Ffriday, July 10, 2015 by GLOBAL MEDIA MIRROR LIMITED

Buhari rejects proposal to buy N400m armoured cars

US to ban corrupt government officials ...Buhari allows open-ended wish list - Envoy

P.2

Obama

Vol. 5 N0. 1153

Friday, July 10, 2015

Insurgency: Military maintains essential checkpoints P.5

P.6

Dasuki

National Mirror Online

N150

@NationalMirror

N1.3bn fraud:

ABDULGAFAR OLADIMEJI

Ex-gov Lamido, sons in prison custody

Federal High Court in Kano State, yesterday ruled that former governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido and two of his sons should be remanded in prison till September. The former governor and his sons were docked by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on a 28-count charge. The anti-graft agency

Ohakim granted N270m bail

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2>>

11 feared dead, 8 injured in Ondo auto crash P4 P.4

P.11

21, OLOWU STREET, IKEJA, LAGOS www.medviewairline.com 01-4540927/8

President Muhammadu Buhari (middle), National Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun (4th left), Deputy National Chairman North, Senator Lawal Shuaibu, National Secretary, Hon Mai Mala Buni, National Vice Chair South-East, Hon Emman Eneukwu, National Organizing Secretary, Senator Osita Izunaso and others during the breaking of Ramadan fast with members of APC National Working Committee at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Wednesday.

FLIGHT SCHEDULE WITH EFFECT FROM JUNE 29, 2015

Court sacks 22 Rivers council chairmen

MONDAYS TO FRIDAYS DESTINATION ABUJA TO LAGOS

FLT NO

DEP

ARR

LAGOS TO ENUGU

VL2116

0730

0840

B737

STOPS

A/C

LAGOS TO PHC

VL2110

1130

1240

B737

LAGOS TO YOLA

VL2102

0850

1200

B737

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1230

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ENUGU TO LAGOS

VL2117

1420

1530

B737

LAGOS TO PHC

VL2110

1130

1240

B737

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VL2108

1030

1145

B737

LAGOS TO YOLA

VL2102

0850

1200

B737

VL2102

1200

1315

B737

VL2118

1430

1545

B737

VL2106

1630

1745

B737

VL0203

0715

B737

VL2101

0900

1015

B737

VL2105

1400

1515

B737

PHC TO LAGOS

VL2111

1320

1430

B737

VL2103

1500

1615

B737

YOLA TO ABUJA

VL2103

1300

1410

B737

PHC TO LAGOS

VL2111

1320

1430

B737

VL2119

1630

1745

B737

YOLA TO LAGOS

VL2103

1300

1615

B737

YOLA TO ABUJA

VL2103

1300

1410

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VL2107

1830

1945

B737

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VL2103

1300

1615

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ABUJA TO YOLA

VL2102

1050

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1000

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1940

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ENUGU TO LAGOS

VL2117

0930

1040

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LAGOS TO ABUJA

VL2100

0700

0815

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VL2102

LAGOS TO ACCRA

LAGOS TO ENUGU

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1005

B737

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FLT NO

DEP

ARR

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ABUJA TO LAGOS

VL2101

1000

1115

B737

SUNDAYS

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1400

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DESTINATION

VL2103

1500

1615

B737

ABUJA TO YOLA

VL2102

1050

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ABUJA TO LAGOS

ACCRA TO LAGOS

VL0204

0800

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1200

1315

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ENUGU TO LAGOS

VL2117

1420

1530

B737

VL2118

1430

1545

B737

LAGOS TO ABUJA

VL2100

0800

0915

B737

VL2106

1630

1745

B737

VL2102

0850

1005

B737

VL0203

0715

B737

VL2104

1200

1315

B737

VL0205

1700

B737

VL0203

0715

B737

LAGOS TO ACCRA

ABUJA TO YOLA ACCRA TO LAGOS

VL0205

1700

B737

FLT NO

DEP

ARR

STOPS

A/C

LAGOS TO ENUGU

VL2116

1230

1340

B737

VL2109

1230

1345

B737

LAGOS TO PHC

VL2110

1130

1240

B737

VL2119

1630

1745

B737

LAGOS TO YOLA

VL2102

1200

1505

B737

VL2103

1730

1845

B737

PHC TO LAGOS

VL2111

1320

1430

B737

VL2107

1830

1945

B737

YOLA TO ABUJA

1355

1505

B737

1545

1655

B737

VL2102

VL2103

YOLA TO LAGOS

VL2103

1545

1845

B737

VL0204

0800

1000

B737

VL0206

1740

1940

B737

Updated June 12, 2015

News

Friday, July 10, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

N1.3bn fraud: Court remands Lamido, sons in prison custody CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

alleged that Lamido and his sons, Aminu and Mustapha connived and stole N1.351bn from Jigawa State government treasury. EFCC, through its lead prosecutor, Mr. Chile Okoroma also arraigned one Wada Abubakar alongside the trio for obtaining and concealing government funds through an illicit method. Okoroma stated that Lamido is the owner of Bamaina Nigeria Limited and Spit Nigeria Limited, noting that, in connivance with his two sons at various dates and years, as gov-

ernor, he used his office to obtain and laundered N1.3bn in three new generation banks located within Kano metropolis. He further disclosed that some of the monies were subtle bribes paid into the account of Bamaina and Spit, by companies awarded contracts by the Jigawa State government. According to the prosecution, the former governor was the sole signatory to the bank accounts operated by the firms through which the monies were laundered, adding that the act was in violation of public service rules as con-

tained in the fifth schedule of the 1999 constitution as amended and the EFCC Act 2011 as amended. The accused persons, however, denied the 28 count allegations. EFCC urged the court to adjourn the matter to a future date for trial. It further requested that the accused be remanded in prison custody. Counsel to the accused, Offiong Offiong approach the court with a plea for bail request, which was vehemently objected to by EFCC. Okoroma said EFCC was only served with the mo-

tion for bail dated 8th July on Wednesday by 5pm, arguing that the prosecution deserves to be accorded reasonable time to respond to the motion accordingly. Offiong, thereafter, prayed the court to order that the accused be remanded in the custody of EFCC. This was also opposed by the prosecution counsel, who informed that detention facilities within EFCC offices in Kano and Abuja were overstretched and could not play host to the accused. The presiding judge, Justice Evelyn Anyadike,

in her ruling said she was on a fiat mission to Kano, even as she agreed that EFCC deserves to be given enough time to respond to the bail application. She hinted that the court would be proceeding on vacation from 13th July, adding that due to the time constraint, her hands were tied. She ruled that the application for bail be heard by a vacation court slated to sit in Abuja. She admonished the defence counsel to approach the court in respect of the bail application. Justice Anyadike said

Commandant, Nigeria Air Force Detachment, Air Commondore Olatokunbo Adesanya, inspecting a guard of honour of the Air Force Primary School during their passing out parade in Ibadan, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

the accused were now under the custody of the court and in a normal circumstance, they should be remanded in prison custody. She also noted that in cases like this, the court also needed to see whether EFCC can accommodate the accused in its custody or not. The judge said since counsel to the commission had informed the court that, their facilities were overstretched, she had no choice than to commit the former governor, his two sons and Abubakar to prison. Lamido, dressed in a white flowing gown and black slippers under the guard of EFCC agents, arrived the court with two his sons and the fourth accused at about 8:47a.m. They were conveyed to Kano central prison in a white Hiace bus with Registration No PS 548 AO1, owned by the Nigeria Prisons Service, NPS, under heavy security. In a similar case, former governor of Imo State, Ikedi Ohakim was yesterday granted bail in the sum of N270m by a Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja. Ohakim was dragged to court by EFCC on 3-count charge, bordering on money laundering, abuse of office and misappropriation of public funds. The former governor was accused of allegedly making a cash payment of $2.9m (N270m) for the CONTINUED ON PAGE 5>>

US to ban corrupt government officials GEORGE OJI ABUJA

s part of measures to support the anti corruption stance of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration, the United States is considering banning government officials indicted of soiling their hands in public tills, from entering its territory. Other ways the U.S. said it would assist the present government in tackling sleaze, also include training, mentoring, advising investigators and prosecutors in the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and other agencies involved in dealing with corruption.

This is in addition to supporting civil societies, journalists, faith-based organisations, labour unions, professional associations and other credible organisations as watch dogs to get involved in solving the problem. The U.S. Deputy Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken, who is on a weeklong visit to Nigeria to help prepare for President Buhari’s visit to Washington on July 20, made these disclosures yesterday at the American Embassy, Abuja during a press briefing. Blinken explained that the partnership the U.S. is forging with Nigeria is based on mutual interests

and mutual respect, as well as grounded in the proposition that, “our relationship is defined not by what the United States can do for Nigeria, but rather what the United States can do with Nigeria.” Fielding questions on the issue of corruption, the envoy said: “We had good discussions yesterday with the President and Vice President and members of the cabinet about the direction and the work the President is beginning to undertake to recover the looted funds. First of all, he is committed to everything he has been saying about corruption. “From what the President said, this is a prior-

ity project for him and we heard that again from him yesterday. How we can help him achieve this is this, it is basically capacity building for training, mentoring, advising investigators, prosecutors in the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and other agencies involved in dealing with corruption. “We can also help in investigations internationally, with assets recovery. Beyond the government, we are supporting the civil societies, journalists and other credible organisations as watch dogs to getting at this problem. If necessary we are ready to deny entry into the U.S. all those who are in-

volved in corruption.” Blinken also disclosed that there was no limitations on President Buhari concerning the wish lists he would like to take to Washington for the meeting with President Obama. “We will want to have these conversations and any ideas that Nigeria has and any requests it makes, we will sit down and talk about it and we will do it,” he added. On the issue of the fight against Boko Haram, Blinken said the United States strongly condemns the recent attacks that have taken hundreds of lives—in some cases within the sanctuaries of churches and mosques.

He said: “Defeating Boko Haram requires a comprehensive approach that involves the region and includes not only a strong military response, but also sustainable security for liberated areas, good governance, development, and opportunity for the civilian population. “It also requires a strong commitment to human rights, the absence of which only alienates the people and drives them toward Boko Haram.” Commenting on specific support of the U.S. to Nigeria in this area, the envoy disclosed that his country has been providing training, CONTINUED ON PAGE 5>>

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Friday, July 10, 2015

Photo News

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Friday, July 10, 2015

Country Director, African Development Bank, Dr. Ousmane Dore (left) and Executive Chairman, African Centre for Shared Development Capacity Building, Prof. Olu Ajakaiye, during the launch of African Economic Outlook 2015 in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

L-R: Representative of Chief Registrar, ECOWAS Court, Mrs. Hajara Onoja; Vice President, ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Toga McIntosh and Director of Strategic Planning, Mr. Essien Abel Essien, during the 10th meeting of the Strategic Planning Coordinating Committee in Lagos, on Wednesday.

L-R: CEO, Connect Marketing, Mr. Tunji Adeyinka; General Manager, Enterprise Marketing, MTN, Mrs. Onyinye Ikenna-Emeka; General Manger, Consumer Marketing, Mr. Richard Iweanoge and Manager, Huawei Technologies, Mr. Richard Tary, during a media briefing on forthcoming TECH+MTN Conference in Lagos, yesterday.

L-R: Government Relations Manager, Procter & Gamble (P&G) Nigeria, Mr. Ikechukwu Ofuani; Director, Special Duties, Federal Ministry of Finance, Mr. Dennis Chukwu; Director of Global Government Relations, P&G, Mrs. Temitope Iluyemi, and Programme Team Leader, Youth Enterprise With Innovation in Nigeria (YouWin), Mr. Yemi Bello, during the P&G G-Win/YouWin Small and Medium Enterprises Development Training in Lagos.

