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Nigerian charcoal exporters lose N79bn to fraudsters FRANCIS EZEM

ederal Government’s efforts at promoting non-oil exports have suffered a

Aganga

major setback as Nigerian charcoal exporters have lost a whopping N78.9bn to fraudulent importers in Germany, Spain, Netherland, Belgium and Italy. Statistics available at

Vol. 51 N0. 1080 115

Troops rescue women, children in Gwoza

the Cargo Defence Fund, CDF, a unit of the Nigerian Shippers Council, charged with the responsibility of assisting Nigerian shippers (imCONTINUED ON PAGE 2>>

P.4

Badeh

Tuesday, Tuesday,June March 7, 2011 31, 2015

N150

Buhari leads Jonathan, wins in 10 states A

OLAJIDE OMOJOLOMOJU

...INEC awaits more results from 19 states Likely final figure: APC 13,605,071, PDP 10, 078,381

ll Progressives Congress, APC, presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari, was yesterday leading incumbent president and Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, candidate, Goodluck JonaCONTINUED ON PAGE 2>>

RESULTS DECLARED SO FAR STATE

ACPN

ADC

APA

APC

CPP

HDP KOWA

NCP PDP

PPN UDP UPP

EKITI OGUN ENUGU KOGI OSUN ONDO FCT OYO NASARAWA

94 584 441 700 377 386 139 6,331 40

538 3,073 479 1,089 1,731 2,406 342 8,979 95

854 1,927 269 427 1,667 1,237 240 6,282 74

864 1,364 478 761 937 1,227 288 5,000 105

482 1,930 715 1,001 1,306 1,139 674 4,468 110

120,331 308,290 14,157 264,851 383,603 299,889 146,399 528,620 236,838

330 970 237 967 1,029 1,012 347 6,674 131

94 332 110 144 132 184 83 839 4

108 432 20 190 255 223 165 1,312 48

377 377 761 399 767 846 473 1,895 222

176,466 207,950 553,003 149,987 249,929 251,368 157,195 373,376 273,460

388 4,339 407 476 599 734 269 2,842 164

60 532 1,623 180 124 184 95 1,069 23

145 597 290 156 159 221 96 3,665 33

KANO JIGAWA KATSINA

406 394 183

778 500 402

708 587 283

657 375 498

2,770 1,903,999 1,552 292 2,527 885,988 1,553 337 1,671 1,345,441 976 47

288 423 215

697 548 330

215,779 142,904 98,937

485 853 254

234 338 117

156 197 72

KWARA KADUNA ANAMBRA ABIA A’IBOM IMO PLATEAU

248 184 547 315 1,600 533 169

817 4 1,259 2,194 443 956 391

520 273 475 448 474 757 279

438 526 534 569 608 1,617 406

1,165 1,611 2,303 2,766 384 2,236 618

214 176 311 173 160 158 138

394 752 887 745 381 784 693

132,602 484,085 660,762 368,303 953,304 559,185 549,615

325 549 537 424 327 414 554

81 79 1,066 213 224 264 54

102 78 1,121 330 144 1,917 29

302,146 1,127,769 17,926 13,294 58,411 133,253 429,149

910 824 1,279 1,046 412 733 237

118 105 357 125 192 157 56

News

Tuesday, March 31, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Nigerian charcoal exporters lose N79bn to fraudsters CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

porters and exporters) pursue their cargo claims, showed that the exporters were yet to get paid for the supply of 149 containers of the commodity to fraudulent importers in the five European Union countries in the last five years. Details of the statistics showed that the charcoal exporters were owed a total of 100, 495 Euros in Germany, 110, 699 Euros in Spain, 16, 446 Euros, $9, 162 and 17, 720 Pounds in Poland. Others include, 133, 842 Euros in the Netherlands, 3, 960 Euros in Belgium and 17, 720 Pounds Sterling in Italy, bringing to a total of 365, 442 Euros, $9, 165 and 17, 720 Pounds (N78.9bn). Secretary to the Fund, Azuka Ogo, who confirmed the losses, said that the development was partly caused by the inability of the exporters to properly document their transactions, lack of awareness and fraudulent nature of the importers, who cashed in on the ignorance of the exporters to their advantage. In addition to this, the CDF-boss noted that many of the exporters lost money genuinely due to the poor quality of their products, saying that many of the products could not pass the European Union’s quality assessment test and so had to be rejected even after the exporters had spend money on preparing and shipping the consignments. On measures put in place by the fund to minimise these losses, she noted that the greatest challenge faced by most exporters is their inability to engage experts to properly document their transactions. According to her, the Fund will continually liaise with relevant government agencies, such as the NEXIM Bank and the Nigerian Export Promotion Council, NEPC, to enable exporters successfully export their consignments and also repatriate their proceeds from such trade. She also noted that despite these efforts, many of the exporters do not

seek guidance and direction in documenting their transactions, a development some fraudulent buyers have taken undue advantage of to cheat and exploit them. Ogo said that, even after serious warnings, many of the exporters

still use the Open Account payment option for their transactions instead of Letter of Credit, which is recommended for all genuine and legal international trade transactions. “We always advise them to use Letters of

Credit, but many of them do what is called ‘Open Account’ where you have to send the Bill of Laden to the buyer and he takes the document, which is in his possession, use it to clear the goods and if he is dishonest, he may not pay you.

“But if it is a Letter of Credit, once the document gets to the foreign bank through the Nigerian bank, they will release payment because the document shows that you have shipped. “So your bank will send the bill of laden to

the buyer’s bank. Before the goods get to the port of destination, the buyer’s bank is compelled to release the payment because it is an agreement between the banks so we advise the exporters to use the LOC payment method,” she said.

L-R: INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega; INEC Returning Officer for Ogun State, Prof. Adebiyi Daramola; Personal Assistant to INEC Chairman, Mr. Abdullahi Usman and INEC Commissioner in Charge of Information, Dr. Chris Iyimoga, going through Ogun State result sheet at the National Collation Centre in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

Buhari leads Jonathan, wins in 10 states CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

than, after Independent National electoral Commission, INEC declared the presidential election results in 18 states and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT. The states which results were declared yesterday by INEC include: Ekiti, Ogun, Enugu, Kogi, Osun, Ondo and Oyo. Others were Nasarawa, Kano, Jigawa, katsina. Kwara, Kaduna, Anambra Abia, Akwa Ibom, Imo and Plateau states. Also from the results, Buhari and APC won outright in 10 states, polled the mandatory 25 percent in another five states and lost out in four states while President Jonathan won outright in 9 states,

polled the mandatory 25 per cent in five other states and lost outright in five states. In Kano State, Buhari polled 1,903,999 votes to Jonathan’s 215,779 votes, while Jonathan flatly defeated the APC candidate in Enugu, Abia and Anambra states with 553,003 to 14,157; 368,303 to 13,294 and 660,762 to 17,926 votes respectively. But General Buhari made up for the loss in his home state of Katsina, Kaduna and Jigawa states. In Katsina, the retired general polled 1,345,441 votes to defeat Jonathan, who polled 98,937 votes, while in Kaduna, Buhari polled 1,127,769 votes against Jonathan’s 484,085 and 885,988 votes against

Jonathan’s 142,904 votes in Jigawa State. In the South-West, where results for five states have been declared, Jonathan managed to win in Ekiti, where he polled 176,466 votes to Buhari’s 120,331. President Jonathan lost in Ogun, Oyo, Ondo and Osun states, although he secured the constitutionally required 25 per cent in those states.. The President also lost in Kogi, where he polled 149,987 votes to Buhari’s 264,851 votes. Jonathan also lost in Kwara state, where he garnered 132,602 votes as against Buhari’s 302,146 votes. He, however defeated Buhari in Nasarawa State, where he polled 273,460 votes against Bu-

hari’s 236,838. It was a close shave in the FCT, where Jonathan polled 157,195 votes to defeat Buhari who polled 146,399 votes, while in Akwa Ibom, Imo and Plateau states, President Jonathan polled 953,304 votes against Buhari’s 58,411; 559,185 votes against 133,253 votes and 549,615 against 429,149 votes respectively. As at the time of filing this report, INEC had closed for the day while it was expected that the commission would resume announcing the results today, as states collating officers were said to be on their way to Abuja for the official announcements of the results. Other states being ex-

pected yesterday include the five South-South states of Delta, Edo, Rivers, Cross River and Bayelsa, the President’s home state. Three states were yet to be declared in the NorthWest. They are: Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara, while only Ebonyi State is left in South-East. All six states of the North-East, Adamawa, Yobe, Taraba, Bauchi, Gombe and Borno and North-Central states of Benue and Niger are yet to be declared. Lagos State is the only one being expected in the South-West. The results as declared has made this election the most keenly contested in the annals of Nigeria’s election.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Photo News

Tuesday, March 31, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Executive Director, Policy and Advocacy Centre, Mr. Clement Nwankwo (right) and National Coordinator, Independent Election Monitoring Group, Mr. Festus Okoye, during a news conference by the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room on 2015 Presidential and National Assembly elections in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

Former Malawian President and Head, Commonwealth Election Observer Group, Dr. Bakili Muluzi (left) and member of the group, Ms. Katalaina Sapolu briefing newsmen on the 2015 Presidential and National Assembly elections in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

Chief Observer, European Union Election Observation Mission, Mr. Santiago Fisas (right) and Assistant Chief, Hannah Roberts, during a news conference on 2015 presidential and National Assembly elections in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

Co-Chairs, National Democratic Institute (NDI), Amb. Johnnie Carson (right) and Chris Fumunyoh, during a news conference by the institute on the 2015 Presidential and National Assembly elections in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

National News

Troops rescue captive women, children from Gwoza ...discover bomb factory, capture arms

Ubong Ukpong and gloria Usman

he military in a mop up operation in Gwoza, Borno State, yesterday rescued women and children, including elderly persons locked up by fleeing Boko Haram insurgents. A statement by Defence Headquarters, DHQ, through Director of Defence Information, DDI, Maj-Gen. Chris Olukolade, also confirmed discovery of a bomb-making factory in the town, as well as the capture of a large cache of arms abandoned by fleeing insurgents in Bama, also in Borno State. Gwoza, which was the stronghold and headquarters of Boko Haram, was reclaimed last Friday by Nigerian troops, who destroyed the administrative headquarters of the sect. DHQ in the statement

said: “A number of women, the elderly and children, who were locked up by fleeing terrorists in Gwoza, have been set free by troops as cordon and search along with mopping up operations continue in the town. “The freed hostages, some of whom are so weak, are being given medical attention, while others are also receiving necessary care pending the arrival and activities of aid agencies. “Some of them are also providing useful information for the intelligence in aid of troops operations in the area. “In another development, a building, which had been converted to a bomb making factory have been unearthed by troops in the course of ongoing mopping up operations in Gwoza. “The facility, which was being used for the manu-

facture of various calibres of Improvised Explosive Devices, IEDs, is still being carefully evacuated of dangerous materials. “Massive destruction of infrastructure and property, including blowing up of bridges and burnt houses, including Emir’s Palace has also been noticeable. “Troops are also carefully removing land mines placed in various parts of the town. “In Bama also in Borno State, troops on routine patrol in the suburbs this morning (yesterday), recovered a large number of rifles and various arms believed to have been abandoned by terrorists who fled the area when troops were advancing to flush them of the town recently.” Bama was liberated on March 16, and troops were said to have since been dominating the town with aggressive patrols to de-

fend it against any further attack. Meanwhile, the Federal Government has commenced massive distribution of relief supports through the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA to Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, who have returned to their communities recently liberated in Adamawa State. A statement by the agency said the distribution was launched by Vice President Namadi Sambo in Mubi. Sambo said the relief distribution would be continuous in all communities affected by insurgency as part of renewed efforts by the Federal Government to restore normalcy, rehabilitate affected persons and reconstruct damaged infrastructure. Sambo, who was represented by the Deputy Governor of Adamawa

State Alhaji Sa’ad Tahir assured the commitment of the Federal Government to strengthen security in the areas through adequate support for the military deployed to wardoff the insurgents. He identified some of the strategies adopted by the government for the areas to include proper equipping of security, relief distribution to affected persons through NEMA, setting up of the Presidential Initiative for the North East, the Safe School Initiative and the Victims Support Fund among others. Receiving the items on behalf of the returnees, Emir of Mubi, Alhaji Isa Ahmadu, appreciated the Federal Government for the prompt delivery of the needed materials to his people. He said the liberation of the communities had seen the return of many

residents back to their homes. He thanked the military for their gallantry in the continuous maintenance of security in the area. The Director General of NEMA, Muhammad Sani Sidi explained that the Federal Government has also constituted a special team to undertake a comprehensive damage and loss assessment that will serve as a guide for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the communities as well as restoration of the means of livelihood of the people. Sani Sidi also assured the continued commitment of NEMA to support people affected by disasters in the country, including the displaced. The relief support consist of food and non food items, including bags of rice, maize, building materials, blankets and several other household items.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

News

Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Elections: Don’t tamper with results, US, UK caution FG GEORGE OJI ABUJA

nited States of America and the United Kingdom yesterday cautioned the Federal Government against any attempts at tampering with the out-

come of Saturday’s presidential and National Assembly elections. The two countries, however, expressed satisfaction at the peaceful conduct of the elections and commended Nigerians for turning out en mass to participate at the

polls. In a joint statement by the U.S. Secretary of State, John Kerry and his UK counterpart, Philip Hammond, the two countries said they would be concerned by any attempt to undermine the will of Nigerians expressed

through the polls. “The Governments of the United States and the United Kingdom would be very concerned by any attempts to undermine the independence of the Electoral Commission, INEC, or its Chairman, Professor Jega; or in any

way distort the expressed will of the Nigerian people,” the statement said. The statement noted that the US and the UK welcome the largely peaceful vote, which demonstrated that the Nigerian people have shown a commendable determination to register their vote and choose their leaders. “So far, we have seen no evidence of systemic manipulation of the process, the statement said.

It also expressed concerns that, “there are disturbing indications that the collation process—where the votes are finally counted—may be subject to deliberate political interference.” According to them any attempt at interfering with the collation of the results, “would contravene the letter and spirit of the Abuja Accord, to which both major parties committed themselves.”

Govt imposes curfew in Rivers DENNIS NAKU

PORT HARCOURT

R Closed shops at Wuse Market in Abuja, yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

ivers State Government has announced a curfew in Port Harcourt, beginning from yesterday. The Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Mr.

Boko Haram not able to disrupt electoral process in Nigeria –Chambas

he of Head of the UN West Africa Office, Mohammed Ibn Chambas, said Boko Haram insurgents were unable to disrupt the electoral process in Nigeria, following the regional forces’ involvement in the country. Briefing the UN Security Council via videoconference yesterday in New York, he said that the group’s control had been reduced to only a few areas. However, he said its violence and brutality had intensified, including through the use of children as suicide bombers and human shields and that its reported allegiance to the Islamic State showed that its agenda went well beyond Nigeria. In light of recent elections in Nigeria, which the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, reported as having been free and transparent, he said, the legitimacy of the next government would be essential for the country’s long-term stability. He expressed the hope that government would remain engaged in the fight against Boko Haram. As for the role of the international community, he said it should play an important part in addressing the root causes of terrorism in a way that put respect for human

life and dignity first. The Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Office for West Africa said it was clear that a military approach alone would not suffice to contain the threat. Although several key towns had been recaptured, as well as Boko Haram’s headquarters, and the terrorist group held only a few areas, he said its attacks had intensified. A recent report of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, OHCHR, he noted, showed that Boko Haram had committed numerous human rights abuses, including abductions, looting and slaughtering of communities. Following an attack in February, he said, reports had shown that the armed group was forcibly recruiting boys and men. Chambas said of particular concern were children, who had been targeted for abduction and forced recruitment, with reports of young people being used as suicide bombers. In response to those and other concerns, he said, the United Nations was in the process of scaling up its presence and operations in Niger, Cameroon and the Lake

Chad Basin region. The Special Representative said a hands-on approach was needed, as well as resources for implementation. He noted that the United Nations would support regional efforts, including those led by the Lake Chad Basin Commission. Chambas said counterterrorist operations that were perceived by affected populations as being brutal would violate the norms

represented by the United Nations. He said a joint task force must abide by the rule of law and international standards, which was an effective strategy to ensure that communities supported the authorities fighting Boko Haram instead of fostering the insurgents. Also in her briefing to the Council, Ms Kyung-Wha Kang, Assistant SecretaryGeneral for Humanitarian Affairs, on behalf of Valerie

Amos, Under-Secretary-General and Emergency Relief Coordinator, said the violent conflict in north-eastern Nigeria had forcibly displaced at least 1.5 million people in Nigeria and neighbouring countries. Kyung-Wha added that as many as three million people in northern Nigeria would not be able to meet their basic food needs after July 2015 unless they received welltargeted humanitarian assistance.

REG. VOTERS ACCREDITED TOTAL VOTES

VALID

REJECTED

723,253 1,709,409

594,975

1,350,883 1,378,113 1,501,549 886,573

476,839 683,169 618,040 344,056

1,222,054

562,959

309,445 559,613 585,632 439,287 663,373 582,435 316,015 928,606 521,641

300,691 533,172 573,173 421,328 642,615 561,056 306,805 881,352 511,547

8,754 26,442 12,459 17,959 20,758 21,379 9,210 47,254 10,094

4,943,862 1,815,839 2,842,741

2,364,434 1,153,428 1,578,646

2,172,447 1,071,889 1,481,714

2,128,821 1,037,564 1,449,426

43,626 34,325 32,288

1,181,032 3,361,793 1,963,427 1,349,134

489,360 1,746,031 774,430 442,538

461,401 1,650,201 703,409 401,049

440,080 1,617,482 688,584 391,045

21,321 32,719 14,825 10,004

George Feyii, who made the announcement, said the development was due to the political situation in the state. Feyii said the curfew begins from 7pm to 6pm. But when contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Ahmad Mohammad said the command was not aware of the curfew. Ahmad in a text message to our reporter said: “The Command is not aware of any curfew and we (police) will not enforce it.” The curfew may not be unconnected with the tense political situation in the state.

STATES BEING EXPECTED

Delta Cross River Rivers Sokoto Edo Ebonyi Kebbi Zamfara Bauchi Niger Benue Lagos Bayelsa Gombe Taraba Adamawa Borno Yobe

Election News

Makarfi loses, as APC sweeps northern Kaduna

ll Progressives Congress, APC, has won the Senate and all the six House of Representatives seats in Northern Kaduna Senatorial District, the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, reports. Incumbent Senator for the area, Senator Ahmed Makarfi of PDP was defeated by Alhaji Suleiman Hunkuyi of APC. The Returning Officer for the senatorial district, Professor Haruna Kaita, announced that Hunkuyi secured 447, 919 votes to defeat Makarfi, who had 136,197 votes. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Hunkuyi won with the highest number of votes and satisfied all requirements of the law and is hereby returned as duly elected senator for Northern Kaduna Senatorial District,'' he said. NAN reports that Hunkuyi had served as commissioner under Makarfi when he was the governor of Kaduna State from 1999 to 2007. In the results declared for the House of Representatives, the APC won in all the six federal constituencies in the zone with wide margins. In Ikara, the Returning Officer, Mr Abdullahi Ahmed declared Yusuf Bala-Ikara of APC winner for Ikara/Kubau federal constituency. He said Bala-Ikara won with 97,053 votes to defeat his closest rival, Alhaji Tsoho Kargi of PDP who scored 27,921 votes.

In Zaria, the Returning Officer, Dr Aminu Yusuf said the incumbent, Dr Abbass Tajuddeen of APC emerged winner with 116, 295 votes. He defeated Alhaji Ibrahim Umar-Rabagaddama of PDP who got 11,336 votes and Magaji Baba of AGC who scored 595 votes. Professor Batholomy Nwagu, the Returning Officer for Sabongari federal constituency said the incumbent, Mohammed Datti-Babawo of APC won with 65,329 votes to defeat Hadiza Mohammed of PDP, who polled 18,092 votes, and Musa Sale of APGA with 182 votes. The Returning Officer for Soba constituency, Dr Yahaya Sani declared Mohammed Musa-Soba of APC winner with 52,701 votes, to defeat the incumbent member, Ibrahim Khalid of PDP who got 10,529 votes and Aliyu Sa'idu of Labour Party, who had two votes. Also, the APC candidate for Lere federal constituency Alhaji Lawal Mohammed-Rabi'u scored 55,654 to emerge winner. The Returning Officer, Dr Ibrahim Adamu, said the APC candidate defeated the incumbent member of the House of Representatives for the area, Alhaji Ibrahim Nuhu of PDP who scored 39,566 votes. Similarly, Alhaji Mohammed Usman of APC won the Makarfi/Kudan federal constituency seat, to defeat a former speaker of the state assembly, Alhaji Ahmed Jumare of PDP.

Zaynab Kure suffers defeat PRISCILLA DENNIS MINNA

wo term legislator and Maritime Transport Senate Committee Chairman, Senator Zaynab Kure failed in her aspiration to return to Niger South Senatorial seat in the national assembly to All Progressive Congress candidate. She lost with 64,107 votes to 164,250 votes of General Mohammed Garba of APC. According to the Independent National Electoral

Commission, INEC, returning officer for Niger South Senatorial district election, Professor Hussani Anthony Makun, in Bida, yesterday morning, said the APC candidate, Gen. Mohammed Garba won the election.

Senator Zaynab Kure

Tuesday, March 31, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Mark retains seat for fifth time HENRY IYORKASE MAKURDI

enate President, David Mark, has for the fifth time retained his Benue South Senatorial seat which he has held for four previous elections in the National Assembly. Declaring the result yesterday in Otukpo, Benue State, the INEC

Returning Officer for the election, Professor Latif Tiamiyu, said Mark polled 99,538 votes to beat Daniel Onjeh of the APC, who scored 50,115 to retain his seat the Senate. Tiamiyu expressed satisfaction with the electorates for the orderly manner they conducted themselves dur-

ing the election saying the exercise was free, transparent and devoid of any misconduct. Benue South senatorial seat consists of 9 local government areas councils and the second largest tribe in the state. With the re-election, Mark is set to represent the zone in the National Assembly for the fifth

time, having represented it for the past 16 years thereby becoming one of the oldest in the senate since inception of democratic rule. Results of other Senatorial zones of Benue North West and North East is being collated in the 14 local governments of Tiv speaking areas.

L-R: AU Commissioner, Amb. Aisha Labara; Head of Commonwealth Observers/former President Balkili Muluzi of Malawi; Head of ECOWAS Foreign Observers/former President John Kuffour of Ghana; President Goodluck Jonathan; Head of AU Observers and former Liberia President Amos Sawyer; Vice-President Namadi Sambo, and ECOWAS Commissioner, Hajiya Salamatu Suleiman, after a meeting with President Jonathan in Abuja, yesterday.

APC candidates win Bauchi Central, North

he APC candidate for Bauchi Central Senatorial District, Malam Isa Hamma, has been declared winner of the senatorial election in the zone. Declaring the result in Darazo, the District Collation Officer, Dr Mohammed Salisu, said Hamma scored 208,741 votes to defeat Senator Abdul Ningi of the PDP, who scored 57,172 votes and Mr Inuwa Nasaru of MPPP, who polled 1010 votes. Salisu said 272,964 votes were cast, out of which

266,923 were valid and 6041 invalid. The APC candidate for Darazo/Ganjuwa Federal Constituency, Malam Haliru Jika, also emerged winner for the constituency, garnering 78,243 votes, to defeat four other candidates. Almustapha Hamma of PDP emerged the runner-up with 13,413 votes, Kashim Mohammed of SDP polled 328 votes, Umar Abubakar of PDM secured 42 votes, while Mrs Hadiza Haruna scored 16 votes. Also, Senator Suleiman

Nazif of APC won the Bauchi North Senatorial District seat. Declaring the result in Azare, headquarters of the District on Monday, the INEC Returning Officer for the Senatorial election in the Zone, Dr Muhammed Adamu said that Nazif polled 197,919 votes, to beat his opponents, Alhaji Faruq Mustapha of the Peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Democratic Party (PDP) and Okolo Jujiana of the NPPP, who scored 97,047 and 974 votes respectively. In another develop-

ment, Alhaji Ibrahim Muhammed-Baba of the All Progressive Congress, APC, has won the Katagum Federal Constituency House of Representatives election. Returning Officer for the House of Representatives election in the constituency, Mohammed Mohammed, declaration on Monday in Azare that Muhammed-Baba polled 38,151 votes to defeat his opponent, Alhaji Awalu Gwalabe of the Peoples' Democratic Party, PDP, who scored 23,535 votes.

Wamakko wins Sokoto Central Senatorial seat

okoto State Governor, Aliyu Wamakko has won the Sokoto Central senatorial zone seat under the APC with a total of 225,642 votes. The INEC Returning Officer for Sokoto Central zone, Professor Abdullateef Femi, who announced the result said that Wamakko defeated incumbent Senator Ahmed Maccido of PDP who got 65,692 votes.

Femi also declared that the incumbent member of the House of Representatives for Sokoto Central zone, Alhaji Umar Bature of the PDP also lost his seat. Bature polled 24,788 votes as against APC's Bala Hassan who clinched 85,512 votes to win the election. In the Kware/Wamakko Federal Constituency, the INEC Returning Officer, Dr Muhammad Sani, an-

nounced that the incumbent Alhaji Abdullahi Wamakko of APC retained his seat with 67,231 votes while PDP's candidate Gado Yusuf got 14,216 votes. In Illela/Gwadabawa Federal Constituency, the INEC Returning Officer, Professor Bello Zaki, announced that the incumbent member, Abdullahi Salame of APC also won with 64,144 votes, while his

PDP counterpart, Ibrahim Yahayya, polled a total of 15,930 votes. In Sabon Birni/Isa Federal Constituency, APC's Sani Isa won with 85,512 votes to beat PDP's Sagir Bafarawa, who got 24,788. NAN also reports that the results for the Sokoto East and Sokoto South senatorial zones, as well as six remaining federal constituencies were being awaited.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Election News

Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Kwankwaso wins, Lawan loses as APC sweeps Rep seats ABDULGAFAR OLADIMEJI KANO

ano State Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, has been declared winner of Kano Central senatorial seat on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC. The APC candidate for Kano North, Barau Jubrin Maliya, was also pronounced winner in Kano North senatorial contest. The Independent Na-

tional Electoral Commission, INEC, returning officer for Kano Central senatorial elections, Prof Aminu Suleman, declared Kwankwaso senator-elect, having scored 758,383 votes. The candidate of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and serving senator, Bashir Lado, came as runner-up, polling 205,809 votes, the returning officer stated. The senator representing Kano North senato-

Melaye wins Kogi west senatorial seat

…Adeyemi, Aidoko, Abatemi out

WALE IBRAHIM LOKOJA

ndependent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has declared former House of Representatives member, Dino Melaye, as winner of Kogi West Senatorial district seat. Melaye scored 41,126 votes to defeat incumbent Senator Smart Adeyemi that polled 38,148 votes to come second. Following the results, all three incumbent senators in the state, Adeyemi representing Kogi West, Senator Attai Aidoko for the East and Senator Nurudeen Abatemi, who contested on the platform of PPA, lost their bid to return to the National Assembly. However, three House of Representatives members won during the contest. In a related development, APC candidate for Kogi

central senatorial district, Senator Mohammed Ohiare, won with wide margin, polling 55,776 votes. The PDP candidate and former Okene local council chairman, Hammed Salihu Ogembe, scored 42,738 votes to come a close second. It was reliably gathered that APC candidate, Abdulrahman Abdullahi, defeated the incumbent senator, Attai Aidoko Ali, by polling 98,994 to 88,984 votes. Earlier, the Kogi State Returning Officer for the presidential election, Prof Michael Adukwu, announced that the APC presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, scored 264,851 votes to lead the PDP candidate, President Goodluck Jonathan who scored 149,937 votes in the state. The presidential result in Kogi showed that APC had won in 15 wards against PDP’s six.

APC candidates defeat incumbent senators in Oyo KEMI OLAITAN IBADAN

ll Progressives Congress, APC, candidates have cleared the three senatorial seats in Oyo State in Saturday’s election, defeating three incumbent senators from the state. APC candidate for Oyo South Senatorial district, Soji Akanbi, defeated Senator Olufemi Lanlehin, formerly of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, who defected to Accord Party last December.

Senator Ayoade Adeseun, who defected from APC to PDP, lost Oyo Central senatorial seat to the incumbent House of Assembly Speaker, Monsurat Sunmonu, while Fatai Buhari, former member, House of Representatives, won Oyo North senatorial seat to beat incumbent Senator, PDP’s Hosea Agboola, who is Deputy Whip in the Upper Chamber. Of 14 House of Representative seats in the state, the APC won 12 while LP and PDP have one each.

rial district, Bello Hayatu Gwarzo, suffered electoral defeat at the hands of APC candidate, Barau Jubrin Maliya, who polled 381,393 votes against 107,845 ballots secured by the PDP senator. The returning officer for Kano North, Prof Ibrahim Rufai declared Maliya as the senator-elect representing Kano North. Meanwhile, the APC has captured 23 of the 24

seats for the House of Representatives. The results returned by the electoral umpire, INEC at the constituency level, stated that APC clinched 23 out of the 24 seats available. According to the results released, APC candidates won the federal constituency slots to represent the following constituencies, Rano-KibiyaBunkure, Karaye –Rogo, Dala, Nas-

sarawa, Fagge, Dawakin Tofa-Tofa, Kura-MadobiGarun Mallam, and Ungogo-Minjibir. Others are BagwaiShanono, Gwarzo-Kabo, Kunchi-Tsanyawa, TakaiSumaila, Tarauni, Gezawa- Gabasawa, Bichi, Danbatta-Makwoda, Tudun Wada-Doguwa, Dawakin Kudu-Warawa, Kano Municipal Council, Kumbotso, Gwale, Kiru-Bebeji and Wudil-Garko.

National Mirror reports that renowned lawmaker in House of Representatives, Faruk Lawan, joined the pool of serving lawmakers who lost at the polls. Faruk, who represents Bagwai-Shanono federal constituency, on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, acquired 18,864, while candidate of the rival APC scored 48,548 to emerge the winner.

Ekwunife wins Anambra Central

ndependent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has declared Mrs Uche Ekwunife of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, winner of Anambra Central senatorial poll conducted on Saturday. Declaring the result on Monday in Awka, Returning Officer, Dr Pius Okoye, said Ekwunife polled 101,548 votes to defeat 14 other candidates. Okoye, a lecturer at the

Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, said Victor Umeh of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, garnered 77,129 votes to come second, while Chris Ngige of All Progressives Congress, APC, placed third with 20,850 votes. Chief Anayo Nweke of African Democratic Congress, ADC, came fourth with 227 votes. The lecturer commended the candidates for their peaceful disposi-

Katsina APC claims 3 senatorial seats …deputy gov, speaker lose

ll Progressives Congress, APC, has won with wide margins, all three senatorial seats in Katsina State at the concluded National Assembly elections. The News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, reports that in Katsina Central, the Returning Officer, Prof. Aminu Dalhatu, said the APC candidate, Umar Ibrahim, polled 375,360 votes to defeat Lamis Dikko of PDP, who got 77,323 votes. In Katsina North, the returning officer, Prof. Rashid Hamid, declared that APC candidate, Mustapha Bukar, scored 308,041 votes to emerge winner. Bukar defeated PDP candidate and Speaker of Katsina State House of Assembly, Ya’u Gwajo-gwajo, who secured 102,892 votes. In Katsina South, the returning officer, Prof. Hamza Mani, said the APC candidate, who is the Senate Minority Whip, Abu Ibrahim, polled

409,642 votes to emerge victorious. He defeated the state deputy governor, Abdullahi Faskari of PDP who scored 100,364 votes. In a related development, APC has won Daura/Sandamu/Mai’adua Federal Constituency. The returning officer, Prof. Rashid Hamid, said the APC candidate, Sani Saidu-Fago, a former Speaker of the state Assembly, polled 29,137 votes to emerge winner. Hamid said Saidu-Fago defeated Sani Lawal of PDP, who scored 9,948 votes during the election. In Kankia/Kusada/ Ingawa Federal Constituency, the returning officer, Dr. Lawal Abdu-Saulawa, said APC candidate, Ahmed Babba, polled 65,768 votes to emerge winner. Saulawa said Babba, the incumbent member for the area, defeated PDP’s Sada Yakubu who scored 16,797 votes.

tion during collation of results. Reacting to the results, Ekwunife, who currently represents Anaocha, Njikoka and Dunukofia Federal Constituency, described the outcome as “victory for the masses.” In a statement signed by her media assistant, Mr Emmanuel Uzor, Ekwunife urged her opponents to sheathe their swords and accept her victory in good faith. She commended the people of Anambra Central Senatorial zone for electing her and assured she would consolidate on the confidence reposed

in electing her to the Red Chambers. Earlier, the APC candidate, Senator Ngige, had expressed dissatisfaction with the conduct of the Presidential and National Assembly elections and called for its cancellation in the state. Ngige, who refused to cast his vote on Saturday, noted that “the entire electoral process in the state was given an open ended system that allowed for rigging.” The APGA candidate, Chief Umeh, said the party would react in due course, adding that it was still studying the result announced by INEC.

Election News

Tuesday, March 31, 2015

PDP sweeps NASS poll in Rivers dennis naku

PORT HARCOURT

eoples Democratic Party, PDP, has been declared winner of the National Assembly seats in Rivers State. Rivers State returning officer and Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun, Professor John Ovwata Etu-Efeotor, disclosed this to newsmen at INEC head

office in Port Harcourt yesterday. In Rivers East, incumbent Senator, George Sekibo, won with 662,278, while the APC candidate, Andrew Uchendu, scored 52,064 votes. In the Rivers South East, Olaka Nwogu of the PDP polled 408,353 to emerge winner, while incumbent Senator Magnus Abe of the APC scored 23,052. PDP candidate in Riv-

ers West, Osinakachukwu Ideozu won the election by polling 279,745, while Speaker of Rivers State House of Assembly, Otelemaba Amachree of APC scored 23,052 votes. Five members of the House of Representatives, namely: Mrs. Betty Apiafi (Abua/Odual/Ahoada East) Kingsley Chinda (ObioAkpor), Kenneth Chikere (Port Harcourt 1), Blessing Nsiegbe (Port Harcourt 2)

and Gogo Bright Tamuno (Okrika/Ogu-Bolo) were reelected. The remaining eight new members elected are Uche Nnam Obi (Ahoada West/ Ogba/Egbema/ Ndoni), Jacobson Nbina (Tai/Eleme/ Oyibo), Randolph Brown (Bonny/Degema), Boma Goodhead (Akuku-Toru/ Asari Toru), Dumna Dekor (Khana/Gokana), and Emekenegwa Sunday (Ikwerre/ Emohua).

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

APC wins Jigawa north-east senatorial seat

lhaji Ubali Shitu of All Progressives Congress, APC, has emerged winner of Jigawa north-east senatorial election. News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, reports that Shitu won the election by defeating two other candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and Peoples Democratic Movement, PDM. Declaring the result, the Returning Officer, Professor Adamu Usman, said Shitu scored 193,960 votes

to win the election. Usman said Alhaji Ahmad Sarawa of the PDP polled 97,196 votes while Alhaji Ahmed Kaugama of the PDM scored 1,266 votes. NAN reports that Sarawa is the current Speaker of the Jigawa State House of Assembly. The Jigawa north-east senatorial zone comprises eight local government areas including Auya, Birniwa and Guri, Kafin-Hausa, Kaugama, Kirikasamma, Malammadori and Hadejia.

Fashola allays fear of violence in Lagos Francis suBeru

Roof of Apata Grammar School, Logudu, Bembo area of Apata, damaged by rainstorm in Ibadan, yesterday.

James aBraham JOS

eoples Democratic Party, PDP, candidate, Governor Jonah Jang, was yesterday declared winner for Plateau North Senatorial election conducted on March 28. But the APC candidate for Jos North/Bassa Federal constituency, Hon Suleiman Kwande, however, won the seat for the constituency. Kwande scored 137,349 votes to defeat seven other candidates, including PDP candidate, Chris Hassan, who polled 95,515 votes. The result was announced yesterday by the Returning Officer, Dr Thomaus Olayiwola. In the Senatorial results, Jang scored 234,455 votes to defeat 17 other candidates, including his closest rival, Mrs Eunice Ayisa Sambo, of the All Progressives Congress, APC, who polled 221,274 votes. INEC Returning Officer for the Senatorial District, Professor Rotgak Gofwen, declared Jang winner late afternoon yesterday at the Jos North Council Secretariat,

PHOTO: NAN

Jang wins Plateau North

which served as Collation Centre for the district, which comprises six local government areas, including Jos East, Jos South, Riyom, Jos North, Barki Ladi and Bas-

sa. The declaration of the results which was signed by other party agents was however rejected by the APC agent, Mr Santos Ayuba

Larab, who alleged irregularities in the collation of the results citing Heipang ward in Barki Ladi LGA and the whole of Jos South Local Government.

APC wins 3 senatorial, 7 Reps seats in Osun Boladale BamigBola OSOGBO

ll Progressives Congress, APC, won all 3 senatorial districts and 7 House of Representatives seats out of available 9 in Osun State. According to comprehensive results of the National Assembly and presidential polls held in the state, signed by the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr. Adekunle Ogunmola, and released to newsmen in Osogbo yesterday, both incumbent Senators Babajide Omoworare and Sola Adeyeye from Osun East and Central, respectively, were re-elected. The two federal lawmakers defeated Prince Francis Fadahunshi and Dr. Daisi

Aina, both of PDP in their respective senatorial districts. Former governor, Isiaka Adeleke, APC candidate for Osun West, also defeated Chief Akinlabi Olasunkanmi of PDP, by 133,009 to 79, 296 votes.

