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Reps probe non-remittance to Federation Account by NNPC, JV Partners

EFCC drills ex-minister, Abba Moro over immigration recruitment scam P.5

Corporation denies involvement in $25m oil block deal

CHIDI UGWU AND UBONG UKPONG

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Vol. 5 N0. 1226

ouse of Representatives yesterday asked its Committee on Petroleum (Upstream and Downstream), to probe non-remittance

Wednesday, October 21 , 2015

of all funds into the federation account from the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, and its Joint Venture, JV, partners. CONTINUED ON PAGE 2>>

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N70bn fraud allegation

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Again, Senate fails to screen Amaechi Shittu, Ibrahim face lawmakers

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GEORGE OJI ABUJA

enate again, yesterday, put off the screening of former Rivers State governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi as one of the ministerial nominees. But the senators eventually screened two nominees out of the eight originally scheduled for the exercise yesterday. Our correspondent learnt that the senators decided to slow down on the screening process to CONTINUED ON PAGE 2>>

Nigeria, Ghana in agreement to settle N33.8bn gas debt P.5 Suspend Ooni selection process, Ife kingmakers urged P.7 N3.1bn debt:

Court freezes Zamfaraâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s account in 21 banks

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A cross-section of successful candidates at the April and May 2015 Bar final examinations, during the call to the bar ceremony in Abuja, yesterday.

Heads to roll in Army over Ekiti, Osun guber elections

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Again, Senate fails to screen Amaechi CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

observe the direction of the trial of the Senate President at the Code of Conduct Tribunal, which was slated for today. It is the position of the lawmakers that the progress of the trial would determine whether or not the parliament would continue to extend

friendly cooperation to the executive or not. Amaechi made the list of the first 21 ministerial nominees submitted for screening and confirmation by President Muhammadu Buhari on September 30 in accordance with section 147(2) of the Constitution of Nigeria. But the screening of

the former governor has been delayed for political reasons, including opposition to his candidacy by the three senators from Rivers State as well as a petition against his nomination. Even though there were no official explanations why Amaechi was not screened, it was how-

ever gathered that the leadership of APC in the senate influenced the decision not to screen the former governor. That decision was fueled by fears that doing so would generate serious uproar in the senate, particularly following information that Peoples Democratic Party,

PDP, senators were determined to oppose the screening. APC senators had met in Abuja late Monday night, where decision was taken by the party to back the former governor en bloc. But unknown to the APC senators that their PDP colleagues had taken

Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. Ibe Kachikwu (right), with President John Mahama of Ghana (left) at the meeting leading to the agreement on payment plan for gas supply debt by the Volta River Authority of Ghana.

Reps probe non-remittance to Federation Account by NNPC, JV Partners CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

The Committee has been asked to investigate the operations of the Joint Venture Agreements with particular reference to leakages and also carry out forensic assurance review of the Joint Venture books to establish the amount remitted to the federation account, and report back to the House in seven weeks. This followed a motion brought by Ossai Nicholas Ossai, on the recovery of revenues payable to the federation account from NNPC and its Joint Venture partners. Ossai noted that NNPC, on behalf of the government of the federation, entered into joint venture agreements with oil companies operating in the country. He also noted that the

Corporation and the oil companies were expected to fund the joint ventures operations, and share oil proceed and other associated benefits or revenues in line with their interest holdings as contained in the joint operations agreement. The lawmaker said Federal Government’s contribution to the funding of the joint venture was sourced from the Appropriation Act, and released by NNPC through a system of monthly cash calls which frees government from any other cost obligation. He said besides the lifting of oil in the agreed sharing ratio, there were associated incomes or miscellaneous revenues accruable to the joint venture, for which government was entitled to a good share in accordance

with the joint operations agreements. He cited section 162 (1) of the constitution which required that all collectable revenues of the government of the federation be paid into the federation account. Ossai said income from such sources as sale of assets, marine transportation, haulage or pipeline transportation amongst others, which formed part of the joint venture operations were unaccounted for and not usually paid into distributable pool by the oil companies, which were the operators of the joint ventures. The motion was carried by the House presided over by Speaker, Yakubu Dogara, and referred to the committee on Upstream and Downstream when constituted for fur-

ther legislative actions. Meanwhile, NNPC has condemned the linking of its name with the failed bid by an Indian company, Oil and Natural Gas CorpMittal Energy Limited, to acquire an oil block and the consequent nonrefund of the signature bonus it paid for the deal. The Corporation, in a statement in Abuja yesterday, explained that the reports linking it with the transaction showed a high level of ignorance on how the oil and gas industry in Nigeria works. The statement said: “Our attention has been drawn to the repeated reports linking the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation with the failed attempt by a certain Indian company, Oil and Natural Gas Corp-Mittal Energy Limited, OMEL, to

acquire an oil block during the 2006/2007 oil bid round and the consequent failure to get a refund of the funds it committed to the deal. “We wish to clarify that NNPC is not the statutory body saddled with the responsibility of organising bid rounds and so could not have received the alleged amount of $25m or any payment from OMEL for the transaction. “We find the deliberate attempt to drag NNPC into the various allegations surrounding the transaction as mischievous and unfortunate. “We urge those who are interested in the story to seek clarification with the relevant agencies responsible for conducting bid rounds and to whom OMEL may have paid the alleged fee.”

a decision to oppose his candidacy, the leadership of the ruling party gave a go-ahead for the screening to take place. Amaechi’s name was listed in the first order paper of the day, alongside seven other nominees for screening. However, shortly before the commencement of the day’s plenary, the first order paper was quickly withdrawn and a second one surfaced. In the second order paper, Amaechi’s name and four others were left out, living only three names. At the end of the day, it was only Mr. Adebayo Shittu and Khadija Abba Ibrahim that were eventually screened. Incidentally too, the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions failed to submit its report of the investigation of the N70bn fraud allegation leveled against Amaechi by a Port Harcourt-based Integrity Group. Chairman of the Committee, Samuel Anyanwu (Imo East) had pledge on Monday that report on the petition against Amaechi would be laid before the senate yesterday. The outcome of the committee’s report, debate and adoption of it was a precondition for the commencement of the screening of the former governor. Following the development, the PDP conveyed a meeting at the end of yesterday’s plenary wherein, they reviewed their strategies, with a view to fashioning ways of responding to the new situations in the red chamber. It was further gathered that APC senators decided yesterday to intensify more lobby of their colleague PDP senators to secure their support in the confirmation of the nominees. At the Monday night’s meeting of APC senators, it was jointly agreed by the lawmakers to unite in support of Amaechi. Although the meeting was attended by 30 senators, a decision was taken that the decisions reached would be binding on all the 59 APC senators.

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L-R: Osun State deputy governor, Mrs. Titi Laoye-Tomori; Governor Rauf Aregbesola; MTN Corporate Services Executive, Mr. Akinwale Goodluck, and Director MTN Foundation, Mr. Dennis Okoro, during the commissioning and presentatation of five patrol Vehicles to Osun State government as a beneficiary under the MTN Foundation Security Support Projects, at the Governor’s Office, Abere, Osogbo, yesterday.

Cross section of children, during the Nestle Healthy Kid Programme to commemorate the World Chef Day Cooking Demonstration in Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO: SAMUEL ADETIMEHIN

Director-General, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mr. Mike Omeri (left), decorating. Abdulrazak Gambo Isakoto, the Ohimege Igu Kotonkarfe of Kogi State, with the “Do The Right Thing Lapel” during a public enlightenment/sensitisation programme of communities in flood-prone areas of Kogi State, yesterday.

L-R: Chief Medical Director, Babcock University Teaching Hospital, Dr. Franklin Ani; President/ Vice Chancellor, Prof. James Kayode Makinde; President/CEO, Tristate Heart and Cardiovascular Association, Prof. Kamar Adeleke, and Senior VP/DVC, Prof. Iheanyichukwu Okoro, during World Press Conference on inauguration of Tristate Heart and Vascular Center at Babcock University, Ilisan Remo, Ogun State, yesterday. PHOTO:ADEMOLA AKINLABI

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FG plans crisis communication centre to counter extremist ideology

•DSS commissions new officers to face security challenges Rotimi Fadeyi and Johnson Okanlawon

ice President Yemi Osinbajo said a crisis communication centre that provides information-countering violent extremist ideology especially in the North East is to be set up by the Federal Government A statement issued yesterday by Senior Special Adviser to the Vice President on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, said Osinbajo gave the hint while receiving US Special Envoy on Counter Terrorism Communication, Rashad Hussain, at the Presidential Villa. He noted that it is critical to define and disseminate positive narratives that expose the evil of terrorism, asserting the ultimate victory of good over evil. Osinbajo said it would have been understandable

if the campaign of the terrorists preaches better life, equity and such other lofty ideas, stressing that when the narratives of the insurgents have no such hope; adding that it is intriguing that the message gained currency. He disclosed that government would put up a campaign involving civil societies, young people and non-governmental organisations coming together and interacting to provide positive counternarratives against violent groups like the Boko Haram. Earlier, Hussain had said that based on the American experience and happenings in other parts of the world, Boko Haram has a strong propaganda in the media that has to be countered. He observed that majority of the people have already rejected Boko Haram but the voices of the minority is being played

and re-played in the media, thus causing content imbalance. Meanwhile, the Department of State Service, DSS, has commissioned 385 officers to face the security challenges in the country. Speaking in Lagos when State Services Academy commissioned the officers, Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Olonisakin, said the country relies on active participation of stakeholders to provide intelligence on a whole range of internal

security threats confronting the society. According to him, there is need for synergy efforts with other security agencies to confront activities of Boko Haram terrorists, armed banditry, kidnapping and militancy in various forms. He enjoined them to work assiduously at this critical period of security challenges and that all hands should be on deck to exterminate terrorism from Nigeria. Olonisakin, who noted that there is symbolic re-

lationship between the DSS and the Armed Forces of Nigeria, said security issues have become more complex especially with the growing impact of non-state actors in international politics, terrorism and insurgency. Director general, State Services, Lawal Daura, said the security service requires new blood and vigour to tackle the current security challenges. Daura, who said that 74 cadets were unable to graduate, cautioned that

recruitment into the service would henceforth be based strictly on the extant guidelines in respect of qualifications and other conditions. He added that a situation whereby misfits or ineligible candidates find their way into the service would no longer be allowed. “Recruitment will be strictly in accordance with future needs of the service and other compelling exigencies that may come up from time to time,” he said.

from newsmen at the 2015 Call to Bar ceremony organised by the Nigerian Law School in Abuja. He noted that corruption has tainted the image of the judiciary and advised judges to always follow precedence in the dispensation of justice.

According to him, corruption is a major obstacle that has hindered growth in the justice sector, and he expressed his resolve to tackle it. “The judiciary has been marred by people who are corrupt. “We will challenge cor-

ruption from the work of the judge; we will know if you are corrupt or not from what you put out there. “If you don’t follow court precedence; if you don’t follow the rule of law as set out, then we will know you are corrupt.

Corruption: NBA president tasks judges

resident of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Mr. Augustine Alegeh, yesterday urged judges to uphold the rule of law in addressing corruption in the nation’s judiciary. Alegeh made the call while fielding questions

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Heads to roll in Army over Ekiti, Osun guber elections UBONG UKPONG ABUJA

resident Muhammadu Buhari has shifted his dangling axe to the Nigerian Army over the roles it played in the gubernatorial elections in Ekiti and Osun states respectively. This is even as the Nigerian Army has set up a Board of Inquiry to look into the matter. The Army was heavily criticised over its involvements during the elections in both states. Heavily armed soldiers were alleged to have taken over the states to aid rigging in support of the then ruling party, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. Apart from the Army, the Department of State Services, DSS, was also accused of partisanship during the elections. The result of an inquiry

into its role saw many key personnel, including then spokesperson, Marilyn Ogar, being axed from service. Director of Army Public relations, DAPR, Colonel Sani Usman, said in a statement yesterday, that the role of its personnel during the election would be investigated. He said: “The Nigerian Army has set up a high powered Board of Inquiry, BOI, to investigate among other things alleged malpractices and involvement of its personnel in Ekiti and Osun states gubernatorial elections in 2014. “The BOI is to investigate the alleged unprofessional and unethical conduct of some Nigerian Army personnel in Ekiti and Osun states’ gubernatorial elections 2014, as well as in any other state in Nigeria where other allegations of miscon-

EFCC drills ex-minister, Abba Moro over immigration recruitment scam OLUFEMI ADEOSUN

conomic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, yesterday grilled a former Interior Minister, Abba Moro, over the 2014 immigration recruitment scam. The former minister was said to have arrived the Abuja office of the commission around 10:00am and was immediately whisked to the investigation unit where he was interrogated by the operatives of the antigraft agency for more than 10 hours. Our correspondent cannot ascertain whether the suspect would be released on administrative bail or be remanded at the custody of the Commission because as at the time of filing this report, he was still being drilled. EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, confirmed the interrogation of Abba Moro, but declined to give further details. He told our correspondent that he had no details about the charges against him. “All I can confirm to you is that, the ex-minister Abba Moro is being quizzed by the operatives of the commission. I do not have further details about the matter,” he

stated. It would be recalled that over 520,000 applicants in various centres across the country participated in the botched recruitment exercise organised by the Nigerian Immigration Service, NIS, in March 2014. However, with each of the 520,000 applicants paying N1,000, heaven was let loose, as no few than 20 people were stampeded to death. The death drew public outcry, with many Nigerians blaming the tragedy on shoddy preparation and incompetence on the part of both the then minister and Comptroller-General of Immigration, David Parradang. At the height of the public condemnation, former President, Goodluck Jonathan, had ordered the refund of the N1,000 paid for the screening and promised to give automatic appointment to the families of the bereaved and the injured victims. However, while the automatic appointment order is being contested, NIS is yet to refund the said N1,000, which amounts to N520m. An impeccable source told our correspondent that the commission had quizzed the Paradang on the same issue.

duct were made during the 2015 general elections in the country. “As part of its terms of reference, the BOI is to also

review the involvement of the Nigerian Army formations/units and its personnel in elections and other duties in aid to civil author-

ity. “The essence of the Board is to prevent future unprofessional conduct by officers and men in the performance

of the constitutional roles while strengthening Nigerian Army’s support to democratic values and structures in Nigeria.”

FCT indigenes in peaceful protest agitating for a ministerial slot, at the National Assembly, Abuja, yesterday.

FG, Ghana reach agreement to settle N33.8bn gas debt CHIDI UGWU ABUJA

ederal Government has reached an agreement with Ghana on the modalities to settle the outstanding N33.8bn owed by Volta River Authority, VRA, on gas supplied for power generation by a Nigerian company, N-Gaz. According to a statement by Group General Manager,

Group Public Affairs Division, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Ohi Alegbe, the highlight of the agreement was that the debt will be cleared by February 2016 at the latest. The agreement, which was reached on Monday between a team led by the Group Managing Director NNPC, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, and President of Ghana, John Dramani Mahama,

stipulated that VRA will pay the balance of August and September invoices by October 31 at the latest. It was also agreed that all other supplies as from October will be paid for on or before due date, while the backlog of arrears from 2012 will be defrayed by February 2016. It would be recalled that Nigeria had threatened to cut gas supply to Ghana by 70 per cent over a $181m debt

that had accumulated over the years. Ghanaian Minister of Power, Dr. Kwabena Donkor, had led a delegation to Abuja last week to hold talks with Nigerian authorities with a view to resolving the issue. N-Gaz is a joint venture company owned by NNPC, Shell and Chevron that delivers gas through the West African Gas Pipeline Company, WAGPCo, to Ghana.

Judge orders CBN gov to appear in court for contempt WALE IGBINTADE

Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday ordered the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Mr. Godwin Ezekiel to appear before it on November 19 to give reasons why he should not be jailed for allegedly disobeying an order. Justice Mohammed Yunusa made the order following a complaint by Ecobank Nigeria Limited, that Emefiele and others had been flouting a court order made on July 1, 2015 despite being duly served since July 16, 2015. Justice Yunusa had on October 2, 2015 ordered the service of Form 48, (Notice of Consequence of Disobedience to Order of Court), on Emefiele and two other

directors of CBN, Mr. A.O. Ogundana and Mr. Dipo Fatokun. The order was consequence to an allegation by Ecobank Nigeria Limited that Emefiele and others had been flouting a court order. Ecobank had alleged that Emefiele, Ogundana and Fatokun were frustrating its move to recover a huge debt allegedly owed it by an oil marketing firm, First Deepwater Discovery Limited. The order, which was allegedly disobeyed, mandated the CBN to redeem a Sovereign Debt Note issued in favour of Ecobank by the Debt Management Office in respect of fuel subsidy claims accruable to First Deepwater, being kept in the custody of the apex bank. But the bank claimed that it had been hamstrung by the

alleged refusal of Emefiele and others to obey the order. During yesterday’s proceeding, counsel for CBN, Mr. Ahmed Raji, SAN, told the court that the Form 48 had not been served on Emefiele, Ogundana and Fatokun, in any manner ordered by the judge. Raji urged the court not to entertain the contempt proceedings yet because there was still contention on the propriety of service. He urged the court to rather hear his application seeking to vacate the order, which Ecobank claimed that CBN had refused to obey. But counsel for the bank, Mr. Kunle Ogunba, SAN, said what was important was that Emefiele and others knew about the contempt case, irrespective of how they knew.

He also noted that despite being aware of the case, Emefiele and others did not appear in court. He urged the judge to enforce his order in order to preserve the integrity of the court. “The parties who were cited have not appeared before this court and they cannot do so by proxy,” he added. In his ruling, Justice Yunusa held that an order of court was bound to be obeyed whether rightly or wrongly made. He said as ministers in the temper of justice, lawyers had the duty to advise their clients to always obey court orders. The judge therefore adjourned till November 19, 2015 for Emefiele, Ogundana and Fatokun to appear in court.

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Reps query Nigeria’s absence at zero gas flaring conference Ubong Ukpong Abuja

ouse of Representatives yesterday, queried the country’s conspicuous absence at the zero routine gas flaring initiative in Washington D C, United States of America. The lawmakers may also ask the Federal Government to go ahead and sign the treaty to end gas flaring by 2030. In a motion brought by Mr. Uchechuku NnamObi and 13 others, titled: “Deploring Nigeria’s absence at the zero routine gas flaring initiative in Washington D C, United States of America”, the lawmakers noted with dismay Nigeria’s absence at such all important international event that would benefit the country. It was noted that Nigeria was faced with severe challenges arising from unbridled gas flaring at onshore/offshore production sites by international companies operating within its shores. The lawmakers said they were aware that zero routine flaring by 2030 initiative was launched by the United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, and the World Bank Group President, Jim Yong Kim, as part of the World Bank’s Spring meeting in the US. They observed that the Initiative strived to get government, oil companies and development institutions to see gas Confirmation of Name

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flaring as unsustainable as it constituted waste of resources, poses grave environmental and health dangers to the people and also detrimental to the climate. They expressed worry that Nigeria’s absence at the meeting held on April 17, this year as well as her inability to sign the treaty, was a major cause for concern. According to them, nine nations such as Norway, Cameroun, Russia, Kazakhstan, Gabon, Uzbekistan, Congo, Angola and France, and multinational firms like Royal Dutch Shell, Total, Statoil, Eni, BG Group, Kuwait Oil company, Petroamazonas of Ecuador, State Oil Company of Azerbaijan amongst others, signed the agreement to end routine gas flaring at oil production sites, while Nigeria, with serious gas flaring issues, was not represented. While the sponsors of the motion demanded that the House urged the government to initiate the process of formally endorsing the initiative after concluding any ongoing policy review of its energy industry, Majority Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila argued that it was inconceivable that the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari should be made to endorse something it was not party to, even though government was a continuum. In a swift reaction, Minority Leader, Leo Ogor, CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Olatunji Dolapo Adekunjo now wish to be known and addressed as Olusanya Oyinbo Dolapo Adekunjo. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

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said since Gbajabiamila had noted that government was a continuum, it was profitable for Nigeria to consider signing the treaty. However, Speaker Yakubu Dogara, who

presided, advised that it would be better to listen to the authorities first to know their reasons for not attending before asking government to go ahead and sign the treaty. In an amendment to the

motion, which was carried by the lawmakers, Gbajabiamila prayed the House to strike out the prayer of the sponsors that government should sign the treaty. He however asked the

House to sustain their prayers to invite the permanent secretary or representative of the Petroleum Resources ministry to explain the reason why Nigeria did not send any delegate to the event.

L-R: Director, Commercial Shipping Services, Nigerian Shippers Council, Mrs. Dabney Shall- Holma; Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer, Nigeria Shippers’ Council, Hassan Bello; Director, Maritime Safety and Security, Federal Ministry of Transport, Danjuma Dauda and Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, during a meeting with the Vice-President at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, yesterday.

FG urges court to put Okah on chain during trial Doosuur Iwambe Abuja

ederal Government yesterday asked Justice Gabriel Kolawole of the Federal High Court, Abuja, to put the alleged mastermind of October 1, 2010 Independence Day bombing, Charles Okah in chains to stand trial. Okah, who is standing trial on charges of terrorism, alongside Obi Nwabueze, had on October 6, 2015, caused commotion at the court as he attempted to end his life by trying to jump through the window CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Enekwizu Ifeoma Ebele now wish to be known and addressed as Okerulu Ifeoma Ebele. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

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of the three storey building. However, at the resumed trial yesterday, the Federal Government through its counsel, Alex Iziyon, SAN, made an oral application, requesting that Okah be chained to avoid the recurrence of what transpired during the October 6 proceedings. In making his application, Iziyon referred to Section 269 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, and urged the court to grant the application that Okah, who is the 1st defendant be put under fetters, while the trial was CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Lebi Betty Olufunmilayo now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Olarewaju Betty Olufunmilayo. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note

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in progress. In his response, Okah’s counsel, Mr. Samuel Ozidiri, SAN, apologised on behalf of his client and urged the court to discountenance the prosecution’s request. He argued that the application was premature and not worthy of any sympathetic consideration, adding that the prosecution failed to put the defence on notice before coming up with such submission. Delivering his ruling, Justice Kolawole said granting the prosecution’s request may turn out to be the greatest distraction in CHANGE OF NAME I formerly known and addressed as MISS AROWOLO BOSEDE KEMISOLA CHRISTIANAH, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. KOLAWOLE BOSEDE KEMISOLA. All former documents remain valid and general public take note.

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the suit. He said: “By the provisions of section 6, subsection 6 paragraph 8 of the 1999 constitution as amended, this court as one of the superior courts of record created by the constitution, is imbued with discretionary jurisdiction, which can be exercised without the need for an application from the prosecution once it is of the view that the conduct of the 1st defendant (Okah) is such that it may impede a smooth administration of proceedings on the charge of which the defendants are standing trial. CHANGE OF NAME IKPATT: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS ESTHER ESEME IKPATT, now wish to be known, called and addressed as MRS. ESTHER AKANINYENEUKO NDON. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

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Nigeria to establish Ebola relapse clinic Adeola Tukuru Abuja

ederal Government yesterday announced that the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, will soon establish a survival clinic

in collaboration with tertiary health institutions to address any relapse in survival of the Ebola Virus Disease, EVD. The Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Health, Mr Linus Awute, while briefing the

Suspend Ooni selection process, Ife kingmakers urged Boladale Bamigbola Osogbo

fe Elders Forum, IEF, has advised kingmakers to immediately suspend processes leading to the selection of the new Ooni of Ife. It said this become imperative in view of the death of a prominent kingmaker of the town recently, the Obalufe, Oba Solomon Omisakin and the various litigations in courts expected to be settled out of court. Warning the kingmakers not to present any candidate with questionable character to Governor Rauf Aregbesola for approval, it said whoever will emerge as the new Ooni must be accepted by majority indigenes of the town. The forum, in a statement signed by its chairman, Chief Mosadoluwa Iyiola Omisore; Sooko Adewoyin Owoyomi; Ambassador Olagunju Adesakin (Otun Balogun of Ife); Chief B.O. Omirefa, Chief Dupe Omisore and Chief Alex Duduyemi (Asiwaju of Ife) made available to newsmen on Tuesday in Osogbo, noted that there are litigations surrounding succession to the throne of Ooni which are not in the best interest of Ife. The statement reads: “In view of the importance of Ooni’s stool in Ife kingdom and entire Yoru-

Doosuur Iwambe Abuja

hief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, yesterday charged students of the Nigerian Law School, who were called to the Nigerian Bar, to exhibit the highest level of professional ethics and decorum in the course of discharging their duties.

ba nation, well- meaning Nigerians are anxiously waiting for the vacant stool to be filled with appropriate personality. “Ife being a well structured and well organised community in view of the Akodi concept, leading to the formation of the Ajo, the problem at hand should not be intractable. The death of Obalufe being one of the two principal kingmakers has further compounded the problem surrounding the selection process. “That the Sookos should appeal to the ruling houses to withdraw the cases in courts in order not to cause undue delay in the selection process. “That though there is obvious need for review of the Ooni’s chieftaincy declaration, the review should wait till Ooni is in place since chieftaincy declaration cannot be amended during an interregnum. “That the kingmakers should not announce the candidate of their choice without carrying along Ife community as broadly represented by Ife Elders Forum. “That the kingmakers should in their selection process ensure compliance with the requirements of the law, the tradition while also ensuring that the candidate meets moral and ethical standards,” it added.

press on the first anniversary of declaration of Nigeria Ebola-free, further noted that the Ministry has set up a template for Ebola containment with an Emergency Operation Centre under the National Primary Health system. Also, he said the Department of Public Health is continuing active surveillance with port Health Services at

the points of entry, adding that NCDC will fortify the disease surveillance activities for early detection and response. “Since Nigeria was declared Ebola-free, the global Ebola control environment has changed based on new evidences around care for Ebola in pregnancy, survivors, related symptoms, discovery of Ebola vaccine, relapse of the disease and

most recently evidence of sexual transmission of the disease by survivors carrying the virus in their semen and vaginal secretions,” he said. He, however, noted that Nigeria’s ebola freedom is not going to be full celebration until the transmission of the disease in the human population reaches zero in West Africa. Awute said: “It is in-

deed a year today that Nigeria, against all odds, achieved the greatest feat of terminating the Ebola Virus Disease. “Nigeria was declared free of Ebola on October 20, 2014 by the World Health Organisation which makes that date 20/10, a special day for public health practitioners in the country and indeed other followers of global health developments around the world.”

L-R: Chief of Idu community, Alhaji Mohammed Bawa; Director, Human Resources Department, Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), Mr. Aminu Ahmed; Director of Administration and Chairperson, NDIC Community Service Initiative, Mrs. Afabor Enemute, and Assistant Director, Human Resources Department, Mrs. Itamunoala Sunday, at the inauguration of NDIC’S 100 metres borehole, at Tatagyiya community in Abuja , yesterday.

Two Arik aircraft collide at Lagos Airport Olusegun Koiki

hree months after the Nigerian aviation industry recorded two major incidents involving four aircraft, another two airplanes belonging to Arik Air were yesterday afternoon involved in an incident at the General Aviation Terminal, GAT of the Murtala Mohammed Airport, MMA, Lagos. The two aircraft, Boeing 737-800NG, the airline said, were involved in a wing-tip brush when one of the aircraft with registration num-

ber 5N-MJP was marshalled out of the ramp for a scheduled flight when its wing brushed that of another aircraft, 5N-MJQ parked on the ramp. Statement by spokesman of Arik Air, Mr. Ola Adebanji, said the incident was not major as safety of passengers was not compromised. Banji said the management had since grounded the two aircraft while appropriate authorities had been informed. In July, at the airport, an Emirates aircraft, Boeing 777-200 with the flight number EK782 to Dubai

with over 300 passengers onboard, had collided with a stationed Hak Air aircraft while taxing to the takeoff point at the local wing. Its wingtip made a contact with the tail of a Hak Air aircraft parked on the apron of the airport. Both aircraft involved in the incident had substantial damage and source close to the scene of the incident confided in our correspondent that the incident might have occurred due to the closure of the international runway, 18Left, which had safety issue at the time while there was already a

CJN charges new lawyers on ethics, decorum

The CJN, who gave the charge at the Call-to-Bar ceremony yesterday at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, advised the new lawyers to be true representatives of the legal profession, saying the profession is known for its sanctity, integrity, honesty, objectivity and respect for rule of law.

Earlier, the Director-General of the Nigerian Law School, Olanrewaju Onadeko said a total number of 3,600 students of the Nigerian Law School, who were successful in this year’s Bar final examinations were called to the Nigerian Bar. He said the number includes 14 candidates from the previous

Bar final examinations. Onadeko said the April 2015 examinations were written by resit students after two months of intensive preparation, adding that the students’ performance at the examinations vindicated the decision of the Council of Legal Education for a compulsory intensive revi-

sion exercise for students, According to the Nigerian Law School boss, four candidates out of the total 3,600 that were called to Bar, came out with first class, 109 obtained the second class upper grade, 418 were classified in the second lower division and 1, 422 attained the pass grade.

Notice To Airmen, NOTAM, by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN to all operators. Less than two weeks later, another disaster was again averted at the airport with two aircraft belonging to FirstNation colliding at the same airport. One of the aircraft, Airbus 319 with about 130 onboard passengers, was taxiing from the runway to Murtala Mohammed Airport Two, MMA2, to disengage passengers while the other aircraft, another A319 was preparing to take off to Port Harcourt Airport from the same terminal. Management of the airline blamed FAAN’s marshaller that handled the aircraft, saying he misdirected the pilot. FirstNation Airways management stressed that if the marshaller had been well-trained, he would have carried out its job more diligently while the accident would have been avoided.

South West

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

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Ambode, Speaker praise reaffirmation of mandate by S’Court FRANCIS SUBERU

agos State governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, yesterday described the Supreme Court ruling upholding his victory at the April 11, 2015 governorship election as a welcome development, saying the verdict

is a reaffirmation of the people’s mandate that was expressly demonstrated on election day. The governor in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Habib Aruna, said “the decision of the Supreme Court has put all issues on election matters to rest once and for all.”

Ambode also commended the judiciary for its consistency, saying “the ruling has further proven the judiciary to be the critical institution that could further deepen our democratic values.” It would be recalled that following Ambode’s victory at the poll, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP candidate, Jimi Agbaje,

filed a petition at the Election Petitions Tribunal challenging his victory. The tribunal had on Wednesday, July 1, struck out the petition filed against the election of Governor Ambode of the All Peoples Congress, APC by PDP’s Agbaje following a preliminary objection filed by APC counsel, Wole Olanipekun (SAN).

The Appeal Court also on August 26 upheld the ruling of the State Election Petitions Tribunal and also ordered the PDP candidate to compensate each of the respondents in the sum of N50,000 each. With the Supreme Court ruling putting to bed the issues surrounding the April 11 election, Ambode reiterated his call on the opposition to move beyond partisanship and join hands with his administration to move Lagos to the next level. Speaker, Lagos House

of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, also described the Supreme Court verdict as the final nail on the coffin of the state chapter of the PDP. Obasa in his reaction to the ruling stated that the verdict has put the final legal seal on the victory of the governor in particular, and the party in general in the election. The Speaker further stated that the people of Lagos are happy with the performance of APC, hence they would continue to vote for the party and its candidates.

Sect members held over killing of boy B OL ADALE B AMIGBOL A OSOGBO

T L-R: Managing Editor, Indicator Media, Mr Felix Ogweze; Head of Research/Programme Department, Indicator Media, Mr Kunle Oseni; former Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State; his former Special Adviser on Public Health, Dr Yetunde Adeshina, and Editor-in-Chief, Indicator Media, Mr Olatunji Oke, at the presentation of a book on “Tackling Ebola the Lagos Approach” to former Governor Fashola in Lagos, yesterday.

Tax: Traders protest as Ekiti seals banks, filling stations ABIODUN NEJO ADO EKITI

fficials of Ekiti State Board of Internal Revenue, BIR, yesterday shut shops and offices of some tax defaulters in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital. Places sealed included a second generation bank, a petrol filling station and some shops. This, however, sparked off a protest by some Igbo traders, whose shops along Secretariat Road, were affected, as they said the tax regime was outrageous. The traders, who gathered on the BIR Office, said the latest action of the Board negated the earlier agreement between them and the Board on tax. The Igbo traders claimed they had an agreement with BIR for tax rate of N5,500 only for the officials of the tax agency to storm their business offices yesterday

claiming that the agreed tax was no longer in place. Chairman of Secretariat Road Traders Association, Uchenna Madunagu, accused the BIR of imposing taxes ranging between N75,000 and N180,000 on the traders, saying such were too much for their businesses. Madunagu said the traders were “forced out of their shops by sternlooking armed policemen, civil defence officers and suspected thugs clutching chains and padlocks with which their shops were closed.” According to him, most of the traders have cash, passbooks, cheques and keys to their homes inside the sealed shops. Madunagu said: “The newly imposed taxes have no basis anywhere because a tax is supposed to be based on your income and you don’t do assessment of taxes in your room, you have to come to our shops and see the business we run.

Imagine a shop that the goods inside are not up to N200,000 being asked to pay N100,000 as tax. “We have been paying taxes every year, not that we don’t want to pay but this latest tax regime is unbearable and their approach is selective because we contribute much to commerce and economy in Ekiti. “They should open our

shops and listen to us, we are citizens of this country and we should not be marginalised because we are contributing between 80 and 90 per cent to the economy in Ekiti.” Secretary of the association, Chizom Unegbu, urged the governor to reduce the taxes imposed on the traders, saying there should be no selective application of taxes in the state.

hree suspected members of an Islamic sect have been arrested by Osun State police command for allegedly killing a two-year-old boy, Teslim Bakare, in Iragbiji, headquarters of Boripe local government area of the state. According to sources, the sect members, led by one Moshood Aremu, had been operating a mosque around Oke Mori area of Iragbiji and resided in another part of the town. The suspects, Tajudeen Ganiyu of Aropoko compound, and one Wasiu Danku led by Aremu, reportedly abducted the victim at Agbelekale Compound of Iragbiji, and killed him by slicing his throat. It was further learnt the suspects removed the deceased’s head and collected his blood into a bucket.

Though the suspects were not caught in the act, but luck ran out on them when someone successfully recorded the scenes with mobile phone and handed the recordings to some people. In a chat with newsmen on phone, a resident of Otapete Area, where leader of the sect lives, who preferred anonymity, said: “No one knew who recorded them but people have been suspecting them around here. “Not long ago, Moshood Aremu, their leader was expelled by the teblique and he subsequently established his own sect and has been leading them since.” A reliable security source said the suspects had confessed to the crime at the State Criminal Investigation Department, SCID, Osogbo, where they are being held.

Electrocution: Eko Disco to re-route feeder lines at Unilag, others

ko Electricity Distribution Company (Eko Disco) says it will soon commence the re-routing of electricity feeder lines at the University of Lagos (Unilag) and other areas. The CEO of Eko Disco, Mr Oladele Amoda, disclosed this yesterday at the company’s quarterly media briefing in Lagos. He explained that this would be done in form of underground supply to avoid electrical accidents and electrocution.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Miss Juliana Anekwe, a 300-level student of Unilag was recently electrocuted on the campus when a live wire fell on her. Amoda said changing of all obsolete cables and re-routing of feeder lines underground within its network became necessary to guard against frequent cable damage and loss of lives. As we proceed with our commitment to op-

timal service delivery to customers, it is sad to see some unfortunate incidents that appear to stain the gains of our efforts, he lamented. On metering of houses, the CEO said the company had spent over $9.7 million to procure about 57,500 smart meters for customers’ use. He said: “To tackle the metering challenge, a total of 7,500 maximum demand meters had been procured at the cost N2.8 billion, while another

50,000 meters for nonmaximum demand customers have been procured.” Amoda said about N50 billion would be spent to cover all customers within the next three years, adding that over N10 billion had been spent so far for the rehabilitation of equipment within the network. He said many transformers that were injected into the system lines had been rehabilitated and upgraded.

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South West

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

Passengers beg NRC management to provide security at Ijoko station

L-R: Ogun State Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs.) Yetunde Onanuga; National President, Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria, Mr. Gabriel Fasooto; Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun and out-going Chairman, APBN Ogun State Chapter, Mr. Bimbola Alagbe during a courtesy call on the governor at his Oke-Mosan office, Abeokuta, yesterday.

Apapa gridlock: Lagos commends Senate, Tinubu FRANCIS SUBERU

agos State government has commended the Senate for its approval of a motion moved by the senator representing Lagos Central District, Oluremi Tinubu, on the nerve-breaking gridlock in Apapa, Lagos. Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, who gave the commendation, expressed happiness that the development is heartwarming as it has shown

that the state government’s efforts at providing solution to the notorious traffic congestion in the axis has finally caught the attention of the Senate. Ayorinde commended Senator Tinubu for her bold step in moving the motion and galvanising her colleagues to address the gridlock, expressing hope that the Senate would give it priority attention when it is tabled in view of the socio-economic hardship it causes residents of the state. The commissioner ex-

plained that Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, had visited the area to have an onthe-spot assessment of the situation that has become the hallmark of Apapa, and given directives towards easing it. It would be recalled that Governor Ambode, during his maiden town hall meeting had declared that the traffic gridlock on the Apapa-Oshodi expressway has been a major challenge to traffic management in the state. As part of measures to find solution to the

gridlock, the state government had appealed to the Federal Government to expedite action on the rehabilitation of the Tin Can Island bridge, while on its part, Lagos has put in place a joint task force that operates round the clock to ensure that the traffic situation improves along the axis. The government is also working on a plan to expand the capacity of the existing trailer park at Orile to accommodate 1,000 trucks instead of its current capacity of 350.

Education vital to leadership, national development –Kukah ABIODUN NEJO ADO EKITI

atholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Most Rev. Matthew Kukah, said education has a vital role to play in making Nigeria leap frog into excellence through provision of quality leadership. Kukah said the country would never be a wealthy nation if it allows its education sector to be prostrate, adding that “we can produce billionaires, but we won’t be a wealthy nation.” The bishop, who spoke at the third convocation lecture of the Afe Babalola University, ABUAD, on the topic, ‘Education and Leadership Recruitment for a Plural Society: A Case for Nigeria,’ yesterday, described education as a serious business

which should concern all. He harped on the need to create platforms where leadership training could take place, adding that “Nigeria can only make headway when children graduate with the knowledge of the distinction between right and wrong.” The cleric identified distortion of nationhood, national boundaries and identities created by the colonial masters and the legacies of long years of military misrule as the main problems confronting Nigeria as a country. According to him, getting it right in the education sector would serve as a basis for transformation of values and a positive generational change capable of launching Nigeria into the league of the most developed nations of the world.

The event chaired by former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof Attahiru Jega, was attended by eminent Nigerians, including ABUAD founder, Aare Afe Babalola; Catholic Bishop of Ekiti Diocese, Most Rev. Felix Ajakaye; the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, Alhaji Ado Ibrahim; some university vice chancellors and ABUAD students, among others. According to him, Nigeria must learn to manage its diversity and maximise it for the purpose of meeting its goals for sustainable development and fulfillment of the dream of its founding fathers. The cleric said distortion is responsible for the corruption, poor leadership, nepotism, tribalism, sectarian crisis, armed robbery and other ills

plaguing the nation. He deplored a situation where merit, competence and ability to deliver are no longer the yardsticks for determining the suitability of candidates for admission, jobs and leadership positions, insisting that things should not continue that way. He made a case for capacity building, saying “as a country, we must have a succession plan; we must have capacity for succession and the institutional capacity to recruit future leaders; and we must create opportunities for young Nigerians to rise to the highest office in the land.” In his remark, Jega said every Nigerian must do his best for the country to witness the transformation envisaged by all.

ommuters on the Ogun/Lagos mass transit train of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, NRC, yesterday, renewed their appeal to the corporation’s management to provide security at its Ijoko station in Ogun. The renewed appeal followed yesterday’s early morning sporadic shooting by some hoodlums in the area which the passengers and others users of the station described as dangerous. An eyewitness, Alhaji Muri Olokun, told the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, that it is almost a daily occurrence in the area for hoodlums to scare away people every morning. Olokun said the shooting was, however, heavier than previous ones, adding that it left many of the passengers, NRC workers and traders to scamper for safety. “They are usually about five in number and usually start their shooting at about 5 a.m. “I think the hoodlums, after arriving from their nocturnal operations always shoot to scare people and get away with their loot,’’ the passenger said. Olokun added that

the hoodlums usually emerged from an uncompleted building in the area with arms. An NRC official at the station, who pleaded anonymity, told NAN that it is true that the hoodlums usually shoot every morning but that they never came near the office. “However, their shooting this morning was louder than before and it forced us to lock our offices, while many passengers on queue for ticket ran away. “We have a police post around but not yet manned by any officer. Before, we thought we are not threatened but today’s shooting calls for something to be done,’’ the official said. NAN reports that early this month, residents of the area arranged some security men around the station to check the incessant operation of the hoodlums. The security men usually forced passengers coming on motorcycles to join the train to drop some metres away and trek to the station. “But the residents had withdrawn the security men and the hoodlums are back,” a woman leaving in the area told NAN anonymously.