National News

11 feared dead, 8 injured in Ondo auto crash It was also learnt that

OjO Oyewamide AKURE

eight other persons sus-

tained serious injuries.

leven

persons

were

yesterday

evening

feared

dead in an auto crash at Ile-Ife-Ondo road.

and a bus. One of the tyres of the Toyota Camry was said

A police source said

to have busted, causing

the crash was caused

it to collide with a com-

by reckless driving and

mercial bus from the op-

over-speeding by drivers

posite direction.

of a Toyota Camry car

It was gathered that

the two vehicles were completely razed, affecting free-flow of traffic on the busy road for several hours. Eight of the passengers in the bus, including a toddler reportedly sustained serious in-

juries, while 11 others were feared dead. Victims of the accident were said to have been rushed to Trauma Center in Ondo town where

some

them

are still receiving treat-

ment. Some victims, according to eyewitnesses, were burnt beyond recognition. The corpses have been deposited at the morgue of the General Hospital, Ondo.

Boko Haram: Centre urges Nigerians to embrace FG’s security measures

entre for Crisis Communication, CCC, an NGO, has advised Nigerians to embrace the new security measures adopted by Federal Government to tackle Boko Haram’s renewed attacks. It would be recalled that the Federal Government recently placed a ban on street hawking and begging, following Boko Haram’s renewed attacks on places of worship, schools and government institutions. It also directed security agencies to beef up security around these places. Executive Secretary

of the centre, Air Commodore Yusuf Anas (rtd), who gave the advice at an interactive session with newsmen in Abuja, said the measures introduced by the government were steps in the right direction as they were aimed at preventing further attacks. “The best strategy is prevention, since we do not know when the enemy may strike and since we do not know who they are, where they are, our best response therefore is defence. “We must defend whatever we have and where we are in the form of reporting strange

movements of persons and subjects to the nearest security agencies. “The centre has also noted that the new security measures put in place by the police and other security agencies across the country, which includes fortifying security around worship centres, and banning street hawking and begging in some major towns is the right step in the right direction.” Anas, a security expert, said public understanding of the new measures was important in order to be able to win the fight against insurgency in the country.

On the debate for and against the removal of military checkpoints in parts of the country, the expert said the decisions to remove the check points were not taken haphazardly. He said such decisions were often based on carefully generated intelligence and advised members of the public to accept government’s decision in good faith. According to him, the checkpoints have helped to reduce terrorism in parts of the country. “I do not have all information available to determine when, where

and how to put military or police or security checkpoints or remove them. “We believe that government in its wisdom and based on information available decides when to put or remove checkpoint all over the country. “But I want to believe that whenever they are put, they serve some purpose and if government decides to remove them it must be based on certain information that the public may not be aware of,” he added. Anas said CCC would provide the necessary

bridge between the public and the agencies responsible for providing security and emergency response in the country to promote societal harmony. He said the centre would engage in research and capacity building in the area of crisis management and peace building in the country. The expert said the centre would assist government in mobilising Nigerians on the need to remain security conscious and alert in an era of increasing acts of terror.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

News

Friday, July 10, 2015

Nigerians in Diaspora remit N10.35trn in four years, says NIDO

igerians in Diaspora Organisation, NIDO, yesterday said its members remitted about $63.17bn (N10.35trn) into the country between 2011 and June 2014. Chairman, Board of Trustee of NIDO, Dr George Manuwuike, stated this in Abuja during a news conference on the Diaspora Day 2015 scheduled to hold from July 23 to July 27 in Abuja. Manuwuike said the Diaspora remittance was second only to oil and gas revenue as the highest foreign exchange injection to the Nigerian economy. “As the umbrella organisation of Diaspora Nigerians, we are proud to associate with the phenomenal amount that Nigerians living abroad have been bringing to the national economy. “Recently, the World Bank reported that between 2011 to June 2014, Nigerians in the Diaspora had remitted about $63.17bn (N10.35trn) into the country. “In terms of remittance from her citizens living abroad, Nigeria

was ranked five globally next to China, India, Philippines and Mexico,” he said. The chairman said NIDO, since its inception in 2000 had served as forum for Nigerian Diaspora networking and advocacy. He said it had organised tens of trade and investment conferences that brought together Nigerians and foreign investors for dialogue opportunities for technological, educational, industrial and other forms of investment in Nigeria and others. He said NIDO intended to reverse and convert the “brain-drain” the country had suffered for so long into “brain-gain”. “NIDO plans to ramp up its engagement in Nigeria to ensure that its mission and goals are achieved, and impact of its actions are felt by both government and the Nigerian masses. “It is for this and other purposes that a structure of NIDO has recently been registered here in Abuja as a Non Governmental Organisation.

“We believed that this action will instill confidence in NIDO as a partner with all our citizens and government at all levels,” he said. He said that the organ-

isation wanted to use this year’s Diaspora Day to raise funds for a number of projects that were proposed for the benefit of Nigerian people. According to him, key

among the projects are multi-million naira Diagnostic and Trauma Centre, and Boko Haram Victims Rehabilitation Fund to assist victims of terrorism and minimise the trauma

experienced by survivors. He said this would be done through facilitating access to proper medical and psychological treatment through a Diaspora Liaison Office in Abuja.

Buhari rejects proposal to buy N400m armoured cars ROTIMI FADEYI ABUJA

resident Muhammadu Buhari has rejected a proposal to purchase five new armoured Mercedes S-600 (V222) cars for his use at a cost of about N400m. Buhari was told of the proposal by the Permanent Secretary of the State House, Mr. Nebolisa Emodi at a briefing on Wednesday. Directing that the proposal to procure the cars be

dropped, Buhari said there was no need for them since the ones he inherited from President Jonathan were good enough for him. “I don’t need any new cars. The ones I’m using now are just fine,” a source at the briefing quoted the President as saying. President Buhari welcomed other initiatives presented by the Permanent Secretary to reduce the operating costs of the State House and strengthen its Finance and Accounts Inter-

nal Control Mechanisms. He urged, however, that greater effort be made henceforth to capture all State House expenses within the approved national budget, to avoid the frequent recourse by past administrations to “Presidential intervention funds.” The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu confirmed that in keeping with his commitment to prudence management of national resources, Buhari would continue to

use the cars left behind by Jonathan and has withheld approval for their replacement. State House sources said the proposal to procure the new cars was first made to Jonathan before he left office. The former President directed, however, that it be represented to Buhari for approval on his assumption of office since the cars could only be delivered some months after the May 29 handover date.

Army engineers urged to rid North East of explosive devices

igerian army engineers have been urged to ensure the removal of Improvised Explosive Devices, IEDs, planted by insurgents in the North East. Maj. Gen. Nasiru Muazu, General Officer Commanding, GOC, 2 Division, made the call in Ibadan yesterday. He spoke while declaring open a Conference to Strategise on Ways of Clearing IEDs planted by Boko Haram Insurgents in the North East. It is the second quarter Conference of the Commander Corps of Engineers held at the Tiger Officers’ Mess, Agodi, Ibadan. He stated that the fight against insurgency was ongoing, urging Nigerians to support the armed forces by providing necessary information about the hideouts of the insurgents and their activities. “For us in uniform, ours is to deal with them and bring the war to an end,” he said. Maj. Gen. Sadana Davies,

the Commander, Corps of Engineers, described the fight against Boko Haram as a sappers’ war, considering the preponderance of IEDs, which troops have to contend with. Davies noted that the engineer troops had performed creditably so far, judging from reports and what he saw during his visit. He, however, said that much was still required to be done. “Presently in the North East, there are lots of IEDs. It is our responsibility to see to their removal,” he said Davies said the nation and the army headquarters had provided them with equipment and as such they owed Nigerians real returns on this. “We are doing all we can to see that our soldiers there are able to move, live and fight,” he said. The programme was hosted by the 42 Division Engineers, under the leadership of Brig. Gen. Henry Ayamsaowei.

Suspected criminals paraded by Oyo State Police Command in Ibadan, yesterday.

US to ban corrupt government officials CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

equipment, advice, information and intelligence sharing to the military. According to him, the U.S. only recently, established a $40m fund to global security contingency fund,

as part of its joint efforts with the Lake Chad Basin countries to strengthen cross border security, cooperation and capacity to counter Boko Haram, in addition to contributing about $5m in tithe to the multi-

national joint task force to which, Nigerian is a part of. Blinken disclosed that another critically and important support that America is providing is humanitarian assistance, to which the U.S. has committed

$137m. The money he said would be used in addressing the challenges of Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, by helping in moving them back to their homes and communities.

N1.3bn fraud: Court remands Lamido, sons in prison custody CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

purchase of a property at Plot No. 1098 Cadastral Zone A04, Asokoro District, otherwise known as No 60, Kwame Nkurumah Street, Asokoro, Abuja. Presiding judge, Justice Adeniyi Ademola in granting the former governor bail, said he must produce a surety, who must deposit N270m. In addition, he ruled that

the surety must possess landed property within Abuja, with the deed of such property deposited with the Deputy Chief Registrar, DCR, of the court for verification. The court also ordered the former governor to surrender his international passport to the court, pending the hearing and determination of the charge against him.

One of the charge against the former governor read: “That you, Ikedi Ohakim, on or about the month of November, 2008 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court made a cash payment of $2.9m, which was then an equivalent of about N270m for the purchase of the property known and described as Plot No. 1098, Cadas-

tral Zone A04, Asokoro District, also known as NO. 60 Kwame Nkrumah Street, Asokoro, Abuja, which amount exceeded the amount authorised for an individual by section 1 of the Money Laundering (prohibition) Act, 2004, and thereby committed an offence contrary to the said section and punishable by section 15(1)(d) of the Money Laundering

National News

Friday, July 10, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Insuregncy: Military maintains essential checkpoints –NSA UbOng UkpOng ABUJA

ational Security Adviser, NSA, Colonel Sambo Dasuki (rtd), yesterday said the military was under directive to maintain essential checkpoints in areas prone to Boko Haram attacks, as well as mount checkpoints at other flashpoints on the nation’s highways with the blocking of roads to prevent free flow of traffic. This is contrary to popular belief that the presidency ordered the dismantling of all military checkpoints on Nigerian highways. President Muhammadu Buhari had ordered

the dismantling of military checkpoints on the country’s roads nationwide, except at flashpoints in the North where insurgency is holding sway. Although the directive excited many who saw it as a big relief, some have continued to speak against the action, especially in the face of renewed attacks by Boko Haram after the military complied with the directive. However, Dasuki told PRNigeria after a meeting with top military and security officers in his office in Abuja, yesterday, that President Buhari never ordered a blanket dismantling of checkpoints on the highways.

According to the NSA, military roadblocks in flashpoints would continue to be maintained while those in relatively peaceful areas would be dismantled but soldiers would still be positioned in those areas while not blocking roads. He said it was both conventional and a global practice for governments to increase security mea-

sures whenever insecurity is heightened and appealed to citizens to endure the attendant inconveniences as they are temporary. Dasuki added that the essential security checkpoints in vulnerable areas are necessary inconvenience to ensure criminals and terrorists do not have easy passage. He cited some arrests

made recently, including that of masterminds of bomb attacks in some towns who were nabbed by Nigerian troops at such checkpoints. While condemning indiscriminate proliferation of security checkpoints by unauthorised bodies, he said: “We will continue to ensure that the necessary or essential security checkpoints are not av-

enues for extortion, indiscipline and other forms of corrupt practices that can exacerbate traffic flow and cause road accidents.” The NSA added that government is deploying new sophisticated scanners and detectors in some areas to ease traffics and identify movements of strange objects, concealed weapons and criminal suspects.