Both Nathaniel Agunbiade and Rotimi Makinde of APC, representing Obokun/ Oriade and Ife Federal Constituencies, lost to Wole Oke and Albert Adeogun of PDP. The rest 7 House of Representatives seats were won by APC.

agos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, on Monday allayed fears of political conflagration in the state in the aftermath of polls results announcement, saying the state was safe for residents. The governor, who swiftly reacted to rumour that he had given a stay at home order due to security reports available to him, urged residents to ignore the rumour. He said: "I didn’t issue the statement. I must commend residents of Lagos for comporting themselves peacefully to perform their civic responsibility. And in almost eight years, I have never issued a directive as far as government work is concerned by social media. “Things like work-free day or security issues have never been issued by me through social media. Rather, we have always resorted to making broadcast in person or I ask the Head of Service to issue circular, or I ask the Commissioner for Information and Strat-

egy to make announcement on the state broadcast stations. “That will not change. At this time, there is understandably some anxiety in the country. So, people must know that nothing will change. They must ignore stories emanating from our government through social media. They will be issued in the traditional ways - Radio, Television or through Press Statement. It is very possible for the social media to pick it from these mediums. “It is unfortunate that some people at this time tried to create tension for whatever reasons known to them. But this is the time that residents of Lagos should be happy that we have crossed the first hurdle of the election and we are going through the next process which is counting and collating of the results. People should remain calm.” Fashola said there is no incident of insecurity in the state, affirming that,” The state is safe. Residents should go about their lawful businesses; there is no cause to fear.”

Accord, others seek cancellation of Oyo election kemi olaitan IBADAN

he last may not have been heard about last Saturday's elections in Oyo State, as protests yesterday rocked INEC office headquarters on Parliament Road, Secretariat, Ibadan, when supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party, Social Democratic Party, Labour Party and

Accord besieged the area, chanting anti-commission slogans over outcome of the Presidential and National Assembly elections in the state. This came as Accord Party leader and gubernatorial candidate, Senator Rasheed Ladoja, called for cancellation of the election, saying it was full of irregularities and breached Electoral Act. During the protest, cardbearing supporters in their

hundreds alleged that the Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Ambassador Rufus Akeju, was partisan and unfair to other major political parties that took part in both presidential and parliamentary elections. The protesters who were in two batches were civil and orderly in their protest as security agents manning the INEC office stood strategically to forestall any breakdown

of law and order. The spokesman of the four parties, Dr. Maroof Akinwande, said they have met and agreed to jointly reject the outcome of the election. Recalling how he led protesters from across the parties to protest against Akeju's deployment to Oyo State in January, he stressed that, "with the outcome of this election which is frought with irregularities.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Election News

Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Post election: Jonathan meets AU, ECOWAS observers ROtimi Fadeyi ABUJA

head of the release of final result of the presidential election, President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday met with international observers on conduct of last Saturday’s general

elections in the country. The international observers were led by former Malawi President, Bakili Muluzi, who heads the Commonwealth team, former Liberian President of Interim Government of National Unity, Amos Sawyer, leading the African Union, AU, team and former Ghana-

ian President, John Kufuor, leading the ECOWAS team. Addressing State House Correspondents after the meeting, Kufuor commended Nigerians for conducting peaceful, transparent and credible elections. According to him, they came to give an interim

report of their observations during the elections. Kufuor said, “We appreciate that the processes are not yet done till the results are declared, then of course, the aftermath of the declaration. But we have come this far and we wanted to give an interim report to the authorities that mandated us to come

and to the world and to Nigerians in particular, to let everybody know that Nigeria so far has been at peace with the process. So, we appeal to Nigeria to continue in this mood throughout the entire process. “So that at the end of the day the people of Nigeria will be satisfied

with themselves that they used the process to get the government they want and deserve. “Nigeria succeeding will (benefit) not only Nigeria but also West Africa and the continent; we will all be made proud of the success achieved by Nigerians for themselves and for all of us.”

Commonwealth, EU, NDI warn against violence Omeiza ajayi ABUJA

L-R: Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor on Media, Mr. Hakeem Bello; Governor Babatunde Fashola and Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Lateef Ibirogba, during a press briefing informing Lagosians not to panic over rumour of post election violence from social media, in Lagos, yesterday.

Civil society okays poll processes UbOng UkpOng ABUJA

coalition of Civil Society Organisations, CSOs, in the country has adjudged the processes of the just concluded elections as more credible than 2011. The coalition of over 400 CSOs under the auspices of the Transition Monitoring Group, TMG, at a press briefing yesterday in Abuja, scored the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, 90 per cent in its performance in the processes, saying the pockets of incidents in the processes were insufficient to discredit the elections. Chairman of TMG, Ibrahim Zikirullahi, while briefing journalists, said TMG established a critical incident desk as part of its national information centre to receive urgent

messages from its 4,000 observers across the country. “Over the course of Election Day, TMG confirmed 512 incidents witnessed by its citizen observers. These reports came in relatively equal numbers from all zones with the exception of North East, which had fewer incidents. “The most frequent incident reported by TMG’s citizen observers related to late accreditation, card reader malfunction, and accreditation without the use of card reader, which ceased to be incident after INEC announcement changing the accreditation procedures, and late accreditation. “A relatively small number of incidents (less than 30) were reported related to the shortage of election materials, intimidation or harassment of poll official, campaigning or campaign materials near

polling units, and vote buying or bribery. Very few incidents were received about refusal to permit eligible observers into polling units (14), snatching of ballot boxes (10), and failure to post official results (14). None of these incidents were widespread enough to undermine the credibility of the process,” the chairman said. He added, “My score for INEC is on the conduct. We

will still score after result is released. We score them 90 per cent.” The group urged INEC to improve on the card readers in subsequent elections, and work towards electronic voting. It also commended the security operatives, saying they conducted themselves professionally, adding that there were issues in some places but they were not enough to generalise.

group of major international observers have appraised the conduct of Saturday’s National Assembly and Presidential Elections, commending Nigerians for their resoluteness despite several challenges that confronted the electoral process. They, however, warned politicians to rein in their supporters and avoid any resort to violence after announcement of the results. The groups, which announced their preliminary findings at separate news conferences in Abuja yesterday, urged aggrieved politicians to approach the judiciary for any redress. Chairperson of the Commonwealth Observer Group and former Malawi President, Dr Bakili Muluzi, said his group noted with concern the low percentage of women candidates in the elections. “We urge political parties to review the selection process to significantly increase the number of women in positions of leadership and decision making,” he said. He expressed concern

that persons performing election duty and essential services on polling day were unable to vote and were thus disenfranchised. While the Commonwealth team said campaign by political parties was highly competitive and the closest fought contest since the return of democracy in 1999, it expressed dismay at the tendency of some senior politicians, activists and party spokespersons who resorted to highly emotive rhetoric which could be regarded as incitement to violence. Muluzi specifically chided public-media outlets for being “clearly partisan”. “It was noted with concern that the flagship nightly television news on the Nigerian Television Authority, NTA, channel was completely dominated by reports of the incumbent party’s campaign rallies,” he said. Given the extent of the inflammatory campaign comments, editorial articles and advertisements appearing in the media, the group inferred that political parties simply ignored INEC’s 2013 Code of Conduct for Political Parties, which prohibits such activities.

INEC raises panel to probe Rivers elections Omeiza ajayi ABUJA

ndependent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has constituted a three-member committee to investigate Saturday’s election in Rivers State. This was contained in a statement issued in Abuja yesterday and made available to our correspondent.

The statement was signed by the commission’s secretary, Augusta Ogakwu. The All Progressives Congress, APC, had petitioned the commission on the conduct of the Presidential and National Assembly elections in the state, urging the commission to cancel the entire exercise. The INEC committee is therefore, mandated to

ascertain the veracity of the claims and allegations made by the party and advise the commission and Chief Electoral Commissioner, Prof. Attahiru Jega, who also doubles as Returning Officer for the Presidential Election. The committee is headed by National Commissioner in charge of Rivers, Mrs Thelma Iremirem, and supported by the duo of Col.

M.K. Hammanga and Prof. Lai Olurode. According to the statement, the team has already departed for Rivers and “it is expected that they will submit their report before end of the collation of results of the other states and the FCT.” The electoral body said it would take a decision on the matter after considering the report.

South West

Tuesday, March 31, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Ogun APC rejects Kashamu's senatorial victory

...To challenge result in court Femi OyewesO ABEOKUTA

gun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has rejected results of the National Assembly election held on Saturday in East Senatorial district of the state won by Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, candidate, Buruji Kashamu. The party alleged that the election results in some constituencies within the senatorial district were not a true reflection of the wishes of people. Addressing a press

conference yesterday in Abeokuta, the state capital, Deputy Director-General of SIA Governorship Campaign Organisation, Barr Bisi Adegbuyi, alleged that the election was marred with irregularities as voters were intimidated to cast votes for PDP candidates. Adegbuyi further alleged that results announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, were manipulated through a rigging machinery set up by Kashamu. “The APC hereby states that election in the

zone was marred by gross irregularities, inducement and intimidation of voters, manipulation and falsification of results. “We therefore, reject the results, particularly that from the East. We want the entire world to know that results as announced by INEC reflect predeter mined, manipulated and fictitious figures forged by a rigging machinery of PDP led by Kashamu." Adegbuyi, who said his party has "incontrovertible evidence" of manipulation that took place and

roles played by certain individuals during the elections, added that APC was determined to go to the election tribunal to challenge results of the zone, which he said ceded the Senate and two House of Representatives seats to PDP. “We will pursue this complaint to the highest level as permitted by the law of the land. However, we want to state categorically that this charade, falsehood and misrepresentation of the wishes of our people will not stand." Adegbuyi, however,

L-R: Widows of Ibadan businessman, late Alhaji Lamidi Lanihun; Amudalat; Muji and Sheri, at Lanihun's residence in Ibadan, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

Workers flee Lagos secretariat over suspected attack Francis suberu

here was pandemonium yesterday at Lagos State secretariat, Alausa - Ikeja over the rumour that the state government had ordered civil servants to take the day off following expected announcement of the presidential election result. The civil servants, fearing imminent violence, fled the secretariat, which is the seat of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC government in the state. Though the origin of the rumour could not be ascertained, some said the Chief of Staff asked the workers to go home based on a directive from Governor Babatunde Fashola. At around 12 - 1pm, the secretariat had been emptied of people.

No one could tell why he or she was running, only that they heard they were asked to go home because the APC was about to be announced winner in Lagos and that the situation might cause unrest and bring about an attack on the secretariat. There was confusion everywhere in the ensuing exit of the workers, as traffic gridlock quickly built up around the area. A top source at the Head of Service office however said no one asked civil servants to go home, nor was there any such official pronouncement. Special Adviser to the Governor on Media, Hakeem Bello, corroborated this saying no such directive was made by the governor or any other government official.

At the Ministry of Transportation, civil servants who wanted to flee were asked to stay back as the

management threatened to sanction anyone who ran away, as government did not ask anyone to go home.

appealed to the teeming supporters of the party to remain calm till their

grievances over the election were adequately addressed.

Police parades 24 suspected hoodlums in Oyo Kemi Olaitan IBADAN

yo State Police Command yesterday paraded 24 suspected hoodlums arrested by the security operatives in the state during the Presidential and National Assembly elections held on Saturday. According to the Commissioner of Police, Muhammadu Katsina, the suspects included members of a cult group that go by the name ‘One Million Boys’ in Mapo area of Ibadan. They were nabbed with dangerous weapons during the polls as they inflicted injuries on some innocent people, some of who are on admission in some hospitals. While speaking with journalists, the CP said the pandemonium attracted the attention of the police Special Force that engaged the hoodlums, leading to the arrest of 16 members of the gang and recovery of some of their weapons. The suspects included Patrick John, Olunloyo Ibrahim, Oluwafemi Adele, Adikpe Joseph, Olamide Abidemi, Ahmed Mukaila, Ramoni Saka, Ojo Adewale, Rasheed Afeez, Adeleke Shola, Adeleke Ibrahim, Adeleke Tunde, Adedapo Nurudeen, Dele Abu, Monsuru Olalekan and Akeem Monsuru. The police boss main-

tained that the Command’s pre-election efforts also led to the arrest of eight armed robbers that had earlier snatched a Toyota Camry from Madam Oluwafolakemi Fabodede in Akure, Ondo State. He added that the gangsters thereafter proceeded to Oyo State and attacked Joba Pharmacy and a filling station at Iroko along OyoIbadan road. As the gang tried to flee the scene, they were accosted and overpowered by the Ambush Squad of the Oyo Police Command. Investigations revealed that the leaders of the robbery gang, Boluwaji Olawumi, John Isaac and Fagboyegun Wale were among escapees from the Ekiti jailbreak of November 30, 2014, where they were awaiting trial for armed robbery and murder charges. One AK47 snatched from a serving policeman with other dangerous weapons were recovered from the gangsters. Other weapons comprised 10 Dane guns, one pump action, one cut-to-size, three single barrel guns and cartridges. Katsina then reiterated his earlier warning against any form of political thuggery in the state while declaring total war on them and their sponsors.

Oyo APC woos Folarin, Ladoja, Akala’s supporters Kemi Olaitan IBADAN

yo State chapter of All Progressives Congress, APC, has called on the followers of the governorship candidates of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Accord Party and Labour Party, Teslim Folarin, Rasheed Ladoja and Adebayo Alao-Akala respectively, to jump off “their sinking ships” ahead of the April 11 governorship election. The party, in a statement issued in Ibadan by the state Director of Publicity and Strategy, Olawale Sadare,

said the dismal outing of PDP, Accord and Labour Party candidates had clearly shown them as paperweight politicians. It also thanked people of the state for keeping faith with the party as demonstrated by its overwhelming victory during Saturday’s presidential and National Assembly elections. The party also counseled the gubernatorial candidate of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, Seyi Makinde, to join the winning team in order not to mortgage his political future. It further said the voting pattern of the elections had

clearly shown the people’s belief and support for the APCled administration of Governor Abiola Ajimobi as well as their political sophistication. “Besides, the outcome of the elections has shown that the people of the state will never again fall for the bait of propaganda, deceit, character assassination and reactionary politics for which the leading opposition parties’ candidates are known. “Now that the people of Oyo State have again shown their preference for the APC, we strongly advise the followers of Folarin, Ladoja and Akala to review their stance and jump off the turbulent

ship in order not to sink with them. “We equally want to counsel the standard bearer of the SDP in the April 11 governorship election, to reflect on his political future which will strongly believe will better be enhanced if he teams up with the APC now, along with his followers,’’ the party said. The party stated that the showing of Akala-led LP in parts of Ogbomoso out of the five zones of the state was further attestation to the party’s position that the ex-governor was only a local champion that lacks general appeal in the political matrix of the state.

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South East

Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Okorocha laments militarisation, election manipulation in Imo

…He is a liar —Army Commander Chris njoku OWERRI

mo State governor, Rochas Okorocha, yesterday cried foul over what he described as militarisation and manipulation of the presidential and National Assembly elections in the state. Addressing newsmen in Owerri, the state capital, the governor alleged that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, used the army to rig the election in its favour. According to him, the army became the electoral officers intimidating and conniving with collation

officers to manipulate the election results to favour PDP, and called for outright cancellation of the election particularly in Orsu, Isiala Mbano, Oru East, Ahaizu Mbaise, Ohaji Egbema, Aboh Mbaise and Ngor Okpalla where he claimed election did not hold. “Election did not hold in these areas, but it was shocking that the next day results were posted with the aid of the army. I am not saying the result of the election should be cancelled outright except for these areas where the results were manipulated,” he said. The governor also alleged

that the army attempted to assassinate him during the election at the weekend by “shooting directly at my convoy while we were returning from a meeting with some All Progressive Congress, APC chieftains.” He said one of his aides was shot and is now lying critically ill at Federal Medical Centre, Owerri. “They shot at my convoy and wounded my aide. They also shot two people at Ama ala, Ngor Okpalla because they refused to vote on the ground that INEC materials arrived late at about 6pm." While describing the action of the army as "new

rigging tactics,” Okorocha said PDP resorted to using gun to win the election. The governor denied allegations by several Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC officials and security operatives that he was personally involved in beating of their staffers and deflating INEC vehicles conveying electoral materials from areas they worked back to Imo INEC headquarters. In a swift reaction to Governor Okorocha's allegation, the Brigade Commander, 34 Artillery, Brigade, Obinze, Brig-Gen. Lanre Bello, described the

governor's claims as lies. Bello said the only contact his men had with Okorocha was at Akpakuma, Owerri North local government area of the state where the governor stopped his men escorting INEC staff to their collation centres, but never shot at him or anybody. He explained that it was rather the governor's armed thugs and youths who ambushed his men

at Ngor Okpalla and Owerri North area where they went to rescue some adhoc INEC staff. “The governor’s thugs shot at my men, even though my men never retaliated,” he said. The army official said: "Election has been peaceful in Imo, even the governor himself admitted it, no soldier was in a polling booth, only at collation centres. This is a campaign of calumny by the governor.”

A’Court constitutes Enugu election tribunal

resident of the Court of Appeal, Zainab Bulkachuwa, has constituted two separate Election Petition Tribunals for the 2015 governorship, state and National Assembly elections in Enugu State, a statement said. The statement was signed by the secretary of the tribunal, Mr A. C. Adedeji, on Monday in Enugu. It advised all aggrieved parties and or their respective counsels to file their documents at the

registry of the tribunal at the High Court Justice Complex, Enugu. “These panels are saddled with the responsibility of handling petitions that will emanate from the 2015 general elections in the state,” the statement said. On the list of the tribunal members, a top official at the court sitting in Enugu who preferred anonymity, told the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, that the names were not disclosed for “obvious reasons.”

APGA rejects NASS result in Anambra Central

A INEC chief collation officer for Ebonyi, Prof. Joseph Ahaneku (middle) and other INEC staff during the collation of presidential election results for Ebonyi, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

APC rejects results of Enugu polls

• PDC, Nnamani group protest Dennis Agbo ENUGU

ll Progressives Congress, APC, has rejected the results of both the presidential and national assembly elections conducted in Enugu State as declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. Similarly, People for Democratic Change, PDC, a political party of former governor of the state, Chimaroke Nnamani, was yesterday tear-gassed by the police when the group protested in front of INEC office in Enugu. The PDC was protest-

ing the result of national assembly elections declared by INEC in which Peoples Democratic Party, PDP candidates were declared winners of all the positions contested in the state, last weekend. Nnamani declared himself and other candidates of PDC winners of the national assembly elections conducted in Enugu east senatorial zone. He accused the Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Chukwuemeka Onukaogu, of trying to extort money from him before the election which he refused. The APC on its account alleged that the polls were

characterised by electoral fraud, thuggery and assault on members of the party. Briefing newsmen at APC party office in Enugu, the party’s state chairman, Ben Nwoye, flanked by the state's governorship candidate for the party, Okey Ezea and national vice chairman of the party for south east, Emma Enukwu, alleged that the INEC connived with the PDP to deny accreditation to APC agents which made the security agents chase away the APC agents from the polling units where they alleged rigging of the elections took place. Nwoye gave instances

of assault and brutality of APC members across the three senatorial districts of the state, alleging also that card readers were not used in parts of the state in order to allocate figures in favour of PDP. According to Ezea, "It’s a collaboration of government and INEC to suppress the will of the people. We were given 18 tags out of 183 polling units in Igboeze south, for instance. "In many polling units, the INEC staff came without result sheets. It has come to a point where we must resort to self help, if we must survive the impunity of election rigging."

ll Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, has rejected results of the National Assembly elections announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. National Chairman of the party and senatorial candidate for the constituency, Chief Victor Umeh, rejected the result in a world press conference yesterday in Aguluzigbo, Anaocha Local Government Area of the state. Umeh said the result did not have any relationship with what transpired at the polling units, adding that APGA candidates would challenge them in court. The chairman described the results as “concocted” because they were not generated through the right channels of polling units, wards, local governments and constituency. He said APGA was armed with result sheets form EC8A from the polling units with which they wished to reclaim their mandate through the courts.

“The elections started late at about 1 p.m. after the initial card reader problem. “From all indications, there was no collation of result from ward to local government; only for them to announce results of the elections. “I want to tell you that the figures declared by INEC were concocted at night to quickly declare the PDP candidates winners. “We, therefore, reject the results and will contest them at the tribunal, to regain the mandate given to the party by the people." Umeh said that APGA's support for President Goodluck Jonathan's re-election bid was `unflinching’, but criticised the desperation of PDP candidates in state. The News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, reports that other candidates of the party in the senatorial district were Chief Godson Ezenagu for Awka North and Awka South, Mr Ifeanyi Ibezi for Idemili North and South Federal constituencies and Mr Dozie Nwankwo for Anocha, Dunukofia and Njikoka Federal constituency.

South South

Tuesday, March 31, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Why presidential poll was peaceful —Fufeyin Theophilus onojeghen WARRI

opular Warri-based prophet and General Overseer of Christ Mercyland Deliverance Ministries, Prophet Jeremiah Fufeyin, who prophesied a violent-free polls in the ongoing 2015 general elections, has cautioned Nigerians against fear of imminent crisis in the country. He reaffirmed that both the presidential and governorship elections would be peaceful across the country. The cleric told journalists in Warri yesterday that the election would have been bloody if not for the intervention of God, calling on Nigerians to continue to pray for a peaceful atmosphere in the remaining

elections. According to the Warri-based Cable MercyTV preacher, God revealed the winner of the presidential election to him, saying the winner of the postponed February 14 election remains the winner of the exercise. Prophet Fufeyin explained that he had decided not to reveal the winner of the poll for security and political reasons, adding that the election would have been bloody if not for the intervention of God. He called on Nigerians to continue to pray for a peaceful election, adding that Nigerians should not expect so many surprises at the poll, noting that the outcome of Saturday’s presidential election had been decided in the spiritual realm.

Police in Delta teargas Ogboru, LP protesters

…party alleges manipulation of results

Theophilus onojeghen WARRI

ecurity agents at the zonal office of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in Ughelli, Delta State, on Monday tear-gassed thousands of protesters, who were members of the Labour Party, alleging manipulation of Saturday’s National Assembly election in Delta Central. The protesters were led by the state’s LP governorship and Delta Central Senatorial candidates, Chief Great Ovadje Ogboru and

Obaisi Ovie Omo-Agege, in company of hundreds of supporters. The aggrieved protesters carrying several placards, alleged manipulation of results for the National Assembly election for Delta Central senatorial district by INEC officials. In an effort to disperse the LP protesting supporters, security agents at the scene used teargas to disperse the crowd. National Mirror learnt the ruling PDP was leading in majority of votes counted so far.

Rivers CP says police not compromised

ivers State Commissioner of Police, Mr Hosea Karma, said on Monday that the police was not compromised during the Presidential and National Assembly elections in the state. Karma told the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Port Harcourt that the police did not favour any party in the state on election day. “Security role is clearly defined. Our role is to provide level playing ground. We ensured that INEC materials, officials and voters were protected. “On favouritism, we did not take part in the election and we did not take sides,”

he said. Karma also confirmed that the Divisional Police Officer in charge of AkukuToru Local Government Area was attacked on election day while preventing thugs from removing election materials. “In the process, a stone was thrown at him and he got injured. He has been treated and discharged. “This also shows how the police tried to defend and ensure security of the people on election day. “The DPO went to ensure that nobody was molested while carrying out their civic responsibility when he was attacked,” he said.

Rivers women sitting on the Aba Expressway, Waterlines bus stop when a delegation of women led by Commissioner for Women Affairs, Joe-Eba West, tried to access the INEC headquarters in Rivers State to lodge their complaints over the Presidential and National Assembly elections in the state.

LP plotting mayhem, says C'River PDP … APC accuses ruling party

RichaRd ndoma CALABAR

ross River chapter of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, on Monday raised alarm, accusing the Labour Party, LP, of plot to unleash mayhem in the state. According to the PDP, LP plans to cause mayhem once the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, announces results of the National Assembly elections, if the result did not favour LP senatorial candidates in the state. The statement signed and issued by state secretary of the party, Mr Goddy Etta, and made available to National Mirror, said his party

has credible security report that the opposition party would unleash violence in the state, including burning INEC's office in Calabar, should its candidates lose to PDP. "Information reaching us is that the leadership of LP in the state and its candidate for Cross River South Senatorial District, Prince Bassey Out, have hatched a plot to sponsor violence in the state once INEC announces result of the election and it is not in Otu's favour," he stated. Continuing, the PDP stated that "having failed in their attempts to influence electoral officials in the state to manipulate the election in favour of its candidates, the LP has gone to

its Plan B, which basically is about discrediting the elections through sponsored acts of violence." The release said that besides sponsorship of violence, the ruling party was also accusing the opposition of embarking on a smear campaign against the leadership of PDP, particularly Governor Liyel Imoke, so as to discredit the elections. He said his party was therefore, alerting security agencies in the state to this threat, urging them to be vigilant to ensure there is no breach of peace in the state. Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress, APC, yesterday accused PDP of making attempt to carry out mass falsification of results in the just concluded

Saturday Presidential and National Assembly elections in Cross River State. Briefing journalists in Calabar, state party chairman for APC, Mr. Usani Usani, alleged that the PDP was going the extra mile to falsify election results. He said elections conducted on Sunday, specifically in Yakurr, were he hails from, and Boki was conducted without a result sheet accompanying the election material. He alleged that people came in Yakurr, wearing fake police uniform and carted away election materials with INEC staff pretending the result was lost. The APC state party chairman accused Imoke of trying to manipulate result of the elections.

Police teargas women protesters in Rivers dennis naku

PORT HARCOURT

t was another day of rage in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital, yesterday, as security operatives fired tear-gas at protesting women. The women were marching to the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, at Aba Road, Port Harcourt, to express their dissatisfaction over handling of the Presidential and National Assembly elections held last Saturday. Dressed in black and chanting solidarity songs, the protesting women, who are members and supporters of the All Progressives

Congress, were stopped by heavily armed policemen at the Waterlines axis of the state capital. The women, who gathered at St. John’s Bus-stop about 6:45pm, had asked the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mrs. Gesila Khan, to cancel the elections and conduct a fresh exercise. But while they moved close to Waterlines, policemen, who got wind of the protest, mobilised and raced to the area, which is near the INEC office, appealing to the women to move back. The protesters, who were led by the state’s Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs. Joba West, insisted on moving to the INEC office.

Leader of the police team identified as Olumese Valentine tried to prevail on the women to discard the idea of going to INEC office, to no avail. One of the women told Valentine to allow them go ahead with their peaceful protest, saying Nigeria is a democratic nation. No sooner had the argument ensued than a teargas canister was fired at the protesting women, immediately forcing the protesters to beat a retreat. More teargas canisters were fired at the women, who ran to different parts in their bid to avoid inhaling the smoke from the canisters. Queen Ekine, one of the

protesting women, said tearfully, "They (police) are not ashamed to shoot teargas at women. We do not have guns; we do not have cutlasses. We are only on our way to INEC office to protest that INEC should allow us to vote. But the police stopped us and fired teargas at us." The incident, which took place at 8:40am caused a gridlock on the ever busy Port Harcourt-Aba Road, as more policemen arrived at the scene and shot more teargas into the air. Motorists and passersby ran into various houses with tearful eyes after inhaling doses of the teargas, just as residents closed their doors and windows to avoid suffering the same fate.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Tuesday, March 31, 2015

SUPER TUESDAY Clinching PDP ticket is my sin against Elechi –Umahi

When millions of Nigerians trooped out last Saturday to participate in the National Assembly and presidential elections, little did they envisage the several challenges they had to confront. OMEIZA AJAYI writes.

Politics

Udom Emmanuel, candidate to watch in Akwa Ibom – Essien

Voting in the shadow of violence, logistic challenges

igerians were obviously happy when last Saturday, they were able to exercise their franchise. On a general scale, while the exercise passed on as relatively peaceful, there were many sad incidences that placed dents on the safety and credibility of the electoral process.

The Smart Card Reader, SCR, challenge The failure of some of the Smart Card Readers, SCR, introduced by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, was one of the issues that tended to raise tension in some polling units. In several areas, the devices refused to recognise the details of many authentic card holders, a situation which led to a delay in the accreditation process. While the SCR worked well in majority of Polling Units, PUs, there were areas where difficulties experienced necessitated additional guidelines by INEC to allow for manual accreditation of voters. Osun, Kebbi, Ekiti, Adamawa, Borno, Jigawa, Anambra, Akwa Ibom and Ebonyi states, had to revert to manual accreditation of voters in some PUs. As a result of the operational challenges experienced, elections could not be concluded on that day in a few PUs and were therefore shifted to the following day. The affected PUs were spread across several states. There were 90 PUs in Lagos State that were affected, 16 in Kebbi, 25 in Adamawa, six in Niger, 37 in Yobe, eight in Borno, 37 in Jigawa, 13 in Kano, 116 in Taraba and two in the FCT. There was a peculiar case in Nasarawa State, where as at 6pm only about 20 per cent out of 2000 registered voters at Gunduma PU, Bagaji Agada ward, had been accredited. Also, the two SCR attached to the unit were not operational. As at the time of arrival, about 6pm local time, there was a protest by many of the unaccredited voters demanding that the elections be cancelled. These incidences forced INEC to alter parts of the guidelines for the general elections. INEC took the decision after hours of brainstorming on the way forward with regards to the challenges posed by the non-functionality of many of its SCR. The INEC’s National Commissioner in charge of Information and Voter Education, Dr Chris Iyimoga, who announced this in Abuja lamented that whereas the process had been going well in some places, there were challenges in others especially with the use of the SCR. He said accreditation had been consequently slowed in some places while as at 4pm, it had not commenced in others. According to him, even though the guidelines for the conduct of the 2015 elections provide that where card readers fail and cannot be replaced, elections in such PUs will be postponed, INEC has decided to make the alterations. “The scale of the challenge that we have observed has necessitated the reconsideration of the elections guidelines. “The commission has therefore decided that as part of guidelines for the general elections, the PUs where the card readers have failed to work, the presiding officer shall manually accredit voters by marking the

Jonathan

Buhari

ON A GENERAL SCALE, WHILE THE EXERCISE PASSED ON AS RELATIVELY PEACEFUL, THERE WERE MANY SAD INCIDENCES THAT PLACED DENTS ON THE SAFETY AND CREDIBILITY OF THE ELECTORAL PROCESS register of voters after being satisfied that the person presenting the Permanent Voter Card, PVC, is the legitimate owner of the card”, he had said.

Late arrival of INEC officials and materials In Abuja and many other states, accreditation for the presidential and National Assembly elections at some PUs did not start at the scheduled time which is 8am owing to the late arrival of INEC officials and materials. At New Capital School PU in Asokoro for instance, INEC officials did not arrive until about 10:18am, while accreditation kicked-off at about 11am. This was even as some voters had converged on the centre as early as 5am. Also at Aso Drive Round-about PU within the Three Arms Zone, accreditation began at 9:35am with registered voters showing signs of good conduct. Electoral officials at the unit however spent some valuable time removing posters of candidates pasted on the walls of the unit. At the Presidential Villa gate, as at 9am, INEC officials were not yet on ground. A voter, Amina Hussaini, lamented that she was at the polling centre before 8am

but was disappointed when materials and INEC staff arrived only some hours later. The voters also complained that the SCR were too slow, taking about 15 minutes to read one person at a time. One of the lows witnessed during the elections and few hours later, was a resort to violence by some party thugs in order to settle some scores or out-rightly subvert the electoral process.

Cross Rivers In Cross River State, a group of policemen on Sunday attacked journalists covering elections in the state. The journalists, mainly staff of Channels Television, were attacked in Calabar, the state capital. The journalists were reportedly on their way to the headquarters of INEC for updates on election results collation when some police officers attacked her team of four at about 5.30 p.m. They were allegedly tear-gassed and physically attacked, when they attempted to seek permission from the policemen to do their jobs.

Plateau State Although the actual elections went on peacefully in many of the PUs, there were attacks on individuals in some areas. The most pronounced was in Jos North, where some youth in the area had on Sunday afternoon set ablaze the home of a Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, chieftain, Adams Alkali, popularly known as “Dan London.” The house is located at Angwan Rogo, Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State. However, no life was lost in the incident. Mr. Alkali contested the PDP primaries for House of Representative for Jos North/ Bassa federal constituency, but lost. Police could not be reached at press time to confirm the incident, but a witness said the resident was razed CONTINUED ON PAGE 45

Politics

Tuesday, March 31, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Clinching PDP ticket is my sin against Elechi –Umahi As the governorship election takes place next week, do you have any plan to reconcile with your boss? Yes, I love reconciliation. I love peace and I’m always available to make peace. I have made all humanly possible moves to get people to talk to the governor. The sin I committed against him is that I got the ticket of PDP and I think, the hand of God is upon that particular exercise. So, we have tried to talk to him to understand that things must not always go the way he wants, God has the final say. You recently met with President Jonathan along with Governor Martin Elechi as resulting of the crisis rocking Ebonyi. What are the resolutions from the meeting? The resolution is that President Goodluck Jonathan doesn’t want to interfere with the issue of investigation of alleged fraud by the EFCC, ICPC. The committee and the President did not want to go into that, they stand against fraud, manipulation of the system, so the full course of the law must take its place. Regarding the impeachment, the President and the committee are not for or against impeachment but they frown at fraud, they know that it is the duty of the House of Assembly to handle certain issues, so they didn’t declare opinion on that. I think most of these things could be politics. The PDP is the political party in power, so there is no how anybody would expect the ruling party to ask its candidate to step down for anybody. That is the much I can tell you. We are not conceding one single seat to anybody. PDP is contesting and winning all the seats, by the special grace of God. Should you emerge next governor, how prepared are you to tackle the number of crisis rocking many communities in the state, especially the Ezza Ezillo crises still fresh in mind? The Divine Mandate Campaign Organization, DMCO, has already achieved that. If you go to Izzi Local Government Area, you no longer hear of that, they are now working together in trust, in love, with confidence and in search of one goal. If you come to Ezza and Ezillo, they are together in Divine Mandate and working with the same confidence. When we come to power by God’s grace, we will deepen this love among our people. Unfortunately, some leaders think that it is convenient and profitable to them to cause a divide among the people so as to be able to manipulate them. God abhors that and we shall eschew that, we shall provide conditions for brotherliness and good neighbourliness. People are not to be used, people are to be loved and that is the best way to generate loyalty and good followership. When a government fails to do this what do you expect? Of course, no other government in this state will try to manipulate our people. In a government you belong, you cannot have your own opinion. We only come to executive council meeting just to get things stamped, nobody has his own opinion. Sometimes, people are made to give nod to protect of family interest. Commissioners are lobbied to protect family interests. What sort of governance is that? I think we should thank God. Honestly, we were in bondage. That is very unfortunate. People should remember that it is God that has the final say. You humiliate people, you oppress people, you impoverish people and you think that you will always have your way. That cannot happen. What dream do you have for Ebonyi People if you win? The task of building the Ebonyi State projects of our dream which we can proudly bequeath to the future generation is greater than any one of us. Achieving that will not be easy. However, I’m very confident that if we sink our differences and work as a team with a common

Engr Dave Umahi, the gubernatorial standard bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Ebonyi State, in this exclusive interview with ALIUNA GODWIN noted his preparedness to reconcile with his boss but lamented the unrepentant nature of Governor Martin Elechi to give way for peace. Excepts:

I WILL ENSURE QUALITATIVE IMPLEMENTATION OF PEOPLE-ORIENTED

PROGRAMMES WITH PARTICULAR EMPHASIS ON WAR AGAINST POVERTY destiny, which is the raison d’être of the Divine Mandate project, our model state can be realised. The dreams which are consistent with the PDP as encapsulated in my manifesto, involve the creation of a dynamic economy designed to serve the people’s interest, in which market forces are combined with the forces of partnership, solidarity and cooperation to create and produce goods and services for all. I’m prepared to establish free and democratic society, in which the powers and actions of government are lawful, and where those in authority are held accountable to the people; build a just society, which provides basic needs, ensures equal opportunities for self- development through education and gainful employment, defend the dignity of the human person, provides security against fear and deliver the masses from the tyranny of poverty, oppression and abuse of power. I will ensure qualitative implementation of peopleoriented programmes with particular emphasis on war against poverty, through integrated rural development, rapid industrial growth, science and technology as well as rebuilding and expanding basic infrastructure that will make us competitive. What plans do you have in improving the Internally Generated Revenue, IGR, of the state? My vision is to consolidate on the foundations laid by past leaders of Ebonyi State and I will ensure total commitment to the ideals of the founding fathers of the state: to pursue an integrated policy of economic development and transformation anchored on agro- industrialisation, aggressive prospection/ exploitation of the rich mineral deposits of Ebonyi State and to make the state a tourist destination and a haven for investors through a balanced and vibrant economy. And provide effective leadership and bring political governance that will ultimately lead to significant improvements in the standard of living for all Ebonyians. You promised reducing school fees up to the university level and reversing dichotomy in fees paid in the state university. How are you going to make this possible? Take for example, the bond we took, N16.5 billion. That borrowing was very unnecessary because you take a bond of that magnitude and you are paying 40 per cent interest plus other interests, you find out that

Umahi

you are paying about N2.5 billion in a year. With that you can take care of the students school fees. Instead of borrowing that to do a project that is not life threatening, I would rather borrow money to pay school fees because when the children grow up, they will be able to repay that money. But if I borrow money to build market which in the first place is not the responsibility of state government to build, it means we are not getting it right or we have motives other than the real interest of the people. All we needed to do was to put good roads, electricity in a good location, not in a swamp. And if you do that in a good location, still within the Abakaliki territory, which has enough land space, the cost of construction would be reduced drastically. I think education of the Ebonyi people is well above the building of market. If I want to wear trousers and I find out that wearing trousers will make me not to pay my school fees, I will rather pay my school fees, then wear shorts, so that later I will be able to wear good trousers. As an exposed business man, I would know that if you create a good environment for a market, investors would line up to be part of it. I should be able to use my wealth of experience and connections to get investors to partner the state in such ventures that we could consider a priority in the scheme of our activities and needs. But every investor that I get for Ebonyi State, not an individual must get at least 50 per cent shareholding in the investment. Look at the case of Ebonyi Cement Company, where an individual got N100million shares while the state was given N50million shares. About the same thing happened in the Ebonyi Oil and Gas. That amounts to mortgaging the state. To me it is wrong to divert the wealth of the state to an individual while others are impoverished. The worst thing you can do to a people is to use what God has given them to impoverish them. For me, we shall have to consider the opinion of the people before we take bold steps, gigantic projects, we shall seek the input of the stakeholders, the local government councils. We engage the people to determine what they need and how best to go about it. But when you hold something in trust for the people and feel like you have become their God, they won’t trust you. If I clinch my fingers, you will be concerned about what is in there, but when our cards are on the table, we can generate the confidence of the people.

Tuesday, March 31, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

A PUBLICATION OF NATIONAL MIRROR NEWSPAPERS

JTF destroys 800 illegal refineries

OsahOn Julius YENAGOA

Governor of Bayelsa State, Seriake Dickson (centre) accompanied by his wife, Rachael (right), buying fruits at the Swali Ultra Modern Market during a visit to the area in Yenagoa.

