorship election. The Diamond Bank official from Damaturu branch, Mr. Bamaji Kukawa, told the tribunal that the REC only had about N28,000 in his account prior to April 8 when the sum of N8 million was lodged into his account with the bank. Kukawa said: “Before the April 8, 2015 entry, the bank account had N28,143.60k.” He identified ADC to the governor, Deba, as the person that deposited the money. However, the witness told the court that the money was on April 13, two days after the election, withdrawn from the account in favour of Saleh and Hanif Company. He said N25,011.45 was left as balance on the account as of the end of the period covered by the statement of the account. Likewise, the Head of Operation, Damaturu branch of Zenith Bank, Mr. Umar Alkali, in his own testimony, told the tribunal that N7 million was also deposited in Zarma’s account with the bank on April 8. He added that as of the end of the period covered by the statement of account, the account was left with the balance of N1,345,503.38. Meanwhile, lawyers to the respondents did not oppose the tendering of the exhibits into evidence by the tribunal. They however indicated their readiness to contest the relevance of the exhibits to the subject matter of the petition before the tribunal, in their final written addresses. Another major hindrance to the fulfillment of Gaidam’s promise to Yobe people is the continued increase in the activities of book Haram insurgents, which in recent times have been on the increase. It is however expected that the insurgents would be soon curtailed, as the President has given the military command three-month ultimatum to crush the insurgency. Also, the dwindling revenue accruing to the states occasioned by the slump in the price of crude oil in the international market will also have a lasting impact on the fulfillment of Gaidam’s mouth-watering promises to the people of Yobe. Unless the outcome of the petition against his election favours him, Gaidam’s promises to the people of Yobe may remain what it is, just promises.

Kogi: APC clears Audu, Ocholi, 26 others for guber primaries OBIORA IFOH ABUJA

ll Progressives Congress, APC, has cleared the 28 gubernatorial aspirants seeking to fly its ticket at the forthcoming Kogi State gubernatorial election.

The party therefore assured that it will win the Kogi gubernatorial election come November and warned all aspirants to shun violence before the process. Speaking yesterday in Abuja, APC National Organising Secretary, Senator Osita Izuna-

so, said the high number of aspirants intending to go for the state primaries is an indication that the state was ripe for APC, adding that having won the three senatorial seats, six out of the nine House of Representatives seats and contributed a 75 per cent margin in the last

presidential election, the state had fully embraced the party. Those cleared to partake in the August 29 primaries include a former governor of the state, Prince Abubakar Audu; Alhaji Yahaya Bello; Senator Alex Usman Kadiri; Hussein CONTINUED ON PAGE 46

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Politics

Tuesday, August 18, 2015

Every Nigerian blood is on the line S.K.C OGBONNIA

group of senators allegedly forged documents to enthrone a cabal to the leadership of the Nigerian Senate, the nation’s highest law-making body on June 9. They were caught red handed in a broad day light. After a routine investigation, the police confirmed that a felony has indeed been committed. On top of that, the individual who assumed the position of the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, and his wife have been embroiled in corruption charges for ages from their different activities in the private as well as the public sectors. After a long recess, occasioned by a lingering leadership crisis, the Senate reconvened on July 28. Instead of doing the needful and effecting the desired change, to the chagrin of a mopping society, a relaxed majority of 81 senators, most of whom are facing all sorts of corrupt charges, connived to brazenly pass a vote of confidence on the leadership of the Senate. The reason for this crass impunity is not farfetched: such senators do not want any change. What they want is the status quo, whereby the leadership of the legislature is firmly under the control of a venal clique well versed in thwarting positive change in Nigeria. Thus far, they are gaining ground day-by-day with their well patented game. Once the forgery case blew open, the cabal quickly headed to court to tangle the case with the most inane argument, suggesting that a crime committed in the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is none of Nigeria’s business. What is more, similar to the past Goodluck Jonathan administration, this dateless cabal is already scheming with a contingent of judges infamous for adjourning felony cases till eternity in name of due process. This whole dilemma has sent a peppering signal around the world that the much advertised anti-corruption agenda under President Muhammadu Buhari government may end up in chalk and talk without the walk. The main culprits behind the crisis are the brain thrust of the corrupt oligarchy that ruined the immediate past administration. We are talking about the same senators notorious for colluding with their cohorts in the private sector to loot funds budgeted for public projects. Yet, they are also known to crave ostentatious lifestyles abroad and live like kings at home. To that end, they do not always see any reason to care. But common sense dictates that all, whether rich or poor, should actually care for positive change this time. Not only is the global change movement that propelled Buhari back to power too costly to give in, it is a last hope, and must be defended by any means necessary. More poignantly, it has become very imperative for these leaders to recognise that the general condition in the country has not always been able to tell the rich from the poor when tragedy strikes. Every Nigerian blood is on the line. Put squarely, the common effects of bad leadership, such as poor medical facilities, bad roads, armed robbery and kidnapping are not only claiming lives of the ordinary citizens; the situation is also claiming the lives of the leaders themselves or those of their blood relatives. The eminent political historian, Bala Yusuf Usman, might have imagined this predicament when he lamented that many highly placed Nigerians are some of the most ignorant, because they have the tendency to forget that politics all over the world is all about human existence and common good. An American president, John F. Kennedy, was obviously more direct when he said: “If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich.” Eye-opening examples abound in the Nigerian history, but recent incidents involving some of the principal actors of the immediate past government offer a salutary lesson. President Jonathan needs no introduction. As a former governor of an oil-rich state of Bayelsa and later President of the Federal Republic, no person was better placed to have built a world class hospital in his home state of Bay-

Buhari

THE COMMON EFFECTS OF

BAD LEADERSHIP, SUCH AS

POOR MEDICAL FACILITIES,

BAD ROADS, ARMED ROBBERY AND KIDNAPPING ARE NOT ONLY CLAIMING LIVES OF

THE ORDINARY CITIZENS; THE SITUATION IS ALSO CLAIMING THE LIVES OF THE LEADERS THEMSELVES OR THOSE OF THEIR BLOOD RELATIVES elsa than Jonathan. Instead, he preferred special oversea medical checkups for his entire clan, forgetting that “a stitch in time saves nine.” But he would later recognise the omission in a very painful way. The president’s younger brother, Meni Jonathan, suddenly became ill on one fateful day at their home town of Otuoke and needed immediate medical attention. Regrettably, that was not to be. What eventually became of Meni is calmly explained by the following words of the then President, President Jonathan himself: Meni “drove himself down to Yenagoa to board the chopper to Abuja. He got to Abuja that Saturday and was admitted in the hospital. The following Monday, his breathing changed. I said; ‘let us make arrangement to get him out - to let him get treatment outside’. So an arrangement was being made. Unfortunately the following day he had cardiac arrest and inflamed heart at the State House Clinic.” And a president’s brother gave up the ghost like ordinary Nigerians in November 2012 at the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja. The case of the wife of the former President, Dame Patience Jonathan, is another embarrassing detail. Penchant for dictatorship without power, Dame Jonathan once allegedly withheld the funds budgeted for roads in her native state of Rivers. But little did she know that the law of gravity never fails to hold: what goes up must come down. One of the roads in the same Rivers State would claim her mother’s life in a ghastly motor accident on July 22, 2013. Enter Namadi Sambo, the immediate past Vice President. As an architect, it was believed he could lend his experiences to improve Nigeria’s failing infrastructures.

However, any sentence linking Sambo to essential amenities had been the cheerleading of the privatisation of public properties defined by crude political cronyism. The fanfare changed on April 27, 2014. His immediate younger brother, Capt. Yusuf Sabo Sambo, was burnt to death in a ghastly motor accident. Eye witnesses confirmed that the young man could have survived if there was an efficient fire service at the only airport in the national capital of Abuja. Even worse, rather than hold the usual Federal Executive Council, FEC, meeting to deliberate on ways to save 300 ordinary Nigerians kidnapped by Boko Haram at the time, Sambo enjoined President Jonathan to cancel the first scheduled executive session after the Chibok tragedy. The sole motive was to allow council members to attend a three-day prayer for the late younger brother of a vice president. Are you still there? At the helm of the Legislature was David Alechenu Mark, the immediate past President of the seventh Senate. Known for honing undue schisms between the rich and poor, it is not unexpected that the seventh Senate under Mark has gone down in history as the most selfish, corrupt, and insensitive to the welfare of the masses. But if there was any incident that could stare Mark in the face about the realities of life, it was story of his younger sister, Mrs. Mary Onma-Adakole. Although, access to foreign medical care was readily available, it was too far, too late, to save her life. Mary went into labour unexpectedly and died during child birth at nearby hospital in Abuja on January 15, 2014. Ike Ekweremadu was the Deputy President of the Senate under Jonathan regime, deputy to Mark. Like Jonathan, whatever Senator Ekweremadu lacked in parental pedigree, he had in abundance in strokes of luck. Yet, if the proverbial saying that a tree does not make a forest is ever to hold, nowhere has it come to pass more than in the case of the senator from Mpu. At home with primitive accumulation of wealth and hopping into helicopters to avoid the chronic bad roads around Igboland, it was convenient for Ekweremadu to ignore years of pleas - including a special letter from this writer in 2011 - to capitalise on huge constituency budget to repair the Enugu-Port Harcourt express road, clearly the most vital road in the senator’s immediate constituency. It also is so sad to report here that chancy bumps at the same Enugu-Port Harcourt express road would claim the life of his most beloved brother, Chukwuemeka on December 23, 2012. Next… Dieziani Alison-Madueke, the current President of OPEC and immediate past Minister of Petroleum Resources, deserves every mention. She was widely seen as a poster lady for everything wrong with the Nigerian masses. Instead of the sweet breeze of the oil boom, what the masses felt most throughout her tenure was the scourge of constant controversies, including allegations of N10 billion private jet rides, missing of $20 billion from the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, coffers and fuel subsidy scams. It was not surprising then that the blood family of the OPEC president was a constant target for restless youths, as evidenced by separate abductions of her sister, Osiyo Agama, on October 21, 2014 and nephew, Mr. Joseph Agama, on March 19, among other incidents. Any serious attention to the recent misrule of Nigeria without a mention of Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the immediate past Minister of Finance and the Coordinating Minister for the Economy, is like an Ugbo ritual without the presence of a vulture. She was perennially courted at the height of the oil boom to proffer solutions to massive youth unemployment. However, Dr Okonjo-Iweala quickly became a hybrid of intuition and oligarchy, always extolling archaic policies infamous for milling out overnight billionaires while the masses gnashed in abject poverty and despair. But she was finally able to sort out the difference between rhetoric and reality when unemployed youths kidnapped her innocent mother, Prof. Kamene Okonjo, on December 9, 2012. It will be unfair to conclude without looking oneself in the mirror. March 12, 2011 remains a dark date in the history of humankind as far as I am concerned. That was the day a beloved brother, Chief Obidinma Jackson Ogbonnia, CONTINUED ON PAGE 46

Politics

Tuesday, August 18, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Ex-Rep to Ekiti gov: Face governance, not Buhari ABIODUN NEJO ADO EKITI

ormer member of the House of Representatives and Ekiti State All Progressives Congress, APC, chieftain, Hon Bamidele Faparusi, has urged Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose to face governance and stop dragging the name of Ekiti in the mud. Faparusi said the governor’s consistent vituperations against President Muhammadu Buhari was annoying, especially “when Ekiti State under his watch had suffered a colossal damage. The former lawmaker told journalists in Ado Ekiti that “every discerning Nigerian knows that Buhari has exhibited un-

wavering commitment to good governance and rapid change in the political system of the country.” Faparusi spoke in reaction to the governor’s outburst against Buhari where he said that he could not be intimidated by anyone in view of his consistent criticisms of the Federal Government. He expressed dismay that the governor, who had allegedly made intimidation, coercion and harassment of the opposition APC a strategy to win elections, could turn around to accuse President Buhari of planning to destabilise his government. He said: “It is ironical that the governor is talking about intimidation while, on the contrary, he

had dedicated 80 per cent of his time to intimidate opposition in Ekiti. The governor should know that he remains the least of Buhari’s problems. “Nigerians should know by now that the governor’s barbaric nature does not represent the val-

ue Ekiti people stand for and therefore should not take any of his utterances serious, as his illogical and vague criticism of Mr President is just aimed at wanting to be in the news all the time and unfortunately for wrong reasons. “I am not surprised

that the governor has not achieved anything for almost one year at the helms of affair in Ekiti because he did not promise Ekiti people anything in the first place while campaigning. “We will no longer tolerate his continued drag-

ging of Ekiti’s towering image in the mud. We owe it a duty to ensure that Ekiti keeps its record as the most educated and sophisticated state in Nigeria and we won’t fold our arms and allow an opportunist to derogate the image that had taken years to build.”