Lagos NUT says return of schools to former owners retrogressive

agos wing of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT, yesterday said the return of schools to their former owners could bring about retrogression in the sector. The wing’s chairman, Mr. Segun Raheem, said the development would further create class distinction and make access to quality basic education unachievable. Some of the schools that are being proposed for return to their former owners belong to missionary organisations and some private proprietors. “Returning schools to anybody other than the government is retrogressive. “Education remains the catalyst for development and the recipe for true national advancement. “Perhaps, the only hope for the Nigerian masses is their claim and access to

public education,’’ he said. Raheem said returning schools to their former owners would also widen the gap between the poor and the rich as more schools, particularly, in the rural areas would suffer setback. According to him, the national policy on education which says that the first nine years should be free, qualitative and compulsory would suffer setback. “Education is a social service which should be available to all and by choice. The availability of choice as stated above will also suffer setback,’’ Raheem said. The unionist said if schools are returned in Lagos State, the Lagos Island, for instance, would have only one public school left and children would be left with no choice of schools.

South East

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

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NBA kicks as police brutalise, arrest MASSOB activists in Enugu Dennis Naku and Emmanuel Ezeh

everal persons, including three women, were injured when officers of the Enugu State Police Command fired canisters on pro-Biafra protesters at Government House, Enugu. The protesters, numbering over 30, had converged opposite the Government House’s main gate entrance with placards having inscriptions such as ‘Free Nnamdi Kanu, Kanu is a freedom fighter’, ‘We need justice’, before the police launched attack on them. According to a source, “The women converged here with their placards as early as 10:30am and they comported themselves peacefully. “Suddenly, heavily armed police men led by the Divisional Police Officer, New Haven, Enugu, CSP Okey Ambrose, arrived the scene.” The witness said the police officers initially pounced on the men who had accompanied the women for the protest during

Protesters in Rivers demand Biafra nation, Kanu’s release which 19 of them were arrested. “The arrest made the women resolute and at this point the police fired tear gas directly at them during which the canisters hit some of them, causing heavy bodily injury. “The Commissioner of Police, Mr Adamu Mohammed, later arrived the scene,” he added. Leader of the group, Mrs Onyekachi Ubenyi, said they were protesting the arrest of one Mr Nnamdi Kanu by the Department of State Security Services, DSS. Ubenyi, who expressed shock at the level of police brutality on them, said their protest was very peaceful. “We are the women wing of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) and what we want is justice. We are not violent,” she said. She said some of the women including one Mrs Chinyere Ojikeme were hit on the face by tear gas canisters shot by the police. She said a young lady, Njideka Ibe, was arrested

along with the 19 men and taken to an unknown destination by the police. “Ojikeme was heavily injured on her nose with blood gushing out due to the shot she received and we have rushed her to the hospital,” Ubenyi said. Meanwhile, the Enugu chapter of the Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, has condemned police assault on the protesting women. The chairman, Dr. Osita Ogbu, said it was uncivilised for the police to have shot canisters directly at a group of unarmed people carrying out a peaceful protest. Ogbu said the women had the guaranteed right by law to carry out a peaceful protest without attracting such brutality from security officers. “This is unacceptable in a civilised society as the right to freedom of assembly has been guaranteed under the

Constitution. “What the police did was a violation of their fundamental human rights,” he said. Ogbu advised the police to be more civil in their relationship with members of the public. In Rivers, social and economic activities in Port Harcourt, the state capital were disrupted yesterday following protest by MASSOB members over Kanu’s arrest. Thousands of MASSOB members and supporters took to major streets in Port Harcourt with placards, daring the security operatives, who wanted to stop them, and expressed their dissatisfaction with the Federal Government over marginalisation of the Igbo ethnic nationality. At the popular Ikoku junction, along Ikwerre

Road, policemen fired teargas to disperse them at about 12:27 pm; but the action of security operatives could not stop them, even as their number increased. The protesters, in their non-violent disposition expressed annoyance that the Federal Government was determined to relegate the Igbo, saying no amount of harassment will stop them from pursuing the course of Biafra. Some of the inscriptions on the placards and banners they carried during the peaceful demonstration, read: ‘Biafra or death’, ‘Biafra must stand’, ‘Biafra is my home’, ‘We need Biafra’, ‘Zoo must fall’, ‘Biafra will stand’, ‘Biafra for life’, ‘Biafra needs freedom’ and ‘A state of Biafra needed’. One of the administrators of MASSOB, identified simply as Longy, described the

protest as overwhelming and commended the supporters for their peaceful disposition throughout the hours of the demonstration. “What they did today is a welcome development and commendable. It showed the Igbo people are one, no matter who they are and where they reside. “It is a non-violent agitation and we will never give up in the struggle,” he said. Similarly, another protester, Okpara, expressed optimism that the agitation for Biafra nation would be achieved through non-violent conduct. Within hours of the protest, a gridlock was experienced along the Waterlines and Ikoku axis of the city, forcing motorists to make a detour to safer routes, while commuters trekked long distances to get to their destinations.

Motorists lament over Enugu-Onitsha highway

otorists plying the Enugu-Onitsha expressway are lamenting the poor state of the road, describing trips on the road as “nightmarish”. They spoke yesterday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria. The motorists said they usually spent up to three hours on the road for trips that should not take more than 45 minutes. According to them, trips on the road have been made worse by persistent attacks by hoodlums, who take advantage of gridlocks on the road to attack travelers. They pleaded with the Federal Government to come to their rescue by providing palliatives to make the road passable. One of the travelers, Mr Ifeanyi Ugah, decried the worsening state of the road, pleading with government to give attention to highways in the South East. “I don’t find it funny when traveling to Enugu from Onitsha because of craters on the road. “A journey that should be under one hour takes close

to three hours which is a loss of valuable hour. “I urge the government to repair the road in the interest of the masses,” Ugah said. A commercial bus driver, Mr Jude Nwankwo, said thieves usually took advantage of the bad spots to attack motorists. “After Eke Ezeagu area, there is this particular bad spot that hoodlums take advantage of to attack unsuspecting travelers. “My vehicle ran into them and the robbers carted away our valuables, including cash and ran into a nearby bush. “My colleague told me how he and his passengers were also beaten when they refused to say the exact amount in their possession.” Also a bus conductor, Jidefor Nweke, said “the condition of the road is getting worse and is on the verge of splitting at the Oji River section of the road. “Erosion is ravaging the road. The newly rehabilitated section has started deteriorating again because of heavy traffic,” Nweke said.

L-R: Chairman, Igbo Leaders of Thought, Prof. Ben Nwabueze; founder, Igbo Youth Movement (IYM), Comrade Elliot Uko; former governor of Abia, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, and former Vice President, Dr. Alex Ekwueme, during the 16th IYM convention in Enugu, yesterday. PHOTO:NAN

Emmanuel Ezeh Enugu

nugu women stormed the state House of Assembly in their numbers yesterday, in protest against the menace of Fulani herdsmen. The women from four local government areas in the state demanded that the herdsmen be sent packing. Some of their placards read: “Fulani herdsmen are killing our men with AK 47’, ‘All we are saying is, Fulani, leave our farmlands’, ‘They butchered two men at Eke; Stop robbing us on the high ways’; and ‘Stop raping our women.”

Fulani herdsmen are raping us —Enugu women

They alleged that apart from molesting and raping women, the herdsmen were equally destroying their farm. Leader of the group, Mrs Achogaonye Eze, who spoke on behalf of the protesting women, said unless the herdsmen were stopped, their lives would be in grave danger because the herdsmen were always armed with sophisticated weapons. Eze, who is the wife of Bishop Sostenas Eze of the Enugu North Anglican Diocese, noted that apart from

raping women and killing people in the communities, the herdsmen also engaged in robbery and kidnapping. She lamented that they were helpless because they had complained to the law enforcement agencies to no avail. She disclosed that people were now afraid to go to the farm unless they were in groups for fear of rape or outright killing. “They have butchered two men who tried to confront them; they rape women and destroy their crops.

“They pretend to be selling bush meat and when you stop to buy, their gang will come out of the bush and rob you of your belongings. “They wield AK 47 rifles against villagers who confront them; and since the vigilante do not have such sophisticated weapons, they are helpless,” she stated. They molest our people and now behave as though they owned the land. If we don’t stop them, we might one day wake up to find our mates have been raped, she stated.

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Rotimi Fadeyi and Richard Ndoma

resident Muhammadu Buhari yesterday performed the ground breaking ceremony for the construction of the N600 billion 260-kilometre super highway/ dual carriage road from Calabar to the northern part of the country. Speaking at the event held at Obung Village, Netim Clam, Akampa Local Government Area of Cross River State, Buhari said the Federal Govern-

South South

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

Buhari flags off construction of N600b Calabar super highway ment would give the needed support to the project. He stated that upon completion, the road would reduce travel time from six hours to about two hours from Calabar to the famous Obudu Ranch Resort, adding that it would also reduce the number of man-hour presently wasted on the

road. Buhari said: “The 260km road is intended to serve as the evacuation route for the Bakassi Deep Seaport, another signature project of the administration. “When completed, this road, which starts from the seaport and terminates at the boundary between Cross River and

Benue States will link the southern part of Nigeria to the North Central, the North East and ultimately, Central Africa. “This will undoubtedly expand the boundaries of our economy by providing countries such as Niger Republic and Chad access to the seaport. “It is my expectation

that in turn, this should swing open the doors of opportunity for the people of Cross River State and Nigeria as a whole. He commended the state governor, Professor Ben Ayade, for creating a new vista of business opportunities for Cross River and the rest of the country. Speaking earlier, Ayade said the super highway which is an evacuation corridor from the seaport

would have a track of 14 metres and a key wall of 680 metres which would allow for vessels to berth. The governor explained that the road would have special features, including internet connectivity and speed cameras, stressing that it would be a digital road designed for the 21st century. He noted that with the support of the President, the project would soon become a reality.

Blame FG, British govt for Alamieyeseigha’s death –IYC Julius Osahon Yenagoa

Cross section of paraded crew men of five vessels with 108,000 litres of illegally refined automated gas oil in Port Harcourt, yesterday.

Illegal bunkering: Navy impounds 5 vessels in Rivers Dennis Naku

Port Harcourt

roops of the Nigerian Navy Ship, NNS Pathfinder, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, have impounded five vessels and a Cotonou boat laden with illegally refined diesel at a private jetty in the oil and gas rich city. It was gathered that the vessels and boat were caught while discreetly discharging about 108,000 litres of diesel into badges without license. Commander of NNS Pathfinder, Commodore Sanusi Ibrahim, paraded 19 crew members of the vessels before newsmen in Port Harcourt yesterday. Ibrahim said the troops stormed the area after it got intelligence report of activities of suspected oil thieves at a private jetty located opposite the busy Slaughter market in the city. According to him, “we

discovered on Monday that the vessels MV Denis, MV Faith, MV Lum VII, MV Eliora, FP Comfort and a large Cotonou boat were discharging illegally refined products into five badges. “This is a clear case of illegal bunkering going by the position of the Federal Government on sourcing and distribution of illegally refined petroleum products. “Investigation is ongoing to unravel involvement of individuals and groups in this illicit trade,” he said. Ibrahim said intelligence had revealed that oil thieves now connive with owners of private jetties to transport stolen petroleum products and illegal wares. He said the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok Ete-Ibas, had ordered constant checks on both public and private jetties to ensure drastic reduction of oil theft.

“In line with this mandate, we have maintained constant watch while extending same watch on private jetties to ensure that only legal transactions occur at the jetties. “These round-the-clock checks will also ensure that our waterways are free from illicit activities of oil thieves,” he added. Ibrahim said owners of private jetties who allow such illegal bunkering activities in their jetties are not only going to be arrested and prosecuted, but would have their jetties confiscated. The commander, while urging oil thieves to desist from the sabotage of oil and gas installations, assured Nigerians that the navy would not rest until it rids the state of illegal bunkering activities. Reacting, Mr. Chris Ike, 31, who spoke on behalf of the suspects admitted supplying the illegal petroleum product without license and approval.

He described himself as a middleman working for two companies (names withheld) involved in the illegal transaction and based in Port Harcourt. The suspect revealed that the petroleum products were sourced from an illegal bunkering site at Abuloma jetty in the city.

jaw Youth Council, IYC, the umbrella body of Ijaw youths worldwide, has expressed sadness over the death of former Governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, saying the Federal Government and the British government should be held responsible for their complicity in the death of the former governor. The IYC which stated this at a news conference in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital yesterday after rising from an emergency meeting of the council, claimed that the Federal Government’s planned extradition of Alamieyeseigha to the United Kingdom for a renewed trial after 10 years he was tried, jailed and par-

Oshiomhole reshuffles cabinet Sebastine Ebhuomhan Benin

do State governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, has announced a cabinet reshuffle in the state Executive Council following a meeting held yesterday at the Government House in Benin City. Following the announcement, Hon. Isimeme Iriogbe moved from the Ministry of Oil and Gas to the Ministry of Transport; Hon. Saturday Uwulekhue moved from the Ministry

of Transport to the Ministry of Oil and Gas; Hon. Aanena Jemitola moved from the Ministry of Arts and Culture to the Ministry of Women Affairs. Hon. Abdul Oroh moved from the Ministry of Agriculture to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry; Hon. Macdonald Obasuke moved from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry to the Ministry of Arts and Culture; while Hon. Washington Osifo moved from the Ministry of Higher Education to the Ministry of Energy and Water Resources.

doned, worsened his ailment which allegedly led to his eventual demise on October 10. President of the council, Mr. Udengs Eradiri, said the IYC also corrected the impression that Alamieyeseigha was jailed 10 years ago because of corruption. Rather, he claimed that Alamieyeseigha, fondly called ‘Governor General’ of the Ijaw nation, while he was alive, was jailed as a result of his stance on resource control and fiscal federalism. Eradiri, asked the Federal Government to stop victimising the South South and South East geopolitical zones, just as he vowed that they would not rest on their oars until the issue of Alamieyeseigha was followed to its logical conclusion. On the travail of the former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Allison-Madueke, the IYC alleged that she was being haunted because she stopped oil blocs that some northerners shared among themselves. On oil theft in the Niger Delta, Eradiri condemned the criminal act, saying apart from being hazardous to the economy, it is also injurious to the people and the ecosystem. He, however, flayed the Federal Government for looking the other way in respect of the continued illegal mining being perpetrated by some northerners in the North.

North

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Kwara Assembly confirms 10 commissioner-nominees Wole Adedeji, ILORIIN

wara State House of Assembly yesterday confirmed 10 commissioners nominated and sent to it by the state governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed. They were confirmed and announced by the Speaker, Hon. Ali Ahmad, at a plenary shortly after their screening by members for over four hours. The confirmed nominees are Alhaji Musa Yeketi from Asa Local Government Area; Alhaji Idris Garba, Baruteen Local Government, Otunba Taiwo Joseph, Ekiti; Aro Yahaya, Ifelodun; and Alhaji Abdulrazaq Akorede from Ilorin East Local Government. Others are Ayo Bolakale, Ilorin West; Kamaldeen Ajibade, Ilorin West; Ademola Banu, Irepodun; Alhaja Mahmud Babatunde Ajeigbe, Offa Local Government; and Hajia Funmilayo Isiaka, Oniwa, the only female among them, from Moro Local Government Area. The Speaker, after the confirmation, directed the clerk of the House to communicate the result of the exercise to Governor Ahmed.

The 10 nominees hail from nine local government areas out of the existing 16 local government areas of the state and two of them represented Ilorin West where the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki hails from.. Expectedly, the premises of the Assembly was full of supporters of either the ruling All Progressives Congress or the nominees and the venue immediately turned into a celebration ground as several drummers, praise singers and street minstrels took over the premises. Also during yesterday’s plenary, the House approved the request of Governor Ahmed to secure N10 billion loan from two commercial banks in Ilorin to finance developmental projects in the state. The House gave the approval after adopting a motion moved by the House Leader, Hon. Hassan Oyeleke. The governor had earlier in a message communicated to the House and read by the Speaker, said the Central Bank of Nigeria asked the state to complete its infrastructural projects across the 16 local government areas.

L-R; President, Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria, Dr. (Mrs.) Olateju Somorin; Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed; Executive Chairman, Kwara State Internal Revenue Services, Dr. Murtala Awodun and SWIT Co-coordinator in Kwara State, Dr. (Mrs.) Biola Adimula during a courtesy visit to Government House, Ilorin, yesterday.

N3.1bn debt: Court freezes Zamfara’s account in 21 banks

Wale Igbintade

or refusing to pay a judgement fee of N3.1bn, a Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday granted an order freezing funds standing to the credit of Zamfara State in 21 commercial banks in the country. Justice Okon Abang ordered all the banks involved to disclose the amount of money which Zamfara State has in their till. The court ordered the 21 banks to appear before him on November 6, 2015 to give

reasons (if any) why such funds should not be withdrawn to satisfy a debt of N3.1bn with interest, which Zamfara State owed Ecobank Nigeria Limited. Abang had on September 30, 2015 entered judgement in favour of Ecobank in a N3.1bn debt recovery suit it filed against Zamfara State government and six others. The judge had granted the bank’s claim of N3.1bn with 30 per cent interest from March 1, 2013 till judgement day and 10 per cent thereafter until the final liquidation of the debt. In the judgement, Abang

said the papers before him showed that Zanfara State obtained a credit facility of N1.5bn in 2009 from the defunct Ocean Bank Plc, which was later acquired by Ecobank. The judge said Zamfara State neither denied being indebted to the bank nor proved that it had liquidated the loan, which it obtained to execute a water project. He then ordered the Accountant General of the Federation to ensure that the judgement sum with interest was deducted from

supervising ministries.” The board said since its chairman doubled as its chief executive officer, it goes without dispute that while he ceases to be the chairman of the board, he remains its duly appointed chief executive officer. However, in a swift reaction, Mr. Chukwu said the agency’s board remains dissolved in line with the Federal Government circular that announced the dissolution of boards of Federal Government commissions and parastatals. Speaking through the director in his office, Mr. Idu Atang, the permanent secretary added that the action of the security operatives might not be unconnected with another

circular from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation dated October 9, 2015. The circular, he said, reads in part: “Your continued flouting of official directive of government as duly conveyed to you via the dissolution and other untoward conduct and actions exhibited by you after the dissolution of the board of FCT Internal Revenue Service constitutes a direct affront on government.” Quoting from the circular, Chukwu said “the action of the board amount to impersonation and constituted a direct affront on government. We were also copied as well as security agencies too.”

Security operatives shut down FCT revenue agency ...As Perm Sec, board trade blames

Omeiza Ajayi, ABUJA

he internal crisis in the management of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT Administration yesterday took another twist with the sealing of the FCT Board of Internal Revenue Service by security operatives. While members of the board accused the permanent secretary in the FCT Administration, John Obinna Chukwu, of overstepping his bounds, the permanent secretary on his part said the board has outlived its existence. Security operatives from the FCT Department of Security headed by one Alhaji Usman in the early

hours yesterday shut down the Kaura District Head Office of the FCT Internal Revenue Service. Witnesses said the operatives who arrived at about 4am, locked the main gate to the premises and prevented both staff and visitors from entry. Administrative secretary of the agency, Mrs. Boma Ayirete, who spoke to journalists expressed shock at the action of the operatives, saying despite being in the earliest stage of its existence, the agency has generated over N1 billion since May 26, 2015 when it was established. On the leadership tussle between the FCT Administration and the chairman of the agency, she noted

that the circular dissolving boards of federal parastatals and agencies was clear on the matter concerning the chief executive officer which is to remain in office after the dissolution. A July 16 circular from the Presidency dissolving Federal Government boards had excluded chief executive officers of such boards from the dissolution. The Presidency had directed that, “until the boards are reconstituted, chief executive officers of the affected parastatals, agencies and institutions are to refer all matters requiring the attention of their boards to the President, through the permanent secretaries of their

funds accruable to Zamfara State in the Federation Account and pay it to Ecobank until the debt is fully liquidated. Dissatisfied, Zamfara State and the Central Bank of |Nigeria, CBN, appealed and urged the court to stay execution of the judgement pending the determination of the appeals. But, in a ruling delivered yesterday, Justice Abang dismissed both applications and asked Ecobank to proceed with the process of recovering the debt from Zamfara State. Ruling on the CBN application, the judge said: “I have been wondering how the order will affect the CBN so that the CBN will now go and apply for stay of execution of not just the order made against it but the entire judgement. “It is my humble view that CBN will not lose anything if the order is complied with. “The Central Bank should assist Ecobank in its time of need because if Ecobank’s liquidity is affected on account of nonpayment of loan by Zamfara State, it is the same CBN that will withdraw Ecobank’s licence; and it is the innocent depositors that will be affected if the licence of Ecobank is withdrawn by the CBN. “The Central Bank should assist Ecobank to recover the loan from Zamfara State government, whether or not it was party to the loan agreement, because the amount that will go to Zamfara State is domiciled with the CBN.”

Wednesday October 21, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Beyond Buhari’s cabinet lies a Silver lining for the Igbos

Politics

We’re ready for Kogi, Bayelsa guber elections –IGP Omeiza Ajayi

nspector General of Police, IGP Solomon Arase has expressed the readiness of his officers and men for the forthcoming gubernatorial elections in Kogi and Bayelsa States. Arase said he has perfected plans to deploy

additional manpower for the elections which will hold in November and December respectively. Force Public Relations Officer, Olabisi Kolawole said the action of Mr Arase would ensure crime - free election in both States. “The Police leadership has also directed the deployment of Federal Spe-

cial Anti-Robbery Squad, FSARS to compliment the Safer Highway Patrol to ensure proper policing of the length and breadth of the nation’s highway”, she stated. While briefing members of the Police Management Team in his office, the IGP noted that these measures have become imperative to en-

sure proper monitoring of activities leading to a hitch-fee election. She said this is in addition to stepping up police visibility on the nation’s highways in the yuletide, and to systematically decapitate hoodlums taking advantage of the season to unleash terror on innocent Nigerians. Also, in a bid to further

guarantee the welfare of officers and men of the Force for quality service delivery to the public, the IGP has offered to sponsor talented children of serving and deceased police officers, both at primary and secondary school levels. He has consequently established a scholarship fund in this regard.

The forms for the scholarship scheme are available at all Police children and secondary schools for collection by interested pupils and students of Police officers and men. Kolawole said the scholarship scheme is is aimed at improving the standard of living of officers and men of the force.

Gombe Speaker urges APC to respect judgment on Dankwambo’s victory Williams Attah GOMBE

L-R: Director General and Chief Executive Officer, Lagos State Safety Commission, Mr. Fouad Oki; the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa; and the Senator representing Lagos West Senatorial District, Senator Olamilekan Solomon Adeola, when he (Adeola) visited the Speaker in his office on Monday.

Tribunal nullifies Plateau lawmaker’s election James Abraham JOS

he election of Mr Vincent Bulus as the lawmaker representing Lantang South in Plateau state has been nullified by the election petitions tribunal sitting in Jos, the state capital The tribunal also banned the lawmaker who was elected under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP from contesting future elections and ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC to conduct a fresh elections into the seat within 90 days. The ruling by the tribunal yesterday followed a petition brought before it by the All Progressives Congress, APC candidate in the April 11 Governorship and State House of

Assembly Election, Mr. Jackson Danladi. Danladi had petitioned the tribunal alleging that the lawmaker was not fit to vie for the election as he is an ex-convict. After examining the case, Chairman of the tribunal, Justice O O Akeredolu, in her judgment, said the respondent was not qualified to contest the election having been convicted of an offence in line with Section 107(1)(d) of the 1999 constitution as amended. The chairman said, “The respondent having been convicted of an offence involving fraud and dishonesty by a court of law was not qualified to contest the election into the Plateau State House of Assembly to represent Langtang South constituency. “That the election and return of the first respondent as member of

Plateau State House of Assembly to represent Langtang South is a nullity”, she ruled. However the tribunal while observing that the petitioner obtained the second highest number of votes, however held that the only order it could give was for a fresh election to be conducted into the constituency.

Also the tribunal upheld the election of the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Mr. Peter Azi of the APC. The tribunal struck out the petition filed by Mr. Peter Choji of the PDP, which sought to nullify the Speaker’s election as member representing Jos North West in the Plateau State House of Assembly.

Michael Ogbonna

nomination. The commendation is coming from a group of Non-Governmental Organisations, NGOs under the auspices of Joint Action Coalition of Civil Society Groups in Nigeria, JACSGN. JACSGN has lent its voice in defense of the senator following protests from groups it claims have been sponsored to

peaker of Gombe State House of Assembly, Alhaji Abubakar Nasiru Nono has called on the opposition All Progressive Congress, APC to respect the Election Petition Tribunal judgment which upheld the victory of Governor Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in the April 11, 2015 elections. Reacting to the recent judgement in an interview with some Journalists, the Speaker also called on the entire people of the state to respect the rule of law and also rally round and support the Government of Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo for the growth and development of the State. While congratulating and extolling the judiciary for its fairness in the dispensation of justice, Alhaji Nono said the final

judgement indicated the credibility of the judiciary in Nigeria and that it also showed that the votes of the masses truly count. The Speaker said he was not only happy that the case had ended but the way it ended also, saying “God has established the truth of the matter in the judgment and the truth is on our side, we are the party that Gombe people truly voted for and God has now established that”. “This implies that we are respecting the rule of law, which is a step forward for democracy. We are happy that the votes of our electorate are being highly protected. So we are proud of the judiciary,” he stated. Alhaji Nono also cautioned the people to be moderate in celebrating saying, “and in celebrating the judgment, I am appealing to people to be careful so that we do not experience clashes on the roads”.

Ministerial nomination: Group backs Lokpobiri

midst the fireworks that followed the nomination of Senator Heineken Lokpobiri as Minister by President Muhammadu Buhari , commendations have also began flowing in his favour as the Civil Rights activists yesterday in Yenagoa endorsed his

soil Senator Lokpobiri’s image. JACSGN in a press release signed by its Coordinator, Comrade Isaac Ikpa described the protest by groups and degrading comments against the nomination of Lokpobiri as “spurious and malicious aimed at putting down the person of an illustrious and well meaning Bayelsan”.

While also condemning some leaders of the All Progressives Congress, APC, for their recent comments, it accused the state chairman of the party, Chief Tiwei Orunnimighe, and Timi Frank who according to it are known for crash war against corruption and have most recently become liabilities to themselves.

Politics

Skc Ogbonnia

resident Muhammadu Buhari’s long-awaited cabinet is now complete. As in any political endeavour, there are winners and losers. Socially, similar to the Yorubas in 2011, the Igbos appear to be on the losing end thus far in 2015, particularly with representation to the upper echelon of the government. The underlying rationale is that the positions of the President, Vice-President, Senate President, Speaker, Chairman of the ruling party, and the Secretary to Federal Government were hailed in the past 16 years as the main enchilada of the party in power and thence rotated among the six political zones of the country. Of course, there is considerable merit in Buhari’s argument that trust earned from the yore is an important criterion for sensitive positions. There is also no gainsaying that the president is set to bequeath to the entire Nigeria a lasting legacy. Quite frankly, any person disclaiming the prevailing boon of the man’s aura is viewing the history from a blind spot. Yet, the principle of federal character cannot be wished away at this stage of national development. It goes without saying that the theory of Taxation without Representation was well tested before Nigeria opted for national independence over British rule. Politically, there is the need for caution. Both the All Progressive Congress, APC as a party and the president himself are not impolitic. Every discerning mind is aware that any attempt to marginalize any zone in a country of belligerent ethnic groups is a premature death sentence for our hard-earned change. This is even more so when considered that the 2019 election is likely to feature two strong presidential candidates from the North. The veiled implication is that every breadth and depth of Southern Nigeria guarantees to be a battleground for votes, come that year. The gist is that President Buhari is committed to his pledge to carry every zone along before long. Strategically and economically, the Igbos stand to gain big time under Buhari’s government regardless. First and foremost, no degree of amnesia can erase from existential memory the fact that Nigeria’s problem in the past 16 years was never the lack of political positions or projects being attracted to any zone. It was definitely not the lack of the funds to execute the projects. The bitter truth is that the funds were commonly looted with impunity by those in positions of power. But if the truth is told in full, which this piece is set to accomplish, nowhere was the problem of looting project funds more prevalent than Igboland. The major reason is simple: While the North and West have been consistent with strong opposition activities in the national politics in recent years, which in turn help for a measure of checks and balances for projects in those regions, the reverse has been the case in the East. It is not a new story that South-East and South-South zones were predominated by the then ruling party, the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, a party penchant for conferring immunity to the activities of its members, however feigned. To this end, Igbo politicians were always spoon-feeding the helpless masses with vain rhetoric on dividends of democracy. And any attempt by independent citizens to crosscheck the projects they claim to attract was seen as an unclad sin. But that was then. The now is where the elixir of Muhammadu Buhari comes in. For a change, a leader is poised to demonstrate that there is a day of reckoning in the earthly Nigeria. For a change, a cabal whose entire raison d’être of being in politics is to loot project funds is rattled. For a change, a leader is determined to recoup the funds looted from vital projects in Igboland towards completion. Needless to say, the list includes the dateless rallying cries, such as 2nd River Niger Bridge , Dredging of River Niger , Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway, EnuguOnitsha Expressway, and Owerri Cargo International Airport , among others. It is worthy of note, however, that these projects were reduced to mere money-spinners for individual bank accounts while Igbos manned the positions of Senate Committee Chairmanships on Works and Aviation, Ministers of Aviation and Finance—with the Secretary to the Federal Government as well as the adopted son in then president, Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan—all in tow.

Wednesday October 21, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Beyond Buhari’s cabinet lies a silver lining for the Igbos

Buhari

Strategically and economically, the

Igbos stand to gain big time under Buhari’s government Further, given that the shenanigans with the aforementioned projects are common knowledge, the Igbo civil society can now be emboldened by the regnant ‘Fear of Buhari’ to petition the anti-corruption agency on many other phantom programmes fully funded but abandoned in different parts of Igboland. Notable among them are the constituency projects said to be attracted by members of the National Assembly and, of course, other state and local government projects. The second major area the Igbos stand to witness ultimate succour from Buhari is newer government undertakings. Besides the revitalization of Coal-to-Power severally promised by the president, the political climate is warn to resuscitate the abandoned gas pipeline initiative across Igbo hinterland and to develop the huge gas deposits in the South-East. Suffice to say that these power projects received zero attention despite the fact that Igbos produced consecutive ministers of Power in the last regime with that of Petroleum Resources at a stone throw. More importantly, the political climate is clement to explore Buhari’s new equity mantra with the view to truly demand creation of additional states and local governments in Igboland through Constitutional Amendment. What is more, the whole hoo-ha on political appointments becomes pointless once it dawns on us that the very Constitutional Amendment was funded to the brim by successive governments but cobwebbed in the past eight years at the den of a senator from the South-East. Finally, due to intrinsic knack for the Diaspora, the Igbos are bound to benefit regardless of the direction of the different policies and programmes. But the appointment of an austere personality as the Comptroller-General of Customs is cast with good tidings. Forget the selfish few that thrive on smuggling! A dutiful implementation of extant policies within the Customs has reasonable prospect to reduce the volume of contraband goods flowing into the country. This move will spur the much-needed economic diversification, industrial revolution, and mass employment. The obvious whisper is a Christmas in June for the

vastly overlooked Igbo-made products primed to replace fake goods flooding the marketplace from Asia. Now, for all intents and purposes, consider that Muhammadu Buhari can be accused of many things in his political life, including lopsided appointments, but breaking promises has never been near the top. Then throw in the fact that fulfillment of his promises to the Igbos, including completion of the abandoned projects, will not only boost employment opportunities for the teeming masses, but will also stem the wave of kidnapping and armed robbery common in South-East and South-South Nigeria. Thereafter, reckon that displacing PDP at the national level plus the presence of vibrant APC ministers now from Igboland have the potential to engender the elusive dynamic opposition activity in the region. Best of all, combine it with the common consensus that dynamic opposition facilitates the checks and balances central for effective democratic leadership, by consequence. True. Confronted with these realities, the Igbo masses cannot help but embrace the second coming of Buhari. For instance, in view of the fact that Nigeria is currently enmeshed in the throes of economic woes, what is a better consolation for the cries of marginalization, unless heavenly, than recovering the looted funds and putting behind us ageless but prime projects, which would never come to pass without the presence of a messianic figure? Even if the looted funds are not recovered, does it require a regal town crier to publicize that it is no longer business as usual for projects attracted to Igboland? What else epitomizes a silver lining than the very point where the era of impunity in Igbo politics is finally seen to be coming to an end, thanks to the fear and hope of Buhari? The questions above adequately answer themselves. The paradox has exposed the decadent canopy of PDP and its proxies in the East. Having succeeded in the last election with a witless canard that APC would Islamize Igboland; the opposition elites must not hide behind the melodrama of Buhari’s style of appointments to hoodwink the gullible masses again. For sure, any quest for equity is always a welcome idea, but coming this soon from PDP portrays a picture similar to Abubakar Shekau of Boko Haram posing as a keynote-speaker on Western education. It is incumbent upon Ndigbo, therefore, to place the blame exactly where it belongs. Given that President Buhari has promised to right the wrong in due course, let the current debate serve as a teachable moment for those grandstanding as our leaders. This moment demands that we remind them that, even as political appointment remains important, enduring service delivery matters most. It is imperative to echo with every cadence that, like any other zone or ethnic group, the Igbo people of South-East and those of SouthSouth received their fair share of political positions since the 4th Republic. This should have ordinarily translated to mass development, but that has not been the case. In fact, the records show that the South-East in particular boarded dead last in capital projects despite a commanding presence of appointees from the zone. Today, there is nothing concrete on the ground even for the few projects that came its ways apart from cascading tears of marginalisation. Clearly, the nature of the Igbo problem is difficult to explain. But there is no better way forward at this historic moment than a paradigm shift in perception to vitalize the full sphere of the widely acclaimed Igbo ingenuity. The time is now to admit that the distrust in the polity is deeply rooted in the past, where each ethnic group and generation patently shares blame. The time is now to eschew selfishness and find common grounds where ideas could converge for practical solutions instead of amplifying the echoes of a lifelong pattern of tribal rivalries. Now is the time to recognize that curbing institutionalized corruption is a win-win for all. The posterity beckons on us to turn the page to the future and take an unbiased look at the open buffet of opportunities presented by the current change movement. SKC Ogbonnia writes from Houston , Texas

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

From The Civil Service

FG set to establish Ebola survival clinic, says NCDC director P.41

Adeola Tukuru, ABUJA

he federal government has given the assurance to promote climate smart agriculture to the increased use of flood resistant and early maturing seed varieties, following the flooding experienced across the major agricultural belts in the country. The federal government, through the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Arch. Sunny Echono, at the just concluded World Food Day in Abuja, said President Muhammadu Buhari, had also directed that they take mitigating measures and details would be announced in due course. He said food is the primary source of energy and nourishment and in Nigeria, Agriculture is the largest contributor to the Gross Domestic product and nearly 60% of the population are engaged or associated with the sector. He said the theme of this year’s World Food Day: “Social protection and agriculture: Breaking the cycle of rural poverty “ is chosen in a bid to draw global attention to the role that social protection plays in eradicating hunger and poverty when it is prioritised in national agenda. “This theme also demonstrates the recognition of the international community of the imperative of food security and global social protection, thereby breaking the cycle of rural poverty. He however noted that plans were afoot to introduce a home grown national feeding programme

Flooding: FG to promote climate smart agriculture to target the valuable segments of Nigeria’s population. “The programme has the overall objective of enhancing and sustaining school enrolment, addressing poverty, malnutrition and stunted growth, creating business opportunities in our rural areas, stimulating the growth of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and improving the incomes of our farmers,” he said. Echono encourage all players in the sector to re-double efforts to take advantage of the opportunity for massive food production.

(L-R) Executive Director, UNFPA, Prof. Babatunde Osotimehin; wife of the Vice President, Mrs. Dolapo Osinbajo, and Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health, Mr. Linus Awute, at the event on long-term strategy to improve the Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health (RMNCAH) and nutrition status in Nigeria, in Abuja, yesterday.

Buhari should appoint sound education minister –Adeniyi •Decries FG’s negligence of public schools Regina Otoka

n ex-presidential aide to former President Umaru Musa Yar’ Adua, Olusegun Adeniyi, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to appoint someone with strong character as the next Minister of Education. This was even as he decried the negligence of public schools across all levels of education in the country by federal and state governments. Advising while delivering his keynote address during a dinner to mark the National Convention and Annual Re-Union of the Federal Government College, Okigwe, Old Boys Association (FEGOCOOKOSA) in Abuja, he maintained that amongst the nominees, there were people with the capacity to perform exceedingly well if picked as education min-

NTDC woos investors in Nigerian tourism P.16

ister He stressed that the education sector was in dire need of a minister with an indepth understanding of its challenges, with a strong mental force to effect the much needed reforms to re-brand the sector. “He has to pick somebody who has a broad understanding of the challenges in the education sector and somebody who has the character and the capacity to carry out the reforms. Practically everybody there understands the challenges we have in the education sector but we need a strong character. “The president has a very strong team in terms of character and the will but who he puts, how he deploys those talents will be the issue.” Adeniyi attributed the poor state of public schools as witnessed across all levels of education in the

country to negligence by the three tier of governments, which he said had created room for an upsurge of private schools to the detriment of children outside the elite circle. According to him, the importance of public schools could never be overemphasised, as they provide universal access to affordable education, offering equal opportunities for children within the larger spectrum of all society. “Nigeria’s education is in very bad shape, unfortunately, government at all levels, has ignored this emergency. In a situation where many Nigerian teachers are no more than certificated illiterates, what can such a system breed? “The challenge is that in our country today, our public schools have been neglected, the products of our public secondary schools are performing so

ASUU alleges conspiracy over missing OAU don

P.41

poorly because all the factors necessary to equip and motivate them are evidently lacking.” He called for intervention by the government in providing public schools with well-equipped laboratories, libraries, computers, retraining of teachers and an increase in the fund allocated to the education sector to enhance qualitative economic and social growth. In his address, the Grand Patron of FEGOCOOKOSA, former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, implored the members to play vital role in uniting the country. Represented by his media aide, Mr. Paul Ibe, he said “As products of Nigeria’s special educational institution, I urge you not to lose sight of your special and crucial historical role in the quest for unity and peace in our country. Speaking in his capacity as the association’s public-

ity secretary, Ibe stressed the need for retraining of teachers and improved funding of schools, saying, “There is need for adequate funding. Some of the teachers have become outdated; there is a need to retrain them, retool the curriculum to keep up with the need of the time. “We need to focus more not just on grammar schools, we need to focus more on technical education to develop skilled manpower for the nation, he added. The National President, Mr. Okey Chikwendu, maintained that FEGOCOOKOSA had set up an endowment fund of N20 million to address salient issues in addition to the various activities already undertaken by the association to equip the laboratories, ICT centre and also complete the water reticulation project in the school.

Security operatives shut down FCT revenue agency

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Civil Service

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

NTDC woos investors in Nigerian tourism Joel Ajayi, ABUJA

irector-General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), Mrs. Sally Mbanefo, has encouraged Brazilian and other foreign investors to come to Nigeria. Mbanefo, while speaking during the Brazilian Trade Mission to Nigeria’s Inaugural Session/Business Forum, held at the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC), Head Office, Abuja on Monday noted that Nigeria had a lot

to offer in tourism and relaxation. Mbanefo described Nigeria as the best country for any serious investors, saying the country had a large and friendly population, good weather and climate for all kinds of business, unique and diverse cultures which are good incentives for investors. She encouraged expatriates to invest in Nigeria for huge return on investment. According to her, all the geo-political zones in Nigeria were richly endowed with fascinating tourist

ABUJA

ociety for Family Health (SFH) has called for the need to educate patients before administering Artemisinin-based Combination Therapies (ACTs), stressing that physicians and health experts should go for refresher courses yearly to get updated on Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT). The agency enjoined strict compliance with the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommendation on the use of RDT malaria within 15 minutes before treatment. Head of Case Management, National Malaria Elimination Programme, Dr. Godwin Ntadom, stated this at Media Roundtable

Adeola Tukuru, ABUJA

tients before administering ACT, stressing that physicians and health experts should go for refresher courses yearly to get updated on RDT.

He said, “The new policy therefore recommends that all suspected fever be confirmed with the use of microscopy in the hospital or simply with RDTs”.