NEWMAP awards N1.5bn contract to tackle erosion in C`River RichaRd ndOma CALABAR

he Cross Nigeria Erosion Watershed Management and Control Project [ NEWMAP] has awarded a contract of N1.5bn to A.G Bision to enable the construction firm fight erosion menace at Ikot Ansa Finger number one in Calabar. NEWMAP State Project Coordinator, Mr Fidelis Anukwa , dropped this hint while handing over the contract to contractors, and stressed that Calabar metropolis has five finger erosion sites currently troubling the metropolis adding that repairs have already commenced in the other four sites. Anukwa stated that the authorities involved had been working relentlessly to oversee the five massive erosion sites currently ravaging the five communities. “This project is a joint venture of world bank, the federal government and the government of Cross River State. These part-

ners had put their hands and resources together to make sure that we address the erosion problem at the affected areas”. Anukwa maintained. The NEWMAP state cordinator stated that work is already on-going in Edim Otop,Atakpa, Ikot Ekpo and Nyagasang stressing that these areas mentioned were basically Calabar flshpoints as far as erosion issues were concern in Calabar metropo$ adding that the four sites mentioned were currently undergoing series rehabilitation adding that with the extension of NEWMAP rehabilitation project to Ikot Ansa erosions site, the number of erosion sites that had received attension NEWMAP erosion sites had drastically increased from 4 to 5. Also Speaking, the State Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Gabe Orji, recalled that for the past 30 years the site had been a major threat to the Ikot Ansa community of Cross River State stressing that state government had done everything within its power

to control address the erosion problem but it hasn`t been easy. Orji assured the community that the project will be executed successfully without delay. “I know that many attempts have been made in the past to stop the damages but it was just a tip on the iceberg, this project will be executed successfully”. The commissioner added. Orji warned the commu-

nity not to abuse the privilege and the good gesture of the World Bank, Federal Government and the State. Reacting, a community leader, Chief Felix Nsemo, thanked the NEWMAP and the World Bank for coming to their aid after a long time of living in fear of losing their property to the gully created by erosion and charged members of the community to work in one accord with the contractors.

he Joint Task Force (JTF) has arrested 53 vessels, 200 barges used for siphoning the nation’s crude oil, destroyed 800 illegal refineries, arrested large Cotonou boats and thousands of drums and jerry cans used for illegal oil bunkering activities and crude oil theft in the last one year of its intensified operation in the Niger Delta. It also announced that as part of its effort towards improving the security challenges in the Niger Delta especially in the forthcoming 2015 general elections, the Defence Headquarters has ordered for the deployment of over 30 gun boats to the region. Out - going Media Coordinator, Joint Task Force, JTF, Operation Pulo Shield, Col. Mustapha Anka, who spoke on behalf of General Emmanuel Atewe, during their end of year press briefing at the JTF headquarters in Yenagoa, said while some of the gun boats have arrived, others were still on the way. Anka also said that during the period under review, JTF operatives arrested 31 suspects over alleged involvement in crude oil theft and bunkering activities, just as they have also facilitated the pros-

ecution of suspects by the different courts. His words “The JTF has recorded series of successes in rescuing kidnapped victims in the Niger Delta. Notably among them include Chief Inengite Ntabai who was kidnapped at Otuoke in Ogbia LGA early this year; also the rescue of His Royal Majesty, Augustine Ebikeme JP at Kokori Local Government Area of Delta State, Mrs Osiyo Agama who was abducted on October 22, 2014 in Port Harcourt, Madam Patience Agbani and Mrs Florentina Paulker to mention but a few’’. COL. Anka said the military outfit operatives also arrested a notorious cult leader, Mr. Solomon Owhonda who was the brain behind serial killings and destruction of properties worth millions of naira in Ibaa community at Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers state, adding that the suspect is currently undergoing thorough investigation to ascertain his level of involvement before handing him over to appropriate prosecuting agency. He disclosed that the command embarked on confidence building patrols to dissuade the youths and community leaders from involvement in illegal oil bunkering and other criminalities in the region.

FUPRE matriculates 778 students, warns against cultism TheOphilus OnOJeghen WARRI

he Acting Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun, FUPRE, Delta State, Prof. Olatunde Damisa has warned students of the institution against any form of unruly behaviour especially cultism saying that the school will not hesitate expel any student caught in such act.

Prof. Damisa gave the warning last week Wednesday during the 8th matriculation ceremony of 778 new intakes into different programmes at the institution. While charging the students to shun all acts of unruly behaviour, he told the matriculating students that: “Today, for many of you, marks the beginning of a journey into independence from direct parental control into a new environment where you will be respon-

sible for taking key decisions that will shape your future. “Your successful graduation from this institution will not be complete without proof that you have been refined in character and learning to affect the society. Therefore avoid exam malpractice, cultism, non-committal to studies because we will not hesitate to expel you.” The FUPRE VC said the institution is recharged towards giving the desired leverage to

the primary goal of being a specialized university and providing unique training for high level manpower to pilot the oil and gas sector of the Nigerian economy. According to him, the commissioning of the new 120 computer capacity e-library, the near completed Student Center and several ongoing projects at the school are just a measure to enhance students’ welfares and put the institution on global ranking.

Tuesday, March 31, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

C’River PDP alledges plot by LP to set ablaze INEC office RichaRd Ndoma CALABAR

Staff members of Independent National Electoral Commission in Rivers State on a road walk for sensitisation of people for the on going elections in Rivers. PHOTO: NAN

NGO supports female candidates with N1.4m RichaRd Ndoma CALABAR

ower Political Advancement for Women (PPA4W) on Wednesday in Calabar gave out over N1.4m to support 17 female candidates vying for elective positions in Cross River state. PPA4W an off-shoot of Partnership Opportunities for Women Empowerment Realisation (POWER) is the brain child of Her Excellency, Mrs. Obioma Liyel Imoke, wife of the Cross River State Governor, Senator Liyel Imoke.

The 17 women who cut across the four political parties of the PDP,APC,APGA and the LP candidates are vying for positions in the 2015 general elections. The female candidates present at the occassion include those contesting for positions into the State House of Assembly got N50,000 each, House of Representatives; N100,000 each while those for senate and deputy governor got N150,000 each. Founder and board chairman of POWER, Mrs. Obioma Liyel Imoke said the goal of the project is “to increase women’s participation in political leadership through affirmative action

at different levels including at intra party executive”. The Governor’s wife stated that PPA4W was an NGO seeking to sensitize women to participate in elective politics, create and maintain a fund to support the campaign effort of female political candidates and build the capacity of elected female political public office holders to equip them to be effective in their public capacity. Earlier in her speech , Executive Director of POWER, Mrs. Tammie Kamonke said women have a role in the development of society. Responding, on behalf of ther

female beneficiaries, Barr. Maria Okpanyang, a senatorial candidate under the platform of the APC thanked PPA4W in particular, the founder of POWER, Mrs. Liyel Imoke for the kind gesture and assured the people that when she is voted into office, as a women, and a mothers,she will not disappoint Cross River nay the nation. Highlights of the occassion include goodwill messages from leaders of the political parties present who thanking Mrs Obioma Imoke for proving that she is a mother not just to PDP, but to all the political parties in the state.

Bayelsa govt. kicks against indiscriminate dumping of refuse on drainages osahoN Julius YENAGOA

s part of efforts to guide against continuous flooding being experienced in Yenagoa and some parts of the state, the Bayelsa state government has warned residents within the state capital to stop dumping their wastes and refuse on the drainages, gutters and canals. The state commissioner of Works and Infrastructure, Engr. Lawrence Erudjakpo who gave the

warning during his weekly tour of the projects in the state, particularly cautioned Yenezuegene residents whom he said have turned the natural drains to their dump sites. He expressed worry that it is only in this part of the world that people pollute the environment and expect government to pay for their pollution, explaining that in some other parts of the world , the people pay for polluting the environment. “It’s only here in Nigeria that people pollute and government

pays, but elsewhere if you pollute the environment you pay for the pollution and that is one of the principles of sustainable development. I want to advise all Bayelsans to stop dumping refuse on our drainages and our gutters, even our canals because when you do that it makes the state flooded, because once the water doesn’t flow naturally, it will get flooded”. He also condemned the action of some land developers who build and block drainages, saying government would no longer tolerate such acts from the builders, as ac-

cording to him, “It is the attitude of our people not to take responsibility for anything, but wants government to take responsibility for everything”. On the issue of on - going projects in the state, the Commissioner said the present administration has completed various projects such as the fly over, the Azikoro road, the Youths Development Centre at Kaiama among other projects, but attributed the delay in commissioning to the tight schedule of Mr. President who he said, is working hard for his re election.

he Cross River Chapter of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)on Monday raised alarm accusing the Labor Party (LP) of a plot to unleash mayhem in the state once the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announces results of the National Assembly elections if the result fails to favour the LP senatorial candidate in the state. According to a statement signed and issued by the state secretary of the party, Mr Goddy Etta and made available to National Mirror, said his party has credible security report that the opposition party would unleash violence in the state, including the burning down of INEC’s office in Calabar, should it’s candidates lose to PDP candidates. “Information reaching us has it that the leadership of the Labor Party in the state and its candidate for the Cross River South Senatorial District, Prince Bassey Otu, have hatched a plot to sponsor violence in the state once INEC announces the result of the election and it is not in Otu’s favour,” he stated. Continuing, the PDP stated that “having failed in their attempts to influence electoral officials in the state to manipulate the election in favour of its candidates, the Labor Party has gone to its Plan B, which basically is about discrediting the elections through sponsored acts of violence.” The release maintaine that Besides the sponsorship of violence, the ruling party is also accusing the opposition party of embarking on a smear campaign against the leadership of the PDP, particularly Governor Liyel Imoke, so as to discredit the elections. “We are also aware that the Labor Party has financially induced other opposition parties, including the leadership of the InterParty Advisory Council (IPAC) to address a press conference and level false accusations against the state governor and the leadership of our party concerning the conduct of the elections. He said his party was therefore, alerting security agencies in the state to this threat, urging them to be vigilant to ensure there is no breach of peace in the state.

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Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Make your passion your profession OLUSOLA AKINYEMI

ometime in 2004, when I was a student in Olabisi Onabanjo University, I read a book titled Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki. In this book, Kiyosaki used an analogy of the rat race, the practice of “go to school; get good grades to get a good job”. By this, you can make a good living for yourself. This rat race has been in practice and more in our country in this age. However, one of my models, Sam Adeyemi said, no matter how smart you are in running this race, you still remain a rat. The rat race has almost become a national culture in our country. An average family wants the children to go to school, make First Class or Second Class (Upper Division) so as to qualify for good jobs in banks, multinational corporations, conglomerates and more attractively civil service (to have job security and retirement benefits). Closely related to this is the professional course culture, that is, the study of courses like Law, Medicine, Engineering, Accounting and the likes. Those who do not study professional courses run after certificates of other professional bodies. This is what I call the certificate syndrome. Who is to blame? There is an unconscious stigma for not having a university degree certificate or Higher National Diploma (HND),

to say the least. This is what one of my friends described as ‘nopaliphobia’ - the fear not having a BSc or HND. I am a lawyer, but I am not writing this piece to kick the ladder to being a graduate or having professional certificate away so that others will not achieve same. That is far from my motive. I rather want us to appreciate this subject in context. Education to any extent (SSCE, Technical School Certificate, Diploma or Ordinary National Diploma, Higher National Diploma (HND), Bachelor of Science (BSc), Post Graduate Diploma (PGD), Masters, Masters in Philosophy (M. Phil), Doctor of Philosophy (PHD), Professor and Professor Emeritus) is basically to aid our problem solving skills. The higher one goes, the “likelihood” of more sophisticated approach to problem solving. One basic thing to know is that education is not limited to formal education as in schooling, or that one’s field of interest will determine the kind of education one should pursue. There are also vocational training centres (dealing with informal education), where people are trained in different skills of interest. We should know that formal education is no automatic guarantee to riches or fulfillment. For this we can ask Chief Oyin Jolayemi (the multi-millionaire), who never had a secondary school certificate or Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest man, who is not a graduate, but employs the best set of graduates and

TODAY, RICHES AND FAME ARE THE REWARD OF FOLLOWING HIS PASSION professionals. We can also think of the world’s richest man Bill Gates (founder of Microsoft Corporation), who dropped out of Harvard to follow his passion. The late Steve Jobs (co-founder of Apple) also dropped out of college to work on what interested him. These are people who have also distinguished themselves in their fields on interest. From the movies I watched recently, I love to mention three Idiots and Good Deeds as they are relevant to this subject. Three Idiots have a singular message, which is the title of this piece: Make your passion your profession. You don’t normally struggle to function in your natural habitat. If one can strive to discover his passion or what interests him and make just that his profession, there is huge chance of being able to distinguish one’s self in it. We can easily think of the popular comedian Basket Mouth, who is currently the highest paid comedian in Nigeria. His passion is simply making people laugh and he followed it. Today, riches and fame are the reward of following his passion. Genevieve Nnaji, the popular actress with an international repute, is another whose record speaks for her. I also like to

mention Chimamanda Adichie, who has distinguished herself through writing. She is a superstar through just through writing. Good Deeds is a movie by Tyler Perry (acting as Wesley Deeds), who was groomed by his father to run the Deeds Corporation and raised by his mother to be a gentle man. All his activities were practically dictated, including how to barb his hair and the lady he should marry. Indeed he was brilliant at his work and delivered results, but was never happy nor was he fulfilled. He was living up to a dream but the question is whose dream? He eventually quit and went after what interested him. This reminds me of the statement of former US president, Franklin Delano Roosevelt to his interfering mother“Please don’t make any more arrangements for my future happiness”. It is, however, not impossible that one can be groomed by parents or guardian for a life one may eventually be passionate about and have fulfillment in. Certificate on its own has never made any nation great or guaranteed good standard of living of the people over the creativity and innovation of a valuedriven population. To be concluded Akinyemi is President, Joseph Initiative, Lagos

Climate change and weapons of mass destruction BOBSON GBINIJE The horrendously cataclysmic and hideously destructive potentialities and capabilities inherent in nuclear weapons make its good uses pale into gross irreveence in contemporary times. Our world and its environment is now being endangered because of wanton and uncontrolled flaring of gas, development of chemicals, industrial emissions and manufacturing of weapons of mass destruction. The macabre state of our environment has led to protean strategization by various bodies to no avail, as America and various culpable polluting nations have refused to sign and ratify treaties against pollution. They have failed to agree on reductions in the carbon-dioxide emissions that accelerate global warming because they said this would hamper their economic growth. The Kyoto Protocol, Canada Declaration and the Montreal Convention of March 1989 commit the international community to a 100 percent reduction, but they have turned out to be mere placebos. We live with the fear of air, water, pesticide poisons, ozone layer depletion and forest pollution, but there is a greater disaster inherent in global warming and nuclear power fission and testing. It is clear that the carbon dioxide emissions now threaten the world’s climate, by causing a gradual warming of the plan-

et, the so-called “Green House Effect”. The climatologists have posited that the average temperatures of the earth have increased tremendously in the last century. They assert that Greenhouse gases produced by burning fossil fuels are accumulating in the atmosphere and trapping heat that word normally have escaped into space. This will trigger hotter weather conditions, which is already prevalent and also the polar ice caps will release more water into the oceans, raising sea levels across the globe. The ozone layer, which protects us, is also threatened. Ozone is in the layer of the atmosphere called the stratosphere, which extends from around 10km to about 40km above the earth’s surface. The ozone layer filters out harmful ultraviolet radiation from the sun. Ultraviolent radiation can cause skin cancer and eye cataracts, and can damage crops. The depletion of the ozone layer is majorly compounded by “chlorofluorocarbon (CFCs), man-made gases used in air conditioning, fridges, many aerosol and foam-blown cartons. The gases released from these products collect in the upper atmosphere and then decay into chloride gas, which destroys the ozone. The nuclear power is the most ghoulishly dangerous decimation weapon and pollution agent in our world today. Although, as an electricity supply format if could be put to good use, but the bellicose and power-acquisition instinct of man has made it very dangerous in our midst. The Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR), the Advanced Gas-Cooled Reac-

WE LIVE WITH THE FEAR OF AIR, WATER, PESTICIDE POISONS,

OZONE LAYER DEPLETION AND FOREST POLLUTION tor (AGR), Boiling Water Reactor (BWR) and the Fast Breeder Reactor (FBR) could be put to good use, but the fear of the capricious and wicked introduction of uranium (U-235) and plutonium could cost us our world and humanity. On August 6, 1945 America unleashed the atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan, killing 155, 200 people and the same thing in Nagasaki, killing over 83,000 people. The disastrous consequences are still being felt till today. At 1:23 am local time on 26 April 1986, a nuclear reactor disaster at Chernobyl’s No. 4 Reactor in the former Soviet Union resulted in innumerable deaths, and 1.7 million people were exposed to varying levels of radiation. On 9 July 1962, a 1.45-megaton nuclear explosion occurred in space 399km above Johnson Island (Christmas Island) in the Pacific Ocean. The 7,500kg warhead, codenamed ‘Starfish’ was launched by the American Air Force. The explosion was 100 times more powerful than the 1945 Hiroshima blast and formed its own artificial aurora as radioactive particles interacted with the earth’s magnetic field. The height of this detonation equals the orbital altitude of the Space Shuttle. What a Shame!

It is clear that the ultimate dream of the nuclear industry is not to spill big nuclei as at present, but to combine small ones to exploit nuclear reaction rather than nuclear fission. This is evidenced by the fact that many countries apart from America, Iran, France, Russia, Britain, China and North Korea, have slowed down their construction of nuclear reactors. In principle, nuclear fusion sounds the perfect answer. The fuels required are deuterium and tritium, isotopes of hydrogen can be produced relatively simpler and in unlimited quantities. Whichever way, the manner in which countries in Asia, America and Europe are developing nuclear warheads in obvious disregard for the Non-proliferation Treaty, Strategic Arms Limitation Agreement (I and II) and other moratoriums on nuclear disarmament, calls for action by the United Nations. It is in this light that one must condemn in no uncertain terms the testing by North Korea of its ballistic missiles and nuclear devices along the Sea of Japan, Yellow Sea and the Korea Bay. The United Nations must invoke all necessary statutory sanctions against North Korea. Send your views by mail or sms to PMB 10001, Ikoyi, or our Email: mail@ nationalmirroronline.net mirrorlagos@ yahoo.com or 08164966858 (SMS only). The Editor reserves the right to edit and reject views or photographs. Pseudonyms may be used but must be clearly marked as such.

Editorial

Tuesday, March 31, 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 SEYI FASUGBA DAILY EDITOR GBEMI OLUJOBI SATURDAY EDITOR AYO OLESIN SUNDAY EDITOR BEN MEMULETIWON GENERAL EDITOR DOZIE OKEBALAMA COORDINATOR, EDITORIAL BOARD CALLISTUS OKE EDITORIAL PAGE EDITOR ISE-OLUWA IGE ABUJA BUREAU CHIEF AUGUSTUS IMEKAN ACTING HEAD, GRAPHICS

Former militants and pipeline protection contracts

roup General Manager (Public Affairs), Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mr. Ohi Alegbe, in Abuja recently confirmed that the corporation had renewed and extended pipeline protection contracts awarded to mostly ex-leaders of militant groups operating in oil-bearing communities of Niger Delta region. Such contracts, which raised public eyebrows, were first awarded in 2011. Among the beneficiaries then were companies owned by Mr. Government Ekpemupolo ($22 million); Alhaji Mujahid Asari-Dokubo ($9 million), as well as Boyloaf ($3.8 million) and Tom Ateke ($3.8 million). With the renewal of the contracts, however, more ex-militant leaders in the region and the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) leaders in the South West, would join the fray. Reports say the latest contracts would commence this month. Outrageous losses being sustained by the Federal Government as a result of crude oil theft are said to be among the reasons for the award of the contracts. Indeed, about the beginning of the second quarter of 2012, Mrs. Diezani AllisonMadueke, the Minister of Petroleum Resources, disclosed that as at that year, Nigeria was losing 180,000 barrels of oil per day (bpd) to crude thieves, which

translated to $7 billion annually. She stated that in addition to the $7 billion loss, the oil industry between 2011 and 2012 spent $5 billion on repairs of pipelines vandalised by oil thieves, reflecting a total annual loss of $12 billion. The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr. Ngozi OkonjoIweala, also said in 2013 that Nigeria was losing N155 billion monthly to oil thieves; while not too long ago, the Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Usman Jibril, indicated that the country was still losing N1.18 billon daily to oil theft. Allison-Madueke, in a recent interview she granted this newspaper, revealed that the performance of the militant leaders was below expectation. “When the contract ended, which was almost two years ago, we did not renew it. Even the militants abused me for refusing to renew it. I did that because they did not live up to expectations or meet up with the terms of the contract. We have to review it, in fact, we have even extended it to include Ondo and Lagos because the pipelines run through that area and they were not involved at the beginning…”, she revealed. The NNPC spokesman says the contracts do not in any way obviate the responsibility of the police and other security agencies to protect the pipelines.

March 31, 1990 Approximately 200,000 protestors took to the streets of London to protest against newly introduced Poll Tax. The Community Charge (commonly known as the “poll tax”) was a system of taxation introduced in replacement of domestic rates in Scotland from 1989, prior to its introduction in England and Wales from 1990. It provided for a single flat-rate per-capita tax on every adult, at a rate set by the local authority.

THE GENERAL IMPRESSION IS THAT THE CONTRACTS EMBOLDEN THE

IMPUNITY OF EXMILITANTS…

“They are actually designed to complement the work of the security agencies by raising the alarm and drawing the attention of security agencies to any suspicious movements around the pipelines’ right of way”, he stated. The development raises a lot of questions. If the contractors are underperforming as observed by the Mrs. Allison-Madueke, why were they renewed and coverage extended? Indeed, would the renewal and expansion lead to better performance? What is the value for a job that yields negligible value for money? In 2013, former President Olusegun Obasanjo had criticised the rationale behind the contract awards in very strong terms. “I heard that they are going to setup an agency for pipeline protection, what are the police there for? What are all the securities agencies that we have there for?”Obasanjo asked. The awesome public impression being given is that the nation’s security community lacks what

ON THIS DAY March 31, 1995 End of the United States’ military campaign in Somalia aimed at creating a secure enough environment for humanitarian operations to be carried out in the increasingly lawless and famine-stricken country. United Nations Operation in Somalia II (UNOSOM II) was the second phase of the UN intervention in Somalia, from March 1993 until March 1995. It carried on from the United States-controlled Unified Task Force.

it takes to protect the nation and its resources. If, for instance, the job of the contractors is just about “raising the alarm and drawing the attention of security agencies to any suspicious movements around the pipelines’ right of way”, like Alegbe claimed, it is implied that all the nation’s security agencies lack the requisite equipment and technology necessary for gathering intelligence information to make their jobs effective. This is unacceptable in the present day world driven by state-of-the-art information and communication technology, including satellites that can monitor suspicious movements around the pipelines’ right of way. Many feel the government has other yet undisclosed reasons for initiating pipeline protection contracts. But such reasons, if not noble, need urgent reappraisal. The general impression is that the contracts embolden the impunity of ex-militants, most of whom are beneficiaries of FG’s amnesty and other rehabilitation programmes. They also indulge in reckless and provocative utterances and actions that generate bad blood and heat up the polity. If they are truly not performing, as was claimed by the petroleum minister, they should be eased out and the security agencies properly kitted to do a better job.

March 31, 2004 Iraq War in Anbar Province: In Fallujah, Iraq, four American private military contractors working for Blackwater USA, were killed after being ambushed. A private military company (PMC) provides armed security services. PMCs refer to their staff as “security contractors” or “private military contractors”. Private military companies refer to their business generally as the “private military industry” or “The Circuit”.

Business

Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Fake products hinder economic growth –SON

EIA certificate issuance:

Stakeholders laud court ruling

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Using compulsory insurance as criterion for future elections

AIRLINES’ FLIGHT SCHEDULES 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

Innovation panacea to Nigeria’s economic underdevelopment -Experts Despite her huge endowments in natural resources and human capital, Nigeria remains one of the least developed countries globally in terms of per capital income and other development assessment criteria. Development experts, in this news analysis by DAVID AUDU, believe that achieving inclusive growth in the economy would require concerted efforts in innovative educational and institutional capacity building at all levels of government.

o many development and marketing experts, the road to Nigeria’s sustainable development would invariably depend on the extent the political leaders are able to galvanize abundant resources and deploy them innovatively to critical sectors and by so doing, strengthening the country’s institutional capacity for optimal productivity at all facets of the national life in the years ahead. The Managing Director, Verdant Zeal Group, Tunji Olugbodi, captured this viewpoint succinct-

ly at a recent forum in Lagos when he harped on the imperative of integrating innovation as a key policy component of national development drives. According to him, innovation is a mainstream discipline that defines the extent and boundary of possibilities and productivity in different areas of human endeavour. He explained that at the heart of this value-adding concept is the deliberate application of information, imagination and initiative in deriving greater or different val-

ues from use and application of resources. Olugbodi explains that what makes it dynamic is the continuous utilization of all processes by which new ideas are generated and converted into useful products, services or tangible offerings”. The statement above underlies the necessity for national economic managers to develop systems that will provide enabling environment for innovative ideas to flourish. Nigeria is said to be reservoir of natural and human

resources and individually Nigerians are known to be resourceful people. However, according to economic experts, no matter the resourcefulness of the individual and the natural endowment of the nation, if these are not consciously harnessed by leadership that is innovative, with vision and mission, the country will still languish in the wilderness of poverty and want In the opinion of former chairman of Zenith Bank Plc., and CONTINUED ON PAGE 20

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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

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Tuesday, March 31, 2015

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Innovation panacea to Nigeria’s economic underdevelopment -Experts CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19 Group Executive Chairman of STB-MC CANN, an adverting agency, Sir Steve Omojafor and Professor Pat Utomi of the Lagos Business School, the need for the harmonisation of education, developing institutions and political will to create a system that encourages innovation is paramount and urgent if Nigeria is to grow at per with her status in Africa and population. While Omojafor gave a graphic picture of what the lack of such systems had done on the national economy in time past and now, Utomi was idealistic in his position while offering outlook for economies where such systems have worked with a view for our leaders to learn. Painting the picture of the effect of lack of a coordinated vision and innovation on a country, Omojafor reeled out the following statistics: “Taking a cursory look at the Nigerian economy in 2014 and 2015, so far, the rate of inflation was single digit, about 81 per cent; rate of unemployment remained very high, almost 30 per cent, especially among the youth population, while lending rates averaged 25 per cent and growth of the economy was about six per cent, even after the famous rebasing exercise. He said incidence of poverty stood at 69 per cent and there is growing inequality in the system continued , lamenting that less than 20 per cent of the population are enjoying the larger percentage of the country’s resources. Despite the unbundling of Power Holding Company Nigeria, PHCN, Omojafor stated that power supply remained largely in comatose state, while the country’s debt profile continued to rise. Mapping the economic outlook for 2015, Omojafor stated that “if the decline of oil revenue persists, the already poor working population will become even poorer, and by extension, unemployment rate will continue to rise while lending rate will continue to be out of reach of genuine manufacturers”. Also, the impact of the economics of the general elections, characterized by the two main political parties throwing billions of naira on voters to win their votes, according to Omojafor would put pressure on the market and may likely lead to increased inflation. As a whole, he believes “2015 will likely be characterized by uncertainties in economic and business activities”. Providing his recipe for national development, he said credible elections would ensure confidence in leadership, adding that whoever wins the election should hit the ground running in the following key areas: Change the structure of the economy; reduce inequality; more emphasis on right type of education, wrestle corruption with more vigour and sincerity. He also emphasized the need to rebuild decaying infrastructure such as power, roads, and the entire transportation system and to fight insecurity to a standstill all over the country. Speaking on the role of institutions in enhancing innovation, Professor Utomi was insistent on the need to create strong institutions as a vehicle for economic growth. “Institutions are critical to innovations; it is important to recognize that change and the adaption of institutional frames for change is at the heart of growth and progress “As a leader the need to bring people who

Okonjo-Iweala

Omojafor

WE NEED SUCH VISION IN NIGERIA; WE NEED LEADERS WHO CAN CREATE SUCH CONTEXT AND ENVIRONMENT FOR THE CREATIVE MINDS OF NIGERIANS TO EXPLORE FOR NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

share in your vision to be around you is also critical, because it is the coming together of such like mind that create environment for innovation. Giving an example of former American president, Ronald Reagan, Utomi said “Reagan had his vision of America before he became president and he brought men and women who share his vision in his team, such that when he Reagan was seen not to be doing anything, the people of vision he assembled were running America”, and the result is the creation of the American new economy through spirit revolution. It is the vision of a country created or envisioned by its leaders that will create the right context of innovation for the creative minds to explore. “We need such vision in Nigeria; we need leaders who can create such context

and environment for the creative minds of Nigerians to explore for national development”. He also spoke on the need for proper planning for growth and development, saying that planning is at the heart of innovation. “You cannot innovate without planning and strategy. The challenge before Nigeria is youth unemployment. The youth should be seen as an asset and not a liability. We must make sure that the youth populations are well and that we have the right values around them, then they will begin to innovate. He said with the right institutional support the demographic endowment instead of being a threat will with time become a great demographic dividend and asset to explore for national growth. He however lamented that Nigeria as

Utomi

of today does not have appropriate institutional arrangement for innovation though he agreed they are evolving. In terms of value chain, he said through his experience and working for various interest groups he discovered every part of this country has an endowment, and if the country focus and educate people on such endowment without political considerations, every part of this country will develop rapidly and we will have the opportunity to have the kind of success that we deserve. In the film industry, innovative ideas has led to the creative deployment of Nigerian culture to create films and movies that are appealing to both Nigerians at home and in diaspora. Today, the film industry popularly referred as the Nollywood is the third largest in the world. In terms of the industry’s contribution to national economy, the rebased Nigerian economy last year rated the industry to have contributed significantly to the growth of Nigerian economy. Speaking on the place of innovation in the creative industry and contributions to national economy, the Managing Director and CEO Golden Effect Pictures, Mr Kunle Folayan, noted that innovation is at the heart of every creative industry. Summarizing the evolution of Nollywood, he said it came about of the need to be different. “You cannot shoot gun more than the Americans, you cannot drive more than the Americans, but you can mirror and portray the quintessence of the Nigerian cultural life comprised of the Ifas, incantations, the exploration of African mythology and other hidden parts of our cultural life that are not known to the world to create a distinct identity space for ourselves without copying what the Americans are doing. That is innovation and that is what has brought fame and respect to the Nollywood industry in Nigeria today “. In unison, economic experts agree with Omojafor that as a country, “we need clearcut policy to deal with our major socioeconomic problems and a free democratic process that puts power in capable hands. We need intelligence, we need vision and we need Drive “To create a new agenda for national development, we need to be innovative, acquire new skills and a large dose of commitment. We need stable political and economic systems and beyond it all, we need leaders who can think, act independently and command respect”.

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Business News

Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Fake products hinder economic growth –SON SYLVA EMEKA-OKEREKE

tandards Organisation of Nigeria, SON, has described the influx of substandard products into the country as a major hindrance to the nation’s economic growth. Head, Inspectorate and Compliance Directorate of the agency, Engr. Bede Obayi, who disclosed this during the destruction of substandards products worth over N500 million in Sagamu, Ogun state, said the nation’s economy would not grow beyond its present level, if substandard products continue to find their ways into the country. According to him, the SON has introduced several measures to tackle the menace of sub-stan-

dard products, regretting that those measures are being sabotaged by some dubious businessmen and marketers. He listed sub-standard products destroyed to include electric cables, armoured cables, tyres, expired supermarket goods, extension sockets, flashlights, rechargeable lamps, shaving sticks, mobile phones, stabilisers, engine oil and ball pens among others. Obayi also said that made-inNigeria cables are the best all over the world, wondering while some importers should import fake cables, removing its country of origin, to confuse unsuspecting Nigerians. “If you do not have adequate traceability indices on your products, we are going to seize them because they are not telling the

consumer what they are supposed to get when they buy such products’’, he warned importers. The agency, he said, is willing to lend its support and encourage genuine importers with tools and the know-how to seamless importation. ‘’Imported products must have Standards Organisation of Nigeria Conformity Assessment Programme, SONCAP certificate. Conformity to approved standards is a prerequisite to the growth of the national economy and standardization. SON is committed to sanitising

the nation’s economy by ridding it of substandard, fake and adulterated products, which have caused so much damage to the economy and untold hardship to majority of Nigerians, who have been at the receiving end of these fake products’’, he said. Earlier, the Director General of SON, Dr. Joseph Odumodu had warned that the use of counterfeit products was dangerous to health while destroying the nation’s economy. ‘’Counterfeit destroys the nation’s economy. It is like termite, it eats up the foundation of the

house. Before one knows what is happening, the house is brought down to its foundation”, he stated. Odumodu also said at a forum recently that, “SON enumerates standards. This means we help to facilitate and warehouse rules for businesses and thereby ensuring conformity, safety of lives and protection of the environment. It conducts laboratory tests on products to ensure that they meet set standards. We also monitor and enforce these standards by entering markets, factories and warehouses to check products and ensure that they conform to standard”.

Cargo loss: Terminal operators succumb to inspection pressure FRANCIS EZEM

trong indications emerged that seaport terminal operators have been compelled to allow private cargo surveyors’ access to their terminals to inspect imported cargo as part of moves to minimise worsening cargo loss in the nation’s seaports. It has been estimated that Nigerian importers and exporters lose several billions of naira annually arising from loss of cargo at the various terminals in the country, a development stakeholders argued, warranted the deployment of cargo surveyors to ascertain the state of the consignments on arrival at the ports. The terminal operators had cited security concerns for their earlier decision not to allow cargo surveyors access to their terminals, arguing that allowing them into the terminals would comprise the security of the terminals. But authoritative sources hinted at the weekend that the terminal operators after initial refusal had been compelled to allow the cargo surveyors’ access to their terminal operators to inspect cargoes so as to checkmate cargo loss. The source noted that the ter-

minal operators were asked to make a choice between settling every claims arising from cargo loss or allow the surveyors access to their terminals for the cargoes to be inspected so as to establish the actual point of tampering or pilferage of the cargo so that the insurance underwriters would be better guided. Participants at a recent roundtable on the exposure to risks of damage, loss and delay at the Nigerian seaports has observed that the implications of cargo loss to the nation’s economy was enormous and therefore called on the marine cargo surveyors and insurance companies to assist shippers to mitigate the rate of loss. The stakeholders also identified the causes of increased cases of cargo loss, damage and delay and called on the shippers to ensure that the cargoes are properly packaged. They had also agreed that the majority of the cases of damage or loss of cargo occur at the seaports and therefore recommended that cargo surveyors should be allowed unhindered access to seaport terminals to enable them have on-the spot assessment of the extent of damage or loss, which they vehemently refused then.

L-R: Economist and Senior Lecturer, Lagos Business School, Dr. Doyin Salami; Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina; Managing Director of Standard Chartered Bank, Mrs. Bola Adesola and Group Managing Director of First City Monument Bank (FCMB) Limited, Mr. Ladi Balogun, at the Harvard Business School Association of Nigeria (HBSAN) and Federal Ministry of Agriculture Forum on Agribusiness Opportunities in Nigeria held in Lagos recently.

N500m damages: NCC seeks stay of judgment execution ISAIAH ERHIAWARIEN

he Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, has filed a motion for stay of execution of judgment of March 24, 2015 of the Federal High Court Lagos ruling which awarded the All Progressive Congress, APC, N500 million for violation of its rights. Legal counsel to the NCC, Mr. Paul Usoro, SAN, confimed the filing of a notice of appeal against the judgment of Justice Ibrahim Buba of the Federal High Court, Lagos.

The APC filed its suit in January challenging the directive of the NCC contained in its letter of January 19, 2015 advising service providers not to be partisan in their advertisements and promotions run by them. The political party alleged that this directive violated its fundamental Human Rights and thereafter claimed reliefs including monetary damages principally against the Commission. Usoro said that a notice of preliminary objection of March 2, 2015 challenging the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court, Lagos on the grounds that the

suit disclosed no cause of action against NCC and APC’s claims and reliefs were alien to the provision of chapter iv of the 1999 constitution, were ignored by the judge. The judge dismissed NCC’s preliminary objection on the grounds that the suit was indeed a fundamental Human Right suit, disclosed a cause of action against the Commission and granted generous damages of N500m to APC. The counsel said that the stay of execution of the judgment and injunction were necessary pending the appeal.

CFM partners Arik Air on Nigeria’s manpower skills OLUSEGUN KOIKI

ircraft engine manufacturing company, CFM International, has opened discussions with Arik Air on the training of Nigerians on aircraft engine maintenance and repairs. Arik Air described the planned

capacity building programme as part its contribution to Nigeria’s local content development policy. The spokesman of the airline, Mr. Ola Adebanji, stated that as discussion progressed, it is expected that the airline would select intelligent, bright and young Nigerians that would be trained by CFM, which is the manufac-

turer of Arik Air Boeing 737 New Generation (NG) engines. Adebanji indicated that the ongoing discussion took firm ground earlier in the week when the President of CFM, Jean-Paul Ebanga visited its headquarters at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Lagos to affirm the importance of the

airline to the company and also show commitment to the planned partnership. Ebanga who toured Arik Air’s facilities at its headquarters said that he was impressed by the progress the airline has recorded in just eight years of its commercial operations, adding that Arik would soon be one of the leading

airlines in Africa. He stated: “What the Chairman of Arik Air, Joseph Arumemi-Ikhide is doing right now is to do, not to talk. He is bringing the needed change in air transport in Nigeria. In three to four years from now, Africa will be the most populated continent with growing middle class.