Kogi: APC clears Audu, Ocholi, 26 others for guber primaries CONTINUED FROM PAGE45

Idris Kashim; Alh. Sanusi Abubakar Aliyu; Senator Nicholas Yahaya Ugbane; Sani Halilu Shuaibu; Suleman Baba Ali; AVM Saliu Atawodi; Muhammad Abdullahi; Senator Nurudeen Abatemi-Usman; the only female contestant, Princess Hadiza Ibrahim; Yakubu Mohammed; a former acting governor of the state, Rt. Hon. Clarence Olafemi; and Suleiman Ejeh Abutu. Other are: Sunday Ejibo; Otunba Suleman Lanre Ipinmisho; Dr. Tim Nda Diche; Habeeb Abdullahi Yakeen; Rotimi Yakub Obadofin; Babatunde Irukera; Barr. Ocholi Enojoh James; Aliyu Zakari Jiya; Engr. Olushola George Olumoroti and Dr. Onukaba Adinoyi-Ojo. Izunaso said: “The com-

mittee went into details in the screening process and has cleared all 28 aspirants. You are required to sign an undertaken. “It is not compulsory, it is optional but it is in your own interest. The situation where we have 28 aspirants is a good omen for our party what it means is that people of Kogi State believe in our party, Kogi is APC and APC is Kogi State. “And I’m glad to note that of all the 28 aspirants have qualified. What it means is that within this number that we are seeing here, the next governor of Kogi State is here with us. “In the next couple of months, one of you here will be so addressed as his excellency, the governor of Kogi State. That is why we want you to be law abiding and good members of APC.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE45

died tragically. He had attended a political rally a night before, became sick in Enugu the morning after, and required immediate medical help. Unfortunately, there was no nearby hospital capable of treating his case. Before traveling over thirty minutes to the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital at Ituku, my younger brother died in transit. I am yet to recover from the trauma and have always wondered what could have been. Clearly, if only I had heightened my advocacy for change much earlier in my home state of Enugu, it could have been a different outcome altogether. The immediate past governor, Sullivan Chime, who

L-R: Widow of Borno State Deputy Governor, Mrs Hansatu Zannah Umar Mustapha; APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu; Chief Bisi Akande and Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima, during a visit to the state Deputy Governor’s residence, in Maiduguri Borno State, yesterday.

Petition against Fashola: Group calls CSNAC to order EBERE NDUKWU

coalition of civil society groups, Vote for Service Initiative, Projekthope and Congress of Electorates has cautioned other civil society groups in the country to exercise caution and maintain equity and fairness as the present government continues to champion its war against corruption. This is coming on the heels of the recent petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, by the Civil Society Network Against Corruption, CSNAC, on the alleged contracts for the upgrade of a website,

www.tundefashola.com for the sum of N78 million, approved during the tenure of immediate past Lagos State governor, Babatunde Fashola. In a communiqué, jointly signed by Samuel Adeola-Ilori, President, Vote for Service Initiative, Steve Aborisade, Executive Director, Projekthope/Media Integrity and Olumide Alasoadura, Co-convener, Congress of Electorates, the coalition said: “We acknowledge the effort of the good governance advocacy group; BudgetIT, for its searchlight on public expenditure that exposed what looked like a colossal amount committed to building and maintaining

a website. “The outrage from Nigerians is an indication and measure of their disdain for official corruption in government circles and the need for a new order of responsibility on the parts of our elected officials. “We want to insist that any civil group worthy in name must first reflect on the contradictions of its actions, especially when wholesome petition calling for criminal probe of government officials and individuals are anchored on hearsay without the slightest shred of evidence. The credibility of our accusations should be supported by objective truth that is incontrovertible before we

go to town to make accusations that may malign the integrity of individuals and groups. “It is important to separate our activism from politically motivated actions, several of which we have witnessed lately that serves not the interest of the people beyond promoting the agenda of those behind it. We may for instance ask why it becomes difficult for a credible anti-corruption group to conduct some fact findings of its own to corroborate wanton accusations before accepting it as objective truth. “Why would any organisation rely solely on media reports for a petition that can be skewed for ulterior motives as the gospel truth?”

Every Nigerian blood is on the line thrived in overseas medical treatment, could have been held accountable early enough. Rather than loot funds earmarked for health projects, including the state diagnostic center, Mr. Chime would have also equipped the nearby Parklane Hospital for the ordinary people, and the innocent Ogbonnia blood and many others could have been saved. The forgoing should not be misconstrued as a biased satire, discerning a view that politicians or wealthy people never die or lose loved ones in civilized world. For sure, people die everywhere and under different set of circumstances. The objective

fact is that a broad presence of standard facilities could have prevented some of the casualties or at least reduced the degree of recklessness associated with the Nigerian cases. Thus, the perception that the provision of basic amenities is to appease the poor is very misleading. It also goes to say that the clique of senators who are desperate to frustrate the change agenda of the new government must recognise that every Nigerian blood is on the line. Now is the time for President Buhari to demonstrate that no person, regardless of societal status, is above the law. Here comes the time, therefore, for the progressive civil

society to embolden the President to influence the emergence of a Senate leadership with the credibility to enact laws essential for the war against corruption and the much needed investment in the nation’s vital amenities, which will not only create jobs for the masses, but will also mitigate the current wave of kidnapping and armed robbery, commonly seen as the number one enemy of the Nigerian elite. A stitch in time saves nine. Ogbonnia, executive chairman of First Texas Energy Corporation, writes from Houston, Texas, United States of America.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Capital Market

Tuesday, August 18, 2015

Index drops 3% as Oliseh woos investors Johnson okanlawon

rading in equities continued on a negative note on the Nigerian Stock Exchange yesterday, as investors dumped their holdings following weak earnings from listed companies. Specifically, the All Share Index depreciated 2.59 per cent to close at 29,909.44 points, compared to the decline of 0.15 per cent recorded on Friday to close at 30,705.62 points. Market capitalisation shed N273 billion to close at N10.3 trillion, higher than the decrease of N16 billion recorded on Friday to close at N10.5 trillion. Transnational Corporation of Nigeria Plc led the

gainers’ table with 12 kobo or 4.67 per cent to close at N2.69 per share, followed by NEM Insurance Plc with two kobo or 3.17 per cent to close at 65 kobo per share. Forte Oil Plc added N4.98 or 2.32 per cent to close at N219.98 per share, while Zenith Bank Plc rose 37 kobo or 2.30 per cent to close at N16.45 per share. Conversely, Evans Medicals Plc shed eight kobo or 8.70 per cent to close at 84 kobo per share, while FCMB Plc fell 21 kobo or 8.50 per cent to close at N2.26 per share. Access Bank Plc depreciated 25 kobo or 5.75 per cent to close at N4.10 per share, while Dangote Cement Plc declined N9.02 or five per cent to close

at N171.48 per share. A total of 476.3 million shares valued at N3.65 billion were exchanged in 3,841 deals. Meanwhile, the Super Eagles Coach, Mr. Sunday Oliseh, yesterday said the only way to grow football in the country is to attract massive investment, as she operates a capitalist economy. Oliseh, who rang the closing bell on the Exchange, noted that there is no way the country can succeed in football without funds, considering its population of about 170 million and its passionate about football. Oliseh pledged to give 150 per cent of the coaching job to the eagles, saying that players would be picked on merit and

will work in harmony with all stakeholders to revive the country’s fortunes in the sport. The President of Nigeria Football Team Federation, Mr. Amaju Melvin Pinnick urged the local football club to list on the NSE and also called on the Nigerian footballers to invest in the capital market. He said, “Our coming here is doing something beyond symbolic where we have some of our club to be quoted on the floor of the NSE. “We will want to have a good relationship with the NSE. In the nearest future, we will want clubs like Warri Wolves, Enugu Rangers, among others to be quoted in the stock exchange.”

NSE pays N7.2m to 23 investors over dealing losses Johnson okanlawon

oard of Trustees of the Investors’ Protection Fund (IPF) of the Nigerian Stock Exchange yesterday said it has compensated 23 investors for pecuniary losses suffered by them as a result of wrong doing by certain dealing member firms of the Exchange. Addressing journalists at the NSE, the Vice Chairman of the board, Mr. Fubura Anga, said the board received 429 claims, but 154 claimants fulfilled the requirements to benefit from the fund. According to him, the

screening process of the claims is ongoing and more claimants will be compensated. Anga, who said that the board in accordance with the rules of the fund set a maximum compensation amount of N400, 000.00 per claimant, explained that the total amount approved by the board as compensation payment to the 154 investors is N40, 627,397.00. Already, he said, a total of N7.2million has been paid to the 23 investors. Also, the Chief Executive Officer of the NSE, Mr. Oscar Onyema stressed that the

payment took a longer time because of legal backing and process of identifying beneficiaries. He said that the board had to present rules and regulations governing the fund to the public before finalising it. These 154 investors are being compensated for defalcation committed by 29 dealing member firms of the exchange who are either inactive or have been expelled as members of the Exchange. The IPF is a statutory fund established pursuant to Section 197 of the ISA to compensate investors who suffer pecuniary loss arising from the

revocation or cancellation of the registration of a dealing member firm by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Others include insolvency, bankruptcy or negligence of a dealing member firm of the exchange as well as defalcation committed by a dealing member firm or any of its directors, officers, employees or representatives in relation to securities, money or any property entrusted to, or received or deemed received by the dealing member firm in the course of its business as a dealing member firm.

World’s biggest currency trade stuck in a Fed-induced rut

rading the world’s most widely used currency pair has become a thankless chore for investors. The dollar has been hovering around its short- and medium-term averages against the euro -- near $1.10 per euro -- since late June. An economic slowdown in China and a commodity rout have pushed the greenback higher this quarter versus most major peers. Yet it registered the smallest move in that time against the common currency amid signs of European growth and expectations that the Federal Reserve will take its time in raising U.S. interest rates. “I don’t think there’s any reason to bother with it, to be honest,” Daniel Brehon, a New York-based strategist at Deutsche Bank AG, said by phone, referring to the eurodollar trade. “Our view is looking for a hike in Septem-

ber, but we’re all sympathetic with the idea that it’ll be very slow and it’ll be wait-and-see for six months and go again,” he said, speaking about the Fed’s approach to raising rates. The dollar rose 0.3 percent to $1.1076 per euro at 1:03 p.m. in New York. It was little changed at 124.36 yen. The Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index, which tracks the currency versus 10 major peers, rose 0.1 percent to 1,210.23. In the past two days, the euro has closed above its 50and 100-day trend lines, which are at $1.1087 and $1.1044, respectively. The density of buy and sell orders at $1.10 is about equal, according to data from Commerzbank AG, leading to a stalemate. Trade balance in the euro area, which was in deficit until 2011, rose to a surplus of 21.9 billion euros in June. “You have a trade balance that’s better in the euro zone,

they have a current account surplus that’s continuing to rise, and growth is a little better,” Brehon said. While hedge funds and large speculators are still betting on a stronger dollar against the single currency, the number of wagers has almost halved from its record in April, according to Commodity Futures Trading Commission data. Net futures positions betting on dollar gains were at 115,210 contracts as of July 20, from as high as 226,560. That decline coincided with futures traders reducing the probability that the Fed will raise rates in September. Futures show a 48 percent chance the Fed will raise borrowing costs at its next meeting on Sept. 16-17, based on the assumption that the effective fed funds rate will average 0.375 percent after the first increase, That’s down from as high as 54 percent on Aug. 7. Trading the euro against

the dollar accounts for 24 percent of all currency deals, making it the most popular transaction in the world’s largest financial market, according to the Bank for International Settlements. (Source – Bloomberg. com) Rate (%) Inflation