PenCom tasks South East states on contributory pensions …lists benefits of scheme for contributors, economy Sylva EmEka-OkErEkE

ational Pension Commission, PenCom, yesterday advised governments in the South East states and other employers to embrace the Contributory Pension Scheme, CPS, to avoid huge pension liabilities they will have to contend with in the long run. The commission also urged Nigerians to enroll for the scheme in view of its far-reaching socio-economic benefits to contributors and the nation’s economy. Disclosing that several states had adopted the scheme, except those in the South East, Director General of the commission, Mrs. Chinelo Anohu-Amazu, said the Pension Reforms Act 2014 would encourage states and local governments to participate in CPS by expressly prescribing coverage of employees of states as well as local governments in addition to public and private sectors. According to her, the scorecard from the region has not been encouraging, urging the zone to quicken the process. Anohu-Amazu who gave the hint during a PENCOMorganised Stakeholders’ Sensitisation Conference on PRA 2014, in Enugu State said “recent developments with regards to inadequate finances affecting most states of the federation are pointer to the urgent need for states

to adopt the CPS. “In our quest to assist states in guided implementation, PenCom established functional offices in the six geo-political zones, including Awka for the South East zone,” she added. According to her, the commission has partnered the organised labour and trade groups to address some issues aimed at ensuring sustainability of the CPS, including the establishment of Pension Protection Fund and Minimum Pension Guarantee. “It is pertinent to note that the Pension Reform Act 2014 re-enacted the fundamental provisions of the repealed PRA 2004, which include inter alia, the establishment of the Contributory Pension Scheme, uniform standards for pension administration and the National Pension Commission as sole regulator and supervisor of pension matters in Nigeria,” Anohu-Amazu explained.

Scene of collapsed commercial building at Sabo, Yaba, in Lagos, yesterday.

We’ve not approved any company to produce speed limiting devices, says FRSC

ederal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, Edo Sector Command, yesterday said it had not approved or endorsed any company for production or sale of the proposed speed limiting devices. The Sector Commander, Mr. Oluwasusi Familoni, said this during presentation of the 2014 certificates of compliance to fleet operators in the state

who participated in Road Traffic Safety Scheme, RTSS. Familoni said this was solely the responsibility of the Standard Organisation of Nigeria, SON. He, however, said enforcement of the devices would commence with commercial vehicles on interstate and intercity routes and assured operators of the corps’ continued support.

The sector-commander speaking on the RTSS, called on fleet operators in the state to comply with the provisions of the scheme so as to reduce auto-crashes on the roads. According to him, RTSS is a road transport regulatory policy which stipulates minimum safety requirements for fleet operators and other road users. He said fleet operators

Niger Delta Ministry fraud: Court gives new date to arraign accused

Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court, Maitama, yesterday, fixed September 16, as new date for arraignment of Mohammed Agabi and four others on allegation of N700 million fraud. News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, reports that Agabi is a

director in the Department of Finance and Accounts of the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs. Others are Akpore Okeoghene, Abibu Ayinla, Idowu Adewale and Ngozi James – 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th defendants working in the same ministry. Justice Husseni Baba, trial judge, said the new

date was due to the absence of some of the accused persons. Mr. Paul Bassi, the prosecution counsel from the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC had told the court that Agabi, and James, 1st and 5th defendants were out of town when ICPC went to serve

them the hearing notice. He, therefore, urged the court to grant the counsel short leave to enable ICPC produce the defendants. Mr. Rotimi Ojo, counsel to the 2nd and 4th accused also urged the judge to grant them a request for the defendants to continue to enjoy the administrative bail granted them by the ICPC.

who complied with the scheme were certified as road safety compliant transport companies. “It has become important for fleet operators to implement the RTSS as it is meant to ensure safety on the roads as well as to reduce to zero level, road crashes and fatalities. “There has been a rise in road crashes involving haulage operators and about 20 tankers and trailers were involved in road crashes around the state in the last two weeks. “The crashes claimed several lives and property and it was to prevent such that the corps introduced the certification exercise,” he said. He said the exercise concentrated on operators’ safety, drivers’ safety and the safety of the vehicle.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Friday, July 10, 2015

NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that the 32nd Annual General Meeting of Acorn Petroleum Plc will be held on Thursday, August 6, 2015 at Nicon Hotel, Road 1, Victoria Garden City, Lekki Expressway, Lagos State, at 11 a.m prompt to transact the following businesses: ORDINARY BUSINESS: 1. To lay before the members, the Audited financial statements for the year ended 31st December, 2014, together with the reports of the Directors, Auditors and the Audit Committee thereon. 2. To re-elect Directors retiring by rotation. 3. To authorize the Directors to fix the remuneration of Auditors. 4. To elect members of the Audit Committee. SPECIAL BUSINESS: 1. To re-elect Professor. Ochapa Onazi, a Director who is over 70 years of age, pursuant to Sections 252 and 256 of the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) (CAP C20) Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (LFN) 2004. 2. To consider and if thought fit pass the following as Special Resolutions: I. “That the Board of Directors be and is hereby authorized to raise additional equity capital via the issuance of up to 1,562,500,000 ordinary shares of 50Kobo each at the price of N 1.44K per share, in the Company’s unissued share capital, by way of a private placement, offered to identified investors, at a date and upon such terms and conditions to be deter mined by the Directors and in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations”. II. “That the Directors be and are hereby authorized to do all such things and exercise all such powers as may be necessary or incidental for achieving the objectives specified in 1 above, including but not limited to appointing relevant professional parties and signing all docu ments and or instruments”. 3. To consider and if thought fit pass the following as Special Resolutions: I. “That the Company’s Articles of Association be and is hereby altered by deleting the existing Article 27 and replacing it with a new Article 27 which reads as follows: “The Directors may from time to time appoint one or more of their body or from any other source to the office of Managing Director and Executive Director for such period and on such terms as they think fit, and subject to the terms of any agreement entered into in any particular case, may revoke such appointment. Any Director so appointed shall not whilst holding that office be subject to retirement by rotation or be taken into account in terminating the rotation of retirement of Directors, but if his appointment is terminated for any reason or cause, he automatically ceases to be a Director. II. “That the Company Secretary be and is hereby authorised to take all steps to give effect to these resolutions by registering same with the Corporate Affairs Commission”. NOTES: A. PROXY A member of the Company, entitled to attend and vote at the Annual General Meeting, is also entitled to appoint a proxy to attend and vote in his/her stead and such proxy need not be a member of the Company. A proxy form is enclosed herewith and for same to be valid, it must be duly stamped pursuant to the Stamp Duties Act (Cap S.8 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (LFN), 2004) and deposited at the Office of the Registrar, Cardinal Stone Registrars Limited, 358, Herbert Macaulay Road, Yaba, Lagos or with the Company Secretary at the Company’s registered office address, Elephant House (5th Floor), 214, Broad Street, Marina, Lagos, not later than 48 hours before the time scheduled for the Meeting. Please note that the lodging of a proxy form does not prevent you from attending the meeting and voting in person should you so wish. However, if you attend the meeting in person, your proxy will not be permitted to attend or vote. B. Closure of Register of Members The Register of Members and Transfer Books of the Company would be closed from 30th July to 5th August, 2015 (both dates inclusive). C. Audit Committee Pursuant to Section 359 (5) of the Companies and Allied Matters Act (Cap C.20) LFN 2004, a nomination in writing by any shareholder for election to the Audit Committee should reach the Company Secretary, at least Twenty-One (21) days before the Annual General Meeting. In line with the Rules and Regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission made pursuant to the Investment and Securities Act (“SEC Rules”) which requires that all members of the Audit Committee shall be financially literate, please include the curriculum vitae of your nominee, detailing his/her relevant financial experience. D. Unclaimed Dividend Warrants Several dividend warrants remain unclaimed. Those affected are advised to write to the Company’s Registrar. DATED THIS 6th DAY OF JULY, 2015 BY ORDER OF THE BOARD ______________________ MRS. MOJISOLA ADEOLA (COMPANY SECRETARY) FRC/2013/NBA/00000004263

South West

Friday, July 10, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

LASU students protest shifts in academic calendar •Authority says action unnecessary TUNBOSUN OGUNDARE

ctivities were paralysed yesterday at the Lagos State University, LASU, Ojo, following protest by students of the institution against what they termed prolonged academic calendar. Aside barring management staff and other workers from entering the campus in the early hours of the day, the students also took to the everbusy Ojo-IyanaIba road and blocked the two sides to prevent free-flow of traffic, a development which made motorists and commuters stranded for hours. It was, however, the intervention of antiriot policemen who shot teargas into the air to disperse the protesters that restored normalcy in and outside the campus. The students led by their president, Adeyemi Onikoro are protesting what they described as the continuous postponement of their first semester examination for the 2014/2015 academic session. It will be recalled that the university had resumed for this ongoing session since January 23 without conducting any exam for students because of the unresolved conflict between its various workers’ unions and the ViceChancellor, Professor John Obafunwa, who the unions called for his sack by the state government.

What led to the yesterday’s protest according to students was as a result of a fresh postponement of their exams by the school authority and inability of the new government in the state despite series of pleas to it to come to their rescue. The union at a media briefing held on Monday at the university’s College of Medicine in Ikeja, had given the Akinwumi Ambode-led administration in the state a 48-hour ultimatum which expired yesterday. However, the students who lamented that they are being unnecessarily delayed on campus vowed to fight on until their wish is granted by the authority. Reacting to the development, the University’s Dean of Students’ Affairs, Professor Kabir Akinyemi, condemned the protest, saying it was not only unnecessary, but uncalled for. He attributed the last cancellation of the exam to the tense atmosphere in the university due to workers-VC face-off, saying the campus was not conducive not only for the institution’s Senate to sit and approve the school’s calendar, but also for any exam. He also claimed that the inability of about 3,000 students who were unable to register for exam due to issue of school fees refund is another major reason for the postponement, seeking for students’ understanding and patience.

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (middle), his deputy, Dr. Oluranti Adebule (4th left) and other Muslim faithful, during the Ramadan Tafsir at Lagos House, Ikeja, on Wednesday.

Perm Secs brief Buhari on state of ministries ROTIMI FADEYI ABUJA

ederal Ministry of Works yesterday said the rehabilitation of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway as well as other roads in the country remain the priority of government. Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works, Dauda Kigbu, made this known while speaking with State House Correspondents in Abuja after briefing President Muhammadu Buhari on activities of the ministry. He explained that the ministry was also working on major roads, including Enugu-Port Harcourt road and Mokwa-Bida road as well as a number of other roads in the country. On the state of the second Niger Bridge, Kigbu said work was on-going on the project which he said was being executed through Public Private Partnership, PPP, arrangement.