Business News

Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Power firms generate 3,674mw of electricity UDEME AKPAN

he nation’s power supply hovered at 3,674.79 megawatts over the weekend, mw, showing over 6,000mw below the estimated 10,000mw daily national demand. The Presidential Task Force on Power which confirmed the generation level disclosed that 3,600.50mw was supplied while the balance has been preserved to stabilise the system. The PTFP maintained that electricity generation has in recent times hovered at between 3,000mw and 4,000mw, thus forcing operators to embarked on load shedding. Investigations showed that many consumers still depend on private generators to meet demand at higher cost. But compared to the past, the Minister of Power, Professor Chinedu Nebo said the recent commissioning Egbin and Olorunsogo has assisted to boost power supply in

many parts of the nation. “Power generation in the country today has improved tremendously with NIPP power stations playing an increasingly significant role in the adding to the generation mix to Nigerians. Actual generation capacity consistently hovers around 5000mw with NIPP contribution rising daily as more units are synchronised into the grid system,” he said. The Minister said that NIPP contribution to the national grid stands at about 2,500mw on regular basis as efforts are being made by privatised generation companies to revamp their generation units, increase available generation capacity with a view to achieving a more robust power generation profile for the country. He said the ability to wheel this power from the generation stations to the distribution companies rests with the Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN, which has been strengthened by the private sector participation

of the Canadian Manitoba Hydro International, as the management contractor. Nebo said TCN has been delivering on the twin mandate of upgrading the existing transmission infrastructure and embarking on new transmission projects, thereby expanding capacity nationwide. “The handover of the privatised generation and distribution assets to the new owners is another pointer to the commitment of your administration to the growth of the power sector. The wisdom in the dogged determination of His Excellency, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan to go through with the privatisation of the generation and distribution assets is now beginning to yield results to the benefit of the Nigerian electricity consumer. Ughelli Power Plant, which before handover to new owners, was barely able to generate 160mw, is now capable of generating 610mw, with a target of 850mw by end of 2015,” he said.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Airtel offers subscribers 100% data bonus in new campaign ISAIAH ERHIAWARIEN

n line with efforts to strengthen its relationship with customers, leading Telecommunications service provider, Airtel Nigeria, has unveiled a new data campaign tagged “Join the Smartphone Network” which seeks to reward customers for their patronage, and also drive internet usage and penetration. As part of the benefits, customers receive instant data bonuses on activation of smart devices with100 percent bonus on data recharge and 25 percent discount on Microsoft Lumia 535 smartphone purchased at any of its stores across Nigeria. Customers who buy any smart device and activate it with an Airtel SIM will get up to 2GB data bundle instantly and thereafter enjoy 100 percent data bonus on activation of data bundles from

SAHCOL boss bags Aviation Enterprises Award OLUSEGUN KOIKI

L-R: Mr. Philip Ikeazor, Managing Director/CEO, Keystone Bank; Mrs. Yvonne Isichei, Executive Director Operations &Technology, Keystone Bank and Otunba (Mrs.) ‘Debola Osibogun FCIB, President/Chairman of Council, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, at the launch of the Keystone Bank Pink Network in Lagos.

Samsung Galaxy S6 pre-order campaign kicks off ISAIAH ERHIAWARIEN

amsung Electronics West Africa has announced that its latest exciting collection of smartphones, Galaxy S6 edge and S6 duos will be available for preorder in Nigeria from March 30th, 2015. The devices will be available in 32GB and 64GB for the S6 edge and 32GB for the S6 duos. Director of Information Technology and Mobile, Samsung, Emmanouil Revmatas, said that the Galaxy S6 edge and S6 duos represent new standards in design and performance, offering consumers an unmatched mobile experience. “Samsung is in the business of making life easier, simpler and more productive, delivering smart

innovations that will transform the way people work and play. These devices are as a result of relentless innovation aimed at providing our customers with the best in technology,” said Revmatas. The S6 series was first unveiled on March 1st at the Samsung Unpacked event held at the Mobile World Congress, MWC, Barcelona, Spain. The phones are a combination of beauty and power comparable to a piece of fine jewelry. The Galaxy S6 duo is the dual SIM version of the S6. Made out of a fusion of corning gorilla glass 4 and high tensile metal, the S6 edge features the world’s first dual curved glass display with an exquisite glass and metal finish giving it a refined

look and feel. The device has a super fast charging feature that allows the device run for four hours on just ten minutes of charging, and charges to full battery in about 85 minutes for the Galaxy S6 edge and just 80 minutes for the Galaxy S6 duos. The Galaxy S6 series also comes with a state-of-the-art wireless charging technology that has evolved to make charging easier; simply place the phone on a wireless charger and charging starts. The devices run Android 5.0 Lollipop with 5.1-inch high-resolution displays. The 2,560 x 1,440 resolution allows the phone to show a high-resolution image in incredible detail. Consumers can buy the Galaxy S6 edge in two storage options of 32GB and 64GB.

200MB to 1GB, for 12 months. Speaking at the media launch of the campaign in Lagos, today, Maurice Newa, Chief Commercial Officer, Airtel Nigeria, explained that the distinctive value proposition further affirms Airtel’s vision to be the most loved brand in the daily lives of Nigerians. According to him, “this campaign was conceived to delight our customers. We want to connect with them in more smarter and rewarding ways, to fulfil their communication needs in a manner that makes it almost effortless and affordable. Indeed, we are giving our customers more reasons to stay on our network.” He pointed out that as an innovative company, Airtel will continue to redefine the telecoms landscape with revolutionary products and services that will provide a rewarding experience for customers.

he Managing Director of Skyway Aviation Handling Company Limited, SAHCOL, Alhaji Oluropo Owolabi has bagged the Fellowship of the African Institute Of Enterprise Development and Management. Owolabi, who was also certified as a Certified Professional Enterprise Manager, was presented the award based on his contributions to the development of the Nigerian Aviation Industry. A statement by the spokesman of the ground handling company, Mr. Basil Agboarumi , stated that the African Institute of Enterprise Development and Management (AIEDM) is a recognised

global professional training and educational institution registered under the CAM ACT 1990 and accredited Institutional member of the Association of Private Enterprise Education(APEE), USA. Owolabi is involved in the dayto-day running of the company, which includes passenger handling, ramp handling, cargo handling and warehousing, aviation security, baggage reconciliation, crew bus and executive lounge services and other related ground handling services. Before now, Owolabi had been recognised with several honours and achievements for his astute business acumen, innovative skills, corporate excellence and innovative approach to corporate turnaround.

World Bank to support global financial management

orld Bank Group’s Board of Executive Directors has supported the global financial management with the approval of two projects for Albania, put at Euro265.9 million, about US $306.7 million for the Public Finance Policy Based Guarantee, and Euro65.9 million, US $80.0 million for the Results-Based Road Maintenance and Safety Projects. The Public Finance Policy Based Guarantee, PBG, in support of a commercial loan is a second in a series of two programmatic development policy financing operations. This operation supports strengthening public financial

management to address arrears and tax, pensions, and energy sector reforms to improve fiscal sustainability. It also supports actions for the continued clearance of arrears and prevention of future arrears, strengthening of budget preparation and execution, raising revenues, reforming the pension system, and reducing fiscal risks emanating from the energy sector. The approval of this second operation as a Policy Based Guarantee follows the completion of prior actions in these key areas, including in public finance management, pension, and energy sector reforms.

Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Jobs & Career

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

ITF ready to partner stakeholders on human capital devt – DG Apart from meeting the nation’s manpower needs, the Industrial Training Fund, (ITF), one of the parastatals under the supervision of the Ministry of Trade and Investment, has over the years been striving to build middle and high level manpower skills through various trainings for the development of the nation’s economy. In this interview with MESHACK IDEHEN, the Director General, Dr Juliet Chukkas Onaeko, said that the Fund had, since inception, trained over three million Nigerians in various skills who are contributing their quota to national development at various sectors. ship with the National Automotive Council (NAC) to establish parts production and training centre will lessen Nigeria’s dependence on imported parts. It will also create avenue for employment as well as reduce capital flight.

The ITF recently held a seminar with the theme, zero oil policy and economic growth strategies in Nigeria. What was the purpose of the seminar, and what was it meant to achieve? That seminar is part of the contributions we have made, including the various reforms we are putting in place to support the Federal Government policy to transit from oil to other sectors. The move is also in consonance with trends in the international community. As you are aware, the Federal Government has introduced various policies to reform the economy and place it on sustainable economic growth and stability. How has the ITF been fulfilling its mandate in national development, particularly in view of the recently launched Nigeria Industrial Revolution Plan (NIRP)? It is important to understand that the NIRP focuses on economic and revenue diversification in industrial sectors where Nigeria has comparative advantage. Supporting structures like infrastructure, skills, finance, investment climate, innovation, standards and local patronage are also being initiated at the same time to ensure sustainability. For the ITF, and as part of our responsibility towards keying into the Federal Government transformation agenda, the ITF has already launched the National Industrial Skills Development Programme (NISDP). The objective of the programme is to provide skills to support the NIRP, and so far, 74,000 young Nigerians have been trained in different technical and vocational trade areas. Most of the employees, I should add, have secured employment immediately after the completion of their training, while a large number of them have established businesses of their own and are doing very well. The laudable programmes of the NISDP are ongoing, the ITF requires the support and collaboration of all stakeholders to strengthen and consolidate on it. Your role as Director General of the Fund is important to achieving its mandate. How would you rate the quality of support you are enjoying from all stakeholders? The transformation agenda of the Federal Government has provided support towards our mandate, no doubt. The reviewed laws governing the activities of the Fund which was signed into law in 2011 is also raising the quality of support the Fund expects to get. However, the reluctance of some employees operating in the private sector to meet their statutory obligation to the Fund by the remittance of training contributions is a challenge, and we have gone to some extent to explain to our partners these constraints. Nonetheless, the ITF is a very strong partner with the Nigeria Employers

Onaeko

As A proActive orgAnisAtion thAt the

itF is, we hAve Acquired Four mobile workshops to complement our existing industriAl skills trAining centres.

these will

increAse Accessibility to skills trAining in All nooks And crAnnies oF the country, And ensure thAt

our young men And women Acquire relevAnt skills to Fit into existing And new jobs Consultative Association, (NECA) for the training of young Nigerian in various skill areas. For example, the TSDP is being run, using facilities of employers in different parts of the country and ITF’s own training centres. So far, over 2,300 trainees have benefited from the partnership. Again, the ITF has entered into technical collaboration with the Cement Technology Institute of Nigeria (CTIN) for the training of craftsmen and artisans in the construction industry. Furthermore, the ITF’s partner-

How is the ITF preparing to produce adequate manpower that will fill the entrepreneurship opportunities that are bound to come from Agricultural and other key sectors in view of the transformation going on in those sectors now? Let me first put in proper context. The fact is that the determination of the Federal Government to develop key sectors outside those of oil and gas will catapult Nigeria from the current 26th position to one of the leading economies in the world by the year 2020. As a proactive organisation that the ITF is, we have acquired four mobile workshops to complement our existing industrial skills training centres. These will increase accessibility to skills training in all nooks and crannies of the country, and ensure that our young men and women acquire relevant skills to fit into existing and new jobs. Furthermore, the ITF has also refocused its training programme to equip two million youths annually with employable and life skills required for self and paid employment. It is our hope as an organisation, that the outcome will be drastic reduction in unemployment across the country. It is on record that the global financial meltdown of 2008, coupled with falling oil prices around the world, has affected governments around the world, while many have been grappling with the challenges of sustaining economic growth through industrialisation and job creation initiatives for their citizens and economies. Viewed from that prism, it is our strong belief that the President Goodluck Jonathan-led Federal Government deserves much commendation for employing astute strategies to manage the economy; constantly create new, exciting and sustainable jobs and developing the nation’s human capital to admirable heights. Considering these prospects and challenges, how would you describe the ITF’s future outlook? The ITF cannot do all these alone. The door of the organisation is always open to all stakeholders for partnership. It is even part of why the seminar earlier mention was organised. It is our hope that the ITF will be receiving suggestions and inputs in the days ahead, as we march towards non-oil driven economy. Suggestions and input from stakeholders always assist the ITF in packaging fora and policy for implementation. More so, the ITF will always continue to initiate moves that will lead to abundant creation of sustainable jobs through the provision of adequate and modern vocational skills that will in the end, eliminate unemployment in the country.

Jobs & Career

Tuesday, March 31, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

How to motivate employees

ll employees want to do interesting work, secure a good salary and earn recognition for their contributions. But motivating employees takes more than money and an occasional “thank-you.” It requires a strategy tailored to each worker’s needs. Here are ways to make your motivational techniques work for every employee. Ask what they want out of work-- Just knowing that an HR manager or boss is interested in a worker’s goals will make many employees feel better about their jobs. It can be difficult to get a quick and accurate answer to this question;however. It may help to ask a more specific question. Have workers describe a previous project that they felt good about, then see what aspects of that can be repeated. Consider each employee’s age and life stage-- There are exceptions to every generalisation, but workers nearing the end of their careers are often less focused on the next promotion than those who are just starting to climb the corporate ladder. Younger workers may also be less accustomed than older ones

to waiting patiently in a job they don’t find interesting. Match motivators to the company or department culture-- There are exceptions, but engineers are likely to be motivated by working on cutting-edge projects. On the other hand, sales professionals tend to use money as a way to measure how well they’re doing. Pinpoint each employee’s personality-- Some people love public praise; others are mortified by it and would much prefer a sincere, in-person “thank-you.” Make sure you take this into account if you are planning a ceremony to give awards or other recognition. Use flexibility wisely-- Allowing employees to telecommute some of the time or to set their own office hours can have big benefits. It makes employees’ lives more manageable — and it shows them that they are trusted. Still, as with other motivators, one size does not fit all. Some jobs simply can’t be done effectively outside the office. And some workers actually like going in to the office to escape the distractions of home or to preserve a line between

ICAN charges FG on multiple accounting bodies’ recognition MeshackIdehen

he Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) has charged the Federal Government to stop the proliferation of accounting bodies in the country. The President of the professional body, Mr. Chidi Ajaegbu, said the Institute had noted the existence of several accounting associations that had been springing up in the last 10 years without requisite technical expertise. “I wish to use this opportunity to harp on the need for the government to halt the trend towards the fragmentation of professional accountancy bodies in the country. In the last 10 years, many mushroom associations, without any legitimate claim to technical excellence and expertise, have been masquerading as accountancy bodies, fleecing innocent Nigerians of their hard earned income”, he said. Ajaegbu said a bill on the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants had passed the second reading at the National Assembly. According to him, the CIMA is not related to the well-known CIMA in the United Kingdom, adding that with ICAN and the Association of National Accountants of Nigeria in existence, there is no aspect of accountancy that is not adequately covered.

he Nigerian Office of the World Bank is seeking for a Social Protection Specialist that is capable of operating effectively in a very demanding fast paced environment. The incoming is expected to work with the Nigerian social protection team, and provide advice and support mainly for the development of a comprehensive social safety net for Nigeria. A post graduate degree in social sciences with concentration in welfare economics or labour economics and at least seven years of progressive professional experience in the relevant fields is required. A visit to www.worldbank.org/jobs is advised.

“In our view, we cannot rationalise the creation of more accountancy associations on the altar of commercial expediency at the expense of the overall national interest and commitment to professional excellence. “Accountancy is not a trade but a distinct professional calling with internationally accepted best practices. It must therefore be treated with the respect it deserves. If the profession is cheapened and opened to quacks, Nigeria and the economy will be the ultimate losers as the quality of financial reporting can only be as good as its preparers and those who attest to its reliability. “The implications of poor and unreliable financial reporting are too grave to be ignored by any nation desirous of economic advancement and a place in the global market. We therefore urge the government and the National Assembly to resist the temptation of giving legitimacy to quackery in the name of satisfying some non-altruistic interests.” He said, would continue to contribute to capacity building and support the government and the nation with its technical and managerial expertise. According to Ajaegbu, in the last 50 years, ICAN has made enormous contributions to the economic growth and development of the nation.

home and work. As long as the commute is not bad, some people would rather go in to work. Put money in its place-- How well does money motivate workers? The answer isn’t simple. An employee who demands a raise might really be unhappy because his or her suggestions are being ignored. Money is a baseline.Too little of it can make workers feel unappreciated and resentful. You don’t want compensation working against you as a motivator. People just don’t want to feel like their employer is taking advantage of them. However, motivation to work hard rarely comes solely from money. If your employees are being paid fair salaries and still seem unwilling to go

Association urges National Assembly on employees’ pension contributions Meshack Idehen

he Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) has called on the management of the National Assembly Commission to pay the 15 percent deducted staff pension contributions into their accounts. President of PASAN, Mr. Fatai Jimoh, told journalists while addressing the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the union, that the deducted contributions of members could not be traced, since it was not reflected in their accounts. While appealing to the management of the National Assembly to as a matter of urgency effect the payment of 15 percent deducted staff pension contribution into staff pension ac-

Job vacancies

KPMG is sourcing for a head of human resources, head of administration, head of transportation and head of insurance. All the positions attracts relevant degree, qualifications and experience. www.kpmg.com/ ng is the website to visit for further details on these and other vacancies announced by the company. The United Kingdom Agency for International Development (UKAid) has vacancies for social development adviser for some northern states who is expected to promote gender equality and women empowerment. Qualified and interested candidates are urged to send an email to DFIDNigeriarecruiting@dfid.gov. uk to obtain the full job description.

the extra mile, throwing more money at them is unlikely to be the answer. Don’t rely on stock options-- If money is an unreliable motivator, stock options are even less likely to motivate most workers. Employee worth goes up and down with a company’s stock price — something very few workers feel they can control. Offer help with career goals-- When you ask workers what kind of work they enjoy, also find out about what they are hoping to do in the future. Giving workers opportunities to build the skills and make the connections they need to get ahead in their careers will build loyalty and motivation.

Deloitte has openings, including those for a financial controller, a human resource manager, operations coordinator, a branch and transport managers and an administrative officer. All the position also attracts qualifications that varies from first and second degrees, experiences and skills.Intrested applicants are advised to forward their curriculum vitae to deloitte@deloitte.com An indigenous exploration and production company in the oil and gas sector said it wants to recruit a commercial manager, a production supervisor, a production technologist and reservoir engineer. Also being taken in by the oil and gas firm

count, Jimoh said the payment should be done without further delay. He explained the same should apply to the remittance of the 1 percent check-off dues from staff salaries into the National Account of PASAN as directed by the nation’s laws. The PASAN president also announced the return of the executive committee of the national assembly chapter of the union into the national body, which he said is in line with the resolution the NEC meeting held in Asaba in 2011. He urged the leadership of the National Assembly to accelerate their intervention in the crisis at the Rivers State House of Assembly to enable the payment of salaries for their members now suffering due to the crisis in the assembly in the state.

are a procurement officer, a material officer, an assistant production superintendent amongst others. Interested candidates are to send applications to ERGN2013@humanleadershipresources.com A senior technical advisor, a head of finance, global fund program, a program accountant and an internal auditor are some of the vacancies that currently exists at the national malaria control program of the Federal Ministry of Health in Abuja. Interested applicants are to forward letter of intent highlighting attributes, with their CV to the national coordinator, national malaria control program, Abuja, or to nmcpnigeriarecruits@gmail.com.

Tuesday, March 31, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Real Estate & Environment

EIA certificate issuance:

Stakeholders laud court ruling The recent Appeal Court ruling which affirmed the Federal Government as the sole authority empowered to approve the issuance of the Environmental Impact Assessment(EIA) certificate has laid to rest the bickering over the issue, writes OLUFEMI ADEOSUN.

FG links GGW success to beneficiariesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; participation

efore the Appeal Court ruling, the Federal Government and the Statesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Ministries and Environmental agencies had been engaged in a tussle over which tier of government is constitutionally empowered to approve and issue Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) certificate. The latter had accused the central government of meddling and issuing EIA certificates on several projects within their domain. It will be recalled that the human loss and the environmental degradation

caused by the incidence of dumping of toxic waste in Koko, a village in Southern Nigeria by an Italian ship in 1987 had awakened the consciousness of Nigeria to the need to conduct EIAs on all developmental projects. The EIA Decree No. 86 1992 (now an Act of the National Assembly, CAP 13 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (LFN), 2010 was promulgated to regulate development processes that may directly or indirectly impact negatively on the environment. The Act demands EIA approval for all industrial plans and development activities

CONTINUED ON PAGE 26

Color schemes for your Living room

Estate firm harps on leasing projects 27

in the country. However, since the law became operational, there has been a disagreement between the federal government and the state ministries and environmental agencies, with the latter accusing the former of meddling and issuing EIA certificates on several projects within their domain. The National Environmental Standards and Regulation Enforcement Agency (NESREA), an agency of the federal government responsible for the enforcement of all environmental laws, had chal-

Real Estate & Environment

Tuesday, March 31, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

EIA certificate issuance: Stakeholders laud court ruling CONTINUED FROM 25 lenged the power of the Kaduna State Environmental Protection Authority to issue an EIA certificate to Helios Towers for the erection of base station in Kaduna. The case which started in 2009 with a verdict in favour of NESREA at the Federal High Court presided by Justice M. Shuaib was upheld by the Appeal Court on October 10 2014, with the pronouncement that the power of approval and issuance of EIA resides with the federal government as represented by the Ministry of Environment and its agency-NESREA. Speaking on the import of the judgment last week in Abuja, the Minister of Environment, Mrs. Laurentia Mallam, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Nana Mede, threatened to sanction any company, local or multinational, relying on Environmental Impact Assessment(EIA) certificate not duly issued by her ministry as a proof of its compliance with the law. She stated,” It is the responsibility of the Federal Ministry of Environment to oversee the conduct of an EIA process by a proponent, including the issuance of Environmental Impact Assessment certificate. “The statutory responsibility of NESREA is to ensure that EIA process is carried out and that the elements/issues identified in the EIA certificate are complied with, as well as to ensure that the environmental audits are carried out in line with the extant regulations and guidelines.” She insisted that the process of EIA could not be compromised, adding that it was mandatory for any company or regulated community to embark on process before embarking on any development project with potential negative effects on the environment. In this regards, the minister called on all individuals, corporate bodies and state environmental authorities to cooperate fully with NESREA in the enforcement of the provisions of the EIA Act and other extant environmental laws and regulations.

Oil drilling

Mallam

Justice Mohammed

THE STATUTORY RESPONSIBILITY OF NESREA IS TO ENSURE THAT EIA PROCESS IS CARRIED OUT AND THAT THE ELEMENTS/ISSUES IDENTIFIED IN THE EIA CERTIFICATE ARE COMPLIED WITH, AS WELL AS TO ENSURE THAT THE ENVIRONMENTAL AUDITS ARE CARRIED OUT IN LINE WITH THE EXTANT REGULATIONS AND GUIDELINES

Also reacting NESREA Director General, Dr. Lawrence Anuka said the judgment was key to the realisation of the agency’s mandate. “It is very key because the agency has been having issues with some state governments where on their own they issue EIA certificate to companies, which is against the law. “It is the responsibility of NESREA to ensure that companies and regulated communities dully carry out their EIA

process and have their EIA certificates issued by the Federal Ministry of Environment. However, we realized that some state ministries and environment agencies were issuing EIA certificates which is against the law. And that is why we took Kaduna State Environmental Protection Authority(KASEPA) and Helios Towers to court. It is instructive that the case has been settled in favour of the ministry,’ he said.

Aganga

According to him, the court judgment does not only lay to rest the lingering tussle regarding which agency has the power to issue EIA certificates, it will also serve as a detergent to other state governments and agencies who also may want to do so. To the Executive Director, International Centre for Energy and Environment Development (ICEED), Mr. Ewah Eleri, the court decision was a good development for environmental sustainability that justice had been done on the matter. He said: “My reaction is that justice has been done. In my view, the prerogative for the approval and issuance of EIA certificate should rest solely on the federal government institution. And until the law is repealed by the National Assembly, the power of the Federal Government in this regards subsists.” On whether it would not be overwhelming for the federal government to cover the whole 36 states including the FCT, Eleri answered in the positive, saying that the issuance of EIA certificate is demand driven and that there has not been any instance to suggest the incapability of government to handle the demand. Adducing reasons why it should be on the purview of the federal government, Eleri maintained that since most of the environmental challenges confronting the nation were trans-boundary, it should be the responsibility of the federal agency to ensure that a proper environment and social i pact assessment is conducted. National Coordinator, Climate Change Network, Surveyor Efik, also endorsed the judgment, stressing that environment being a cross-cutting issue should not be left to the whims and caprices of the political class. He noted, “Government is already seen as the regulatory agency for all environmental issues in Nigeria. The issue of EIA is different from the Land Use Act which confers on the state governments the power over land matters in their domains. For the federal government to be sole arbiter for EIA issue is as a result our past experiences. If we allow state regulatory agencies, political differences might hinder developmental projects which are capable of improving our economy. “

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Real Estate & Environment

Tuesday, March 31, 2015

FG links GGW success to beneficiaries’ participation

MORTGAGE NOTES

with Adenike Fasanya-Osilaja Email: Nike@MVPSolutionsinc.com Fasanya-Osilaja https://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=35277333

Why I support the NMRC

y the time this column piece goes to print, the Nigerian national elections must have taken place. We have spent the last few months in a frenzy of preparation for this event, and it is a relief that it is finally happening. I offer my congratulations to the winners of the election, and offer my thanks to those who did not win the elections, for at least stepping forward to offer themselves in the service of their nation. It takes a special person to take on the rigors and stresses on running an election race, and we are a better nation because of you all. I spent the last three or so weeks writing a (long) letter to the NMRC and offering an in-depth review of the NMRC underwriting standards, as published on their website. I was honestly rather surprised at some of the comments I received on that piece. They ranged all the way from “Great piece, so on point” to “Why would you support another government agency when they are all crooks?” I have therefore decided to respond to some of these questions in today’s piece. I support the NMRC one hundred percent because I have reviewed their mandate and truly feel that, with the right guidance and hopefully lack of external influences, the NMRC may actually be the catalyst to revolutionize the Nigerian mortgage industry. The very premise upon which it is founded is the same premise that similar international organizations have been established, that have worked extremely well to standardize and enhance mortgage lending, and therefore home ownership in their nations. Put very simply, shelter is, and rightly so, a fundamental human right. Until a person is settled in their own space, they are not really in charge of their destiny. There is a peace that comes with knowing you are in your own home that is absolutely priceless. I have seen homeownership

change so many client’s lives, that I have no choice but to fight passionately for every opportunity that increases its accessibility, especially to first time home buyers. The advent of NMRC should be seen as a hugely positive event because we have seen what happens in Nigeria when there is almost zero regulation. The previous mortgage experiment in Nigeria failed due to several reasons, but the major one was definitely a lack of cohesion. This was a period in which loans were being made with predatory lending rates, excessive fees and unrealistic terms. It was so clearly ill conceived that its failure came as no surprise. I was one of the major sceptics when I heard about the NMRC until I really started to review the IDB facility paperwork. There are several new programmes and incentives required as part of the terms of the facility, that I am optimistic of a much more desirable future for the mortgage sector so long as the programmes are properly implemented. The NMRC emerges as the umbrella agency for the development and implementation of the said IDB programmes and incentives. What I consider to be its greatest strength is the fact that the agency is not the typical government agency or department. This gives it the capacity to act with the speed, agility and versatility required in today’s financial markets. Also, there is a legitimacy the NMRC brings to the industry that can only boost the profile of the Nigerian mortgage sector and provide access to funding on much better terms than we saw in the past. I also support the need for a regulatory system to weed out the bad apples and ensure that the industry produces seasoned and specialized professionals that enhance its international

profile. With a robust educational curriculum, especially if a licensing requirement is added, we will at least be certain of employing loan officers, who are able to process transactions properly. In my opinion, all ancillary industries should also require education and licenses, especially the appraisal industry. The caveat I offer though, is that such education should be actual hands on workshops where the participants get proper education and solve real fact pattern issues, not where they just sit in conferences and listen to “abstract ramblings” as I call them. Finally, the ability of NMRC to buy closed loans as a secondary purchaser of MBS tranches is arguably its most important strength. This provides consistent liquidity and protects the market from scarcity of supply, which is the number one factor for high rates and predatory loan terms to meet demand. It also ensures that loan retail suppliers originate loans in accordance with formal underwriting standards designed to ensure sanity in the market. So, yes I do support the NMRC. xxxxx Why would I not? Whichever way you dice it, the NMRC presents a start towards the re-emergence of a stronger, saner and hopefully more productive mortgage industry, and that is well worth my strong and unfettered support. If the NMRC is well set up and properly managed, it will bring us into a time of ease and cohesion in the mortgage process, and ultimately another area in which Nigeria once again asserts itself as the continental leader it is known and expected to be. As always, I welcome all questions and comments, and encourage you to make it a great day.

ABOUT THE WRITER Fasanya-Osilaja a lawyer and mortgage expert has owned and operated Marvel Ventures Mortgage, Inc. (www.marvelmortgage.com), a Chicagobased Mortgage Brokerage Company since 2000 and has worked in the US Mortgage industry since 1996. She also consults and facilitates industryrequired activities, from set up of mortgage organisations to documentation, training and compliance.

he Minister of Environment, Mrs. Laurentia Mallam, has said that the involvement of key stakeholders v and participating communities a was w key to the success of the Great Green Wall project. G A continental initiative of the African Union (EU) which inA volves eleven African countries, v the t GGW programme is aimed at stemming the tide of desertificas tion in the eleven frontline states t in i the North East. The programme which has the implementation time frame of i three years is to be implemented t in i Kebbi, Kano, Adamawa, Borno, Yobe, Jigawa, Zamfara, Sokoto, Y Gombe, Bauchi and Katsina. G Apart from addressing the challenge of massive deforestation in l the t affected state, GGW entails the provision of Shelter belts measurp ing i 15km wide and 1,500km long, stretching from Kebbi to Borno. s Other components of the programme include setting up of org chards, garden and plantations of c predominantly e onto mic trees. p Represented by Coordinator, Afforestation Prpgramme CordiA nating Unit(APCU), Mr. Saminu n Ado, stressed the imperative of A the t involvement of key stakeholders e during a one-day stakeholders forum on the Great Green Wall f

programme in Bauchi State. She noted that the huge investment in the programme would not be fully realised except the beneficiaries were carried along in its implementation, adding that it was only through that it could be sustainable. Mallam said that the Great Green Wall programme was accepted at the highest political level in Africa as a response to a major concern, namely the combined effects of the degradation of the natural rural environment and drought in the Sahel-Saharan Region. She further said that in order to strengthen the implementation of the initiative in Nigeria, the National Council on Great Green Wall under the Chairmanship of the Vice President, Namadi Sambo, approved the establishment of the Agency for Great Green Wall which since commencement in August, 2013 had recorded remarkable successes. According to her, some of the successes recorded include construction of 92 solar and wind powered boreholes in the 11 affected frontline states to provide water both for the people and their livestock, establishment of 80ha community orchard and the establishment of 267km shelterbelt.

Construction sector, world’s economic driver –Expert SYLVA EMEKA-OKEREKE

Civil Engineer, Engr. Matherw Adodo has described the nation’s construction sector as major economic driver of the world’s economy. Adodo, who noted that other sectors of the world’s economy depend directly and indirectly on construction sector to carry out operations said, the sector played major roles in declaring Nigeria’s economy as largest in Africa, after re-basing its Gross Development Product, GDP, from 1990 to 2010, which resulted in 89 percent increase in the estimated size of nation’s economy, surpassing South Africa. The effect of such declaration, he noted, reveals the fact that the nation’s economy is being diversified as previously thought, saying there are more prospects for sustained growths, driven by improved performance of non-oil sectors. According to him, the construction industry will benefit more from the performance of non-oil sectors in the country.

Noting that the contributions of the nation’s construction sector to the nation’s GDP can never be overemphasised, he however noted that its contribution to employment generation is on the low side, compared to other developed nations. Disclosing that there is light at the end of the tunnel due to infrastructural developments, which is currently attracting foreign investors with attendant benefits of increased construction activities, he said, there are massive demands for building constructions across the country. Some of the factors bedevilling the construction industries, he said, include shortage of skilled manpower, difficulties in procurement of plants and equipment. Others, he said, are inadequate capital for execution of projects as well as lack of training and development institutes that could sharpen the skills of construction workers. With the constraints in the sector, experts say the nation’s construction industry still has the capacity of becoming the largest markets in the world.

Real Estate & Environment

Tuesday, March 31, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Color sc your Livi

A color scheme can set the tone for y with these color combinations and liv

FRIENDLY COUNTRYSIDE Citron Green + Wheat Beige + Driftwood

Brown

Almost any time green leans more yellow than blue, it has more zin g. The pastel citron green on this living room’s walls and fabrics is countered by rustic bro wns, a light hue on the sofa, and the textural browns of the coffee table and rug to give the space a comfortable yet peppy vibe. Sleeker fur niture and doses of gray would have taken the citron from casual to chic.

Source: www.bhg.com

FG tasks PMIs, others on 17m housing deficit

he Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Mrs. Akon Eyakenyi, has charged Primary Mortgage Institutions, PMIs, operators and other relevant stakeholders in the housing sector to support the Federal Government’s efforts to reduce the lingering housing deficit gap in the country. Eyakenyi, who spoke when she inaugurated the 200 units Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN)/ Sky Diamond Housing Estate in Ogun State, said that it would be difficult to bridge the 17million units housing deficit gap in the country without the support of relevant stakeholders. She noted that the 200 units of housing would no doubt add to the housing stock of Kaduna, Kaduna State and go a long way in reducing the current estimated deficit in the housing sector. According to her, it is in recognition of the pivotal role that housing plays in the socioeconomic development and political stability of a nation that

the present administration has taken determined measures to revamp the sector and unleash its huge inherent economic potentialities for national development. The minister, who vowed the commitment of the federal government towards the recapitalisation of the FMBN to enable it redouble its efforts in providing homes to the Nigerian people, solicited for the support of other stakeholders. She said, I wish to reiterate and assure you of government’s explicit support for these initiatives and our intention to improve the capacity of FMBN by y re-capitalizing the institution ass part of the wider plans of over-hauling housing financing insti-tutions in Nigeria. “I equally hereby charge the e private and publicly-owned de-velopment firms, Primary Mort-gage Banks and other stake-holders in the Housing sector to o redouble all efforts in tackling g the huge housing deficit gap p which remains a challenge thatt must be overcome for the ben--

efit of Nigerians. Eyakenyi added that the present government had made concerted efforts to provide decent housing for the people of this country driven by a National Policy on Housing that places the private sector in the driving seat for housing development. She explained that the number of housing g projects the present over meant had commissioned in the last few weeks, was a pointer to the fact that the policies, strategies and mechanisms for reducing the national housing deficit in every nook and cranny of the country were

yielding results. The minister added, “We will therefore not relent in moving the Nigerian housing sector to the next level of sustainable development so as to establish a lasting legacy of affordable home ownership and a thriving culture of mortgage lending for the gain of future generations. While urging all Nigerians to support the efforts of government in the housing sector, Eyakenyi promised the continued commitment of government to provide affordable housing for the people.

Completed Mokola flyover in Oyo state

Estate firm harps on leasing projects SYLVA EMEKA-OKEREKE

firm of Estate Surveyors and Valuers, IbukunEfuntayo & Company, IEC, has described its appointment by a South-African-based company as a vote of confidence on its competence and expertise.

The foreign firm, RMB Westport had appointed the Lagosbased estate firm as part of its leasing team for its Circle Mall projects. Reacting on the appointment, the Principal Consultant, IbukunEfuntayo & Company, Emmanuel Efuntayo said, the Circle Mall project is the second of its kind in

the history of its partnership with the foreign-based firm. According to him, the IEC was part of the leasing team for the Ikeja City Mall, also developed and managed by RMB Westport. He said, “This is the second time we will be working with RMB Westport. Our first project with them was the Ikeja City Mall.

T s a a c b

p e r

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Tuesday, March 31, 2015

hemes for ing room

Real Estate & Environment

your living room. Find a fresh look for your space ving room paint ideas.

METALLIC NEUTRALS Nickel Gray + Gold Yellow

COTTAGE CHIC Ocean Blue + Cottage

Use neutrals inspired by metallics to create a chic look that’s not overpowering. In this living room, nickel gray walls envelop the space, and golden yellow patterns the window treatments. Bringing the colors of your walls and window treatments into the rest of the space is a smart step in good decor. Here, the gray pops up on the upholstery, and the golden color appears in variations on the rug and the side table between the chairs.

White + Lacq Use color fo uer Black r purposes other than living room visual inte , ocean blu rest. In this e paint alon up the room g th e top of the ’s architectu wall plays re, such as work, and the beamed fireplace w ceiling, trim all. Accesso room carry ries through the color. W out the livin hile the wh intended fo g it e ca rries the co r the space, ttage vibe the unexpec accents on ted comes by a singular way of blac throw pillo Adding a h k w and two int of somet framed pri hing a little nts. its own per d if fe sonal look. rent will gi ve a space

This is why we strongly feel this second appointment from them is an indication that they recognise and appreciate our expertise and competence in the retail leasing business”.. Efuntayo said, the Circle Mall project located along Lekki-Epe expressway, Lagos, is a premium retail section with a business cen-

Firm empowers 300,000 households with cooking biofuel OLUFEMI ADEOSUN ABUJA

arbon Credit Network, a NonGovernmental Organisation and proponent of the adoption of clean technology as a strategy towards mitigating the negative impact of climate change on the environment, said it had delivered biofuel to over 300,00 households at half the price of government subsidised kerosene. This is even as the company disclosed its plans to provide the resource to an estimated one million

tre. According to him, while the retail section features Californiastyle Open Mall convenience shopping mall that accommodates 10,800m2 of exceptional quality retail space and 373 exclusive parking bays, ,the Business Centre, which is adjacent to the retail section accommodates 3,700m2 of

A-grade international quality office space with 72 dedicated parking bays among other facilities. Efuntayo also disclosed that Shoprite, a leading retail brand in Nigeria is the anchor tenant while negotiations are on-going with other potential sub-anchor tenants.

households before the end of this year. The Executive Director of the Network, Mr. Femi Oye, who spoke during the 3rd year anniversary of the UN backed organization, said it was working with over 22,000 women entrepreneurs across Nigeria to reduce the harmful effect of fossil fuel on the environment and people’s health. Oye, who lamented that climate change had caused so much dislocation to the ecosystem, noted that 60 per cent of emission that caused global warming had been linked to the use of energy. According to him, apart from remaining a 3rd highest killer next to malaria and AIDs, smokes from cooking have been identified as the major cause of skin cancer, lungs infection and respiratory problems especially among women and children. On the significance of the network, he said, the organisation is a brainchild of the UN and a grassroots movement of climate change environmental enthusiasts, actors

and policy developers in Africa, adding that its goal is to lead the renewable energy industry in Nigeria towards the direction of achieving a clean development and also building a low carbon economy in Africa. He explained further that the Network was the first to frontier the massive deployment of clean technology. “Sixty per cent of the impact and effect of climate change come and grow as a result of use of energy and if we can reduce the impact from the use of energy, running fossil fuel generator, powering our industries, CFC gases that emit through old technology way of doing business, the negative impact of climate change would have been drastically addressed”, he projected. As part of the strategies to address the descent, Oye explained that the Network along with its partner-Green Energy Biofuel had been able to come up with a cleaner fuel which not only help to reduce emission but also displaced approximately close to 4million liters of kerosine every year in Nigeria.