Joel Ajayi,

Aladejobi, and commemorate her forthcoming 64th birthday which coincides with the launching of her 15th Academic Textbooks on the 31st October 2015 in Merit House, Maitama, Abuja. According to Comrade Nwogwugwu, the decision of the president to bring technocrats on board his administration as ministers could not be over-emphasised in the history of the nation. He said: “I want to use this medium to appeal to Nigerians to exercise patience with the govern-

ment of President Muhammadu Buhari as it is certain that the President Buhari’s change project would bring back the lost glory of the Nigerian nation.” Speaking further, Nwogwugwu told journalists that the contribution of Professor Victoria Abike Adesuyi Aladejobi to the eradication of poverty through soft loans to rural farmers in Nigeria is unparalleled. “Professor Victoria Aladejobi has made tremendous and immeasurable contribution to poverty alleviation

Long Juju, Ogbunike Cave and Oguta Lake, and in the South South are Obudu Cattle Ranch, Tinanpa Business Resorts, Ibeno Beach and Cross River National Park, among others, with Sukur World Heritage site in Adamawa State, Durbars in Kano State and Mambila in Plateau State, just to mention a few. “I can assure you that Nigeria is richly endowed, we have many attractions, festivals and every other thing that can propel the survival of any investment in this country,” Mbanefo said.

Agency harps on educating patients on malaria drugs Discussion of Malaria Diagnosis recently in Abuja. He said, “Fever is one of the clinical presentations of malaria and WHO recommends parasite-based diagnosis of malaria before the commencement of treatment. “The malaria control programme is monitoring and at every primary healthcare, they expect cases of malaria to be tested using RDT and positive result should be treated using Artemisinin-based Combination Therapies (ACTs). “There is need to diagnose properly before using ACT because there is no other effective anti-malaria drugs, especially for children under five years. Ntadom said that there was need to educate pa-

Women seek enactment of law on First Lady’s office rc Development Initiative, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) dedicated to women empowerment and poverty alleviation has joined the growing list of women activists clamoring for enactment of a law giving legal backing and assigning constitutional role to the office of the First Lady, Federal Republic of Nigeria. In a press statement signed by the Director of Public Awareness of the Arc Development Initiative, Hajiya Suffiya Abubakar said that her organisation had embarked on a nationwide awareness campaign and mass mobilisation of women to press home their demand for the National Assembly to enact a law to give legal recognition and constitutional backing to the office of the First lady. Hajiya Abubakar disclosed that her NGO was already discussing with other women groups across the country to sponsor a bill at the National Assembly towards actualising this lofty objective. She explained that the enactment of a law is to give legal and official recognition to an office that evolved out of conventional practices in developed democracies but become institutionalised by the late wife of former military president, Hajiya Maryam Babangida who brought pomp and pageantry into it with her Better Life for Rural Women programme. According to her, the various philanthropic and humanitarian health intervention programmes so far undertaken by wife of the incumbent president, Hajiya Aisha Buhari , was a compelling reason why

sites, both natural and manmade, and cultural festivals which were worth visiting and participating in. Discussing the tourists sites, Mrs. Mbanefo said: “South West, for instance, has Osun Oshogbo festival, Oyo Festival, Sango Festival in Oyo town; beach tourism and Boat Regatta in Lagos; slave route in Badagry, and Osun Osogbo groove in Osun State. “Also in the South East zone we have Nmawu Cultural festival, Ugbo Uku New Yam Festival, Azumini Blue River, Arochukwu

L-R: Head of Department, Registration Ethics, Standard and Enforcement, Environmental Health Officers Registration Council of Nigeria, Mr. Andy Ukah; EHORECON Registrar/CEO Mr. Dominic Abonyi and Head of Department, Education and Training, Mr. Baba Mohammed, during the Public Awareness Programme on Environmental Risk Factors and Control of Sanitation in the country in Abuja yesterday. PHOTO: ROTIMI OSASONA

Adeola Tukuru,

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Group lauds Buhari over ministerial nominees ABUJA

ational President of Network of Civil Society Groups, Comrade Bright Nwogwugwu, has described the choice of ministerial nominees sent to the National Assembly by President Muhammadu Buhari as the best for the Nigerian nation. He stated this during a press conference organised by the group in Abuja yesterday to celebrate the award of “Icon of the Nigerian Farmers” to Professor Victoria Abike Adesuyi

her office should be given constitutional role and strengthened. Her words: “Apart from her several donations of food items, medicines, toiletries and other valuables worth millions of naira to Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps and orphanages in various parts of the country, Hajiya Buhari has carried out many life -saving health intervention programmes, especially in the screening and prevention of the deadly cancer disease . Hajiya Aisha Buhari has so far carried out the screening of over 10,000 people in about 5 states within one year. “For instance, 2,000 women benefitted from her cancer screening and general health assessment programme in Cross River State; another 2,000 women were screened of cervical cancer in addition to testing for other health conditions like blood pressure, diabetics, hepatitis, kidney, liver and dental examination. “In Enugu, more than 2,000 women also benefitted from her cancer screening programme and medical examination for other disease conditions earlier enumerated. These various humanitarian gestures came under her Women Health Initiative Programme”. Hajiya Abubakar explained that her NGO would also work closely with the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs on the project once the Minister of Women Affairs was swornin in order to explore the possibility of sponsoring it as executive bill. She called on President Muhammadu Buhari to support the initiative as part of his campaign promise to empower Nigerian women and ameliorate their sufferings.

programmes through her Agro-allied Cooperative Society loans to support small and medium scale farmers in Nigeria since 1991”. In her emotion laden speech, Professor Aladejobi thanked all the Civil Society Groups that had deemed it fit to associate with her forthcoming birthday and book launch as encouraging. “I want to use this medium to thank Network of Civil Society Groups and its affiliate bodies for conferring this award on me,” she said.

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Views

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

University education agenda for Buhari T.I. ODIAKA Continued from yesterday

rom the inception of the University of Ibadan’s Department of Chemistry in 1948 up to 1973, it was rated amongst the top 100 in the world owing to the availability of state-of-theart facilities, which informed the remark in 1963 by Sir Christopher Ingold, a visitor from University College, London, as follows: “The Department of Chemistry, University of Ibadan, is pre-eminent in the continent and clearly at par with any Chemistry Department in the World”. These were the good old days when the University of Ibadan was the only known Nigerian university with high international recognition, reflecting the strong financial support from the then Nigerian government and from some philanthropic foundations and grant-giving agencies at that time. I do not know if Sir Christopher Ingold is still alive today, but what I do know is that he will shed tears freely if he were to pay a recent visit to the Department he loved so much. In order to avert the total collapse of tertiary education in Nigeria, I advise President Buhari to adopt the following:

I. Reduce the number of federal universities from 38 to 20 and give each university an initial grant of $30 billion for expansion to accommodate more students and equip the laboratories and libraries to world-class standard. II. Reduce the huge salaries of all political office holders in the country by 50 percent as a way of showing their support for tertiary education in Nigeria. A country where a Senate President earns N15 million a month and a university professor, who trained him receives N500, 000 a month (three percent of Senate President’s salary) must seek divine intervention to get its priorities right. III. Increase her annual budgetary allocation to education from 8.4 percent to 30 percent without further delay. IV. Ensure a steady power supply and availability of clean water in all universities and the nation in general. V. Establish an equipment factory in Nigeria for the assemblage of all types of research equipment needed by our universities or polytechnics. This can be done in collaboration with established research equipment producers such as Perkin-Elmer (U.S.A., U.K. or Germany), Pye-Unicam (USA or U.K) and Varian Instruments (U.S.A.) VI. Establish a chemical factory in

F ROM

THE

INCEPTION OF

U NIVERSITY OF I BADAN ’ S

THE

D EPARTMENT

C HEMISTRY IN 1948 UP TO 1973, IT WAS RATED AMONGST THE TOP

100

IN THE

WORLD Nigeria in collaboration with British Drug House (BDH) in London or Adrich Company in the U.S.A. This will ensure steady supply of pure chemicals and solvents to all research laboratories across the nation. What we have now in Nigeria are fake chemicals and solvents from questionable agents. VII. Establish a Nigerian Science and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), which should be well funded to make research grants and awards available to deserving scientists within and outside Nigeria. Nigerians know that the political slogan of APC is CHANGE; they will use

Education, Security, Power and Corruption as criteria to assess the performance of the politicians under the watch of President Buhari in the next four years. We will then know whether the APC politicians have kept their promise of changing Nigeria for good or whether all politicians are indeed “a bunch of liars” as recently described by a famous and highly respected man of God. The time to take tertiary education in Nigeria very seriously is now. On what should be done about our stoneage laboratories, Louis Pasteur (Dec. 27, 1822 to Sept. 28, 1895) has this advice for the new Federal Government of Nigeria: “Take interest, I implore you, in those sacred dwellings which one designates by the expressive term, LABORATORIES. Demand that they be multiplied, that they be adored. These are the temples of the future, temples of wellbeing and of happiness. There it is that humanity grows Greater, Stronger, Better”. Concluded Professor Odiaka is Professor of Organometallics and Coordination Chemistry and a former Dean of Science, University of Ibadan

Kill corruption not the corrupt BOB MAJIRIOGHENE ETEMIKU

he normal and ordinary definition of death is that it happens when life stops. It is a transition from one plane to the other. I do not understand why we fear to die, even in the face of an assuredness that a heaven awaits us. If the only way to leave this earth is to die and go to heaven, a place of good food, good houses, clean streets without hospitals, a place without wars and rent and climate change, why do we fear to die? A lot of people arrogate this uncertainty of our final breathe with ‘capital punishment’. But I do not think so. Life is driven by two eternal opposite, but composite values: good and evil. It is these values that engender the kind of conflict that takes place in our homes, places of work, our communities, cities and nations. It is this need to live far above our peers in our homes and the human need for one nation to outdo the other that produces our struggles against each other. Without conflict as a key driver of life, life as we know it would be considerably dull. In most cases it is the evil, the wicked and the unscrupulous, as against the noble and conscientious people among us, who carry the day. We all know that life is not a bed of roses. And because the desire of life is for balance and cohesion as we go out daily to struggle with other human beings who seek the same things as we do, society uses certain instruments and institutions and mechanisms to regulate the battlefield of life to ensure the continuity of life in spite of the tragedy that is life. But beyond that, life hangs on a

THE NLC OF ALL ORGANIZATIONS IN

NIGERIA SHOULD

KNOW THAT THE DEATH PENALTY BELONGS TO THE ARCHIVES certain leitmotif that even though we often seek to take a life to compensate for a life, we fall short of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, couched under the premise that all life is sacred. It is against this backdrop, therefore, that it came as a shock when I heard the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has asked that corrupt politicians be put to death when found culpable. The leadership of the NLC was quoted in the press on September 27, 2015 as saying that because politicians were responsible for ‘challenges’ in development of roads, schools and lack of drugs in our hospitals, they deserved to die. Among the 10 countries of the world where the death penalty for criminals holds sway, China and Iran top the list. So we will examine what the death penalty in China entails. This year, China’s population was one billion out of the world population of seven billion. It currently runs neckand-neck with the United States over control of world politics and economy. In 2007, China sentenced 1,860 Chinese to death and executed them all. In 2008, of the 7003 death sentences passed, more than 1,718 executions took place. After 2008 till date, even though the number of executions in

China remains in the thousands, they are all in relation to violence, rape. None of them is related to politics or the politicians who are stealing us dry. At the point of execution, the victim is forced to sign a letter wherein he donates his liver, heart, and lungs. So widespread was the practice of selling off the parts of the victims of capital punishment that it was only in 2009 that the government launched a half-hearted investigation to ascertain the racket. The NLC of all organizations in Nigeria should know that the death penalty belongs to the archives. It is a responsible organization that has proven itself over the years as a defender of the human rights of the Nigerian people against oppression, totalitarianism and dictatorship. Why it is aligning itself with obnoxious practices like capital punishment, even when the ‘body language’ of Mr. President suggests that he is anti-corruption beats me. The very first laws that supported capital punishment was the Babylonian law of King Hammurabi, and capital punishment at that time was carried out vide such inhuman methods like crucifixion, drowning, beating to death, burning alive, and impalement. Therefore, a call for punishment via death for corrupt politicians as a tool to fight corruption will not work because if you examine the data on China up there, you will just find out that in societies where the death penalty is used as a punishment for whatever crime, violence escalates. Recall that states in the US with the death penalty are more prone to violent crimes. Corruption can be fought and defeated if the anti-corruption agencies instituted by the laws of the land are

strengthened to become efficient. Whatever calls that anyone should be making should be directed at the judiciary to partner with the executive arms of government in Nigeria to overhaul our archaic legal systems that give little or no dignity to human life. I remember in 2013 when the Edo State government planned to execute a condemned criminal. Four of them were already executed before it was discovered that the systems that condemned the criminals were hardly thorough. That condemned man, ThankGod Ebohs, only got a reprieve because he was sentenced to death by a military tribunal, which recommended that he be shot to death. Issues surrounding this case came to light after the Edo State government worked hard at reviewing its criminal justice activities. But this is hardly enough. The whole concept of capital punishment for whatever crime under the skies is an aberration. As at the time of concluding this discussion, there were over 200, 000 deaths worldwide. Five thousand of those deaths, according to Worldometer, are from Nigeria. There is no record that any of them resulted from capital punishment. We are better off that way. Etemiku is communications manager with the Benin-based Africa Network for Environment & Economic Justice (ANEEJ) Send your views by mail or sms to PMB 10001, Ikoyi, or our Email: mail@ nationalmirroronline.net mirrorlagos@ yahoo.com or 08164966858 (SMS only). The Editor reserves the right to edit and reject views or photographs. Pseudonyms may be used but must be

Editorial

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

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

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

Those 295 Nigerians on death row in Asia

ot quite long after the government of Indonesia lined up and shot eight drug convicts, four of them from Nigeria, namely: Sylvester Obiekwe Nwolise, Jamiu Owolabi Abashin, Okwudili Oyatanze and Martin Anderson last April, reports say 295 Nigerians are still on the death row across Asia. The Legal Defence and Assistance Project (LEDAP), a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) with its headquarters in Lagos, says roughly “120 Nigerians are facing the death penalty in Chinese prisons, over 170 others in Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, etc., and five in Qatar, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia”. The group says “33 countries and territories retain the death penalty for drug crimes and it is estimated conservatively that over 16,500 Nigerians are in prisons abroad and nearly 350 of them are facing death penalty”. LEDAP, which revealed the figures to Nigerians on Saturday, October 10, 2015, during activities marking the 13th World Day against the use of Death Penalty, argued spiritedly that drug offences, for which most of the 295 convicts were now trapped in Asia, did not meet the definition of ‘most serious’ crimes which the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights prescribed as deserving of the death penalty. Chinonye Obiagwu, the National Coordinator

WHEN CAUGHT ON ASIAN SHORES, HARD DRUG CONVICTS, FROM WHATEVER PART OF THE

GLOBE, INCLUDING ASIAN COUNTRIES, FACE THE SAME PUNISHMENT – EXECUTION of LEDAP, said the group filed litigations against over 35 death sentences on appeal, out of which half of the ‘culprits’ were exonerated; and implored the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to track and support Nigerian citizens facing the death penalty overseas. “Most of the Nigerians convicted abroad did not receive fair trials because most of them did not have lawyers to defend them. The trials are held in languages they do not understand. In most cases, no interpreters are provided; and more importantly, consular services are lacking”, Obiagwu said. LEDAP, as an NGO, has done a good job. Saving over half of 35 Nigerians from the hangman’s noose in foreign lands is certainly not an easy task, especially when weighed against the lack-lustre attitude of Nigerian embassy staff abroad when it comes to attending to Nigerian citizens either stranded or

in need of their services, as repeated complaints in recent years have suggested. But mounting advocacy for saving Nigerians already sentenced to death abroad, without cautioning prospective victims on the varying penalties certain crimes attract in certain parts of the world does not appear to us a comprehensive approach to saving the situation. We recall, for instance, that the executions of last April in Indonesia were carried out in spite of global condemnation and rage against the exercise; in addition to loud pleas for clemency for the four Nigerians involved by the Nigerian government. Indeed, the Nigerian Foreign Affairs Ministry sought a Prisoner Transfer Agreement with Indonesia and clemency plea for 12 other Nigerians waiting for execution in that country. But notwithstanding the ‘excellent’ diplomatic relations existing between Nigeria and Indonesia, the deed was done; thus buttressing the futility of the FG intervention. One implication of the unfortunate development is that Indonesia views drug offences as constituting a part of the ‘most serious’ offences that deserves the death penalty; and the country has been defending its execution of those who infract its anti-drug laws with all its strength. It is also instructive that notwithstanding Indonesia’s unbending use of the

ON THIS DAY October 21, 1987

October 21, 1994

Jaffna hospital massacre was carried out by the Indian Peace Keeping Force in Sri Lanka during which 70 ethnic Tamil patients, doctors and nurses were killed. The incident occurred during the Sri Lankan Civil War, when soldiers of the Indian Army entered the premises of the Jaffna Teaching Hospital in Jaffna, Sri Lanka, an island nation in South Asia, and killed between 60 and 70 patients and staff.

In Seoul, 32 people were killed when the Seongsu Bridge collapsed. The Seongsu Bridge is a bridge over the Han River in Seoul, South Korea. The bridge links the Seongdong and Gangnam districts. The cantilever bridge was completed in 1979 and its total length is 1160 m. The bridge collapsed early in the morning when one of its concrete slabs fell due to a failure of the suspension structure.

death sentence as a vital weapon to wage its anti-drugs war, no nation, to public knowledge, has been so enraged as to clamp any sanction on the country (Indonesia) beyond the withdrawal of envoys. Same goes for the United Nations. Our thinking, therefore, is that the global community seems conscious of the destructive effects of drugs on world citizens, especially youths; and caring nations lend tacit support to measures, no matter how harsh they may be, to curb the hard drugs trade. We think this is the message LEDAP should incorporate in its advocacy to save potentially endangered Nigerians who, out of ignorance and desperation for the good life, may swell the ranks of death row prisoners in Asia and elsewhere in the future. As we have argued on this page in the past, the lesson probably not well thought at home and, therefore, not understood and appreciated, appears what Asian countries are insistent on teaching. When caught on Asian shores, hard drug convicts, from whatever part of the globe, including Asian countries, face the same punishment – execution. Recall that in addition to the four Nigerians executed in Indonesia last April were one Indonesian, Zainal Abidin; a Brazilian, Rodrigo Gularte; and two Australians, Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, numbering eight in all. To be fore warned is to be fore armed.

October 21, 2013 Record smog closed schools, roadways, and the airport in Harbin, China. The dense wave of smog began in Northeast China, especially in major cities, including Harbin, Changchun and Shenyang, as well as the surrounding Heilongjiang, Jilin, and Liaoning provinces. Unseasonably warm temperatures with very little wind across northeastern China coincided with the initiation of Harbin’s coal-powered municipal heating system.

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

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Health & Wellbeing Many battles of Nigerian pharmacists –Abuja PSN Chairman 22 FRANKA OSAKWE

s the world passes by, on the street of Ikeja, Lagos, 12 year old Paul looks on with hope. He stretches out his hands and heart at every stranger and car that passes by, begging for alms and expecting a miracle. There on the street lays his hope of eating each meal a day. When National Mirror caught up with him, one afternoon, Paul was already weary and tired from hunger. He had been walking about with outstretched arms in the sun for over four hours without receiving a kobo. If and when he eventually received any, he would walk straight to the Buka around the corner and fill his stomach with big lumps of ‘fufu’ with melon soup. Paul never concerned himself with eating a healthy or balanced meal; he would rather load his stomach with heavy meal that will sustain him for long. From his stunted height and patched skin, it is clear that he is not getting enough nutrition that he needs for his health. For 15 year-old Elizabeth Oloba, there seems to be “plenty” to eat everyday but what she eats just does not give her enough nutrients for her health needs. Although Elizabeth never lacks any meal, she still slumps with tiredness every day before her classes are over. Unlike Paul, she is lucky she has her parents to take care of her. Her meals on a daily basis are mainly rice, Eba, yam, beans and sometimes, over-cooked vegetables. Like many other adolescent girls, Elizabeth is not eating enough iron-rich food. As the world marked the World Food Day on October 16th, the World Health Organisation (WHO), in its report to mark the day, says one out of four children globally do not get the nutrition they need to live healthy lives. “Even amidst plenty, 805 million people, one in nine worldwide, live with chronic hunger. 4 in 10 children in poor countries are malnourished and this is damaging their bodies and brains”, the report says. Speaking on the event, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon described hunger as a terrible injustice that is beyond lack for food. He stressed that how people choose to grow, process, distribute and consume the food they eat has a profound effect on people, planet, prosperity and peace. “In a world where nearly a third of all food produced is lost or wasted, and where we produce enough food to feed everyone, almost 800 million people still suffer from hunger”, he said. More worrying is the issue of iron deficiency in young women and adolescent girls. Recent statistics from the 2014 Global Nutrition Report revealed that almost half (49 per cent) of women of reproductive age in Nigeria have anaemia, 24.3 per cent have low iron stores and 12.7 per cent of

Polio: 32 million Nigerian children for 21 vaccination

WFD: 800m people still hungry –WHO

A sustained school nutrition programme may save children from starvation

Paul

them are iron deficient. These figures indicate that majority of the adolescent girls and women do not meet the iron requirements of 20 milligrams per day as recommended by the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) and, the World Health Organisation (WHO).

An analysis of the effect of iron deficiency anaemia by the United Nations Children’s Fund UNICEF, showed that even mild to moderate cases of iron deficiency anaemia will affect cognitive function and work capacity. “This is one main reason why young women of reproductive age and teenagers in Nigerian complain of tiredness, explains Folake Samuel, Senior Lecturer, Department of Human Nutrition, University of Ibadan. According to her, “55 per cent of Nigerian women complain of tiredness and fatigue as part of daily life. They also complain of dizziness, pale complexion, which are all symptoms of anaemia. “One reason why women suffer more from anaemia is due to the chronic blood loss experienced during the monthly menstrual cycles. This blood loss if not corrected by an appropriate diet, always leads to iron deficiency anaemia. “Also women have hormonal changes in the body during the different stages of life such as adolescence, pregnancy, lactation and menopause. During all these phases, demand for iron and calcium is increased. If this increased demand is not fulfilled,

they tend to suffer from chronic iron deficiency anaemia”, she said. “Teenage girls need 50 per cent more iron, than when they were younger, to cope with their body changes and during pregnancy, the amount of iron needed are tripled because the body needs extra iron for both mother and foetus. This increases the risk of becoming anaemic, with consequences such as low birth weight, premature birth, neonatal and maternal death”, Toyin Saraki, from the Well Being Foundation added. The reason for this high rate of iron deficiency anaemia is not farfetched. Dr. Samuel, while presenting a report on ‘the prevalence and impact of iron deficiency anaemia in Nigerian women and teenagers’ said Research finding, published in African Journal of Biomedical, found out that Nigerian households consume food groups such as cereals and grains, roots, tubers, legumes, nuts and seeds which are high in phytate, known to inhibit iron absorption. She said, less than half of the households interviewed during the research, consumed iron-rich foods on a daily basis such as vegetables and iron-rich meats.

Health & Wellbeing

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

vocado also known as “alligator pear” or “butter fruit” is a pear – shaped large berry that has a brown coated single seed at its center enclosed by a buttery pulp and a hard skin which is green skinned but turns dark brown with pebble surface when ripening after harvesting. The fruit is not sweet, but rich, and distinctly yet subtly flavored, and of smooth, almost creamy texture. It is used in both savory and sweet dishes, and popularly used in vegan dishes. They are parked with heart-healthy compounds. The avocado originated from Central America but is now cultivated in tropical climates and sub-tropical regions of the world. Botanically, the fruit belongs to the family of Lauraceae, the family that also includes some unusual members like bay laurel, cinnamon, etc. Scientific name is Persea americana. Avocados contain excellent source of healthy fats than most other fruit. It contains monosatu-

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Avocado health benefits

rated fats and calories. They also provide essential nutrients such as potassium which helps balance potassium to sodium ratio in the body. They aid weight loss because it contains both insoluble and soluble fiber; which aids in bowel movements thereby preventing constipation, lowers blood cholesterol level, prevents colorectal cancer and aids in appetite control. They are made up of vitamin E which prevents conditions like retinopathy. Avocados contain carotenoid leutein, an antioxidant that specializes with protecting the eyes from oxidative stress damage leading to poor vision, cataracts, and macular degeneration; B-vitamins help the body’s metabolism and its maintenance of a healthy skin tone; the vitamins K they contain plays a fundamental role in making sure that the bones grow properly and the bone density is maintained in later life, They contain folic acid, a vitamin which cuts the risk of birth defects. A high folate intake is also associated with a lower risk of heart attacks and heart disease. They are also excellent sources of minerals like iron and copper which aids in

Chizoba Benson

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

production of red blood cells; magnesium which aids bone strengthening and has a cardiac-protective role; and manganese which is used by the body as a co-factor for the antioxidant enzyme. Avocados serve as an important staple in the diet of various groups where access to other fatty foods are inadequate. According to Dr. Joseph Mercola, an alternative medicine proponent and osteopathic physician said that, “eliminating grain carbs is one of the best ways to support your health and maintain your weight, but when you cut down on carbs, you need to increase your intake of healthy fats. Avocados are an excellent source, along with organic raw butter, coconut oil, and organic pastured eggs, olives and nuts.” Researchers from Ohio State University found that two of avocados’ inhibited the growth of cancer cells. From their findings, fats in avocado are antioxidant and block cancer growth such as prostate and breast cancers.. The new research looked at the antioxidant capacities of the avocado and found that the avocado’s phytonutrients, provide the bulk of these antioxidant benefits. One research from Japan suggests that this powerful fruit may also

help protect against liver damage. Antioxidant glutathione supports the liver and the nervous system. It is responsible for replenishing and recycling other antioxidants in the body. It is vital for a strong immune system. According to USDA’s Agricultural Research Service, avocados contain a complex package of phytonutrients, including carotenoids that may provide numerous health benefits. Carotenoids appear to protect humans against certain cancers, heart disease and age-related macular degeneration. The fruit has a high concentration of tannin which has beneficial anti-inflammatory, antiulcer and antioxidant properties. Avocado slows digestion and helps keep blood sugar from spiking after a meal. A diet high in good fats may even help reverse insulin resistance, which translates to

steadier blood sugar long-term. It is important to store avocado in a cool, dark place. Unripe fruit usually placed in a paper wrap with a banana or an apple usually speeds up ripening. Besides being healthy, there are many ways to enjoy avocado, it can be used as a first food for babies, in lieu of processed baby food; it can be used as a fat in baking by replacing the fat with equivalent of the same amount of avocado; avocados can be used into various recipes, juice or smoothies or may be used as salads or combined with other foods or dishes. They may also be as a rejuvenating facial cream. Avocado leaves, bark, skin, or pit are documented to be harmful to animals; cats, dogs, cattle, goats, rabbits, rats. The avocado fruit is poisonous to some birds, and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) lists it as toxic to many animals including cats, dogs, and horses. Go get some avocados and enjoy them with salt and lemon or vinegar or whatever way you find pleasurable!

Sexual solutions and love products for adults

y wife and I are sexually mismatched. When I want sex, she doesn’t want it and when we eventually have sex, we are doing it as if we are not interested in what we are doing. It is as if sex with each other is an uncomfortable activity that we are struggling to get through – Obiechina Hello Mr Obiechina. This kind of problem requires both of you to visit a sex therapist. Simply talking to one of you alone will not solve the problem. Men and women have different expectations from their love lives and these expectations don’t always match reality. This is why when you are getting into a new relationship, you must first assess the situation. You have to understand your partner and what their romantic needs and limitations are and then find a way to meet them half way. Your partner has to do the same for you as well. When both of you commit to fulfilling each other’s romantic needs, it is easier to succeed as a couple. So this has to be done together – Uche Over the weekend, I read a lot about Prosolution pills in your numerous publications. I am already taking VigRx Plus and I am just wondering what the difference is. Should I switch to Prosolution? Miles Prosolution and VigRx Plus are very similar products because they are both penis enlargers that also help men with ejaculatory control, firmer erections and staying power during intercourse. So if you are using VigRx Plus already, you don’t need to change – Uche It seems you have so many performance supplements for men now that I don’t know which one to take. My prob-

lem is that I am 58 years old and I am suffering from weak erection and low libido. I am also diabetic and I have had it for a long time now. Please is there a treatment that can work for me? Joseph Yes Joseph there are many supplements that will work for you but the one that I will recommend specifically because you are diabetic is Libigrow. With Libigrow, you can get back your firm erections and a renewed desire for intercourse. Libigrow also helps you perform better and last longer in bed – Uche I have an issue. It is not that I have never had an orgasm. I have had orgasms but only when I masturbate or use a vibrator. I will like to have an orgasm during regular sex with a man – Julie Julie it is possible to have an orgasm during intercourse but I will not lie to you, this is difficult. Less than twenty percent of women are able to have orgasms during regular intercourse and for that to happen, many things are involved. There has to be lengthy foreplay, prolonged intercourse and sustained clitoral and/or g spot stimulation during sex. It is not easy for men to stimulate the clitoris during intercourse and not every man can last long enough to give a woman an orgasm. But wearing a vibrating Cockring can make all of this easier. It can help the man last longer and also stimulate the woman for long periods till she climaxes. So next time you get together let him wear a Vibrating Cockring or Couple’s Vibrator during sex – Uche I am one of your regular clients and I recently bought Boss Rhino Gold from you. I have only taken it once and I like

it. Please I need advice on how often I should be taking it – Ismaila You are advised not to take more than one capsule of Boss Rhino Gold every 60 hours so take it every three days – Uche Hello doctor. I cannot believe it but I have been ejaculating a much greater quantity of semen since I started taking the Volume Pills. It is like magic. I never expected it to work this well - Anthony You are welcome. It is a good product – Uche I have heard of a cream that can enlarge the penis within a matter of hours. Is it true and does it have side effects? I am interested but I need reassurance – John Yes there are many of them. But of course the enlargement result only lasts for a few hours to a day but never more than that. So if you are interested, get Mr Thick. It is bigger than the rest and is ideal when you aim to please on

short notice – Uche And that is it for today. Adults in need of these treatments/novelties can call 08171912551, 08027901621 or 07086754515 for help or visit www.zeevirtualmedia.com Zee Virtual Media delivers all over Nigeria. For enquiries email us at custserv@zeevirtualmedia.comUche Edochie, MD, Zee Virtual Media.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Health & Wellbeing

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

Polio: 32 million Nigerian children for vaccination ADEOLA TUKURU ABUJA

ational Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCD) has commenced vaccination of 32 million

children against the polio immunisation in the country. According to the Executive Secretary , Dr Ado Muhammad, said the exercise will be undertaken in 11 polio vulnerable states of Bau-

chi, Borno, Jigawa, Kano, Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi, Niger, Sokoto, Yobe and Zamfara. Muhammad, explained that the round of immunisation would target all children aged zero to five years, ir-

respective of their previous immunisation status. He described the nation’s achievement in the polio eradication initiative as a great feat “for our dear country, as it has taken us 17 years to get to achieve it. It is the re-

L-R: Brand Building Director (Foods) Unilever Nig. Plc.Mrs Nsima Ogedi-Alakwe, Actress and Knorr Ambassador Mrs Omotola Jalade – Ekeinde, Director of Schools Admin Education District 1 Agege Mrs Isenuwa Uzondu, Corporate Affairs Director Unilever Nigeria Mrs Soromidayo George, during the World Food Day celebration at Government College Agege, Lagos, on Friday.

USA firm donates Laparoscopic surgical equipment to LUTH FRANKA OSAKWE

t is no longer news that knifeless surgery has become the preferred choice of reputable surgeons across the world. However, only few Nigerian public hospitals have yet keyed into providing this aspect of surgery mainly as a result of non-availability of the equipment and up-todate knowledge on the part of many surgeons. It is, a welcome development for the surgeons and staff of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) on Monday when a Laparoscopic surgical equipment was donated to the hospital by an American firm, Condion Medroni. According to Medroni

Marketing Director, John Monroe, the Simbionix surgical operating machine which has already been installed at LUTH surgical skills training centre, “is for the training of manpower. And Nigeria is the future of Laparoscopic surgery in the West African region.” Laparoscopic surgery or keyhole surgery, with the available equipment can allow surgeons to get through to any part of the body through tiny holes which would rapidly lead to rapid healing, short stay in hospital and overall wellbeing of patients. It is a type of surgical procedure in which a small incision is made, usually in the navel, through which a viewing tube (laparoscope) is inserted.

The viewing tube has a small camera on the eyepiece. This allows the doctor to examine the abdominal and pelvic organs on a video monitor connected to the tube. Other small incisions can be made to insert instruments to perform procedures. Laparoscopy can be done to diagnose conditions or to perform certain types of operations. It is less invasive than regular open abdominal surgery (Laparotomy). Speaking at an ‘international workshop on core skills in Laparoscopic surgery’ held at LUTH, the Chief Medical Director (CMD), Professor Christopher Bode said they were indeed glad that the centre was set up by surgeons of like minds, adding that they

would improve and continue to do better than they have done. “We are happy that we now have surgical options to offer our patients who would have loved to travel overseas on medical tourism to access pinhole surgery, not only because they can afford the cost, but also because they desire not to go through open surgery for conditions that could easily be taken care of by simple pinhole surgery. He thanked John Monroe for the surgical machine, adding that “since the whole world has moved on, it is not possible for the hospital to continue with business as usual; hence it is just appropriate to go with the technology that helps the practice of medicine.”

Champions for Change engages Nollywood stars for SRHR advocacy PAUL EREWUBA

n Nigeria, one in 13 women dies from pregnancy or childbirth, and one in eight children dies before reaching the age of five. In order to create more awareness and contribute to policy changes and direct impacts in women and girls’ lives in Nigeria and sub-sahara Africa , Champions for Change (C4C) an Oakland-based nonprofit organization (NGO) investing in Nigerian entertainment industry to improve Sexual

Reproductive Health Right (SRHR) of women, has engaged 18 Nollywood stars for the advocacy. According to Theresa Kaka Effa, Champions for Change Country Representative, Nigeria, “the aim is to grow powerful network of Nollywood champions who are committed to using their star power to ignite a national dialogue and generate increased commitments among the public, policy makers and media to improve SRHR policies, funding and services.” To this end, a workshop

was held in Lagos to strengthen the advocacy capacity of the selected Nollywood leaders in SRHR as part of Champions for Change’s (C4C) efforts to build a movement of champions advocating for improved sexual and reproductive health and rights in Nigeria. Kaka Effa said: “the workshop was meant for the Nollywood stars to learn and develop ideas for films promoting SRHR, basic approaches to advocacy films and how to champion change on behalf of marginalized women, girls and youth.

The outcome of this convening, she further explained, “is that frontline Nollywood producers, actors and writers will be lifetime advocates on SRHR issues in Nigeria”, she stated. Speaking in the same vein, Dr Uwem Esiet, Founder, Action Health Incorporated, in a chat with Journalists, said it was a welcome workshop, stating that it is time the message of female mutilation and other issues that set the girl child back in the country were taken to the nooks and crannies of the country.

sult of sustained and steady progress in the polio eradication programme since 2013 when the number of cases of polio dropped from 122 in 2012 to 53 in 2013. “The progress continued and by end of 2014, only six cases of Wild Polio Virus (WPV) were reported. Since July 24, 2014, there has been no reported case of WPV in any part of Nigeria. However, this interruption of indigenous WPV transmission for over a year is only a major milestone to polio eradication, which is our end point,” Muhammad said. He reiterated that Nigeria is not polio free yet and called attention to the need for the nation to sustain and also improve on the progress it has made so far to achieve polio eradication by 2017.. Muhammad called on all caregivers to allow vaccinators into their homes to immunize their children against polio.

”I am therefore using this forum to once again solicit for the continued support of all Nigerians, especially the Press, to be advocates of continuous vaccination of our children of zero to five years with the oral polio vaccine until WHO certifies Nigeria a polio free country in 2017. “We will be relying on you to continue to sensitise our people on the benefits of immunisation and the risk of non-vaccination as we cannot afford a reversal of the gains we have made,” he said. He went further to explain why the house-to-house vaccination of children against polio was continuous, stressing that it would boost population immunity of children zero to five years and achieve eradication status. “Nigeria will continue to vaccinate these children irrespective of their previous immunisation status,” he said..

Knorr feeds 5,000 school children

... raises awareness on iron rich foods FRANKA OSAKWE

s part of efforts to celebrate the World Food Day (WFD), Unilever Nigeria Plc, is raising awareness on importance of eating iron rich food. To commemorate the day, Knorr, in partnership with the World Food Programme, last week donated nutritious meals to 5,000 schools children in Agege and Ikeja, Lagos. Speaking during the event, the Brand Managing Director of Unilever Nigeria Plc, Mrs. Hgima Ogedi Alakwe, said, one out of four children globally do not get the nutrition they need to live healthy lives. “The majority of Nigerians especially adolescent girls do not eat enough food high in iron. This programme was put together by Unilever Nigeria Plc as an initiative to support the fight against poverty and hunger, to share a meal, not just any kind of meal but a nutritious meal. “We believe it’s time for change. That’s why on World Food Day, we encourage everyone to share a meal with someone in their community.

And Knorr is working with the UN World Food Programme to share nutritious meals in schools”, she said. Meanwhile, the event which was tagged ‘Share a Meal’, was attended by parents and students alike. Also present at the event was, Nollywood diva, Omotola JoladeEkeinde, who is the Knorr brand ambassador. Omotola expressed her satisfaction at being part of the initiative while encouraging mums and daughters across the country to imbibe the culture of tossing green vegetable, stirring them in and crumbling the Knorr iron fortified stock cube in their meals. “As a Knorr ambassador, I chart this course because I have daughters, and I understand the risk of iron deficiency. I love food; we all like food. But what Knorr teaches us is to eat nutritiously. Not just how much food you eat but the quality of the food. It is also important to add green vegetables; as boring as they look, they are very important. Adding your Knorr cube seasoning is an added advantage because it is iron-fortified.”

Health & Wellbeing

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Many battles of Nigerian pharmacists –Abuja PSN Chairman

right to the best of health, we have a right to information, we have a right to ask our pharmacists, doctors and nurses what we are being given and why. Nigerians should ask questions.

Pharmacist Bridget Otote, is the Chairman Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Abuja chapter. In this interview with ADEOLA TUKURU, she explains the numerous challenges facing Nigerian pharmacists in their practice such as quackery, lack of funding, discrimination by other health workers among others. She also speaks on the expectations of pharmacists from the present administration, among others. Excerpts: What is your take on the availability of essential drugs in the country? All hands are on deck in trying to ensure the availability of essential drugs. I can say confidently that we are not where we were five years ago but there is still room for improvement, it can be better. What are the challenges facing pharmacists? A lot, most of the times we are not recognized. Nigerians do not know who a pharmacist is, I have had to correct a lot of my patients as a community pharmacist. They always refer to me as a doctor when they see me on white robe but I make sure I correct them and I think every pharmacist should do that. The credit of our good works are given to others because we are not known, every patient thinks they get well by the efforts of the doctor. In the civil service if not until recently, we could not get to directorship cadre, we were made to stop at deputy director and it took years of long battle before we were able to get that recognition. We have only very few directors of pharmaceutical services particularly in FCT. Not just fellow professional colleagues or medical teams, but we are being fought by the patent medicine vendors who want to claim rights as pharmacists. We are being fought by the pharmacists’ technicians who I know in cross river statutory being allowed to open chemists in pharmaceutical premises, and we are being fought in some cases by even doctors and nurses. Apart from recognition we have aloof battles we are fighting to be able to get to our proper place in the society. We see doctors embarking strikes on all manner of implementation, agreements etc. Are you carried along or discriminated against?