8.2

MPR

Crude oil price

$58.96

Exchange

Rates (N)

WAUA

270

USD

196.95

EURO

214

CFA

0.32

YEN

1.64

SWISS FRANC

202

POUNDS STERLING

293

SDR

273

Source: NSE

Inter-Bank Rate Naira

US Dollar

N196.95 Market indicators All-Share Index 31,446.42 points Market capitalisation 10.78trn

Stock Updates GAINERS COMPANY

OPENING

CLOSING

CHANGE

% CHANGE

EVANSMED

0.75

0.81

0.06

8.00

ROADS

6.29

6.60

0.31

4.93

DANGFLOUR

3.25

3.38

0.13

4.00

CONTINSURE

0.93

0.96

0.03

3.23

PRESCO

31.00

32.00

1.00

3.23

MOBIL

160.00

165.00

5.00

3.13

ACADEMY

0.79

0.81

0.02

2.53

DANGCEM

181.00

185.00

4.00

2.21

UBCAP

1.37

1.40

0.03

2.19

INTBREW

18.24

18.45

0.21

1.15

CHANGE

% CHANGE

LOSERS COMPANY

OPENING

CLOSING

REDSTAREX

4.60

4.37

-0.23

-5.00

NEIMETH

1.42

1.35

-0.07

-4.93

ETERNA

2.34

2.23

-0.11

-4.70

MAYBAKER

1.50

1.43

-0.07

-4.67

AIICO

0.86

0.82

-0.04

-4.65

LEARNAFRCA

1.09

1.04

-0.05

-4.59

HONYFLOUR

2.68

2.56

-0.12

-4.48

34.51

33.05

-1.46

-4.23

ZENITHBANK

16.90

16.20

-0.70

-4.14

TRANSEXPR

1.03

0.99

-0.04

-3.88

FGN Bonds

Bid

Description

Offer

Price

Yield

Price

Yield

13.05 16-AUG-2016

1.02

98.05

15.19

98.20

15.02

15.10 27-APR-2017

1.71

99.64

15.30

99.79

15.20

16.00 29-JUN-2019

3.89

101.47

15.47

101.77

15.36

15.54 13-FEB-2020

4.51

100.62

15.34

100.92

15.25

16.39 27-JAN-2022

6.47

104.53

15.26

104.83

15.19

14.20 14-MAR-2024

8.59

94.58

15.35

94.88

15.28

Closing Market Prices of August 10, 2015

Treasury Bills Maturity Date

Bid

Offer

12-Nov-15

14.85

15.39

18-Feb-16

13.38

14.35

4-Aug-16

14.21

16.47

NIBOR Tenor

Rate (%)

O/N

34.2917

18.7545

21.5301

23.5772 The Fixings of August 10, 2015

Capital Market

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Tuesday, August 18, 2015

Stock exchange daily equities summary Daily Summary as of 17/08/2015

Printed 17/08/2015 14:32:45.045

Daily Summary (Bonds)

Daily Summary as of 17/08/2015 Printed 17/08/2015 14:32:45.045

Activity Summary on Board DEBT Federal Bond Name 16.00% FGN JUN 2019 Federal Totals

Symbol FG9B2019S3

DEBT Board Totals

Equities as at August 17, 2015 No. of Deals 1 1

Bond Activity Totals

1st Tier Securities Sector

Daily Summary (Equities)

Company name

No Of Deals

Quotation(N)

Current Price 103.00

Quantity Traded 1,000 1000

Value Traded 1,052,296.08 1,052,296.08

1,000

1,052,296.08

1000

1,052,296.08

Quantity Traded

Value of Shares(N)

Activity Summary on Board EQTY AGRICULTURE Crop Production OKOMU OIL PALM PLC. PRESCO PLC Crop Production Totals

Daily Summary as of 17/08/2015

Livestock/Animal Specialties Printed 17/08/2015 14:32:45.045 LIVESTOCK FEEDS PLC. Livestock/Animal Specialties Totals AGRICULTURE Totals CONGLOMERATES Activity Summary on Board EQTY Diversified Industries A.G. LEVENTIS NIGERIA PLC. CONGLOMERATES Diversified Industries Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATION

Symbol OKOMUOIL PRESCO

No. of Deals 6 13 19

Current Price 24.05 32.00

Quantity Traded 172,635 46,205 218,840

Value Traded 4,223,412.45 1,480,251.52 5,703,663.97

Symbol LIVESTOCK

No. of Deals 16 16

Current Price 1.88

Quantity Traded 175,780 175,780

Value Traded 316,051.83 316,051.83

394,620

6,019,715.80

Daily Summary (Equities)

OF NIGERIA PLC

U A C N PLC. Diversified Industries Totals

Symbol AGLEVENT

No. of Deals 5

Current Price 1.00

Quantity Traded 292,526

Value Traded 292,836.00

Symbol TRANSCORP UACN

No. of Deals 235 26 266

Current Price 2.69 37.00

Quantity Traded Page 24,520,813 32,174 24,845,513

Value Traded 11 1 of 64,201,906.98 1,176,753.59 65,671,496.57

24,845,513

65,671,496.57

CONGLOMERATES Totals CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Building Structure/Completion/Other COSTAIN (W A) PLC. Building Structure/Completion/Other Totals Infrastructure/Heavy Construction JULIUS BERGER NIG. PLC. ROADS NIG PLC. Infrastructure/Heavy Construction Totals

266

Symbol COSTAIN

No. of Deals 3 3

Current Price 0.63

Quantity Traded 58,100 58,100

Value Traded 36,603.00 36,603.00

Symbol JBERGER ROADS

No. of Deals 30 1 31

Current Price 43.31 6.60

Quantity Traded 136,750 10,000 146,750

Value Traded 5,627,578.48 69,300.00 5,696,878.48

Symbol UAC-PROP

No. of Deals 25 25

Current Price 8.55

Quantity Traded 401,931 401,931

Value Traded 3,448,164.38 3,448,164.38

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

Quantity Traded 6,500 6,500

Value Traded 65,000.00 65,000.00

Daily Summary as of 17/08/2015 Printed 17/08/2015 14:32:45.045 Real Estate Development

UACN PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT CO. LIMITED Real Estate Development Totals Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) UPDC REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST

UPDCREIT

2 2

Symbol CHAMPION GUINNESS INTBREW NB

No. of Deals 11 65 12 124 212

Current Price 4.50 121.00 18.45 122.01

Quantity Traded 71,400 Page 171,681 65,505 2,017,919 2,326,505

1,149,159.75 247,192,067.66 269,550,824.88

Symbol 7UP

No. of Deals 9 9

Current Price 190.50

Quantity Traded 2,457 2,457

Value Traded 467,194.61 467,194.61

No. of Deals 30 26 (Equities) 63 13 25 6 1 No. of Deals 164 11 65 No. of Deals 12 13 124 58 212 71

Current Price 2.93 6.01 26.64 2.80 6.30 12.83 0.50 Current Price 4.50 Current121.00 Price 18.45 31.64 122.01 842.00

Quantity Traded 183,519 210,801 518,554 295,131 351,940 20,501 500,000 Quantity Traded 2,080,446 71,400 Quantity 171,681 Traded 65,505 71,408 2,017,919 342,465 2,326,505 413,873

Value Traded 540,459.58 1,266,806.57 13,891,083.24 822,840.73 2,150,194.52 254,212.40 250,000.00 Value Traded 19,175,597.04 321,058.00 20,888,539.47 Value Traded 1,149,159.75 2,259,349.12 247,192,067.66 288,437,969.11 269,550,824.88 290,697,318.23

Symbol 7UP

No. of Deals 9 9

Current Price 190.50

Quantity Traded 2,457 Page 2,457

Symbol DANGFLOUR DANGSUGAR FLOURMILL HONYFLOUR NASCON NNFM UTC

No. of Deals 30 26 63 13 25 6 1 164

Current Price 2.93 6.01 26.64 2.80 6.30 12.83 0.50

Quantity Traded 183,519 210,801 518,554 295,131 351,940 20,501 500,000 2,080,446

Value Traded 540,459.58 1,266,806.57 13,891,083.24 822,840.73 2,150,194.52 254,212.40 250,000.00 19,175,597.04

Quantity Traded 71,408 342,465 413,873

Value Traded 2,259,349.12 288,437,969.11 290,697,318.23

RealSummary Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) Totals Activity on Board EQTY CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Totals CONSUMER GOODS Beverages--Brewers/Distillers CHAMPION BREW. PLC. Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © GUINNESS NIG PLC INTERNATIONAL BREWERIES PLC. NIGERIAN BREW. PLC. Beverages--Brewers/Distillers Totals Beverages--Non-Alcoholic 7-UP BOTTLING COMP. PLC. Beverages--Non-Alcoholic Totals Printed 17/08/2015 14:32:45.045

Daily Summary as of 17/08/2015

Food Products DANGOTE FLOUR MILLS PLC DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY PLC FLOUR MILLS NIG. PLC. HONEYWELL FLOUR MILL PLC Activity Summary on Board EQTYPLC NASCON ALLIED INDUSTRIES N NIG. FLOUR MILLS PLC. CONSUMER GOODS U T C NIG. PLC. Beverages--Brewers/Distillers Food Products Totals CHAMPION BREW. PLC. GUINNESS NIG PLC Food Products--Diversified INTERNATIONAL BREWERIES PLC. CADBURY NIGERIA PLC. NIGERIAN BREW. PLC. PLC. NESTLE NIGERIA Beverages--Brewers/Distillers Totals Food Products--Diversified Totals Beverages--Non-Alcoholic 7-UP BOTTLING COMP. PLC. Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Beverages--Non-Alcoholic Totals Food Products DANGOTE FLOUR MILLS PLC DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY PLC FLOUR MILLS NIG. PLC. HONEYWELL FLOUR MILL PLC Daily Summary as of 17/08/2015 NASCON ALLIED INDUSTRIES PLC Printed 17/08/2015 14:32:45.045 N NIG. FLOUR MILLS PLC. U T C NIG. PLC. Food Products Totals Food Products--Diversified CADBURY NIGERIA PLC. Activity Summary on Board NESTLE NIGERIA PLC. EQTY Food Products--Diversified Totals CONSUMER GOODS Household Durables VITAFOAM PLC. Published by The NigerianNIG Stock Exchange © VONO PRODUCTS PLC. Household Durables Totals Personal/Household Products P Z CUSSONS NIGERIA PLC. UNILEVER NIGERIA PLC. Personal/Household Products Totals

Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services AFRICAN ALLIANCE INSURANCE COMPANY PLC AIICO INSURANCE PLC. CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE PLC LASACO ASSURANCE PLC. LINKAGE ASSURANCE PLC AXAMANSARD INSURANCE PLC MUTUAL BENEFITS ASSURANCE PLC. N.E.M INSURANCE CO (NIG) PLC. REGENCY ALLIANCE INSURANCE COMPANY PLC STANDARD TRUST ASSURANCE PLC Daily Summary as INSURANCE of 17/08/2015PLC. UNIC Printed 17/08/2015 UNITY14:32:45.045 KAPITAL ASSURANCE PLC UNIVERSAL INSURANCE COMPANY PLC WAPIC INSURANCE PLC Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services Totals Micro-Finance Banks FORTIS MICROFINANCE BANK PLC Activity Summary on Board EQTY NPF MICROFINANCE BANK PLC Micro-Finance Banks Totals FINANCIAL SERVICES Mortgage Carriers, Brokers and Services UNION HOMES SAVINGS AND LOANS PLC. Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Mortgage Carriers, Brokers and Services Totals Other Financial Institutions AFRICA PRUDENTIAL REGISTRARS PLC CUSTODIAN AND ALLIED PLC DEAP CAPITAL MANAGEMENT & TRUST PLC FBN HOLDINGS PLC FCMB GROUP PLC. ROYAL EXCHANGE PLC. STANBIC IBTC HOLDINGS PLC UBA CAPITAL PLC Other Financial Institutions Totals FINANCIAL SERVICES Totals