Real Estate & Environment

Tuesday, March 31, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Dubai property market slides D

ubai luxury home prices remain relatively resilient, despite a drop in sales activities, according to the latest analysis of the Emirate’s residential real estate market. Sales in Dubai’s prime segment hit the lowest level since the end of 2012 in the final three months of 2014, the research document from international real estate firm Knight Frank shows. Despite this however, Knight Frank’s prime residential price index saw a relatively modest fall in the three months to De-

cember of 1.2 percent quarter on quarter, the second consecutive quarterly fall. Indeed an examination of the data shows that these two declines nearly reversed the increases seen in the first half of last year, leaving values just 0.3 percent higher year on year in the fourth quarter of 2014. Despite the lower level of transactional activity however, the nationalities investing in real estate in Dubai remained diverse. Data from the Dubai Land Department (DLD) shows that, in 2014, more than 140 nationali-

ties bought property in the Emirate. A breakdown of the figures shows that Indians remained the top foreign property investors, spending around AED18.1 billion, while the British and Pakistanis invested AED9.3 billion and AED7.6 billion, respectively. Overall though, the Emiratis spending AED 22.8 billion were the leading real estate investors, accounting for approximately 21 percent of the total spent last year. Between 2013 and 2014 Indians and Saudis increased their lev-

els of real estate investment in Dubai while the British and Pakistanis, as well as the aggregate of the remaining GCC countries, spent 1% to 12% less. The total level of real estate investment from all other countries also fell in 2014, by almost 5% year on year. An assessment of web traffic to KnightFrank.ae’s website shows that around 44 percent of the total viewings in 2014 originated from the UAE. But the report points out that a significant proportion of these will have been expats.

What’s more, another 18% of those clicking through to Knight Frank’s UAE website were doing so from the UK, while 7 percent were from India and 4% from the United States. As a proportion of the total, the level of web traffic from Russia also fell year on year in 2014 however, this did not come as a surprise since the rouble has nearly halved against the US dollar, to which the UAE dirham is pegged, since July, making it significantly more expensive for this nationality to buy property in Dubai.

Irish property prices fall in a row

Dubai property

New accreditation standard hits London lettings

ore than 115,000 rented homes across London are now badged under the Mayor’s Rental Standard accreditation system launched last year to improve the experience of landlords and tenants. Less than a year since its launch in May 2014, the London Rental Standard is going from strength to strength with 307 letting agent firms signed up and eight accrediting bodies licensed under the scheme. It has been adopted by 10 of the biggest names in the lettings industry, including Spicerhaart, Andrews, CBRE, Chestertons, Douglas and Gordon, Savills, Knight Frank, Leaders, Foxtons and Stirling Ackroyd. Londoners either letting or renting through every London branch of these firms are assured that they, and every landlord or agent displaying the London Rental Standard badge, have met the Mayor’s set of core commitments and training levels to offer tenants a better, more professional service. These include transparent fees, better property conditions, better communications between landlords and tenants, improved response times and repairs, and protected deposits.

Some 30 percent of London’s households now live in rented homes, and by the middle of the 2020s the number of renters is predicted to overtake the number of home owners in the capital. In the last 10 years the number of families with children renting in London has risen 10% to almost a third yet 85% of landlords are not aware of core legislation that protects renters and 61% have no professional management training. The London Rental Standard is fast becoming an important feature of London’s lettings industry, helping Londoners to pick between the huge array of landlords and agents on offer in the capital.

It helps landlords and agents to understand their responsibilities to their tenants and to equip them with the knowledge they need to protect themselves from mistakes which can incur hefty costs and leave tenants disgruntled. The standard is one of a raft of measures the Mayor Boris Johnson has supported to improve the experience of London’s two million private rented sector tenants. This includes successfully lobbying for legal changes to make it compulsory for letting agents to join an independent consumer complaints scheme to help protect tenants and landlords, and banning retaliatory evictions.

esidential property prices in Ireland fell by 0.4 percent in February, the second monthly decline in a row, the latest index data shows. The fall last month comes on the back of a 1.4 percent decline in January amid concerns that the country’s real estate recovery could be stalling. In Dublin, the decline was more pronounced, with average prices falling by 0.7 percent, according to the data from the Central Statistics Office. However, despite this fall, residential property prices remained up 14.9 percent on an annual basis. In Dublin property prices were still 21.4% higher than in February 2014. A breakdown of the figures shows that Dublin house prices fell by 1% in February whilst Dublin apartment prices increased by 2 percent. However, a spokesman said that it should be noted that the sub-indices for apartments are based on low volumes of observed transactions and consequently suffer from greater volatility than other series. In the rest of Ireland residential property prices were unchanged in February. However, prices were still up 8.2% compared with February 2014.

At national level residential property prices were 38.7% lower than their peak level in 2007. Dublin house prices were 37.6% lower than their peak, Dublin apartment prices were 43.3% lower than their peak and Dublin residential property prices overall were 39.3% lower than their highest level. Outside of Dublin residential property prices were 41.9% lower than their highest level in 2007. ‘With prices continuing to rise more quickly than earnings affordability constraints are beginning to have an impact. This has removed some of the heat that was evident in the market in the middle of last year,’ said John McCartney of Savills. ‘Agents are now reporting that buyers are no longer in a frenzy to buy for fear that prices will run beyond their means. This is a very positive development as expectations of rapid price growth can become self-fulfilling and can quickly lead to overheating,’ he added. It is a welcome slowdown in Irish house price inflation rather than a collapse in prices, according to Conall MacCoille, chief economist at Davy Stockbrokers, who said at over five times average incomes, house prices no longer look cheap.

...As home affordability deteriorates to 2009 levels

he past year has seen deterioration in affordability in UK cities, driven by rising house prices across the country, with Oxford names as the least affordable. Stirling in the most affordable and Aberdeen as seen the highest house price growth since 2005, according to the latest Lloyds Bank Affordable Cities Review. The average UK city house price has risen by 7 percent, from

£181,667 in 2014 to £195,107 in 2015 and this has resulted in affordability in the nation’s cities worsening in the last 12 months from 5.8 to 6.1 times gross average annual earnings, the second successive annual decline in affordability. Affordability in UK cities is, on average, now at the same level as in 2009 but is 15% lower than the peak of 7.2 times earnings in 2008 at the height of the last housing market boom.

The overall improvement in affordability across UK cities as a whole over the past seven years has been caused by a combination of an average house price decline of 6% and an increase in the gross average annual earnings in UK cities of 11%. Oxford’s average house price is 11 times the gross average earnings in the city. At an average price of £361,469, houses in Oxford are more expensive compared

with local average earnings than any other UK city. This is partly due to Oxford’s attractiveness to commuters working in London. Winchester at 10.11, Cambridge at 9.76, Chichester at 9.19 and Brighton and Hove at 9.10 make up the top five least affordable cities. Greater London is not far behind with average property prices 8.75 times average gross annual earnings.

Aviation

Tuesday, March 31, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Lapses in General Aviation will be addressed – Capt. Usman Capt. Muhtar Usman was appointed the Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, on March 4, 2014 but assumed duties months after his appointment. In his maiden interaction with aviation journalists, Usman spoke about the imminent International Civil Aviation Oragnisation’s, ICAO’s audit, private jet operation amongst other issues in the sector. OLUSEGUN KOIKI reports: Sir, in the next few months, personnel of the Inter-

the airlines even go higher than the Convention to

national Civil Aviation Organisation, ICAO, would

resolve issues. We have all the records of cases. We

visit Nigeria for audit of the airports. How prepared

assure you that every issue raised by passengers on

is the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, for

the loss of luggage or pilfering of luggage are being

this all-important exercise?

attended to by our agency and sorted out.

What I can tell you is that we are preparing until the audit days. There are processes to be followed

Recent stowaway incidents have further showed

by us and I can tell you here that we have started

that our airports are porous. Could you give us an

those processes. Some of the processes include

insight into what the NCAA doing to ensure that this

manpower, assigning of responsibilities and equip-

act is reduced to the barest minimum?

ment. Whatever we need would be made available

On stowaway, the authority has given orders for

before the arrival of the ICAO personnel.

an immediate enhancement of all security activi-

However, this time around, we want to make sure

ties at our airports especially at the Murtala Mo-

that we perform higher than how we have been per-

hammed International Airport, MMIA, Lagos. Oth-

forming in the past.

er measure taken by the NCAA is to embark on a specific security audit of the airline involved in the

General Aviation is fast growing in the country and

stowaway incident.

most of the owners of the private jets seemed to be

All airlines have therefore been advised to ensure

violating NCAA regulations. Does this not suggest that NCAA is not alive to its responsibilities? What we have in our regulation is mainly scheduled services and not General Aviation, but in recent years, we have had a lot of increase in that aspect of the industry and our regulations are being

increased security presence around their aircraft when not in operation. This should be done round

Usman

the clock. Our policy is to continue to work with all

We assure you that every

relevant stakeholders in the industry to ensure safe, secure and comfortable flight operations in Nigeria.

issue raised by passengers

How do you intend to fulfil your agency’s mandate

on the loss of luggage or

on training and retraining of aviation sector work-

it. The most important thing is that we all work to-

pilfering of luggage are

view of the current paucity of funds at government

gether and mind you, the ministry of aviation is the

being attended to by our

supervisor of all parastatals in the country. NCAA

agency and sorted out

reviewed to accommodate the current status. So, all those loopholes would soon be addressed. It doesn’t matter if it is the ministry that is doing

on its part, whatever we need to do, we will do. I don’t want to be too specific on any airline. In January, one of the newly issued Air Operator’s Certificate, AOC, Discovery Air, was suspended for safety reasons by NCAA. What is the present position of your Authority on the airline? Before the issuance of our AOC to any airline, there are some safety processes the airlines are expected to go through. Anybody that goes against the regulations or is not in conformity with our regulations would not be allowed to operate in the industry. The action we have taken on Discovery Air is not punitive, but to ensure protection of lives and properties and to keep the industry going. When will the sacked 187 workers in NCAA be reinstated? I am not sure if the figure is right, but whatever is it, the Government has set up a committee and the committee should be allowed to conclude its report and whatever the committee report says would

fully implemented in the industry and in the case of the affected staff. There have been several rumours concerning their case, but fortunately for us, we don’t deal with rumours in this sector. Whatever NCAA is going to do will be in line with the beliefs of government. Pilfering of passengers’ luggage at the airside has been on the increase in recent times despite the installation of equipment to curb the incidents. What is NCAA doing to end this nefarious act? The fact is that in NCAA, whenever we receive some complaints, we try as much as possible to resolve them and things are improving in the industry. British Airways for instance, left behind the beauty tips of Mrs. Victoria Bechamp, the wife of the exBritish footballer in London and she was going to Los Angeles in the United States and later discov-

force, especially the airworthiness personnel, in level? Training and retraining of our staff as you have noticed is very important. In NCAA, it is a continuous process and a field. Our focus is actually training, training and training because the only thing you can do is to keep on training your staff especially in this era of high technological improvements in the sector. For you to measure up, the only thing you can do is to train, train and re-train your staff, which we have been doing over the years. The training we are talking about is not just for only airworthiness personnel, but for all personnel in the agency. None of the airports in the country is certified by NCAA. Are we to expect certification of any of them very soon? Yes, none of our airports is certified today, but there are lots of improvements on this. The security apparatus at the airports are being enhanced and

ered that her luggage was left behind. You know

we have been working along with the airport land-

what the airline did? The airline gave her 250,000

lord and security agencies. Very soon, at least two

pounds as compensation so that it doesn’t escalate.

of the international airports; Murtala Mohammed

Our airlines are improving and we are getting better

International Airport, MMIA, Lagos and Nnamdi

be given to the government. I want to assure you

deals. This loss of baggage you are talking about is

Azikiwe International Airport, NAIA, Abuja would

here that the decision of the Government would be

covered in NCAA 1999 Convention and most times,

be certified by NCAA.

Aviation

Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Stakeholders task travel agents on consolidation StorieS: oluSegun KoiKi

takeholders and professionals in the aviation industries have charged travel agencies in the country to focus on consolidation strategies in order to improve their services and bargaining powers. Giving this advice at the 39th Annual General Meeting, AGM, of the National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies, NANTA, with the theme: ‘Consolidation in the Travel Industry: The Way Forward,’ the industry stakeholders noted that for the travel agency in Nigeria to attain its heights, there was a need for professionals in the sector to consolidate their operations. One of the discussants, the British Airways Regional Commercial Manager, West Africa, Mr. Kola Olayinka, pointed out that for the sub-sector to grow, players needed to study and understand the best practices in other parts of the world. Speaking on the merger between British Airways and Iberia, Olayinka noted that the exercise had increased the number of aircraft in the fleet of the two airlines, improved cooperation rather than competition and enhanced business and other operational benefits for

L-R: Managing Director, Vintage Management Ltd, Mr. Francis Atoju; Country Manager, British Airways, Mr. Kola Olayinka; 1st Vice President, National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies, NANTA, Mrs. Tinuke Nwakohu; MD, Touchdown Travels, Mr. Dayo Adeola; Chairman, BOT, NANTA, Mr. Akintunde Akala; Mrs. Bunmi Acher of Leadway Assurance and Country Manager, Emirate Airlines, Mr. Manoj Nair at the 39th Annual General Meeting of NANTA held in Lagos recently.

the carriers. He however noted that for consolidation to be successful in the sector, the merging organisations must identify the benefits therein and improve the training of their personnel among others. Also speaking, Leadway Assurance representative, Ms. Bunmi Acher, emphasised that the recent consolidation in the insurance sector had further boosted credit facilities from financial institutions to the insurance companies in the country.

She declared that for consolidation to be successful, balance sheet of partners, which included bank account, debt profile and assets were very important, maintaining that with effective consolidation in the sector, players would have better opportunities to carry out their businesses. She added, “The consolidators should look at the strength of each person. The ego or pride should be totally eschewed among the partners. By consolidating your operations, your business will outgrow you.”

ASECNA boss commends NAMA on navigational facilities

he Director-General of Agency for the Safety of Aerial Navigation in Africa, ASECNA, Mr. Amadou Guitteye, has lauded the navigational facilities of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, NAMA, in several locations and airports naionwide. Guitteye, who gave the commendation during his deliberations with officials of NAMA and other Chief Executive Officers, CEOs, in the Nigerian aviation industry in Lagos over the weekend, noted that Nigeria had the technical manpower capacity to manage all its facilities and equipment in several location in the country. An online statement by the Ag. General Manager, Public Affairs, NAMA, Mrs. Olajumoke Adetona, stated that Guitteye had toured the

agency’s facilities at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja. The facilities inspected included the control tower, equipment room, VSAT Earth Station, Instrument Landing Systems, Localisers as well as the Total Radar Coverage of Nigeria, TRACON, centre. Apart from the touring of the facilities, Adetona stated that Guitteye also discussed issues bordering on harmonious collaboration and partnership with Nigeria, aimed at further enhancing safety and seamlessness in airspace coordination within the AFI region with the CEOs. ‘’We are very impressed about what we have seen today. From the navigational aids to the TRACON centre, we learnt a lot and it has given us more confidence in the ability of NAMA to guarantee safety of air

Nigerian Airspace Managment Agency, NAMA, radar at the Lagos Airport

navigation in the region. “We also discovered from our interaction that Nigeria has very capable technical manpower managing these infrastructure and we shall continue to exchange ideas and technologies, all targeted at enhancing air safety on the continent of Africa,” he stated.

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Airside shegzzy4live2000@yahoo.co.uk 08186007273

NCAA and poor maintenance culture

ne of the many legacies of the erstwhile Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, Dr. Harold Demuren, was the construction and handing over of a befitting annex headquarters for the parastatal at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, MMIA, Lagos. The annex headquarters was completed about four or five years ago. None of the agencies including the airport landlord, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, can boast of such envying edifice as one of its offices. In fact, almost all the agencies in the sector have used and are still using the facilities for their official assignments or training on a regular basis. But, Airside is appalled about the poor maintenance of the edifice by the management of the agency. Last week, the Director-General, NCAA, Capt. Muhtar Usman hosted jour-

nalists to a dinner party at one of the halls, but Airside was ashamed to see that some of the ceiling sheets have been soaked up by rain. This simply shows that one of the roofing sheets is leaking thereby leading to the soaking up of the ceiling sheets. In fact, no fewer than eight of the ceiling sheets were affected. For the leadership of NCAA to carry out repairs on the affected parts at the moment, it won’t cost it a paltry N50,000, but unfortunately, they have turned blind eyes to the affected parts until the entire roofing and ceilings sheets are consumed and destroyed. Airside insists this non-chalant attitude to public properties and assets should be stopped immediately. If the edifice in question belongs to one of the top hierarchies in NCAA, will they allow it to deteriorate before doing the needful? Time to carry out effective repairs is now.

Is aviation still the safest?

everal aviation enthusiasts and analysts always describe aviation industry as the safety and fasted means of transportation. While the fastness is not disputable, its ‘safety’ slogan may be in contention, no thanks to recent massive accidents that have enveloped the sub-sector. Precisely, on Saturday, March 8, 2014, a Boeing 777 flight MH370 belonging to Malaysian Airlines with 239 souls onboard and on six hours journey disappeared from the radar about an hour after take-off. Despite the high tech deployed by searchers, the wreckages of the aircraft were still yet to be found.

Few months after that, another airline, Air Asia was downed by terrorists in Ukraine. Apart from these two catastrophes, other minor and major accidents also eclipsed 2014. 2015 has not feared better either. Earlier in the month, it was the turn of Delta Airlines to skid off the runway with hundreds of passengers while the low cost carrier of Lufthansa Airlines, Germanwings also crashed with 150 souls onboard. The question on the lips of many stakeholders, flying public including the Airside is “can aviation industry still parades itself as the safest means of transportation?” Only time will tell.

Bi-Courtney expresses confidence in Airport Police Command

i-Courtney Aviation Services Limited, BASL, operators of the Murtala Muhammed Airport 2, MMA2, has expressed confidence in the capability of the Nigeria Police, Airport Command to ensure total safety and security at the nation’s airports. BASL, stated that the police attached to the nation’s airports especially the Murtala Mohammed Airport, MMA, Lagos had over the years lived up to expectations of stakeholders while urging the current leadership of the Command to sustain the good performance Speaking at the donation of patrol vehicle and office equipment to the command, the Chief Executive Officer of BASL, Mr. Christophe Penninck said that the donation of the operational equipment had further demonstrated its unwavering commitment to its

corporate social responsibility. Penninck, who was assisted by some executive management staff, including the Chief Operating Officer, Ms. Adebisi Awoniyi and the Group Head of Audit, Ms. Yosola Popoola, expressed satisfaction with the efforts of the command in securing the entire airport environment despite some obvious challenges. Some of the equipment included a fully-equipped patrol car, two sets of computer with printers, two refrigerators and two flat-screen television sets. The equipment were handed over to the Commissioner of Police, Airport Command, Mrs. Dorothy Gimba, during a familiarisation visit to MMA2 recently. The CEO said, “Our experience and interaction with the police have been excellent. We appreciate the good work you are

doing. The fact that we don’t have any security issue and incident at the airport shows that things work. It is only where and when things don’t work that we have issues. “We have nothing negative to say about the police at the airport. We also understand the importance of intelligence and have always availed your people of any information we consider necessary for them to perform effectively. We are committed to making the police efficient at the airport.” Respondinge, Gimba described BASL as a “critical stakeholder in the Nigerian Aviation industry”, whose support is key to ensuring optimum performance by police. She said the command considered it important to open a direct channel of communication with the management of BASL to enhance the level of cooperation between the police and the company.

Insurance

Tuesday, March 31, 2015

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AIICO partners AIG on Kidnap and Ransom Insurance stimulation exercise

he American International Insurance Company, AIICO, Plc in conjunction with the AIG and crisis management consultants, NYA held a stimulation exercise on Kidnap and Ransom Insurance. The event which took place at SOHO restaurant, Intercontinental Hotel, VI, Lagos was attended by

AIICO, AIG and NYA representatives, insurance specialists and brokerage firms. Kidnapping and extortion are significant threats to organizations and those who serve them around the world. Properly managing a kidnapping, extortion or other crisis event is essential in

protecting the life and well-being of a victim as well as an organization’s assets. K&R insurance is designed to protect individuals and corporations operating in high-risk areas around the world and is a reimbursement policy. The policy does not pay ransoms on behalf of

Mansard, ISIA Insurance clinch work place Nigeria

ansard Insurance, ISIA Insurance, Nigeria’s top insurance companies, have clinched this year’s Great Place to Work Nigeria Awards along with other companies. The insurance companies were rewarded with the award along with the Microsoft Nigeria, Unilever Nigeria, Coca-Cola Nigeria, Akintola Williams Deloitte, DHL Nigeria, and Konga who were declared the best companies to work in Nigeria at the 2015 Great Place to Work Nigeria, GPTWN, Awards. The coveted awards was given on account of their strong ethical standards and work-friendly environment while Microsoft beat FITC and DHL Nigeria to clinch the award for the category of Delivering Excellence in Wellness, Sahara Group, a major player in the oil & gas sector, trounced Fidelity Bank and Diageo Nigeria to clinch the award in the category of Delivering Excellence in Corporate Social Responsibility, CSR. FITC, which was first runner up to Microsoft however, won the Delivering Excellence in Leadership category. Lagos Business School and First Bank of Nigeria was first and second runner

Olaoye

up, respectively. Also, Akintola Williams Deloitte emerged winner in the Delivering Excellence in Learning & Development category. The firm beat DHL Nigeria and Accenture Nigeria who were first and second runner up, respectively. A pool of over 75 organisations was assessed from which three were nominated in each category and a winner selected. Speaking during the third edition of the award ceremony and dinner tagged, ‘Good to Great,’ held on Friday, March 20, 2015 at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos, Country Manager, GPTWN, Mr. Michael Thomas, said “The eight companies that made the 2015 Best Companies To Work for in Nigeria list set a high standard for us all. Their outstanding achievement builds a better society by creating great workplaces.” GPTWN is an affiliate of Great Place to Work, San Francisco, US, a global research, consulting and training institute that specializes in analyzing, understanding, selecting and publishing best workplace lists in the country. The Great Place to Work Awards are a distinctive way Great Place to Work Institute recognizes the accomplishments of organisations across the world who have implemented creative and effective approaches to developing trust, pride, and camaraderie within their unique workplaces.The organisers define great workplaces as companies where employees trust their colleagues, take pride in their work and enjoy the relationship with the people

they work with. Thomas, who noted that it’s interesting to see lots of companies build great workplace culture however, said it takes a certain level of courage to blaze the trail and build a great workplace culture. He disclosed that unlike past editions, more indigenous companies are among the awardees. Also speaking, Chairman of GPTWN, Mr. Ghandi Olaoye, noted that there is a growing desire among companies in Nigeria to build a great place to work. While describing the awardees as exceptional, he said they represent exemplary corporate citizens. He urged them to continue to show the way for others to follow. Explaining the key criteria in the process of determining the winning companies, Mr. Olaoye said the selections were made by critically looking at employee perceptions as indicated in GPTWN Trust Index Assessment. “The Trust Index Survey measures employee perception of his company. It looks at how employees see their organisations and this trust index has a whole lot of questions drawn with an international standard. So we don’t do the rating, the employees do the rating and we send it to the Great Place to Work Institute in San Francisco,” he said. Olaoye also said GPTWN used the Culture Audit in which companies policies and practices are benchmarked against global best practices. All companies surveyed for the Best Place to Work Institute awards are entered into a global data-base where their performances are benchmarked against other companies in 55 countries of the world.

the insured. Typically, the insured must first pay the ransom, thus incurring the loss, and then seek reimbursement under the policy. While giving his welcome speech, the Managing Director \ CEO of AIICO PLC, Mr Edwin Igbiti said “It is sad, though true, that Kidnapping has really become a big business. It is one of the world’s most highly specialized and secretive occupations, where every decision can determine whether someone lives or dies. The essence of this exercise is to arouse our interest in the product, create awareness and serve as a promotion program for the product. It will equally expose us to the various risks, dynamics and intricacies of the business of kidnapping and how best to handle, manage and mitigate the identified risks”. He also emphasized that the event was a simulation exercise

and not a product launch. Mr Moruf Apampa, GM, Corporate Business, in his closing remark stated that AIICO and AIG are bringing the long awaited product closer to Nigeria by organizing the simulation exercise which is essential and necessary for its entrenchment in our market.

Igbiti

Etisalat Partners With FBN Insurance Limited to Launch “Sure4Life”

tisalat Nigeria has putatively partnered with FBN Insurance Limited to launch ‘Sure4Life”, an airtime-based insurance product designed to increase penetration and consumer access to affordable insurance products via the mobile telephone. Sure4Life is expected to make insurance products accessible to a robust portion of the uninsured Nigerian population and will provide Etisalat customers with one month free life insurance cover between May and July 2014. According to Director, Business Segment at Etisalat Nigeria, Lucas Dada,“Sure4Life is an innovative insurance product which takes away all the challenges that may be associated with taking an insurance policy and allows our subscribers to access and maintain insurance coverage with ease. It is in line with our reputation as the most innovative telecommunications company to provide such life-changing products to our customers.” The partnership is anticipated

to bring inexpensive and easy to reach insurance products to Etisalat’s growing prepaid and postpaid customers and is open to all registered Etisalat subscribers between ages 18 and 80 years. The plan will provide a monthly insurance premium of N100 monthly and will benefit Etisalat subscribers with N100, 000 payable to the beneficiary in the instance of the demise of the policy holder and a maximum of N10, 000 for medical expenses in circumstances of an accident. The plan states that death benefit per any one life shall be limited to NGN200, 000 to a max of two registered Etisalat numbers.The medical expenses benefit per any one life is limited to NGN20, 000, to a max of two Etisalat registered numbers. Val Ojumah, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer FBN Insurance said the plan changes the idea that insurance is only for the rich and will also reduce the complexities and paperwork associated with insurance.

Insurance

Tuesday, March 31, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Experts advocate compulsory insurance for future elections In its efforts at boosting the insurance premium to grow the Gross Domestic Product, GDP, of the Nigeria, the National Insurance Commission, NAICOM, came out with a law in 2003 making it mandatory for people to insure their vehicles and property as well as other items, but many people are yet to key into the law. In this report TAYO ELEBIJO takes a look at how using compulsory insurance as a criterion for political candidates could deepen insurance penetration in the country.

he National Insurance Commission, NAICOM, has embarked on many awareness programmes in the past to awaken the people’s consciousness to their growing obligations in the drive to grow the sector, particularly by enhancing its contributions to the nation’s Gross Domestic Products, GDP. One of such programmes is the Market Development Restructuring Initiatives, MDRI. As at the end of 2014, insurance industry premium, NAICOM reported that this was about N300bn. From 2012 figures, motor insurance contributed the highest amount of premium, equal to 25.84 percent, while oil and gas contributed 21.22 percent for that year. However, many Nigerians seemed to be aversed to taking insurance policy ostensibly because of past experiences in the industry when claims payment was never prioritized by most entities in the industry. Recently, however, the NAICOM has done a lot to restore public confidence in the sector despite the fact that the result of such initiatives in terms of premium value is yet to be fully manifesting. The General Manager , Regional Director North, Consolidated Hallmark Insurance Plc, Mac Ekechukwu said “Government commitment to the sector was paying lip service and not able to enforce the various reforms. For instance, insurance of Public buildings, public schools and 3rd party motor insurance are supposed to be compulsory but this is not so as government agents who are required to enforce these, have compromised” The negative attitude of the people to insurance policy to protect themselves, their businesses, and other aspects of their lives, could be traced more to the socio-economic challenges in the country rather than policy measures. As analysts continue to explore new ways of growing the industry, particularly at this fiscal austere times when dwindling oil prices at the global market are taking huge toll on the Nigerian economy, one of the key options identified by them as crucial to improving public confidence in the industry and its contributions to national development is extending the insurance policy’s thrusts to the political terrain, by making it a prerequisite for all candidates contesting elections in the country. Mike Omeike, the marketing man-

Commissioner for Insurance, Fola Daniel

Lawal

The secTor would develop and have greaT economic advanTage if The compulsory insurance parTicularly The properTy insurance could be made a prerequisiTe in fuTure elecTions for poliTical

candidaTes by The independenT

commission, inec

ager at NICON Insurance Plc said in an interview with National Mirror that making compulsory insurance, particularly the property insurance a prerequisite for candidates in future elections would help develop the sector economically.” The sector would develop and have great economic advantage if the compulsory insurance particularly the property insurance could be made a prerequisite in future elections for political candidates by the Independent Electoral Commission, INEC”, he said. According to Omeike, making the compulsory insurance mandatory would also send a warning signal to aspiring election candidates that their credentials will be scrutinized thereby tidying up the system. The mandate will need constant monitoring for it to give the much needed result and could be extended to other areas by NAICOM to make it work. Even though there are fears in some quarters that the system would be compromised, Kola Sojobi , a former company secretary at Goldlink Insurance Plc told National Mirror that Government needs to enforce the insurance

elecToral

laws particularly for those building homes, offices and schools. Unless the government comes in to redirect the sector by making those seeking elective positions in the country to present their premium for compulsory insurance. “Making it man-

NAICOM house

datory for those politicians seeking elective positions in the country will not only help the industry to grow premium wise, it will also create the avenue for new job positions in the sector “. As it is, political office holders would have to do a lot more to open the doors of job opportunities in the sector for the unemployed youths in the country. The Managing Director Sterling Assurance Nigeria Limited, Fatai Kayode Lawal said he would rather advice the political candidates to make sure that they take steps that would grow the insurance industry when they get to the office. “ I would rather advice future political candidates to take the steps that will help in the further development of the industry when they assume office”. However, some stake holder said there is hope.“Opportunity for growth in the insurance sector in the next four year years, is estimated at $105.24bn”, Bismark Rewane, chief executive, Financial Derivatives Company Limited, said in the current Insurance Outlook . Rewane added, “I see an 18 percent annual premium growth rate, and if current reform programmes in these sectors are fully implemented, insurance will emerge stronger. According to him, new investments in the housing sector as well as oil and gas, are key growth factors that should encourage purchase for insurance policies, boost sector premium and enhance its contribution to GDP.

Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Money

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Banks rally on credit access for micro enterprises In order to reverse the ugly trend of growing unemployment rate in the country and support increase their contribution to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product, GDP, Deposit Money Banks, DMBs, are exploring all windows to increase lending to Small and Medium Enterprises, SMEs. UDO ONYEKA reports on the steps being taken by the banks to boost the micro enterprises performance.

here is no gainsaying the fact that the Small and Medium Enterprises, SMEs occupy a strategic point in the nation’s economic growth value chains. Indeed, apart from their yet-to-be-fully explored capacity for job creation andcontribution to GDP rate, SMEs have been recognised as a foundation for achieving rapid economic transformation of the country given their socio-economic potentials. In spite of the recognised advantages of SMEs, the contribution of this sector to the overall economic development of the country has over the years, remained low. Many operators of SMEs give reasons for the low contribution and challenges to SMEs growth, as including, poor access to credit and other financial support or incentives, poor public sector support and policy inconsistency, poor account keeping habits, weak financial planning and poor infrastructure which significantly increases the cost of doing business among others. However, SMEs operators have said that inability to access finance remained the greatest impediment to the growth of the sub sector. It is believed that it is as part of the moves to effectively tackle the underfunding challenges in the sub-sector that DMBs are now refocusing their lending light on the SME sub-sector as a monetary imperative. Towards this end, the Bank of Industry, BoI, in the last quarter of last year signed a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, with 10 banks to provide loans at low-interest rate to the SME sub-sector. According to the MoU, the 10 banks will provide loans for the SMEs certified by the BoI at an interest rate of the Monetary Policy Rate plus six per cent, with a tenor ranging from six to 12 months. The BoI, on the other hand, will offer the term loans to the qualified SMEs at an interest rate of between nine and 10 per cent, with a tenor ranging from three to five years, and a moratorium of six to 12 months. Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, BoI, Mr. Rasheed Olaoluwa, said the development would boost business and economic activities in the country. “The activities in which the BoI and the SME-friendly banks will collaborate include, the provision of long-term loans to qualified SMEs by the BoI based on its risk acceptance criteria; provision of working capital to the SMEs by the SMEfriendly banks also based on their individual risk acceptance criteria,” he said. Deputy Managing Director, Mr. Tony Okpanachi, on the partnership with BoI said that the selection of the bank by the BoI was in recognition of its massive support for the SME sub-sector overtime, adding that Ecobank would continue to partner other agencies to develop the sub-

Bank of Industry MD, Rasheed Olaoluwa

CBN Gov, Emefiele

It Is novel In that we try to work wIth sMes as a group. If you approach the bank as a group of sMes for loan, the Interest rate can be renegotIated. of course, Interest rate Is also a functIon of the rIsk that you perceIve sector. National Mirror was told that Heritage Bank Limited had introduced a strategy which would allow SMEs to work in group in order to access funding from the bank. Group Head, SMEs, Heritage Bank, Bayo Ogunnusi, said the strategy was conceived because of the high cost of doing business in the country and the need to stimulate growth in the national economy. “It is novel in that we try to work with SMEs as a group. If you approach the bank as a group of SMEs for loan, the interest rate can be renegotiated. Of course, interest rate is also a function of the risk that you perceive,” he explained. Ogunnusi said that banks have since renewed their interest on SMEs since the 50 per cent Cash Reserve Requirement, CRR, was imposed on public sector deposits. He said that understanding how to deal with SMEs in terms of funding and knowing their operational mode are all different things, adding that a lot of banks don’t know how to deal with SMEs. “Our objective is to grow the business and not just to fund it. Of course, a lot of people walk into banks and say they want money and by the time you get to their business, you find out that they are not doing anything”, he said. Also to support SMEs, First City Monument Bank, FCMB, entered into partnership with International Finance Corporation, the private sector lending arm of the World Bank Group. The IFC recently announced a $70m investment in First City Monument Bank to support the bank’s growth strategy and help it increase financing of small and medium

enterprises. The Corporation’s investments consist of a long-term senior loan of $50m and a convertible loan of $20m. Group Managing Director, FCMB, Ladi Balogun, said, “This partnership with IFC will help First City Monument Bank achieve our strategic growth objectives. We view IFC’s investment as a stamp-of-approval on our strategy and commitment to good corporate governance and risk management.” IFC’s Country Manager for Nigeria, Solomon Adegbie-Quaynor, said: “IFC is committed to supporting the full recovery of Nigeria’s banking system, and our investment in First City Monument Bank reflects this strategy. IFC is particularly well positioned to support growth by well-managed banks and the expansion of their SME lending business.” FCMB said the transaction was part of IFC’s ongoing strategy to support the banking sector in Nigeria and across emerging markets in the aftermath of recent market turmoil by providing long-term financing to help well-managed banks achieve growth objectives and improving their reach to underserved segments, such as infrastructure and SMEs The recent tailoring of unique products and services by Enterprise Bank to specially cater for young graduates who are brimming with ideas but do not have the financial capacity to bring their dreams into reality is a means by which the bank supports SMEs Called Enterprise Graduate Empowerment Scheme, EGES, the product which was inspired by a personal experience the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the bank, Mallam Ahmed Kuru, had in an encounter with a bright but unemployed

Sterling Bank MD, Yemi Adeola

young graduate, “is designed to bridge the gap that exists between the innovative entrepreneurial ideas of young school leavers and access to the right financial support to transform these ideas into concrete money making enterprises.” According to a statement from the bank, such candidates who must be university or polytechnic graduates of not more than three years prior to the time of application are to apply through the bank’s website for a pre-qualification exercise. First Bank of Nigeria has emphasised the need for SMEs to take advantage of its various products and services most of which are accessible without collateral. Speaking at a Media Products fair organised by the bank in Lagos last year, Head Media & External Relations, First Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Babatunde Lasaki, highlighted the desire of the bank to provide funds for SMEs in the country, substituting the collateral requirement with psychometric evaluations. “We want to start giving financial access to SMEs without a need of them providing collateral. What you need to do is just to pass our psychometric test, and as soon as you have done that, you can actually access as much as you want base on the capacity of your businesses.” Also many analysts have said that transforming SMEs to become bigger players for national growth did not start and end with finance. Education has been linked to failures of some SMEs, that perhaps the reason why Sterling Bank has invested in building capacities of SME operators. Executive Director, Sterling Bank, Mr. Abubakar Suleiman, at the capacity building training seminar for SMEs, recently said the programme was aimed at enhancing the managerial and entrepreneurial qualities of SME operators with a view to building sustainable business in view of the critical roles they play in the development of an economy. “It is our view that for us to be able to support SMEs, the standard for reporting and the day-to-day management of the organisation needs to improve. We are hoping that this seminar would achieve this objective.