We are not carried along and that is why we joined Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU). As disciplined pharmacists, most of the times we are very tolerant, it is only in recent times that you started hearing pharmacists going on strike along JOHESU and it is because there is a limit to what anybody can take. When consistently we see that we are being discriminated upon, we are practicing within the same society, we are operating within the same economy, we go on rounds, we go on calls, practically everything that the doctors do even in school we do almost the same courses but for a few. Most pharmacists are pharmacists by choice, not because they cannot read medicine. As students, many of the doctors you see around are our class mates and they are students we beat hands down in class. Even some of us gained admission to study medicine but turned it down because of our passion for pharmacy but where the doctors begin to make it look as if they are a special being or because they are more intelligent than pharmacists and that is why they are doctors and now treat the pharmacists as second hand citizens, this is most unfair. This is why we are rising up to the challenge and also to make our voices heard by the people we serve and by the government. As chairman of the FCT PSN chapter, what are you doing to address the issues of illegal pharmacies cropping up? We have been doing a lot, we have a committee called the Pharmaceutical Inspectorate Committee (PIC) that has a delegated power because regulation of pharmacies is supposed to be done by Pharmacists Council of Nigeria but because they cannot be everywhere at every point in time, they delegate this function

Do you think enough funds is being budgeted for the health sector and what is your advice to the present administration concerning poor budgeting for the sector? Not at all. I wish the present administration would focus more on health in terms of funding and training of personnel.

to the federal ministry of health in FCT and it is being done by the department of the pharmaceutical services of Federal Capital Territory Authority (FCTA) and because of challenges in the past, we started the inspectorate committee from the FCT, we sponsored the idea and it was bought by other states whereby there is partnership between the private sector and the government. We came up with this idea because sometimes the people in position who are supposed to carry out this enforcement are being intimidated by other government personnel and there is nothing they can do because they are in government. With the partnership, it will be difficult for any boss to just pass an instruction to the subordinates and in that way we can regulate within the law. How many illegal shops have been closed down under your jurisdiction? Sometimes last year, there was a joint enforcement between the FCT PIC and Nasarawa state PIC being coordinated by the PSN where over 200 shops including pharmacies and patent medicine stores were closed. We go on inspection every month; we embark on enforcement every quarter. Even when we are on routine monthly inspection, we try to sniff around and if we observe anything going wrong within any premises, we stop and carry out enforcement so I would be right to say we carry out enforcement not just quarterly but as at when

necessary. How are you dealing with the issue of quacks in the FCT? Once you are a pharmacist you are not a quack, the quacks are the non-pharmacists. Not all patent medicine vendors are quacks because there are some registered ones who have gone through some form of training and are licensed by the PCN. It is just that they go beyond what they do which is to administer drugs over the counter. That is where we have problems with the registered patent medicine vendors. That is where we have most of the quacks a lot of time and I am sure more than 80% of them are not fully registered, they just get a shop, put in drugs and start selling, they give injections while deliveries are done in those outlets. Although, I must say that it is not sacrosanct, we have instances where recently a license of a pharmacist was found in a non-registered premises. A boy that has worked with him probably stole the license and is pretending to be a pharmacist. So it is still not the pharmacist who is responsible for that practice but the non-pharmacist who is trying to pretend to be a pharmacist. What advice do you have for Nigerians on usage of drugs? People are very enlightened now with the internet that keeps pharmacists on their toes, going back to carry out research and study. Nigerians should not take their health for granted, we have a

What are some of your achievements in the FCT? I have basically been trying to build on what I met on ground. As a person I have always felt where there is no continuity, we won’t have development because most if the time, it takes years before we can begin to feel the impact of certain development. If we learn to accept, we have only come to impact our quota and go away leaving the next person to continue because our tenure is just three years in PSN. This is a short time in carrying out any remarkable development but if we can learn to work as one, building on the achievements of the last person, it will go a long way building up our society and organization. I’ve been trying to stabilize the society because I came in at a time when we had a lot of challenges, I thank God the society is very stable and cohesive now. I have also tried to continue most of the work started by my predecessor, I haven’t dropped any project. We have our proposed site for our secretariat at Life Camp which we are trying to develop. My predecessor started development on the plot and I promise there will be something there by the time I am leaving which was one of my promises when I came in. We have also tried to make welfare very important by trying to reach out to our colleagues whenever they are celebrating; we have tried to be our brother’s keeper in death. We have also tried being a mouth piece for our brothers whenever and where ever they are being sidelined. What are your expectations from the present administration to Pharmacists? I will appreciate if the Federal Government can begin to recognize pharmacists as consultants because most of us are qualified, most of us have gone through the West African Post-Graduate College of Pharmacists but we are yet to answer that title “Consultant,” we have gone a long way towards achieving that trait.

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Arts Lounge

‘Designing Futures’: LagosPhoto set for annual festival

My music out of divine instruction –MOP

The Nigerian comedy industry The industry is reputed to worth hundreds of millions of Naira, attracting hordes of new entrants. But the challenges are enormous. Ngozi Emedolibe

eing funny is serious business. I had to make sure I stood my ground because the appreciation level then was very low or non-existent because, a comedian was last on the list of an event planner and the first to go if they decided to cut cost” These are the words of Ali Baba, the pioneer of stand-up comedy in Nigeria, who said in an interview that he had weathered through poverty and persevered because it was quite tough being a comedian then than now. He had featured on Charly Boy Show, Friday Night Live, and Night Train with Bisi Olatilo, on the network service of Nigerian Television, programmes that made him popular with viewers. The highpoint of his career was when Guinness launched Satzenbrau beer in Nigeria, and did a nationwide tour, in which he had a contract that put the first N1.5million in his hands. For burgeoning comedians, one of the biggest challenges is finance. Organising a good show does not come cheap. For instance, a modest estimate for a good comedy show would be between N10million and N20million. Apparently, there is hardly any possibility of recouping the costs from tickets sales as most of the comedy shows feature a minimum of five stand-ups and three popular musicians, who do not all charge commercial rates, in order to support their fellow artistes, and the favour is reciprocal. Also, there is the problem of affordable venues for shows. According to Bolaji Abimbola of BD Consult, a public relations firm, it costs close to a million naira to rent a hall at Federal Palace Hotel and Casino, Lagos. “Eko Hotel and Suite is the most expensive, charging about N3million for a hall per day. The hotel also insists on organisers using their food, music equipment, and lighting, which all make it so expensive. The viable option then is to canvass for corporate sponsorships for shows. But this does not come by easily. Where it happens, the arrangement has to be in favour of the sponsors. For instance, AY used the hall of Federal Palace Hotel and Casino for his shows, for free, in exchange for the display of the

hotel banner on the stage” For the ladies, the main challenge is that the industry is seen as one meant for men. Thus, they are seen as venturing into “a man’s world,” just as they are looked at as commercial drivers and pilots, among other male-dominated disciplines. It means that the female comedians have to work very hard to gain acceptability and the respect of their male counterparts. While female comedians like Helen Paul, Lepacious Bose and Princess have been able to climb that ‘impossibility ladder’ and have scaled through, the gender ratio between male and female stand up comedians still have an heaven-to-earth distance. The Advent of the Social Media, the Internet and the global mobile telecommunications service, seem to be the greatest of all the challenges new comedians and the experienced ones alike have to contend with. As Yinka Olatunbosun, a media entrepreneur and journalist rightly observes, this is in the sense that new media jokes are on the rise and fast gaining popularity on the social media and threatening the business of stand-up comedians. New media jokes, which have some features that are similar to those of stand-up comedians, are in abundance and more accessible on blogs, websites, Twitter handles, Facebook pages, as well as BlackBerry messengers. “The GSM providers have also joined in the jokes bandwagon by creating monthly subscription options for customers. They usually have faceless authors, who only make the jokes for the singular aim of entertainment. “Even non-professional comedians are capitalising on new media jokes to gain relevance and selling their personae. But another dimension to this challenge the stand-up comedian has to deal with is keeping up with the volume of jokes that flood the social media. For instance, the “Akpos jokes” have become a brand on the social media. It is a series that centres on the life of a clever boy, Akpos, who is presumably a teenager. Although Akpos is a stock character and is often predictable, his responses hold the punch lines on which the peak of each joke rests, as could be seen in the one below: Teacher: Akpos, what is a baby lizard called? Akpos: A baby lizard is called lizzybaby! While Akpos is portrayed as a one-way

Julius Agwu on stage

thinker, who often seeks the easiest way to solve problems, Olatunbosun notes that there are some “fake” Akpos jokes that have failed to elicit laughter, may be due to the fact that some people are trying to use the Akpos brand to sell their jokes, at no cost, just to get attention. There is also the problem of comedians recycling jokes, to the extent that it has become very difficult for some standup comedians to actually “crack ribs” or generate “a thousand of laughs.” Some of them, including Gordons, have attempted to justify their inability to make people laugh by saying that if some people do not laugh at their jokes, it was not because their jokes were dry, not funny, but because the listeners had personal problems that far outweighed the humour in their jokes. Nonetheless, Ali Baba looks at it from the socio-cultural perspective, when he stated that: “You could crack some jokes and someone who is not from Warri won’t get it. You could crack a Nigerian joke and someone who is British would feel like it is dry. So it is who can relate to the joke that would get it. Somebody could crack a Hausa joke; some people may laugh while a few others wouldn’t. But that doesn’t mean the joke was not funny, it only meant that some didn’t get it” Some comedians fail to identify the climaxes of jokes and peg the jokes there, new comedians should be able to identify their niche and explore it well just as

Some comedians fail to identify the

climaxes of jokes and peg the jokes there, new comedians should be able to identify their niche and explore it well

Bovi Man on Fire Show

Apkororo whose energy on stage alone, make several ribs disobey ‘Hooke’s law’ as he renders his jokes.. Olatunbosun also posits that the only selling point left for stand-up comedians, now that almost every Nigerian is a comedian, is their persona on stage. “For instance, Helen Paul’s jokes are ordinary, but she does the extra-ordinary with her voice and “silly laughter.” Gordon’s jokes are slices of life but become jokes through his modulation. I Go Dye’s jokes are on his petit person; all he needs to make people laugh is his appearance on stage. It, therefore, rests on stand-up comedians to sharpen their skills. This may have been one of the reasons why many of the stand-up comedians, like Teju Babyface and AY, have diversified into television series. There is no doubt that new stand-up comedians have to rise up to the billing in order not to lose the art to faceless jesters” Unfortunately too, there are no royalties accruing to comedians for their creative works. It thus becomes the famed “monkey dey work, baboon dey chop” scenario, as any comedian can rehash a joke as if it is his/her own. Also, live performances are just recorded on CDs and put on sale, while the comedians get no returns on their creative enterprises. According to Ali Baba, there is need to give copyright and ownership to jokes, as one of the ways of improving creativity in the industry. “If you use somebody’s joke, you are going to pay for it. Abroad, comedians pay royalty for using another comedian’s jokes; but what you have here is somebody telling other people’s jokes in a show and the organisers will put those jokes on CDs for sale, without paying royalty to the original owners of the

Arts Lounge

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Preservation of art works VOICES

Godwin Eyo Archie Abia

eople and organisations spend huge amounts of money to buy or acquire works of arts but to maintain them, is a problem; that is why we created a section or department in WINARC Gallery to take care of this challenge in our society. Note that all things created need maintenance: humans, cars, houses, everything, so the works of arts also; if not, it will lose its original content, aesthetics and value. Art works need to be maintained and preserved. As a people, we lack maintenance culture in this country and this has been extended to visual arts. And this has to be checked and some things have to be done before we lose the works of the masters that have gone over the years; go to Rome-Vatican City and any other countries of the world, you will see all works done over centuries still adorning those places. You will see works of art handled with utmost care but in our society, the reverse is the case. Some people and organisations watch the works that worth millions of which they spent huge some to acquire to waste. That is why we are leading a campaign very soon to rescue some of those works from total decay and collapse. We are stakeholders of some of these works. As an artist of over twenty years in studio practice, I have come to realise that it is important for artists and people who acquire works of arts to imbibe this culture. Maintaining the indoor and outdoor works require different techniques, methods and materials. Outdoor works: Maintaining outdoor works in sculpture can be a very challenging problem for curators since outdoor works are frequently very large in scale and design General Maintenance Procedures: Documenting all the works is a very important step in any maintenance programme, again one useful method for record-keeping is to create a loose leaf binder entries for each sculpture annual maintenance logs and initial through

Godwin Eyo Archie

examination can be kept in each section for easy reference in case of organisations and individuals that have large collection of works. For most sculptures, an annual maintenance is regular washing with light lose pressure using a dilute solution of mild delergent, followed by water rinsing; and you use soft nylon bristle brushes or sponges to apply the detergent proper washing and wax in maintenance will also provide the opportunity to examine the sculpture patting, putting/ streaking are other evidence in corrosion, balancing, structural problems or damage should be documented or noticed. The environmental conditions surrounding an outdoor sculpture can affect its condition. For instance, I did massive sculptures in Apapa area of Lagos in 1996 due to lack of maintenance

we have to do another new one in 2013 and the recent one is yet to be unveiled; because of the atmospheric nature of Apapa, those works need to be coated every two years to prevent damage. Encroaching vegetation, which may encourage bird, animal, vandals’ activity, should be cleared. Weedy holes in sculpture should always be kept clear to allow water drainage. Again, it is my honest advice whenever possible to discourage the public from touching or climbing on outdoor works because the applied surface coating are easily

Since arts, is life, it requires we should preserve and maintain it so as to prolong the life of the works

Memorable Reads How often do you read now? Once in a while when I have the opportunity, I read. But most times, I read film scripts and inspirational books. Which author influenced you as a person? From the onset, I had great liking for Wole Soyinka; because of my interest in theatre as a young man, I particularly liked the Trials of Brother Jero. That was one of the first books I performed on stage while in school. What is extraordinary about the book? It is prophetic, when you look at it critically. All the things written in that book happen today. And when you remember

Victor Osuagwu

Actor/Comedian

that it was written a long time ago, you will know how prophetic the writer Soyinka was. I played the role of the Prophet in school once and that prophet reminds me of some of today’s preachers. If you were to author a book what would be your theme? I will write about man’s inhumanity against man. Some people do not know that I have a bit of activism in me. That will come to play if I have the opportunity. How much do you spend annually on books? I do not have the data. I just buy when I have the means.

scratched and will be worn away by excessive handling. Natural barriers such as landscaping (eg. plant or gravel to discourage skateboarders) can be used to ensure adequate lighting at night; then security patrols can reduce the need for expensive repairs. Regular application and renewal of protective coating can be a cost – effective means of prolonging the life of the sculpture, since they are much less corrosive and less expensive to replace or adjust than are the artists’ original surfaces. Also wax is a common, easy and effective choice for protecting metal works and other materials both indoor and outdoor jobs. Wax coating should be renewed regularly (once or twice a year depending on the condition) An application of wax is a relatively safe and simple process. A hard transparent paste wax should be applied thinly and evenly as excess wax will build up and celled foreign debris and bland (turning white or light gray) with long time multiple thin coats of hard wax compacted by buffing are preferable to single, thick application making it more labour intensive than others coating. Indoor jobs are more easy and cost effective to maintain be it oil paint, mix media or bone collage. Different methods and techniques are used or applied. Examples of the ways to preserve or maintain bone – collage, water-colour or oil paints are different. Since arts, is life, it requires we should preserve and maintain it so as to prolong the life of the works; people, organisation and society should attach importance to art because it appreciates in value overtime. In conclusion, we all should cultivate the habit of protecting intellectual property because it will help to boost our economy. Maintenance culture should be paramount in our agenda as a country. •Abia is founder, WinArc Gallery, Ikeja.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

ARTISTE UNCENSORED The country as being felt in virtually all the strata of the society has caused many talented Nigerian youths to create messages through music, drama, paintings and other platforms. Michael Ola’ Phemmy, christened ‘Man Of Peace’ (MOP) is one of the youths. Isiguzo Destiny

e is one of the few upcoming Nigerian music artistes who believe that words are more powerful than sounds. He is Michael Ola’ Phemmy popularly called Man of Peace (MOP). This creative young man who hails from Ondo State of Nigeria and studied statistics from Abia State Polytechnic is multi talented in the creative industry with his potentials ranging from singing, creative writing, acting, cinematography and directing. He is a member of the Actors Guild of Nigeria. MOP with his vast potential has decided to leave the secular and focus on touching lives through gospel music. On his sojourn so far in exploring his potential in music, he emphasized that his inspiration has always been from God, reality and nature. According to him, “I started from the choir as an instrumentalist, but I started music professionally like a joke in 2008. I was editing a music video in a studio in Portharcourt and I overheard a nice tune sounding from the audio studio, so I walked in, ‘freestyled’ on the beat that the producer was making, everyone became excited, and got grooving. That was how I ended up using the beat for my first single titled “Big Things”. “Big Things” became a hit which took me to several gospel events, where I performed as guest artiste. After a while, I decided not to attend any programs with the song again because I wanted to trend like the secular artistes. Then I did a song in 2011 (unreleased). During the recording, the producer looked at me and said ‘no matter how you try to mingle, you are still a prophet’. I smiled and waved it off. It was that period that I did a remix of the P’Square song “chop my money, “which became a hit song.” Unlike the conventional styles of

My music out of divine instruction –MOP music, MOP has created a special genre which he called ‘Centmigos’. He coined it from the words, “Centralized Motivational & Inspirational Gospel”. The genre comprises motivational, Inspirational and songs that are meant to effect a positive change in the society. “Before now, people believed that for a song to be Gospel, you have to mention Jesus or God. But you can actually preach the Gospel of Christ without mentioning Jesus or God, because “Gospel” means Good News” he emphasized. When asked why he decided to leave the secular genre for gospel, he said, “I obeyed a divine instruction. It is almost a year after I did “chop my money” that God told me to go into ministry and evangelize through music”. In assessing the Nigeria music industry, he concluded that the industry has been celebrating rhythm ahead of real message. “The music industry in Nigeria is a mere celebration of rhythms and Sounds, corrupting and misleading young minds. They need Christ” he lamented. “National Tears”, is his single which has been released online and it is receiving great attention and downloads. The song addresses issues pertaining to national unity and peace. It is done in a reggae style with mature rendition. According to him, “National Tears was like a prophecy. I wrote the song in 2011. It was as if I saw into the future. The Idea behind it is the present rigor which Nigeria is battling with now. The message in it is based on the fact that we can only excel as a Nation if and only if in unity we face our problems; over-looking our individual, tribal, ethnic, political, personal interests and differences. One of my lines in the song says ‘Shun tribalism, Political games and face Reality’. If we trace it down the history lane, you will discover that we all are brothers and sisters” The Song was produced by Moneezy. It appealed to a DJ in UK and the song is now rocking ChannelRadio in UK. In clear terms, he outlined his role models ranging from Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit, My Mother, Pst. Donnie Mcclurkin, Don moen and Pst E.A Adeboye. On releasing an album, Man of Peace

MIDWEEK JUMP

Brunel University African Poetry Prize

he Brunel University African Poetry Prize invites entries. Worth £3,000 (US$4,640) to the winner, the prize aims to develop, celebrate and promote poetry from Africa. The Prize is for ten poems in order to encourage serious poets. Only poets who have not yet had a full-length poetry book published are eligible. The Prize is open to poets who were born in Africa, or who are nationals of an African country, or whose parents are Africans. The deadline is 30 November.

Brunel African poetry prize

Arts Lounge

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

is planning on launching out later this year. “Album is a capital intensive project, I’m working towards realeasing my debut album this year. Without sponsorship, it is really not easy as I foot the whole bills myself. But seriously, I’m working on it”

If MOP is not seen in the studio singing, he is either acting, shooting or editing music videos, blogging, doing callertunes for artistes and or cooperate organizations or biz ventures, most Importantly, “I preach the Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ”, he added.

National Tears was like a prophecy. I wrote the song in 2011. It was as if I saw the future. 25th International Radio Playwriting Competition

riters living outside the UK are invited to submit their scripts to the 25th International Radio Playwriting Competition.

The global competition, hosted by BBC World Service and the British Council, in partnership with Commonwealth Writers and co-producers The Open University, offers the unique opportunity for playwrights to use the medium of radio drama to reach an international audience. The competition has two first prizes – one for writers with English as a First Language and another for writers with English as a Second Language. Both winners will attend an award ceremony in London and see their plays recorded for broadcast on BBC World Service. The dramas need to be 53 minutes long and can be on any subject. The closing date for entries is midnight (GMT) on 31 January 2016. Radio writing contest

Arts Lounge

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

FAR AND NEAR

‘Designing Futures’: LagosPhoto set for annual festival

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Being Hefzibah Iliondor

Ngozi Emedolibe

he LagosPhoto Foundation is set for the sixth edition of its annual photography festival. Holding at the Eko Hotel and Suites, this year’s edition with the theme, Designing Futures has assembled an international lineup of artists and would run from October 24 to November 27, 2015. At a press briefing hosted by the organisers recently, Azu Nwagbogu, the founder and director disclosed that the festival has grown in leaps and bounds in the past six years with the support of major sponsors like Etisalat, Eko Hotel and Suites aside other supporters. He also assured that this year’s edition promises to be spectacular with the calibre of photographers whose works would be on display, which reflects the international nature of the festival. Explaining the theme, Nwagbogu said: “Designing Futures, this year’s theme is intended to explore contemporary dialogues surrounding designs in Africa. In a continent whose design history includes the Benin Bronzes, Adinkra and some of the oldest writing system known to man, deference to these feats are acknowledged in the rich and sometimes frugally chic designs, we see today. Photographers from across the world display deft awareness of the cultural and socio-political landscape that influences daily life and in turn communicate that awareness through images.” Some of the special projects that would be on display at this year’s edition

Hefzibah Iliondor

Isiguzo Destiny

H Azu Nwagbogu

of the festival include: Satellite exhibitions, LagosPhoto Summer School, The Etisalat Photography Competition with the theme I Love Nigeria, World Press Photo 2015, POPCAP 15 as well as LagosPhoto Award which will be honouring Jelili Atiku and Marc Anre Schmachtel. The international exhibition will feature Whitney Richardson, who will curate ‘Looking Forward: The New York Times Lens Exhibit’ and Alex Majoli and Paolo Pellegrin who will jointly curate ‘Congo’. Describing the 2015 event, the curator, Cristina De Middel said, “I feel very tempted to start this introduction by giving the dictionary definition of the overarching theme behind this edition of LagosPhoto: Design. It would make sense and would help everyone, including me, to create a bit of order in the

explosion of ideas and concepts the word undeniably carries. I will focus instead on other words I have just used, “order” and “explosion” as I understand they can define in a more complete way what my approach to design and specially “Design + Africa” will be like, and how I will try to present a wider understanding to the subject. As I see it, any intention applied to reality obeys to a certain extent the principles of design and that just leads me to think that I could as easily curate a festival with “Everything” as a subject. But, the festival happens to be in Africa and then things get interesting again. We need to think therefore about what “intention” really means in Africa and what role genuine African “intention” has played in the rest of the world s perception of the whole continent.”

Lagos prepares for AFRIMA 2015 Onuoha George

he International Committee of AFRIMA and the African Union Commission, AUC, on Monday October 5, unveiled Lagos, Nigeria, as the Host City for the 2015 All Africa Music Awards, AFRIMA, putting to rest high expectations among AFRIMA stakeholders about the Nigerian city to capture hosting rights. Announcing the host city, the Director of Communication and Sponsorship, AFRIMA, Ms. Matlou Tsotsetsi said: “Following the recce and inspection of facilities and infrastructure of four states in Nigeria namely: Akwa Ibom State, Cross Rivers State, Lagos State and Rivers State by the African Union Commission, AUC and AFRIMA production team, Lagos has been chosen to host the continental awards ceremony this year”. Ms. Tsotetsi further said: “It is worth mentioning that Nigeria won the rights to host AFRIMA for three years – 2014 to 2016 – as announced at a world media conference by the International Committee of AFRIMA on October 6, 2013. Nigeria vied for the hosting rights alongside 13 other African countries eventually winning the competitive bid. As a result of this, the 2014 edition held in Lagos, while AFRIMA 2015 holds at

the Eko Convention Centre, Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos on Sunday, November 15. The most populous city in Nigeria, Lagos is renowned as the hub of music, entertainment and commerce in Western Africa. Lagos is also globally recognised as an African megacity for business and tourism. The state is famous for her aquatic splendour and vibrant festivals/events such as Eyo Festival, Badagry Festival, Lagos Black Heritage Carnival, Lagos Carnival, Eko International Film Festival, Lagos Seafood Festival, Lagos Photo Festival and the Lagos Jazz Series. The 2015 edition of AFRIMA is geared to increase the tourism and entertainment equity of the state as the International Committee prepares to receive an influx of international and Africa dignitaries, AFRIMA 2015 nominees, music stars and executives who are attending the events. AFRIMA 2015 will go further to offer benefits that would help in raising the continental and international profile of the city, including an opportunity to tap into the millions of participants and followers of the growing African music. According to Miss Mary Umeh, an enthusiastic African music fans and an undergraduate of the University of Lagos, UNILAG, “We have been privileged to wit-

ness so many special moments through entertainment and music over the years in Lagos. However, having African music superstars under one roof at AFRIMA 2015 in Lagos will leave us with wonderful memories remembered with pride in years to come. It will be truly inspiring.” Preceding the main awards ceremony on Sunday, November 15, will be the “Africa Music Summit” on Friday, November 13. Themed “Reviving the Business of Music in Africa”, the Summit is a platform for the African music industry stakeholders to engage and deliberate on how the music industry in Africa can be nurtured in a way that adds to the GDP of the continent.

AFRIMA team

efzibah Iliondor, gospel singer, inspirational musician and artistic performer, who goes on stage simply as Hef-zibah, has been a thrilling musical performer for both local and international gospel audiences. After learning to play the guitar in 2005, dragging inspiration from Nicole C Mullen and other gospel artistes who have graced the stage before her, She was first spotted in 2005 at the”Beyond Music Talent Hunt”, which she won coming up tops. This was the start to a beautifully rising musical career as a gospel artist, earning a performance slot on Dan Foster’s ‘Praise Jam’ in December 2005. This passion for touching lives through music, has brought her to try her hands and voice at recording music although being a stealthy performing musician. She has previously released titles such as Itoro, keep moving and Nigeria. While in Kebbi state, Hef-zibah, discovered a side of her that many had been exposed to on a personal level, which is a passion for the less privileged. She continued her pursuit of music, finding the time to dabble into the banking sector, raising finance and performing at a variety of locations and concerts to touch the many people who love her on-stage presence and have used her as a point of inspiration to pursue their dreams. As growth and experiences continued, in 2010, Hef-zibah went on a musical tour for her album, Let Go, on which her song, Nigeria got her an invitation to perform at the World Tourism Day event staged at Abuja, the country’s capital. In 2012, she released her next Album, True Love, which also featured the gospel hit song crooner, Frank Edwards. Hef-zibah is set for a new stage, a new rebirth and a new dawn… releasing her new music video, Touch Me across a variety of platforms and scheduling a series of activities for audiences who have been following her progress as well as new followers. This release is to herald the arrival of the new and improved Hefzibah, pulling from the years of experience and growth and giving the people something they can have hope towards.

Business

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

Customs assures on recovery of N24bn rice import debt 30

TUC kicks against hike in electricity tariff 31

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

‘Lack of long-term finance for mortgage, Nigeria’s major problem’ 28

Private sector earmarks $10bn for broadband infrastructure Isaiah Erhiawarien

continue to invest in the market, especially to build better broadband infrastructure, adding that they cannot afford not to invest by folding their arms, otherwise, other new players will come in and invest in those areas and move ahead of them. She clarified: “The $2 billion annual investment that KPMG is referring to is not just one person; it is the totality of the investment that would be needed and it is going to be driven solely by the private sector.” Noting that KPMG is not a permanent consultants to the regulators, the industry player explained that every project done by the NCC was carried out in line with the Public Procurement Act.

Amuwa said: “I think I need to clarify certain things here. KPMG is not our permanent consultants. They consult for us when we need them for certain projects. So, it is not like they are with us as permanent consultants. There is Public Procurement Act, so we cannot have a permanent consultant. If there is a project, we advised and if they meet the terms of references, we appoint them.” On Nigeria’s participation at ITU forum this year, she said that the key message the industry leaders took to ITU this year was the issue of our broadband expansion.” According to her, broadband is the future, as there is hardly anything one seeks to do in today’s digital economy more efficiently and

effectively that is not increasingly requiring access to the Internet. She said: “There is nothing you can do now without needing the Internet, as access and broadband is the infrastructure that enables high-speed Internet, video streaming and other heavy data. Since we have conquered voice with over 150 million subscribers in Nigeria, the new phase is the broadband and that was one key message that we passed to the whole world here during our Opening Day. “We told investors to come and invest in Nigeria with the assurances that their investment is safe and the investment we are looking for majorly is the investment in broadband infrastructure.”, he said.

s part of efforts towards providing broadband internet access for Nigerians, the private sector is considering investing about $10 billion into the sector, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has said. Director, Policy, Competition and Economic Analysis at NCC, Ms. Josephine Amuwa, during the recently-concluded ITU Telecom World 2015 held in Budapest, Hungary that the investment will cover a five years infrastructure development plan She disclosed that the investment projection was made last year by KPMG, which consulted for the Commission on the national broadband project. According to her, if KPMG says the sector needs an annual investment of $2 billion over the next five years to build a national next-gen broadband network, “that is a report, which is good for the industry anyway. But as you know, Nigeria is private sector-driven and government has taken out its hands from doing what private sector should do”. She explained that the KPMG estimated investment will be provided by the private sector players saying, “what we only do as government and regulator is to continue providing and sustaining improved and friendly regulatory regime for their investment to offer them better Returns on Investment (ROI) and value to the final consumers.” Amuwa noted that there was Permanent Secretary, FMARD, Arc. Sonny Echono, (right) with His Excellency, Brazilian Ambassador in Nigeria Joao a need for existing operators to Andre Lima during the Brazilian Trade Mission visit to the ministry in Abuja.

LCCI Group holds forum on cashless economy

he Information Communication Technology & Telecommunications Group of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI, will tomorrow hold a Seminar tagged: “The Role of ICT in A Cashless Economy” in Lagos.

According to the organisers, notable investment and industry experts expected at the seminar include, Mr. Folashodun Adebisi Shonubi, Managing Director, Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System Plc. (NIBSS) and Mr. Guy Clarke, Managing Director, Vodacom Business (Nig.). The president of the Lagos

Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Alhaji Remi Bello, and other notable Council members will attend to provide insight into various issues on the topic. The LCCI ICT and Telecommunications Group is charged with the responsibilities of coordinating the activities of its members with

the view to promoting their businesses and other notable projects of Chamber. The world’s largest reinsurers are anticipating even bigger price declines when policies are renewed in 2016 than envisaged a month ago as a flurry of takeovers in the industry fails to absorb some of the excess capital.

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

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

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

Executive Discourse

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

‘Lack of long-term finance for Gimba Ya’u Kumo is the Managing Director and Chief Executive of Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria. Last week, he received the leadership award as the Public Officer of the Year. In this interview with CHIDI UGWU, he speaks on housing deficit in the country among other sundry issues in the sector. Excerpt:

ou have just been awarded the Leadership Public Officer of the Year 2014. How do you feel?

Well, first of all, let me thank all of you for giving us this platform. I have just been awarded the Public Officer of the Year 2014. Like they said, this ceremony was supposed to have taken place last year, but it did not. The question was, “how do I feel?” Well, I feel challenged. Challenged, in the sense that once, you’re recognised, it means that you’re expected to do more from the little that they have seen that you’re doing. And that has also given me the encouragement to do more for Nigerians that need

houses. As you are aware, shelter is second to food. So, we will work towards that. But you are all aware that the housing gap is very big, 17 to 20 million units are needed to address the housing needs of Nigerians. Apart from that, we also believe that some Nigerians that have houses deserve more than that. So this is what we will be doing to see that we address this housing needs through provision of mortgages, through the provision of construction finance for the houses to be built, through the provision of home renovation loans for those that have houses to upgrade their houses through the introduction of Diaspora mortgage programme for Nigerians living abroad that need houses in their own home country, through the engagement of the various corporate societies across the nation, for those Nigerians that are not in the formal sector of the economy to also be able to have shelter over their heads. We are at the moment, trying to focus on an intervention to address the issue of National Housing Fund, NHF contributors that have been displaced by the insurgency in the three states of the North-east, that is, Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States. We will first of all try to give them the Home Renovation Loan for those that have houses to quickly see how they can renovate and get back to their houses that have been destroyed. That is those that are contributing to the NHF scheme. And secondly, those who don’t have houses, we will see what we can do in trying to build affordable houses on a sustainable basis. So, you can see that we have lined up a lot of activities. These activities need funds, they need hard work, they need dedication and they need the support of all Nigerians, particularly the media houses so that the public can be sensitized to be able to address or come under our platform so that at least, for us to be able to see what we can do for the nation. Talking about the housing deficit in

Gimba

Nigeria, a lot of people have been complaining of not having access to National Housing Fund in spite of their contributions to the housing fund. Why is it so? Yes, it is so because if you look at the National Housing Fund as at today, as we speak, we have over four million contributors to the scheme, but if you look at the size of the contribution, it is 2.5 percent of their salaries. The total contribution is not enough to even give a hundred thousand contributors houses. That is why we have been complaining that we need government intervention. And the analysis runs this way; it means 250 contributors contributing to the Scheme for 10 years, for one person to be able to access 15 million. I hope you understand the implication. And the Act provided that apart from the contributions the bank receives from the contributors to the scheme, government is supposed to be intervening on yearly basis. And the Nigerian Banks are supposed to be depositing 10 percent of their total loan portfolio to the scheme, but these two have not been done over the years. Similarly, the Insurance Companies have been mandated to contribute a certain percentage of their life- funds and non-life funds. That’s the policies, 25 and 20 percent. So, this has not been done. You can see that the Central Bank of Nigeria that has almost 40 percent of the shares

in the bank since 2006, have not paid their shares. We have been following up, but I’m happy to tell you that this government is putting in place funding for the bank and when that is done, we will soon take over and see what we can do for Nigerian people. But that is not the issue; the issue is that the 17 million deficits, Federal Mortgage Bank alone or Federal Government alone cannot meet up with that requirement. If you look at the Federal Government, the new government policy is to build one million houses every year. If that is done, it means that it will take government and other developers the next 17 years to close the existing deficit. And deficit continues to grow. So, I think the housing situation is even beyond the ordinary man’s comprehension, because if we don’t intervene, we will be in crises situation in the next 15 to 20 years. Because, if you have been here in Abuja during the last five or 10 years, the population of this city was not more than two million but as I speak to you today, we have over seven million people residing within the FCT. So, the houses available have been overstretched, facilities have been overstretched, transportation have been overstretched, that is why you also have security issues around Abuja and the environment. So, the future is very ugly but I believe with the steps being taken by government now, we will soon try to feel the impact of the new

I think the housing situation is even beyond the ordinary

man’s comprehension, because if we don’t intervene, we will be in crisis situation in the next

15 to 20 years

housing policy. One of the issues about loans and financing housing development is the beneficiary’s ability to repay the loans. To what extent can you say Nigerians repay loans? Nigerians are very good in repaying loans but the lack of long- term finance for housing development, lack of long- term finance for mortgage is our major problem in this country. And I can tell you straight forward that most Nigerians cannot afford the current interest regime in the country, if you look at the affordability levels of Nigerians. I make example with somebody who earns 18 thousand naira, which is the minimum salary as my benchmark. He can’t take a loan for more than 5 million naira. And 5 million naira in this Abuja, I don’t know where it can get you a good house. So, we have to work together with all other agencies that are concerned in trying to address this issue of affordability. There is no Nigerian that would not want to pay for his house but the houses are very exorbitant. So three things must have to be done; there has to be a very serious intervention in the housing sector by way of addressing interest rates, by way of providing long -term finance for both Construction and Mortgage, by way of giving subsidy to those who will import construction materials, by way of government giving special taxes, tax. Concessions, tax holidays. There are a lot of ways. These things are being done across the globe, so by giving our own advise and since this government is a listening government, I’m sure they will begin to implement some of these policies. Nigerians that have access to funding of the National Housing Fund also complained of high interest rate. Who regulate the interest rate and at what digits? The interest rate is fixed for the National

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Executive Discourse

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

mortgage, Nigeria’s major problem’ Housing Fund. It is six percent. And I can further explain to you how it works. From the six percent, we at the Federal Mortgage Bank, two percent come to us to service our administrative fee and other things; two percent goes to the contributors to the scheme. You know it is their money that we’re using. Two percent goes to the Primary Mortgage Bank, those who facilitate this. But we have had cases whereby beneficiaries are reporting the Primary Mortgage Banks of adding to the six percent. So, where such cases have been found, we sanction the PMB that is concerned. So there is no Mortgage Loan on anything more than six percent. All of them are on six percent and that is the maximum interest rate that is payable, and you can take a loan up to 25 to 30 years. But the only issue is that the amount is not enough to go round for everybody to get. The rural area, specifically the Local Government Area seems to be left out in the provision of this low cost housing scheme. It seems to have been concentrated more in the urban center. Why is it so, sir? You see, when u looks at the nature of our operation, we deal with those who contribute to the National Housing Fund. And if you recall, in 2011 just to address this issue you are saying that other Nigerians that are not part of this scheme should also have an opportunity of getting into the scheme, that was why we introduced what we called the informal sector. The essence of that informal sector is to also bring other Nigerians on stream so that they can be part of the programme, and the programme is expected to go down to the 774 local governments. We started a programme with ALGON (Association of Local Government of Nigeria) but then, you will also realize that this issue you have asked, most of the employees does not have the capacity to go through the Mortgage process, that’s one. Their income will not be able to service the mortgages. So what we’re trying to do is now to build houses depending on the need. That is, if you are located for instance, in Maiduguri, the type of houses that we will be building for those people living in that area will not be the same with that of the people living in local government around Rivers state, because of two things; the nature of the soil is different, you need to do different foundation and the cost the houses will also be different. And if you look at the cultural issues, environmental issues; these we have taken into consideration and we have come up with drawings, designs for houses that will fit each of these geographical locations. And everything stabilizes; we will resume discussion with ALGON to see how we can come up with houses that can go round the 774 local governments. Income in the country has taken a downward plunge due to crash in oil price. How does this impact on housing development? It impacts directly because you know, development is a function of income. The income you get determines what you will be doing as a government and we are government Institution. Therefore, what it means is that on our part, we have to reduce our expendi-

So if you are interested in the Home Renovation Loan, if you are a contributor, before you even leave, you can collect your form and I can assure you in the next two to three weeks you will get your own loan

ture profile very drastically but on the side of delivery of houses, once salaries and allowances are being paid continuously on a sustainable basis, I don’t think it is going to affect us directly. So what is going to happen is that people will now have to start cutting down their expenditure, and also you know, if government income is low, then the circulation of money will also be restricted because all economic activities revolve around government and if that happens, it means that those supplying cements, those supplying iron rods, those supplying building components will also have to increase their cost of production. So, it will affect but not directly. How do you think corruption in the housing industry can be addressed? I agree with you entirely because corruption is the major problem in this country. It is a very big giant that is eating into the fabric of the entire Nigerian society, not only developers or in the housing sector. What we are doing here in the FMBN is ‘when we saw it clearly, especially where developers will take money from us and divert the money to other things. We had to suspend construction finance, and concentrate on the Mortgage finance pending such a time when we will come up with new underwriting standards whereby you will not have opening to divert the funding from these places. And I am happy to report to you that, that has now been put in place. What we do at the moment is ‘If we are disbursing one hundred naira, first of all, we will have what we call equity, you as a developer will need to put. So, we want to go and see, apart from your land, you will have to have financial commitment of 15 percent of the project. So, we will go and see it on ground, first of all. Then from there, we will disburse to you that money that you have put on ground, the 15 percent, for you to be able to make progress. When you put in the 15 percent, we will go and evaluate and see the level of work you have done, then we give you in another trend. So with that type of policy and we have time line because you realise also that some developers will try to delay. A project that is supposed to be delivered within one year, because of these issues that you have raised, some developers will want to remain on one project for 5 years. Now, there is no way you can exceed the time line that we have set for you. This is because, if you violate any of the terms that we have set, we will just exit and then terminate the contract, and take over the houses. So that is what we are doing at the moment. But Nigerians are also smart, so we keep reviewing day in day out. But what we will also be doing is, next time when we flag off the construction process, we have agreed three months ago, that we will be going to projects in group,

including all the Media Organisations. And each project developer will now be explaining to Nigerians. We will tell Nigerians there at that point that developer A took X amount and from our evaluation, let him talk; let him tell all Nigerians about it. We will go there and tell the public that we have given him X amount. And from that amount, he is expected to deliver Y number of houses. So let him tell Nigerians why he did not deliver. So we are taking the entire transparency issue to the public space. What is the target of the FMBN in terms of the actualisation of housing projects and is one million houses per annum achievable? No, The One Million housing per annum to be frank to you as a person in the field, it is not achievable. It is not realistic. I will tell you statistically why. For you to develop one million houses on average, if you are developing at an average cost of N3.5 million per house, when you multiply N3.5 million by one million, how much do you have? The implication is that as a government agency, we will not be able to have that money annually. So the one million governments is referring to is the total number of houses that will be built by individuals, corporate organisations, the three levels of government. And why that is being said is because, if you want to close the gap that target will have to do it. But as government even with the three tiers of government put together, we will not be able to realise one million. Just put on your calculator. One million houses multiplied by 3.5 million.

Recently your bank floated a renovation scheme. I don’t know whether it is the same with the one you explained? You see, the Home Renovation Loan is meant for those that have houses before. And the interest rate of that product is also six percent. The difference between Home Renovation Loan and New Home Subscribers is that we handle Home Renovation Loan directly because of the issues she raised. Some PMBs we go through, the Mortgage process are being delayed, number one. Number two, we discovered that some of the Primary Mortgage banks, apart from the six percent, they squeeze Nigerians for some other commissions, say zero percent, one percent. That, we do not want. We’re preventing that directly. Like for the federal civil servants and agencies within Abuja, we’re doing that through the Federal Government Staff Loans and for other people that works within the States, we are collaborating with the three labour umbrella, the Nigerian Labour Congress, Trade Union Congress, NECA ( Nigerian Employers. Consultative Association) in conjunction with Head of Service of each of the states or state workers. So public workers we’re collaborating with like you, collaborating with NECA, that’s why I told you we are going through the individual media houses to collect names. So if you are interested in the Home Renovation Loan, if you are a contributor, before you even leave, you can collect your form and I can assure you in the next two to three weeks you will get your own. But the

maximum envelope for that loan is one million so that it will go round. That’s the maximum you can get because it’s a renovation, and the repayment is not like Mortgage. You are supposed to repay within the maximum period of 5 years. Just bring a letter of confirmation from your employee that your salary will continue to flow. That’s the only security we need, and we will handle it directly.