10.00

Symbol DANGFLOUR DANGSUGAR Daily Summary FLOURMILL HONYFLOUR NASCON NNFM UTC Symbol CHAMPION GUINNESS Symbol INTBREW CADBURY NB NESTLE

613,281

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

9,246,645.86 Value Traded 321,058.00 2 of 11 20,888,539.47

Value Traded 467,194.61 11 of 467,194.61

CADBURY NESTLE

13 58 71

31.64 842.00

Symbol VITAFOAM VONO

No. of Deals 7 25 32

Current Price 5.69 0.95

Quantity Traded 889,074 Page 1,683,910 2,572,984

Value Traded 11 3 5,044,787.06 of 1,599,850.90 6,644,637.96

Symbol PZ UNILEVER

No. of Deals 12 58 70

Current Price 33.05 40.00

Quantity Traded 69,530 965,234 1,034,764

Value Traded 2,075,649.90 39,397,700.50 41,473,350.40

8,431,029

628,008,923.12

CONSUMER GOODS Totals FINANCIAL SERVICES Banking ACCESS BANK PLC. Daily Summary as of 17/08/2015 DIAMOND BANK PLC Printed 17/08/2015 14:32:45.045 ECOBANK TRANSNATIONAL INCORPORATED FIDELITY BANK PLC GUARANTY TRUST BANK PLC. SKYE BANK PLC STERLING BANK PLC. UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA PLC UNION BANKon NIG.PLC. Activity Summary Board EQTY UNITY BANK PLC FINANCIAL SERVICES WEMA BANK PLC. Banking ZENITH INTERNATIONAL BANK PLC Totals Stock Exchange © Published Banking by The Nigerian

558

Symbol No. of Deals Current Price ACCESS 307 4.10 DIAMONDBNK 42 3.20 ETI 82 18.66 FIDELITYBK 153 1.28 GUARANTY 309 22.70 SKYEBANK 107 1.80 Daily Summary (Equities) STERLNBANK 74 2.15 UBA 187 3.40 UBN 28 7.29 UNITYBNK 24 1.80 WEMABANK 12 0.86 Symbol No. of Deals Current Price ZENITHBANK 317 16.45 1,642

Symbol AFRINSURE AIICO CONTINSURE LASACO LINKASSURE MANSARD MBENEFIT NEM REGALINS STACO UNIC UNITYKAP UNIVINSURE WAPIC

Quantity Traded 321,973,986 3,261,598 1,448,109 12,662,744 8,187,072 4,308,771 4,253,914 8,254,500 175,933 990,026 734,050 Quantity Traded 12,856,449 Page 379,107,152

Value Traded 1,304,362,271.45 10,610,051.94 27,040,686.37 16,222,031.15 184,824,678.71 7,780,100.58 9,115,210.39 28,028,078.40 1,228,882.71 1,686,992.71 631,683.00 Value Traded 210,033,412.01 11 4 of 1,801,564,079.42

No. of Deals 1 25 7 2 4 5 18 12 1 1 1 1 1 1 80

Current Price 0.50 0.85 0.90 0.50 0.50 2.66 0.50 0.65 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50

Quantity Traded 500 1,493,336 3,608,112 10,500 32,936 55,735 1,825,360 1,524,445 1,500 2,000 100 1,800 100 40,000 8,596,424

Value Traded 250.00 1,277,045.60 3,246,875.80 5,250.00 16,495.00 148,597.65 913,110.00 962,042.22 750.00 1,000.00 50.00 900.00 50.00 20,000.00 6,592,416.27

Symbol FORTISMFB NPFMCRFBK

No. of Deals 1 2 3

Current Price 5.42 0.90

Quantity Traded 190 3,400 3,590

Value Traded 1,029.80 2,984.00 4,013.80

Symbol UNHOMES

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 5.50

Quantity Traded 50 Page 50

Symbol AFRIPRUD CUSTODYINS DEAPCAP FBNH FCMB ROYALEX STANBIC UBCAP

No. of Deals 72 14 1 370 79 1 41 59 637

Current Price 2.78 4.10 0.64 6.39 2.26 0.50 18.88 1.32

Quantity Traded 3,205,984 248,644 500 14,616,122 5,995,903 26,000 4,183,766 3,403,381 31,680,300

Value Traded 8,966,788.17 1,019,338.20 305.00 93,997,123.14 13,459,565.09 13,000.00 78,990,617.08 4,345,408.96 200,792,145.64

419,387,516

2,008,952,916.63

Daily Summary (Equities)

2,363

Value Traded 261.50 11 of 261.50

Daily Summary (Equities)

Activity Summary on Board EQTY FINANCIAL SERVICES

Mortgage Carriers, Brokers and Services 1st Tier Securities

Sector

UNION HOMES SAVINGS AND LOANS PLC. Company name Mortgage Carriers, Brokers and Services Totals

Other Financial Institutions AFRICA PRUDENTIAL REGISTRARS PLC CUSTODIAN AND ALLIED PLC DEAP CAPITAL MANAGEMENT & TRUST PLC FBN HOLDINGS PLC FCMB GROUP PLC. ROYAL EXCHANGE PLC. STANBIC IBTC HOLDINGS PLC UBA CAPITAL PLC Other Financial Institutions Totals FINANCIAL SERVICES Totals Daily Summary as of 17/08/2015 Printed 17/08/2015 14:32:45.045 HEALTHCARE Pharmaceuticals EVANS MEDICAL PLC. FIDSON HEALTHCARE PLC GLAXO SMITHKLINE CONSUMER NIG. PLC. MAY & BAKER NIGERIA PLC. Activity Summary on Board EQTY NEIMETH INTERNATIONAL PHARMACEUTICALS PLC PHARMA-DEKO PLC. HEALTHCARE Pharmaceuticals Pharmaceuticals Totals Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

Symbol UNHOMES

No Of Deals Symbol AFRIPRUD CUSTODYINS DEAPCAP FBNH FCMB ROYALEX STANBIC UBCAP

No. of Deals 1

Current Price 5.50

Quantity Traded 50 Value 50

No. of Deals 72 14 1 370 79 1 41 59 637

Current Price 2.78 4.10 0.64 6.39 2.26 0.50 18.88 1.32

Quantity Traded 3,205,984 248,644 500 14,616,122 5,995,903 26,000 4,183,766 3,403,381 31,680,300

Value Traded 8,966,788.17 1,019,338.20 305.00 93,997,123.14 13,459,565.09 13,000.00 78,990,617.08 4,345,408.96 200,792,145.64

419,387,516

2,008,952,916.63

Quotation(N) 1

2,363

Symbol EVANSMED FIDSON Daily Summary GLAXOSMITH MAYBAKER NEIMETH PHARMDEKO

IT Services TRIPPLE GEE AND COMPANY PLC. IT Services Totals

Current Price 0.84 3.20 38.00 1.30 1.35 2.14

Quantity Traded 692,024 4,787 2,737,294 2,970,061 14,814 5,000

Value Traded 582,660.36 15,988.58 104,019,797.00 3,863,267.44 19,110.06 10,200.00

No. of Deals 41

Current Price

Quantity Traded 6,423,980 Page

Value Traded 108,511,023.44 6 of 11

Symbol

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

CONOIL PLC ETERNA PLC. FORTE OIL PLC. MOBIL OIL NIG PLC. MRS OIL NIGERIA PLC. TOTAL NIGERIA Activity Summary on PLC. Board EQTY Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors Totals OIL AND GAS Exploration and Production SEPLAT PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LTD Exploration and Production Totals Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Daily Summary of 17/08/2015 OIL AND as GAS Totals Printed 17/08/2015 14:32:45.045 SERVICES Automobile/Auto Part Retailers R T BRISCOE PLC. Automobile/Auto Part Retailers Totals Courier/Freight/Delivery RED STAR EXPRESS PLC Totals OILCourier/Freight/Delivery AND GAS Exploration and Production Employment Solutions SEPLAT PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LTD C & I LEASING PLC. Exploration and Production Totals Employment Solutions Totals

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

OIL AND GAS Totals Hotels/Lodging CAPITAL HOTEL PLC SERVICES IKEJA HOTEL PLC Automobile/Auto Part Retailers Hotels/Lodging R T BRISCOETotals PLC. Automobile/Auto Part Retailers Totals Media/Entertainment DAAR COMMUNICATIONS PLC Courier/Freight/Delivery

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 3,000 3,000

Value Traded 1,500.00 1,500.00

Symbol TRIPPLEG

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 1.69

Quantity Traded 6,210 6,210

Value Traded 9,998.10 9,998.10

9,210

11,498.10

Value Traded 9,705,566.65 3,817,982.80 153,789.48 880,862.56 56,660,650.69 730.00

Symbol ASHAKACEM BERGER Daily Summary CAP CCNN DANGCEM DNMEYER

No. of Deals 20 9 (Equities) 5 15 57 1

Current Price 23.00 9.51 41.30 8.75 171.48 0.73

Quantity Traded 422,777 401,223 3,802 101,879 327,861 1,000

Symbol PORTPAINT WAPCO

No. of Deals 2 40 149

Current Price 4.14 103.05

Quantity Traded 7,750 6,258,953 Page 7,525,245

Symbol CUTIX

No. of Deals 2 2

Current Price 1.64

Quantity Traded 16,200 16,200

Value Traded 25,272.00 25,272.00

7,541,445

718,488,495.58

151

Symbol OANDO

Symbol CONOIL ETERNA FO Daily Summary MOBIL MRS TOTAL

Road Transportation ASSOCIATED BUS COMPANY PLC Road Transportation Totals Transport-Related Services NIGERIAN AVIATION HANDLING COMPANY PLC Transport-Related Services Totals Daily Summary as of 17/08/2015

Quantity Traded 3,691,840 3,691,840

Value Traded 43,252,845.79 43,252,845.79

No. of Deals 7 5 68 (Equities) 13 2 18 113

Current Price 33.28 2.00 219.98 151.20 49.66 154.00

Quantity Traded 17,252 248,872 168,694 52,803 10,418 41,201 539,240

Value Traded 545,527.48 490,814.00 36,109,519.26 7,987,601.80 491,521.24 6,292,100.06 51,917,083.84

No. of Deals 11 11

Current Price 270.75

Quantity Traded 24,140 24,140 Page

Value Traded 6,536,044.00 8 6,536,044.00 of 11

EQTY Board Totals

Current Price 0.59

Quantity Traded 142,364 142,364

Value Traded 83,994.76 83,994.76

Symbol REDSTAREX

No. of Deals 3 3

Current Price 4.00

Quantity Traded 900 900

Value Traded 3,553.00 3,553.00

Symbol Symbol SEPLAT CILEASING

No. of Deals No. of Deals 11 6 11 6

Current Price Current Price 270.75 0.50

Quantity Traded Quantity Traded 24,140 3,570,000 24,140 3,570,000

Value Traded Value Traded 6,536,044.00 1,785,000.00 6,536,044.00 1,785,000.00 101,705,973.63 Value Traded 899.10 1,155,029.22 Value Traded 1,155,928.32 83,994.76 83,994.76 Value Traded 900.00 Value Traded