Taxation

Tuesday, March 31, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Taxation: The Swivel of the Economy (2) T

he Nigerian Tax System The Nigerian tax system has undergone significant changes in recent times. The tax laws are being reviewed with the aim of repealing obsolete provisions and simplifying the main ones. Taxation in Nigeria is within the administrative purview of the three tiers of government, i.e. federal, state, and local governments as stated in the constitution, with each having its tax space delineated by the Taxes and Levies (Approved List for Collection) Act. In pursuing a vibrant tax fiscal policy, the Nigerian government has since 2002 embarked on series of tax reforms at the federal level. Beginning with the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) Establishment Act, 2007, the drive has been on institutional reforms and modernisation of the Nigerian tax system at the federal level. These reform efforts cut across tax policies, tax laws and tax administration. Tax Policies Tax policies are general statements of procedure, which guide the thinking and action of all concerned towards the realization of the stated tax objectives. The tax policies of Nigeria are to: a) pursue a low tax regime which aims at reducing individual tax burden and thereby encouraging savings and investments; b) move from the traditional coercive method of taxation to voluntary compliance; c) engage in taxpayer education through public enlightenment; d) deliberate movement of emphasis from income tax to consumption tax which is less prone to tax evasion; e) introduce self-assessment to encourage taxpayers participation in the tax assessment process which is

more realistic in approach and democratic in nature; and f) reduce tax evasion and avoidance using the due process of law and the mechanism of an efficient tax administration. In an effort to consolidate and achieve the objectives above, the Federal Inland Revenue Service collaborated with the Ministry of Finance and the Joint Tax Board to launch the National Tax Policy in 2012. The National Tax Policy is a document that will revolutionize the Nigerian tax system and place it at par with global practice. It is a big step in the modernization of the Nigerian tax system and provides a firm basis for tax legislation and improve the efficiency of tax administration by laying down guidelines and regulations. It also en-

hances the climate for doing business in the country. Tax Laws The various legal instruments put in place to ensure the realization of the tax policy objectives of the government have also been undergoing series of reviews and amendments. The notable ones are: PITA CAP P8 LFN 2004 (as Amended in 2011), Transfer Pricing Regulations, 2012, and currently, the redrafting of all tax laws in plain English which is on-going. Tax Administration There has been a repositioning of tax administration system ranging from tax campaigns, automation of processes, to entrenching a vibrant tax refund mechanism. The Integrated Tax Administration System, ITAS is the biggest of the repositioning efforts. It is a revolutionary tax administration system that will ease tax payment as well as administration. ITAS is designed to increase revenue yield on a phenomenal scale. It is to be implemented with the Standard Integrated Government Tax Administration (SIGTAS) software solution - a solution designed to meet the needs of developing countries that wish to increase their control over state revenue. The specific objectives of ITAS is to make operations faster, increase voluntary compliance, increase revenue generated for national development and improve the efficiency and skills competence of employees in the FIRS. Overall taxation as a concept should be viewed as a pivot, if not the pivot of economic development and the platform upon which fiscal policies are developed and implemented. In this regard, expenditure being the other plank of fiscal policy must always be tied to revenue and, given the general consensus that expenditure should as much as possible be based on available and sustainable resources, taxation provides the best option for achieving this harmony between revenue and expenditure especially in developing countries. In this way, taxation would play a key - if not the central role in sustaining fiscal policy in any economy. It is therefore pertinent to look at the objectives of fiscal policy with a view to analyzing how taxation impacts these objectives and helps to attain them. By and large, fiscal policy in Nigeria is focused on addressing the major developmental challenges of providing revenue for sustainable expenditure and also ensuring that expenditure is productive i.e. channeled towards areas, which will in turn stimulate growth and development in the economy and provide additional

Ag. Executive Chairman FIRS Samuel Ogungbesan

avenues for raising revenue through taxation. Some of the ways in which taxation has impacted fiscal policy in Nigeria include: Taxation of resource revenue to develop other sectors of the economy: Nigeria has a significant source of resource wealth, such as oil, gas and natural and solid minerals. Although resource wealth is usually easier to realize in the short term, it is generally not viewed as a sustainable source of revenue. It can however be used as a platform for developing other sustainable sources of revenue by utilizing revenue from such areas to stimulate growth and production in other areas of the economy, which are more stable and sustainable than resource wealth. Taxation in this regard, can be used to raise higher revenue from the identified sectors, which is then ploughed back into other areas through a conscious policy which government seeks to develop in the long and short term. Use of tax revenue for sector focused development: This is closely related to the option above, but different in that, under this option, tax revenue from a particular source is utilized only in a particular area. This means for example that as fiscal policy, taxes from the oil and gas sector will only be utilized on capital or infrastructural expenditure, while taxes on personal income will be utilized only for recurrent expenditure. In this way, government is able to regulate its expenditure as it can only utilize what is available from the specified source for expenditure. A positive spin-off on this is that it would ultimately lead to improvement in each revenue source as government seeks increased revenue to fund the beneficiary sector. Use of consumption/indirect taxes to raise revenue and to encourage or discourage consumption: Consumption and indirect taxes such as Value

Added Tax (VAT) and other forms of sales tax are usually viewed as a more efficient means of taxation and also as more effective tools for regulating taxpayer behavior. Fiscal policy could therefore be focused on consumption taxes i.e VAT, which have a potentially wider tax base and could be more easily collected and accounted for. Other than raising revenue, consumption taxes could also be used to manage expenditure by government and taxpayers alike, by imposing higher or lower rates on specific items depending on the applicable policy to be implemented. Use of tax incentives and special dispensations to attract and retain investments and stimulate growth in a particular sector â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Over time, governments, especially in developing nations have had to grant tax incentives to investors in order to encourage such investors to make or retain investment in their economies. Incentives could be sector based or granted on individual basis, although it is preferable that incentives are always sector based and granted on some clearly defined basis rather than to individual companies or investors. Such incentives are effective tools for managing and sustaining fiscal policy, especially where the benefits are carefully monitored and measured to ensure there is an overall positive impact on the economy and on government fiscal policy. Use of tax policy and legislation to shape fiscal policy: Tax policy and legislation being integral parts of taxation and indeed the major planks on which it rests are key tools, which can be utilized to develop and sustain fiscal policy. Tax policy provides the general framework and guidelines for the tax system, while legislation makes specific rules and regulations for implementation. A combination of the two will put in place a definite framework, which is backed by force of legislation and must be observed by Government. Examples of such policy and legislative directives could include periodic review of tax rates, tax incentives and provision of rules for regular review and amendments of tax laws amongst others. From the foregoing, it becomes immediately clear that the role of taxation cannot be over-emphasized. Indeed without taxation, there cannot be a fiscal policy, seeing as it is the second of the two legs that constitute fiscal policy. One important thing to note is that, careful and diligent implementation of effective and proactive tax policy can have a measurably beneficial effect on the economy in particular and development in general.

Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Capital Market

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Bank investors’ hope on dividend payment dims J ohnson o kanlawon

s audited accounts start to trickle in, companies will propose dividend payments to their shareholders as recommended by their boards. But income investors looking for dividend stocks to play in the banking sub-sector of the financial services market in 2015 should, regardless of valuation and price appreciation, look away from some banking stocks. Currently, the sector’s non-performing loans are on the increase as a result of banks’ facilities to the power, oil and gas sectors in the form of loans of different categories which have exposed many banks to higher provisions for bad debts at the end of the 2014 financial year. Also, some financial institutions have foreign loans servicing in order to keep their operations robust. They now have more interest to pay as the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, devalued the naira and hiked the Monetary Policy Rates, MPR, to 13 per cent. For instance, Skye Bank’s was faced with the general apathy seen towards banks which have a high exposure to high risk segments as the contribution of oil and gas to its loan book as at third quarter of 2014 stood at 33 per cent, ahead of most of its peers. According to analysts at Meristem Securities Limited, an investment firm, the bank is expected to significantly improve operations especially in the second half of the year owing to inorganic growth achieved through its acquisition of Mainstreet Bank. “We place a target price of N4.55 on the stock for 2015. The bank has employed an interim managing director to oversee the affairs of Mainstreet for six months, with a proper integration of operations expected afterwards. It is from the synergy obtainable from the said transaction that we expect improved performance in the bank’s operations to stem. This, in turn is anticipated to translate to improvement in its equity,” the analysts added. Also, Diamond Bank’s loan book as at nine months of 2014 was largely constituted of high risk sectors of the economy, especially those that are expected to be most affected in the coming year owing to anticipated macroeconomic shocks in Nigeria, as well as global and local factors affecting profitability. As at nine months, the bank’s exposure to oil and gas, general commerce and power stood at 27 per cent, 21 per cent and nine per cent respectively. Though, according to the analysts, the bank concluded a successful rights issue in the year which is set to propel its 2014 financial year Capital Adequacy Ratio, CAR, to the 20 per cent range. Non- Performing Loan, NPL ratio at 4.6 per cent, cost of risk at 2.7 per cent and the heightened possibil-

Diamond Bank MD, Uzoma Dozie

NSE DG, Oscar Onyema

Banks have also had to adopt stricter international capital requirements, which have seen capital ratios for most lenders

100-400 Basis points to near the regulatory minimum of 16 per cent under drop By

the new rules ity of defaults given the realities of the economic environment. “Even though CAR as at nine months was 16.90 per cent, the inclusion of capital from the rights issue is expected to improve CAR by 2014 year end. As the bank is expected to resume its expansion plans in 2015, coupled with the gloom surrounding the banking space, we do not envisage that 2015 performance will significantly surpass the general underperformance of 2014. “However, we expect increased efforts from the bank, which may place it above its current standing, hence our 2015 target price of N6.38 per share,” they said. Analysts welcomed the new rules on dividends but said they might hurt banking stocks if cash payments to investors fall. The rules may also lower loan growth as banks try to conserve more cash, which in turn could hit profits. Banks have also had to adopt stricter international capital requirements, which have seen capital ratios for most lenders drop by 100-400 basis points to near the regulatory minimum of 16 per cent under the new rules. Analysts at Renaissance Capital said FBN Holdings, United Bank for Africa, UBA and FCMB have capital ratios close to the minimum requirement. But some have also been shoring up their balance sheets. Access Bank got the nod from shareholders to raise up to N68bn. UBA has announced plans to raise capital while Diamond Bank and Unity Bank have concluded rights issues.

“We do not think GT Bank, Zenith and Stanbic get affected much by these directives ... we expect them to consider lowering payout ratios from 2014. Other banks in a less favourable capital position are likely to have deeper dividend cuts,” Renaissance Capital said. The CBN had introduced new rules to prevent banks that do not meet minimum capital requirements from paying dividends in a bid to shore up the sector. It explained that the amount banks can pay in dividends would depend on their capital levels, statutory reserve requirements and the proportion of non-performing loans. In the past, lenders paid out a high proportion of net profit as dividends, despite their risk profiles and capital levels. The regulator said it wanted to correct this situation with the new rules. “There shall be no regulatory restriction on dividend payout for banks that meet the minimum capital adequacy ratio, have a cash reserve requirement of ‘low’ or ‘moderate’ and a nonperforming loan ratio of not more than five per cent,” the regulator said in the circular. The central bank has vowed to prevent a repeat of the circumstances that led to a bailout in 2009 and has moved towards strengthening rules and tightening capital requirements. Since last year, Nigerian lenders have also been facing a profit squeeze as a result of regulatory measures put in place partly designed to get banks to lend more to domestic businesses and consumers. The banking sector had been making bumper profits by mopping up govern-

Fidelity Bank MD, Nnamdi Okonkwo

ment deposits and using the cash to buy high-yielding treasury bonds and declaring huge dividends. As a result, banks had little incentive to lend to the real economy. All these will eat into the banks’ profitability and thus incapacitate some banks’ ability to pay dividend. Meanwhile, on March 13, 2015, the CBN had issued a letter to the banks on the extension of the deadline for the implementation of higher CAR requirements for systemically important banks and the setting of a fresh deadline for banks that breached the minimum CAR under Basel II to submit their recapitalisation plans and execute them. Specifically, the CBN gave the affected banks a 15-month period of grace. They have been given three months, till June 13, 2015 to submit recapitalisation plans and till 30 June 2016 to implement them. The CBN’s letter also affirmed the regulator’s willingness to support any under-capitalised bank and added that it may require rapid remedial actions if adequate capitalisation is not restored. Basel II is an international business standard that requires financial institutions to maintain enough cash reserves to cover risks incurred by operations. The Basel accords are a series of recommendations on banking laws and regulations issued by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision Last year, the CBN classified eight Nigerian banks – First Bank, Zenith Bank Plc, Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, United Bank for Africa, Access Bank, Ecobank Nigeria Plc, Diamond Bank Plc and Skye Bank Plc – as systemically important financial institutions and imposed on them a new set of rules, requiring them to maintain a minimum CAR of 16 per cent. The banks were required to hold more liquid assets and a liquidity ratio of 35 per cent. This meant the affected banks were expected to have a minimum liquidity ratio, which is five per cent above the 30 per cent requirement in the industry.

Features

Tuesday, March 31, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

2015: Youths in web of

A group of youths protesting

LEONARD OKACHIE

ouths, no doubt, are the foundation of any given society and no human collectivity can experience any meaningful and sustainable level of progress if it fails to systematically, deliberately and constructively engage and harness the drive and energy of this age group. Unfortunately, some of them have often been used negatively to undermine the electoral and political process. The political class is using them for destructive activities that have jeopardised the safety of the entire society by exploiting the weakness of the system. And study has shown that most of them who are perpetrators of electoral malpractices are unemployed, uneducated and idle, that is why they are bamboozled to beat up political opponents and people sympathetic to them. However, as Nigeria counts down to the 2015 general elections which are scheduled for March 28 and April 11, there are agitations and apprehensions by citizens that they might witness another plague of democracy. Moreso is the fact the energy of these gingering youths are used negatively to cause violence. Although electoral violence is not something new to the populace, analysts say that this year’s election is one of the most heated democratic elections in the nation, moreso as its pits the 2011 candidates, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and former Head of State, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari

(Retd.) against each other once more. In 2011 over 1000 people died due to electoral violence, with heavy casualties being recorded in the North. For instance, in 2011, after the results of the presidential elections were announced, some youths in the northern part of the country, especially Kano and Kaduna took to the streets violently protesting the veracity of the election results. In those states they destroyed property, set fire to the house of Namadi Sambo, President Goodluck Jonathan’s vice. The action led to the imposition of curfews in both states and several others. Nonetheless, since the inception of campaigns for this election, various youths groups and individual under the guise of political parties have been engaged in all forms of violence that have led to the destruction of lives and property. More worrisome are threats by leaders of different militant groups to make the country ungovernable if the election is not won by their candidates. Such drums of war, observers say are capable of undermining the unity of the nation if urgent steps are not taken to call these youth groups to order. According a report released in February by the National Human Rights Commission, 61 incidences of election violence occurred in 22 states with 58 people killed in 50 days. Again, youths are the perpetrators of this dastardly act. Chairman of the Commission, Chidi Odinkalu said the amount of crimes have been on the high end in three states. The states are Lagos, with 11 incidences and

22 persons killed; Kaduna with three incidences and nine people killed; and Rivers with one incidence and at least six deaths. On January 10, 2015, youths in Jos burnt cars belonging to PDP Jonathan campaign organisation, chanting Buhari slogans “Sai Buhari”, which is Hausa for “It has to be Buhari”, in reference to the presidential candidate of the APC and Jonathan’s main opponent, Muhammadu Buhari. Jonathan during his campaign stops on both Katsina (Buhari’s homestate) and Bauchi was attacked by people alleged to have been hired by the opposition, the APC. He was attacked by a mob in Katsina on January 21, 2015, as he visited the family home of former president, late Umaru Yar’adua. The mob who chanted Sai Buhari besieged the President’s motorcade and as the DSS raced to the airport, they were stoned. Two days later, the Jonathan campaign trail faced another trial in Bauchi State, when about six security aides were injured as they protected the President from the anger of the masses. The president was on his way to Bauchi airport, when broom-wielding youths chanting “Sai Buhari” attacked the convoy with a hail of stones, some of which apparently caught some presidential bodyguards protecting him. On January 24th, alleged thugs belonging to the PDP attacked the venue of the APC governorship rally in Okrika local Government Area of Rivers State. The Rivers State Police Commissioner, Mr. Dan Bature said that the thugs had attacked by 4: am with dynamite. No lives

SINCE THE INCEPTION OF CAMPAIGNS FOR THIS

ELECTION, VARIOUS YOUTH GROUPS AND INDIVIDUALS UNDER THE GUISE OF POLITICAL PARTIES HAVE BEEN ENGAGED IN ALL FORMS OF VIOLENCE THAT HAVE LED TO THE DESTRUCTION OF LIVES AND PROPERTIES were lost but the rally was stopped and public systems were destroyed. Similarly, on February 12th, political thugs allegedly burnt down 18 luxury buses belonging to Chisco Transport Company. The fire was said to have started after some hoodlums took advantage of a political campaign rally to throw substances suspected to be explosives into the premises of the transport company in apparent protest against President Jonathan’s poster on a building beside Chisco’s head office in Lagos. "It was when the All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign train was passing during their political rally along Eko Bridge that some hoodlums supporting the party, took advantage of the rally to throw objects into the premises of the company when they saw President Jonathan’s billboard hung on the uncompleted building beside Chisco Head Office, thinking the premises belongs to the Federal Government,” an eye witness told newsmen.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Tuesday, March 31, 2015

electoral violence

Features

...Stakeholders call for proper education

While the country continues to witness electoral violence as the election dates draw closer, some observers are of the view that the crisis might not be unrelated with the monster of unemployment among the youths, which is plaguing the stability of democracy at the moment. Others argue otherwise. Incidentally, Nigeria has a bulging youth population as over 60 percent of her population is made up of young people below the age of 35. Many observers predict that the country’s population is like a time bomb waiting to be detonated given that it has the largest army of unemployed and under-employed youths in Africa. Every year thousands of graduates are turn out for whom there are no jobs. Nigerian streets are littered with youth hawkers who ordinarily would have found gainful employment in some enterprise; or would have demonstrated their skills and resourcefulness if there are enabling environments and reliable management structures on ground. For instance, in June 2014, the Central Bank of Nigeria released an alarming report which indicated that 80 per cent of Nigerian youths were without jobs. The Special Assistant on Sustainable Banking, CBN, Dr. Aisha Mahmood, disclosed this while delivering a paper on Nigerian Sustainable Banking Principle during the 2014 World Environment Day programme organised by the Federal Ministry of Environment in Abuja. “In Nigeria, there is the issue of youth and employment. 70 per cent of the 80 million youths in Nigeria are either unemployed or underemployed. We are all witness to what happened recently during the immigration recruitment exercise and this is simply because 80 per cent of the Nigerian youth are unemployed,” she said. In the same vein, the President of National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Mr. Olawale Ajani, attributed series of violence by youths in previous elections to idleness and unemployment. Ajani said: “As the 2015 general elections approach, the role of every Nigerian youth should not be more than making sure they shun violence and refuse bribery in order not to sell their vote. Although, elections in the past seemed characterised with violence from the youths due to unemploy-

LET US ENGAGE IN MASSIVE CAMPAIGN TO

EDUCATE THEM. WHAT STOPS A GOVERNMENT FROM ORGANISING THOSE UNEDUCATED PEOPLE,

CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT OF FUN FOR THEM, WHERE THEY CAN EAT AND DRINK AND YET EDUCATE THEM ON THE IMPORTANCE OF LIVING A VIOLENT-FREE LIFE

Cross section of Lagos State University students, during a programme by the institution tagged The Score Card of Professor John Obafunwa in Lagos, recently.

ment, which makes them become bad tools in the hands of politicians. “If you collect money from any politicians, it is easy for such politician to manipulate your destiny. But, if we keep saying it is because of poverty and unemployment, then the youths are not ready to get out of Egypt.” A youth vanguard and founder of Rhoda Youth Centre, Mr. Rotimi Erogbogbo said that a reasonable percentage of Nigerian population belongs to the youths and therefore advised them not to allow themselves to me used to cause violence by greedy politicians. He said: “What we are running today is the youth’s future. Even those who are ruling the country today are just about 20 per cent of the population. “Therefore, I will advise young people to shun violence. It does not bring any progress to the people, rather it destroys them. “In every nation you will still find some bad eggs who do not have anything good for these young people. They should not allow them to recruit them into violence because I’m of the view that if violence is profitable those who are recruiting the young people will recruit their children. So if they cannot recruit their children into it I think we should borrow a leave from that and not get involved into trouble. We can dialogue and at the end of the day we get result. I don’t think that those who are calling for violence really know what t it means.” Erogbogbo stated that his Centre has put in place some measures to discourage youths from participating in violence, through its leadership training programme. A change work advocate Mr. Olutayo Olushola decried the country’s lack of developmental plans for the youths, a situation which he said led the youths to imbibe electoral violence. “What we need to do now is to increase the campaign. But after the election can we start a plan for the next four years and

begin to educate our youths? You can’t educate somebody in the midst of crisis. We should have this programme in place that educates youths. When we have it in place we don’t need to be doing this fire brigade now. Election violence has been in existence for long. So why should we be talking about what we need to do now. We should put system in place to educate youths on what their role is supposed to be during election,” he suggested. Asked if unemployment could be responsible for the violence, Olushola continued: “Well, it could be a fact but if you are unemployed and think about the consequences of causing violence then you will know that it doesn’t worth it. Why will you cause violence when you are unemployed? That means your life is not precious to you. You could as well lose your too limbs. When the job finally comes how will you do it? Is that the way you will get a job? “If you say it is because they are unemployed we have seen people with paid employment that are involved in it to. The truth is that let us put structures in place that will educate people. Education is not about going to school because majority of people that are doing it are not people that go to school. It is because they are not exposed. “Let us engage in massive campaign to educate them. What stops a government from organising those uneducated people, create an environment of fun for them, where they can eat and drink and yet educate them on the importance of living a violent-free life.” For Dr. Ngozi Opara, a lecturer at the School of Media and Communication, Pan Atlantic University, Lagos, it is unfair to say that youths are involved in electoral violence because they look up to those who send them. Opara, who is versatile, multitasking consultant and academic argued that it is not all the youths in violence because there some that will not partake in it even if you

give them all the money in the world. She said: “The issue is for us to redefine what we want in governance and allow everybody to have the public say of the media – to air our views. Even it is not what you want by the time you read from the two angles you make up your mind on what you want. And if it is so people will not force people to believe in what they are going to do. “Youth violence in election is what the society is turning them and that is why character is key. That is why we should not start at the secondary level. We should look at the role of the family, teachers, everybody and even the church. So youth violence in election is a product of societal evils, which remoulding people to behave the right way through ethics and values will help us to get a better society.” A youth leader and national development advocate, Mr. Olusola Akinyemi said that the youth are the energy of the nation, stressing that people who want to get power by all means know that the only medium to do that is to engage them. Akinyemi, a lawyer emphasised: “Youths are into various categories. We have those that are educated; those that are enlightened; those that are unemployed and those that are uneducated. Those that are unemployed or uneducated possibly because of unemployment or lack of education they just follow the crowd and the leaders are able to use them for all sort of electoral violence. “The future belongs to us. Whoever it is that we are going to support we can’t put our lives on the line. We can’t engage in violence because it is counterproductive to us. “The International Criminal Court, ICC, is getting interested in post- election violence in Nigeria and everybody should thread cautiously. Everybody is saying that the ICC is against Africa, but everybody should thread cautiously so that we don’t go into acts that are against humanity.”

Global Business

Tuesday, March 31, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Japan nears deflation as consumer prices stop rising

U.S. jobs to add heat to Fed lift-off debate T T he state of the U.S. labor market in March will consume economists and investors in the week leading up to Easter, adding to the seesaw debate over when the Federal Reserve will spring its first interest rate hike. Fed Chair Janet Yellen made it clear on Friday that the U.S. central bank is likely to start raising borrowing costs later this year, adding that continued improvement of the labor market would be an important factor in deciding when to move. Labor market data are therefore likely to be the highlight of the economic week, providing a further signal to the

Fed on the health of the U.S. economy and its capacity to withstand rate rises. The ADP National Employment Report, which focuses only on the private sector and is due on Wednesday, may provide a foretaste of the big event -- non-farm payroll numbers on Friday. Economists polled by Reuters are forecasting a healthy 244,000 rise in non-farm payrolls in March. If confirmed, it would be the 13th straight month of job gains of over 200,000, matching a run in 1994-95. In the post-war period only the runs of 14 months in 1976-77 and 15 in 1983-84 have been higher. Yellen said a significant pickup in core inflation was not a precondition for the Fed to pull the trigger on rates. Nevertheless, inflation remains stubbornly low, although consumer prices did rebound in February as the cost of gasoline rose. For many economists the focus on Friday is less the jobs figures than average earnings, which are seen picking up after a muted 3 cent per hour rise in February. A spate of weak U.S. economic data at the start of the year, from

retail sales to business spending, has prompted economists to scale down their growth views and push back to September their expectations of a first rate hike since 2006. Bullish economists say a harsh winter, a now settled labor dispute at the country’s busy West Coast ports and a natural moderation from a strong middle of 2014 imply the slowdown is just a temporary ripple. However, there are some that cite the lack of wage pressure as a sign that the recovery is not complete and a strong dollar as a future threat. The euro briefly passed $1.10 last week, having dropped just below $1.05 before the Fed’s March meeting, when it downgraded its economic growth and inflation projections, pouring cold water on investor expectations of a June rate hike. “I’m still in the June camp,” said UniCredit’s Chief U.S. economist Harm Bandholz. “But it’s been a weak Q1 and the Fed wants certainty that this it’s transitory and not related, for example, to the dollar.” In Europe, euro zone finance ministers will need to give their blessing to Greece’s long-awaited list of reforms if Athens is to secure further aid and stave off bankruptcy.

he core consumer price index (CPI) was flat from a year ago, stripping out the effect of last year’s sales tax increase in April. The last time the core CPI did not rise was in May 2013, when it was flat. The latest figures are moving further away from the Bank of Japan’s (BOJ) inflation target of 2%. The headline core CPI, which includes oil but not fresh food prices, rose 2% from a year ago, just below market expectations of a 2.1% rise. Japan’s economy came out of a recession in the fourth quarter of last year, but its recovery remains fragile on sluggish household and business spending. Economists said the data put more pressure on the central bank to expand its monetary policy as falling oil prices keep inflation subdued. But analysts do not expect the BOJ to add to last year October’s stimulus plansuntil the second half of this year, because officials had been anticipating the cooling inflation. Other data, such as household spending falling 2.9% in February from a year ago while retail sales

Japan’s PM, Abe

were down 1.8%, also highlighted the struggle policymakers face in steering the economy towards a recovery. The unemployment rate, however, fell to 3.5% in the same time period close to what economists see as full employment. Jasper Koll, head of research at JP Morgan, viewed the data as “good deflation” saying that the good news was prices in Japan were coming down while wages were going up. “Last year wages rose at around 1%. This year we just had the union negotiations and it looks like wage growth is going to double to about 2% - so there’s more nominal yen into the pockets,” he told the BBC.

ChemChina chairman says hopes to re-list Pirelli in Italy

T China central bank governor calls for Yellen

vigilance on deflation

hina’s central bank governor Zhou Xiaochuan warned on Sunday that the country needs to be vigilant for signs of deflation and said policymakers were closely watching slowing global economic growth and declining commodity prices. Zhou’s comments are likely to add to concerns that China is in danger of slipping into deflation and underline increasing nervousness among policymakers as the economy continues to lose momentum despite a raft of stimulus measures. “Inflation in China is also declining. We need to have vigilance if this can go further to reach some sort of deflation or not,” Zhou said at a highlevel forum in Boao, on the southern Chinese island of Hainan. Zhou added that the speed with which inflation was slowing was a “little too quick”, though this was part of China’s ongoing market readjustment and reforms. Beijing is determined to keep the world’s second-largest economy from taking the same path of recession and deflation that has blighted its neighbor Japan for the past 20

years. The central bank’s newspaper warned last month that China is dangerously close to slipping into deflation. The People’s Bank of China (PBOC) has cut interest rates twice since November and taken other steps to support growth, but economists believe it will be forced to take more aggressive measures in coming months if prices and the economy weaken further. Zhou also said China had a “clear direction” in terms of interest rate liberalization - a long-term goal - although he added it was difficult to put a clear timetable on the move. He pointed to comments made last year when he said the country’s deposit rates were likely to liberalized in one to two years. Last week, Zhou said China could undermine structural reforms if it adopts an excessively loose monetary policy, while pledging to relax capital controls to help make the yuan currency fully convertible. Zhou also said on Sunday that China hoped to work on streamlining regulations around foreign exchange this year and that through

the adoption of new rules China would eventually be able to achieve capital account convertibility. China is also “cautious” about the wider global slowdown, falling inflation and tumbling commodity prices, Zhou said. The price of oil, for example, is down by over 50 percent since mid 2014, aggravating a broader commodity price rout which has pushed down inflation in all the major industrial economies. China is particularly susceptible as the world’s largest net importer of petroleum and iron ore.

Xiaochuan

he chairman of China National Chemical Corp (ChemChina) said on Sunday he hopes to re-list Italy’s Pirelli (PECI.MI) on the Italian stock exchange after his firm agreed earlier this month to acquire the world’s fifth-largest tire maker. Ren Jianxin also warned that a counterbid for Pirelli would hurt the Italian firm’s investors and long-term strategy. ChemChina has agreed to become majority owner of Pirelli as part of a multilayered 7.3 billion euro ($8 billion) deal, putting one of Italy’s storied manufacturing names in Chinese hands. “We were worried that due to cheap liquidity, there might be blind competition,” Ren told reporters. “But a counterbid will hurt Pirelli investors and also its long-term strategy.” On Thursday, Pirelli CEO Marco Tronchetti Provera told Reuters his firm is not talking to others about a possible counterbid. Ren is betting the Pirelli acquisition will accelerate the transformation of state-owned ChemChina’s tire and rubber business. The deal will give the Beijing-based conglomerate access to technology to make premium tyres which can be sold at higher margins, and give the Italian firm a boost in China, the world’s biggest autos market.

Provera

Pirelli’s industrial tire operations will be merged with ChemChina’s Aeolus Tyre Co (600469.SS) unit, making the combined firm the world’s fourth or fifth biggest industrial tire maker, Ren said. The deal also will allow the combined firm to expand its presence in China and Asia. Ren characterized the acquisition as “revolutionary” for his company’s rubber and tire business. He described his partnership with Tronchetti as a “very beautiful marriage” and said the Italian will be CEO for the next five years, after which Tronchetti would pick his successor. In Thursday’s interview, Tronchetti said he may stand down as CEO before five years if the right successor could be found. He also said Pirelli may be re-listed within four years, though not necessarily in Milan.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Tuesday, March 31, 2015

JTF repels pirates’ attack, recover arms, ammunition OsahOn Julius YENAGOA

Men of the Joint Task Force, JTF, AKA Operation Pulo Sheild patrolling along Ajapa waterways in Eseodo Local Government Area of Ondo State, yesterday said they repelled attack by sea robbers operating with 6 speed boats and recovered arms and ammunitions from their attackers. A statement from the media coordinator of the JTF, Lt. Col. Isa Ado, said the robbers laid ambush on the creek and opened fire on the soldiers which resulted in the exchange of fire between the troops and the sea robbers. The statement made available to NIGER DELTA MIRROR, said the robbers submitted to the fire power of the troops which led to the recovery of cache of arms and ammunitions from the robbers which includes 2 general purpose machine guns (GPMG), 2 AK 47 rifles, one pump action gun, 40 rounds of ammunition, 4 machettes and 4 speed boats. It revealed that the arms and ammunitions together with other equipments are in custody of the JTF for preliminary investigation. “In the same vein, the Sector one anti oil theft and illegal

oil bunkering of the Joint Task Force Operation PULO SHIELD in collaboration with Conoil Security Surveillance Operation along Opumami Creek in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State arrested Mr Ololobou Keneth and Ekwekaiteme Polobiri while siphoning crude oil from an oil wellhead with a Cotonou boat filled with stolen crude oil, one pumping machine, a speed boat and other illegal oil bunkering equipment.” Items recovered according to the statement were destroyed while suspects are in custody of the JTF for preliminary investigation. “Troops also intercepted a truck with registration number XA 218 GBJ at Ugo community in Orhionmwen LGA of Edo State with 12 thousand litres worth of crude oil. Further test carried out by Pipeline and Product Marketing Company (PPMC) on the products revealed it to be illegally refined crude oil. The truck and it contents were set ablaze. In the Sector 2 Operation, the troops deployed at Ogonbiri Agip Flow Station in conjunction with Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and Southern Ijaw Local Government Task Force (SILGA) during patrol discovered an illegal oil bunkering

field with 8 active refining sites at Gbaraun market in SILGA Bayelsa State where oil thieves operates with Cotonou boats and speed boats. The sites and the equipments were destroyed. No arrest was made during the operation as the suspects escaped on sighting the

troops. Meanwhile efforts are on to apprehend the fleeing thieves and their collaborators and prosecute them accordingly.” Meanwhile the JTF said its troops had intensified surveillance on land and creeks as a way of constant checkmating the activities of the oil thieves in the

area. Sector 4 also carried out raid on an illegal refineries site at Oborhia and Asa Ugbobeke Village in Ukwa East Local Government Area of Abia State where oil thieves operates with 35 drums of locally refined Automated Gas Oil (AGO). The items were set ablaze in line JTF mandate in the region.

NHRC to sensitise populace Two SANs, 15 lawyers escape death as on human rights thugs sack Federal High Court in Bayelsa

Rivers State APC members protesting the conduct of election at INEC Headquarters in Rivers State, yesterday.

ome Nigerians have appealed to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to intensify campaign on educating Nigerians on the need to safe guard their basic human rights.A lawyer, Ms Mary Akper, told newsmen on Tuesday in Abuja that many Nigerians were ignorant of what constituted their basic rights. She said that a nationwide sensitisation campaign with non-governmental organisations and other agencies would go a long way in educating the populace on their basic human rights. “It is so sad that some people do not even know what exactly their rights are and as a result of this ignorance, security agencies, especially the police capitalise on this to abuse their rights and go free. “It is the responsibility of the commission and I think some NGOs to assist them to take this campaign to the grassroots. “If this is done, those whose rights are constantly abused can be empowered to speak out against such abuses,” she said. A business woman, Ms Eliza-

beth Oboh, said the only right she knew she had was the right to free worship. According to her, “often times, especially when I am travelling home, a police man will stop me on the way to search my car and ask for all sorts of documents. “Officials of road safety or VIO have never asked me for some of these documents and when I say I don’t have it, I’ll be delayed on the road. “The main reason is that I really don’t know what right is being violated here, I’ll just keep begging to be released. ``Sometimes they’ll collect my name and number and let me go.” She said that a nationwide sensitisation campaign which should also be taken to the rural areas would go a long way in educating Nigerians on what constitutes their basic rights and how these rights can be protected. A student, Friday Illiya, told NAN that it was important for education on human rights to be introduced into school curriculum.

OsahOn Julius YENAGOA

way from the anxiety of and tension that follows Saturday’s Presidential and National Assemblies election, no fewer than 17 lawyers including a pregnant woman and two Senior Advocates of Nigeria, SAN, on Monday escaped death as armed thugs invaded t he court room of the Federal High Court in Yenagoa. The hoodlums were said to have invaded the court to halt proceedings into the suit between Senator Heineken Lokpobiri and Dr. Foster Ogola over the choice of candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Bayelsa West Senatorial district. According to an eyewitness, the thugs arrived the Federal High Court premises located along Capt.Amangala Road at about 9am and thwarted an attempt by the Judge, Justice I.E.Ekwo, to deliver judgement on the dispute. Ironically, the court is the same road with most of the state headquarters of the Directorate of State Security Service, about a 200

meters from the Bayelsa state Police Command and the state command of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps. The court was to hear a matter brought to it by Senator representing Bayelsa West, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, seeking the substitution of name of Peoples Democratic Party candidate, Dr. Foster Ogola with his own name. Lawyers, who escaped from the premises included the State Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, Tony Okorodas, told journalists that the thugs upturned chairs within the court room and caused stampede with judge and lawyers scampering for safety. Speaking with journalist, lead counsel for Senator Lokpobiri, Selekeowei Larry (SAN) said that the thugs were led into the Court premises by the State Governor Seriake Dickson. Larry said that the attack on the court, which he claimed was led by the Governor was a shameful act and a show intimidation against the judiciary. “Our case was listed as number 9 on the court list and I arrived the court early.Few min-

utes later,strange boys took over the entrance into the court and stopped people from entering. I tried to go out and know what was happening and I met the Bayelsa Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice, Kemesuode Wodu. And I asked him what was going on. But his body language and countenance showed that all was not well. “While the court was hearing the case being handled by Linous Nwosu (SAN),we heard the loud voice of the Governor threatening fire and brimstone and claiming that nobody can come from Abuja and determine what will happen in Bayelsa. “We saw him wave his hands up and ordered the boys to invade the court. The thugs came into the court and everyone scamper for safety including the court Judge” “I am not afraid to say this because I saw it, it was the governor who supervise the sacking of the court today and partake in the sacking of the court today; this is rubbish.” “How can the same man that wanted justice through the court, disrupt the proceedings of the court with thugs?, he asked.

Tuesday, March 31, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

MOSOP rejects marginalisation of Ogoni Dennis naku

PORT HARCOURT

L-R: Manager, Agriculture and Fisheries Sector, Institute of Export Operations and Management (IEOM), Mrs Ovueziue Elo; Market Development Officer, PIND Foundation, Mr Misan Edema-Sillo; Executive Secretary of IEOM, Mr Ofon Udofia and Assistant Manager, Bank of Industry, Mr Harrison Osauwagwe, at the 2015 Institution of Export Operations and Management Stakeholders Forum on E-commerce Platform for Agric-Business in Port Harcourt, recently.

undreds of Ogoni peoplehave again reaffirmed their struggle against alleged political marginalisation in a peaceful protest which ncluded women and youths in Port Harcourt yesterday, The protesters, who converged under the auspices of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), said that the Ogoni 2015 Project, aimed at producing a governor from Ogoni in 2015 remains alive and strong. The protesters had converged at Rumuola Bust Stop, along the ever-busy Aba Road about

Youths group agitates for 40 % power sharing with elders RichaRD nDoma CALABAR

socio-political group under the aegis of `Think Tank Group at the weekend agitated for 40 percent inclusion of young people in the mainstream of management of affairs of government at all levels. Cordinator for the group, Dr Xavier Idem, made the position known at a one day youth summit in collaboration with The African Child in Diaspora Foundation in Calabar. The group demanded for allocation of 40 percent opportunity to young people to enable them participate in the taking of policy decisions of government adding that Nigerian would become a better place for us. “There is nothing wrong if the systerm decides to include youth in govern-

ment. Awolowo,Nnamdi Azikiwe,Habert Marcualy and several other young people who fought for the nation`s independence achieved all that when they were all very young”. “Why would we continue to recycle old breed politicians into our polity when we have young men and women with vigour with enormous intellectual capacity to help manage the affairs of this country” “A lot of these people who keep recycling themselves in government have nothing meaningful to contribute to government”The group cordinator querried. The Think-Tank group stated that it would be nice if kingmakers would give a privilege to young people to join hand with elderly people in the management of the affairs of government at all levels. Idem who spoke on the theme

of the summit; Nigerian youths, rewrite your history, take your destiny in your hands, look beyond 2015’. said that the economic development of any country lies within the inclusion of youths in political offices adding that the position of the group was to advocate for good governance and to also motivate youths to achieve their set goals in life. “ if youths are appointed into political offices, it would give them the opportunity to learn the robes on how to serve the people well”.He said. Urging the government not to only limt contracts to the elders alone but to extend its hand of fellowship to youths. ``President Goodluck Jonathan administration has done well for Nigerian youths by appointing them to serve in various political offices in his ad-

ministration. ``Nigerian youths are demanding for 40 per cent political offices in other to help them be part of governance and decision making. ``For some youths who may wish to venture into business, they should also be awarded 40 per cent contract to enable them be part of building the country’s economy’’, he said. A member of the group, Mr Derek Onoge, urged youths to view leadership as a service to humanity and mankind, rather than a status or celebrity. Onoge who said that youths constitute the majority in Nigeria, stressed the need for government at all levels to accommodate youths in the scheme of things. ``Nation building is not for lazy people. The most powerful form of government is youth inclusive government’’, he said.