Kigbu said he took the President through the activities of the ministry, saying that its mandate mainly covered issues related to roads. According to him, he discussed all the major road projects across the country with the president, stressing that he emphasised the need to seek other windows of funding outside of the national budget, Specifically, Kigbu said the ministry was considering other windows of funding including PPP model as well as various supports like multilateral assistance from agencies such as the World Bank, African Development Bank and similar bodies. The Permanent Secretary stressed that the president said that he would look into suggestions regarding funding of roads. “The president is committed to developing this country and he is passionate about roads because roads are central

to national development. He confirmed that he will look into the suggestion because if you look at the multilateral support, for example, it always have some moratorium period, a reasonable period for repayment and the interest charged is almost one per cent,” Kigbu said. Similarly, the Ministry of Justice led by the Permanent Secretary, Alhaji Abdullahi Yola, also briefed the President on its activities He disclosed that the ministry pledged to continue cooperating with the president to ensure that all the promises he made to Nigerians regarding rule of law are achieved. Yola said he briefed the president on the activities of the ministry since 2011, stressing that the issue of rule of law was one of the cardinal policies of the Buhari’s administration On the issue of recovery of stolen funds, Yola said the ministry would act appropriately by initiating

prosecution whenever it receives concluded investigation by the responsible agencies. “If the ministry receives investigations concluded by the responsible agencies, we will play our part, we will play our part with the prosecution of whoever has been found wanting. At the moment the ministry is not in receipt of any report concerning that,” Yola said. Also yesterday, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Ambassador Abdulkadir Musa, after briefing the president, disclosed to State House Correspondents that the creation of jobs and attraction of more investment to the country were some of the issues discussed at the briefing. According to him, government would put the necessary strategies in place to encourage the growth of businesses and attract foreign investment.

Hoodlums attack newspaper ‘free readers’ in Osun BOLADALE BAMIGBOLA OSOGBO

ome suspected political thugs yesterday laid siege to a newspaper stand in Osogbo, Osun State capital, beating members of “Free Readers Association” and destroying newspapers. Eye-witnesses said many of those who gathered at the newspaper stand located at Old Governor’s Office, at Osog-

bo-Gbongan road, were attacked by about 40 suspected hoodlums at the time they were deep in argument about issues affecting the state. There were insinuations that the thugs were not comfortable with the anti-government argument of the free readers. But others said the crisis at the newsstand was sequel to a misunderstanding among discussants there.

One of the victims of the attack, Fadeyi Solomon Olufemi, while narrating what happened, explained: “About 40 men came to the news stand in four mini buses and four motorcycles and beat newspaper readers mercilessly. “There were arguments among some newspaper readers at the junction. Some argued against Aregbesola and his administration, especially

as relating to the issue of non-payment of workers’ salaries in the state. Others argued in his favour. “We were discussing matters relating to the state of things in Osun State, there was serious argument and it has always been like that because we used to disagree on issues and debate on stories we read in the newspapers.” Commenting on the de-

velopment, the Chairman of Newspapers Distributor Association in Osun State, Alhaji Muhammed Azeez Olaiya, after paying a visit to the scene of the incident, expressed displeasure of the association over the development. Meanwhile, Osun State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists has condemned the attack and called on security agencies to fish out those re-

sponsible. The NUJ in a statement signed by the Secretary, Prince Bamigbola Gbolagunte, said: “Any attempt to take the nation back to the dark military days shall be resisted by all lovers of democracy, including the NUJ. We shall investigate the cause of the ugly development. We stand for peace and promotion of human rights in Osun State and Nigeria in general,” he said.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

South West

Friday, July 10, 2015

Assassins kill Iyaloja of Ijebuland FEMI OYEWESO ABEOKUT

yaloja of Ijebuland, Madam Sadia Elewuju, was yesterday killed at her Ijebu-Ode residence by people suspected to be assassins. Madam Elewuju was allegedly killed about 3am, when the suspects invaded her Itorin-Sabo home and macheted her to death. A source close to the Itorin- abo home of the 80 years old Iyaloja of Ijebuland told National Mirror that Madam Elewuju’s attacker had fired several gunshots at her without success before they resolved to kill her with machete, which eventually

claimed her life. National Mirror further gathered that after her attackers had left; neighbours and some family members immediately rushed her to a nearby private hospital located along Ijebu - Ode - Ore expressway which allegedly rejected her due to the magnitude of the machete cuts. She was said to have later been taken to the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, OOUTH, Sagamu where she reportedly died. While the gruesome murder of the Octogenarian Iyaloja of Ijebuland still remain a misery, source within Ijebu– Ode, however, confided in National Mir-

ror that her death could have some political undertone. Madam Elewuju’s death has however, forced most markets in Ijebuland to close, while other commercial activities were also partially paralysed in Ijebu - Ode in solidarity with her death. The police in the town, particularly detectives from the Igbeba Police Area Command were said have swung into action to unravel the circumstances and motives behind the gruesome murder of the Iyaloja General of Ijebuland. When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, in Ogun State, Muyiwa Adejobi, con-

firmed the incident, adding that the police was still on the trail of the attackers. Adejobi, emphasised that the Police Commissioner newly posted to the state, Abdul-Majid Ali will soon visit the family of the late Iyaloja to commiserate with them and also give the family the assurance that the culprits would soon be brought to book. The PPRO further stated that the command was not unaware of the peculiar nature of crime committals in Ijebu - Ode, stressing that the command would not leave any stone unturned towards ensuring that innocent lives are not allowed to be wasted by the unscrupulous elements in the state.

Access bank bags Best Flow House award

ccess Bank Plc has emerged winner of Best Flow House in Africaaccoladein the Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2015, which held at the Natural History Museum in London on Thursday. It is the first time an African bank would be recognised as winner of the award. Access Bank’s win comes in recognition of the bank’s increasing transaction flows across Africa, particularly its dominance in the Nigerian financial markets. According to Euromoney, the Best Flow House Award is given to honour firms that have demonstrated ability to excel across the region in the key areas of foreign exchange, equities, rates and credit. The winning firm must also have shown commitment to providing liquidity and pricing in all market conditions. Also, such firm will have shown

leadership in developing an integrating technology into its sales and trading businesses, as well as the importance of research. Speaking at the presentation ceremony, the Group Managing Director of Access Bank Plc, Mr Herbert Wigwe said, “We are delighted to be presented with this highly coveted award.This is in recognition of our regional expertise; and our continuing ability to provide customised currency and fixed income solutions to our customers across Africa. This award is an attestation of the bank’s determination to be the world’s most respected African bank by 2018” Wigwe, assured that the bank will sustain this growth momentum while noting that the award is an honour not only for Access bank, but for Nigeria. “This is just the beginning of more things to come for our bank,” he concluded.

Educator charges varsities on society transformation PETER EKANEM

A L-R: Speaker, Osun State House of Assembly, Hon. Najeem Salam; Deputy Governor, Mrs. Titi Laoye-Tomori; Governor Rauf Aregbesola; President, North America-Based Egbe Omo Yoruba, Agba-Akin Bolu Omodele and Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti, during the delegation’s visit to Osogbo, recently.

Babalola tasks farmers on efficient livestock management ABIODUN NEJO ADO EKITI

ounder of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, ABUAD, Aare Afe Babalola, has charged livestock farmers on the need for effective and efficient herd management practices. Babalola also charged veterinary practitioners whose roles he said included prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases, disorder and injury in animals to raise the bar as they were necessary for healthy human society. The ABUAD founder spoke during training workshop for veterinary doctors and laboratory

technologists organised by the Council of Veterinary Doctors which held at the university. He charged farmers interested in animal husbandry to employ the services of veterinary medicine practitioners, saying anything short of that would mean applying for licence to be bankrupt. Babalola advised veterinary medicine practitioners to “advise farmers on proper herd management practices such as proper de-worming, vaccination, nutrition, environmental sanitation, disease prevention and control and treatment of animal illnesses”. Speaking at the event, National President of the

Veterinary Council of Nigeria, VCN, Professor Garba Sharubutu, said the neglect or lukewarm attitude towards animal health could spell doom for the nation’s health sector. Sharubutu tasked government at all levels to prioritise animal health in their policies in order to ensure a holistic health programme for the country. He added that well-driven animal health service was required to ensure drastic reduction of diseases and sicknesses in the Nigeria society. The VCN president, who said the seminar, was intended to broaden and update the knowledge of veterinary practitioners drawn

from across the country on contemporary issues in veterinary practice, expressed hope that the event would boost animals’ health services delivery in the country if its imports were put to use by government and practitioners. Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Dr Olusola Kolapo, who represented the governor, assured that the present administration in the state would make its veterinary sector a model for other states in Nigeria. He said that the state government had giving priority attention to the veterinary sector, disclosing that drugs worth several millions of naira had been procured for the sector.

mid increasing waves of violence and insecurity woes across the nation, an administrator, Prof Wale Omole, has challenged tertiary institutions to brace up for the challenge of transforming the society by educating the masses. He harped on the need to take advantage of new opportunities opened up by the emergence of global knowledge-based economy, particularly through Information Communications Technology, ICT, to actualise the objective. “The traditional belief that universities should be left to generate knowledge through research and disseminate what is accumulated through teaching and publications does not suffice anymore. The new challenge facing universities in the 21st century is how to transform the society by educating the society,” said Omole, who is the Pro-Chancellor and chairman, Governing Council, Hallmark University, IjebuItele in Ogun State.

The educator said varsities needed to go beyond educating few elite, and serve as “sites for lifelong learning, provide continuing education for former graduates, school teachers, civil servants, business people and even farmers and artisan,” if the society must be transformed. He also lauded the proprietor of Hallmark University, Chief Leila Fowler, for the official unveiling of the university, which he described as “a pinnacle of excellence ready to provide holistic education, intellectual skills, advocacy and social responsibility.” Similarly, Fowler, who is also founder of Vivian Fowler Trust Foundation, said the varsity which would cater to people of diverse colour, religion or tribe, was instituted because of the need to recapture the excellence of education in Nigeria. “The average Nigerian child is very bright; they merely need a little push which is what Hallmark University is here to provide,” she said.

South East

Ihedioha vows not to withdraw petition against Okorocha Chris Njoku OWERRI

otwithstanding threats to life and purported shooting of the bailiff, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship candidate in Imo State, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, yesterday vowed to pursue the victory of the All Progressives Congress, APC, candidate, Rochas Okorocha, to its logical conclusion. Reacting to claims by Governor Okorocha to have won the election in 22 of the 27 local government areas of the state during the last gubernatorial election, Chief Ihedioha stated that evidence abound that the governor never won such a victory. He said in a statement signed by his media aide, Chibuike Onyeukwu that evidence would be provided at the tribunal to show that Governor Okorocha stole the mandate of people of the state. The statement reads in part: “We would not have joined issues with him, knowing very well that he thrives in deceit and illegalities, but for the records, we wish to state that Okorocha knows very well that he never won elections in 22 local government areas in Imo State. “The entire state is still in utter shock following the declaration of Okorocha as winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, with falsified and concocted figures. Evidences abound and would be availed the court.” He noted the reaction of Chief Okorocha on the threats to the life of Chief Mike Ahamba SAN, lead counsel to Hon. Ihedioha, saying that the governor has refused to set up investigations into the alleged cases. His words: “As expected, Chief Okorocha denied the grievous allegation by Chief Ahamba and refused to, as the chief security officer, mandate relevant security agencies to investigate the grievous allegations

against him. He also left more questions unanswered by lacking the courtesy to condemn the assassination attempt on the bailiff attached to the election petition tribunal.” According to the statement, the goodwill and solidarity Hon. Ihedioha has enjoyed from Imolites and beyond for his wisdom and courage to challenge the fraud that marred Okorocha’s ‘victory has no doubt unsettled him and his collaborators. He assured Imo people that the purported withdrawal of some political parties in the petition against Governor Okorocha would not in any way stop him from executing the case to its local end. He queried: “If Okorocha truly won the election, why is he afraid of the tribunal? It is worthy to note that Okorocha travelled to America shortly after the elections to evade service by the tribunal. We are not unaware of delegations and offers he made in order to dissuade Chief Ihedioha from seeking justice to reclaim his mandate.” He reiterated his confidence in the judiciary as he expected that matter would be treated on its merit for justice sake despite “moves by Governor Okorocha to compromise the process.”