Current Price 4.07 3.48 Current Price

RTBRISCOE

304 No. of Deals 1 8 No. of Deals 9 10

0.59

4,255,220 Quantity Traded 222 Quantity331,899 Traded 332,121 142,364

Symbol DAARCOMM Symbol

10 No. of Deals 1 No. of Deals

Current Price 0.50 Current Price

142,364 Quantity Traded 1,800 Quantity Traded

Symbol CAPHOTEL IKEJAHOTEL Symbol

3 3

4.00

Symbol CILEASING

No. of Deals 6 6

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 3,570,000 3,570,000

Value Traded 1,785,000.00 1,785,000.00

Symbol CAPHOTEL

No. of Deals 1 8 9

Current Price 4.07 3.48

Quantity Traded 222 331,899 332,121

Value Traded 899.10 1,155,029.22 1,155,928.32

Symbol DAARCOMM Symbol

No. of Deals 1 No. of Deals 1

Current Price 0.50 Current Price

Quantity Traded 1,800 Quantity Traded 1,800 Page

Value Traded 900.00 Value Traded 900.00 11 9 of

Symbol ACADEMY LEARNAFRCA UPL

No. of Deals 4 2 1 7

Current Price 0.80 1.04 6.03

Quantity Traded 45,980 6,000 820 52,800

Value Traded 35,224.80 6,480.00 4,698.60 46,403.40

Symbol ABCTRANS

No. of Deals 5 5

Current Price 0.53

Quantity Traded 78,839 78,839

Value Traded 42,291.85 42,291.85

Symbol NAHCO

No. of Deals 19 19

Current Price 4.50

Quantity Traded 276,942 276,942

Value Traded 1,247,119.52 1,247,119.52

4,455,766

4,365,190.85

3,841

476,357,580

3,650,981,879.58

3,841

476,357,580

3,650,981,879.58

Daily Summary (Equities) IKEJAHOTEL

Daily Summary (ETP)

Exchange Traded Fund

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

101,705,973.63

No. of Deals 10 10

Printed 17/08/2015 14:32:45.045 SERVICES Totals

Equity Activity Totals

4,255,220

Symbol RTBRISCOE

Daily Summary (Equities)

Employment Solutions Daily Summary as of 17/08/2015 C & I LEASING PLC. Printed 17/08/2015 14:32:45.045 Employment Solutions Totals

Media/Entertainment SERVICES DAAR COMMUNICATIONS PLC Media/Entertainment Media/Entertainment Totals Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Printing/Publishing ACADEMY PRESS PLC. LEARN AFRICA PLC UNIVERSITY PRESS PLC. Printing/Publishing Totals

Current Price 11.65

304

REDSTAREX

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Value Traded 30,535.00 647,213,106.40 11 7 of 718,463,223.58

No. of Deals 180 180

Symbol SEPLAT

Hotels/Lodging CAPITAL HOTEL PLC IKEJA HOTEL PLC Hotels/Lodging Totals

108,511,023.44

No. of Deals 1 1

INDUSTRIAL GOODS Totals OIL AND GAS Integrated Oil and Gas Services OANDO PLC Integrated Oil and Gas Services Totals Daily Summary as of 17/08/2015 Printed 17/08/2015 14:32:45.045 Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors

6,423,980

Symbol COURTVILLE

ICT Totals Daily Summary as of 17/08/2015 Printed INDUSTRIAL 17/08/2015 14:32:45.045 GOODS Building Materials ASHAKA CEM PLC BERGER PAINTS PLC CAP PLC CEMENT CO. OF NORTH.NIG. PLC DANGOTE CEMENT PLC EQTY Activity Summary on Board DN MEYER PLC. INDUSTRIAL GOODS Building Materials PORTLAND PAINTS & PRODUCTS NIGERIA PLC LAFARGE AFRICA PLC. Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Building Materials Totals

Value Traded 261.50

of Shares(N) 261.50

No. of Deals 10 1 (Equities) 15 11 3 1

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

Quantity Traded

Symbol LOTUSHAL15 NEWGOLD STANBICETF30 VETGRIF30

No. of Deals 1 1 1 1 4

Current Price 10.04 2,139.00 93.31 13.55

900 900 Page

Quantity Traded 15 53 1,000 15 Page 1,083

3,553.00 3,553.00 11 of

Value Traded 150.60 113,367.00 93,310.00 203.25 11 10 of 207,030.85

ETF Board Totals

1,083

207,030.85

ETP Activity Totals

1,083

207,030.85

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Tuesday, August 18, 2015

Community Mirror A committee would also be set up to look into cases or reports of party members or leaders who erred in one way or the other, especially during the elections.. –GOVERNOR OF IMO STATE, ROCHAS OKOROCHA

dare akogun

odua people’s Congress has denied any involvement in the alleged rape of a trader in Alapare-Ketu area of a Lagos State. In a statement issued and signed over the weekend by its coordinator in Agboyi-Ketu Local Government Comrade Azeez Jimoh, describe the allegation as false and malicious with intent on soiling the good image of the group. The statement reads in part, “The attention of the Oodua People’s Congress has been drawn to the malicious alleged rape of a woman in Alapere area of Lagos State in which members of our organization have been linked with. “We would have ignored the write up titled” Controversy trail the alleged rape of a woman by four OPC members” published in the Vanguard Newspaper of Wednesday 12th of August 2015 but we considered the damage of the publication to the memory and knowledge of readers , who read the story, all over the world. “The OPC in clear term dissociated our members from the alleged nefarious activities and the police in Alapere police station and the Lagos State Police command have absolved members of our organization from the allegedly dastardly act,” the statement

OPC decries involvement in alleged rape of trader

raders at Araromi OkeOdo Market in Abule Egba area of Lagos have cried out to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode over incessant harassment by members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW. The marketers accused NURTW of trying to take over the market even though the market is not a motor park. According to a statement issued by the Araromi Oke-Odo Market Association on Sunday in Lagos and signed by its Iya Oja, Mrs. Modupe Sonola and other leaders of the market had it that the Iyaloja General, Mrs Folashade Tinubu-Ojo had already stopped all forms of ticketing in the market by NURTW, but wanted Ambode to also wade into the situation so as to stop the illegality totally. The statement said at a meeting, the traders averred that the crisis in Oke-Odo Market had the capacity to portray the state government as one that encour-

Boladale BamigBola OSOGBO

Rice being moved out of Ido market in Lagos by labourers.

said. Comrade Jimoh further noted that, “Much as we believe in the rule of law freedom of expression, we frown against act of irresponsible journalism, which is capable of dragging the hard earned names and reputation and names of individuals, groups and corporate organizations in the mire. “It is germane at this point to emphasize that no member of the

OPC has been arrested in connection with the said alleged rape and this can be verified with the police at Alapere police station and the state police command public relation officer. “As a responsible organization, we would have resorted to instituting a legal proceeding, but in appreciation of the cordial relationship between the OPC and the media in Nigeria, we have decided

PHOTO: SAMUEL ADETIMEHIN

to thread the friendly part but pit the record straight. “Our investigations not only revealed that our members were not in any way linked with the alleged rape but also that the police advised the writer of the said story to wait until the culprits were arrested but she rushed to the press, without considering the implication of the effect of the report on the readers,” he noted.

Traders cry to Ambode over harassment by NURTW Francis suBeru

Ijesa people urged to support rebuilding of Atakumosa Market

aged lawlessness and brigandage as it had always been the case when NURTW members unleash mayhem across the state. “We, in Araromi Oke-Odo Markt hereby hope that the action of the Iyaloja General to clean all markets in Lagos State off miscreants needs to be supported and backed by the State Government so as to further portray the All Progressives Congress, APC as a party that truly comes to save the nation of activities that had for years

portray Nigeria as a lawless country,” the traders said. The traders added that at its meeting the activities of a key member of the NURTW was pointed out as the member, despite his previous alleged wrong doing and misleading usage of police officers from Panti, had been parading the market with officers from the same Panti to unleash terror in the market. They said this same union member had begged the leadership of the market for wrong doings and had now resumed “his

usual trade to the extent that all traders are now wondering if there is a pact between policemen at Pant and the NURTW man who so believed in violence without critically analysing the implications in case the entire market revolt. “We therefore appeal to all lovers of peace and good governance in Lagos State to help us out as we believe that NURTW operation does not in any form connect to market,” the statement said.

Council stops free tutorial in Oshodi dare akogun

here was a protest in Oshodi by some students following the revocation of a permission earlier granted by the Oshodi Isolo Local Government Education Authority to Hon. Mutiu Shadimu to use public primary schools in the community for a free holiday coaching in the community.

The revocation came via a letter dated August 10, 2015 with reference number: LGEA/01/ ES/VOLIII/085 a copy which was made available to Community Mirror, directed to Hon. Shadimu, who represents Oshodi/Isolo Federal Constituency at the Federal House of Representatives. The protesting students were received at the Oshodi/ Isolo Local government Council by

the Executive Secretary, Hon Daoud Olajobi, who appealed for calm and understanding. Speaking on behalf of the Education Secretary, HOS Planning Research and Statistics, Mr. I. G Quadri promised that the issue will be looked into and resolved within 24 hours. “We will discuss and channel their complaints to the appropriate quarters and I can assure you that within 24 hours

ll sons and daughters of Ijesa land regardless of party affiliations and religion have been urged to join efforts and rebuild the recently razed Atakumosa Market in Ilesa. Speaking to traders during a visit to the market yesterday, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Senatorial Candidate for Osun East in the last general elections, Prince Francis Ade Fadahunshi, described Atakumosa market as the “glory of Ijesa land. According to him, the task of rebuilding the market should not be left to government alone; saying all privileged indigenes of Ijesa land must also come together and raise funds for those that lost goods to the inferno. “Atakumosa market occupies a strategic position in our history as people. It is among the biggest markets in Oyo, Osun and Ondo states. “We must come together and create endowment funds to help the traders that lost wares. This can be done in form of revolving loan to ensure our people remain in business,” he stated. He also requested the traders to create a special time for prayer sessions weekly. Responding, the Baba Oja of Atakumosa Market, Chief Adedeji Ogbara and Aare Iya loja, Chief (Mrs) Agbarapo, expressed gratitude to Prince Fadahunshi and called on other indigenes of Ijesaland to set machinery in motion to help those that lost goods to the fire incident. It will be recalled that about 517 stalls were recently burnt down with wares worth several millions of naira lost in the market, said to be among the biggest in Osun state.

the students will go back to their classes,” he said. However, Mr. Quadri, said he was not aware of the approval for the use of school nor the revocation order. Some of the students bemoaned the development, stressing that such a gesture from Shadimu should be encouraged by the council instead.

North

Tuesday, August 18, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Rotary moves to reduce infant, maternal mortality OMEIZA AJAYI ABUJA

Kaduna State Governor Nasir el-Rufai, addressing a group demonstrating in support of his demolition of illegal buildings, in Kaduna, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

Katsina sets up four probe panels JAMES DANJUMA KATSINA

our committees have been set up by Katsina State government to investigate activities of some departments and agencies in the state. The department and agencies include the Girl Child Education, Offices of the Millennium Development Goals, MDGs, and Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Pro-

gramme, SURE-P. Others are Road Maintenance Agency, KASROMA, and State Universal Basic Education Board, SUBEB. The committees were inaugurated yesterday by Governor Aminu Bello Masari, with the mandate to investigate activities of former administration of Governor Ibrahim Shema. Speaking at the inauguration, Masari called on members of the committee to avoid sentiments in

carrying out their assignment and to help establish institutions that would outlive the administration. He said their assignment could come in conflict with those of other people, but they should work for the general benefit of the state and its people. Terms of reference for the committee include; ascertaining location, state of projects and programmes said to have been

executed from 2011 to 2015. The committee is to determine whether or not, funds earmarked for the projects or programmes were judiciously allocated. They are to determine whether or not financial and administrative operational guidelines were adhered to in the conduct of the organisation’s activities. Members of the committee were drawn from government agencies and from the business community.