Ijaw community wants inclusion in EPZ

Theophilus onojeghen WARRI

here seems to be no end in sight to the ranging ownership tussle trailing the $16 billion Export Processing Zone, EPZ, as another Ijaw Community, Igoba Federated community, Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State has demanded inclusion in the project. They claimed that their lands are part of the EPZ acquired lands

and they were not considered in the ongoing negotiations among host communities to the project. Addressing newsmen recently in Warri, chairman of the community, Captain Isaac Bobo said their lands are involved in the mega gas project and that they be shortlisted among other Gbaramatu communities as host communities to avoid bad blood among neighbouring communities. Captain Bobo explained that they share common boundaries

with Ogulagha, Obuede and Sokobulu communities which are parts of the host communities listed in the project but Igoba community is not listed among other host communities, demanding that it should be included to avoid further crisis in the riverine area of the state. According to him, they have written several letters for their grievances but they have been taken for granted. Igoba community asserted that the project encroached their lands and they

are not ready to cede any part of their land to anybody. They threatened to resist exclusion and called on President Goodluck Jonathan to ensure that all concerned communities were properly carried along in the project.They also called on Gbaramatu council of chiefs,theMinister of Petroleum, Mrs Diesani Madueke, Ministry of oil and gas, in Delta state, and governor Emmanuel Uduaghan to expedite modalities to ensure their inclusion.

7a.m. in buses from three Local Governments areas, namely Khana, Gokana, and Tai local governments, even as they were joined by Ogonis residing in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital. Marching in unison for nearly two hours, they sang, danced, and displayed placards which quotes the Ogoni Bill of Right (OBR), which states that: “Ogoni should be guaranteed adequate and direct political representation as of right in all Nigeria national institutions.Some of their placards reads, “We reject unequal political system in Rivers State,” “adequate political representation is the right of all Ogoni,” and “MOSOP decries political slavery,” among others. The protesters, who were escorted by policemen in Hilux trucks from Rumuola to Isaac Boro Park, to forestall any breach of the peace, were later addressed by the MOSOP President, Mr. Legborsi Pyagbara. Pyagbara, said the demonstration was to register disapproval of the plan against the “Ogoni 2015 project”. He said if the political parties in Rivers State have decided not to field Ogoni candidate they should also explain to Ogoni people where the decision was taken and what would be the position of Ogoni in the political ladder of Rivers State. Pyagbara said: “The protest is our disapproval of the political campaign in Rivers State; we are not interested in campaign in our communities. We are also using the protest to call on those who are concerned that Ogoni cannot wait for another four to eight years before we could be allowed to rule. “We have been in the wilderness and we are tired, that is why we decided to tell the world that we disapprove the political decision against the Ogoni people. “We demand an explanation because we have made a lot of sacrifice and we cannot continue to be taken for granted.” He explained that the Ogoni will continue to resist what he termed “internal colonialism where our brothers want to confine us to political slavery.”The MOSOP boss lamented that neither the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, nor the All Progressives Congress, APC, picked an Ogoni as its governorship candidate ahead of the 2015 general election.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Politics

Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Benue guber candidates: Their strength, weaknesses Ahead April 11 gubernatorial election, HENRY IYORKASE, looks at Benue State candidates, their strength, weaknesses, campaigns and who likely carries the day come April 11.

he additional six weeks shift for the general elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, afforded governorship candidates more time to campaign, re-strategise and bargain for votes from the electorate. In Benue State for example, it was a blessing in disguise. After so much time and finance has been expended by the governorship candidates, it would have been proper that the election was held as scheduled. But with the extension, governorship candidates in Benue State have been able to realise some lapses and now doing all within their powers to fill them up before the Election Day. As they now campaign day and night across the 23 local government areas of the state, canvassing for support. Those gunning for the governorship in the state includes: Rt.Hon. Terhemen Tarzoor, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Dr. Samuel Ortom, All Progressives Congress, APC, who are the two major contenders. Others are: Rev. Samuel Gar, Social Democratic Party, SDP, Dr. Iorwuese Ligom, Labour Party, LP, and Caleb Aba, All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA. For Hon. Tarzoor, his campaign took a different turn as it assumed House To House campaign coordinated by his campaign team, which has not left any stone unturned as areas which they could not fully cover before are now broken down, as his team now visit voters individually soliciting their support. Similarly, Dr. Ortom, has taken the bull by the horn, not leaving anything to chance as his campaign strategy has fully been endorsed by the state Pentecostal Fellowship as he has constantly being holding meetings with pastors and other clergymen to drum support for him. Rev. Gar of SDP is also working assiduously to convince the electorate to see the need to vote for him come April 11, with campaign slogan, “Let’s try new entrants rather than the masses always putting their fate behind the old brigade.” Dr. Ligom, a veteran contender with third attempt to occupy the Makurdi Government House, a medical doctor by profession is urging the masses to put their trust in him, is not joking over his desire to succeed Gabriel Suswam come May 29. He is combing each and every cranny of the state canvassing for votes, telling whoever that bothers to listen that the other contenders have exhausted their usefulness, that he is the only person who can take Benue out of the doldrums which perpetuated since the beginning of the civilian administration in the state. Mr. Caleb of APGA, whose party is little known in the state is also making serious inroad though the impact of the party is not very much felt. That notwithstanding, electorate appear to be disposed with his candidature, a sign that miracle may likely smile on him when the chips are down. The political climate appears to be dicey as there is no clear indication who amongst these contenders will carry the day during the rescheduled elections as both the PDP governorship candidate Hon. Tarzoor and APC Chief Ortom, the two major contenders in the state having neck to neck acceptance with the electorate in the state. One bottleneck which is standing against the ruling PDP under Governor Suswam, is that Benue being a predominantly civil service state with 40 per cent out of its 4.7 million population of the 2006 head count, have not been paid their entitled emoluments and this is causing ripples and disdain for the ruling party in the state.

Tarzoor

Ortom

Apparently, the opposition party has cashed in on the indices of none remittance of salaries of workers of up to four to seven months arrears in some instances. This non remittance of wages, portends a minus on the part of the ruling party if elections are to take place by April 11 as workers have silently resolved to effect a blow and if by chance they are paid, as is being anticipated, there is likely little or no impact that will make as their minds have been made up on whom to vote for. Investigation also reveal that Tarzoor has campaigned more by himself as no one appear to be making complementary role for him. A close associate to the PDP governorship candidate, names withheld, raised an alarm recently that Governor Suswam, who contributed immensely in the emergence of Tarzoor as the standard flag bearer, is rarely seen on the campaign train to boost his morale and market him after introducing him to the three zones of the state. In the camp of opposition APC governorship candidate Dr. Ortom, despite his smooth campaigns across the state and overwhelming support enjoyed at the grassroots, he is enmeshed with internal hurdles, should he fails to settle scores with his party men before the Election Day, that may mar a bloc vote for him. Political pundits in the state have expressed shock over the mode of electioneering this time in the camp of the PDP, as both the senate and governorship candidates, including state coordinator for Goodluck Jonathan re-election bid and the ruling party, seem satisfied with campaigns on individual basis as none is playing complementary role for other. Meanwhile, a chieftain of the PDP and deputy governorship candidate Hon. John Ngbede, during the town hall meeting at Otukpo headquarters of Benue South West senatorial district, said let nobody be deceived that all is well with PDP as there is need to work extra mile with view to regain our seat both in the state as

well as national. Speaking in a chat, the state chairman of the Conference for All Nigerian Political Parties, CNPP, Engr. Baba Agan, stated that already, the ruling party is on their way out. “Frankly, there is no way Suswam will be returned because both government top functionaries have performed woefully as salaries are being accumulated for several months and workers are dying of hunger and starvation. In some cases, children are being withdrawn from school for lack of payment of school fees. These are nightmares Nigerians are facing everyday by the government of the day and we are ready to boot them out on March 28 and April 11. In his opinion, the special adviser to Governor Suswam on local government and chieftaincy affairs, Hon. Solomon Wombo, has boasted that the ruling party come rain or sunshine will be re- elected, ‘this is because the government of Dr. Suswam has been able to bring infrastructure to bear in the state and beyond which were hitherto none existent, all the good network of roads you are seeing is the handiwork of this administration. ‘Interestingly, promotions of civil servants and increment of salaries from N40,000 to N450,000, of course, when Suswam came in, Permanent Secretaries were receiving N40,000 which he increased to N45,000 as well as promotion of government workers with a view to enhance performance and their welfare. “Though the issue of salary arrears is causing us sleepless nights it is not deliberate but general downturn of the economy as the price of crude oil has crashed at the international market and more so, as the state receives 2.7 billion while the total wage bill stands in the range of 4 billion. It is better to remain in the PDP because the opposition are just making noises” Observers are of the view that another strategy being evolved by the party stakeholders towards wooing supporters is the issue of gratification whereby, funds is alleged to have exchanged hands by the party big wigs with view to undo the other. However, despite the monetary inducement, which is done in secret, voters were told by candidates during the campaigns, to collect money from whoever gives them but ensure they vote according to their conscience. The situation on ground leaves much to be desired as observers are of the view that either the opposition may carry the day or, on the other hand, as the power of incumbency cannot be underestimated, the PDP may have their way. In all, it is left to be seen, what becomes the fate of Nigerians at the polls this election year.

VOTERS WERE TOLD BY CANDIDATES DURING THE CAMPAIGNS, TO COLLECT MONEY FROM WHOEVER GIVES THEM BUT ENSURE THEY VOTE ACCORDING TO THEIR CONSCIENCE

Politics

Tuesday, March 31, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Udom Emmanuel, candidate to watch in Akwa Ibom – Essien Hon. Nduese Essien, a former member of the 5th House of Representatives and former Minister of Housing and Urban Development, in this interview with TORDUE SALEM, bares his mind on the state of the nation and its politics with surfeit warnings on the March and April general elections. Not long ago, you declared you were quitting the political scene, why did you make that resolution? Well, let me correct you. I did not take leave from active politics. What I said was that I will no longer contest for any elective position. So, that is why, I am still involved in active politics and trying to provide a road for the future. I have been in the fore-front of those agitating that the governorship of Akwa Ibom State should go round the three senatorial districts. Having done that and succeeded to convince the state to reason with us, I then had to assist in identifying a most competent person that should take over the mantle of leadership from Governor Godswill Akpabio. That is where we are today projecting Mr. Udom Emmanuel as the best material from the Eket senatorial districts. What is your assessment of Udom Emmanuel as Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship candidate? He is a very brilliant and articulate person. He has a good background from home and a good educational background too. With that he went into the banking profession, which is an organised sector and exhibited an amazing discipline and fecundity that resulted in his steady rise to the zenith of the profession. With the depth of his experience, professionalism, maturity and perceptiveness, Mr. Udom Emmanuel has more than what it takes to turn Akwa Ibom into one of the strongest economies in Nigeria. I had worked briefly with him when he was liaising between Mobil Producing Nigeria and core communities during a dispute. I was amazed at the approach he took in getting the two sides to agree to work together. And that was what resulted in the approval of a large amount of money as an intervention fund for oil producing communities in the state. My experience at that time gave me the conviction that he was the right man we should support for the governorship of the state. The South-South has always been a major ally of the North politically until now when the two regions seem to be going on a collision course. How will the outcome of this election affect the relationship between the political North and the South-South? In 1999, I went to the House of Representatives with the mindset that the SouthSouth has been unduly cheated over the years; particularly when oil became the mainstay of Nigeria economy. The region was never a major participant in managing it resources. That was why as the leader of the South- South Parliamentary Caucus then, we insisted that derivation should be paid and that the people of the

THIS COUNTRY IS STRONGER THAN WHAT A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK AND WHAT UNITES US IS BY FAR STRONGER THAN WHAT DIVIDES US oil producing areas should have a commission that should manage their affairs in order to redress the imbalances in the level of development. You know before 1999, the South-South had always been an ally of the North. The North was comfortable using the region to clinch the seat of the president in 1979 and 1983. Subsequently, they always relied on the region for support. In 2007, when former President Olusegun Obasanjo gave us an opportunity to produce the vice president apparently as a means of placating the South-South’s agitation, we felt comfortable because it was tied up with a Northern president, the late Umaru Yar’Adua. Unfortunately, Mr. Yar’adua died in office and the SouthSouth vice president became the acting president and later metamorphous into president. At the end of that tenure, we strongly felt that the South-South man should produce the next president, so we encouraged President Jonathan to stand for election in 2011. Having won the first term, we expected that he should be allowed to do a second term just like the rest have done. Unfortunately, however, the political elites in the North have come out strongly against the South-South candidate even when they benefited from the support of the region in the past. I daresay that President Jonathan has demonstrated a very high level of commitment to the development of Nigeria during the past four years. The president has not shown sectionalism in his leadership style and even in the distribution of development projects. We had expected them to reciprocate our support in the past by supporting our son and brother to finish his second term to strengthen our alliance but they won’t have any of that. Unlike in 2011 when Akwa Ibom State exploded in an orgy of political violence, the ongoing electioneering campaigns in the state, especially in your area have been largely peaceful. What is responsible for this? When it became very obvious that

governorship was coming to Eket senatorial district, we formed Eket Senatorial District Assembly, ESDA, comprising of people from all the three federal constituencies of Oron, Ikot Abasi, and Eket. We worked together as people from the same area and agreed that all of us should work for an aspirant from any part of our senatorial district. Unfortunately, some of our brothers and sisters in Oro nation, who held that the governorship should have been given to them, are the only ones that opted out. Instead they now support someone from Uyo senatorial district. That unpleasant development has sown that some of our people in Oron don’t have regards for the other composite parts of the senatorial district. We would have expected them to team up with whosoever emerged to win the governorship. But for them to team up with people from another senatorial district, which had taken eight already, is very disappointing. We in Eket, and I believe people from Ikot Abasi, would have supported any Oron man that emerged during the primary to run for the governorship. What is your reaction to the situation where some political parties are barred from campaigning in some areas? We have heard such stories and I shuddered when some Northern governors openly boasted that top PDP members cannot campaign in their domains. I consider such utterances as affront to democratic norms and values. How can a governor openly boast and beat his chest because his supporters successfully intimidate and drive away opponents? It is preposterous and crude and should not be condoned in a democracy. Those who are happy because others have been stopped from carrying out their electioneering campaigns should understand that they are sowing the seed of violence. It is a clear breach of the constitution and the electoral law. Nigerians should rise up and condemn the actions of those putting the free choices and fundamental rights of our people at risk. Nobody has stopped another from openly campaigning in any part of the SouthSouth, South-West and South-East. Except for instances of violence in Rivers State where the PDP and the APC are locked in crisis and in Imo State, where people are being beaten up, the campaigns in this part of the country have been largely calm and peaceful. The actions of such diehard politicians were responsible for the violence that claimed several lives after the 2011 elections. We witnessed the shameful internal human movement and dislocations of many of people across the country before the elections were rescheduled. Just before the elections were rescheduled, thou-

Essien

sands of people moved their families and properties especially from many parts of the North and headed back to their villages. We saw a similar situation prior to the June 12 crises where innocent Nigerians, especially our brothers from the SouthEast, lost their lives in ghastly motor accidents as they attempted to flee from their bases back home. It is difficult to understand why politicians create atmosphere of fear and distrust that has made fellow citizens run away to their villages as if life begins and ends with the elections. Are you not worried that the polarisation of the country along religious, ethnic and political lines and the current security challenges in the country are signs that Nigeria may be heading for disintegration? Of course I am and I know other patriotic Nigerians are too. It’s so sad that politicians have dragged religious leaders into politics and have thoroughly desecrated some of the values we hold so dear. But Nigeria will not disintegrate because of this general elections or Boko Haram or ethnic tensions. This country is stronger than what a lot of people think and what unites us is by far stronger than what divides us. I was still at the National Assembly when we got a report that Nigeria will disintegrate this year. Although a lot of things have happened to indicate that we have a serious problem, I also know that we have the capacity to deal with our peculiar challenges as a nation. Most of the countries that are telling us we will break up are also facing challenges too and they are not contemplating a break up. Why should we be cowed to believe that because we have challenges which are usual to growing nations, we are on the way to disintegration? Nigerians should reject such theories and work towards a more united and prosperous nation.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Politics

Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Voting in the shadow of violence, logistic challenges CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13 to ashes. According to findings, the PDP chieftain had allegedly made some comments in a live radio programme recently that the youth considered offensive. In Kumbi Kwal Ward of Quan Pan Local Government Area of the state, some youth had on the same day destroyed ballot papers in the locality. Also, a serving councillor was allegedly caught distributing ballot papers in Ganawuri, Riyom Local Government of Northern Plateau State during the Sunday voting.

Yobe State In Yobe, elections had to be postponed in 18 PUs at the eleventh hour due to security challenges. Although, INEC had initially planned to go ahead with elections in the areas, the commission’s ad hoc staff later developed cold feet. The Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, in Yobe, Habu Zarma, on Sunday said INEC had postponed elections indefinitely in 18 PUs in Giedam Local Government Area of the state due to security challenges.

Imo State Here, hoodlums carted off ballot papers at a polling centre in Amala Ntu in Ngor Okpala Local Government after the accreditation of voters for Saturday’s elections. The hoodlums reportedly struck after the last person on the queue was accredited, taking away all the ballot papers designated for the centre. Consequently, voters and electoral officials scampered to safety in different directions, and could not return to the centre for the balloting. Unfortunately, there were reports that the INEC did not supply the ballot papers for the presidential poll in Amachashi PU in Ezinihite Ward in Mbaitoli Local Government. Similarly, it did not supply ballot papers for the polling centre in Nekede, Owerri West Local Government, prompting the voters to disperse after accreditation.

Ekiti State Perhaps, Ekiti was considered in security circles as a flashpoint. Party supporters here did not disappoint popular expectation as officials at the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, confirmed that a man simply identified as Jide, was shot at Ikere Ekiti by rival political group. He was reportedly shot on the back. The immediate past governor of the state, Kayode Fayemi, had alleged that the man was shot by thugs led by the Deputy Governor of the State, Olubunmi Olusola-Eleka. However, spokesperson to the Ekiti State governor, Lere Olayinka, said it was Mr Olusola-Eleka that was attacked by thugs hired by Mr. Fayemi’s All Progressives Congress, APC. As the blame-game continues, one hopes that the security situation in that state will not deteriorate.

Gombe, Borno, Rivers In Gombe, suspected Boko Haram

Jega

Amaechi

IN ALL, MORE THAN 20 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED SINCE THE EVE OF THE ELECTION

gunmen opened fire on voters at polling stations killing at least seven people. The first attack reportedly happened in the neighbouring villages of Birin Bolawa and Birin Fulani in the Nafada district of Gombe, which has been repeatedly targeted by the terrorists. The masked gunmen, who arrived in Birin Bolawa in a pickup truck at about 8.30am, just after accreditation for Saturday’s presidential election had begun, queried why their victims refused to heed their warning not to take part in the elections. They were said to have set fire to all the election materials which were abandoned as the people escaped. Gunmen later stormed the town of Dukku, 80km from the state capital Gombe city, at about 11.30, shooting randomly as voters queued up at polling stations, residents said. “They shot three people dead and in-

jured two others,” said Ibrahim Ahmad, adding that the attackers then killed a state Assembly lawmaker and the local chief in the nearby herding village of Tilen. In the same vein, residents of Miringa town of Biu Local Government Area, Borno, yesterday went to polls amidst blood and tears as they had to bury 25 persons killed by Boko Haram terrorists in the early hours of Election Day, security sources and government official said. Residents who witnessed the incident said Boko Haram terrorists torched houses in the wee hours of the night and smoked out sleeping residents and began to shoot them at sight. Mallam Garba Buratai, who fled the attacked town to Biu, 30km away, told journalists on phone that the insurgents killed 25 people, injured five before setting ablaze some houses and then fled. He added that they had earlier sent messages around, warning villagers not to

Fayose

encourage democracy by participating in the election. Buratai town used to be a voting centre for about six communities under Buratai District and this usually make voters to converge in the towns on the eve of elections. Also, at least one soldier, and three others were feared killed yesterday in various parts of Rivers State during the elections. The Brigade Commander, 2 Brigade, Port Harcourt, Brigadier General Koko Essien, said the soldier was killed when hoodlums opened fire on security agents on election duty in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the state. Apart from the soldier, three other people were killed in Tai, Eleme and Obio/ Akpor local government areas of the state. This is as members and supporters of the APC in three local government areas of the state, boycotted the elections due to the refusal of officials of the INEC to provide the result sheets for the election. In all, more than 20 people have been killed since the eve of the election. If this is a sign of things to come in the next few days, then security agencies have a herculean task at hand.

Gombe APC accuses REC of hiding under B’Haram to suspend collation OBIORA IFOH ABUJA

pposition All Progressives Congress, APC, in Gombe State have accused the state Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, for INEC, Kassim Geidam, of hiding under fear of attack by members of the extremist group, Boko Haram, to suspend the collation of results of presidential and National Assembly election which held last Saturday. Mr. Geidam had reportedly announced the suspension of result collation over the radio on Sunday, citing intelligence reports that the sect members are planning to attack the collation centre, which is the auditorium building at Federal Medical Centre, Gombe. APC however said the REC is conniving with the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to deny former governor Danjuma Goje victory after initial re-

sults released showed that Goje was on the verge of being re-elected for a second term as a senator. APC said: “It is our believe that Independent National electoral Commission, INEC, PDP and some security operatives are conniving to ensure that all results collated will be made to favor PDP candidates so as to deny Senator Danjuma Goje and others who are emerging as winners.” The party also condemned the decision to suspend collation of result “on the basis of mere rumour.” Gunmen suspected to be members of the Boko Haram sect had on Saturday attacked Nafada and Dukku local government areas killing eight persons including some poll officials. The gunmen also attacked three local governments in neighboring Bauchi State, including Alkaleri, Kirfi and Bauchi local governments. Governor Isa Yuguda had already

imposed a 24 hour curfew on the three local governments, but like in Gombe, youth in Bauchi said the curfew was imposed to allow the ruling PDP rig the outcome of the election. They have therefore, reportedly defied the curfew and thronged to the gate of INEC office in the state to monitor the collation exercise. Goje’s residence in his home town of Kashere was surrounded by soldiers on Saturday evening, restraining him and members of his family from venturing outside until 6:30 this morning. Mr. Goje informed National Mirror over the phone that his travails was as a result of his “coasting to victory”, which he said “is likely to ruffle feathers”. Efforts to reach Mr. Geidam were unsuccessful. Calls to his mobile line failed to connect and a text message sent to him was also not responded to at the time of publishing this story.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Politics

Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Gombe, Borno, Rivers In Gombe, suspected Boko Haram

Jega

Amaechi

IN ALL, MORE THAN 20 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED SINCE THE EVE OF THE ELECTION

Fayose

Gombe APC accuses REC of hiding under B’Haram to suspend collation OBIORA IFOH ABUJA

Politics

Tuesday, March 31, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

How I escaped assassination attempt –AIT chairman OBIORA IFOH ABUJA

hairman of Africa Independent Television, AIT, Chief Raymond Aleogho Dokpesi, yesterday explained how he escaped assassination attempt in Auchi LAST Saturday. Addressing journalists in Abuja, Dopkesi fingered All Progressives Congress, APC, zonal

...Fingers APC leadership

chairman in Edo North as the arrow man behind the assassination attempt. Dokpesi boasted that no man born of woman can take his life, adding that since 1994, there have been eight attempts on his life. He further alleged that the people responsible for the assassination attempt were closed to Edo State governor, Adams

Ekiti PDP sure of victory in state Assembly ABIODUN NEJO ADO EKITI

ssurances were made yesterday that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, will win the 26 House of Assembly seats in the state in next Saturday’s elections. Special Assistant to Ekiti Governor on Information, Mr Lanre Ogunsuyi, said the party would repeat the feat it performed in last Saturday’s National Assembly election where it won the three Senate and six House of Representatives seats in the state. Ogunsuyi, during a chat with journalists in Ado Ekiti, expressed confidence that the PDP would not concede a single seat in the state Assembly to the All progressives Congress, APC, or any other party. He said: “We don’t want a type of state Assembly that will be antagonistic of the governor and cause distractions for him. “We already have problems with current Assembly, and we do not want a repeat of that, we also do not want a 13-13 scenario as we were all living witnesses to its attendant negative effects of the past. The governor’s aide urged all the 26 PDP House of Assembly candidates to start preparing to occupy offices as lawmakers, saying: “They are already legislators-elect because PDP will again win all the available seats without conceding any.” Ogunsuyi said that the outcome of the National Assembly elections had marked the end of the All

Progressives Congress, APC, in the state. He said that the election results in the state had proved that last year’s June 21 governorship election won by Mr Ayo Fayose was not rigged as claimed by APC. According to him, the governor is delighted that the electorate made him deliver the party to PDP last year when there was no Card Reader, and repeated same when Card Reader, which was introduced to prevent rigging was put to test in the last Saturday’s elections. He said: “It is now confirmed to whoever is still doubting whether Fayose is indeed a super political champion that the man is more than that, he is also a rare breed. “In the same token, the outcome of last National Assembly election which made the PDP candidates to defeat all the candidates of APC in both the Senate and House of Representatives, including all the incumbent ones shows that all negative claims about June 21, 2014 governorship poll, existed only in the imagination of those that faulted the outcome.”

Oshomole, adding that if it was so, Oshiomhole was not the kind of person he thought he was. He alleged that Oshiomhole addressed a press conference where he called him all sort of names, adding: “My relationship with Oshiopmhole has been cordial, the whole of Edo North knows that when he was seeking governorship position, I helped him. We

have had a strong brotherly relationship, I was extremely shocked on the allegation he accused me of in Channels Television.” Asked what would be his next step, Dokpesi said he had already reported the matter to the police, adding that Magaji Usman was the man identified in the whole saga. Explaining, Dopkesi said: “On Saturday April 28, at about 5:20pm on my

way back to Abuja, I receive a distress call from one of the women leader in Auchi, Hajia Hadiza Inu Umoru, who said she was at Aibotse/Igbe Primary School, off Igbe road in Auchi. “She complained very bitterly that there was no security presence at her polling unit and APC leaders led by the zonal chairman, Magaji and a man popularly called Agbor, who sells cars in Auchi opposite the Doni Petrol Sta-

L-R: APC Enugu State, deputy gubernatorial candidate, Mrs Juliet Idekaku; gubernatorial candidate, Mr. Okey Ezea and state chairman, Dr. Ben PHOTO: NAN Nwoye, during a press conference on 2015 presidential and national assembly General Elections in Enugu, yesterday.

he senatorial candidate of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for Osun East, Prince Francis Fadahunshi, yesterday alleged that some suspected gunmen attacked him in front of the state secretariat of the party late Sunday night. Residents of Ogo-Oluwa area, where PDP and APC state secretariats were located, confirmed that gunshots were heard for several minutes, while vehicular movements along Gbongan/Osogbo road was also disrupted at

Fadahunsi alleges assassination attempt as INEC returns Omoworare as Osun East senator-elect the time. Speaking to newsmen in Osogbo yesterday, Sola Olowoye, the spokesperson for Fadahunshi Campaign organisation, explained that the convoy of the PDP candidate was returning from Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, head office in Osogbo, when some unidentified men shot at him. Olowoye said a vehicle was noticed trailing Fa-

dahunshi’s convoy, adding that the development forced the security aides attached to him to divert into the premises of PDP secretariat. He added: “But as he was being rushed into the premises of PDP secretariat, some armed men alighted from the vehicle that had trailed us from INEC office and fired several shots at the Toyota Solara car conveying Fa-

Exclusion: YDP calls for cancellation of polls’ results OBIORA IFOH ABUJA

oung Democratic Party, YDP, has called for the immediate cancellation of the 2015 elections, saying it’s exclusion by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, from the ballot papers fell short of the Electoral Law. YDP National Leader, Henry Nwabueze, in a state-

tion, were with thugs carrying dangerous weapons. “There was no accreditation of voters as the card readers were not functional. Magaji started paying out betweenN2000 and N5000 to whosoever agreed to vote for APC candidate. As I was on my way to Abuja, I called on the area commander as well as the Brigade Commander in Auchi to assist to provide some security with some armed policemen and soldiers.”

ment made available in Abuja, said the Prof. Attahiru Jega-led INEC deliberately refused to include YDP in the ballot even when it was clear that YDP had fulfilled the requirements to be so included in the ballots having been proclaimed a political party. He said: “In compliance with the law, YDP submitted the list of its candidates to INEC for this 2015 general elections. Today the YDP

regret to inform Nigerians that INEC has failed because it unlawfully refused to include YDP in the 2015 general election ballot paper. By this, INEC is practicing democracy of the few, by the few and for the few.” YDP therefore called on INEC to cancel the just concluded March 28, presidential and National Assembly elections and refrain from announcing the results, including the names of win-

ners or losers in that election. “Indeed, by virtue of the Electoral Act, Section 78, subsection 4, YDP became a registered political party in Nigeria as of May 2, 2014. Although INEC is fully aware of this fact and in spite of numerous notifications, it nevertheless proceeded, against common sense and reason to exclude YDP in this 2015 general election.”

dahunshi. “He barely escaped being hit by the bullets. Fadahunshi was in company of the state chairman of PDP, Alhaji Gani Olaoluwa and other party leaders when the attack took place. They had visited the INEC office because of the delay in announcing the winner of the Osun East senatorial contest.” Meanwhile, INEC yesterday afternoon returned the incumbent senator representing Osun East, Babajide Omoworare, as the winner of last Saturday’s poll. Omoworare polled 101, 352 to defeat the PDP candidate, Prince Francis Adenigba Fadahunshi, who polled 99,166 votes. The result of election in Ife Central local government area had been subject of controversy, following allegations of abduction of returning officer, which delayed the release of the result till about noon on Monday.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Capital Market

Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Equities up 1.6%, Fidson Healthcare leads gainers JOHNSON OKANLAWON

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 1.63 per cent to close at 31,090.81 points, compared to the increase of 1.7 per cent recorded on Friday to close at

30,562.93 points. Market capitalisation gained N178bn to close at N10.5trn, compared to the rise of N283bn recorded the preceding day to close at N10.3trn. Fidson Healthcare Plc led the gainers’ table with 30 kobo or 9.12 per cent to close at N3.59 per share, followed by NAHCO Plc with 40 kobo or 7.94 per cent to close at N5.44 per share. Eterna Oil Plc added

22 kobo or 7.75 per cent to close at N3.06 per share, while Unilever Plc rose N2.85 or 7.24 per cent to close at N42.20 per share. Transnational Express Plc appreciated seven kobo or 6.31 per cent to close at N1.18 per share. Conversely, Vono Products Plc dropped eight kobo or 8.60 per cent to close at 85 kobo per share, while Forte Oil Plc shed N11.27 or 5.01 per cent to close at N213.62

per share. Cadbury Nigeria Plc lost N1.96 or five per cent to close at N37.27 per share, while Pharma Deko Plc fell 11 kobo or 4.91 per cent to close at N2.13 per share. May and Baker Plc was down seven kobo or 4.40 per cent to close at N1.52 per share. A total of 196.3 million shares valued at N1.84bn were exchanged in 3,638deals.

Diamond Bank posts 11% decline in profit

iamond Bank yesterday announced a profit after tax of N25.5bn for the financial year ended December 31, 2014, a drop of 10.7 per cent when compared to N28.5bn recorded in the same period of 2013. The bank’s profit before tax fell 12.4 per cent to N28.1bn, from N32.1bn recorded in the corresponding period of 2013. According to the result presented to the Nigerian Stock Exchange yesterday, gross earnings rose 13 per cent during the period to N161.1bn, from N143.1bn recorded in 2013. National Mirror investigation revealed that the bank has shut down its risk asset window to customers and has embarked on an aggressive loan recovery programme. It was learnt that the poor credit risk management of the immediate

past administration in the bank allegedly exposed the bank to a NonPerforming Loanportfolio, NPL, of about N114bn within a staggering total loan exposure. “The portfolio is indeed large and the nonperforming ones only highlight the poor management decisions and indecisions which are akin to what you may call magic banking. You may not be surprised if the NPL goes beyond this figure when the bank publishes its financial statement shortly,. A source said. Further analysis of the results as at nine months of 2014 show that the bank’s exposure to oil and gas, general commerce and power stood at 27 per cent, 21 per cent and nine per cent respectively. Though, the bank concluded a successful rights

issue in the year which is set to propel its 2014 financial year Capital Adequacy Ratio, CAR, to the 20 per cent range. The NPL ratio at 4.6 per cent, cost of risk at 2.7 per cent and the heightened possibility of defaults given the realities of the economic environment. “Even though CAR as at nine months was 16.90 per cent, the inclusion of capital from the rights issue is expected to improve CAR by 2014 year end. As the bank is expected to resume its expansion plans in 2015, coupled with the gloom surrounding the banking space, we do not envisage that 2015 performance will significantly surpass the general underperformance of 2014. “However, we expect increased efforts from the bank, which may place it above its cur-

Investors fly away from U.S. stock funds

ere’s more evidence that the leave-Americafor-Europe trade is alive and well among stock investors—at least for now. U.S. stock funds have seen $44 billion in outflows in the year-to-date for their worst start to a year since 2009, said Bank of America Merrill Lynch strategists in a note Thursday. Meanwhile, European equity funds have enjoyed $46.6 billion in inflows so far in 2015. These flows come as the S&P 500 SPX, +1.27% is down 0.1% for the year,

as of midday Friday. Back in March 2009, the U.S. stock benchmark had just found a bottom after a punishing plunge—and was starting its sis year bull run. Getting back to this year, the Stoxx Europe 600 SXXP, +1.09% is up nearly 16% in 2015 to date. The driving forces behind the move away from U.S. stocks include investors having been positioned too bullishly, we a ke r- t h a n - e x p e c t e d economic data and the dollar’s rally, according to the BAML strategists. They say “restoration

rent standing, hence our 2015 target price of N6.38 per share,” analysts at Meristem Securities Limited said. Speaking on the results, the Group Managing Director of the bank, Mr. Uzoma Dozie stated, said that amidst regulatory headwinds that characterized the industry, and a dynamic macroeconomic environment, growth was recorded in operating income. He said, “We willl continue to vigorously drive the implementation of our alternative banking channels including digital banking; this will help to drive down operating costs as well as capture a significant share of new and existing bank account holders as well as a large portion of the unbanked.”

In other words, don’t expect a rush back into U.S.

reports. Investors shouldn’t

also assume

the

Inter-Bank Rate Naira

US Dollar

N197.00

All-Share Index 31,090.81 points

EPS confidence” is following that same path, “needed for US inflows.” the note says.

of encouraging earnings

Source: NSE

Market indicators

equities without a batch

Rate (%) Inflation

8.2

MPR

Crude oil price

$58.96

Market capitalisation 10.5trn

Stock Updates GAINERS COMPANY

OPENING

CLOSING

CHANGE

% CHANGE

FIDSON

3.29

3.59

0.30

9.12

NAHCO

5.04

5.44

0.40

7.94

ETERNA

2.84

3.06

0.22

7.75

UNILEVER

39.35

42.20

2.85

7.24

TRANSEXPR

1.11

1.18

0.07

6.31

MOBIL

147.95

156.95

9.00

6.08

VITAFOAM

3.80

4.00

0.20

5.26

ZENITHBANK

18.90

19.87

0.97

5.13

CONOIL

33.91

35.60

1.69

4.98

UAC-PROP

9.17

9.62

0.45

4.91

CHANGE

% CHANGE

LOSERS COMPANY

OPENING

CLOSING

VONO

0.93

0.85

-0.08

-8.60

224.89

213.62

-11.27

-5.01

CADBURY

39.23

37.27

-1.96

-5.00

PHARMDEKO

2.24

2.13

-0.11

-4.91

MAYBAKER

1.59

1.52

-0.07

-4.40

COSTAIN

0.61

0.59

-0.02

-3.28

LIVESTOCK

2.19

2.16

-0.03

-1.37

141.19

140.00

-1.19

-0.84

GUINNESS

127.00

126.00

-1.00

-0.79

26.82

26.53

-0.09

-0.34

FGN Bonds

Bid

Description

Offer

Price

Yield

Price

Yield

13.05 16-AUG-2016

1.38

97.65

14.96

97.80

14.84

15.10 27-APR-2017

2.08

99.77

15.21

99.92

15.13

16.00 29-JUN-2019

4.25

102.50

15.16

102.80

15.06

16.39 27-JAN-2022

6.83

105.83

14.98

106.13

14.91

14.20 14-MAR-2024

8.96

95.58

15.11

95.88

15.05

10.00 23-JUL-2030

15.32 66.25

15.94

66.55

15.87

Closing Market Prices of March 30, 2015

Treasury Bills Maturity Date

Bid

Offer

Exchange

Rates (N)

02-Jul-15

14.27

14.82

stocks will continue at

WAUA

270

01-Oct-15

14.61

15.78

the same rate, according

USD

197

to the BAML strategists.

24-Mar-16

14.08

16.35

EURO

214

Back in 2013, “euphoric

CFA

0.32

YEN

1.64

SWISS FRANC

announced there, and European flows could end up

move

into

European

inflows” to Japanese equity funds peaked about eight weeks after quantitative-easing efforts were

NIBOR Tenor

Rate (%)

202

O/N

13.8350

15.6140

POUNDS STERLING

293

16.7135

SDR

273

17.4360 The Fixings of March 30, 2015

Capital Market

Tuesday, March 31, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Stock exchange daily equities summary Equities as at March 30, 2015 1st Tier Securities

1st Tier Securities Sector

Company name

No Of Deals

Quotation(N)

Quantity Traded

Value of Shares(N)

Sector

Company name

No Of Deals

Quotation(N)

Quantity Traded

Value of Shares(N)

Tuesday, March 31, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

World News

There have been very positive results but we are now at the most critical moment... the last phase in the fight against Ebola.