Friday, July 10, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Police foil planned traders protest in Ebonyi over B’Haram A liuNA G odwiN ABAKALIKI

bonyi State police command yesterday foiled alleged plan by traders in all markets in the state to stage a peaceful protest against the relocation of Boko Haram suspects to prisons in the South East of the country. It was gathered that the planned protest was expected to take place simultaneously across five states of the South East to press home their grievances over relocation of the suspects. Traders in Abakaliki,

according to sources, were expected to convene at Abakpa Main Market at 8am and march round the state capital before converging on Government House gate where the Governor, Chief Dave Umahi, is expected to address them. It was observed that anti-riot mobile policemen had taken over the market to prevent the traders from embarking on the protest and avert possible break down of law and order in the state. When contacted, Police Public Relations Of-

ficer, ASP Chris Anyanwu, said the command had to beef up security on major roads and locations in the state to avert any possible breakdown of law and order, adding that the command is determined to ensure the security of lives and properties of the people. According to him, “we got wind of plans by traders in the Abakaliki markets to stage a peaceful protest over what they alleged as relocation of persons suspected to be Book Haram members to some prisons in the South East. We had to mobilise

our men immediately to major roads and locations in the state to avert any breakdown of law and order. “Part of our responsibility is to ensure the security of lives and properties of the citizenry. We envisaged that hoodlums may take advantage of the protest to disrupt the peace of the state, especially now that the election petition tribunal is sitting in the state capital. We don’t want people to loot people’s properties in the name of peaceful protest; so we had to mobilise our men.”

L-R: National Pension Commissioner for Inspectorate, Prof. Mohammed Abubakar; Commissioner for Administration, Mr. Ebenezer Forby; Director-General, Mrs. Chinelo Anohu-Amazu and Enugu State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, during South-East Stakeholders Forum on Pension Reform Act in Enugu, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

Court strikes out LP from petition challenging Umahi’s victory AliuNA GodwiN ABAKALIKI

overnorship Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Abakaliki, capital of Ebonyi State, yesterday struck out the name of Labour Party, LP, in the petition filed by its candidate, Mr. Edward Nkwegu, challenging the victory of Governor Dave Umahi of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the last general election. In a three-hour ruling delivered by the presiding judge, Justice E. Ore-

sajiafor, he said the first petitioner did not have the consent or authority of the LP from the beginning to institute the petition. He cited section 133(1 and 137) of the Electoral Act 2010, stating that the interested parties participated in the last general elections in which the first respondent of the PDP won, whereas the second respondent of LP, Nkwegu, did not deny that he did not participate in the election. Oresajiafor, however, struck out the name,

Labour Party, from the petition instituted by Nkwegu, stressing that the party was not interested in the petition filed by him, challenging the victory of Governor Umahi. The court, in a second ruling delivered by the chairman of the tribunal, Theresa Alabi, dismissed a motion filed by Mr. Nkwegu for bringing additional witnesses apart from the earlier six witnesses submitted to the court by him. Alabi ruled that it is unconstitutional for

Mr. Nkwegu to bring in 46 additional witnesses from across the 13 local government areas of the state contrary to earlier the six witnesses attached in his petition. In a reaction, the national legal adviser of the LP, Barrister Akingbade Oyilaka, appreciated the tribunal for the ruling and expunging the name of the party from the petition filed by Mr. Nkwegu, challenging the victory of the PDP candidate. “I appreciate the tribunal for doing justice to

this matter; a party that was not interested in the matter from the beginning was dragged into it; the integrity of the party must be maintained at all cost,” he added. Also, the council to the first respondent (PDP), James Igwe (SAN), said: “The applicant filed a motion seeking to amend his evident to bring additional 46 witnesses from across the state but we said no to it because it is a trick to bring in a fresh evidence at this time and it is unconstitutional.”

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Wike names Rivers Poly after Saro-Wiwa Dennis naku

PORT HARCOURT

overnor Nyesom Wike yesterday renamed Rivers State Polytechnic, Bori, in Khana Local Government Area of the state after the late environmentalist, Kenule Saro-Wiwa. According to the governor, the decision was in honour of the monumental achievements and legacies of the Ogoni hero. The governor, in a statement issued in Port Harcourt and signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Sir Opunabo InkoTariah, said the institution would now be called Kenule Beeson Saro-Wiwa Polytechnic. Wike remarked that the memories of avatars like the late Saro-Wiwa, who fought selflessly for the betterment of society and humanity, should not be consigned into oblivion, more so when such personalities were revered beyond the shores of the

South South

Friday, July 10, 2015

country. Signposting the achievements of the late SaroWiwa, especially as the former sole administrator of Bonny and the first commissioner for education in Rivers State,Wike recalled with nostalgia, the role of the late hero in the Niger Delta struggle that eventually consumed him. He insisted that such a feat is one monument that could never be obliterated. The statement reads: “This literary giant must not be left unsong. He was a known and respected environmental activist whose efforts exposed the marginalisation of the Niger Delta and attracted international attention to the region.” National Mirror recalls that Saro-Wiwa and eight of his kinsmen were hanged on November 10, 1995, following a judgement by a military tribunal headed by Justice Ibrahim Auta during the regime of the late Head of State, SanniAbacha.

Court sacks 22 Rivers council chairmen Dennis naku

PORT HARCOURT

Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital, yesterday nullified the local government elections conducted in Rivers State few days to expiration of the tenure of former Governor ChibuikeAmaechi. Justice Lambo Akanbi, in his ruling, berated the administration of Amaechi for going ahead with the local council elections despite his order that all parties should maintain the status quo on the matter. Meanwhile, there was a bomb scare at the premises of the Federal High Court before the court sat yesterday. Though the police could not confirm the incident, two substances suspected to

be dynamite were seen at the back gate of the court. Spokesman of the state police command, Ahmad Muhammad, said he travelled, but noted that he was not sure of an explosion. However, Justice Akanbi accused the immediate past government of “flagrant disobedience of court processes.” According to Akanbi, “the respondent (All Progressives Congress, APC) was aware of the order that it should leave the rest. The respondent committed contempt of court for going ahead to hold the elections, while the suit was pending. “While a matter is in court, nothing should be done to prejudice it. “The parties cannot jump the gun to do anything in their own way. A party in a suit cannot resort to selfhelp. Whenever a ruling has

not been given, parties are bound to maintain the status quo. “The attitude of the second and third respondents in this matter is unacceptable, provocative, lawless and condemnable. We must learn to uphold the rule of law. It helps to strengthen our democracy. “I hereby set aside the local government elections held on the 23rd of May, 2015,” Justice Akanbi ruled. Speaking with journalists shortly after the ruling, counsel to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Godwin Obla, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, said the ruling was expected, adding that it was obvious the past government conducted the local government elections out of desperation. Also, Solicitor-General of the state, who represented

the state government in the matter, Rufus Godwins, explained the implications of the ruling. Similarly, another judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Bello Quadri, has struck out a related local government suit seeking to withdraw the case against the state governor, government, House of Assembly and others. The plaintiffs (local government chairmen) had earlier filed a suit, asking the court to restrain the respondents from sacking them from office. When the matter came up yesterday, lead counsel to the plaintiffs, H.A. Bello, informed the court that he filed a notice of discontinuance on behalf of the plaintiffs, against all the defendants in the matter, pursuant to Order 50, Rule 2 (1) of Rules of the Court.

We’ll resist attempt to send B’Haram prisoners to Calabar —Speaker RichaRD nDoma CALABAR

peaker of Cross River State House of Assembly, Hon. John Gaul Lebo, yesterday warned that the people of Cross River State would resist any attempt by authorities of the Nigerian Prisons Service, NPS, to bring Boko Haram suspects to Calabar Prisons. Lebo made the statement while briefing journalists in Calabar, in reaction to speculations and rumours that plans have been concluded by authorities of the NPS to bring prisoners of the Boko Haram sect to Calabar Prisons. Lebo warned the Federal Government not to contemplate sending Boko Haram suspects to any prison facility in Cross River State because the state could not accommodate them. “We will resist the relocation of Boko Haram suspects to Calabar prisons but if the Federal Government insists on relocating them, they should relocate them to other states and not Cross River,” he said. Lebo who represents Abi State constituency in the House, also underscored the

need for a robust relationship between the legislature and the executive. This, he said, would help in deepening democracy in the country. The Speaker dismissed insinuations in some quarters that the 8thlegislative Assembly is a rubberstamp legislature, noting that the best way to achieve desired results is by maintaining a harmonious relationship with all arms of government. “The legislature under my watch in Cross River will make laws that would bring transformation to our state and this cannot be achieved by fighting the executive. The best way to maintain the integrity of the House is to maintain the history of synergy and performance which is a common factor in Cross River State,” the speaker said. While harping on the critical role of the media in nation building, he also promised to establish a press centre with internet facilities within the Assembly complex to serve as a resource centre for journalist and which will in turn guard against the dissemination of distorted information about the activities of the House.

L-R: Former Delta State Commissioner, Dr. Chris Ekiyo; author of book, Mr. Elo Adhekpukoli; Chief Patrick Ideh and President, Customary Court of Appeal, Delta State, Justice Stella Ogene, during the presentation/unveiling of the book, Energy Security in Nigeria’s Gas Sector, in Asaba, Yesterday.

Only 16% of NDU students receive Bayelsa bursary —Union osahon Julius YENAGOA

mid controversies that followed Bayelsa State government’s bursary awards to its students in higher institutions in the country, the National Union of Bayelsa State Students, NUBSS, yesterday revealed that only 5,000 of the 300,000 registered students of the Niger Delta University, NDU, representing 16 per cent, have received the award since inception. The students’ body said thousands of students in other universities and institutions of higher learning, who went through a very te-

dious and cumbersome registration process, were yet to get a dime from the state government despite government’s announcement that it has released N300 million so far. In a press statement signed by their president, Comrade Richard Lawyer, and secretary, SeseThankGod, the students want the state governor, Seriake Dickson, to expedite action on the payment of the bursary which he had announced to the world. The students are particularly irked about the slow pace of the payment which commenced since March, 2014, when the state governor announced the release of an initial N200 million

and the recent release of another N200 million. The statement said following series of NUBSS executive and senate meetings on the welfare of Bayelsa students, the NUBSS president noted that of the 300,000 students registered, only 5,000 student of the stateowned NDU have been paid, which represent 16 percent of the registered students; while students in other institutions of learning and some students of NDU are kept in the dark. While commending the governor for his educational policies, he urged him to look into the slow pace of the payment, warning that the student body might not be able to stop the students

from going to the streets to express their grievances. He called on the students to remain calm as the body is working round the clock to ensure that all bonafide students receive their bursary allowances. He recalled that the current bursary payment is to cover the 2013/2014 academic session. All attempts to get reactions from the state’s Ministry of Education failed as the Commissioner for Education was not available when our correspondent got to his office; while the Commissioner for Information, who spoke on phone referred this reporter back to the education commissioner.

North

Friday, July 10, 2015

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ICPC boss alerts Nigerians on fake invitations I ndependent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission, ICPC, has

urged Nigerians to be wary of fake invitations purportedly emanating from the commission.

Chairman of the commission, Mr. Ekpo Nta, made the call in Abuja yesterday when a del-

egation of the Committee of Chief Compliance Officers of Banks in Nigeria, CCCOBIN, led by Mr. Pat-

Men of Anti Bomb Squad of Adamawa Police Command examining scene of bomb blast opposite State Command of FRSC on Yola-Numan road Adamawa State, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

NANS warns students against being used

ational Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, said it would not allow anybody to use students against any group or organisation National president of the body, Mr. Tijani Usman, in a statement yesterday said the position of the organisation was informed by reports that some elements want to use students against

CHANGE OF NAME ABDULFATAI: Formerly known and addressed as Abdulfatai Fatiman, now wish to be known and addressed as Olokodana Fatimah. All former documents remain valid. National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) and general public take note.