Dangote Foundation offers free medical services in Katsina

angote Foundation at the weekend took free health care services to the doorsteps of vulnerable and poor people in Katsina State. Thousands of ailing people, including sick elderly and malnourished children trooped to the General Hospital in Kankia Local Government Area of the state, venue of the exercise and were treated free. The free medical outreach in Katsina State include free consultations, medicines and minor operations; advocacy on health and nutrition to women; as well as training of interns and medical personnel who in turn would offer medical advice to the people. The programme, which was spearheaded by Dangote Foundation, was in collaboration with Katsina State government, Give-Back Nigeria, a UK based

Charity Organisation, and Gachi Development Foundation. Governor Aminu Bello Masari, who flagged off the three-day free medical services, expressed appreciation to Dangote Foundation and its collaborators for the gesture, and described it as service to humanity for which God would surely reward. He explained the programmes being mapped out by his administration to tackle health care challenges among his people and said the Dangote Foundation has in no small measure assisted in quickening the health programme. The governor urged other spirited organisations to look in the direction of joining hands with government to ensure that the poor also have access to quality health care services. In her remark, the

Chief Executive Officer, CEO, of the foundation, Mrs. Zouera Youssouffou, said the foundation decided to sponsor the free medical outreach because the health sector is a critical part of the foundation’s focus in contributing to the uplift of the society and her people. She stated that issues bordering on the health of Nigerians have always been of concern to Dangote Foundation and that was the reason it has been involved in all efforts at ensuring that poor Nigerians also benefit from sound health care services. Dr Shamsudeen Yahyah, a director in Katsina State Ministry of Health, urged all contributing agencies to try and sustain such gesture, adding that their support would go a long way in assisting government to achieve its goals. He identified poverty, ignorance as the major causes of dis-

eases in the northern part of the country. Speaking also, Dr. Tasiu Suleiman Gachi, the Project Leader said he was impressed by the Dangote Group and other partnering organisations.

otary Club of Nigeria has gone into partnership with her counterparts in Germany, Austria and the United States of America to embark on a vigorous campaign against the rising problems of maternal and infant mortality in Nigeria. Chairman of the Project Implementation Committee of Rotary Club District 9140, Trans-Ekulu, Enugu, Mr. Eric Igweshi, told journalists in Abuja that the club was alarmed by the increase in maternal and infant mortality cases in the country, hence the need to assist government in tackling the problem. Already, Rotary Club is collaborating with Enugu State Ministry of Health and the Catholic Institute for Development, Justice and Peace in the project and have selected five hospitals to benefit from a comprehensive action plan that would help reduce the problem in the eastern part of the country. According to him, the health institutions, which were selected after thorough assessment visits to various communities across the state, would be supplied relevant equipment, instruments and consumables. Some of the items already purchased for distribution, he said, include anesthetic machines, theatre beds, theatre lights,

delivery beds, ultra-sound machines, baby incubators, cardiocotograph machines, 20kv power generators, refrigerators, surgical instruments, drugs and other consumables. Igweshi expressed the desire of Rotary Club to extend its intervention programme to last for two years for effective implementation, saying the period will also allow the club to develop training programmes for capacity building of workers in the benefiting health care centres. He disclosed that already, 24 medical doctors and nurses are being retrained on modern hospital delivery processes, while 12 other doctors are specialising on the surgical procedures involved in caesarian operations even as 24 others are studying emergency obstetrics. He also disclosed that already, 150 traditional birth attendants have been signed on and trained on modern and hygienic methods of child delivery apart from being sensitised on how and when to refer patients to specialist hospitals to avoid complications. Rotarian Igweshi explained that the objective of the intervention was to drastically reduce maternal and infant mortality cases in the country pointing out that the club has also established a Rotary Maternal and Child Health Clinic in the state to serve as a platform for research, training and gathering of statistics on maternal and infant mortality cases in the country.

Taraba to partner UNIDO on hydro power JUSTIN TYOPUUSU JALINGO

araba State government is to partner the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation, UNIDO, to build more hydro power plants in the state. Speaker of the House of Assembly, Abel Diya, disclosed this yesterday in Jalingo while speaking with journalists. Diya said the state was endowed with natural resources, including potential for hydro power plants, which have remained untapped, noting that the state is now partnering

UNIDO to explore the possibilities of tapping these vast potential by building more hydro power plants to provide sustainable power supply to the state. Taraba State Governor, Darius Ishaku, had last week commissioned a 400kw small hydro power station at Tunga village, built and donated by UNIDO in collaboration with United Nations High Commission on Refugees, UNHCR, and the state government. According to the speaker the state has seven identified waterfalls that can each power hydro power

plant, saying such resources were laying waste. “Taraba State Government will partner UNIDO and other relevant agencies to build more of these hydro power plants to boost power supply in the state, create jobs for the youth and boost investment,” he said.

Gov. Ishaku

Tuesday, August 18, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

World News

We blocked this path and will definitely block it in the future. We won’t Bomb explosion kills 18 allow American political, economic or cultural influence in Iran in Thai shrine

PAUL ARHEWE

WITH AGENCY REPORTS

outh Sudan President Salva Kiir declined to sign a peace deal proposed by regional leaders yesterday, saying he required more time, the mediator of the crisis said. South Sudan, which gained independence from Sudan in 2011, descended into chaos in December 2013 when a political row between Kiir and his deputy Riek Machar spiraled into armed conflict that reopened ethnic faultlines. Seyoum Mesfin, the mediator for IGAD, the East African bloc leading the talks, said Kiir’s side required two weeks before signing the peace deal that was accepted by the South Sudanese rebels. “In the next 15 days, the government will come back to Addis Ababa to finalize the peace agreement,” Seyoum said. No one from the government was immediately available to comment. Numerous rounds of negotiations have failed to end fighting that has killed over 10,000 people and displaced more than 2 million, with both sides engaging in a war of attrition despite signing ceasefire deals. Last month, IGAD set Aug. 17 as the deadline to end the drawnout talks, outlining proposals for ending the fighting. The proposal designates a

– IRANIAN SUPREME LEADER, AYATOLLAH ALI KHAMENEI

South Sudan’s president rejects peace deal

Kiir

30-month transition period with Kiir as president, with a first vice president post allocated to the rebels, IGAD said. Elections would be held two months after the close of the interim period. Both Kiir and Machar would be eligible to run. A member of IGAD’s media-

tion team told Reuters Kiir had reservations over the proposal’s plan to demilitarize the capital, Juba, and also sought to scrap a provision that calls for consultations with Machar on “powers, functions and responsibilities” he would exercise. Kiir’s delegation has also criti-

AFRICA BULLETIN

Pistorius sets for house arrest after release from prison In one of the wealthiest suburbs of South Africa’s capital Pretoria stands a three-storey mansion where Paralympic gold medallist Oscar Pistorius will be taken on his release from prison this week. Pistorius, 29, is expected to wear an electronic tracking tag when he is released on Friday after serving 10 months of a fiveyear sentence for killing his model and law graduate girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine’s Day 2013. The release of Pistorius, whose lower legs were amputated when he was a baby, is in line with South African sentencing guidelines that say non-dangerous prisoners should spend only one-sixth of a custodial sentence behind bars. Pistorius is due to serve the rest of his term in “custodial supervision”, a form of house arrest. He will be mostly confined to the home of his uncle, Arnold, a high-walled manor in the leafy suburb of Waterkloof that features more than a dozen bedrooms, a private gym, outdoor swimming pool and landscaped gardens.

cized some other aspects of the proposal, including an 18-month deadline for the integration of armed forces, saying this must be done in less than six months. Machar said he was satisfied with the agreement. “We do not have any reservations on the ceasefire. We have no reason to continue fighting,” he told a news conference. “There is no reason why he (Kiir) requested for more time. He has got a good agreement.” Seyoum said the delay by the government in signing the deal did not mean it was not committed to the search for a settlement, but western diplomats urged Kiir to accept it swiftly. “The humanitarian catastrophe in South Sudan is huge. We need the guns to fall silent,” Tobias Ellwood, Britain’s minister for Middle East, North Africa and Central Asia, told journalists. “The signatures of the other 14 die as South African taxi parties are still drying but one collides with train signature remains, so we very A minibus taxi has collided with a much encourage the President of South Sudan to recognize the train near Ballito in South Africa, killing at least 14 people, according to spirit of this event today and KwaZulu-Natal emergency services. sign the document.” The BBC’s reporter said it is believed the taxi was carrying 20 passengers when it went over a bridge and hit a train as it plunged onto a railway line below. Northern League who has emerged South Africa has an exceptionally as the most prominent figure on the high accident rate on its roads. At least 10,000 people die on the right of Italian politics. roads a year, mostly due to reckless “If it is true (that they carried driving. out the murders) these two basNo-one on the train was injured, tards should be locked up for life, according to ENCA news. preferably in their own countries,” Spanish police find hashish Salvini said yesterday.

Indian, Pakistani arrested over Italy pizza slaying

n Indian and a Pakistani have confessed to killing the elderly owners of a Brescia pizzeria in a mafia-style slaying that shocked Italy and threatens to inflame racial tensions in the northern city. Prosecutors said Pakistani national Mohamed Adnan and Indian Sarbjit Singh had admitted to carrying out the August 11 attack in which Francesco Seramondi, 65 and his wife Giovanna Ferrari, 63, were shot repeatedly with sawnoff shotguns inside their takeaway. The execution and the killers’ getaway on a moped was captured on CCTV and police said Singh’s fingerprints had been found at the scene. Adnan is the owner of a failed similar pizza and snacks outlet he bought from Seramondi. Hours after the attack the 32-year-old appeared on television complaining that the neighbourhood had become “disgusting” and that the

police had been sleeping. According to prosecutors, Adnan has claimed he organised the murder with the help of his friend Singh, 33, in frustration and anger over being unable to compete with the slain couple’s popular business. But investigators are sceptical about whether the case is actually that straightforward in a city known for the involvement of organised crime in extortion rackets and the drugs trade. “Now the difficult phase of the investigation begins, in which we will try to establish if the suspects simply adopted the methods of organised crime of if there is more to it,” Brescia prosecutor Pierluigi Maria Dell’Osso told a press conference. The case threatens to affect already-delicate community relations in Brescia, where immigrants from South Asia and North Africa account for more than a

sixth of the population, high by Italian standards. An angry mob gathered to greet Adnan and Singh on their arrival at the city’s police headquarters for questioning and the case was seized upon by Matteo Salvini, the populist leader of the anti-immigration

The mafia-style slaying shocked Italy and threatens to inflame racial tensions in the northern city

in wheelchair cushion

Spanish police have arrested a man who tried to smuggle two kilos (4.4 pounds) of hashish stuffed inside a wheelchair cushion, the interior ministry said yesterday. It was concealed in the wheelchair of a woman travelling by boat from Ceuta, a tiny Spanish territory in north Africa, to the southern Spanish port of Algeciras, a statement said. The suspect, who was on the same boat, hid the drugs without the woman’s knowledge, it added. It was not immediately clear if the man knew her. Spain’s proximity to north Africa, a major source of hashish, and its close ties with its former colonies in Latin America, a key cocaine producing region, have made it a major gateway into Europe for drug traffickers.

World News

WORLD BULLETIN

Over 300 US rabbis support Iran nuclear deal More than 300 American rabbis wrote members of Congress yesterday urging them to support the international nuclear deal with Iran, signalling the US Jewish community is split over the historic but controversial accord. The religious leaders come from across the spectrum, but hail overwhelmingly from Judaism’s Conservative and Reform streams as well as other progressive Jewish movements, a spokesperson said. “We encourage the members of the Senate and the House of Representatives to endorse this agreement,” the 340 rabbis wrote in a letter to Congress distributed by Ameinu, a progressive charitable Jewish organization. “We are deeply concerned with the impression that the leadership of the American Jewish community is united in opposition to the agreement,” the rabbis added. “We, along with many other Jewish leaders, fully support this historic nuclear accord.” The agreement, finalized last month after more than a year of intense negotiations, would roll back Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for an easing of crippling economic sanctions. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is strongly opposed to the deal. He argues it will fail to block Iran’s path to nuclear weapons that could be used to target the Jewish state.

Migrant fatally struck by freight train in Macedonia Macedonian police say a migrant walking along railroad tracks on the northern border with Serbia has died after being hit by a freight train. Macedonia is a major transit route for migrants from the Middle East, Asia and Africa heading from Greece to more prosperous European Union countries. Almost 38,000 migrants have been registered passing through Macedonia in the last month. The migrant died Monday while being transported to a hospital in the capital, Skopje, becoming the 29th person to die on train tracks in nearly two years. Police also said they detained three Syrians on Sunday near the southern border with Greece, when a crowd of migrants threw stones, bottles and shoes at police attempting to restore order at the Gevgelija railway station where hundreds attempt to board Serbiabound trains.