Gimba

Business News

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Customs assures on recovery of N24bn rice import debt FRANCIS EZEM

he Nigeria Customs Service has said it will stop at nothing in its efforts to recover the N23.6 billion owed the Federal Government by some multinational rice importers, including Olam Nigeria Limited and Stallion Group arising from unpaid duty from rice imports. The service had in July this year, sealed the business premises of Stallion Group, Popular Foods, Masco Agro and Olam as well as Milan Nigeria Limited (Conti-Agro) and Ebony Agro, in a move to recover the money. New Comptroller General of the service, Col. Hameed Ali, who addressed journalists in Lagos at the weekend, insisted that nothing would make the service renege on its earlier promise to recover the money owed the government. According to him, the change in the leadership of the service, which led to his takeover of the headship of the agency delayed measures being put in place to ensure that the debt was recovered to the last kobo. “We will collect our money, no going back on that. The money is for Nigeria and so there is no reason why we should leave any kobo in the hands of the debtors and so we must collect all “The service would apply every lawful and legitimate means in ensuring that all the monies were collected, we would go step by step in achieving this and we will follow due process in going about collecting what belongs to Nigeria. This is not negotiable”, Ali added. The CG, who reacted to the recent summons by the Sen-

ate over alleged lifting of ban on the importation of rice, said that the function of the service was to enforce fiscal policies of the government and not to make such policies. He therefore disclosed that the service did not lift ban on importation of rice, what it did was to remove the restriction on the importation of the product through the land borders as part of measures to check the increasing cases of smuggling the product. According to him, the service in 2011 administratively restricted the importation of the product through the land borders to ease enforcement of the tariff on the product, arguing that if importers were allowed to bring in the commodity freely through the land borders, the tendency to smuggle would reduce. Under the new policy, importation of parboiled rice would be through both the seaports and land border, both of which will attract 10 per cent import duty and 60 per cent levy, bring to a total of 70 per cent tariff. Similarly, in the new tariff regime, rice millers will enjoy preferential levy with valid quota allocation, which would however attract a duty rate of 10 per cent with a 20 per cent levy on rice importation, bringing to a total of 30 per cent tariff. It was gathered that the service imposed the restriction because the borders were believed to be a difficult terrain in terms of effectively monitoring and controlling the importation of the commodity a development that has proved to be counterproductive, as it has fuelled massive smuggling of the commodity over time A statement by the service announcing the new policy

reads in part: “Over the years, importation has been restricted to the seaports because the border authorities found it difficult to effectively monitor and control importation of rice”. “The decision to ban rice importation through the land borders has not proved to be an effective measure because smuggling of the product thrives with people using different means of conveyance including small trucks, bi-

he Chairman of Air Peace, Mr. Allen Onyema has called on the Federal Government to design a package of incentives for domestic airline operators who he said are struggling with a myriad of challenges. He identified some of the challenges confronting domestic carriers to include unfriendly investment environment, reintroduction of import duties on aircraft spares and absence of tax holidays for the opera-

tors. He insisted that such assistances had become imperative to cushion the effects operators go through in their bid to provide safe and secure air transport services in the industry. He decried that rather than encourage indigenous airline investors, some agencies of government not only in the sector, but in the country at large continued to erect obstacles on their way thereby frustrating efforts to development the subsector. He opined that government should consider tax holiday for

currently trying to curtail or end entirely. Investigations however showed that apart from checking the thriving smuggling of the commodity, the service believes that the new policy would enable it streamline its anti-smuggling war by focusing on prohibited items such as poultry products, which are also massively smuggled across unapproved border routes including the creeks and waterways.

L - R: Chief Executive Officer Haralago Limited, Zimbabwe, Dr. Mambidzeni Madzivivre; Pharm (Mrs) Clare Omatseye; Mr. Bode Dinyo, Director ELAN; and Mr. Andrew Efurhievwe, Executive Secretary, Equipment Leasing Association of Nigeria (ELAN) during the Healthcare Financing Conference organised by the Healthcare Federation of Nigeria (HFN) in collaboration with ELAN in Lagos recently.

Reinsurers brace for market downturn amid frenzy

einsurers and brokers including Guy Carpenter, owned by Marsh & McLennan Cos., flew into the German town of Baden-Baden this weekend to continue negotiating terms and conditions for contracts due for renewal

Air Peace boss urges FG to assist domestic operators Olusegun Koiki

cycles and even animals; putting the smuggled products on donkeys and some actually carry it on their heads”, the statement also said. It was further gathered that rather than enhancing effective coordination and monitoring of the commodity, the restriction policy gave rise to massive smuggling of the commodity using all forms of means of conveyance through every available unapproved routes, which the service is

fledging indigenous carriers to enable them create more jobs for Nigerians in the transport sector, adding that this was necessary to remove unnecessary bottlenecks that kill private business in the country. Onyema explained that rather than criticise domestic airlines, government should look at the challenges bedevilling them and device a mean of bailing them out of their quagmire and also called for formulation of investment friendly policies that would make it conducive for new players in the air transport sector to grow.

in January. It follows discussions that were held in Monte Carlo in September, which suggested the price slump may be slowing. “In Monte Carlo, we were certainly suggesting that rate reductions will be in the region of between 5 to 7.5 percent to maybe 10 percent,” said Nick Frankland, chief executive officer of Guy Carpenter’s operations in Europe and the Middle East. “They may be more than that. The market is struggling to understand how to quote in this environment.” Rates fell this year because of the record $425 billion of surplus capital that was available to underwrite risk, coupled with one of the quietest years for catastrophe losses in the past decade. The pressure on pricing, combined with record-low interest rates, has spurred a string of deals in both the Lloyd’s and Bermuda insurance markets, culminating in Amlin Plc’s record $5.3

billion takeover by a Japanese competitor. Mergers and acquisitions “haven’t impacted capacity,” Frankland said in a telephone interview before flying to Baden-Baden. “Capacity is still abundant and that is naturally having a continued effect on the pricing environment.” Frankland expects the current wave of insurance deals to continue, driven by Chinese and Japanese companies seeking to expand outside Asia or by insurers in Europe and the U.S. markets looking to build scale or expand into new territories. “There are a lot of companies in insurance and the reinsurance space that could easily complement each other, a long list of them,” he said. “These deals have proved that any deal of any size in a mar-

ket that is so awash with capital and funding is possible. You could see a bigger one yet.”

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

Business News

ICT industry experts endorse 5G R & D, standardisation Isaiah Erhiawarien

hief Technology Officers (CTO) of leading information and communication technology (ICT) companies have restated that 5G Research and Development, (R&D) and supporting standardization would be the industry’s top priority over the next five years. The 14 ICT leaders and the strategic management of the ITU Telecommunication Standardisation Sector (ITU-T) took the decision when they met for the seventh annual Chief Technology Officers’ meeting, held in conjunction with ITU Telecom World 2015 in session in Budapest, Hungary. The CTOs also identified service interoperability in fixedmobile hybrid environments, trusted information infrastructure and open-source solutions as topics of particular strategic importance to industry as the world approach the 5G era. In a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting, which outlined emerging trends in the ICT industry and associated demands on ITU standardisation, they stated that “ICTs will play a central role in shifting the world onto a sustainable and resilient development path.” The ITU Secretary-General, Houlin Zhao while addressing the CTO meeting commended CTOs for their recognition of smart cities, IoT applications and 5G systems as key technological developments to assist in achieving the 17 Sustainable Development Goals adopted by world leaders at the United Nations in September. According to the industry leaders, in 2012, ITU established a programme on International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT) for 2020 and beyond,

which provides the framework for 5G research and development worldwide adding that the ITU’s Radio communication Sector (ITU-R) is coordinating the international standardisation for 5G mobile development. The communiqué stated further that the ITU-T will play a similar convening role for the technologies and architectures of the wireline elements of 5G networks stressing that the 5G systems are expected to provide a future-proof basis for communications from year 2020 onwards. Virtualisation will play a key role in 5G networks, giving networks the flexibility to adapt to changes in service requirements. The CTOs highlighted that 5G will require an evolution of the concepts and architectures of core networks, noting the efforts of the ITU-T Focus Group on IMT-2020 to collect the views of experts on how ITU-T standardisation will contribute to this evolution. The meeting also welcomed

the recent agreement of the TSB Director’s Ad Hoc Group on Intellectual Property Rights to study potential approaches to the management of intellectual property rights (IPR) for 5G standards, and the interplay between IPR and open-source solutions in a standardisation context. The communiqué observed that service interoperability in fixed-mobile hybrid environments, including IoT, will be crucial in supporting a wide variety of high-quality services saying that the CTOs recognised the need to expand access to high-

quality, bi-directional services and invited ITU-T to encourage the standardisation, testing and interoperability necessary to stimulate the rollout of these services in fields such as voice and video. CTOs further harped on the need to overcome interoperability challenges in the IoT space acknowledging that IoT platforms are being developed in segments according to the requirements of each vertical industry, the CTO meeting encouraged ITU-T to focus its IoT standardisation work on enabling interoperability between different IoT segments.

The industry leaders , while noting that strengthening trust in telecommunications systems and ICTs will grant users the confidence to expand the scope of their interactions within the Information Society, agreed that trust should be considered a key component of the core design principles of future ICT infrastructure offering to support ITU-T to develop the frameworks required for trust provisioning in fields such as IoT, cloud computing and big data, considering the new business models emerging as part of the ‘sharing economy

Beijing won’t receive client data or “back doors” into the technology, International Business Machines Corp. said Friday in a statement. Technology providers including Microsoft Corp. have reached similar agreements

in China, IBM said. Microsoft established a program with China in 2003, giving the government access to some Windows source code. “Strict procedures are in place within these technology demonstration centers to ensure that no software source code is released, copied or altered in any way,” IBM said. “Those are applied rigorously regardless of country.” Concerned about cybersecurity, China this year enacted security measures requiring foreign technology companies to show software code to the government. The purpose of the law is to prevent other parties from illegally accessing China’s systems and data through computer programs like viruses, said Ray Wang, principal analyst at Constellation Research. China also has been making efforts to ease its dependence on manufacturing for economic growth and support domestic companies in other industries. President Xi Jinping laid out plans this year to accelerate the development of the country’s information technology industry. There’s an opportunity for companies such as IBM to increase their presence in the market as China figures out how to get established in these new sectors, Wang said. “As everybody knows, there’s a tacit understanding that if you want to do business in China, you need to show them how this stuff works,” he said. For IBM, “the significance here is the firstmover advantage.” By fulfilling the government’s requirements, IBM will also get access to foreign companies operating in China that may be more inclined to store their data on the company’s servers rather than those owned by Chinese businesses, said Daryl Plummer, chief of research at Gartner Inc.

IBM provides Chinese Government access to Software Code

BM said it giving the Chinese government access to some software code, seeking to demonstrate the security of its products as the company tries to expand its business in the country.

The Managing Director/Chief Executive of Peugeot Automobile Nigeria (PAN) Limited, Mr. Ibrahim Boyi and the Regional Director, Abuja & North of First City Monument Bank (FCMB) Limited, Mr. Mustapha Lukman, during the launching of the FCMB/PAN Auto Loan Alliance Scheme in Abuja yesterday.

TUC kicks against hike in electricity tariff

omrade Kaigama, President, Trade Union Congress, has hinted that labour will resist any attempt by Electricity Distribution Companies, DISCO, to increase electricity tariff in the country. While citing media reports on planned increase of tariff by an average of 49.4 percent, he said, “We understand that a number of proposals have already been submitted to the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, pursuant to this objective. In view of the present harsh economic realities in the land, it is our view that the proposed increase is wrong and lacks human face.

”Why should the masses be at the receiving end of every wrong and retrogressive policy in the country? Why must they always pay for what the rich consume more of ? What sense does it make for a man who earns less than N20, 000 per month to be made to pay over N8, 000 for electricity bill alone within the same month? Why should they pay so much for what they do not use regularly enough, with officers of the distribution companies rarely bothering to read the analogue metres? Why should these questionable issues that are spared no thought in other climes always take centre stage in Nigeria? Surely Nigeri-

ans deserve a much better deal’’, he asked. He said the Congress is informed that NERC is considering introducing measures that will facilitate reduction of the rate of fixed charge on consumers, adding that what has been happening all along is same with what is obtainable in the telecom sector. “They either assign tones to subscribers or enrol them on plans that attract daily, weekly or monthly deductions. We say no to this nonsensical idea. The N750 charge is fundamentally fraudulent and unjust and must be out rightly abolished.” Anyone canvassing its suste-

nance or any increase in tariff does a grave disservice to the nation,” he said. Kaigama said the implementation of the planned increase would amount to an invitation to anarchy, adding that it is totally oppressive, indefensible and retrogressive. His words: “Little wonder that the NERC has been foot-dragging on the issue of making prepaid meters readily available to consumers of electricity because of the excessive billing they have been imposing on all and sundry. There is no gainsaying the fact that the present billing system is

crazy, and any increase in tariff at this time is bound to make it even crazier.

,,,,

Business News

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

FG restates commitment to end hunger, poverty Labour leaders decry workers’

….plans home-grown national school feeding programme

he Federal Government has intensified efforts towards ensuring that malnutrition, poverty and other social vices are tackled frontally with a view to improving the socio economic well being of ordinary Nigerians. To achieve this, particularly among school children in the country, it has unveiled plans on the introduction of a home grown National School Feeding programme targeted at the vulnerable groups of the population. Giving the hint during a media briefing to commemorate the 35th World Food Day Celebration in Abuja, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Arc. Sonny Echono, disclosed that the programme would enhance and sensitization school enrolment, address poverty, malnutrition and stunted growth, stated the. Echono explained the need to create business opportunities in the rural areas and stimulate the growth of micro small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) He emphasized the need to improve the incomes of farmers, saying, “all players in the agricultural sector must re-double efforts by taking advantage provided for

massive food production.” The Permanent Secretary said that social protection existed only when government develop policies and programmes to address economic, environmental and social vulnerabilities to food insecurity and poverty, adding that the objective of celebrating World Food Day is to promote effective action to end hunger, malnutrition and poverty. Echono said that in 2012, the Federal Government approved vital incentives and subsides to address the challenges affecting farmers which necessitated the need for a Growth Enhancement Support Scheme (GES) and equally introduced Dry Season Farming which significantly increased yield and translated into enhanced income to our farmers. He assured Nigerians that current agricultural policies would grow the agricultural sector since agriculture is now treated as viable and profitable business enterprises. According to him, the focus on agricultural growth and national food security with the private sector taking the lead in a value chain approach in areas where Nigeria has comparatives advantage is a step in the right di-

rection. He pointed out that focusing on youth and women in agriculture and developing strategic partnership to stimulate investments in a market-led agricultural system, would unlock Nigeria’s potential, create wealth and lift Nigeria out of poverty. The Permanent Secretary explained that government on-going efforts were geared towards ensuring national self-sufficiency in staple foods, resuscitating the Cotton and Textile sector, minimizing post-harvest losses, re-introduction of an effective and efficient extension services delivery system. He emphasized the need to develop the fisheries and livestock sector and the importance of linking farmers to markets and promotion of exports through value addition, standardization and efficient regulatory controls. Echono said government was also promoting climate smart agriculture with the use of flood resistant and early maturing seed varieties by adopting and using organic nutrients like fertiliser, provision and use of irrigation facilities and mechanization.

rights violation SYLVA EMEKA-OKEREKE

rganised labour unions in the country have decried rising cases of workers’ rights violation, urging state and federal governments to protect workers from exploitation through casualisation as well as poor wages. Some labour leaders had stormed some companies in Lagos state to express displeasure over abuse of workers’ rights, indecent work and inadequate pay as declared by the International Labour Organisation, ILO. President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Ayuba Wabba said abuse of workers’ rights has remained a problem for workers, resolving to tackle some companies involved in such acts. Wabba said issues like decent work, safety of workers, workers’ rights, social protection and promotion of social dialogue through collective bargaining would be addressed by labour leaders, aimed at improving workers welfare. He said non-provision of social protection for the weak, vulnerable and unemployed are causing insecurity in the country, which is an indication that the youths are not well managed. In the same vein, the General Secretary, National Union of Garment and Textile Workers of Nigeria, NUTGTWN and Chairman of the Industrial Global Union Nigeria, Comrade Isa Aremu de-

cried job recruitment exercise in the country. He cited the case of ill-fated recruitment exercise by the Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS, which claimed several lives, adding that such act would not bring development to the nation’s economy. “The International Labour Organisation (ILO) defines decent work as work that takes place under conditions of freedom, equity, security and dignity in which rights are protected and adequate remuneration and social coverage is provided equally for men and women” Aremu stated. He said apart from non-payment of salaries of workers, casualization of staff and outsourcing of workers under inhumane and criminal terms as seen in many commercial banks and government agencies have become the order of the day. “The rise of precarious employment has multiple consequences affecting our societies leading to deepening poverty, increasing inequality while the incidence of precarious work continues to grow at an alarming rate in all sectors of the economy,” he asserts. He said: “Due to the disturbing change of employment status from conventional permanent to temporary employment in the form of casualization, outsourcing and contract staffing, Egbin power plant in Ikorodu and Vik Limited in Isolo, would be picketed during the protests to be held tomorrow”.

Mobile money records 76m transactions Udo Onyeka

L-R: Redeemer’s University lecturer, Dr. Omowale Adelabu; Managing Director, Synthesis Communications Ltd, Mr. Desmond Ekeh and Deputy Managing Director, Mr. Agbo Agbo, at the Redeemer’s University BrandiQ Campus Club visit to Synthesis in Lagos.

NAMA commences ADS/CPDLC test-run Olusegun Koiki

he Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, NAMA, said it has commenced the test-run of its high profile projectthe deployment of Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Contract/ Controller Pilot Data Link Communication, ADS-C/ CPDLC, in the nation’s airspace. This is as the agency stated that full implementation of the new digital service would commence on November 12, 2015. NAMA informed that the testrun commenced last week at the

Lagos Area Control Centre, ACC, and was witnessed by the Managing Director of the agency, Engr. Ibrahim Abdulsalam, the Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, Capt. Usman Muhtar and the Managing Director of Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, Engr. Saleh Dunoma. Acting General Manager, Public Affairs, NAMA, Mrs. Olajumoke Adetona said the agency successfully had a log-on and communication with airlines, such as British Airways, Lufthansa Airlines and Emirates Airlines during the testrun period.

She also mentioned Arik Air, Ethiopian Airlines and Etihad Airlines as other carriers that have also logged on to the service. After the test-run, Adetona hinted that NAMA had since issued an Aeronautical Information Circular, AIC, to aviation stakeholders worldwide including airlines, service providers and the International Civil Aviation Organization, ICAO, on the availability of ADSC/ CPDLC in the nation’s airspace. The AIC she explained was aimed at sensitising stakeholders on the commencement of the service in the country and also to highlight the benefits.

s the number of mobile phone keeps increasing on daily basis, at least 24 million Nigerians are now doing banking transactions through their mobile phones, National Mirror was told. The 24 million Nigerians, it was learnt, perform their banking transactions through cash-in and cash-out pay bills, do fund transfer as well as buy airtime through their mobile phones. It has been estimated that there are over 120 million mobile phone users and with a lot of funds running into trillions of Naira trapped outside the banking system. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), in a bid to bring the unbanked Nigerians into the banking system, launched mobile money framework in 2009, so that people can conduct their banking transaction through mobile phones.

Speaking at the ongoing workshop organised by the Nigeria Deposit of Insurance Corporation, NDIC, for Business Editors and Finance Correspondents Association of Nigeria, FICAN, in Ilorin, Kwara state, the Director, Banking & Payments System Department, CBN, Mr. Dipo Fatokun, said the aforementioned amount was the total value of transactions accrued from the 21 registered Mobile Money Operators (MMOs), carrying out commercial operations in the country. Fatokun, who was represented by Assistant Director, Banking Payments Systems Department CBN, Mr. Olusola Agboola, noted that the total number of agents enrolled under the mobile money initiative was 98,158 with 76,952,409 total volume of transactions recorded under this platform, noting that eight other MMOs are at various stages of pilot run and could, in a shortest time, commence commercial operation.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

EnergyWeek Wednesday, October 21, 2015

FG to sanction DISCOS over substandard electricity equipment 36

Electricity generation hits 4,324.44mw 37

OPEC not likely to cut oil output35

Increased funding to boost power sector

Power plant

Investments in the nation’s power sector remain low due to inadequate funding as well as other challenges. UDEME AKPAN & CHIDI UGWU report that all hopes are not lost as there is increased concern to boost power in Nigeria and other African countries.

igeria and other African nations are said to be generally experiencing rapid economic growth of 5 per cent per annum. This is higher than concerted efforts to provide energy for investors and other users. Experts say the situation has created a huge gap between what is required and what the nations can provide. For instance, the nation’s daily electricity demand is estimated at over 14,000 megawatts, mw, while the nation is able to generate a little above 4,000mw. Consequently, many power users have to rely on their private generators to meet their demand at higher cost. The high cost of generating electricity has culminated in high cost of products and services, which affect the ability of the nation’s products to compete with others at the regional and global markets. But there are indications that more

energy would be generated in medium and long term basis as many stakeholders have started to pay more attention to funding. Take the case of Rural Electrification Agency, REA as an example. Following a request by the Chairman, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, Dr Sam Amadi, to the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, a resolution would soon be made to ensure the release of funds for the Rural Electrification Agency, REA. A delegation of the NERC Commissioners received this assurance when they paid Senate President, Bukola Saraki, a courtesy call in his office, at the National Assembly, Abuja. While briefing the Senate President and members of the Senate Committee on Power on the performance of the power industry in the light of the electricity reform, NERC’s Chairman, urged Senator Bukola to use his good office to initiate the resolution that would enhance the release of funds

to the REA, because the law demands Senate’s authorisation. ‘’The law demands that at the end of each fiscal year, money not expended by us is put in a special account for the sole use of the agency. The money is there, the Senate has not given the resolution authorising us to transfer the fund to the REA’’ Amadi said. The Commission’s helmsman assured NERC was committed to its mandate of ensuring fair pricing and affordable tariff for consumers, making sure they are protected, in response to one of the questions by the Senate President on how e Commission is able to tackle what he described as ‘impunity’ of some licensees that have failed to live up to their responsibilities of meeting their license terms and conditions. Saraki urged for sanction to be meted on those found to be violating the terms of their license; this was even as he stated that the relationship between the Commission and its

operators was to agree that they will be allowed to recover prudent profit. He also disclosed that the Commission is holding distribution companies to firm deadline in meeting their metering requirements/demands. He declared that many of the Discos ought to complete metering in two years at least, while the Commission was tackling the issue of overbilling at the same time. This he said, is being resolved through a methodology that ensures Discos are put on checks. More than that, the African Development Bank and other agencies have concluded plans to invest $250 billion in the next 15 years. The French Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Denys GAUER, who disclosed this at Nigeria Alternative Energy Expo (NAEE 2015), said the investment plan targets an electrification rate of 80 per cent on the continent. According to Gauer, the plan was initiated by, a French politiCONTINUED ON PAGE 34

Energy Week

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Increased funding to boost power sector CONTINUED FROM PAGE 33

cian and former Minister for Environment and Sustainable Development, Mr Jean-Louis Borloo ,when he created an Endowment Fund “Energy for Africa”. He said the objective of this initiative is to set up an organization, or an agency, dedicated to funding energy infrastructures in Africa. Gauer indicated that the Green Climate Fund, promised by industrialized countries at the Copenhagen conference in 2009, was endowed to the tune of 10 billion dollars and should finally, in Paris, be put at 100 billion dollars. He maintained that President Obama’s Power Africa plan provides an investment of 7 billion dollars over 5 years. Besides this, there are other initiatives of bilateral and multilateral donors. The French envoy said there are calls for the creation of an agency for the electrification of Africa, with the ambition of being a single receptacle for all initiatives and international investment for the development of access to electricity. According to him, the duty of such agency among other things would also be to promote the development of access to electricity projects across the continent by meeting the technical, institutional, legal or financial requirements of Africans. He disclosed that already, discussions are on between President Akinwumi Adesina and the Egyptian minister Khaled Fahmy in New York and Cairo have shown that we have to work to avoid any rivalry between the African Development Bank on the one hand and the African Ministerial Conference on Environment (under Egyptian presidency) on the other hand, about who should manage the initiative. Gauer disclosed that Egypt is now heading the working group in charge of the implementation of this initiative. Adesina maintained that he plans to dedicate his tenure to solving what he sees as the biggest hindrance to economic growth and development on the continent: the energy deficit. The Nigerian born Adesina, who took over as president of Africa’s lead development lender in September, has said that his flagship project aims to raise $55bn of investment to close the energy deficit in the next decade. He said the bank will take a leadership role, coordinating with existing multinational initiatives and pushing member states to move faster to privatise and liberalise their energy sectors. He noted, demand for power on the continent is growing and many investors wanting to expand their businesses see the cost of energy as a barrier to entry. But when it comes to solving the continent’s long-running power crisis there have been plenty of tough talk and many lofty promises with little change. Adesina indicated that the AfDB’s initiative will be a step change from previous efforts. Though the details are not finalised, he says a key prior-

Adeshina

Buhari

ity is to “address systemic issues that have held us back” — namely the energy policy environment in many of the bank’s member states. “The biggest elephant in the room is the fundamental reforms needed in the energy sector,” he said. He also attributed the problem to the policy environment. As he puts it, “We will be looking at things like how we price energy and the regulatory environment around the utilities”. Adesina maintained that the bank is prepared to push member states to raise efficiency and to introduce regulatory reforms, in order to attract the private sector investment needed to lift the Africa’s grid-based electricity generating capacity. Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari has assured that government is committed to doing renewable energy projects in the country as it is sustainable and eco-friendly. Buhari who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Power, Dr. Godknows Igali at the 5th National Alternative Energy Expo (NAEE) in Abuja yesterday said power is critical to socio-economic development as it stimulates economic activities. “The performance of the power sector therefore is crucial and critical to the survival of the industrial sector and the growth of Small and Medium

Afam power plant

Enterprises (SMEs) which serves as the bedrock for the development of any society,” he said. The President maintained that emphasis is being shifted towards environmentally friendly alternative sources of power generation to protect the ecosystem, with global investors looking closely at the energy opportunities in Nigeria. He said: “With global investors looking closely at the energy opportunities in Nigeria, the Government is committed to establishing a level playing

We will continue to promote Renewable Energy programmes that will integrate the objectives of all, inclusive green economy and attract financing partners like development banks, international development

agencies and other financial options for supporting the transition to a cleaner

Energy in Nigeria

ground, with encouraging policies and incentives. “We will continue to promote Renewable Energy programmes that will integrate the objectives of all, inclusive green economy and attract financing partners like development banks, international development agencies and other financial options for supporting the transition to a cleaner Energy in Nigeria,” Igali assured. He said this year’s Expo will see the launch of ‘G2020’ which will help promote energy efficiency culture among Nigerians. He added that the programme is to generate 20megawatts (mw) of Green Energy by 2020 with plans to supply clean electricity to residences, schools, health centres and police stations across rural areas. These and other efforts are expected to complement the initiatives of others, especially the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, MAN, to ensure more power is avaiable for industries. MAN’s President, Dr. Frank Jacob maintained that electricity challenge to industries would be surmounted if a legal framework can be provided to help manufacturers reduce cost of production.

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Energy Week

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

OPEC not likely to cut oil output UDEME AKPAN

with AGENCY REPORT

he Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC may not likely cut its oil output as speculated in order to stabilise the volatile global market. Speaking to reporters on the side of a Tehran oil conference, Bijan Zanganeh said he expects “no change“ when the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries meets on Dec. 4 in Vienna. “The atmosphere is not [right] for making changes.” Some delegates have previously said the group may amend its current production ceiling of 30 million barrels a day but only to reflect Indonesia’s return into the cartel, and there would be no changes for any other members. The status quo has been led by a Saudi decision to maintain output with the aim of defending market share over price. Zanganeh said OPEC members were “unhappy” with current oil prices of about $50 a barrel and would like a range of “more than $70” a barrel to $80 a barrel. He said “no one is thinking about $100” a barrel—the oil-price level between 2011 and last year’s collapse. Zanganeh also said his own country would boost production by 500,000 barrels a day when the nuclear deal with world powers adopted Sunday is implemented—a move he sees in two months. The minister would only consider joining any OPEC cuts when it reaches its optimum production level.

Zanganeh also warned foreign investors about corruption—a problem that rocked the country’s oil industry during a previous opening of Iran’s economy in the 1990s. “We hate the parasites who want to suck up blood of Iranians,” he told an audience of Iranian and foreign oil officials. “We fight corruption. We warn foreign companies to avoid these parasites.” Meanwhile, the Secretary General of OPEC, Dr. Abdalla S. El-Badri has called for the adoption of suitable technologies to boost exploration and production. “For example, our industry has seen technological innovation move E&P opportunities from onshore to offshore, then to deep water and frontier regions, and most recently to unconventional. Improvements in the quantity and quality of information about different geological structures have meant we have been able to find more oil and gas. When looking at recovery rates, technological developments have helped increase these from less than 10 per cent of oil in place in the early history of the industry to more than 70 per cent in some fields today.” “Advancements have also improved the safety of our industry; for those working in it, and also in terms of exploration, production and supply. And they have allowed us to continually improve the environmental credentials of oil and gas, both in production and use. Looking ahead, there is no doubt that the world will need more energy in the decades to come – as the global population expands, economies grow, and countries seek to provide the energy poor with

El-Badri

access to modern energy services. We need to remember that many billions of people still rely on biomass for their basic needs and more than a billion still have no access to electricity.” “To 2040, global energy demand is expected to expand by around 50 per cent. In this regard, all forms of energy will be needed – wind, solar, hydro, and nuclear and of course fossil fuels, which will continue to play the major role in meeting, demand. This growth will require some major investments. In terms of oil, with demand projected to grow to 110 million barrels a day by 2040, oil-related investment requirements are estimated to be around $10 trillion between now and then,” he added.

Zungeru hydropower: FG to compensate more victims CHIDI UGWU ABUJA

he Federal Ministry of Power has said the compensation process for the ongoing 700megawatts (mw) Zungeru Hydropower in Niger state is ongoing as funds are ready for disbursement. National Mirror gathered that the Ministry is working according to directives. He said the various compensations have been processed and monies would soon be disbursed by the bank to the attorneys and the state government. According our source from the ministry who did not want his name in print “All the evaluations that we did have been processed and mandates have been submitted to the bank for payments. Unfortunately there is some delay to making that payment. Initially we started the payment for everyone that will be affected by the reservoir,” he said. Explaining the payment process he said: “We are paying three emirates: Minna, Kagara and Kontagora Emirate Councils. The one upstream fall under Minna Emir-

ate, they will be displaced when the waters come in 2017 when the dam will be completed and there will be impoundment. “The one where the contractor is working now is under Kagara Emirate and that is who the consultants are attending to now. For the Minna Emirate attorney, their money has been processed and we gave them a copy of the bank mandate; anytime soon the money will be credited to their account. On the resettlement of people in the dam area, he said, “There are 35 sites around the dam. The sites have been assessed and compensations calculated. The money will be transferred to the Niger state account to pay and the mandate is in the bank too. The state government is aware as we have written a letter to them. “The court gave order and we have responded, these are things they said we should do. We have communicated to them by sending letter to the Emir of Minna and the state government stating all that the ministry has done,” the official said. The official stressed that the bank credit alerts would come in shortly when the

budget is released shortly. The institution of court action by “communities and powerful people” forced the ministry of power to bend backwards to seek for an alternative and immediate resolution to the impediment outside of the court. The former Minister State for Power, Mohammed Wakil had explained that such option was necessary to save its execution from being jeorpadised. According to him, the tendency of the aggrieved parties resorting to seek a perpetual injunction on the project will not go well for Nigeria, which relies on Zungeru and yet to be commenced 1060MW Mambilla to increase it national electricity generation capacity. Stating that the unfortunate development has stretched the completion timetable for Zungeru beyond the planned period, the minister noted that government has remained careful not to bungle the situation and in this regard set up a committee headed by the permanent secretary in the ministry of power, Godknows Igali to negotiate a good resettlement of the conflicting

Commodity

Units

Price

Change

% Change

Time(ET)

Crude Oil (WTI)

USD/bbl.

44.60

-1.10

-2.41%

11:38:24

Crude Oil (Brent)

USD/bbl.

47.46

-1.14

-2.35%

11:38:24

TOCOM Crude Oil

JPY/kl

35,900.00

-530.00

-1.45%

11:38:30

NYMEX Natural Gas

USD/MMBtu

2.60

+0.04

+1.56%

11:38:11

Source: Bloomberg as at October 7, 2015

issues. Following initial community related challenges to the project, the government had prepared a resettlement package for the 90 villages in in the three local governments; Wushishi, Shiroro and Rafi that are affected by the project. The exercise was to ensure that no one will be short changed in the construction of the hydro dam. “Zungeru and Mambilla are one of the oldest projects in this country and instead of rhetoric, the president has taken very good actions on them. Everything is in place as regards the projects but there are small details that should be addressed. Remember these are expensive projects and one has to follow due process because history will always be there to judge what has been done,” Wakil said in the interview. He further noted on the status of work at Zungeru that: “Due process and diligence has to be followed. As soon as Zungeru took off, we had legal challenges and somehow the community and some powerful people instituted a court action and in fact succeeded in getting injunctions restraining us from further work on the project.

Energy Week

KENON Oil and Gas to expand CSR approaches

he Group Managing Director of Kenon Oil and Gas Limited, Dr. Ikechukwu Okogbue has said that the company intends to use several platforms to expand its CSR. This he maintained include nongovernmental and charity organisations such as the Lion Club of Nigeria. At the recent investiture as the President of Badore Lions Club Lagos, Okogbue said that he is going to use this platform to touch lives and give back to the society especially the less-privileged ones. He explained that Lions club which is an international organisation in over 208 countries have over 1.4 living individuals offering needed services. According to him as the club celebrate its centennial with the theme where there is a need there is a Lion, Badora Lion Club intend to offer services in four key areas and Kenon oil and Gas will support the club at all levels “and as the president of the club I will give my all to make the difference” he said. According to him the focus and key areas include the youth, environment, hunger and vision. “We plan to feed 100 less-privileged members of our community; we plan to donate lion branded exercise books to two public schools in our community” he said. The Kenon oil boss explained that the club during his tenure as the president will provide water and medical treatment for eyes for the members of the community.” There will be a visit to orphanage homes and currently we are training and empowering twenty adults for businesses’’ Okogbue said. The club pointed out that it will partner with the Lagos state government to provide quality education for the children of the community in Badore, Lekki. Okogbue had said: “From the time I left the university I have always dreamt of being on my own. First I felt it would be more beneficial being an entrepreneur than looking for the elusive white collar job in the country. I felt that working in a company, regardless of what I will be paid, would not make me to fulfil my dreams of living the quality of life I desire and enable me impact on the lives of other people around me.” We have decided to establish the largest refinery in the country in the next few years. We are considering locating the proposed refinery somewhere in the Eastern part where I come from. The decision was based on the fact that as at today neither the Federal Government nor private individuals has taken steps to build such facility in that part of the country. But my thinking is that when a project of that nature is cited there, thousands of jobs will be created for the unemployed youths and further facilitate the economy.”

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

FG to sanction DISC0s over substandard electricity equipment I n ensuring international best practices in the power sector, the Federal Government at the weekend said it would commenced effective sanctioning of distribution companies who engaged in the use of substandard electricity installation equipments within there operations. Mr Peter Ewesor, the Chairman of the Federal Government Investigative Panel on the death of Miss Juliana Oluchi Anekwe, a 300-level student of the University of Lagos disclosed this at a media conference in Lagos. Ewesor accused the utility companies of using substandard materials, unprofessional practices, negligence and poor response to inherent problems in their networks. He said that Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA) would ensure that distribution companies uphold international best practice in installation of electricity equipments nationwide. Ewesor, who is the Chief Electrical Inspector of the Federation

and also Chief Executive Officer of NEMSA said that electricity distribution companies in the country have been indicted because of recent high rate of electrical accidents and electrocutions nationwide. He said that electrical accidents and electrocution have become a reoccurring incident in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI). Ewesor cited the Unilag incident and the death of a 15-year-old pupil, Afusat Musa, in a mosque on Ishaga Road, Idi-Araba in Lagos as some of the incidences that made the press briefing imperative in order to sensitive the distribution companies and the public on the need for extra safety consciousness. According to him, undoubtedly, the two promising young girls lost their lives on account of electrocution from bad networks and unprofessional practices in the industry. ``From records available, the electrocution occurred as a result of poor state of the distribution companies’ network and negligence on the part of the distribution company in charge of the areas, where the

Transformer

incidents occurred. ``This spate of electrical accidents and electrocutions leading to unwarranted loss of lives and property as well as down time of the supply to consumers nationwide is unacceptable, condemnable and reproachable,” Ewesor explained He identified some of the inherent problems, which regularly lead to electrical accidents and electrocutions to include: allowing networks

to pass dangerously over and in between buildings, structures and market places without safety clearances. Others include, lack of regular monitoring and evaluation of networks for routine and preventive maintenance purposes by the distribution companies, the use of substandard or adulterated materials like undersize and unstranded conductors, as well as untreated wooden poles like in the case of the incident at the University of Lagos.

Abuja Disco to expand vending centres to 500 CHIDI UGWU ABUJA

he Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) said it has obtained approval to expand its vending centres to 500 from the 50 current centres it is operating. The Distribution company (Disco) said the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) gave the approval for it to expand its centres recently. Abuja Disco is licenced to market and distribute electricity in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Kogi, Nasarawa and Niger states with 50 vending points. With the approval, the Disco said is can now take the electricity tokens closer to the doorsteps of its

Electric meter

customers. “NERC ratified AEDC’s proposed alliance with Kallak Power Limited and Pagatech Limited to facilitate electricity sales and purchase at 450 additional vending points, besides the current 50,” a statement signed by the Disco’s media head, Ahmed Shekarau cited the letter. Its Executive Director, Commercial Services, Engr. Ernest Mupwaya in the statement confirmed NERC’s approval last Friday saying, “We are introducing these new payment options to allow our customers to buy electricity units at the periods and points that are convenient for them.” Representing the Managing Director/CEO, Mr. Neil Croucher, Engr. Mupwaya listed some of the

additional options available to the company’s customers to include electronic payment channels such as inter-switch, credit cards, ATMs, POS at supermarkets and filling stations, and mobile money (electronic wallets on phones). Recall that the AEDC recently consolidated its five fragmented vending platforms into a single modern one that allows for improvement in commercial efficiency by way of processing payments, and providing a more secured way of sales and revenue collection. AEDC has sought the support of its esteemed customers to its 10-year tariff plan, which it unveiled recently. It is recalled that AEDC had prepared the new rates following the request to the 11 Discos in the country by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to seek the support of their customers for a cost reflective tariff for the next 10 years starting from 2015. Croucher, who recently led officials of the company to seek the cooperation of its customers in the new rates at several stakeholders’ meetings across the covered States, disclosed at the weekend that the proposed tariff review was to among others, provide a cost reflective tariff to facilitate the attraction of private capital into the sector. Croucher had stated that the current rates charged by the Disco to distribute electricity to its customers did not cover the cost of producing

and distributing electricity in the country. He disclosed that having put in as much as N2 billion since taking over the network from the government in 2013, the Disco would need to invest $200 million over the next five years in the network, hence its request for a review. “We are appealing for a marginal increment in the tariff. And if you support us in this regard, it will help us to serve you better since private capital will be attracted to this new tariff regime,” said Croucher to the customers. He stated that the sector needed massive injection of capital due to years of under investment under government ownership, adding that: “AEDC needs to inject $200 million over the next five years as part of its approved capital expenditure programme.” “The tariff being put forward is a regulated tariff; there is no opportunity for us to make exorbitant profits out of it. Tariffs will actually come down over the course of the 10 years as the level of generation increases and losses come down,” he further explained. According to him, customers will in the medium to long term be better off with lower tariff when the sector attains certain level of generation capacity. Speaking more on the investments made by the Disco so far, Croucher said:

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Energy Week

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

Electricity generation hits 4,324.44mw T he nation’s electricity generation has risen from about 3,000 megawatts, mw to 4,324.44mw as a result of improved gas supply. Investigations showed that the increased generation recorded over the weekend has culminated in improved supply. The Presidential Task Force on Power which confirmed the development indicated that of the 4,324.44mw generated, 4,251.10mw was distributed while the balance was conserved to stabilise the system. But many consumers still live in darkness because as the current generation is still below the nation’s 14,000mw estimated daily demand. Meanwhile, the chairman, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Dr Sam Amadi, has urged consumers to engage their service providers. This is on the back drop of barrage of complaints that the Commission receives from consumers which should have been addressed at the service provid-

ers’ level, in line with the Complaints Handling Standards and Procedure. Amadi made the call at a Public Consultation for the review of tariff application by the distribution companies, which the Commission is subjecting to further reviews. According to him, distribution companies were given a uniform template for tariff application, part of which was for them to consult with customers before submitting same to the Commission. In a presentation on electricity tariff determination, Mr. Aba Terab, a Senior Manager in the Market Competition and Rates Division, explained components of electricity tariff ‘’as transmission charge for units of electricity delivered, cost of the bulk supply points, Disco’s cost of distributing through its network and retail cost, marketing, metering, billing and collection losses as well as capital expenditure for network reinforcements and new installations.’’