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OWOSENI: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Abosede Abidemi Owoseni, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Abosede Bidemi Stephen. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

UMEH: I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Umeh Jane Francis, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Nze Jane Francis Ijeoma . All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

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OSAFILE: I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Osa¿le Vivian Melekwe, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Osa¿leEke Vivian Melekwe. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

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Formerly known and addressed as Miss Esan Adebola Enitan, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Lanre-Arise Adebola Enitan. All former documents remain valid. Ekiti State Judiciary and general public take note.

management of the Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria, AMCON. Usman said students have been directed to “bluff any overture or inducement from any quarters against AMCON management. In a statement titled, ‘NANS Dissociates Self from the Picketing of AMCON,’ dated July 5 and made available to journalists yesterday, NANS warned that it could not be used to achieve any dastardly acts against AMCON. “NANS has a primary mandate of fighting for the

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OYEDEJI: I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Oyedeji Ifedolapo Maria, now wish to be known, called and addressed as Miss Oni Katerine Maria. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

RETRIEVE OF DOCUMENTS

This is to notify the public that the rightful owners of the Plot at No. 148 Zik’s Ave. Uwani Enugu Reg. as 42/42/399 are the family Everist Johnbosco Okafor that the said Plot was used for a loan facility and later transferred to the National Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC). The said facility has been paid off but NDIC has failed to return the original title documents till date. This is therefore to recover the certified true copy at lands Registry, Enugu.

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EKWUNIFE: I, formerly known and addressed as Miss. Ekwunife Anthonia Chinelo, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Megwa Anthonia Chinelo. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

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ESTHER: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Esther Solomon, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Esther Martins Kwaks. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

dignity and rights of students and putting all issues concerning the education and empowerment of the youth on the front burner,” the statement said. While acknowledging the achievements of AMCON since its inception, NANS said: “The Mustafa ChikeObi led AMCON management has successfully turned around some enterprises under its management and sold them at a profit to shareholders and investors, citing the successful acquisition of Mainstream Bank by SKYE Bank as an example.

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In the statement NANS wondered why any rightthinking Nigerian should plan to discredit the organisation and its management, if not to satisfy selfish interests. “The leadership of NANS therefore dissociates itself completely and unequivocally from any picketing of AMCON or any demonstration against its management, since it is a distraction that has nothing to do with the aims and objectives of Nigeria’s foremost students’ body, representing all shades of opinion.

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tison Boleigha, visited partner with the committee to ensure compliance the commission. Nta said Nigerians with banking regulations should disregard any in- also commended the CBN vitation either through for its Bank Verification letters or text messages Number, BVN, initiative. In his remark, Mr. Booutside designated offices of the commission leigha said the visit was in recognition of the across the country. The chairman said ICPC’s role in ensuring ICPC had discovered that compliance with banking most of the invitation let- regulations in the counters emanate from fraud- try. “We have come to have sters. “This morning, I had a discussion with you an interesting incident, because of our roles as which I want to use this chief compliance officers medium to let the world of banks. “Our coming is also in know about. “I got information on recognition of the fact one of such letters sent that banks are the mato the Vice-Chancellor, jor financial institutions Benue State University through which proceeds of Agriculture, inviting of crimes pass. “We know that we canhim to the ICPC in a very not do it alone; we must awkward manner. “Sometimes, eminent work with our stakeholdNigerians who receive ers and we have considsuch letters begin to pan- ered the ICPC as a major ic and call numbers on stakeholder in the fight the letter to get the mat- against crime and criminality,” he said. ter sorted out. “If you know you do not have any skeleton in your cupboard, you will not meet any person outside the designated offices of the ICPC,” he said. Nta, therefore, advised members of CCCOBIN to be wary of such invitations, adding that the banking sector had always been a major target of such scam. Said he: “Our invitations are very specific and if you have issues, ensure that you call our investigation department.’’ The ICPC boss who pledged the commitment Chairman of ICPC, Mr. Ekpo of the commission to Nta

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Ibrahim Sidikat Abiodun, now wish to be known and addressed as Giwa Sidikat Abiodun. All former documents remain General public take note

LAWAL: Formerly known and addressed as Lawal Akorede Daviies Akinsemoyin, now wish to be known and addressed as Prince Lawal Davies Akinsemoyin. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

DAFE: I formerly known and addressed as Miss Dafe Ogochukwu Julian, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Aghwana Ogochukwu Julian. All former documents remain valid. General public take note

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CONFIRMATION OF NAME This is to con¿rm that Edeh Ukamaka Martha is the same person as Edeh Mary, henceforth wish to be addressed as Edeh Ukamaka Marth Mary All former documents remain valid. General public should please note.

Formerly known and addressed as Olarike Memorial Nursery and primary School Magbo/Melufen Boundary Road Ogijo now wish to be known and addressed as Marvellous Kiddies Academy Magbo/ Melufen Boundary Road Ogun State, Ogun State ministry of Education, Science and Technology take note.

EDEH: I, formerly known and addressed as Edeh Silvanus Chidiebere, now wish to be known and addressed as Edeani Silvanus Chidiebere. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

LOSS OF DOCUMENT This is to inform the general public that the original land document in respect of plot No 319 about 1329.35 square meter in cadastral zone B13 of Gaduwa, ¿le No KG 60762 belonging to Emmanuel Funsho Abejirin were missing. If found please contact us on phone No 08160431184, 08033071298 or the nearest police station. CHANGE OF NAME

OLANIYI: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Olaniyi Bolanle Temitayo now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Davies Olaniyi Mobola. All former document remains valid. National Agricultural Seeds Council (NASC) and General public should please take note.

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Formerly known and addressed as Miss Robert Abiodun Grace, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Daramola Abiodun Grace. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

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Formerly known and addressed as Miss Olufade Adenike Adebimpe now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Olajide Adenike Adebimpe. All former documents remain valid Ogun SUBEB, INLGEA IJEBU IGBO and general public take note.

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Formerly known and addressed as Daisy Nwamaka Oputa, now wish to be known and addressed as Daisy Amaka Fynecountry. All former documents remain General public take note

PUBLIC NOTICE EKITI STATE NOTICE EK/AG & PT/15/36 IN THE MATTER ATTER OF SSECTION 24 OF THE ADMINISTRATOR GENERAL’S LAW CAP 1 VOL. 1 OF EKITI STATE OF NIGERIA 2010. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN TO CREDITORS AND OTHER PERSONS HAVING CLAIMS AGAINST THE ESTATE OF DECEASED PERSONS WHOSE NAMES AND ADDRESSES ARE SET OUT BELOW ARE REQUIRED TO SEND PARTICULARS IN WRITING OF THEIR CLAIMS TO THE UNDERSIGNED ON OR 30TH JULY 2015 AFTER WHICH DATE I SHALL PROCEED TO DISTRIBUTE THE ASSETS OF THE SAID DECEASED PERSONS AMONG THE PARTIESENTITLED THERETO. HAVING REGARD ONLY TO THE CLAIMS OF WHICH NOTICE SHALL THEN HAVE BEEN RECEIVED. ALL PERSONS INDEBTED TO THE SAID ESTATE ARE HEREBY REQUESTED TO MAKE PAYMENT FORTHWITH TO THE ADMINISTRATOR –GENERAL AND PUBLIC TRUSTEE, EKITI STATE BAMIDELE JULIUS AKIN: late of pensioner who died on 16th December, 2014 at Samron Hospital Ibadan, Oyo State.

Signed:

L.B. OJO Solicitor-General & Permanent Secretary

Friday, July 10, 2015

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Politics

Bindow: Clear and present danger for the change agent

We are not rubber stamp –Cross River Speaker

‘Judiciary, bedrock of democracy’

RichARd ndomA

Ayo esAn

CALABAR

peaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. John Gaul Lebo yesterday debunked allegations and speculation making the rounds in Calabar that the newly inaugurated 8th state House of Assembly is a rubber stamp. Lebo made the remark while fielding questions from journalists at the conference hall of the Cross River Assembly in Calabar, stressing that the public impression that the Assembly is a rubber stamp is not correct. He stated that the best way to maintain independence of the Assembly is not by fighting, but maintaining a harmonious relationship between the two arms of government for the good of the state. He said: “The working of governance is like a ma-

chine. I have not seen anywhere in the world where the Assembly becomes confrontational with the executive and succeeds. But that doesn’t mean that we will have to compromise. We would still do our constitutional role to enable us move the society forward.” The speaker maintained that once one arm of government does not understand the other arm, there would be crises in the state. On the allegation that the Speaker illegally constituted House committees and its chairmen without due process or approval from government stakeholders, the Speaker said: “Every institution has its inherent powers. I do not know what is illegal on that. We do not want to bring in consultants so that we won’t begin to pay very huge fees; we understand ourselves very well. Jake Otu Enya and Agbiji Mbeh had in the past acted as advisers.”

chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Lagos State, Hon Tony Bakare has described the Judiciary as the bedrock of democracy saying that is why he and his colleagues are currently in Tribunal to reclaim their mandate. He said he based his assertion on the crucial role of the institution to the sustenance of democracy. Bakare who was the PDP House of Representa-

tives candidate for Eti-Osa federal constituency in the 2015 general election, said the saying that the judiciary is the last hope of the common man underscores the importance attached to the institution by all. He reasoned that he was particularly hopeful of retrieving his “stolen mandate” based on the overwhelming support he received during the polls. Bakare who spoke through his spokesman, Mr. Israel Akintola therefore called on judicial officers to play according to

the rules for a better society. He said:”I remain hopeful that the judiciary will once again rise to the occasion by doing what is right based on the petitions before the election petition tribunals. “You will recall that this is not the first time PDP is approaching the tribunal to seek justice on election matters. “Not only did we win the petition, a few years ago in Ibeju/Lekki Local Government, we won that case overwhelmingly

against the candidate of the then ACN. “I remain hopeful that history would repeat itself once again because we know the judiciary will do what is right once more According to him, even in the traditional African setting, it is generally believed that law and order is a major tool for societal advancement. He hinged this on the fact that every class, tribe or race regards judiciary as the only avenue for righting perceived wrongs.

Delta safe for business –Okowa ...commissions Trebet factory Theophilus onojeghen WARRI

elta State governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, has said the state is peaceful and conducive for businesses to thrive, urging both local and foreign investors to come to the state to invest. Okowa spoke yesterday in Warri while performing the commissioning and groundbreaking ceremonies of Lee Oasis Supermarket and Trebet manufacturing factory in Warri South and Uvwie council areas of the state. He admitted that government alone cannot provide jobs for the teeming unemployed youths in the state, thus his administration would continue to partner private investors to grow businesses. The governor stressed that his administration is very committed to provid-

ing enabling environment for investors who are ready to do business in the state. He appealed to traditional rulers to talk to youths in their domains to embrace peace and allow private investors operate peacefully in the overall interest of the state. Governor Okowa disclosed that the state government has concluded plans to create about 6,000 jobs through the agricultural and entrepreneurial schemes to tackle the rising unemployment situation in the state. He advised youths to collect application forms from their traditional rulers in each of the 25 local government councils, noting that successful persons would be selected based on merit and not necessarily on their educational qualifications but on their business potentials.

Former Lagos State Governor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu (left) and British Deputy High Commissioner, Mr. Ray Kyles, during his courtesy visit to Tinubu, in Lagos, yesterday.

Don’t be selective in fighting corruption, PDP chieftain urges Buhari BolAdAle BAmigBolA OSOGBO

nti-corruption efforts of President Mohammdu Buhari yesterday got the backing of a Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, chieftain, but with an advice that the President should not be selective in fighting the menace.