Ex-Israeli PM, Olmert, convicted in corruption case

PAUL ARHEWE

WITH AGENCY REPORTS

oko Haram militants were unable to disrupt Nigeria’s presidential election, a United Nations envoy said yesterday, but the group’s allegiance to Islamic State insurgents shows it has an agenda that goes beyond Africa’s top oil producer and biggest economy. Boko Haram, which has killed thousands and displaced some 1.5 million people during a six-year campaign to carve out an Islamist emirate, committed itself this month to Islamic State, which controls swaths of territory in Syria and Iraq. “Boko Haram’s recent allegiance to the Islamic State (ISIL) ... whether for publicity reasons or to tap into ISIL’s support, is of concern as it is gives a clear signal that Boko Haram’s agenda goes well beyond Nigeria,” Mohammed Ibn Chambas, U.N. envoy for West Africa, told the U.N. Security Council. Nigeria’s armed forces and troops from neighbouring Chad, Niger and Cameroun have driven Boko Haram from most positions it controlled earlier this year, reversing militant gains that forced Nigeria to postpone a February 14 election until March 28. Results from the election, potentially the closest contest since the end of military rule in

–HEAD, UN EBOLA FIGHTING FORCE, ISMAIL OULD CHEIKH AHMED

Boko Haram did not disrupt Nigeria’s election, says UN envoy 1999, were due to start trickling in yesterday. Chambas told the 15-member Security Council: “Boko Haram was unable to disrupt the electoral process.” But he added that while Boko Haram has been weakened, it was still committing “horrendous acts” against civilians. “Schools in northeast Nigeria are no longer safe places of learning, as many of them continue to be attacked, looted, and destroyed. Several schools in the areas targeted by Boko Haram in Cameroun and Niger also remain closed,” Chambas said. “We have also observed an alarming trend of children being used by the group as human shields,” he said. The United Nations said more than 7,300 people have been killed by Boko Haram since the start of 2014, more than 300 schools have been damaged or destroyed and less than 40 percent of health facilities in the area are operational. “The escalation of Boko Haram-related violence in the region continues to hinder access to people in desperate need of humanitarian assistance,” deputy U.N. aid chief Kyung-Wha

Chambas

Kang told the council. The Security Council is negotiating a resolution - drafted by Chad, Angola and Nigeria - to back and fund a regional force to take on Boko Haram. The 54-nation African Union has already approved a force of 10,000 troops.

Obama plans first presidential trip to Kenya in July

arack Obama will make a long-awaited return to Kenya this July, visiting his father’s homeland for the first time since becoming US president, the White House announced Monday. During the much-delayed visit, Obama will attend a summit to encourage entrepreneurship and meet the country’s

controversial leader Uhuru Kenyatta. Obama’s late father was from a small village near the shores of Lake Victoria. He met Obama’s white American mother in Hawaii, where they had a son before divorcing. America’s first black president has visited sub-Saharan Africa four times since tak-

Barack Obama greets his grandmother Sarah Obama at her rural home in Siaya near Kisumu in Kenya, in 2006

ing office in 2009, but political scandal has blocked a presidential visit to his ancestral home. For much of Obama’s time in power, Kenya’s president Kenyatta had been under investigation by the International Criminal Court in The Hague. Kenyatta was indicted on five counts of crimes against humanity for his alleged role in 2007-08 post-election violence that killed an estimated 1,200 people. The 53-year-old son of Kenya’s founding father protested his innocence until the case was dropped in December. Prosecutors complained that they had been undermined by a lack of cooperation by the Kenyan government, as well as the bribing or intimidation of witnesses. A White House official told AFP that Obama and Kenyatta would meet during the visit.

UN to open enquiry on Dag Hammarskjold’s death A United Nations enquiry into the mysterious death of former its former head Dag Hammarskjold is due to open. Hammarskjold died in a plane crash in what is now Zambia in 1961, but the cause of the crash has been disputed. There have been claims that the plane was shot down, but a previous UN enquiry did not reach a definitive conclusion. The Swedish diplomat was on his way to negotiate a ceasefire in the breakaway Congolese state of Katanga. He was trying to mediate between Congo’s Sovietbacked government and Moise Tshombe, who had declared independence for the mineral-rich province of Katanga. He was flying to Ndola, in what was then Northern Rhodesia, to meet Mr Tshombe, who was backed by former colonial power Belgium and some Western mining interests. The UN set up this new enquiry after a group of independent investigators said that there was significant new evidence concerning Hammarskjold’s death.

AFRICA BULLETIN

Kenya to reopen Nairobi mall after attack

Kenya’s Westgate mall, the scene of a four-day siege in late 2013 that left dozens dead, will reopen to the public in July for the first time since the attack, officials said yesterday. The announcement came after officials toured the Westgate site, once a symbol of Kenya’s growing wealth and cosmopolitan flair, and later of the security threat posed by the Somali Islamist group al Shabaab. “Terrorism could have maimed and killed our loved ones but they did not succeed in killing our spirit and resolve to rebuild,” Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero said in a statement. “I will ensure the mall is restored to its former glory.” A spokeswoman for Kidero said the high-end mall in the capital would formally open its doors to the public on July 1, but shops, cafes and restaurants would not start up again until some months later. A spokesman for the company charged with the rebuilding did not immediately respond to a request for comment. At least 67 people were killed in September 2013 when al Shabaab gunman stormed Westgate, tossing grenades, spraying shoppers with bullets and holding parts of the building for days.

S’ African opposition accuses Zuma of security meddling South African President Jacob Zuma is putting the country on a “road directly to dictatorship,” said an opposition leader who on Monday accused the president of manipulating state security. Julius Malema, leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters, said Zuma has compromised the country’s police and intelligence services to maintain political power. In recent months, South Africa’s police ministry, intelligence agency, National Prosecution Authority and tax revenue service have all been embroiled in political scandals, with opposition leaders accusing Zuma of using these departments to settle political scores. “These issues ... happen as a result of the big elephant in the room, which is called the president,” said Malema, who accused the president of trying to cover up his own graft. “This corrupt thief is the one that tampers with every single institution of the state.” Now known for his caustic criticism of South Africa’s president, Malema was once one of Zuma’s most vocal supporters. As the militant president of the ruling party’s youth league, Malema said in 2008 that he would kill for Zuma, who was then the country’s deputy president facing hundreds of corruption charges, which were later dropped.

World News

WORLD BULLETIN

Heavy fighting in Yemen as Houthi rebels make gains Iran-allied Houthi militiamen pushed into the northeastern outskirts of the Yemeni port city of Aden yesterday amid heavy clashes with loyalists of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi apparently backed by Saudi-led air strikes. Witnesses heard loud explosions and saw a thick column of black smoke and a jet flying overhead. Hadi’s supporters earlier said artillery and rocket fire hit the approaches to the city after the Houthis made a fresh advance from the east along an Arabian Sea coast road. As the two sides fought over Hadi’s last bastion, humanitarian workers said an air strike in the northern Yemen district of Haradh killed 21 people at a refugee camp near to a military installation. It was not immediately possible to contact Saudi officials for comment. Saudi Arabia, backed by regional Sunni Muslim allies, launched an air campaign to support Hadi after he withdrew last month from the capital to Aden. He left Yemen on Thursday to attend an Arab summit and has not returned. The fighting has brought civil war to the Arabian Peninsula’s poorest country, which was already sliding into chaos with a growing secessionist movement in the south and a covert U.S. drone campaign - now stalled - against al Qaeda in the east. The growing power of the Houthis, part of a Shi’ite minority that makes up about a third of the population, also means Yemen has become the latest stage for Saudi Arabia’s power struggle with Iran.

NATO chief seeks closer cooperation with EU NATO’S secretary-general wants more joint action with the European Union to face the security challenges coming from Russia and the violent Islamic extremism plaguing some countries in the Middle East and North Africa. Jens Stoltenberg told a European Parliament hearing Monday that NATO and the EU should combine efforts to make member countries more “resilient” to the so-called hybrid brand of warfare that Western governments accuse Russia of waging in Ukraine. Along with military force, hybrid warfare includes cyberattacks, the use of social media, deception and disinformation. The NATO secretary-general also said the EU should assist friendly countries to its south and southeast like Jordan to combat the spread of Islamic extremism. Stoltenberg told European lawmakers that “the time has come to spend more on defence.”

Tuesday, March 31, 2015

ormer Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert was convicted yesterday of unlawfully accepting money from a U.S. supporter in a retrial on corruption charges, the latest chapter in the downfall of a man who only years earlier hoped to lead the country to a historic peace agreement with the Palestinians. The conviction could land Olmert five years in prison, in addition to a six-year prison sentence he received last year in a separate bribery conviction, all but ensuring the former premier will not return to politics for many years to come. “His behaviour constitutes a breach of trust which harms the public, harms morality, and harms the public’s trust, in how he behaved corruptly,” prosecutor Uri Korev said following the verdict. Olmert’s lawyers said they would likely appeal the ruling by the Jerusalem District Court. A sentencing hearing is slated to take place in May. Olmert has claimed he was on the brink of a historic agreement with the Palestinians when he was forced to resign in early 2009 amid corruption allegations. His departure cleared the way

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Ex-Israeli PM, Olmert, convicted in corruption case

Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, centre, waiting in a courtroom before a verdict in Jerusalem’s District Court, yesterday

for hard-liner Benjamin Netanyahu’s election, and subsequent peace efforts have not succeeded. Olmert, 69, was acquitted in 2012 of a series of charges that included accepting cashstuffed envelopes from U.S. businessman Morris Talansky when Olmert was mayor of

Jerusalem and a Cabinet minister. Olmert was found to have received about $600,000 from Talansky during his term as mayor, and additional amounts in cash during his term as a Cabinet minister, but a court did not find evidence the money had been used for unlaw-

ful personal reasons or illegal campaign financing. Talansky, an Orthodox Jew from New York’s Long Island, had testified the money was spent on expensive cigars, firstclass travel and luxury hotels, while insisting he received nothing in return.

Uzbek president re-elected in landslide poll

zbek strongman Islam Karimov cruised to a new five-year term yesterday after facing a minimal challenge, prompting withering criticism from Western observers. The election commission in the tightly controlled Central Asian state said Karimov, 77, won more than 90 percent of the vote in Sunday’s presidential election to extend his 25 years in power, with voter turnout reaching 91 percent. None of the three challengers -- all fielded by parties that are openly supportive of Karimov’s rule -- troubled the incumbent, scoring in the single digits. His closest challenger, Akmal Saidov, who is well-known for defending the former Soviet republic’s often criticised human rights record, won less than four

percent of the vote. Karimov has led the most populous of Central Asia’s five former Soviet republics since 1989, two years before collapse of the Soviet Union. The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) questioned the independence of the electoral commission, noting that Karimov’s candidacy breached constitutional term limits. “Despite a clear constitutional limit of two consecutive presidential terms, the Central Election Commission registered the incumbent as a candidate,” Tana de Zulueta, head of the OSCE observer mission, said in a statement yesterday. “This was in contravention of the rule of law and raises doubts about the commission’s independence,” she said.

Karimov

The OSCE mission also noted irregularities including widespread use of proxy voting and said Karimov faced no real competition.

“The figure of the incumbent dominated a political landscape without genuine opposition,” it said.

No bailout to Greece until fresh reforms enacted –Germany

reece’s biggest creditor Germany said yesterday that the euro zone would give Athens no further financial aid until it has a more detailed list of reforms and some are enacted into law, adding to scepticism over plans presented last week. A senior official in Brussels on Sunday had dismissed the list as “ideas” rather than a plan that Greece could submit to EU and IMF lenders to

avoid running out of cash next month. Euro zone states are still waiting for Greece to send a more comprehensive list, a German finance ministry spokesman said. Chancellor Angela Merkel said Athens had a certain degree of flexibility on which reforms to implement but that they must “add up” to the satisfaction of European partners.

“The question is can and will Greece fulfill the expectations that we all have,” she said during a visit to Helsinki. “There can be variation as far as which measures a government opts for but in the end the overall framework must add up.” There was no immediate reaction from Athens on whether the list would be amended further. Lenders have said it could take several more days

before a proper list was ready. Greek and other euro zone officials from the Euro Working Group are due to discuss the reforms at 1500 GMT on April 1, a Brussels source said. A Greek finance ministry official said the list included a lowered target of 1.5 billion euros ($1.6 billion) in proceeds from asset sales this year and a proposal to set up a bad bank with bailout funds returned to the euro zone in February.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

World News 51

Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Bangladeshi blogger killed during knife attack

blogger has been hacked to death in the Bangladeshi capital, Dhaka, a month after a prominent atheist writer was killed in a similar attack. Washiqur Rahman was attacked close to his home in Dhaka's Begunbari area, a police official told a news agency. Two students at an Islamic seminary have reportedly been arrested. Last month, Avijit Roy, a US-based writer who had criticised religious intolerance, was killed in a machete attack while he was visiting Dhaka. His death sparked fresh concerns for freedom of speech in Bangladesh, where several secular-minded writers have been targeted by militants. Rahman was killed on a busy street in Dhaka. Two of the suspected attackers, armed with meat cleavers, were caught near the scene. The suspects told police they had targeted Rahman because of his anti-Islamic writing, a police official told the Associated Press news agency. Rahman blogged under a pen-name, Kucchit Hasher Channa, or Ugly Duckling. Ac-

cording to the Dhaka Tribune newspaper, he had criticised irrational religious beliefs. Imran Sarker, the head of a network of activists and bloggers in Bangladesh, told AFP news agency that Rahman was "a progressive free thinker". Asif Mohiuddin, a Bangladeshi blogger who survived an attack in 2013, said he had often talked to Rahman about

"criticising fundamentalist groups". "I liked him for his satire, his sense of humour. He was a wonderful blogger and I'm very... upset right now," he said. Last month's attack on Mr Roy prompted massive protests from students and social activists, who accused the authorities of failing to protect

critics of religious bigotry. A man accused of threatening to kill Mr Roy on social media was arrested in that case. Farabi Shafiur Rahman, described as a "fundamentalist blogger", was said by police to be linked to Islamist group Hizb ut-Tahrir, which is banned in Bangladesh. Roy's wife was also badly injured in the attack.

Two of the three suspected attackers were arrested minutes after the killing

One dead after car rams NSA security gate

ne man has been killed and another was seriously wounded after a shooting at a gate to the US National Security Agency headquarters near Washington. NSA officers fired on a vehicle that refused to follow commands and charged a police vehicle blocking the road. An unnamed official told the Associated Press that the men inside the car were dressed as women. One of the car's occupants died on the scene, while the other was injured and taken to a local hospital. The incident began shortly after 9:00 local time (14:00 GMT) when at least two people attempted to drive the vehicle into the National Security Agency section of the Fort Meade facility. The NSA, in a rare public statement, said that the driver refused to obey an NSA police officer's commands to exit the secure area. The vehicle charged toward the NSA vehicle, which it smashed into as police fired on it, the statement said. Helicopter footage of the

scene recorded shortly after the incident showed two cars - one a police vehicle and the other a black vehicle with no insignia - with extensive damage in a junction that had been roped off near the

security gates leading to the NSA. The cars appeared to have collided and debris was strewn across the intersection. A white cloth appeared to cover something beside

the black vehicle. The FBI has taken the lead on the investigation. "We do not believe it is related to terrorism," FBI Baltimore spokeswoman Amy Thoreson told the BBC.

France, Britain sign deal for joint naval drones

urface and underwater naval drones for combating mines are to be developed by a European industrial consortium by 2019. France's Ministry of Defense said the joint Maritime Mine Counter Measures contract from France and Britain was issued to Thales, teamed with BAE Systems, and the ESA Group, through the European Union's Organization for Joint Armament Cooperation. "The MMCM project against naval mines is an important part in shaping the future of defense systems for the benefit of the French and British navies," said Laurent ColletBillon, head of France's Delegate General for Armaments. "It reflects the desire for innovation of both our countries to keep one step ahead in the technological, industrial and operational areas of the underwater warfare sector." Added British Defence Minister for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology Philip Dunne: "The development of naval UAV systems is a new and exciting area in the United Kingdom and France. Working together on the basis of a common vision for underwater unmanned aerial systems, we will be able to determine the benefits that the development of those capabilities could bring in the military, financial, technological and skill fields."

Plane crash: â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Lubitz had treatment for suicidal tendencies'

he co-pilot of the crashed Germanwings plane, Andreas Lubitz, had received treatment for suicidal tendencies before getting his pilot licence, investigators say, but not recently. Lubitz, 27, is suspected of deliberately crashing the plane in the Alps, killing all 150 people on board. Officials in Duesseldorf said the investigation to this point had revealed no clue to any motive. So far, DNA strands of 80 of the victims have been found. Duesseldorf public prosecutor Christoph Kumpa said that "several years" before Lubitz became a pilot he "had at that time been in treatment of a psychotherapist because of what is documented as being suicidal". But he added: "In the following period, and until recently, further doctor's visits took place, resulting in sick notes

without any suicidal tendencies lems with his vision, possibly a or aggression against others be- detached retina. But Mr Kumpa said there was ing recorded." No specific dates were given. Lubitz enrolled in training with Lufthansa in 2008 and became a pilot in 2013. He was diagnosed he death toll caused by with a serious depressive epiflash floods in northern sode in 2009 and received treatChile last week has risen ment for a year and a half, media to 17 and at least 20 people are reports said. still missing, government offiKumpa added: "There still cials said. is no evidence that the co-pilot Heavy rain, beginning Tuessaid beforehand that he would day , in northern Chile's Andes do what we have to assume was Mountains sent water pouring done and we haven't found a letinto valleys below, flooding the ter or anything like that that Copiapo River's banks in the contains a confession." Atacama and Antofagasta reKumpa said: "We have not gions. found anything in his surroundChile's National Emergency ing [environment] - be it perOffice Director Ricardo Toro sonal or his family or his protold The Wall Street Journal fessional surrounding - that is some 26,000 people were affected giving us any hints that enable by the flooding. us to say anything about his moSeventy-two percent of resitivation." dences in the Atacama region There had been some media were without electricity and reports that Lubitz had prob-

no documentation on any eyesight problems that were caused by an "organic illness".

Chilean flood: Death toll rises to 17

the area is under an overnight curfew. Multiple schools have also been closed. Meanwhile, in Antofagasta, some highways are closed due to mudslides. In some areas, like the desert town of Chanaral, entire neighbourhoods have been covered in mud. Several mines are located in the hardest-hit areas, including the one where 33 miners were trapped underground for 69 days in 2010. Emergency workers this week rescued 13 miners who had been cut off from their village for five days in Tierra Amarilla. "We as a country will have to put a lot of effort in to get out of this situation," said Interior Minister Rodrigo Penailillo.

North

Tuesday, March 31, 2015

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Military foils Boko Haram attack in Gombe DANJUMA WILLIAMS GOMBE

Military clamp down on fleeing Boko Haram members in Gombe State when they were engaged in a gun battle for about an hour at a military check point in Dukku, yesterday.

Soldiers kill six insurgents, impound five vehicles in Bauchi EZEKIEL TITUS BAUCHI

bout six insurgents were killed in a gun duel between army and the Civilian Joint Task Force, CJTF, when insurgents storm Tafawa-Balewa Local Government Area of Bauchi State. Five Hilux vehicles belonging to the insurgents were also impounded with one civilian killed, while two were injured in the process Eye-witness said angry youths set corpses of the suspected insurgents as

well as three of their vehicles ablaze after chasing them into a bush. It was gathered that the suspected insurgents operated with 17 vehicles with several others using motorcycles. Youth leader of Za’ar Cultural Association, Yusuf Maigani, said the insurgents came through Bununu and resisted the army while shooting sporadically to scare residents. Report stated that the suspected insurgents had set ablaze a police station in Bununu earlier, before proceeding to Tafawa-

Balewa, just as residents deserted their homes in several villages in the area. Worried by this development, Defence Headquarters said it had to mobilise a fighter jet to hover so as to dislodge the insurgents. Bauchi State Police Command spokesman, DSP Mohammed Haruna, confirmed the attack, saying the hoodlums stormed Tafawa-Balewa in a convoy of 18 vehicles and started shooting sporadically. Haruna added that security and vigilante

groups engaged the hoodlums in fierce battle and the insurgents abandoned four Hilux vehicles with anti-aircraft machine guns and retreated to Bununu after suffering heavy casualties. According to Haruna, four corpses of the attackers were burnt by angry youths, adding that the hoodlums had killed three vigilante men in Gital village. The police spokesman said corpses of the victims had since been conveyed to ATBU morgue, and urge residents to remain calm.

Kwara PDP Reps candidate rejects result WOLE ADEDEJI ILORIN

ouse of Representatives candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for Ilorin West/Asa Federal Constituency, Mr. Sheriff Shagaya, has rejected result of the election held last Saturday.

A statement from Shagaya on Monday said the election result would not go unchallenged, adding that it would be challenged in court. He said: “As we receive and assess copies of the official result sheets and review the general conduct of the

election in Ilorin West/ Asa federal constituency, several infractions have been observed. We believe these infractions have substantially affected the outcome of the election. “These infractions, in the interest of our democracy, posterity and rule of law, must never go un-

challenged. It is against this background that we would be challenging the outcome of the election in our constituency in the law court. “Having said this, we urge our supporters to remain calm, peaceful and orderly and to avoid any provocations from any quarters.

Robbers cart away LGs staff salaries in Taraba JUSTIN TYOPUUSU JALINGO

here was pandemonium in Takum Local Government Area of Taraba State in the early hours of yesterday when armed robbers attacked and carted away money meant for workers’ salaries in the council.

Following sporadic gunshots, pandemonium ensued as residents scampered for safety. There have been tension in Takum town in recent times between supporters of different political parties, and residents mistook the shootings for outbreak of violence, leading to the pandemonium.

An eyewitness, Musa Danjuma, told National Mirror that sporadic gunshots rent the air as the robbers opened fire on some staff of the council on their way to the secretariat after withdrawing money from a bank in the town. He added that the driver of the vehicle was shot and killed instantly and the

robbers carted away the money meant for payment of council staff salaries. Danjuma said staffs of the local government were already waiting at the secretariat to receive their salaries, as they always collect their salaries in cash at the council secretariat to check ghost workers.

igerian Army in Gombe yesterday foiled what would have been a major attack by fleeing members of Boko Haram, when they engaged the insurgents in gun battle for about an hour at a military checkpoint in Dukku in the early hours of yesterday. The insurgents on Saturday attacked villages in Dukku and Nafada Local Government Area and disrupted election processes, killing no fewer than 20 persons, including INEC ad-hoc staff, policemen and civilians. Parading one of the captured insurgents and three corpses of his colleagues at the 301 Artillery regiment of the Nigerian Army on Monday, spokesperson for the regiment, who insisted his name must not be mentioned, said the military succeeded in killing three of the insurgents and captured one alive after a gun duel at Dukku Local Government Area of Gombe State. Other items recovered from the insurgents include a Hilux van, a smart card reader machine belonging to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, three

boxes of assorted ammunition, one FM rifle and a pair of police uniform, among many other items. He said: “The success was recorded in the early hours of Monday, (00:30 GMT) when the gunmen attempted to attack a military checkpoint at Dukku, but our men overpowered them.” He urged the general public to remain calm as the military was ready to protect lives and properties of residents in all parts of the state. “We thank the general public for cooperating with us. If we continue to get useful information from the public, we will wipe out any person or group that tries to breach the peace of Gombe and Nigeria at large,” the spokesman said. It would be recalled that unknown gunmen had attacked three polling stations in Dukku and Nafada Local Government Area of Gombe State, killing two INEC ad-hoc staff and destroying some election materials in the process. Meanwhile, there is relative peace in Gombe as people are going about their normal activities, but commercial activities are yet to pick up as markets and shops remain closed.

FRSC commends FCT road users over zero accident

ector Commander, Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, FCT Command, Mrs Susan Ajenge, has commended road users in the territory for maintaining safety during the Presidential and National Assembly elections. Ajenge also lauded them for their conduct after the restriction of movement order imposed for the polls. She made the commendation on Monday during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Abuja. According to her, the FCT road users cooperated with the commission during and after the elections as there were no arrests or accidents during the period. “Throughout the election period, no single case of accident was recorded

in the FCT, even after the restriction of movement between 8am and 5pm on that day. “Also, no single arrest was made during the period as there was no reported case of traffic violation in the territory. “I think this is commendable. I score FCT road users 90 per cent in the way and manner they conducted themselves during and after the election,” the sector commander said. It would be recalled that the FRSC alongside other security agencies were on ground at many polling units and other strategic places to ensure peaceful conduct of the elections. The corps deployed over 20, 000 personnel nationwide, out which 3,510 covered the elections.

Tuesday, March 31, 2015

I think we really would have fine-tuned our strategies by the time the AFCON 2017 qualifiers begin –Burkina Faso captain, Charles Kabore

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sport

‘Why Real Madrid wants Pogba’ 54

Confed Cup:

Wolves may go Dolphins way

igeria’s Warri Wolves are in danger of missing their trip to Ethiopia ahead of their CAF Confederation Cup match against Dedebit FC this weekend. Recall that earlier this month Dolphins of Port Harcourt were thrown out of the same competition by CAF for failing to arrive on time in Tunis for their match against Club Africain of Tunisia It has been gathered that Wolves could miss the trip to Addis Ababa as their financier, the Delta State Government is yet to release funds meant for the trip to the East African nation. Sources at the club disclosed to supersport.com that the management of Wolves had submitted its budget for the trip to honour the second leg, first round clash with Dedebit FC earlier this month, but had received no words on the matter with less than five days to the date of the match. “The budget for the trip to Addis Ababa was submitted immediately after the first leg against the Ethiopian club. But up till today, there has been no response on whether the funds will be made available or not. Now we have just a few days to make travelling plans,” said one of the sources at the club yesterday. Wolves officials are worried that they could be faced with hiccups in planning their trip since they are yet to make arrangement for their team’s flight to Ethiopia.

Goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi of Warri Wolves

AAG qualifiers:

NFF summons Siasia, Okon

hairman of the NFF Technical and Development Committee, Chief Felix Anyansi-Agwu, is expected to meet with Head Coaches of the U-23 National Team and the Super Falcons as regards crucial qualifying matches for the 11th All Africa Games (AAG) football tournaments. Falcons drew 1-1 with their Malian counterparts in the first

leg of their only qualifying fixture in Bamako on March 21 and wait to host their opponents in Abuja on April 5. Siasia’s Dream Team, however faltered at home, holding Zambia’s U-23 side to a 0-0 at the National Stadium, Abuja on March 22, and will travel next week for the return leg at the Levy Nwanawasa Stadium in Ndola on April 11.

“I have been mandated by the Executive Committee to meet with the Head Coaches of both teams and find out what they will need to ensure qualification. The NFF President is categorical that both teams’ qualification is non-negotiable. “We will sit down and deliberate seriously on what must be done, what must be addressed. We cannot afford not to qualify

for the All Africa Games,” Anyansi-Agwu said in Abuja. The Enyimba Chairman knows how painful it could be for the teams in question to miss out on the AAG. He is a ranking member of the NFF Executive Committee, meaning he was there when the two teams failed to make it to the 10th All Africa Games in Mozambique in 2011. That year, Falcons coached by

Eucharia Uche lost to Ghana’s Black Queens while the U-23 team handled by Austin Eguavoen was ejected on the away goal rule by Ghana’s Black Meteors, losing 0-2 in Kumasi after winning the first leg 3-1 in Benin City. Falcons just resumed camping after a four-day break to enable them participate in the March 28 elections.

Sports

Tuesday, March 31, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

‘Why Real Madrid wants

Pogba’

Pogba

rench legend, Zinedine Zidane, says it is logical that Real Madrid is interested in Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba. Pogba, who is contracted to Juve until June 2019, has been persistently linked with a number of Europe’s top clubs over the past few months, including Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea. “When we are talking about a player like Pogba, it is only logical that Real is top on the list of interested clubs,” Zidane said yesterday. “Paul is a player with immense potential, who still has an important margin for improvement. “He is still young and has an exciting future ahead of him. I don’t know where he will play next season abut I think you may have to ask him, as he can best provide the best answer.” The 22-year-old Pogba has netted seven goals in 22 Serie A appearances this season. He has also established himself at the Old Lady since his arrival as a free agent from Manchester United in 2012.

Mata eyes Spain return M

Mata Mata

anchester United midfielder, Juan Mata, feels he is at the peak of his career, even as he reiterates his desire to earn a recall to the Spanish national team. The 26-year-old, who struck twice in United’s 2-1 win at Liverpool before the FIFA international break, was overlooked for La Roja’s clashes with Ukraine and Netherlands. The Iberians ran out 1-0 winners over Mykhaylo Fomenko’s charges in a Euro 2016 Championship qualifier on Friday. “I have been asked by many people these days about the Spanish national team,” Mata said yesterday. “As I always say, I have been very lucky to play and to win a World Cup and a European Championship; to participate in the most important competitions. “I am convinced that I’m a perfect age in my football career and I look forward to keep contributing and achieving more success with my national team. “That’s what I work for every day, training and playing to the maximum, trying to do the best I can. After that, obviously, the manager is the one who picks the players for every game.” Mata has netted 10 goals in 34 outings for Spain.

Chicharito in Madrid’s ‘frustration’

Chicharito C Chi cha ha arit itto

eal Madrid loanee, Javier Hernandez, admits his confidence is suffering as he struggles for gametime at the Spanish Liga club. The striker, who scored in Mexico’s 1-0 win over Ecuador on the weekend, has made just one La Liga start for Madrid this season since his arrival on loan from Manchester United, scoring three goals in 13 League appearances in total. “My situation is frustrating after I participate in training but play few matches,” he said yesterday. “Sometimes my confidence is right down on the ground, even though I am trying for it to be up there, with the help of the people who are always at my side and who support me. “Whenever they have entrusted me to do something it comes out positively, but I’ve been through two rather frustrating years. “There need to be people who believe in me, so I can at least prove if I am any good or not.”

Sports

Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Friendlies:

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Eagles’ outings displease

Ekpo

Super Eagles’ forward Aaron Samuel (in white shirt) with a South African player during their friendly game in Nelspruit on Sunday

MERCY JACOB

ormer Super Eagles midfielder, Friday Ekpo, has expressed disappointment over the team’s performance in the last two friendly games against Uganda and South Africa. Nigeria lost 1-0 at home to Uganda on Wednesday before proceeding to South Africa where the Eagles were held 1-1 by the Bafana Bafana on Sunday. Ekpo told National Mirror in Lagos yesterday that the national team had proved so uninspiring, wondering how the 2013 African champions had plummeted in stature. “Poor attitude has taken over the team and I think it says a lot on why the Eagles have deteriorated in performance,” Ekpo said. “This is not the kind of Eagles I played for I cannot imagine Nigeria falling to the Cranes of Uganda at home or even managing to escape defeat to South Africa,” he added. “I am not saying all matches must be won but the attitude put into every game must be positive and seen to be positive. “A team can play well in a match and still lose. That would not be a problem. But I didn’t see any individual or collective brilliance in both matches that the Eagles played. “Whether a match is friendly or competitive, a country’s pride is at stake. As far as I am concerned, the Eagles fell short in both games.” Asked to proffer solution on the way forward, Ekpo said: “There is no alternative at this point than to give urgent attention to the domestic football whereby players would be taught the need to approach matches of that nature with utmost seriousness.”

Tennis: Yusuf wins Awolowo tourney

unle Yusuf has won the Men’s Singles title of the Awolowo 2015 Tennis Tournament decided at the tennis courts of the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Ibadan. Yusuf, who is the tournament’s number one seed, defeated hard fighting Yemi Asaleye 6-2, 7-5 to claim the star prize. The competition was organised by the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium Tennis Club (OASTC), as part of the activities to mark the 28th posthumous birthday anniversary of the sage and foremost nationalist, Chief Obafemi Awolowo. Executive Secretary of the Obafemi Awolowo Foundation, Dr. Tokunbo Awolowo-Dosumu, who was represented by the Manager, Sales, African Newspapers of Nigeria Plc, Dr. (Mrs) Tayo Lewis, commended OASTC for the initiative aimed at immortalising the late Awolowo. “We have to engage the teeming youths to be involved in sporting activities so as to curb unemployment and also stop restless youths from engaging in all forms of social vices,”

B’ball: Youths hit Ogbuche Camp JOEL AJAYI ABUJA

Awolowo Dosunmu

Awolowo-Dosunmu said. Zonal Coordinator, National Sports Commission (NSC) Zone One South West, Dr. Steve Olarinoye, also commended OASTC for organising the tournament barely two months after its official launch. “I commend all the participants and those who did not

win for exhibiting the spirit of sportsmanship,” Olarinoye remarked. Chairman of the Osun State Football Association, Chief Taiwo Ogunjobi and Chairman of the Oyo State Football Association, Mr. James Odeniran , were among dignitaries at the occasion.

bout 200 young basketball players across Nigeria will converge n Abuja from May 18 to 22 for the 9th Samuel Oguche Youth Basketball Camp. The annual event is one of the foundation’s initiatives used to empower the youth ahead of a brighter future. A summer basketball camp for youths which has been on since 2007 will once come alive in Abuja to stimulate youths’ interest in actively taking up sports, particularly basketball for recreation and profession instead of crime. Founder and organiser of the five-day camp, Samuel Oguche, told National Mirror that arrangements had been made for a hitch-free camp. “This year’s camp will feature exposure to the rudiments of basketball and basketball drilling to be handled by experienced and national team coaches with world class training fa-

cilities,” Oguche said. . “There will also be motivational speeches by successful individuals and sports icons as well as career talk and mentoring on having successful sporting and non-sporting careers,” the ex-international added. Oguche also disclosed that resource persons like USA-based Greg Brown and UK-based Lanre Awolabi would be added to the local coaches like Odeka Odaudu to guide the participants.

NBBF boss, Umar

WORLD RECORD

Most siblings to reach the age of 100

N150

Vol. 05 No. 1080 Tuesday, March 31, 2015

The most siblings to reach the age of 100 is five and was achieved by the Clarke siblings: Joseph, Charles, Patrick and James Clarke and their sister Margaret Fanning

Insanity of a nation’s electoral system

everal painful lessons were evident from the just concluded presidential election, which are emblematic of the insanity of our electoral system. These lessons could have been avoided. By insanity I mean doing the same thing the same way and expecting a different result. Where in the world did we come up with the bifurcated electoral system of accreditation followed by actual voting that we have been practicing? If we were willing to introduce the smart card reader (SCR) to authenticate permanent voter’s card (PVC), why could we not just go straight through to electronic voting, especially after the intervention of the National Assembly? Also, as a compromise, after the

Guest Columnist

Alex O. Akpodiete Atawa

SCR authenticates a prospective voter, why can’t that person go ahead and manually vote? Why the waste of human capital and productivity by making people wait till the end of accreditation, or make them come back later to vote? This procedure is permeated with other problems. We are a nation that procrastinates and we sometimes use a fire brigade approach in things we do. As soon as the 2011 elections were concluded, INEC should have started planning for the 2015 general elections. Of course, they conducted the Ondo, Edo, Anambra, Ekiti and Osun elections subsequent to the 2011 general elections. These should have given the Commission opportunities to test any “new” technology intended to be deployed in 2015. We all admit that the issue of the PVC and SCR was only introduced within the last few months. Is it that INEC could not plan ahead of time? The postponement to April 11 of elections in the 11 federal constituencies in Jigawa State and those of Ethiope East/ West because of mix up of voter’s registers could have been avoided. All these proved that it would have been a disaster had the elections been conducted on February 14, 2015. INEC was being disingenuous when it claimed it was ready. The elections that held last Saturday are a further evidence of the insanity of the system because from the beginning, there were concerns about the SCR. President Goodluck Jonathan went to his Ward 11, Unit 39 in Otuoke, Bayelsa State with his wife Dame Patience for accreditation. The

WHERE IN THE WORLD DID WE COME UP WITH THE BIFURCATED ELECTORAL SYSTEM OF ACCREDITATION FOLLOWED BY ACTUAL VOTING THAT WE HAVE BEEN PRACTICING?

SCR did not recognize his fingerprint, even after four different machines were used. Eventually, he was manually accredited. On the other hand, the presidential candidate of All Progressives Congress, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari had hitch free accreditation with the card reader. What the President did was to sympathize with INEC even though he was the actual victim. Concerning the card reader, there should be an investigation into the procurement. It appears to have been manufactured by obscure Chinese companies (I will stand to be corrected). We all know the functionality of ‘china phones’ and other below the standard technological items dumped in the Nigerian market, thus circumventing prescription of the Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON). Worse is that INEC waited till in the middle of the day, when some voters had gone home, to issue a new directive allowing manual accreditation of voters. The commission had been warned about the failure rate of the card readers but refused to listen to reason. Instead, it appears as

though they were singing to the tune of the opposition, who believes that anything the ruling party suggests must be opposed. I repeat that the card reader should have been tested years earlier. There were many instances of INEC ad hoc staff not showing up at all, or coming to the polling units several hours later. We praise the Nigerian voters who exercised patience and waited in the scorching sun for accreditation and then subsequent voting. Another problem was the ignorance or lack of training of some INEC Staff. In at least two polling units I witnessed, the staff did not realize that the readers were malfunctioning because there were protective films covering the.. It took the intervention of some people to prevent breakdown of law and order, before the “error” was discovered. The accreditation of under-aged voters in parts of the North, specifically Taraba State, is a national shame. Why were the culprits not arrested as they were in clear view of everyone? Other desperate acts included the possession of arms by some political thugs and snatching of ballot boxes. These acts reconfirm why we needed the military outside the polling stations. Those who were opposed to the use of the military are the ones that their supporters were arrested for one electoral crime or the other. Why would state collating officers go to International Conference Centre, Abuja to announce the results from their respective states, when INEC has a mechanism for them to send the results ahead via some predetermined channels? As the election results trickle in, we pray that Nigerians will remain calm and accept the results in good faith so that we can move forward as a nation. No matter who wins or loses, we are all proud to be resilient Nigerians. Rev. Atawa, a public affairs analyst, wrote from Asaba, Delta State via Profatawa@gmail.com.

Sport Extra

ote d’Ivoire captain, Yaya Toure, yesterday revealed that he might consider retiring from international duty sooner than later. “I think now my target is done,” the 31-year-old Manchester City mid-

Toure hints at international retirement fielder said ahead of the Elephants’ friendly with Equatorial Guinea in Abidjan, which ended one goal apiece. “I want to wait for a few days for what I will decide

for my future,” Toure added. “The time for the youngsters will come soon and we need to let them go on alone.” The younger of the

Toure brothers, whose older brother, Kolo, also retired from the Ivorien team last month, earned more than 100 caps with the Elephants since making his international debut

in 2004, appearing in six Africa Cup of Nations finals and three FIFA World Cups, in addition to leading Cote d’Ivoire to continental glory in Equatorial Guinea last month.

Toure

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