Tuesday, August 18, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Bomb explosion kills 18 in Thai shrine A bomb exploded at a popular shrine in central Bangkok during evening rush hour yesterday, killing at least 18 people, injuring more than 100 and leaving body parts strewn across the streets of a neighbourhood full of five-star hotels and upscale shopping malls, officials said. No one immediately claimed responsibility for the blast, which caused the worst carnage of any single attack in recent memory in the Thai capital. Bangkok has been relatively peaceful since a military coup ousted a civilian government in May last year after several months of sometimes violent political protests against the previous government. The area around Bangkok’s Erawan Shrine is

Police investigating the scene at the Erawan Shrine after an explosion in Bangkok,Thailand, yesterday

filled with hundreds of tourists, office workers and shoppers at any given time. Police said the bomb was made from a

pipe wrapped in cloth. “Whoever planted this bomb is cruel and aimed to kill,” said national police chief Somyot Poompum-

muang. “Planting a bomb there means they want to see a lot of people dead.” The shrine is at a major intersection that was

the center of many contentious political demonstrations in recent years — raising questions about whether the bombing was politically linked. But police said it was too soon to determine the attack’s motive. Security video showed a powerful flash as the bomb exploded at around 7 p.m. At least 18 people were confirmed dead and 117 injured, according to the Narinthorn emergency medical rescue centre. The dead included Chinese and a Filipino, Somyot said. Anusit Kunakorn, secretary of the National Security Council, said Prime Minister Prayuth Chanocha, the former army chief who orchestrated the May 2014 coup, was closely monitoring the situation.

Tsipras likely to call confidence vote after party revolt

he Greek government appears likely to call a confidence vote, following a rebellion among lawmakers from the ruling Syriza party over the country’s new bailout deal, senior ministers said yesterday. Energy Minister Panos Skourletis described such a parliamentary

vote as “self-evident” following Friday’s rebellion when almost a third of Syriza deputies abstained or voted against the agreement. With Syriza’s left wing showing little sign of returning to the party fold, Skourletis also raised the possibility of early elections should Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras

lose a confidence motion. Tsipras had to rely on opposition support to get the bailout deal through parliament, and another minister argued that elections would be a way of achieving political stability. Greece’s political turmoil has raised uncertainty over how the government will implement

the bailout deal, which demands profound economic reform and tough austerity policies, without a workable majority. The government has said its priority is to secure a start to funding from international creditors under the bailout program, Greece’s third in five years, so that Athens can make a 3.2 billion

US Army skydiver dies from air show injuries

U.S. Army skydiver who had served five tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan died Sunday from injuries suffered in a midair collision with another jumper during a stunt at the Chicago Air & Water

Hood

Show, authorities said. Sgt. 1st Class Corey Hood of Cincinnati, Ohio, who had recently turned 32, was pronounced dead Sunday afternoon at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago, said

Mario Johnson, a Cook County medical examiner’s investigator. Hood had logged more than 200 free fall jumps and 75 military static line jumps during his career, according to his Army bi-

ography. The Army Golden Knights and Navy Leap Frogs parachute teams were performing what is known as a “bomb burst” Saturday when the collision occurred, Golden Knights spokeswoman Donna Dixon said. During the stunt, parachutists fall with red smoke trailing from packs and then separate, 3rd--creating a colourful visual in the sky. Dixon said Hood collided with a member of the Navy’s precision skydiving team. Hood was knocked unconscious, “which resulted in an uncontrolled offsite landing,” Dixon said in a statement. Spectator Heather Mendenhall told the Chi-

euro debt repayment to the European Central Bank on Thursday. However, asked on Skai television about the possibility of a parliamentary confidence vote after this, Skourletis said: “I consider it selfevident after the deep wound in Syriza’s parliamentary group for there to be such a move.”

cago Tribune on Saturday that she was watching the show from a rooftop and saw Hood strike the roof of a high-rise building next door with his feet and then fall — his parachute trailing behind him. “His legs caught the tip of the roof, and then he fell over. It was horrible,” she told the newspaper. The other parachutist, who has not been identified, landed on North Avenue Beach near the main viewing area for the show, Fire Department spokesman Juan Hernandez said Saturday. He was treated for a broken leg. The accident is under investigation, the Army said. The team did not perform again on Sunday.

Tuesday, August 18, 2015

I don’t see Arsenal as serious contenders for the EPL title. Every year they always express same wish –Manchester United legend, Roy Keane

The List Goalkeepers: Vincent En-

EvErEst OnyEwuchi

hina’s sportswear producer, Peak, will supply the general kits Team Nigeria athletes will wear at the upcoming 11th All Africa Games (AAG) holding in Brazzaville, Congo. National Mirror was informed exclusively that the National Sports Commission (NSC) has already paid about N91million to the Chinese sportswear producer for the different kits. A breakdown of the figure shows that the NSC paid N58million for the general kits and another $150,000 USD (about N33million) for the sport specific wears for the about 450 contingent Team Nigeria that will compete in 19 events. Director-General of the NSC,

Ramos stays at Madrid till 2020 S

yeama (Lille OSC, France); Carl Ikeme (Wolverhampton Wanderers, England) Defenders: Leon Balogun (FSV Mainz 05, Germany), Kingsley Madu (AS Trencin, Slovakia), Godfrey Oboabona (Caykur Rizespor, Turkey), William Troost Ekong (FK Haugesund, Norway), Kenneth Omeruo (Kasimpasa SK, Turkey) Midfielders: Joel Obi (Torina FC, Italy), Izunna Ernest Uzochukwu (FC Amkar Perm, Russia), Obiora Nwankwo (Coimbra FC, Portugal), Lukman Haruna (Anzhi Machatsjkala, Russia), Rabiu Ibrahim (AS Trencin, Slovakia) Strikers: Ahmed Musa (CSKA Moscow, Russia), Emem Eduok (Esperance ST, Tunisia), Emmanuel Emenike (Al Ain, UAE), Anthony Ujah (Werder Bremen, Germany), Sylvester Igboun (FC UFA, Russia), Moses Simon (KAA Gent, Belgium)

Sergio Ramos (left) at the signing of his new contract at the Bernabeu, yesterday

AAG: NSC pays N91m to kit Team Nigeria ...Yakmut back tomorrow for final plans Mallam Alhassan Yakmut, who has been in Brazzaville attending a Chef de Missions meeting of the AAG holding between September 4 and September 19 confirmed the expenditures to our correspondent. Yakmut disclosed that Team Nigeria will wear traditional dress during the opening ceremony march past, with the female athletes donning Buba and Iro, while their male compatriots will put on Kaftan. The NSC DG who is still abroad tidying up international preparations for Nigeria’s successful participation in the AAG, is however, expected to return to Abuja tomorrow to continue final plans for the games.

Sport

Pistorius due for release on Friday

Oliseh leaves out Mikel, invites 18 others for Tanzania S uper Eagles’ Head Coach, Sunday Oliseh, has invited 18 overseas-based professionals for next month’s 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against Tanzania in Dar es Salaam. First-choice goalkeeper and skipper, Vincent Enyeama, headlines the list that also has defenders Godfrey Oboabona, Leon Balogun and Kenneth Omeruo; midfielders Rabiu Ibrahim, Lukman Haruna and Joel Obi, and strikers Ahmed Musa, Emmanuel Emenike and Anthony Ujah. There are a number of surprises in line with Oliseh’s earlier pledge to make current form and first-level football key indices for selection. There are goalkeeper Carl Ikeme, midfielder Izunna Ernest Uzochukwu and strikers Emem Eduok, Sylvester Igboun and Moses Simon. All the 18 players, who will join up with the 23 home boys who arrived camp in Abuja yesterday, are expected in Abuja on Monday, 31st August, 2015 at the latest, according to a statement from the NFF.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

He explained that Nigeria got 40% discount on the N58m paid to Peak, while the amount excludes cost of freighting the goods. “The $150,000 sports specific wears are approved by the different international sports federations and the kits are purchased off the shelf,” Yakmut said. Preparations towards the games will heighten this week, with about 300 athletes in the different sports camps expected to be decamped to select the final 450 that will wear Nigeria colours in Brazzaville, Congo. Already, the Nigeria Boxing Federation (NBF) has selected 13 amateur boxers, while the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) has selected nine ping-

pongers for the games.

Yakmut

ergio Ramos says he never wanted to leave Real Madrid, despite interest from Manchester United. The 29-year-old Spain defender signed a new five-year deal yesterday to keep him at the Bernabeu until 2020. BBC Sport reported that the Red Devils had a £28.6m bid for the World Cup winner rejected in June as contract talks stalled. “I know this renewal has taken a while but my heart and head have always been with Real Madrid so I couldn’t be happier,” said Ramos. According to BBC Sport, United are now unlikely to sign a new defender before the transfer window closes, while goalkeeper David De Gea, a Real target, is expected to stay. The Old Trafford club have insisted they will only sell the 24-year-old Spain international to the La Liga side for a worldrecord fee for a goalkeeper, or if Ramos is part of a deal. The current transfer window closes on September 1. Ramos, who scored an injury-time equaliser as Real beat city rivals Atletico Madrid in the 2014 Champions League final, has been made club captain by new manager Rafael Benitez after goalkeeper Iker Casillas left for Porto. Sitting next to Real president Florentino Perez at a news conference to announce the deal, Ramos said:”My idea was to always be here and I always wanted to retire here if the president would allow it. “I’m thankful I have a new challenge to be the captain of this team. The priority is always Real Madrid, keeping our fans happy and winning titles.” He added: “There is nothing like this institution. My own happiness is the priority, in the end that was fundamental.” Ramos is now the longestserving player at the Bernabeu after signing from La Liga rivals Sevilla in 2005.

Sports

Tuesday, August 18, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Kiddies Olympics:

Mentors’ Yahaya

FIBA Africa ticket thrills Mentors’ boss

Paul ErEwuba

ark Mentors Coach, Peter Ahmedu, has expressed delight at his wards’ effort at picking the FIBA Africa ticket after his team beat Kano Pillars 7966 to win the 2015 DStv-sponsored Premier Basketball League in Lagos last week. Ahmedu told National Mirror that his players were motivated to prepare well for the continental championship. “We will leave nothing to chance in ensuring that we excel at the competition,” the coach said. Mentors ended the first quarter with a 25-point lead as against 16 recorded by Pillars. In the second quarter, Mentors, spurred by the chants of their supporters, maintained their impressive performance to win 16-14 and ended the first half with 41-30 points. The third quarter was however not different from the opening quarter but Pillars reduced the points to 20-15 while the last quarter ended in favour of Pillars but the 1821 points effort was not good enough to see them retain the title they won last year at the same venue. With the result, Mentors will represent Nigeria in the FIBA-Africa Club Champions Cup, although playing in the final also gave Pillars advantage to return to the continental tournament. The third place game saw Gombe Bulls beat home side Union Bank of Lagos 63-53 points. It was a disappointing season for the Atlantic Conference teams after they all failed to finish among the best three teams in the league.

Pistorius

Pistorius due for release on Friday S

outh African state prosecutors yesterday, in Pretoria filed an appeal against the verdict of culpable homicide passed on Oscar Pistorius for killing his girlfriend, arguing the athlete due to be released on Friday, should have been convicted of murder. National Prosecuting Authority Spokesman, Luvuyo Mfaku, said the team had filed an appeal against the judgment delivered by Judge Thokozile Masipa. He said the legal team had a month to file its response to the appeal, which the Supreme

Court, was expected to hear in November. Mfaku said they wanted the verdict to be made equivalent to manslaughter. Meanwhile, Pistorius is due to be released on Friday after serving 10 months of a five-year sentence, in line with South Africa’s custodial guidelines for non-dangerous prisoners. The prison officials said Pistorius would be taken on his release from prison on Friday to mansion arrest. “While on ‘mansion arrest’ he would wear an electronic

tracking tag. Pistorius is due to serve the rest of his term in custodial supervision, a form of house arrest,” he said. The official said he would be mostly confined to the home of his uncle, Arnold, a highwalled manor in the leafy suburb of Waterkloof that features more than a dozen bedrooms, a private gym, outdoor swimming pool and landscaped gardens. The athlete, according to the official, will likely be allowed to leave the house to work, carry out community service or to attend important family events.