He explained that the objective of the current tariff review was to achieve credible tariffs, address revenue shortfalls and enable Discos to meet their obligations to customers and to also firm up commitments between Discos and customers through ownership of the process and effective consultation. Amadi pointed out that in considering the tariff, the Commission shall work with the Discos to minimise the disparity in tariff between the tariff classes amongst the Discos. This follows earlier information by the Commission’s helmsman, who informed that the reports of the Discos consultation are on the websites of the individual Discos and on NERC’s website. ‘’ We expect comments as it is done all over the world, the comments usually become part of what will be used by the regulator to make decisions. This is a real search for tariff regime that will enable investors recover prudent cost and at the same time provide incentives for quality service for

Amadi

consumers ’’ Amadi said. According to him, the Commission is duty bound to ensure that only the right cost is passed to the customer. This is even as the Commission is committed to finalise approval of the tariff review applications by the end of October. ‘’ The procedure for tariff review and approval is very strict and would be followed rigorously to ensure that such an approved tariff is credible, affordable and incentives efficiency’’.

Bongea Oil Spill: Ilaje coastal communities accuse Shell of marginalisation

he Ilaje coastal communities in Ondo state has accused Shell Petroleum Development Company(SPDC) of excluding them from the ongoing discussions and compensation agreement reached between the communities as ordered by the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency(NOSDRA) over the oil spill from the Bonga oil field of the company 2011. The coastal communities called on the President, Muhamadu Buhari and the federal government to intervene and call the company to order as well as ensure the inclusion of the community in all discussions with regards to the compensation and its payments, immediately. The communities also threatened that they are currently considering a legal action against Shell Ni-

Oil spill

geria Exploration and Production Company, (SNEPCO),a subsidiary of SPDC, if it continues to exclude them from the compensation agreement reached between the communities and SNEPCO over the Bonga oil Spill since 2011. It was gathered that, contrary to NOSDRA’s directive to SNEPCO to pay $3.6 billion to affected communities of Bonga oil spill of 20th December 2011 offshore Ilaje local Government Ondo State, the company is yet to pay some of the communities . According to Prince Taiwo Aiyedatiwa, general secretary of Abereke Communities and field coordinator, Communities Environmental protection Committee of Ilaje land (CEPCOM),also, despite the fact that Ilaje Coastal Communities of Ondo State are

host Communities to SNEPCO at its Bonga Oil facility offshore Ilaje local government of Ondo State, based on the operational map of the Shell oil company at their disposal Shell has been failing in carrying out its corporate social responsibilities to the Ilaje coastal Communities since their operation in the area till date. He said that, “last year in the month of January 2014 we aware that SNEPCO called almost 88 coastal Communities in Delta and Bayelsa state into stakeholder forum in Abuja through the house of representative committee on environment in which Honorable Minister of Environment , National Oil spill detection and response agency (NOSDRA) Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and other regulatory bodies are in attendance in which the company agreed to compensate the Communities.” “But to our surprise, Ilaje local Government of Ondo State who are Host Communities to SNEPCO that was also affected by the oil spill in which we have reported in our various letters to the company, regulatory bodies and Presidency in general since the oil spill have occurred but no single Community was invited by the oil company and its committee that handled the matter as the oil spill affected five coastal states in the Niger Delta, the states are: Akwa-Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta, Ondo and Rivers”

Based on these they therefore, want the Federal government through its agencies, paprastatals as well as Committees to prevail on SNEPCO in order to call stakeholders forum and invite the Ilaje coastal Communities that were badly affected by the oil spill and compensate them for their properties that was destroyed by the oil spill as well as carry out radiation which leading to the cleaning up and bringing back the aquatic lives and fauna of the environments of the communities as the oil company is already in dialogue and negotiation with some coastal Communities in the Niger Delta. He stated that “we are already plan to take legal or steps that will hinder the company if it is not the traditional head of Abereke Communities, Oloja Darosha Oladayo Mesagan that advised us not to do so now , but failure by SNEPCO to comply now the steps will be taken any moment from now .” Sir Peter Idabor, NOSDRA’s director-general, had in a letter to the oil firm, said that the agency imposed a sanction on the company in 2014 for the damage done to the natural resources and means of livelihood by the spill since 2011. Idabor, in a statement, said the company did not make any attempt to provide relief materials for the shoreline fishing communities with respect to the acute and chronic impact of the crude oil on the environment.

SPDC’s healthcare drive in Bayelsa reaches 5000 people

bout 5000 people in Oloibiri area of Bayelsa State have benefitted from a health outreach organised by The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd (SPDC) Joint Venture in furtherance of its Health-in-Motion campaign. Working closely with the Bayelsa State Government, Ogbia Local Government Council and other partners, SPDC took the comprehensive health outreach to 18 communities giving the beneficiaries dental and eye care/ surgery, screening for blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol and malaria, HIV/AIDS counseling and testing, immunisation, pharmaceutical and laboratory services as well as treatment for chronic and minor ailments. SPDC also used the outreaches to create awareness on the Oloibiri Health Programme, a Shell-sponsored three-year initiative that is expected to promote universal health coverage, strengthen existing health systems, establish learning and operations research, and enhance the social determinants of health in Oloibiri field communities. The Bayelsa State Commissioner for Health Dr. Ayibatonye Owei flagged off the outreach at Ogbia town on September 10 as he dewormed children and presented Long Lasting Insecticide Treated Nets (LLITNs) to pregnant women. He said: “This health programme Shell is implementing in Ogbia Local Government Areas is most commendable as no other oil company has done such a thing in Bayelsa State despite many years of oil extraction.” The health outreach then moved to Kolo Creek communities where the Agholo of Agholo, HRH N.D. Amakuro, expressed joy at diverse health professionals providing quality service to the people. The traditional ruler was happy at the implementation of the Oloibiri Health Programme, and that the Kolo General Hospital was earmarked to serve as the secondary facility/referral centre for the programme. Some beneficiaries testified to the kind of care they received in the hands of the doctors and nurses. Mrs. Oremediepre, a once active woman leader in the community who was diagnosed with severe myopia (short sighted) for several years, received spectacles to correct her condition. In her words, “Today, I can see well. I am grateful and will always remember Shell for this.” SPDC’s Regional Community Health Manager, Dr. Akinwumi Fajola commented: “The welcome in Oloibiri has been very warm. I’ve been involved in the Health-In-Motion programme since it began in 2009 and the gratitude and smiles of beneficiaries is enough reward for all the planning and hard work. SPDC has demonstrated tremendous care for the health of the people through the programme.”

Energy Week

WAPIC to focus on Nigeria’s renewable energy potential

he renewable energy market in West Africa is coming of age and with the right framework, large and small scale projects are doable. This is according to Dr Afolabi Otitoju, renewable energy expert and consultant for the ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE). During the “Clean Power Master Class” at the upcoming West African Power Industry Convention (WAPIC) in Lagos next month, Dr Otitoju will moderate a session on “Accessing Finance for Renewable Power Projects.” During the 12th edition of this long running, regional conference and expo, WAPIC will once again gather government, utilities, consultants and investors to discuss the challenges of local markets, capacity building and investment. Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Power has endorsed the event, taking place at the Eko Hotel in Lagos from 23-25 November. Great potential in the country With regards to the current state of renewable energy in the country, Dr Otitoju says: “renewable energy over the last two years has received significant attention from policy makers, private sector, civil society, and others owing to its great potential in the country.”

Schlumberger’s revenue drops 5% in 2014

he revenue of a major service provider, Schlumberger generated $2.4 billion revenue in Europe/CIS/Africa in 2014. The company attributed the performance to a reduction in exploration and other activities during the period. It maintained that customer budget pressure in Angola and delays in Nigeria also affected results. Russia rebounded on a seasonal increase in conventional land activity while the Russian ruble recovered somewhat. Stumberger indicated that North Sea revenue declined on lower rig count, pricing pressure and a continued shift from exploration to development activity. It indicated that North Africa activity increased slightly while work in Libya continued to be limited as the security situation remained unchanged. The company maintained that revenue in the Latin America Area of $1.5 billion dropped 7per cent on lower activity in Mexico, Brazil and Colombia due to sustained customer budget cuts.

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Baker Hughes announces September 2015 rig counts

aker Hughes Incorporated announced that the international rig count for September 2015 was 1,140, up 3 from the 1,137 counted in August 2015, and down 183 from the 1,323 counted in September 2014. The international offshore rig count for September 2015 was 268, down 2 from the 270 counted in August 2015, and down 65 from the 333 counted in September 2014. The average U.S. rig count for September 2015 was 848, down 35 from the 883 counted in August 2015, and down 1,082 from the 1,930 counted in September 2014. The average Canadian rig count for September 2015 was 183, down 23 from the 206 counted in August 2015, and down 223 from the 406 counted in September 2014. The worldwide rig count for September 2015 was 2,171, down 55 from the 2,226 counted in August 2015, and down 1,488 from the 3,659 counted in September 2014. The Baker Hughes Rotary Rig Counts are counts of the number of drilling rigs actively exploring for or developing oil or natural gas in the United States, Canada and international markets. Baker Hughes has issued the rotary rig counts as a service to the pe-

troleum industry since 1944, when Hughes Tool Company began weekly counts of US and Canadian drilling activity. Baker Hughes initiated the monthly international rig count in 1975. North American rig count data is scheduled to be released at noon central time on the last working day of each week. Baker Hughes is a leading supplier of oilfield services, products, technology and systems to the worldwide oil and natural gas industry. The company’s 49,000 employees today work in more than 80 countries helping customers find, evaluate, drill, produce, and transport and process hydrocarbon resources. A top-tier oilfield service company with a century-long track record, Baker Hughes delivers solutions that help oil and gas operators make the most of their reservoirs. Collaboration is the foundation on which we build our business. We listen to our clients to understand their unique challenges and then develop solutions designed to help manage operating expenses, maximize reserve recovery, and boost overall return on investment throughout the life of an oil or gas asset.

Oil rig

With 49,000-plus employees in more than 80 countries, our local geomarket teams work side by side with customers to engineer reliable application-specific products and services that create more value from the reservoir whether the application is deepwater, unconventional hydrocarbons or production and water management. Our history of technology innovation is a cornerstone of our success. Local teams are supported by global centers of excellence where scientists push the boundaries of value-adding technology to find solutions for progressively more complex technical challenges. At dedicated innovation cen-

ters, scientists conduct applied and game-changing critical research. We collaborate with customers to jointly develop technology for specific industry needs at regional technology centers. Engineers and scientists at our product centers work on next-generation products and services for drilling and evaluation, completions and production, and fluids and chemicals. At Baker Hughes, we are looking forward to the next 100 years of working side by side with our customers to continue expanding the limits of oil, gas and alternative energy drilling, completion and production through innovation problem solving.

SBM offshore awarded FLNG contract S BM Offshore is pleased to announce that Technip SA (Technip) has awarded the Company the Front-End Engineering and Design (FEED) contract for three, large-scale turret mooring systems associated with the proposed Browse Floating Liquefied Natural Gas (FLNG) Development in Australia. The contract awarded to SBM Offshore covers the FEED elements of the proposed Browse FLNG Development’s turret work. The three, large-scale tur-

LNG plant

rets are expected to be designs similar to and slightly larger in size than the Shell Prelude FLNG turret that SBM Offshore was awarded in 2011 and whose last module was recently successfully delivered from the construction yard in Dubai. Integration with the Prelude facility in Korea is currently ongoing. The Browse project will incorporate the lessons learned by Shell, Technip Samsung Consortium and SBM Offshore in the design and construction of Shell’s Prelude FLNG

project in order to maximize efficiencies in replicating the Prelude FLNG solutions for the three Browse FLNG facilities. The proposed Browse project, operated by Woodside Energy Ltd., is located 425 kilometers north of Broome in Western Australia. The project’s reference case is based on three FLNG facilities to develop the Brecknock, Calliance and Torosa fields in the Browse Basin and is subject to final investment decision targeted for the end of the FEED in the second half of 2016. SBM Offshore N.V. is a listed holding company that is headquartered in Amsterdam. It holds direct and indirect interests in other companies that collectively with SBM Offshore N.V. form the SBM Offshore group (the “Group”). SBM Offshore provides floating production solutions to the offshore energy industry, over the full product life-cycle. SBM Offshore is market leading in leased floating production systems with multiple units currently in operation and has unrivalled operational experience in this field.

The Group’s main activities are the design, supply, installation, operation and the life extension of Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessels. These are either owned and operated by SBM Offshore and leased to its clients or supplied on a turnkey sale basis. Group companies employ over 9,000 people worldwide. Full time Group employees totalling 5,700 are spread over four regional centres, eleven operational shore bases and the offshore fleet of vessels. A further 3,300 are working for the joint ventures with several construction yards. Please visit our website at www.sbmoffshore.com. The companies in which SBM Offshore N.V. directly and indirectly owns investments are separate entities. In this communication “SBM Offshore” is sometimes used for convenience where references are made to SBM Offshore N.V. and its subsidiaries in general, or where no useful purpose is served by identifying the particular company or companies concerned.

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Wednesday, October 21, 2015

Industry & SMEs

Industrialists chide importers of sub-standard products …as SON warns on zero-tolerance

Despite the efforts of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria, SON, to reduce the growing rate of substandard products in the country, importers of such products continue in their dubious business. ABOLAJI ADEBAYO reports.

here is no doubt that the Standards Organisation of Nigeria, SON, has made frantic efforts to stem the tide of unwholesome products into the country, but importers of such products appear undaunted over the situation. Substandard goods have continued to flood the nation’s major markets, as local industrialists have raised alarm over huge losses arising from such acts. To some analysts, Nigeria is not a producing country as it depends much on importation of goods and services from other countries. They claimed that more than 80 per cent of what is consumed is imported while the country accounts for less than 20 per cent of its products. Majority of these imported products are said to be fake or substandard, and have had adverse effects on both the economy and human lives, especially in the case of fake drugs. They claimed that houses had been affected while many lives had been lost as a result of the use of substandard cables and other electrical appliances imported into the country. When he assumed office in 2011 as the Director General of SON, Mr. Joseph Odumodu revealed that 80 per cent of products imported into Nigeria were either fake or substandard. And he has since been making frantic efforts to reduce it, if not totally eradicate such products. One of such efforts is the confiscation and destroying of fake or substandard products found in the Nigerian market. In 2014 alone, SON destroyed fake Century brand of stabilizers and other items valued at N5.5 billion. For the mobile market, the counterfeit segment has grown to become larger than life, generating huge income for the perpetrators at the expense of consumers, the original

Electronic products

Buhari

SON DG, Joseph Odumodu

WITH OUR BILL APPROVED, I PROMISE THAT BEFORE THE END OF THIS YEAR WE MAY BE CELEBRATING THE JAILING OF, AT LEAST, ONE MAJOR SUBSTANDARD KINGPIN IN NIGERIA equipment manufacturers, OEMs and the economy in general. In this year, the agency has seized substandard products worth over N4 billion. It was however, estimated that in 2013 alone, about N2.7 billion was spent on importation of one million units of fake phone units. Industry analysts believe that this was a huge threat to the nation’s economy, noting that, if something was not done to check the trend, especially at this time the country needed to boost its internal generated revenues, IGR, due to drop in oil prices in the international market. Smuggling is a major activity of importers of contrabands such as fake phones; cables, substandard drugs; adul-

terated products and therefore, it could be one way through which they enter into the Nigerian market. The SON boss believes that destroying those products was not the solution to the situation as it indirectly affected the nation’s economy as the agency has to deploy several techniques. Reacting to the allegation of inability of the agency to tackle the menace, Odumodu counter accused the domestic manufacturers of being unsupportive to the agency. According to him, many of the manufacturers sat in the comfort of their office complaining, instead of rallying round the agency, saying they should have embarked on campaigns asking the government to empower the agency in the legal aspect, workforce and equipment. He urged manufacturers to collaborate with the SON to organise seminars, where consumers could be enlightened more on the danger of consuming such imported products as well as encouraging them to consume the locally made ones. He said the agency was deficient of enough workforces to monitor the myriad of the markets and the borders; but declared that the insufficient workforce was not the real problem. He explained that some importers were known for bringing in genuine products while some others cut corners to bring in fake and substandard products. He further said that for the agency to be in capacity of such importers, it has partnered with the Nigerian Custom Services. Another obstacle to the operation of

the agency was lack of legal backing to prosecute the culprits. To this effect, the agency had submitted a Bill to the Senate, which had waited for approval for a long time of period. However, Odumodu confirmed that the Bill has been approved recently by the Senate, promising to bring about significant change in the next six months. According to him, the organization now has a new act that confers additional power to prosecute offenders on it, adding that the organization was making effort to ensure that the importation of substandard products into the country would be reduced to 10 per cent by the end of the year. “I tell you destroying products is not a thing of joy because all these products were imported, paid for with genuine dollars and would be destroyed and they are Nigerian money. “Those manufacturers sit there and complain but I am not a spirit, I cannot be in every market at the same time hunting substandard products. “With our Bill approved, I promise that before the end of this year we may be celebrating the jailing of, at least, one major substandard kingpin in Nigeria,” Odumodu said. “My target is before the end of this year, the organization will reduce substandard products from its current 40 per cent level to 10 per cent. We have killed our industries because they are competing with substandard products. “We need to do things that will make a lot of difference to us this time around. When I started the journey in 2011 we had a level of substandard products with over 80 per cent in all the sectors. Today we are around 40 per cent to 45 per cent; in this new dispensation we will reduce it further by 90 per cent’’, he stated. Meanwhile, the Director General of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, LCCI, Muda Yusuf, said that SON was trying in its capacity, but has not been fully supported by the government to really operate as it was supposed to. The Managing Director/CEO of Fembosco Engineering Limited, a distributor of imported industrial equipment, Femi Owolabi said the SON must be provided with the state-of-art technology, which can instantly detect fake and substandard products at the point of entry, adding that the Organisation must also be fully empowered with legal framework to duly prosecute any offender to serve as deterrent to any other ones who may want to engage in illegal importation.

Cocktail

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

Town issues ‘citations’ for good behavior

etting a ticket from police in one Massachusetts town is not necessarily a bad thing. Concord’s police department says it plans to issue up to 200 “citations” for good behavior. That could include such things as wearing a bicycle helmet or a seat belt, yielding to pedestrians at a crosswalk or looking both ways before crossing a street.

Police Chief, Joseph O’Connor, said it was a light-hearted way to connect positively with the community. Instead of a fine or a court appearance, these citations can be redeemed for two scoops of ice cream at Reasons to be Cheerful, a local dessert cafe. The owner of the restaurant, Wade Rubinstein, agreed to donate the ice cream.

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Oddities

Guinness declares the longest baguette in Italy

judge from Guinness World Records has certified a 122-meter-long (400-footlong) baguette baked at the Milan Expo 2015 World’s Fair as the longest in the world. Some 60 French and Italian bakers worked nearly seven hours Sunday to bake the French

bread characterized by its soft middle and crusty exterior, methodically rolling a portable oven along the length of the doughy preparation. The Italian maker of Nutella, Ferrero, backed

the enterprise to beat the 111-meter (364-foot) record held by a French supermarket chain. The baguette was then being cut and smeared with Nutella to share with the hun-

dreds of Expo goers who witnessed the record. It was at least the fourth world record declared during Expo, including the longest pizza at 1.5954 kilometers, or nearly a mile long.

Missing: ‘Slightly sinister’ McDonald statue

Massachusetts family has been searching in vain for its “slightly sinister” statue of Ronald McDonald, which was taken from their summer home during a teenage house party. Reports said yesterday that the three-foot-high statue of the fast food pitch-

man was taken in August, when her daughter hosted an unauthorized party at the house in Leverett. The reports said two boys put the statue in a tree at an athletic club. Someone later took it out of the tree and posted a photo of it on Instagram next to a trash bin.

The statue has not been seen since. A lady and her husband, an artist, bought the statue years ago for $1,200 but she said it had a “slightly sinister quality.” They are offering a $300 reward. The daughter was punished with extra chores.

French and Italian bakers show a note reading 120 meters, at Expo 2015, in Rho, near Milan, Italy. A judge from the Guinness World Record Judge has certified a 122-meter -long (400-foot-long) baguette baked at the Milan Expo 2015 World’s Fair as the longest in the world

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Abia initiates measures to check age falsification by workers

bia State government has announced plans to set up a database that will contain relevant information on the workforce in order to check age falsification.

The Acting Chairman, 2016 State Budget Committee, Mr. Bernard Ogbonna, announced the measure in Umuahia on Tuesday, during a budget defence organised for ministries, department and agencies of government. ‘’The database will forestall the unwholesome practice where some workers falsify their ages, when they approach their retirement age.’’ He said that the database would be at the offices of the Head of Service, Accountant-General, Auditor-General and State Planning Commission, respectively. ‘’If a worker succeeds in falsifying his age in the planning commission, it will be difficult for him to do the same in the other respective offices where the database is also located.’’ The Head of Service, Dr. Vivian Uma, who appeared before the committee to defend the budget for the office, said that she had initiated measures to enhance efficiency and productivity among the workforce. Uma further explained that steps were being taken to strengthen the payment of pensions through the verification of pensioners in the state with an efficient database system. He said that the office also carried out regular sensitisation for the workers ’on the need for them to ensure transparency, accountability and due process in their daily activities’. He listed inadequate funding, the lack of office accommodation, equipment and logistics, especially vehicles, as major challenges confronting the office.

Civil Service 41

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

ASUU alleges conspiracy over missing OAU don Boladale Bamigbola

cademic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU chapter, yesterday blamed high level conspiracy for the inability to find one of its members, Professor James Bolarinwa Olomo, of the Department of Nuclear And Medical Physics of the institution, abducted two years ago.

Speaking at the congress, held to mark two

years of his abduction, OAU ASUU chairman, Dr. Caleb Aborisade, queried why the security agencies rejected the suggestion that they should work with a telecommunication service providing company to track the missing don. It urged President Muhammadu Buhari and the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase, to ensure safe release of Olomo, saying his mysterious disap-

pearance was an embarrassment to the country. He also appealed to the general public that might have information about his whereabouts or have information that could assist in finding him to contact the university authority. Recalling how Prof. Olomo was abducted, Aborisade stated that the missing don had gone to Eket in Akwa-Ibom State as a radiation safety adviser to an oil and gas

company on Thursday, October 17, 2013, but was declared missing shortly after arriving the state. He added that the matter was reported to security agencies in Osun and Akwa-Ibom states, adding that all efforts to find him so far has failed. Aborisade added: “The hotel Farlem, Eket, where he lodged had been visited by the police, colleagues from OAU and family members. His bag containing

one native dress, towel, sponge and three tellers were found in his hotel room.” He also frowned at the claim of the hotel Olomo lodged that his bag was packed into a store and his room re-allocated to another guest, when they did not see him despite the fact that he had not checked out of the hotel and wondered why they did not report his disappearance to the police.

Cross section of the newly appointed commissioners and special advisers taking oaths of office, conducted by the Director, Legislative Drafting, Ministry of Justice, Mrs. Tola Akinsanya, before Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, during their swearing-in ceremony at the Adeyemi Bero Auditorium at the Lagos State secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja.

FG set to establish Ebola survival clinic, says NCDC director

r. Abdulsalam Nasidi, DirectorGeneral, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), says the federal government will soon establish an Ebola Survival Clinic in Lagos or Ibadan. Fielding questions from newsmen on the first anniversary of declaration of Nigeria Ebola free in Abuja on Tuesday, Nasidi said doctors that defeated Ebola in Lagos would be used to quickly establish the proposed clinic. He said the survival clinic by the NCDC would work in collabo-

ration with tertiary health institutions to address the issue of relapse in survival. ``The clinic has the component of the follow up, where we will be monitoring what happens to Ebola survivors daily,’’ he said. According to Nasidi, the idea of survival clinics was conceived by the NCDC in Sierra Leone, ``The clinic was established by the Nigeria contingent to assist survivors in Sierra Leone, and it has gone a long way in bringing us to proper understanding what is happening to

Ebola survivors. ``But in Nigeria, we do not practice it. We have come to realise with all the relapses and new pattern of epidemiology of Ebola, that we should now establish the clinic in Nigeria.’’ In a related development, Nasidi said agitation was on for national honours to be given to late Dr. Adedavoh and many officers who risk their lives in the fight against EVD. Mr. Linus Awute, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health, said it was a year today that Nigeria achieved a great feat of terminating

the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD). ``In the past one year, Nigeria has not lowered her guard. We remain vigilant through enhanced surveillance, not only for Ebola but also for all diseases that constitute public health emergencies,’’ Awute said. The permanent secretary said the global Ebola control environment had changed based on new evidences around care for Ebola. He said the cases included Ebola care in pregnancy, survivors related symptoms, discovery of Ebola vaccine,

relapse of the disease. ``Most recently evidence of sexual transmission of the disease by survivors carrying the virus in their semen and vaginal secretions was discovered. ``These recent developments have changed our understanding of the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of this disease. ``We have therefore held on to the fact that Nigeria Ebola freedom is not going to be full celebration until the transmission of the disease in the human population reaches zero in West Africa,’’ Awute said.

Civil Service

Omeiza Ajayi

he internal crisis in the management of the Federal Capital Territory,FCT, Administration yesterday took another twist with the sealing of the FCT Board of Internal Revenue Service by security operatives. While members of the board accused the Permanent Secretary in the FCT Administration, John Obinna Chukwu, of overstepping his bounds, the permanent secretary on his part said the board had outlived its existence. Security operatives from the FCT Department of Security headed by one Alhaji Usman in the early hours yesterday shut down the Kaura District Head Office of the FCT Internal Revenue Services. Witnesses said the operatives who arrived about 4 am locked the main gate of the premises and prevented both staff and visitors from entry. The Administrative Secretary of the agency, Mrs. Boma Ayirete, who spoke to journalists expressed shock at the action of the operatives saying despite being in the earliest stage of its existence, the agency had generated over N1billion since May 26, 2015 when it was established. On the leadership tussle between the FCT administration and the chairman of the agency, she noted that the circular dissolving boards of federal parastatals and agen-

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

Security operatives shut down FCT revenue agency •Perm Sec, board trade blames cies was clear on the matter concerning the chief executive officer which is to remain in office after the dissolution. A July 16 circular from the Presidency dissolving federal government boards had excluded Chief Executive Officers of such boards from the dissolution. The presidency had directed that, “Until the boards are reconstituted, chief executive officers of the affected parastatals, agencies and institutions are to refer all matters requiring the attention of their boards to the president, through the Permanent Secretaries of their supervising ministries”. The board said since its chairman doubled as its chief executive officer, it goes without dispute that while he ceases to be the chairman of the board, he remains its duly appointed chief executive officer. However, in a swift reaction, Mr Chukwu said the agency remained dissolved in line with the federal government circular that announced the dissolution of boards of federal government commissions and parastatals. Speaking through the director in his office, Mr. Idu Atang, the permanent

secretary added that the action of the security operatives might not be unconnected with another circular from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Fed-

eration dated 9th October, 2015. The circular, he said, reads in part: “Your continued flouting of official directive of government as duly conveyed to you

been built over the period. “Even Nigerian indigenous producers who were doing three per cent of Nigeria’s total output of oil and gas production are now producing close to 10 per cent. “It is our desire to grow indigenous participation in the production output by 2020, to 30 per cent,” he said. Kentebe said that the NCDMB also aimed to build a Nigeria Oil and Gas Park , expected to produce 10,000 jobs in three years and reduce importation of goods such as pumps, fittings, valves, subsea production subsystems. ``Also, training centres of excellence across Nigeria will be established,`` he said. He said the centres

via the dissolution and other untoward conduct and actions exhibited by you after the dissolution of the board of FCT Internal Revenue Services constitutes a direct affront on

government”. Quoting from the circular, Chukwu said the action of the board amounted to impersonation and constituted a direct affront on government.

L-R: Director of Marketing, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Mrs. Kate Popoola; Head of NAN, Lagos Operation, Joe Bankole; Programme Officer, Development Communications Network (DEVCOMS), Abiodun Owo; Programme Officer, Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre, Emmanuela Azu, and Programme Officer 2, DEVCOMS, Nike Adebayo, during the visit of DEVCOMS team to NAN office in Lagos, yesterday.

We’re ready for Kogi, Bayelsa guber –IGP Omeiza Ajayi

nspector General of Police, IGP Solomon Arase, has expressed the readiness of his officers and men for the

forthcoming gubernatorial elections in Kogi and Bayelsa states. Arase said he had perfected plans to deploy additional manpower for the elections which

Board to increase indigenous participation in oil, gas –NCDMB

he Nigeria Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) said on Tuesday it was working hard to increase indigenous participation in oil and gas sector to 30 per cent by 2020. The Executive Secretary, NCDMB, Mr. Denzil Kentebe, said this at the 5th Practical Nigeria Content Conference in Yenogoa. He said that before the Nigeria Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act, 2010, which set up the board, local human resources were not well-utilised in the oil and gas industry. “It is gratifying to see that five years into the life of the NOGICD act, Nigerian jobs and money are no longer being exported because some capacities have

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would help to bridge the identified gaps in relevant sub-sections of the oil and gas sector. He said that based on the success of the local content act in the oil and gas sector, the federal government should expand the initiative to other sectors of the economy. Gov. Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa urged stakeholders in the oil and gas sector to continue to harness the abundant manpower and skills of Nigerians, especially in the Niger Delta region. “I hope that at the end of this forum, participants will get a better view of the current parameter used to measure Nigeria’s content compliance. “You must understand the procedure used to en-

force the utilisation of local goods, services and assets. “It is my fervent hope that plunging oil prices will not be an excuse for the ditching of commitments made to the people by the operators in the oil and gas sector, “ he said. Dickson urged the participants to deliberate on ways to improve the revenue generation of the country. The Chairman, Petroleum Contractors Trade Section, Mr. Clay Neff, said lack of security, infrastructure, relationship with communities and industry stakeholders were the major challenges in the sector. He urged stakeholders to unite and save their investments for the growth of the Nigerian economy.

would hold in November and December respectively. Force Public Relations Officer, Olabisi Kolawole, said the action of Mr. Arase would ensure crime-free election in both states. “The Police leadership had also directed the deployment of Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) to complement the Safer Highway Patrol to ensure proper policing of the length and breadth of the nation’s highway”, she stated. While briefing members of the Police Management Team in his office, the IGP noted that these measures have become imperative to ensure proper monitoring of activities leading to a hitch-fee election. She said that was in addition to stepping up police visibility on the nation’s highways in the yuletide, and to system-

atically decapitate hoodlums taking advantage of the season to unleash terror on innocent Nigerians. Also, in a bid to further guarantee the welfare of officers and men of the Force for quality service delivery to the public, the IGP has offered to sponsor talented children of serving and deceased police officers, both at primary and secondary school levels. He has consequently established a scholarship fund in this regard. The forms for the scholarship scheme are available at all Police children and secondary schools for collection by interested pupils and students of Police officers and men. Kolawole said the scholarship scheme is aimed at improving the standard of living of officers and men of the force.

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Politics

Wednesday October 21, 2015

Legal Aid Council collaborates with NBA on prison decongestion Doosuur Iwambe ABUJA

he Legal Aid Council of Nigeria has entered into partnership with the Federal Capital Territory, FCT chapter of the Nigeria Bar Association, NBA in a bid to ensure that the task of decongest the Nigerian prisons is fulfilled. Speaking during a visit to the Keffi Prisons recently, the Director-General, Legal Aid Council, Mrs. Joy Bob-Manuel noted that the collaboration and her visit to the prison is to enable the Council deliver its mandate which include visitation to various Prisons from time to time in-order to identify prisoners in need of legal representation. According to the LAC DG, “the collaboration in the area of Prison visitation is to enable the Council deliver on her mandate. “Legal Aid Council by her mandate is expected to visit prisons and detects prisoners in need of legal representation. “Private lawyers who belong to the NBA and are desirous of representing indigent citizens are also partnering with Legal Aid Council on pro-bono basis and from the way things are going Legal Aid Council is equal to the task”, she said.

On her part, the NBA chairperson, Mrs. Betty Umegbulem reiterated the association’s commitment in assisting and identifying clients in need of legal representation adding that it has already established desk officers in prisons who will assist in tackling issues relating to Human Rights violations. She said,” NBA is collaborating with Legal Aid Council on prisons visitation to help identify clients and assist in prosecuting cases. “Under the new era, we have established desk officers in prisons for tackling issues relating to Human Rights violations and LAC has so far given them 15 cases for prosecution.” Earlier, the Deputy Controller of Keffi Prisons, James Lander revealed that Keffi Prison has a total number of 449 inmates out of which 326 are awaiting trials, while 123 are convicts. He said, ‘”The prison on the other hand has capacity for 160 and 80 bed spaces. “This analysis is to show how congested Keffi Prisons is”, he said. He added that he has written to the Chief Judge requesting him visit in helping out in the situation since majority of the inmates are from FCT Commands.

Nigerians in Diaspora task NASS on Amaechi Michael Ogbonna

igerians in Diaspora Monitoring Group, has urged the Senate to without further delay screen ministerial nominee and former Rivers state governor, Mr Rotimi Amaechi saying it should not give in to the attempts at blackmailing it by some individuals. It said it is now common knowledge that these individuals and their paymasters have perfected plans to damage Amaechi’s reputation as part of an on-going tussle in Rivers state’ politics but that they must not be allowed to distort the national consensus for change. The group noted that the

Senate has screened former Lagos state governor, Babatunde Fashola, his Ekiti state counterpart, Kayode Fayemi and others who had held public offices. The statement signed by Comrade Philip Agbese noted that applying different sets of rules for the screening of candidates could amount to re-writing Nigeria’s laws to selectively suit one group while leaving another group disadvantaged stressing that this is unacceptable. It said “Amaechi as a former legislator and one time Rivers State House of Assembly member should have ordinarily been allowed to take a bow and go just like the Senators have done to many of the other nominees.

Peaceful protest over the arrest of Director of Radio Biafra, Mazi Nnamdi Kalu in Port Harcourt yesterday.

BoT member calls for unity in Ondo APC Ojo Oyewamide AKURE

member of the Board of Trustees of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Chief Jamiu Ekungba, has said the party can only win next year’s governorship election in Ondo state if its members are united. Ekungba urged all tendencies in the state chapter of APC to sheathe their swords and recon-

cile in the interest of the party. He said the people of Ondo state were looking up to the party to rescue them from the misrule of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, government. The BOT member spoke at Owo during a parley with party leaders and members across the18 local government areas in the state. He said: “I wish to commend your commitment to our great party, which

reflected in the last general elections. APC is our party and there is no alternative to it. “We should be committed to winning next year’s gubernatorial election and mobilise support for the party irrespective of our political interests. There is need for us to shun any form of sentiment because we need to take over this state from the present PDP government.” Ekungba advised leaders of the party to allow

internal democracy so that whoever emerged as governorship candidate of the party would be acceptable to all. He used the occasion to declare his interest in seeking APC nomination to contest the next year’s gubernatorial election. Ekungba promised to use his wealth of experience in the banking industry to attract investors into the state and execute projects that would positively impact lives.

Councils poll: Niger APC urged to settle crisis in Mokwa Priscilla Dennis MINNA

iger State Chapter of the All Progressive Congress, APC has been called upon to resolve the crisis presently rocking Mokwa local government after the just concluded primaries of the party in the state. It was gathered the crisis was as a result of alleged involvement of the Deputy Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Mohammed Ketso who was said to have collected the nomination form of a Vice Chairmanship candidate, Ahmed Usman Tyabo, thereby de-

nying him of his ticket after the primary elections have been concluded and he has been picked to run in the November 7, 2015 councils poll. The Campaign Director of the candidate, Mallam Idris Abdullahi briefing journalists in Minna accused the deputy governor of complexity in the crisis, saying the primary election was conducted by the party on 29th August, 2015 and two aspirants, Idris Ndasode Yahaya and Ahmed Usman Tyabo scored 74 votes each. Against this backdrop, a consensus was said

to have been reached through a written Memorandum Of Understanding, MOU which the party’s’ local government Chairman signed and through this Yahaya emerged the chairmanship candidate and Tyabo his Vice Chairman. Abdullahi explained that the decision on the issue was not acceptable to the deputy governor as the Vice chairmanship candidate was denied the nomination. He stated that Tyabo’s lawyer has written to the party secretariat at all levels and State INEC, after which, if no action is tak-

en, the candidate may be forced to take legal action for violation of his fundamental human rights. According to the campaign director, “ There is apprehension and tension in the local government on the development, but he (Tyabo) has been trying to calm them down urging them to be law abiding people.” He also lamented at how the deputy governor forced the party’ local government chairman to write another letter disclaiming the MOU signed and now urging the people to accept the result of the primary election.

Politics

Wednesday October 21, 2015

Oyo, APC lauded over Senate’s confirmation of Shittu Kemi Olaitan IBADAN

ith the screening and confirmation by the Senate yesterday of Mr. Adebayo Shittu, as a Minister –designate, the people of Oyo State and the All Progressives Congress, APC have been congratulated for the successful exercise. This was contained in a statement made available to journalists in Ibadan by the Media Office of the Minister designate, signed by Abiodun Oyaremi, where it was stated that the choice of Shittu, is a

big blessing for the state in particular and Nigeria in general. Oyaremi said the choice made by Mr. President from Oyo State was not a mistake when one considers the pedigree of Shittu as a grassroots politician with several years of political participation. While commending President Buhari for his painstakingness in composing his cabinet in which the Saki-born legal icon would be among, he maintained that Nigerians in general and Oyo State in particular would benefit from the robust

experience the new Minister would bring to bear on governance. Recalling to the controversy generated in the state by Shittu’s nomination, he said it was normal in politics and it was nothing unusual, noting however that “the beauty of it all is that everybody has sheath his or her sword.” “What’s more, Barr. Shittu is a devout Muslim and a long standing politician with deep understanding of political intrigues which did not allow him to lose sleep while the controversies lasted. The challenges

ahead also give no room for vengeance or any form of vindictiveness. “The Minister designate never for once nursed ill-feeling against anybody and what he has been saying is that he and the state governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi will form a synergy to advance the cause of the state. “To us in the media office, this is gladdening and we are optimistic that better times lie ahead for our state in particular and Nigeria in general through well-thought out contributions towards lifting our society up”, he said.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Wada needs second term to consolidate –Idris Wale Ibrahim LOKOJA

ormer Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris has said that the incumbent governor of the state, Captain Idris Wada needs the second term to consolidate on good work he is doing now. Idris who made this known while at Odo Ere in Yagba West Local government area of Kogi state, stated that Wada has performed creditably.

Wada

He called on Kogi electorate to vote en mass for PDP to enable him do more for the people of the state. Speaking, the state governor, Captain Idris Wada who went down memory lane stated that he and other party stalwarts were in the Local government to solicits support of the electorate, stressing that he came again to ask for the mandate again. “We have done a lot in the last few years in office, we have provided education, electricity, healthcare services. We have completed some of the projects we embarked on . We are going to consolidate on what we have done”, the governor stressed. Wada called on the people of Yagba West Local government to vote for him on November 21, 2015 for a second term as governor of the state.

Kwara House confirms 10 commissionership nominees Wole Adedeji ILORIIN

T L-R: Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly (Senate), Senator Ita Enang; House Leader, House of Reps, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila and Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly (House), Hon. Kawu Sumaila, during a courtesy visit to the House leader in his office in Abuja.