The President was also charged to beam searchlight on the tenures of former governors and other public office holders that have served since 1999. Speaking with news-

men in Osogbo, Chief Sola Olowoye, a PDP chieftain from Osun State, said corruption was closed to being legalised with the plundering of public funds by many public office holders from the inception of the present republic. Olowoye feared the trend was becoming worrisome, as younger Nigerians were, instead of avoiding people with questionable wealth, and celebrate, though poor, but honest people, were beginning to see looting of public wealth as only means of amass-

ing wealth. He stressed that a more “forceful fight against the menace of corruption” remains the only way out for the country in dire need of new direction. Olowoye said: “To serve as deterrent and stop Nigerians from adopting corruption as a way of life, all former governors, ministers, heads of ministries, departments and agencies, MDAs, whether in the All Progressives Congress, APC, PDP or any other party should be investigated.

“Regardless of where they come from, whether Daura, Kaduna, Lagos, Ogun or Rivers, Buhari should not spare anyone found to have stolen from public coffers.” He charged Nigerians to be vigilant and provide security agencies with useful information that can help investigators recover the stolen funds, saying high level of poverty in the country can only be checked, when members of the public are alive to their responsibilities and the leaders are truthful in fighting corruption.

Politics

overnor Mohammed Umar Jibrilla Bindow may just have gotten off to a good start with the flag off of roads construction and rehabilitation of township roads estimated to cost several Billions of naira a few days back, as he tries to kick start his voyage at the helms of affairs in Adamawa State, classed as among the most backward states of the federation, given its low revenue base and acute infrastructural deficits. Part of the credits to the new administration lie in the prompt payment of the outstanding workers salaries it inherited from the immediate past administration of Barr Bala James Ngillari. This development was a huge relief to the workers, who had been worried about experiencing the same fate that befell their counterparts in other states of the federation caught in the quagmire of backlog of salary arrears. But the Bindow administration over came the litmus test much quicker than many had envisaged by borrowing to pay workers their May salaries. Whether out of commission or omission, the erstwhile Ngillari administration which failed to pay civil servants in the state also shirked from paying political appointees their severance package, although it was learnt the administration was banking on a favourable verdict over its tenure elongation suit, which at the time was before the Supreme Court. Thus, the Ngillari administration bowed out unceremoniously leaving everyone who was part of that government in the lurch high and dry. For the new Bindow administration which came on board on May 29, the situation at hand clearly presented a clear and present danger, but he took the challenge in good stride, and he perhaps did a good job by bringing to bear his business acumen as an entrepreneur before veering off into politics in handling the situation. Sparing no effort, it borrowed a whooping N1.4 billion coupled with additional N600 million it allegedly mopped up in the state revenue accounts to pay the salaries. Gauging the very high public expectation from the administration, not resolving that issue timely could have dealt it a huge blow, more so for an administration which was experiencing an internal wrangling within the party that brought it into power. A month into the new administration, the challenges confronting it, isolating the problem of insecurity and its spinoff, perhaps appears to be more political as a result of the fragile peace within the All progressives Congress, APC, in the state. This tension opened up fault lines and reflected the allegiances between the two dramatis persona in the emerging power play within the state APC. Long before the crisis broke out and became palpable, the Adamawa APC has been gripped by a cold war between two power blocs within its fold- one which ascribe its loyalty to the camps of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and another former Governor Murtala Nyako, who is battling to extricate himself from corruption. National Mirror gathered that the new found romance between Bindow and Abubakar may not be unconnected with the funds advanced by the latter to the former a few days to his election, believed to be in region of several millions of naira. The cracks in the state APC have continued to sign post grave danger ahead for the Bindow administration. The tensions as unhealthy as it now appears, and capable of derailing the new administration, some observers have said is avoidable. They averred that rather than remain neutral, Governor Bindown has been drawn into the fray. Even though Bindow, upon his election had shrugged off rumours of a rumpus within the APC, caused by his alleged alliance with Abubakar, nonetheless, tensions have continued to mount over the new found relationship between him and the former Vice President. This was as the Nyako camp, weary of Abubakar’s political sagacity viewed the dalliance between the duo as a palace coup by Abubakar to hijack the party and thus up stage Nyako’s camp in the grand scheme of things. The general feeling within the Nyako camp is that of betrayal. For them Governor Bindow, whom they felt they helped propelled to power, has suddenly ditched them. It is this development that is at the root cause of the smoldering intra party schism in Adamawa APC; and it is capable of derailing Bindow’s successful steering of the ship of state. The first casualty of statecraft is the alleged postponement of the composition of the caretakers committee for the local government councils. It was gathered that some members of the state working committee of the party

Friday, July 10, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Bindow: Clear and present danger for the change agent LIVINUS MENEDI examines the dangers ahead of the Adamawa State governor, Jubrilla Bindow as he attempts to enter the history book as a change agent

Bindow

has stopped the governor’s plans to constitute caretakers committee for 21 local government councils and the 37 local council development areas, LCDAs, opting instead for local council elections to be conducted in earnest. The opposition to the composition of the caretakers committee by the governor followed the discovery by one of the factions that one of the prominent members of the party was angling to use the appointment to consolidate his hold on the party ahead of the scheduled council elections which the opposing camp vehemently opposed, maintaining the plan to constitute the committees be put at abeyance. To also buttress the fierce power struggle surrounding Bindow’s emergence as governor with regards to the epic legal battle the administration had to contend with early in its life was the appointment of Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice for the state. The appointment of Barr Saleh D. Sanga was to enable the new administration dispense with litigations involving the state government, particularly, that seeking to extend the tenure of the immediate past administration. Governor Bindow besides being encumbered by the centrifugal political forces at play in the state has refused to be bogged down, and the state electorate seems to key into the administration’s stance of not wanting “to disappoint the Talakawas, poor masses, who voted into power.” This was just as the administration admitted when it flagged off the construction and rehabilitation of township roads worth several billions of naira, that it inherited a huge N40.5 billion debt and had to borrow additional N1.4 billion to offset civil servants’ May salary. However, with the inclement economic clouds not receding anytime soon and the dismal Internally Generated Revenue, IGR, profile of the state; nobody knows how the administration will get out of the cul de sac of paying

AlreAdy with the debt burden overhAng And the pressure on the new AdministrAtion to deliver on its cAmpAign promises, there’s no doubt thAt the AdministrAtion mAy be plunged into further indebtedness.

workers their June salaries. Already with the debt burden overhang and the pressure on the new administration to deliver on its campaign promises, there’s no doubt that the administration may be plunged into further indebtedness. According to Lusamm Dilli, a state legislator elected under the platform of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, much as the opposition will like to work with the ruling APC administration in the state, it frowned at another attempt to plunge the state further into debt. He said the executive, while it legitimately reserves the right to serve the people by working for them it was imperative that it focuses its sight on expenditures that will create additional streams of income for the state and boost economic activities. He said: “Even though I understand that the governor has got to work for the people who voted him, my advice however is that every loan it plans to get should be used on investments that will bring incomes for the administration rather than tying them to road construction that do not hold immediate multiplier effect in terms of incomes.” He described as “hasty measure and likely to worsen an already bad situation if the funds were borrowed,” administration’s initiative at addressing the infrastructural gap of the state. But the Chief of Staff, CoS, to the governor, Abdulrahman Abba Jimeta, noted that failure of past administration to develop the infrastructure of state necessitated effort in that regards, adding that interventions in infrastructural development of the state will be in three phases. Jimeta furthermore urged party members to discountenance insinuations of any cold war within the party in the state, adding that the misinformation is the handiwork of fifth columnist to further create dissension within its ranks. He debunked allusions of any squabbles between Abubakar and Nyako, saying: “It’s neither true nor does any schism exist within the party but rather the creation of fifth columnist bent on creating divisions with the intent of derailing the administration.” Jimeta said Bindow’s allegiance has always been to the citizenry, the ordinary masses who voted him and also brought him to power. Also, Bindow dismissed talks of his allegiance to any godfather, saying he was surprised and that his allegiance is to the talakawas, masses. But Bindow, who has been clinging to the divine hands of destiny, continued to be unfazed by the development. The new administration has also impressed with its avowed commitment to meet some of the yearnings of the electorate. Governor Bindow who has refused to scale down from his promise to deliver the dividends of democracy and usher in a new era of socioeconomic development and improvements in the living standards of the electorate, may still have to contend with discontent within his political base. Some have described him has having been lucky thus far, except for the bomb blast which rocked the state capital, killing over 40 people a few metres away from the entrance into the Jimeta ultra modern market early June. Long before the Bindow administration became set, his predecessor, former Governor Ngilari had asked to be joined in the suit filed by Dr. Umar Ardo, for the extension of the life of the immediate administration and stop the conduct of gubernatorial polls in the state on the grounds that elections into the office of governor for Adamawa state should be in February 2016. Such was the precarious and delicate balance of power struggle within the body polity, that even the impeached former Governor Nyako will later be fingered to have being part and parcel of. In Adamawa, where many have had high hopes of change, the political infighting which has surfaced very early in the life of the new administration has supplanted the people’s high hopes for change with a cautious optimism.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Oyo PDP asks aggrieved members to return Kemi olaitan IBADAN

eaders of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Oyo State, yesterday called for the re-integration of Senator Rasheed Ladoja, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala, Mr Seyi Makinde and others into the umbrella party if the party must return to winning ways in future election. They also expressed reservations over the choice of Uche Secondus as acting National Chairman of the party, stating that “people with questionable character” should not be allowed to hold positions within the party. These were part of the recommendations of the PDP chieftains under the aegis of Oyo State PDP Leaders of Like Minds, presented to the Hon. Emeka Ihedioha-led PDP post-election review sub-committee sitting in Ibadan. Those who signed the nine-page memorandum, presented before the former

Politics

Friday, July 10, 2015

Speaker of the House of Representatives, included Dr Saka Balogun, Senator Ayo Adeseun, Chief Jumoke Akinjide, Alhaji Hazeem Gbolarumi, Professoor Taoheed Adedoja, Professor Soji Adejumo, Femi Babalola, Alhaji Kunmi Mustapha, Alhaji Bisi Olopoenia and eight others. The leaders said the hijack of the party structure and consequent imposition of unpopular candidates with the support of some members of the National Working Committee, NWC, forced Ladoja, Alao-Akala, Makinde and others out of the party and led to its dismal performance in the last elections. They said: “The party should imbibe the culture of transparent internal democracy in all its dealings. If we want to regain our lost glory, conscious and concerted efforts should be made to bring back into our fold, all willing members of Accord, Labour Party and Social Democratic Party, SDP.”

Bailout: Buhari should be applauded –Abatemi-Usman Deborah DiDi

n aspirant on the platform of All Progressives Congress, APC, in the forthcoming Kogi state gubernatorial election, Senator Nurudeen Abatemi-Usman, has said that President Muhammadu Buhari deserves commendation from all Nigerians for his timely intervention in the crisis rocking some states of the federation over nonpayment of workers’ salaries. Abatemi-Usman, the

immediate past senator of Kogi Central senatorial district made the remarks in a statement issued by his Media Adviser, Michael Jegede, in Abuja yesterday. He said Buhari’s decision to wade into the issue to ease the sufferings of the workers portrayed him as a true leader who has the interest of the people at heart. He said: “It is indeed unfortunate that we found ourselves in a situation where many states in the country could not pay salaries regularly, thereby causing the workers to go through excruciating pain to survive and maintain their families

for months. “The bailout extended to the states through means devised by the government of President Buhari is, therefore, an intervention that is very necessary in the circumstances we found ourselves. “Rather than the eyebrow being raised in some quarters, we must all commend the President for this wonderful step taken to reduce the plight of the workers. Thank God clarifications have been made as regards the sources of the intervention funds, portraying Buhari as a man of transparency and account-

ability. “By this singular action of the President, he has further shown that he was truly prepared to effect change in governance where the wellbeing of Nigerians would be a priority in his agenda.” The APC gubernatorial aspirant however noted that the funds made available by the President must be judiciously applied by the states to serve the purpose for which they are released, warning that “steps must also be taken to prevent us from finding ourselves in this kind of precarious situation.”