SUBEB director raises mercenary alarm afolabi Gambari

ports Director of State Universal Education Board (SUBEB) Lagos, Mr. Olu Akapo, has warned schools taking part in the maiden Kiddies Olympics holding in Lagos from October 24 to 31to shun the use of mercenaries. Akapo, who is also the National President of SUBEB Sport Directors, said after a meeting with Lagos SUBEB Sport Officers last weekend that the Project Management Team (PMT) of the tournament viewed the use of unqualified athletes in the U-13 boys and girls’ event as serious offence. “Defaulting schools will attract stiffer punishment and will be reported to the government,” he said, adding, “We have concluded plans to adopt Exponent 21 for the Games to enable us focus strictly on the age, weight and height of each pupil taking part.” Meanwhile, the PMT has unveiled venues that will host District Qualifiers ahead of the Olympics from October 6 to 8. Secretary of Lagos SUBEB Sports Officers, who is also a member of the PMT, Mr. Kolawole Ogundipe, said the qualifiers would take place across the six education districts of Lagos State, namely Agege, Bariga, Lagos Island, Surulere, Ijanikin and Ojota. Chairman of the PMT, Mr. Nurudeen Aluko, said the organisers would ensure adequate staging of the youth Olympics in conjunction with Nigeria’s telecommunications, oil and gas, insurance and manufacturing sectors. The Kiddies Olympics, packaged by Klozit Limited in collaboration with Isaac Daniels, State Universal Basic Education Board and Association of Lagos SUBEB Sport Officers, will feature football, track and field, scrabble, table tennis and handball with about 2, 000 public and private schools in Lagos State participating.

Yakmut

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sports

Tuesday, August 18, 2015

Mercyjacob_26@yahoo.com Tel: 08063056537

No regret missing Beijing 2015 –Brume

eigning Commonwealth long jump queen, Esse Brume, says she has no regret for not being part of Team Nigeria to the 15th IAAF World Championships billed for August 22 to 30 August in Beijing, China. Brume told National Mirror yesterday that her time will come because she has long years ahead of her. “Everybody will not be at the World Championships at the

same time, as it is turn by turn. I have confidence that my own time will come,” she said. “I just need to improve more on my performance so that when another opportunity comes again, I will grab it. “I am focusing on the African Games which comes up September at Congo Brazzaville, I am training so hard to ensure that I make a mark there.” Brume has looked ordinary since her double triumph in

Glasgow at the Commonwealth Games and Marrakech, Morocco at the African Championships last year. She holds a personal season’s best of 6.61m, a clear 9cm off the entry standard of 6.70m set by the IAAF for the event. Meanwhile the Team Nigeria for the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) World Championships will depart the country for Beijing today.

IAAF elections: Ogba, Nesiama, Wophil chase history

Ogba

s the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) holds its elections tomorrow at its 50th congress, history awaits Africa as three Nigerians vie for posts in the federation. President of the Athletic Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Solomon Ogba, is running for one of the nine individual IAAF Council member seats while Technical Director, Navy Commodore Omatseye Nesiama, is eyeing a seat in the IAAF Technical Committee as former

general secretary of the AFN, Maria Wophil, seeks to become chairperson of the IAAF Women’s Committee. Last week, Nesiama played down his chances, saying he would not elaborate on his candidacy in a chat with National Mirror. “I have nothing to say,” he insisted, even as he confirmed he was in the race. Ogba is banking on the reforms he has introduced to the AFN administration to clinch his position in the IAAF.

Mobil Athletics training begins

bout 200 athletes and coaches have commenced a two-week training programme, with the introduction of the students to the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, also known as the Nest of Champions. Officials of Mobil Producing Nigeria, led by Manager, Public

and Government Affairs QIT, Mrs. Regina Udobong, supervised the distribution of track suits, spike shoes, canvasses, running and competition vests, sports bags and other kits to the kids. The students thanked MPN for the gesture and promised to maximize the opportunity.

Meanwhile, a renowned athletics coach, Daniel Etsebiminor, who helped Blessing Okagbare get to limelight, is the latest addition to the coaching team of the ongoing Akwa Ibom State/NNPC/MPN Schools Athletics Holiday Camping and training programme taking place in Uyo.

Star Quote… The only one who can beat me is me. –Michael Johnson

Brume

World bits… IAAF hosts Beijing Mayor

utgoing IAAF President, Lamine Diack, and his Council colleagues yesterday welcomed the Mayor of Beijing, Wang Anshun, at the start of the 199th IAAF Council Meeting at the Intercontinental Beijing Beichen. Also welcomed by the IAAF Council were the Vice President of the Chinese Olympic Committee Gao Zhidan and the Director of Beijing Municipal Foreign Af-

fairs Office Zhao Huimin. President of the Local Organising Committee (LOC), IAAF World Championships Beijing 2015, Mayor Anshun, and Executive President of the LOC, Zhidan, delivered welcoming addresses on behalf of the host city. “This is an important Council meeting for all of us,” Diack said, adding, “It heralds the arrival of a new president who has the task to build the future of our sport.”

China presents strong team

osts China have assembled 73 athletes on their team for the IAAF World Championships, their largest ever squad at a world championships, spearheaded by a group of elite race walkers including London 2012 Olympic Games 20km race walk champion Chen Ding and 20km world record-holder Liu Hong. In Moscow two years ago, the

Chinese team finished 22nd on the table with one silver and three bronze medals but all the four medallists there, Chen, Liu, Gong Lijiao and Zhang Wenxiu, have once again been included in the team for Beijing. It will be the second time for the 23-year-old Chen to compete at the World Championships after his second place finish in Moscow.

Doping rumours taint Beijing 2015

eports said yesterday that rumours about doping have overshadowed preparations for the World Championships in Beijing. This year’s headlines have been as varied as they are unwanted, from the doping allegations against Mo Farah’s coach, Alberto Salazar, and the ongoing US Anti-Doping Agency investigation into Salazar, to the to

the 28 athletes currently facing disciplinary action from the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) after their urine samples from the 2005 and 2007 Worlds were analysed for a second time. The most damaging development is the database of 12, 000 samples from 5, 000 athletes leaked from within the IAAF, showing myriad suspicious tests.

WORLD RECORD

rugby leaguetwo hat-trick FastestFastest marathon dribbling basketballs

N150

Vol. 05 No. 1179 Tuesday, August 18, 2015

The fastest hat-trick of tries scored from the start of a match is 6 min 54 sec by Chris Thorman (UK) playing the semi-final of the Buddies National League Cup at Doncaster, South Yorkshire, UK on 19 May 2002.

Waiting for Buhari’s ‘angels and saints’

he speculations that there would be no cabinet for the new All Progressives Congress (APC) Federal Government until September was laid to rest when President Muhammadu Buhari confirmed it to his USA audience. Upon return to Nigeria, he further told the Nigerian Television Authority that the reason for the delay was mainly for dearth of men and women of integrity to appoint into the various cabinet positions. Further sources claim that the President sent in 33 names for security clearance and only three returned without blemish. The President has always maintained that no persons of questionable character would

Guest Columnist

Law Mefor

find their way into his cabinet. This is good. However, the President has indeed found himself in a quagmire, for if he could not appoint the ministers that may be less than 40, how and what time will it take to compose about 5,000 positions in the Presidency? The President cannot be too careful. Life itself is a journey of faith and good conscience. There is no perfect situation in life. Even Jesus Christ, true man and true God, chose Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him among his 12 Apostles. Most Christians would tell you Jesus knew that Judas would betray him even before he chose him for the role he played so as to bring salvation to mankind through His death and resurrection. Without trying to be more catholic than the Pope, one dares say that Buhari can appoint those he believes are competent even if they are not exactly saints or angels, and prepare with the law and hammer for their Judas-like betrayal. Christ did not spare Judas and he had to commit suicide as a result. So, if Buhari hopes to enthrone a new order, he should not spare any corrupt politician even if he financed his campaign. Nothing destroys a polity like selective justice. President Buhari is truly in a dilemma, particularly with what to do with the avalanche of politicians who bankrolled his multi-billion naira campaign and their natural expectations that they and their cronies would be rewarded with ministerial and other juicy appointments. Without their corrupt money he wouldn’t be President, and if he allows them in they would

NOTHING DESTROYS A POLITY LIKE SELECTIVE JUSTICE steal more to recoup. It is a Devil’s Alternative situation the President has found himself. But the simple way out in such situation is a balancing act: He has to make do with what he has and remedy it with the law along the way, that is, jail for the new thieves. Somebody said with a measure of believability that the uncorrupt politician may be the dead one, especially in today’s Nigeria. So, part of the problem may also be that the President is looking only among politicians who may have supported his election as President. Ordinarily, one would say he should look for pure technocrats in the academia and business world and from amongst Nigerians in Diaspora and take a chance with them. Then, he can follow them with anti-corruption laws and jail. But are these ones really uncorrupt? Not likely. Past administrations, both military and civilian, have all made extensive use of technocrats. Yet, it is said that it is the same technocrats that have taken us to this point. In the recent past, dozens of government appointees were all top technocrats, but most of them have gone the rotten way of the politicians. Buhari should take a good look at the system which corrupts. Perhaps, it is what needed change more than the operatives themselves.

Picking technocrats from Diaspora has also its own problems because all the imported technocrats in the various past governments have brought in too many audacious and elitist policies that alienated Nigerians and made the economy fare more disarticulated and to grow well only on paper with an illogical corresponding growth in poverty, unemployment and unemployability among other contradictory malignant issues. They introduced what I have once referred to as ‘Voodoo Economics’ in another article. Perhaps what should alarm us more than the issue of delay in appointing the ministers are only three men passing the integrity test out of 33. If this is a sample of Nigerians, it means over 90 per cent of Nigerians are corrupt. It is a serious sign, and a pointer to how bad things have gone in Nigeria. But what do you expect in a country like ours where money, however tainted, is seen as the only sign of prosperity? Even churches now cajole Nigerians to pay their tithes and bring their offerings in dollars and pounds. So, it should not be surprising that majority of Nigerians fall in the corrupt category. The way and manner Nigerians look for money and how we worship and praise-sing after money is alarming really. Just days ago, a 16-year old boy killed a four year old in Lagos and removed all the vital organs for money rituals. More embarrassing is that fact that the well-known ill-gotten wealth is welcome to Nigerian religious circles as their owners proudly occupy front pews and marts in churches and mosques with the clergy singing their praises. The time being lost is rather too precious. And it is actually illegal for the President to run the country for any reasonable period of time without a team of ministers and advisers. Mefor, an Abuja-based forensic psychologist, author and journalist, wrote via lawmefor@gmail.com and can reached on 08037872893

Sport Extra

outh Korean businessman, Mong-joon Chung, has confirmed he will contest the FIFA presidential elections in February next year. Chung is seeking to replace outgoing President Sepp Blatter, who in June

FIFA election: Korean, Chung, declares presidential ambition announced he would step down after the corruption scandal engulfed football’s world governing body. UEFA President, Michel Platini, Brazilian icon, Zico, and Liberia FA

Chairman, Musa Bility, are also bidding to succeed the long-serving Swiss. “Today FIFA is undergoing a profound crisis,” Chung, a former Korea Football Association presi-

dent, said in Paris yesterday. “Under these circumstances, the FIFA president must be a crisis manager and a reformer. “FIFA needs a leader

who can bring back common sense, transparency and accountability. “For any successful organisation to be free of corruption, it needs periodic change of leadership.

Chung

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