Jonathan, cause of Bayelsa’s political problem –APC chieftain Osahon Julius YENAGOA

s campaign for the Bayelsa gubernatorial election hots up, a chieftain of the All Progressive Congress, APC in the state, Hon. Lucky Youbogha has attributed the political problem in Bayelsa state to the inability of former President Goodluck Jonathan to apply wisdom during the 2012 governorship election. A former aide to the former Governor, Timipre Sylva, Hon. Youbogha, said the way the former President stopped

the former Governor Timipre Sylva from re-contesting the election truncated the re-election bid of Sylva and also truncated development. Speaking in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa state capital during a solidarity rally by Ekpetiama Kingdom for the APC Governorship candidate, Chief Timipre Sylva, Youbogha averred that if Dr. Goodluck Jonathan had allowed former Governor Sylva to run for his second term, he would have completed most of the projects his administration embarked upon, and as well would have brought stability to

the politics of the state. Hon. Youbogha who is also the Leader of Great Sagbama House noted that God has a purpose for enthroning Sylva as the Governor in 2007 to rule for eight years, but due to the power Dr. Goodluck Jonathan occupied when he became the President of the country, he stopped Sylva’s second term. He however expressed optimism that Sylva will defeat the PDP administration of Governor Seriake Dickson which he said has impoverished many Bayelsans, saying “Sylva is ordained by

God to lead Bayelsa to the Promised Land, which is why he has the opportunity to come back again”. Also speaking, the Publicity Secretary of APC, Mr.Panebi Fortune said that APC has what it takes to win the December 5 election, pointing out that, the Dicksonled administration and the PDP in the state has shown that they lack vision, and thereby would not be given support by the people of the state to come back, saying, “Bayelsans have said it openly that they don’t want Dickson and PDP in the state any more”.

he Kwara State House of Assembly yesterday confirmed 10 Commissioners nominated and sent to it by the state governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed. The nominees’ confirmation was announced by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Ali Ahmad at a plenary shortly after they were screened by members for over four hours on Tuesday. The confirmed nominees are Alhaji Musa Yeketi from Asa Local Government Area; Alhaji Idris Garba, Baruteen Local Government, Otunba Taiwo Joseph, Ekiti; Aro Yahaya, Ifelodun and Alhaji. Abdulrazaq Akorede from Ilorin East Local Government. Others are; Ayo Bolakale, Ilorin West; Kamaldeen Ajibade, Ilorin West; Ademola Banu, Irepodun; Alhaja Mahmud Babatunde Ajeigbe, Offa Local Government and Hajia Funmilayo Isiaka, Oniwa, the only female among them from Moro Local Government Area. The speaker, Ali Ahmad after confirmation directed the clerk to communicate the confirmation of the

nominees to Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed. The ten nominees hail from nine Local Government areas out of the existing 16 Local Government areas of the state and two of them represented Ilorin West where the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki hails from. Expectedly, the premises of the Assembly was full of supporters of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC and that of the nominees who turned it to a celebration ground as several drummers, praise singers and street minstrels were present. Also during Tuesday plenary, the House approved the request of Ahmed to secure N10 billion loan from two Commercial Banks in llorin to finance developmental Projects in the state.

Ahmed

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Capital Market

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

Equities gain 0.36% as bulls sustain hold Johnson Okanl awon

rading in equities continued on a positive note on the Nigerian Stock Exchange yesterday, as more investors took position on stocks. Specifically, the All Share Index appreciated 0.35 per to close at 30,325.11 points, compared to the increase of 1.29 per cent recorded the preceding day to close at 30,219.01 points. Market capitalization

gained N37 billion to close at N10.4 billion, compared to the rise of N132 billion recorded the preceding day to close at N10.38 trillion. Transnational Express Plc led the gainers’ table with 10 kobo or 9.52 per cent to close at N1.15 per share, while Glaxosmithkline Plc added N2.04 or 5.52 per cent to close at N39.00 per share. PZ Cussons Plc gained N1.18 or 4.92 per cent to close at N25.18 per share, while Livestock Plc ap-

preciated eight kobo or 4.85 per cent to close at N1.73 per share. Sterling Bank Plc rose 10 kobo or 4.69 per cent to close at N2.23 per share, while Wema Bank Plc was up four kobo or 4.21 per cent to close at 99 kobo per share. Conversely, Vitafoam Plc lost 27 kobo or 5.01 per cent to close at N5.12 per share, while Eterna Oil Plc shed nine kobo or five per cent to close at N1.17 per share. Mansard Insurance

European shares slip as commodity stocks extend losses

uropean shares fell yesterday after reaching five-week highs the day before, as both energy and mining stocks extended losses caused by weak economic date from China. The pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index opened flat, then lost ground to fall 0.48 per cent. The euro zone’s blue-chip Euro STOXX 50 index fell 0.56 per cent. Traders said shares dropped as investors took profits in the absence of anything to justify extending the recent gains. The focus remains on US earnings and the European Central Bank meeting this week. Mining stocks fell for a second day after China

reported on Monday thirdquarter economic growth was the slowest since the global financial crisis. China is the world’s leading consumer of metals. “There is still the legacy of the weak Chinese data that is hanging over parts of the market today,” said Hantec Markets’ analyst Richard Perry. Major energy stocks such as BP and Total fell as oil prices steadied after dropping for a week. The world’s biggest independent oil trader said the market would struggle to recover ground over the next year. Actelion rose 3.8 per cent after Europe’s biggest biotech firm raised its full-year earnings forecast as sales of

a new lung and heart drug beat expectations. SAP edged up 0.9 per cent after Europe’s biggest software group said it may surpass full-year financial targets in the fourth quarter. UniCredit rose 2.7 per cent after reports the Italian lender may sell some of its Austrian assets. Satellite companies Eutelsat and SES fell 5.7 and 4.2 per cent respectively after Goldman Sachs downgraded both to sell from neutral. The Athens blue-chip index rose 1.2 per cent, outperforming the rest of Europe, as banking stocks gained after Reuters reported that re-capitalising the country’s four main banks will cost less than 20 billion euros.

Plc depreciated 13 kobo or 4.85 per cent to close at N2.55 per share, while Cutix Plc dropped eight kobo or 4.82 per cent to close at N1.58 per share. Unilever Plc fell N2.17 or 4.52 per cent to close at N44.83 per share, while ABC Transport Plc declined two kobo or 3.64 per cent to close at 53 kobo per share. A total of 245.4 million shares valued at N3.22 billion were exchanged in 547 deals.

In Hong Kong, all main sectors lost ground, getting no inspiration from a last-hour share price jump on the mainland. Among the biggest fallers in Hong Kong were commodity-related stocks, which were hit by lingering worries about China’s economic health. However, Japanese telecoms added significantly to the index after reports from Deutsche Bank and Barclays highlighted the sector’s rebound potential following the first meeting of a government task force on rate and service reforms, held Monday. KDDI led the sector with a gain of 4.9 per cent after Deutsche Bank upgraded its stock’s rating to

‘buy’ from ‘hold,’ calling it oversold. NTT Docomo added 3.6 per cent while Softbank, which has less exposure to the domestic mobile telecom market, edged up 1.5 per cent. Asahi Kasei tumbled four per cent after Moody’s cut its outlook to ‘negative’ from ‘stable.’ The rating cut followed Asahi Kasei’s recent announcement that a subsidiary had sub-contracted faulty work at a Yokohama apartment complex and then modified data on the work in reports. The parent company has said it will incur costs associated with an investigation, repairs and potential sanctions. The broader Topix

Inter-Bank Rate Naira

US Dollar

N196.95 Market indicators All-Share Index 30,325.11points Market capitalisation 10.42trn

Stock Updates GAINERS

Both the FTSEurofirst and the Euro STOXX 50 remain up by around 5 percent since the start of 2015, helped by the European Central Bank’s stimulus programme. The ECB has pumped cash into the euro zone and kept interest rates at a record low to bolster the economy. Traders expected the ECB to pledge similar measures at its meeting on Thursday. Credit Suisse’s European economics team said in a note it expected ECB head Mario Draghi to “sound very dovish” at the meeting, preparing the ground to disclose further economic stimulus measures in December.

Hong Kong stocks fall on profit-taking after strong rebound

ong Kong stocks fell yesterday as investors took profits after a three-week rebound that boosted the benchmark Hang Seng Index by more than 13 per cent. The Hang Seng index ended down 0.4 per cent at 22,989.22 points, while the China Enterprises Index also lost 0.4 per cent to 10,649.45. Though China’s thirdquarter economic growth data on Monday was slightly better than expected at 6.9 per cent yearon-year, it confirmed the economy was continuing to slowly lose momentum, adding to the uncertain outlook for demand and corporate profits.

Source: NSE

gained 0.3 per cent to close at 1,499.28 and the JPX-Nikkei Index 400 rose 0.4 per cent to 13,428.88. Rate (%) Inflation

8.2

MPR

Crude oil price

$58.96

COMPANY

OPENING

CLOSING

CHANGE

% CHANGE

TRANSEXPR

1.05

1.15

0.10

9.52

GLAXOSMITH

36.96

39.00

2.04

5.52

24.00

25.18

1.18

4.92

LIVESTOCK

1.65

1.73

0.08

4.85

STERLNBANK

2.13

2.23

0.10

4.69

WEMABANK

0.95

0.99

0.04

4.21

280.00

289.90

9.90

3.54

NASCON

7.20

7.41

0.21

2.92

DIAMONDBNK

2.82

2.90

0.08

2.84

FIDELITYBK

1.46

1.50

0.04

2.74

CHANGE

% CHANGE

LOSERS COMPANY

OPENING

CLOSING

VITAFOAM

5.39

5.12

-0.27

-5.01

ETERNA

1.80

1.71

-0.09

-5.00

MANSARD

2.68

2.55

-0.13

-4.85

CUTIX

1.66

1.58

-0.08

-4.82

UNILEVER

47.00

44.83

-2.17

-4.62

ABCTRANS

0.55

0.53

-0.02

-3.64

UBA

4.30

4.20

-0.10

-2.33

BETAGLAS

44.00

43.00

-1.00

-2.27

OANDO

9.28

9.11

-0.17

-1.83

COSTAIN

0.56

0.55

-0.01

-1.79

FGN Bonds

Offer

Bid

Description

Price

Yield

Price

Yield

15.10 27-APR-2017

1.58

100.42

14.77

100.57

14.66

16.00 29-JUN-2019

3.75

103.04

14.89

103.34

14.78

15.54 13-FEB-2020

4.37

101.74

14.97

102.04

14.87

16.39 27-JAN-2022

6.33

105.75

14.94

106.05

14.87

14.20 14-MAR-2024

8.46

96.25

14.99

96.55

14.93

10.00 23-JUL-2030

14.81 68.00

15.58

68.30

15.51

Closing Market Prices of September 29, 2015

Treasury Bills Maturity Date

Bid

Offer

Exchange

Rates (N)

24-Dec-15

10.54

10.81

WAUA

270

31-Mar-16

12.66

13.52

USD

196.96

EURO

214

01-Sep-16

12.55

14.19

CFA

0.32

YEN

1.64

Tenor

Rate (%)

SWISS FRANC

202

O/N

5.7333

14.5852

POUNDS STERLING

293

15.8238

SDR

273

17.0819

NIBOR

The Fixings of September 29, 2015

Capital Market

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

Stock exchange daily equities summary Daily Summary as of 20/10/2015 Printed 20/10/2015 14:33:01.001

Daily Summary as of 20/10/2015

Equities as at October 20, 2015

Printed 20/10/2015 14:33:01.001

Daily Summary (Equities)

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Daily Summary (Bonds) No Debt Trading Activity

1st Tier Securities Sector

1st Tier Securities

Daily Summary (Equities)

Company name

No Of Deals

Quotation(N)

Quantity Traded

Value of Shares(N)

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Livestock/Animal Specialties LIVESTOCK FEEDS PLC. Livestock/Animal Specialties Totals

Symbol FTNCOCOA OKOMUOIL PRESCO

No. of Deals 1 3 2 6

Current Price 0.50 35.63 30.50

Quantity Traded 90 5,250 1,500 6,840

Value Traded 45.00 177,712.50 48,030.00 225,787.50

Symbol LIVESTOCK

No. of Deals 5 5

Current Price 1.73

Quantity Traded 516,550 516,550

Value Traded 893,531.50 893,531.50

523,390

1,119,319.00

Quantity Traded 2,320 18,257,623 448,798 18,708,741

Value Traded 2,134.40 38,023,057.60 12,974,157.08 50,999,349.08

18,708,741 Quantity Traded 230,000 230,000

50,999,349.08 Value Traded 126,500.00 126,500.00

Page Quantity Traded 51,592 51,592

13 1 of Value Traded 2,059,853.58 2,059,853.58

Quantity Traded 2,183 2,183

Value Traded 17,770.36 17,770.36

283,775

2,204,123.94

Daily Summary as of 20/10/2015 Printed AGRICULTURE 20/10/2015 14:33:01.001 Totals

CONGLOMERATES Diversified Industries JOHN HOLT PLC. TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATION OF NIGERIA PLC UA C N PLC.on Board EQTY Activity Summary Diversified Industries Totals CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE CONGLOMERATES Totals Building Structure/Completion/Other COSTAIN (W A) PLC. Building Structure/Completion/Other Totals Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Infrastructure/Heavy Construction JULIUS BERGER NIG. PLC. Infrastructure/Heavy Construction Totals Real Estate Development UACN PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT CO. LIMITED Real Estate Development Totals

Symbol

No. of Deals 1 131 56 188

Current Price 0.96 2.12 29.00

Symbol COSTAIN

188 No. of Deals 3 3

Current Price 0.55

Symbol JBERGER

No. of Deals 12 12

Current Price 39.99

Symbol UAC-PROP

No. of Deals 5 5

Current Price 8.17

Daily Summary (Equities) JOHNHOLT TRANSCORP UACN

CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Totals

CONSUMER GOODS Automobiles/Auto Parts Daily Summary as of 20/10/2015 DN TYRE & RUBBER PLC Printed 20/10/2015 14:33:01.001 Automobiles/Auto Parts Totals

Symbol DUNLOP

Beverages--Brewers/Distillers CHAMPION BREW. PLC. GUINNESS NIG PLC INTERNATIONAL BREWERIES PLC. Activity Summary on Board EQTY JOS INT. BREWERIES PLC. NIGERIAN BREW. PLC. CONSUMER GOODS Beverages--Brewers/Distillers Totals Beverages--Non-Alcoholic

Symbol CHAMPION Daily Summary GUINNESS INTBREW JOSBREW NB Symbol 7UP

7-UP BOTTLING COMP. PLC. Beverages--Non-Alcoholic Totals Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Food Products DANGOTE FLOUR MILLS PLC DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY PLC FLOUR MILLS NIG. PLC. HONEYWELL FLOUR MILL PLC NASCON ALLIED INDUSTRIES PLC N NIG. FLOUR MILLS PLC. U T C NIG. PLC. Food Products Totals

Daily Summary as of 20/10/2015

Food Products--Diversified Printed 20/10/2015 14:33:01.001 CADBURY NIGERIA PLC. NESTLE NIGERIA PLC. Food Products--Diversified Totals

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 5,000 5,000

Value Traded 2,500.00 2,500.00

No. of Deals 6 (Equities) 63 11 1 83 164 No. of Deals

Current Price 4.60 144.00 17.00 1.51 135.25

Quantity Traded 74,330 149,851 227,905 1,000 523,016 Quantity976,102 Traded

Value Traded 325,219.70 21,647,725.26 3,874,451.05 1,440.00 70,713,629.89 96,562,465.90 Value Traded

18 18

Quantity Traded 256,290 396,802 396,151 31,177 301,218 5,860 484,710 1,872,208

Value Traded 668,463.48 2,574,294.19 8,494,067.08 80,110.13 2,227,903.53 53,057.40 242,355.00 14,340,250.81

Symbol CADBURY NESTLE

No. of Deals 22 37 59

Current Price 22.00 830.00

Quantity Traded 26,788 711,430 738,218

Value Traded 573,039.38 590,462,869.61 591,035,908.99

Current Price 29.78 5.12 0.93

Quantity Traded 100 412,357 624,600 1,037,057 Quantity Traded 361,751 797,107 1,158,858 Page

Symbol PZ UNILEVER

No. of Deals 1 25 14 40 No. of Deals 30 30 60

Current Price 25.18 44.83

500

Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services AFRICAN ALLIANCE INSURANCE COMPANY PLC AIICO INSURANCE PLC. CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE PLC EQUITY ASSURANCE PLC. Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © LASACO ASSURANCE PLC. LINKAGE ASSURANCE PLC AXAMANSARD INSURANCE PLC MUTUAL BENEFITS ASSURANCE PLC. N.E.M INSURANCE CO (NIG) PLC. Daily Summary as ofINSURANCE 20/10/2015 CO. PLC. NIGER Printed 20/10/2015 14:33:01.001 PRESTIGE ASSURANCE CO. PLC. SOVEREIGN TRUST INSURANCE PLC STANDARD TRUST ASSURANCE PLC UNITY KAPITAL ASSURANCE PLC UNIVERSAL INSURANCE COMPANY PLC WAPIC INSURANCE PLC Activity Summary on Board Insurance Carriers, BrokersEQTY and Services Totals

4,041,414.73 13 2 4,041,414.73 of

Current Price 2.60 6.57 21.41 2.67 7.41 9.46 0.50

Symbol ENAMELWA VITAFOAM VONO

FINANCIAL SERVICES Daily Summary as of 20/10/2015 Banking Printed 20/10/2015 14:33:01.001 ACCESS BANK PLC. DIAMOND BANK PLC ECOBANK TRANSNATIONAL INCORPORATED FIDELITY BANK PLC GUARANTY TRUST BANK PLC. SKYE BANK PLC Activity Summary on Board EQTY STERLING BANK PLC. UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA PLC FINANCIAL SERVICES UNION BANK NIG.PLC. Banking UNITY BANK PLC WEMA BANK PLC. Banking Totals

20,434 20,434 Page

No. of Deals 20 28 78 7 17 2 6 158

CONSUMER GOODS Totals

Value Traded 2,830.00 2,116,029.33 559,953.22 2,678,812.55 Value Traded 8,927,554.30 35,729,424.98 13 344,656,979.28 of

5,807,877

753,318,332.26

Symbol No. of Deals Current Price ACCESS 162 4.95 DIAMONDBNK 44 2.90 ETI 27 18.75 FIDELITYBK 53 1.50 Daily Summary (Equities) GUARANTY 207 24.10 SKYEBANK 36 2.16 STERLNBANK 36 2.23 UBA 174 4.20 UBN 47 5.60 Symbol No. of Deals Current Price UNITYBNK 17 1.53 WEMABANK 40 0.99 843

Quantity Traded 6,097,690 3,404,169 7,312,483 3,141,388 2,909,168 549,653 2,764,849 5,973,280 544,468 Quantity Traded 884,027 61,593,360 95,174,535

Value Traded 30,144,223.86 9,712,801.70 137,100,637.30 4,656,741.68 70,038,526.17 1,165,802.41 5,862,361.15 25,262,457.27 3,050,427.95 Value Traded 1,327,504.23 60,343,579.19 348,665,062.91

Symbol AFRINSURE AIICO CONTINSURE EQUITYASUR LASACO LINKASSURE MANSARD MBENEFIT NEM NIGERINS PRESTIGE SOVRENINS STACO UNITYKAP Daily Summary UNIVINSURE WAPIC

Quantity Traded 18,063,700 1,107,987 22,200 173,000 Page 10,100,000

No. of Deals 4 20 3 1 2 1 6 9 13 8 1 3 2 1 (Equities) 1 5 80

Current Price 0.50 0.89 1.00 0.50 0.50 0.50 2.55 0.50 0.70 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50

No. of Deals No. of Deals 2 2

Current Price Current Price 1.02

FINANCIAL SERVICES Micro-Finance Banks Micro-Finance Banks BANK PLC NPF MICROFINANCE Micro-Finance Banks Totals Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Mortgage Carriers, Brokers and Services UNION HOMES SAVINGS AND LOANS PLC. Mortgage Carriers, Brokers and Services Totals

Symbol Symbol NPFMCRFBK

Symbol UNHOMES

No. of Deals 7 7

Other Financial Institutions AFRICA PRUDENTIAL REGISTRARS PLC CUSTODIAN AND ALLIED PLC FCMB GROUP PLC. ROYAL EXCHANGE PLC. STANBIC IBTC HOLDINGS PLC UBA CAPITAL PLC Otheras Financial Institutions Totals Daily Summary of 20/10/2015

Symbol AFRIPRUD CUSTODYINS FCMB ROYALEX STANBIC UBCAP

No. of Deals 21 17 30 2 10 89 169

Printed 20/10/2015 14:33:01.001 FINANCIAL SERVICES Totals

133,333 501,200 71,000 350,800 40,426 100 6,753,227 12,000 50,157 600,000 930,000 38,909,130

Value Traded 9,031,850.00 960,776.56 22,112.00 86,500.00 13 4 of 5,050,000.00 66,666.50 1,278,060.00 35,500.00 242,332.00 20,213.00 50.00 3,376,613.50 6,000.00 25,078.50 300,000.00 465,000.00 20,966,752.06

Quantity Traded Quantity Traded 9,500 9,500 Page

Value Traded Value9,975.00 Traded 9,975.00 13 5 of

Current Price 5.23

Quantity Traded 46,953 46,953

Value Traded 233,356.41 233,356.41

Current Price 2.66 4.20 2.16 0.50 23.00 1.40

Quantity Traded 188,281 531,535 479,266 30,096 30,952 19,265,235 20,525,365

Value Traded 500,273.05 2,232,968.00 1,041,144.48 15,048.00 712,691.70 25,916,823.14 30,418,948.37

154,665,483

400,294,094.75

1,101

No Of Deals

No. of Deals Current Price Quantity Traded 33 39.00 295,337 13 1.17 134,920 16 1.03 120,336 Quotation(N) Quantity Traded 75 981,593

ICT Computer Based Systems COURTEVILLE BUSINESS SOLUTIONS PLC Computer Based Systems Totals IT Services COMPUTER WAREHOUSE GROUP PLC TRIPPLE GEE AND COMPANY PLC. Daily Summary as of 20/10/2015 IT Services Totals Printed 20/10/2015 14:33:01.001 Processing Systems CHAMS Daily Summary as of PLC 20/10/2015 Processing Systems Totals Printed 20/10/2015 14:33:01.001 ICT Totals

Activity Summary on Board EQTY INDUSTRIAL GOODS Building Materials INDUSTRIAL GOODS ASHAKA CEM PLC Building Materials Activity Summary on Board EQTY BERGER PAINTS PLC Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © CAP PLC INDUSTRIAL GOODS CEMENT CO. OF NORTH.NIG. PLC Building Materials PORTLAND PAINTS & PRODUCTS NIGERIA PLC PREMIER PAINTS PLC. LAFARGE AFRICA PLC. Building Materials Totals

Symbol

No. of Deals 6 6

Daily Summary (Equities) MORISON

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

PLC

Symbol EVANSMED FIDSON Symbol GLAXOSMITH MAYBAKER NEIMETH

Pharmaceuticals Totals HEALTHCARE Totals

Current Price 1.73

No. of Deals Current Price 7 0.59 3.10 No. of Deals6 Current Price 33 39.00 13 1.17 16 1.03 75 81

Quantity Traded 197,970 197,970 Quantity Traded 405,000 26,000 Quantity Traded 295,337 134,920 Page 120,336 981,593 1,179,563

12,354,579.28

Symbol COURTVILLE

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 5,000 5,000

Value Traded 2,500.00 2,500.00

Symbol CWG TRIPPLEG

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 2.67 1.69

Quantity Traded 500 8,857

Value Traded 1,270.00 14,259.77

1,179,563

12,354,579.28

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 5,000 5,000

Value Traded 2,500.00 2,500.00

Symbol CWG TRIPPLEG

No. of Deals 1 1 2

Current Price 2.67 1.69

Quantity Traded 500 8,857 9,357

Value Traded 1,270.00 14,259.77 15,529.77

Symbol CHAMS

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 200 200

Value Traded 100.00 100.00

14,557

18,129.77

Daily Summary (Equities)

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

Quantity Traded 36,619 Quantity Traded 12,142 Page 4,292 203,900 Quantity Traded 30,000 100 6,756,676 7,043,729

Value Traded 810,752.86 Value Traded 7 125,426.86 of 13 163,326.00 1,506,259.56 Value Traded 100,800.00 1,039.00 672,273,168.03 674,980,772.31

ASHAKACEM Symbol BERGER CAP CCNN Symbol PORTPAINT PREMPAINTS WAPCO

13 No. of Deals 5 6 7 No. of Deals 2 1 34 68

23.00 Current Price 10.87 38.00 7.38 Current Price 3.53 10.93 99.50

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

Symbol CUTIX

No. of Deals 2 2

Current Price 1.58

Quantity Traded 79,200 79,200

Value Traded 127,296.00 127,296.00

Packaging/Containers AVON CROWNCAPS & CONTAINERS BETA GLASS CO PLC. Packaging/Containers Totals

Symbol AVONCROWN BETAGLAS

No. of Deals 1 4 5

Current Price 1.52 43.00

Quantity Traded 20 55,519 55,539

Value Traded 30.00 2,383,027.00 2,383,057.00

7,178,468

677,491,125.31

Quantity Traded 2,309,000 2,309,000

Value Traded 1,154,500.00 1,154,500.00

2,309,000

1,154,500.00

INDUSTRIAL GOODS Totals Daily Summary as of 20/10/2015 NATURAL RESOURCES Printed 20/10/2015 14:33:01.001 Mining Services MULTIVERSE PLC Mining Services Totals NATURAL RESOURCES Totals OIL ANDSummary GAS Activity on Board EQTY Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Energy Equipment and Services OIL AND GASOIL & MARITIME SERVICES PLC JAPAUL Energy Equipment and Services Published by The Nigerian Stockand Exchange © Totals Energy Equipment Services Integrated Oil and Gas Services OANDO PLC Integrated Oil and Gas Services Totals Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors CONOIL PLC ETERNA PLC. FORTE OIL PLC. MOBIL OIL NIG PLC. MRS OIL NIGERIA PLC. TOTAL NIGERIA PLC. Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors Totals Daily Summary as of 20/10/2015 Exploration and Production Printed 20/10/2015 14:33:01.001 SEPLAT PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LTD Exploration and Production Totals OIL AND GAS Totals SERVICES Activity Summary onPart Board EQTY Automobile/Auto Retailers R T BRISCOE PLC. SERVICES Automobile/Auto Part Retailers Totals Courier/Freight/Delivery RED STAR EXPRESS PLC Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © PLC. TRANS-NATIONWIDE EXPRESS Courier/Freight/Delivery Totals Employment Solutions C & I LEASING PLC. Employment Solutions Totals Hotels/Lodging IKEJA HOTEL PLC TRANSCORP HOTELS PLC Daily Summary as of 20/10/2015 Hotels/Lodging Totals Printed 20/10/2015 14:33:01.001 Media/Entertainment DAAR COMMUNICATIONS PLC Daily Summary as of 20/10/2015 Media/Entertainment Totals Printed 20/10/2015 14:33:01.001 Printing/Publishing LEARN AFRICA PLC

Activity Summary on (NIG) Board EQTY STUDIO PRESS PLC. Printing/Publishing Totals SERVICES Specialty INTERLINKED PLC ASSOCIATED TECHNOLOGIES BUS COMPANY PLC Specialty Totals SERVICES Road Transportation Totals

Road Transportation Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Specialty Transport-Related Services INTERLINKED TECHNOLOGIES PLC SERVICES AND LOGISTICS PLC Published by AIRLINE The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Specialty Totals NIGERIAN AVIATION HANDLING COMPANY PLC Transport-Related Services Totals Transport-Related Services AIRLINE SERVICES AND LOGISTICS PLC SERVICES Totals NIGERIAN AVIATION HANDLING COMPANY PLC Transport-Related Services Totals Daily Summary as ofTotals 20/10/2015 EQTY Board Printed SERVICES 20/10/2015 Totals 14:33:01.001

EQTY Board Totalson Board PREMIUM Activity Summary FINANCIAL SERVICES Banking Activity Summary on Board PREMIUM ZENITH INTERNATIONAL BANK PLC Banking Totals FINANCIAL SERVICES Banking SERVICES Totals FINANCIAL Other Financial Institutions ZENITH INTERNATIONAL BANK PLC FBN HOLDINGS PLC INDUSTRIAL GOODS Banking Totals Other Financial Institutions Totals Building Materials

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

Symbol MULTIVERSE

No. of Deals 8 8

Daily Summary (Equities)

Current Price 0.50

Page Quantity Traded 10,000 Quantity Traded Page 10,000

8 of 13 Value Traded 5,000.00 Value Traded 9 of 13 5,000.00

Current Price 9.11

Quantity Traded 4,903,443 4,903,443

Value Traded 44,788,564.66 44,788,564.66

No. of Deals 2 8 61 25 7 22 125

Current Price 27.41 1.71 289.90 154.00 49.66 150.01

Quantity Traded 101 246,296 141,188 40,350 611 11,218 439,764

Value Traded 2,630.04 421,166.16 39,785,940.97 5,961,721.31 28,826.98 1,685,445.72 47,885,731.18

No. of Deals 8 8

Current Price 234.50

Quantity Traded 2,251,062 2,251,062

Value Traded 527,877,710.47 527,877,710.47

7,604,269

620,557,006.31

Symbol JAPAULOIL Symbol

No. of Deals 2 No. of Deals 2

Current Price 0.50 Current Price

Symbol OANDO

No. of Deals 263 263

Symbol CONOIL ETERNA FO MOBIL MRS TOTAL

Symbol SEPLAT

Daily Summary (Equities) Symbol RTBRISCOE

398

No. of Deals 2 2 No. of Deals 6 4 10

Current Price 0.57

144,650

309,030.50

Symbol CILEASING

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 4,000 4,000

Value Traded 2,000.00 2,000.00

Symbol IKEJAHOTEL TRANSCOHOT

No. of Deals 1 1 2

Current Price 3.44 6.42

Quantity Traded 100 21,200 21,300

Value Traded 361.00 129,320.00 129,681.00

Symbol DAARCOMM

No. of Deals 5 5

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 15,000 15,000

Value Traded 7,500.00 7,500.00

No. of Deals 4 1 (Equities) 5

Current Price 0.85 2.30

Quantity Traded 255,929 500 256,429

Value Traded 217,579.65 1,095.00 218,674.65

No. No. of of Deals Deals Current Current Price Price 13 4.21 0.53 13 No. of Deals Current Price No. of Deals Current Price 1 4.21 2 1.85 1 24 4.60 26 No. of Deals Current Price 2 1.85 55 24 4.60 26

Quantity Quantity Traded Traded 200 111,239 200 111,239

Value Value Traded Traded 800.00 58,956.67 800.00 58,956.67

Symbol REDSTAREX TRANSEXPR

Daily Summary (Equities) Symbol LEARNAFRCA STUDPRESS

Daily Summary Symbol Symbol INTERLINK ABCTRANS Symbol Symbol INTERLINK AIRSERVICE NAHCO Symbol AIRSERVICE NAHCO

Daily Summary (Equities)

Quantity Traded 9,940 9,940 Quantity Traded 47,200 Page 97,450

Current Price 4.25 1.15

Quantity Traded Quantity Traded 200 Page 2,020 200 233,490 235,510 Quantity Traded 2,020 798,268 233,490 235,510

Value Traded 5,467.00 5,467.00 Value Traded 197,038.00 10 111,992.50 of 13

Value Traded Value Traded 800.00 11 of 13 3,918.60 800.00 1,072,947.11 1,076,865.71 Value Traded 3,918.60 1,808,975.53 1,072,947.11 1,076,865.71

2,441

199,073,391

2,521,319,535.23

2,441

199,073,391

2,521,319,535.23

798,268

1,808,975.53

Daily Summary (Equities) Symbol ZENITHBANK

No. of Deals 241 241

Current Price 17.61

Quantity Traded 37,293,262 37,293,262

Value Traded 641,060,830.88 641,060,830.88

Symbol Symbol ZENITHBANK FBNH

No. of Deals 524 No. of Deals 241 283 241 283 No. of Deals No. of Deals 23 283 23 283 23

Current Price Current Price 17.61 5.85

Quantity Traded 46,273,866 Quantity Traded 37,293,262 8,980,604 37,293,262 8,980,604 Quantity Traded Quantity Traded 47,523 8,980,604 47,523 Page 8,980,604 47,523

Value Traded 693,181,538.98 Value Traded 641,060,830.88 52,120,708.10 641,060,830.88 52,120,708.10 Value Traded Value Traded 7,909,000.60 52,120,708.10 7,909,000.60 13 12 of 52,120,708.10 7,909,000.60

Symbol Symbol DANGCEM FBNH

Value Traded 342,488.10 342,488.10 Value Traded 240,400.00 80,250.00 Value Traded 11,399,530.46 163,472.20 13 6 of 128,438.52 12,012,091.18

Value Traded 11,399,530.46 163,472.20 128,438.52 Value 12,012,091.18 of Shares(N)

Symbol COURTVILLE

Current Price Current168.95 Price 5.85

Page 46,321,389

547

Equity Activity Totals

HEALTHCARE Medical Supplies MORISON INDUSTRIES PLC. Medical Supplies Totals

IT Services COMPUTER WAREHOUSE GROUP PLC TRIPPLE GEE AND COMPANY PLC.

Current Price 197.00

Symbol DANGFLOUR DANGSUGAR FLOURMILL HONYFLOUR NASCON NNFM UTC

Daily Summary (Equities)

Household Durables NIGERIAN ENAMELWARE PLC. Activity Summary onPLC. Board EQTY VITAFOAM NIG VONO PRODUCTS PLC. CONSUMER GOODS Household Durables Totals Personal/Household Products P Z CUSSONS NIGERIA PLC. UNILEVER NIGERIA PLC. Personal/Household Products Totals Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

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

Sector

Symbol GLAXOSMITH MAYBAKER NEIMETH

HEALTHCARE Totals

AGRICULTURE Crop Production FTN COCOA PROCESSORS PLC OKOMU OIL PALM PLC. PRESCO PLC Crop Production Totals

Pharmaceuticals HEALTHCARE EVANS MEDICAL PLC. FIDSON HEALTHCARE PLC Pharmaceuticals GLAXO SMITHKLINE CONSUMER NIG. PLC. MAY & BAKER NIGERIA PLC. Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © NEIMETH INTERNATIONAL PHARMACEUTICALS

HEALTHCARE Pharmaceuticals GLAXO SMITHKLINE CONSUMER NIG. PLC. MAY & BAKER NIGERIA PLC. NEIMETH INTERNATIONAL PHARMACEUTICALS PLC CompanyTotals name Pharmaceuticals

2,988

245,394,780

13 12 of 701,090,539.58

3,222,410,074.81

Daily Summary (ETP) Exchange Traded Fund Name LOTUS HALAL EQUITY ETF VETIVA GRIFFIN 30 ETF Exchange Traded Fund Totals

Symbol LOTUSHAL15 VETGRIF30

No. of Deals 1 4 5

Current Price 9.77 13.88

Quantity Traded 10 10,000 10,010

Value Traded 97.70 137,585.00 137,682.70

ETF Board Totals

10,010

137,682.70

ETP Activity Totals

10,010

137,682.70

Page

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

Community Mirror This administration committed theGoodluck improvement of the welfare Let me again repeat what I have isbeen saying to that Jonathan has no of judges in this state by sustaining the renewed efforts to make personal agenda in convening this national conference. their work environment more comfortable and convenient.

–GOVERNOR OF KOGI STATE, IDRIS WADA PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN

Government plans meeting with IDPs over humanitarian crisis Francis Suberu

ederal Government through the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, has taken concrete steps towards solving the problems of the over two million Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the North-Eastern Nigeria as the Federal Government brace up for a 2-day engagement with the IDPs. The engagement forum slated for next week Tuesday October 27, 2015 at the Multi-Purpose Hall in the Borno State Government House, Maiduguri; will help in designing programmes that can ensure efficient coordination of the humanitarian intervention efforts for the IDPs between Federal Government and the involved Non-Governmental Organizations. The two-Day forum themed Coordination, Communication and Cooperation is being convened by the Presidency. The forum is expected to establish a framework for coordination by bringing key stakeholders together to produce a blueprint for best practices and ensure an articulated response to emergencies and humanitarian challenges like the present situation in the three

most affected states of the North East; Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe States. This interactive forum with relevant international and local NGOs, development partners, aid & donor agencies will create an enabling platform to discuss the most efficient approaches to adopt towards complementing efforts of the Federal and State Governments with specialized services in the affected areas and thereby ensure a sustained and coherent system for social services delivery in the region. It will put in focus, the desirability for complementary, results-driven, goals-targeted collaboration of efforts among the Federal and State Governments, Non Governmental Organizations’ and other stakeholders within the framework of the Federal Government’s plan in both the short and long term. The forum will also strengthen stakeholders’ coordination and management efforts, in order to ensure that NGOs are provided with adequate capacity for optimal service delivery as well as services provided by these NGOs having the widest impact in target areas. Stakeholders are expected to deliberate on a workable draft

that harmonizes the joint efforts concerned with the Internally Displaced and Nigerian refugees in general. This engagement forum with the active involvement of NEMA and other developmental partners is expected to achieve improvement in the coordination

of relevant stakeholders, harmonized channels for supporting humanitarian assistance, mapping and endorsing sound protocol for sharing information between stakeholders and the public. Participating NGOs will be eligible for the grants programme of the Presidential Initiative for the

Women selling “Fura”, a popular Hausa drink.

North East (PINE), a program designed to run for 12 months with the goal of increasing the impact of NGO activities in the North East. They will also benefit from a 6-month training program by PINE aimed at building their capacities in project.

NURTW offers free transportation Ministry urges Lagos psychiatric hospital workers to end strike to pregnant women Williams Attah GOMBE

onal Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Alhaji Muhammadu Kiyarwa says the union has directed its members to offer free transportation service to pregnant women and children who have health challenges. Speaking at the inauguration of the union’s new executives for Gombe State, the Zonal Chairman said this is one of the union’s contributions towards the growth and development of the country especially at the grassroots. Alhaji Kiyarwa told journalists that the union also has other voluntary welfare service, particularly for pregnant women and children with health needs anywhere in the country adding that it focuses more on the grassroots because it is the closest union to the people since it can be seen and felt there. He said the union had collaborated with security agents across the country, particularly at motor

parks and places prone to insurgents’ attacks to protect lives and property of the people. The newly inaugurated Chairman in the State, Alhaji Ibrahim Bala, promised to put his wealth of experience as a lont term union leader to enhance the cooperation between the union and security agencies to protect lives and property of people in motor parks. He also assured that the union would enforce the reduction of transport fares again if the price of petroleum products were reduced and made more available in the future. It will be recalled that union in the state had reduced prices of transport fares for passengers traveling within and outside the state, since the price of petrol was reduced and fuel is made available in the market. As a former chairman of one of the motor parks in Gombe State, Alhaji Bala said his vision for the union in the state is to secure a state headquarters for the union and ensure that all members are documented.

ermanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Health, Linus Awute, has called on the striking workers of Federal Neuro-Psychriatric Hospital, Yaba, Lagos to call off their industrial action in the best interest of the nation. The workers, through their four unions in the hospital- Medical Dental Constituents Association of Nigeria (MDCAN), Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU), National Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP) and National Association of Nigerian Nurses & Midwives (NANNM) are demanding that the Federal Government should not renew the tenure of Dr. Rahaman Abolore Lawal as Medical Director of the hospital. In an address delivered on behalf of the Permanent Secretary, by the Director of Hospital Services of the Federal Ministry of Health, Mrs. Patience Osinubi during a meeting held between the management and the workers’ unions in Lagos

Monday, Awute reminded the workers that their services in the hospital is essential. According to Awute, “The ministry had since set up a committee with a definite Term of Reference to deeply examine the crisis that prompted the strike and recommend solution that will be accepted by all the parties involved. “The ongoing strike is already viewed as detrimental to the patients and also embarrassing to the management of Federal Ministry of Health. “You may need to review your grouse patriotically to see that this action is of no profundity to warrant bringing down the hospital. “I would like to advise that you are not expected to form alternative regulatory administration in a government facility, but you can complain and sought government’s intervention on any matter and responsibly rely on the outcome of that, as anything other than that approach

PHOTO: ROTIMI OSASONA

is unsatisfactory,” he said. The meeting which lasted several hours ended with far reaching resolutions that will pave way for the eight weeks strike to be called off not later than Wednesday, 28 October, 2015. According to the resolutions signed by the representatives of the ministry led by Dr. Osinubi, the workers’ unions and DR. Tope Ojo the Chairman for Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), who on ground as observer, all parties agreed to maintain existing peace in the hospital, while the unions were urged not to engage in any act of violence. The unions were mandated to get back to their congresses to present the outcome of the meeting with a view to maintaining peace and prevent further degeneration of the crisis. It was also agreed that the incumbent MD, Dr Lawal should be encouraged to uphold all agreement reached with the various unions.

Community Mirror

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Cult members behead man in Lagos Patience Ogbo

uspected cultists have reportedly beheaded a rival gang member in a show of supremacy in Lagos. It was gathered that the cultists stormed the area and threw the head of a yet to be identified man at residents at the Ebute-metta area of Lagos state and fled after dumping the head on the street. The incident which happened about 7pm on Tuesday near the Otto-Ilogbo area, a slum caused panic as the residents scampered for safety. Residents however claimed they cannot ascertain if the deceased was murdered before he was beheaded. Commenting on the incident, the secretary of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria Lagos state Mainland Mr. Musbau Agbodimu is calling on the police authority to beef up security in the community.

“I received a call that some persons suspected to be cultists threw the head of a man on the street and fled. This goes to show you the level of babarism and insecurity in Ebute Metta. This is horror in all ramifications and unacceptable. We call on security operatives to fish out the persons behind this murder. It is sad that this killing is coming barely two days after members of the community had a meeting with the Lagos state commissioner of police Mr. Fatia Owoseni to discuss the insecurity in our community”. The beheading is the second in the last one year as it can be recalled that the police recovered the decomposing head a suspected cultist identified as Million. According to investigation, the beheading is believed to be the handiwork of a cult gang to avenge the brutal murder last year of one Skippo the leader of the Skippo gang and his right hand man.

Apex club out to assist the needy –Onikoyi

o commemorate 27th anniversary of its existence, the Apex club of Nigeria has mapped out several plans amongst which is a retreat for its members, friends and well wishers. According to a release made available to newsmen, the occasion will be used to also avail Nigerians and foreigners of the numerous tourist sites that abound in the country as well as the challenges that the nation is currently going through. The club which came into existence on the 26th of September 1988 and registered with CAC in 1996(RC 7466)has mandated itself to constantly reach out to the less privileged by offering assistance to the needy that includes the widow, those in the orphanages, the homeless

and senior citizens. In a chat with our correspondent, the President of the club, Mr. Akeem Adeniyi Onikoyi noted that the club was conceptualized by friends of like minds whose milk of compassion knows no bounds stressing that the interest of members and their friends who are in needs is of paramount to the club. Apart from these acts, he further said that the Apex club later adopted the philosophy of reaching out to the less privileged and offering assistance to those in dire need of assistance in any form and therefore, if it is called a socio-philanthropic club, one would not be far from the truth as its membership cuts across all cultural groups in Nigeria.

LASTMA Officials on routine exercise to prohibit the illegal use of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) lanes by other motorists on Ikorodu Road, Lagos, recently.

Dankwambo to construct seven township roads for Jeka-dafari community Williams Attah GOMBE

esidents of Jeka-dafari, in Gombe metropolis were full of praises for Governor Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo as Government paid N229 million compensation to 468 persons whose properties would be affected by the construction of seven roads in the area. Payment of the compensation which is at its conclud-

ing part is being made by a special compensation committee constituted by the State Government which completed an assessment of the properties to be affected by the construction of the roads. Speaking to Journalists over the payment exercise, Chairman of the Committee, Honourable Shehu Abubakar Durbi said the affected property owners were given one month from the date of payment to vacate the prop-

Groups back Esan Journalist Forum on the next Edo governor

non political group, the Edo Consultative Forum has thrown their weight behind the agitations of Esan Journalist Forum for the emergence of an Esan son as the next Governor of Edo State. The hint was given by the Chairman of the group Mr. Gilbert Oboh when he addressed the Press after the group rose from an emergency meeting it held in Warri in Delta State recently. Speaking further, he said his group decided to support the Journalists, because of the reasons adduced by them on the need to have an Esan son as the next governor of Edo State which he maintained, will en-

sure fairness and equity . He noted that other zones comprising Edo South and Edo North have in the past produced governors who spent the mandatory two terms as enunciated in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and as such, it is only necessary that Esans from Edo Central that has not produce a governorship candidate in the past sixteen years, be given the chance on a platter of gold. His word “A Benin man from Edo South in the person of Lucky Igbinedion ruled the state for eight years, and the mantle fell on the laps of an Esako man from Edo North in the person of Adams Oshiomole

is rounding up his two terms of eight years and so if we collectively there is justice and fairness, it is only appropriate that Edo central produce the next governor’ On the argument that Professor Osunbor who incidentally had his rule terminated by the courts is from Edo Central, Oboh said he is piqued that certain persons could refer to that instance when it was obvious that Osunbor administration lasted for few months and so could not to have even been referred to in the first instance. Bemoaning the level of development and infrastructure decay in Esan land in spite of the abundant human and mate-

rial resources,which he alludes to the fact that those who have held sway in governance gave little or no attention to the area and so if an Esan son becomes the next governor, it will afford Esan land the opportunity to catch up with other areas in terms of infrastructural development. He promised to join forces with the Journalist forum in actualizing these lofty visions especially the two days summit slated for next month that will bring Esan sons and daughter, from across the country and in the diaspora, to thinker on the ways at enthroning one of their own as the next governor of the state.

erties in question. He explained that Jeka-dafari area has not benefitted adequately in the construction of township roads in the State hence the seven road projects and it would offer big relief to residents of the area. According to the Committee chairman, work would soon commence especially that compensation has been paid and Government had made enough funds in the bank for beneficiaries to cash their cheques to enable them vacate affected premises for construction to take off. Speaking to journalists over the exercise, Senior District Head of Gombe Emirate Council, Alhaji Abdulkadir Abubakar who is also member of the compensation payment committee expressed joy over the exercise and said the roads would bring about bulging economic activities. He stated that township roads opens up many economic activities and enhance development. Some of the beneficiaries spoken to by Community Mirror expressed enormous joy and thanked Governor Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo for the road projects.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

World News I still have a lot of Republican friends and I respect them. I don’t think my chief enemy is the Republican Party. –US VICE PRESIDENT, JOE BIDEN

Afolabi Gambari

WITH AGENCY REPORT

olice yesterday fired shots and tear gas in Congo’s capital, Brazzaville, in a clamp down on protests against President Denis Sassou Nguesso’s bid for a third term. Texting and internet services were cut and public meetings banned ahead of a controversial referendum on October 25. The vote is aimed at pushing through changes to the constitution such as scrapping age and two-term limits that would allow Nguesso, 71, to run for office again. Nguesso is one of Africa’s longest-serving rulers, first coming to power in 1979 and ruling until 1992 when he lost elections. He returned as president in 1997 after a brief civil war and has since won two elections. An opposition coalition had planned to hold a rally in the city centre to protest against the proposals to be put to a referendum on Sunday. Angry youths burnt tyres in Brazzaville’s southern Bacongo and Makelekele districts, sending plumes of smoke into the sky. Reports said that a number of people were injured in clashes between security forces and protesters. “People demonstrated across the city and the police also fired tear gas bombs,” Head of the Congolese Observatory of Human Rights, Tresor Nzila, said yesterday, adding, “In certain places, the police fired warning

Anti-third term protests rock Congo

Authorities fix SA fees South African Higher Education Minister, Blade Nzimande, has resolved to cap tuition fee increases at 6 per cent for 2016. Proposed tuition fee hikes of between 10 per cent and 12 per cent sparked protests at universities across the country on Monday. Some University of Cape Town (UCT) students who were arrested because of the demonstrations have been released, but authorities said they would appear in court next week. Police arrested more than 20 students after they defied a court order, declaring their action unlawful. Some student leaders, including those linked to the leftwing opposition Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party, rejected the minster’s offer, which he made after talks with university officials.

‘Cecil’ hunter fails to end trial

A protester holding a placard on a Brazzaville street yesterday

shots with live fire.” Thousands of protesters waved banners reading “Sassou get out” and “No to the referendum”, according to reports. The opposition have been

campaigning under the slogan “Sassoufit”, a pun on the French expression for “that’s enough”. After the government announced a ban on public meetings, saying it expected people

to work normally ahead of the referendum, the signal of Radio France International, which is popular in the former French colony, was also cut.

Zim opposition seeks First Lady’s probe irst Lady of Zimbabwe, Grace Mugabe should be investigated for criminal utterances after declaring Mashonaland Central a no-go area for opposition parties, the MDC-T said yesterday. MDC-T spokesperson, Obert Gutu, said Mugabe had singlehandedly scared investors and turned the country into what the party described as a banana republic. “Whatever Grace Mugabe says should be taken very seriously by all political players in Zimbabwe,” Gutu said. “Besides her violating the electoral laws of Zimbabwe by openly engaging in vote buying activities such as dishing out suits to tradi-

WORLD BULLETIN

tional leaders as well as dolling out food and groceries to hungry and starving villagers, she also unlawfully ‘donated’ several tractors to local ZANU PF supporters.

Zimbabawe First Lady Grace Mugabe

“Capital is a coward and it will not easily flow into a country in which there is disregard for the rule of law as well as rampant corruption.

“When a First Lady of a country utters thuggish and crude political statements that are tantamount to deeply entrenched and intolerant hate speech, both domestic and foreign investors will get justifiably very concerned and worried.” Over the years violence has marred electoral processes in Zimbabwe but Zanu PF has denied any links to the vicious occurrences which have turned some areas into virtual war-zones. “Much as the MDC appreciates that ZANU PF possesses the DNA of violence and intolerance, the uncouth utterances by Grace Mugabe at her Rushinga rally mark a new low in her rather very short and turbulent political career,” Gutu added.

The Zimbabwean hunter, Theo Bronkhorst, who led the expedition that killed the famed lion, Cecil, has failed in his legal bid to have charges against him dropped. Bronkhorst denied charges of “failing to prevent an illegal hunt”, and is expected to appeal against the ruling. Last week, Zimbabwe dropped its demand for the US to extradite dentist Walter Palmer, who sparked global outrage for killing the lion in July. Bronkhorst looked dejected and refused to speak to journalists when he came out of the courtroom in the western town of Hwange, reports said. “We disagree with the ruling with all due respect. It is our intention to apply to the High Court for a review,” his lawyer, Perpetua Dube, said.

African mosquitoes ‘face infection’ A drug-resistant malaria parasite found in South East Asia can also infect mosquito species in Africa, according to a study. The study is published in the journal Nature Communications. The transmission experiments were carried out in a laboratory, but they suggest the spread of this deadly strain into the continent is possible. The scientists say the consequences of this would be dire, putting millions of lives at risk. Dr. Rick Fairhurst of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID) in the US, who carried out the research, said: “We think this will provide additional impetus for intensifying, and by intensifying, I mean grossly intensifying, the malaria elimination efforts in South East Asia.”

World News

he number of migrants who have arrived in Greece this year has topped 500, 000, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees said yesterday, putting the figure at 8, 000 per day. Most migrants then head north from Greece, but bottlenecks are forming in some Balkan states. Slovenia is to deploy its army to its border after being overwhelmed by numbers entering from Croatia. The number of migrants reaching Europe has reached record levels in 2015: The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) says more than 650, 000 arrived so far this year, compared with 280, 000 last year The UNHCR says the number of migrants arriving by sea this month was more than five times higher than the total for October last year Most travel from Turkey to Greece, and while summer months usually see the most arrivals, the number of people reaching Greece increased in October. UNHCR spokeswoman, Melissa Fleming, said EU countries, who last month agreed to relocate 66, 000 migrants from Italy and Greece, urgently needed to establish welcome centres as part of the deal. “Obviously Greece is doing what it can, it’s pulling in additional police,” she said. “But we need to repeat over and over again that it is of utmost importance here that reception conditions be established and be adequate to this enormous task.” Hungary closed its southern border with Croatia on Friday night, citing security concerns and forcing migrants to switch to a slower route through Slovenia. Slovenia has called on European Union member states to help with the influx of migrants who have entered the country over the past few days.

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

Migrant crisis: Arrivals to Greece hit half-a-million

WORLD BULLETIN

Friends probe journalist’s death Dumbfounded friends of a former BBC journalist and U.N. official, Jacqueline Sutton, found dead in a bathroom in Istanbul’s Ataturk Airport are calling for a full investigation into her death. Sutton, 50, was found hanged Saturday in a restroom at the airport’s international transit terminal, Turkey’s state-sponsored Anadolu News Agency reported, citing Istanbul police. Sutton, who once worked for the United Nations and the BBC, flew from London to Istanbul to take a connecting flight to her base in Irbil in the Kurdish region of northern Iraq, according to her employer, the Institute for War and Peace Reporting. Turkish media reported Sutton missed her flight to Irbil. Britain’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office confirmed the death of a British national in Turkey.

Trump makes invasion U-turn

A boy on a shoulder pointing a flower to soldiers at the Croatia-Slovenia border yesterday

Netanyahu blames Abbas for crisis

sraeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, yesterday accused Palestinian National Authority President Mahmoud Abbas of stoking fears that Israel

threatens the holy site at alAqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. “Israel’s position is to maintain the status quo in relation with the holy site and to protect it,” Netanyahu

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu

Election: Liberals sweep Canada polls

anada’s Liberal Party has decisively won a general election, ending nearly a decade of Conservative rule. The centrist Liberals, led by Justin Trudeau, started the campaign in third place but in a stunning turnaround now command a majority. Trudeau, the 43-year-old son of late Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, said Canadians had voted for real change as incumbent Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper, in power since 2006, congratulated his rival. Addressing jubilant support-

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ers, Trudeau said: “We beat fear with hope, we beat cynicism with hard work. Most of all we defeated the idea that Canadians should be satisfied with less. “This is what positive politics can do.” It was a sweeping victory that seemed unthinkable five years ago, improbable just months ago and unlikely even a few days ago. Trudeau also successfully outmanoeuvred the New Democratic Party, campaigning to that party’s left on economic issues.

New Canada PM Justin Trudaeu

said as he spoke alongside U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. “These are difficult times for Israelis and Palestinians,” Ban said. “I’m here in the hope that we can work together to end the violence, ease the tensions and begin to restore a long-term political horizon of peace.” Addressing the spate of violence that spurred his visit, Ban said he was deeply troubled by Palestinian militant groups like Hamas and Islamic Jihad that have praised attacks against Israelis. The secretary-general pleaded with Israelis and Palestinians to pull back from confrontation and not give in to extremism. “Let me be clear: violence will only undermine the legitimate Palestinian aspirations for statehood and the longing of Israelis for security,” Ban said. The Un chief ’s words come after a series of knife, gun and other attacks by Palestinians that have killed at least eight Israelis and wounded 75 others since mid-September despite government efforts to step up security. Dozens of Palestinians have died in clashes in the same period.

US Republican presidential hopeful, Donald Trump said yesterday that the U.S. was right to invade Afghanistan after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, a reversal of his position earlier this month when he called the war a “mistake.” “We made a mistake going into Iraq. I’ve never said we made a mistake going into Afghanistan,” Trump said, when pressed about his comments earlier this month. “We made a terrible mistake getting involved there in the first place. We had real brilliant thinkers that didn’t know what the hell they were doing and it’s a mess. “At this point, you probably have to stay because that thing will collapse about two seconds after they leave. Just as I said that Iraq was going to collapse after we leave.” Pressed further, Trump denied that he had characterized U.S. entry into Afghanistan as a mistake and said he had only talked about Iraq.

Le Pen arraigned over moslem rant French National Front leader, Marine Le Pen, yesterday appeared in court in Lyon, to answer charges of inciting racial hatred, for comparing Muslims praying in the street to the Nazi occupation. She made the comments at a rally in the city in 2010 when she was fighting for the leadership of the party. But Le Pen insisted she did not commit any offence. The prosecutor, Bernard Reynaud, called for her acquittal, saying she was not referring to the whole Muslim community. “Le Pen had only spoken about a specific number of people and was exercising her freedom of speech,” Reynaud told the court. The case was originally dropped last year by the Lyon court of appeal but revived by anti-racism groups who made a civil complaint.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

bout N6.2bn was lost to cyber crimes in Nigeria in 2014, says an official with the Bank Fraud Section of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr Ibrahim Shazali. He disclosed this in Ilorin yesterday at the ongoing Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation, NDIC, workshop for financial journalists.

KADUNA

aduna State governor, Nasir el-Rufai, yesterday denied calling on aggrieved politicians in the state to die, saying it was handiwork of mischief makers. A statement signed by el-Rufai’s spokesman, Samuel Aruwan, said his boss has watched with consternation the misrepresentation of the comments he made during the ‘question and answer’ segment of the Kaduna State Government Town Hall meeting held last Saturday. Aruwan explained that only one medium (not National Mirror) inserted the word “die” into what was an avalanche of fabrication dressed as a direct quote, adding that the governor addressed the audience largely in Hausa, but translation into English cannot be a cover for fabrication. The statement reads in parts: “These monthly meetings reflect Malam el-Rufai’s strong belief in engagement with the public; to report on the government’s activities and plans and obtain feedback, criticisms and com-

He said the figure was grossly higher than the N485 million lost through the same channels in 2013. Shazali identified Point of Sales, PoS, ATMs and mobile banking as the major avenues of committing the crimes.

ment. As the video clip clearly shows, el-Rufai did not ask anyone to die. Not over appointments or anything. He was emphatic about the need for frank talk, explaining that: “All of us in the Kaduna State government have sworn with the Quran, Christians with the Holy Bible to do justice and we will do justice. “We better stand and tell ourselves the truth. Everyone knows the truth. No matter the noise, the truth is constant. And as I stand here, no matter who you are, I will face you and tell you the truth. If you don’t want to hear the truth, you can climb Kufena Hills and jump.” Only the reporter of one newspaper, the Sunday Vanguard, inserted the word “die” into what was an avalanche of fabrication dressed as a direct quote. We have therefore written to Vanguard to seek a retraction and suitable apology. Their reporter was not even at the event, although he has been fervent in trying to use his “stories” as a vehicle for his prejudices, in a state like Kaduna that has suffered terribly from incitement and reckless pas-

He, however, said that while the value of cyber crimes had been growing exponentially, it was comforting that the value of fraudulent transactions was less than one per cent of the total transactions. “This should not, however, lead to premature sighs of relief as the success rate of attempted fraudulent transactions rose from a mere three per cent to 80 per cent in the space of just one

year.” Shazali said that although banks experienced more external than internal frauds, the actual loss to internal frauds was always far higher than those of external frauds. He said the lack of a well-defined legal framework for prosecuting cyber crimes and financial frauds had led to poor success rate in the fight against the crimes. The EFCC official said

ary 2016,’’ Shekarau said. According to him, the programme will be handled in phases and is expected to run for five years, 2016 to 2021. He said the AEDC would distribute 100,000 to 120,000 smart pre-paid meters every year until all the meters were distributed to customers. Shekarau noted, however, that the meters would be given to customers free of charge. According to him, the AEDC has started a pilot scheme of the distribu-

of the 1,461 suspected fraud cases reported in 2014, only fraudsters in 41 or three per cent of the cases were apprehended. Shazali said that it had finally dawned on global financial and business leaders that cyber crime was not merely a technology issue, but at the heart of it. “For the fight against electronic attacks to be effective, it is necessary to determine where exactly we need to focus

our energies. “In other words, it is not enough to have the tools to fight the problem, we must also know where and how to use them. “Cyber crime is especially devastating because many times victims are completely unaware that they are being targeted and they do not only lose money, but also sensitive customer or organisational data,” he regretted.

Guest Speaker, Mr Ayuba Santos (left) speaking during the stakeholders meeting on capacity for Active Women Participation in Political and Economic Activities and Reducing Violence Against Women and Girls in Jos yesterday.

Consultant begs Gombe entrepreneurs to access CBN’s N220bn loans Williams Attah, GOMBE

Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN consultant, Kajaura International Consultants Limited, has appealed to Gombe State people, especially the rural dwellers, to access the bank’s N220 billion

meant for entrepreneurs within the micro to medium categories. Speaking to journalists in Gombe yesterday, Managing Director of the consulting firm, Dr. Yakub Abdalla, said following failure of such programmes in the past and the inability of such funds reaching its tar-

AEDC to distribute 500,000 pre-paid meters to customers

buja Electricity Distribution Company, AEDC, said that it would start distributing 500,000 pre-paid meters to its customers from January. Head, Media and Public Relations of AEDC, Mr Ahmed Shekarau, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Tuesday in Abuja. “AEDC is planning to roll out mass metering programme of 500,000 prepaid meters to its customers beginning from Janu-

Nigeria lost N6.2bn to cyber crimes in 2014 –EFCC

El-Rufai denies calling on aggrieved politicians to die A za Msue,

North

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

tion at Life Camp in the FCT and Minna in Niger. He said that contractors handling the projects had been given 5,000 meters each to use as a testcase, so as to ascertain the efficiency of the project. Shekarau said areas in Kubwa, Orozo, Karu and Nyanya unable to enjoy electricity could be due to localised problems emanating from their transformers. He explained that when AEDC found out that the programme was effective, it would replicate it to all

its customers. The image-maker said the present generation of 5,000 megawatts of electricity means that power has to be rationed to ensure that every customer gets electricity. He said AEDC inherited many challenges, including cases of unmetered customers and un-paid bills. Shekarau said that customers, who had money to install their own meters, could do so.

geted beneficiaries, it has now been made easy to access especially for the rural populace. Abdalla, who appealed to the Gombe government to mobilise its citizens so they could access the funds, stated that it is meant for the development of such entrepreneurs who might never have visited the bank for any transaction. According to him, such entrepreneurs include farmers, artisans, market men and women as well as any entrepreneur that were either financially excluded or under served. The fund has been able to trigger job creation for the private and non-formal sector, he said. He explained that the conclusion of a meeting in January 2015 between CBN, Former National Planning Minister and

stakeholders agreed and stipulated that members could now partner with strong micro finance banks to apply for the fund using the bottomup approach. Abdalla said already, cooperative societies in Nigeria led by the Nigeria Association of Federal Civil Servants Cooperatives have bought a micro finance bank. He said Kajaura Consultants would continue with the sensitisation exercise in Gombe and also ensure that only genuine entrepreneurs who are members of societies apply. He urged people of the state who have one form of business or the other and have need for support to submit their applications as Kajaura Consultants would ensure such applications reach CBN as required.

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PUBLIC NOTICE GOVERNMENT COLLEGE MAIDUGURI ‘84 SET’ FORUM This is to inform the general public that the above named Forum has applied for registration with Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja under part “C” of the companies and allied matters 1990. NAMES OF TRUSTEES: 1. Mohammed Shehu Timta 3. Baba Ibrahim Goni 5. Sheriff Bashir 7. Mohammed Habib Kaumi 9. Musa Abba Nguru 11. Musa Dawut 13. Modu Buba 15. Usman Ahmed

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2. Baba Kura Alkali 4. William Wudiri 6. Baba Bukar Gujubawu 8. Baba Gana Mohammed 10. Isa Umara Tela 12. Hosea Joel 14. Abubakar Ibrahim 16. Umar Alkali

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PUBLIC NOTICE THE WESLEY SYNOD CANTERBURY ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM AFRICAN CONFERENCE COLLEGE THE WESLEY SYNOD CANTERBURY OF BISHOPS IS ABOUT TO CONSECRATE REV. DR. JONATHAN IFEDIORA AS AFRICAN BISHOP ENGLAND, UNITEDIKEGWUONU KINGDOM OF LIFE CARE GOSPEL CHURCH INC. ON 29TH CONFERENCE COLLEGE OF BISHOPS NOVEMBER, 2015 IS ABOUT TO CONSECRATE REV. DR. Signed Chidi B. Nnaji Esq (Barrister & Solicitor) JONATHAN IFEDIORA IKEGWUONU AS Km I Onitsha / Enugu Express Road, BISHOP OF LIFE GOSPEL Omagba Phase CARE 2, Onitsha, Anambra CHURCH State

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Wednesday October 21, 2015

United miss Ashley in Moscow

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Sport

I have had downturn to be sure. But I have not allowed the situation to kill my spirit to bounce back – Swansea striker, Michu

Emenike hangs Eagles’ boots U

AE-based Emmanuel Emenike has announced that he will not play for the Nigeria national team again. The Super Eagles striker took to social media on Monday night and wrote on his Instagram page that he will not be pulling on the green and white strips again. “After five great years, I am happy to announce that I have put full-stop to my National team career for the sake of national peace. “It’s a pleasure for me to have played for this great country. I never regretted it and I think it’s the best time to end it. Millions thanks to all the fans who have been very supportive during the good and bad times. “I am very proud of my performance, I am proud of my team mates and I am very proud of the nation called ‘Nigeria’. “My AFCON gold medal is a sign of great achievement, my AFCON top scorer award speaks a lot about my commitment and dedication to the team. “Super Eagles is a camp not a family house, and it shouldn’t be a threat zone for any individual. I have done according to our national anthem. “All my dreams came true in the national team, I dreamt to win Nations Cup for Nigeria after 20 years, I dreamt to play at the World Cup as

well as to make a name for myself. “In the space of five years, I got them. I’m a winner! “For every disappointing fan, maybe due to my inability to re-establish my goal scoring instinct for Super Eagles, I will like to say I’m sorry but the ones I had scored counted well for the team. “As long as Nigeria remains, you and I will always remember the name ‘Emenike’. “Finally, I am happy to make a bow and continue supporting the team every time. Up Eagles, God Bless Nigeria!” the forward wrote. The 28-year-old earned his first Nigeria cap in 2011 and scored nine goals for the Super Eagles.

Emenike

CHAN: Burkina Faso moves qualifier to Sunday

ederation Burkinabe de FootBall, Burkina Faso’s football governing body, has moved the 2016 African Nations Championship (CHAN) final qualifying match between the Super Eagles and the Etalons from Saturday to Sunday. In a statement yesterday, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) said it received a correspondence from the FBF on Monday indicating a change in date of the tie, and immediately protested,

...Eagles travel to Ouaga on Friday

saying the change was coming less than the 10 days stipulated in the rules. “We have complained to CAF about this change in date that came only five days to the match, as against a minimum of 10 days enshrined in the regulations. “It means we will now have to alter all our arrangements to play the CHAN qualifier match on Sunday,” NFF General

Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, said yesterday. The new date means the Super Eagles will now travel to Ouagadougou on Friday evening, have the official training in the evening of Saturday and play the Etalons at the August 4 Stadium on Sunday. They are scheduled to depart Ouagadougou immediately after the match.

Sports

Wednesday October 21, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

UEFA Champions League…

Today’s fixtures PSG vs Real Madrid

Ronaldo

PSG in Real supremacy clash C

oach Laurent Blanc said yesterday, that what is at stake tonight when his Paris St. Germain host Real Madrid in the Champions League, is the first place of Group A. Real are top of the group with a maximum six points, leading PSG on goal difference. And the Parisians will be without injured David Luiz when they take on Real Madrid at the Parc des Princes this evening. “David Luiz has been ruled out of tomorrow’s game against Real,” Coach Laurent Blanc told a news conference yesterday. Centre back Luiz picked up a knee injury in Brazil’s 2-0 defeat by Chile in a World Cup qualifier. Blanc, however, is hopeful he will be able to field

midfielder Marco Verratti and goalkeeper Kevin Trapp, who have been suffering from calf and thigh injuries respectively. “We will be almost at full strength,” said Blanc, who will include Argentine winger, Angel Di Maria, after resting him last weekend. “It’s an important game but it will not be decisive. What is at stake is the first place of the group,” said Blanc, who will rely on inform striker, Zlatan Ibrahimovic. The Swede has been almost back to his best after an injury-hit start to the season. “I think that Ibra is in a very good physical condition. I hope he will not be once again stopped by a physical problem.”

France Football. According to FIFA, the awards recognise the best in each category, without distinction of championship or nationality, for their respective achievements between 22 November 2014 and 20 November 2015 inclusive. The winners of all of the awards will be announced at the FIFA Ballon d’Or as part of a televised show at the Zurich Kongresshaus on January 11, 2016.

The list in alphabetical order Sergio Agüero (Argentina/Manchester City), Gareth Bale (Wales/ Real Madrid), Karim Benzema (France/Real Madrid), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal/Real Madrid), Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium/VfL Wolfsburg/Manchester City), Eden Hazard (Belgium/Chelsea),

CSKA vs Man Utd Wolfsburg vs PSV Galatasaray vs Benfica Atl Madrid vs FC Astana Man City vs Sevilla Juventus vs M’bach

City host Sevilla without injured Aguero

anchester City manager, Manuel Pellegrini, confirmed yesterday that star striker, Sergio Aguero, will be out for a month with a hamstring injury sustained on international duty. Aguero, 27, scored five goals against Newcastle United on his last City appearance, but was stretchered off during the first half of Argentina’s 2-0 loss to Ecuador in World Cup qualifying on October 8. Pellegrini, whose side host Sevilla in the Champions League tonight, also

Ballon d’Or: Ronaldo, Messi, 21 others shortlisted IFA and France Football yesterday announced names of the nominees for the FIFA Ballon d’Or and for the 2015 FIFA World Coach of the Year for Men’s Football awards, which includes defending winner, Cristiano Ronaldo. Four time back-to-back winner, Lionel Messi also made the list of 23 candidates, which final decisions will be made by the captains and head coaches of the men’s national teams as well as by international media representatives selected by France Football. A list of 10 coaches has also been drawn up by the Committee for Women’s Football and the FIFA Women’s World Cup and by the FIFA Football Committee, as well as by a group of experts from

Malmo vs Shakhtar

said that Aguero’s fellow injury victims, Gael Clichy, Fabian Delph and David Silva, could return to action next week. “Aguero is out for a month,” Pellegrini told reporters at the City Football Academy in Manchester. “Maybe next week Clichy, Delph and Silva will be fit.” In Aguero’s absence, City thrashed Bournemouth 5-1 in the Premier League last Saturday, with Raheem Sterling claiming a hat-trick and Wilfried Bony, Aguero’s deputy, scoring twice.

Zlatan Ibrahimovi (Sweden/Paris Saint-Germain), Andrés Iniesta (Spain/FC Barcelona), Toni Kroos (Germany/Real Madrid), Robert Lewandowski (Poland/FC Bayern Munich), Javier Mascherano (Argentina/FC Barcelona), Lionel Messi (Argentina/FC Barcelona), Thomas Müller (Germany/FC Bayern Munich), Manuel Neuer (Germany/FC Bayern Munich), Neymar (Brazil/FC Barcelona), Paul Pogba (France/Juventus), Ivan Rakiti (Croatia/FC Barcelona), Arjen Robben (Netherlands/FC Bayern Munich), James Rodríguez (Colombia/Real Madrid), Alexis Sánchez (Chile/Arsenal), Luis Suárez (Uruguay/FC Barcelona), Yaya Touré (Côte d’Ivoire/Manchester City), Arturo Vidal (Chile/ Juventus/FC Bayern Munich).

United miss Ashley in Moscow

shley Young will miss Manchester United’s Champions League match at CSKA Moscow today because of a calf injury. According to BBC Sport, the winger who did not play in last Saturday’s 3-0 over Everton, also did not travel to Russia. United host Manchester City in the Premier League on Sunday,

Aguero

Young

but manager Louis van Gaal has suggested that he will not rest any players against CSKA. Van Gaal’s side are second in Group B on three points. Left-back Luke Shaw (leg), defender Paddy McNair (liver) and striker James Wilson (illness) have stayed in Manchester. Goalkeeper Sergio Romero and winger Antonio Valencia, who missed the Everton win following their return from international duty, have travelled with the rest of the squad.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sports

Wednesday October 21, 2015

Midweek League with PAUL EREWUBA 08032138738

Table

A League action. last week

Rumble at Adamasingba ...as relegation threatened FC Taraba dare 3SC

hooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) say they have resolved not to lose the vital three points to Taraba United when both sides meet today at the Adamasingba Stadium, Ibadan. The Oluyole Warriors, who are 10th on the league table, sure need the win to sure up their points as they league is slowly coming to an end.

However, FC Tara midfielder, Stephen Adah, who will not be on duty for his side due to the death of his cousin, has charged his team mates to ensure victory swings to their side at the end of hostilities. Adah, who also played for Rangers, said despite his absence, he was sure his teammates will not let him down. “I’m off duty for today’s game against 3SC due to

my cousin’s death but will return to duty against Nasarawa United. “My teammates have called several times to comfort me on the death but I have told them that the best consolation for me is the three points or at least a point at 3SC. “They assured me that they will go the extra mile to avoid defeat no matter the banter 3SC throw at them.

“Our situation has remained pitiable so we need all the points we can lay hands on to ensure we swim out of relegation. “Good results in the remaining five matches could still do the magic for us,” he concluded. The Jalingo- based outfit are 19th on the table with 33 points, three points ahead of bottom-placed side Bayelsa United.

Promotion: Lumumba makes case for Plateau United F ormer first vice Chairman of the Nigeria League Management board’s interim committee, Honourable Lumumba Adeh, has criticised the NFF and NNL for declaring Adamawa United the team to be promoted instead of Plateau United. Lumumba, in a communiqué, wondered how an away team, in this instance, Plateau United are made liable for shortcomings in a game where the home team is exonerated. Lumumba argued further that it was preposterous for the NFF to hinge its judgment on what happened to Adamawa against Taraba United stressing that the two instances are different since in the case of Plateau, they

were the visitors unlike in Adamawa’s, where they were the host team. According to him, it became suspicious when the O & D committee of the NFF ruled in favour of Adamawa Utd in a protest case between Adamawa and Kogi Utd; a case which the NNL had ruled for the match to be replayed in Lokoja to everyone’s surprise. Kogi Utd, expectedly, disagreed and appealed against the decision. Traditionally, the appeal was expected to be dealt with before the last round of matches (week 14) outstanding to round up the league in that group but the NNL/ NNF surreptitiously ordered the last set of matches to be

played against protestations, appeals and advice. “The Match; Week 14 – Spotlite FC Katsina Vs Plateau Utd FC, Jos @ Katsina Township Stadium For the avoidance of doubt, Spotlite FC was the host as home team with Plateau Utd as away (visiting) team. As a tradition all matches on the last fixture take place simultaneously and clear directives are given to the match officials viz referees and match commissioner. Therefore, the issue of control of time and timing rest with the officials listed above, the home team and the host FA. Usually it is agreed at the rematch the time for arrival of both teams for the match;

and it is not stated anywhere that Plateau United FC defaulted by arriving late or refused any instructions from match officials. With the result and conclusion of the match not in contention, it is absurd that the away team is made to suffer loss of points in a very controversial ruling with no place in the rule books. With Plateau winning away which they never expected because of the desperate standing of Spotlite on the league table (threatened by relegation), the schemers threw caution to the wind and encouraged Spotlite to protest against late start of the match. Even Adamawa Utd also filed a similar protest.”

Teams

Enyimba

Wolve

Wikki

Giwa

Sunshine

Nasarawa

Pillars

Heartland

Abia

3SC

Rangers

IfeanyiUbah

El-Kanemi

Lobi

Akwa

Sharks

Dolphins

Kwara

Taraba

Bayelsa

Former Sharks goalkeeper, Raymond Quacopome dies

former

shot-stopper

Sharks of Port Harcourt, Raymond Quacopome has

died.

He died after a brief illness. He will be remembered as one of the greatest stars, who donned the colours of Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) club Sharks. Former

goalkeeper

Sharks

Iwarimie Diri, who spoke about the demise of Quacopome described the fallen hero as “a true legend”. “I am still in tears. He is a true legend and one of my biggest mentors. “He was briefly ill and died in his home in Accra, Ghana on Monday. We will miss him,” he said. Quacopome was among the pioneers of Sharks alongside names like Robinson Barber, Hamilton Green, Okechukwu

Okabie,

John

Apollo,

Dennis Fente, Jossy Dombraye, Owollo, and Mike Okotie. They were coached by former Eselemo Diamonds coach Ebiyon Dediare and later, former Super Eagles coach Monday Sinclair.

WORLD RECORD

Most piercings in a lifetime (female) Vol. 05 No. 1226

N150

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

Since first receiving a skin piercing in January 1997, Elaine Davidson (Brazil/UK) has been pierced a total of 4,225 times as of 8 June 2006.

Of immunity, impunity and ‘imuniti’ And when Impunity mates Immunity, they produce an inscrutable offspring called Imuniti (unarrestability) - Niyi Osundare

he drama of September 2015 will linger in the memory of Nigerians for a long while. For a people whom the rhyme of the words impunity, immunity and imuniti (the Yoruba word for unarrestability) has become norm, September brought with it some new realities. First on 4th September 2015, it was reported that men of the Department of State Security (DSS) had stormed the Akwa Ibom State Government House in a surprise raid. The officers whom it was reported were searching for a cache of arms had searched the entire complex comprising the residence of the governor, which was unoccupied at that time, the guest

Guest Columnist houses and the presidential lodge. Though no arms and ammunition were found, it was reported that the officers uncovered a huge stack of foreign currency in the presidential lodge occupied by the ex-governor of the state and current Senate Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio. An invasion of the government house for any reason whatsoever was hitherto impossible. Even governors were aided by security agents as they turned their government houses to theaters of criminality and brigandage. In November 2013, the Nigerian media space was regaled with sensational reports of how Sullivan Chime, the immediate ex-governor of Enugu State, had with the collaboration of law enforcement agents acting as his personal security details, confined his wife to an illegal and unlawful house arrest for four months. It took threats from Femi Falana (SAN) to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and Director of the DSS that their men involved in the continued illegal confinement of Mrs. Chime leading to “unwarranted mental torture and psychological trauma” on her person, could be liable for criminal and civil action as the immunity which the governor enjoyed did not cover the civil and criminal infractions of his security details to get Mrs. Chime regain her freedom. When Imo State was in the chains of Ikedi Ohakim draconian administration, an opposition leader in the state, Samuelson Iwuoha, was allegedly abducted by armed police officers on the orders of Ohakim and brought to the Government House, Owerri, where Ohakim personally flogged him for daring to write peti-

Election: FIFA confirms Feb. 26 date

IFA’s Executive Committee reconfirmed yesterday that they will hold the election for a new president to replace Sepp Blatter next February. In a statement, the world football governing body con-

Maduka Onwukeme

firmed that an extraordinary elective congress will be held in Zurich on February 26, 2016, when there will be a vote for a new president. The executive committee also welcomed preliminary reform proposals to set an

...DR. BUKOLA SARAKI ATE THE HUMBLE PIE IN WHAT HAD BEEN A YOYO GAME BETWEEN HIM

CODE OF CONDUCT TRIBUNAL AND THE

tions to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission against him. The allegedly battery was committed in the presence of even the State Commissioner of Police. The government house was totally inviolable and out of bounds to the law enforcement agents, so we thought! Ayodele Fayose, the court jester lording over Ekiti State, the supposed “Fountain of Knowledge”, fired salvo after salvo to protest the violation of the “sovereignty and inviolability” of the Akwa Ibom State Government House. ‘Lawyer’ Fayose, who is the definition of impunity and brigandage, would berate the DSS and accuse Buhari of dictatorship. Who would blame a frightened Fayose? Even the APC Ekiti State chapter had stated that Fayose’s fright was not a surprise considering the fact that Ekiti State Government House is a safe haven for Fayose’s army of renegades and miscreants, who come in handy to brutally silence and muffle any voice of dissent to Fayose’s suzerainty. Still in September, Governor Tanko Al-

Makura was in the news for alleged brutalization of citizens by his security details and their subsequent detention on charges of insulting the governor. Their crime was allegedly refusing to leave the road for the governor’s convoy. It was alleged that Al-Makura had literally called the concerned lady a prostitute and had dared her to do her worst. She and other Nigerians did their worst and Governor Al-Makura could not withstand the heat. Almighty Tanko Al-Makura, after issuing poorly drafted rebuttals dripping with sheer banality, came down from his high horse and subjected himself to the National Human Rights Commission’s (NHRC) inquiry into the matter. Impunity got a blow as immunity was waived, albeit it bowed to public pressure. On September 22, 2015, Nigerians watched as Dr. Bukola Saraki ate the humble pie in what had been a yoyo game between him and the Code of Conduct Tribunal. Saraki had been dragged to the CCT on charges of false declaration of assets when he held the reins of power in Kwara State. He had snubbed the court and ran like a headless chicken in the classic Nigerian style, to the Federal High Court to scuttle his trial. The CCT was not swayed by the subterfuge and antics of Saraki and promptly issued a warrant of arrest for him. After all tricks employed by Saraki failed and tired of hiding, the “number 3 man” ate the humble pie and entered the dock. Saraki’s case was a classic example of the imuniti the offspring from the mating of impunity and immunity as propounded by Prof. Osundare. I mean who advises a man whom the constitution has given no immunity from prosecution to thumb his nose at court/tribunal? In civilized climes that is political harakiri! Saraki even believes that by virtue of his office, no court could arrest him as his media aide had questioned the propriety of issuing a warrant of arrest for Saraki despite “his status as the No. 3 man in the country”. To be continued Maduka Onwukeme, a Lagos based legal practitioner, wrote via madukaonwukeme@gmail.com

Sport Extra

age restriction of 74 years and a 12-year maximum tenure for the FIFA presidency. It means potential candidates have until Monday to register their interest in running for the most powerful job in football to replace

Blatter, 79, who has been in charge since 1998. FIFA has been in chaos since October 9 when the ethics committee suspended Blatter and UEFA president, Michel Platini, for 90 days due to an ongoing investiga-

tion. Prince Ali bin al Hussein, who lost to Blatter in May’s election, and former Trinidad and Tobago captain, David Nakhid, have officially stated their intention to run, as has Platini.

Hayatou

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