Suswam acknowledges receipts of apology henry iyorKase MAKURDI

ormer governor of Benue State, Dr Gabriel Suswam, yesterday applauded the retraction of some mischief makers who deliberately wish to tarnish his hard earned reputation by maligning him and his family through false reports. It would be recalled on July 3, unfounded reports were awash in the social network of claims that Suswam beat his wife in the United Kingdom (UK) and was arrested afterwards. Further reports claimed that lawyers of the former governor had last week written to the newspaper requesting them to retract the false publication and public apology or to face legal actions. In a press statement signed by his legal team, headed by Barr Harris Ogbole and made available to National Mirror in Makurdi, Suswam explained that he was satisfied with the retraction and profuse apology tendered by those concerned. The statement reads: “We are satisfied with the retraction and profuse apology of the perpetrators

of the publication against Dr Suswam and his family. “We are however satisfied with the conduct of those behind the false reports as clearly demonstrated and we urge the public to beware of such future concoction of falsehood on public individuals.” Suswam had explained that the entire story about him and his wife was a figment of imagination of jobless people who were looking for something to eat and had ordered his lawyers to press charges.

L-R: Hon. Uzor Azubuike; former Speaker, House of Representatives/Chairman, Sub Committee on PDP Post Election Review, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha and Alhaji Adamu Waziri, during the PDP Post Election Review Committee and stakeholders meeting for the South-West in Ibadan, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

Ugbane joins Kogi guber race Wale ibrahim LOKOJA

s the Kogi State guber natorial race hots up, Senator Nicholas Ugbane, a former chairman, Senate Committees on Power and Independent National

Electoral Commission, INEC, yesterday declared his intention to contest the election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC. Ugbane, who made the declaration at the party secretariat in Lokoja, stated that his ambition was pre-

mised on the desire to turn around the fortunes of the state with special focus on education, agriculture, industrialisation among others. He said: “The population of Kogi State is about 1.3 million and I have carefully articulated and syn-

Rivers guber: Tribunal orders access to sensitive materials ...dismisses Wike’s application to vacate order ise-oluWa ige ABUJA

ivers State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja, yesterday, dismissed an application by Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, seeking to set aside its order permitting the All Progressives Congress, APC, and its candidate, Peterside Dakuku, to inspect all sensitive election materials used for the conduct of the April 11 guber-

natorial election held in the state. The tribunal held yesterday that the order was still subsisting and must be obeyed by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. Both Wike and the PDP had, on June 17, filed the application asking the tribunal to set aside the order on the inspection of the polling materials. Wike, through his lawyer, Emmanuel Ukala, had, challenged the territorial jurisdiction of the tribunal to have made such an order.

But in a short ruling on the motion yesterday, the three-man panel, led by Justice Muazu Abdulkadir Pindiga, dismissed the application on the ground that the order was not made against Wike, but INEC. The tribunal held that “our order of June 11 was made against the 1st respondent, INEC, to allow the petitioner access and obtain a Certified True Copy, CTC, of all documents and materials used in the conduct of the governorship election in Rivers State, and we so hold. “And also in compliance

with Section 151 of the Electoral Act, our order still stands.” It would be recalled that the APC and Peterside had, last Monday accused INEC of disobeying the order of the tribunal requesting it to allow them inspect election materials used for the election. Specifically, counsel to the petitioner, Chief Akin Olujimi, SAN, had informed the court that INEC had declined to make the materials available for inspection, in total disobedience to the tribunal’s earlier order.

chronised the problems of the state and expressed the desire to ensure qualitative service delivery for socioeconomic advancement of the state.” The former two term federal lawmaker also pledged to resuscitate the ailing Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited, ASCL, by completing and making operational functional units to provide jobs for the state’s teeming unemployed youths. He added: “As one of my cardinal points, I will make sure that ASCL and the National Iron-Ore Mining Company, NIOMCO, came on stream to provide jobs for our teeming youths. All it takes is the political will.” Ugbane, who presented his blueprint and manifesto, which he called “key gubernatorial specifics,” to the state party chairman, Mr Haddy Ametuo, said he would address “the infrastructural decay and untold sufferings of the people.”

Editorial

Friday, July 10, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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

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

As Honda begins vehicle production in Nigeria

eports from Tokyo, Japan, early last week, said the country’s third-biggest auto maker, Honda Motor Company, had kick-started the building of cars in Nigeria by retooling portions of its factory that previously made motorcycles down here. Honda new helmsman, Takahiro Hachigo was quoted as saying last Monday in Tokyo that the firm began production this month, and that it planned to produce 1,000 of its Accord sedans, one of its numerous brands of cars, annually in Nigeria. The development quickly draws attention to the New National Automotive Policy, which the Federal Government announced in 2013, ostensibly in response to persistent agitations for a home-grown automobile industry. The FG, we recall, had lamented the nation’s annual spending of roughly N552 billion on vehicle imports, N4.2 billion of which goes into bringing in fairlyused (tokunboh) cars from Europe and the United States. Former Minister of Trade, Industry and Investment, Dr. Olusegun Aganga, had, while announcing FG’s decision to restrict vehicle imports, indicated that the measure was not meant to impose an outright ban on imported cars, but that the step was taken with the intention of reviving Nigeria’s local automobile industry and minimizing capital flight. The ultimate destination, according to Aganga, would be the gradual phas-

ing out of ‘tokunboh’ vehicles with appreciable and sustained growth in the local automobile industry. Aganga said the FG had already identified and designated automotive clusters in Lagos/Ogun; Kaduna/ Kano; and Anambra/Enugu states as hubs for local automobile manufacturing. The new policy, according to him, was well thought-out, with inputs from the National Automotive Council (NAC). Some multinational automobile giants were also duly consulted, it was reported. Aganga said the FG was insistent that all vehicles used by public institutions must be purchased from local assembly plants; and that the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) was already working with a car-maker, Cena of Brazil, to open automotive training centres in Nigeria, while two Nigerian universities had agreed to commence degree programmes in auto-mechanical engineering; all in a bid to provide adequate local manpower for the industry. About 700,000 jobs are expected to be created in the process. It does seem the new automobile policy is on course, especially with the recent report coming from Honda. If eventually successful, the policy will lift the yoke of heavy vehicle import costs from the country’s neck and ultimately catapult Nigeria to the status of a vehicle manufacturing nation. The success of the policy also holds prospects for rapid economic growth and

HOW MANY NIGERIANS WILL BE ABLE TO AFFORD FAIRLY USED CARS WITH PROHIBITIVE PRICE-TAGS, LET ALONE NEW CARS AT EVEN HIGHER COSTS?

diversification, local value addition and technology acquisition. It could likewise attract foreign and local investment and make the emerging vehicle industry in the land competitive enough to guarantee value for money. However, the controversy over the phasing out of ‘tokunboh’ vehicles from the country at this early stage of the development of the automobile industry still rages. How many Nigerians will be able to afford fairly used cars with prohibitive price-tags, let alone new ones at even higher costs? The failures of such initiatives in the past also call for reservations. Nigeria’s automotive industry dates back to the early 1960s, when private companies like the United African Company (UAC), Leventis, SCOA, BEWAC and R.T. Briscoe pioneered the establishment of auto assembly plants. Direct government involvement began between 1970 and 1980, when it entered into agreements with a number of automobile plants in Europe to set up

ON THIS DAY July 13, 1962 In an unprecedented action, British Prime Minister, Harold Macmillan, dismissed seven members of his cabinet, marking the effective end of the National Liberals as a distinct force in British politics. This unprecedented action was mockingly named by newspapers after the 1934 Nazi Night of the Long Knives. The remnants of the National Liberals formally merged into Conservative and Unionist Party in 1968.

Letters tothe theEditor Editor Letters to

July 13, 1977 Somalia declared war on Ethiopia, starting the Ethiopian-Somali War. The war was a Somali military offensive between July 1977 and March 1978 over the disputed Ethiopian region, Ogaden, starting with the Somali’s invasion of Ethiopia. The Soviet Union disapproved of the invasion, ceased its support of Somalia and started supporting Ethiopia instead, whereas the United States supported Somalia against Ethiopia.

two car and four truck/light commercial vehicle assembly plants in Nigeria. The two car plants are Peugeot Automobile Nigeria Limited (PAN), Kaduna; and Volkswagen of Nigeria Limited (VWON), Lagos; while the four truck plants are Anambra Motor Manufacturing Company (ANAMMCO), Enugu; Styer Nigeria Limited, Bauchi; National Truck Manufacturers (NTM), Kano; and Leyland Nigeria Limited, Ibadan. These car and truck/light commercial vehicle plants were all privatised by the end of 2007, and today, they are in no way better than carcasses. Similarly, in 1982, the FG completed agreements with five auto manufacturers for the establishment of five light commercial vehicle assembly plants – Mitsubishi in Ilorin, Nissan in Minna, Peugeot in Gusau, Isuzu in Maiduguri and Mazda in Umuahia. But the plans suffered still birth. At present, the local automotive industry has the installed capacity to produce 108,000 cars, 56,000 commercial vehicles, 10,000 tractors, 1,000,000 motor cycles and 1,000,000 bicycles, annually. However, capacity utilization is below 10 percent for vehicles and about 40 percent for motorcycles, bicycles, etc. Therefore, the coming of Honda promises a good omen, especially if it opens the gate of good tidings for Nigeria and her distressed local automobile manufacturing industry.

x July 13, 2013 George Zimmerman was found not guilty in the shooting of Trayvon Martin. On the night of February 26, 2012, in Sanford, Florida, United States, Zimmerman fatally shot Martin, a 17-year-old African American high school student. Zimmerman, a 28-year-old mixedrace Hispanic man, was the neighborhood watch coordinator for the gated community where Martin was temporarily living and where the shooting took place.

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Friday, July 10, 2015

Who and where are the progressives? NEW HORIZON Wale Ajao With

waleajao2002@yahoo.com, 08023112006 (sms only)

he term ‘progressive’ refers to a tendency to embrace change in virtually all aspects of socioeconomic and political life of a human collectivity. The opposite, ‘conservative’ means the political tendency that is usually reluctant to accept social change. Reactionary refers to a political philosophy of clear opposition to change. Over the years, the usage of these terms often varies from one society to another, despite the fact that they are social concepts that have universal application. In the 19th century, the term ‘progressive’ referred mainly to the followers of Karl Marx , the German social scientist, who advocated the theory of historical and dialectical materialism, which essentially talks about the progressive advancement of the productive system from feudalism to capitalism and the inevitable progression to socialism. That theory spread round the world in the 19th and 20th centuries. The idea inspired many revolutionary groups, which sought political changes in several countries. The progressive ideas also influenced decolonization momen-

tum in the Third World. In Nigeria, the founding fathers espoused progressive ideas, which varied from democratic socialism by the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo to socialism by the late Mallam Aminu Kano. Generally, any politician who believes in a clear departure from the prevailing decadence in Nigeria is usually described as a progressive. It is specifically important to note that the term came to the fore in the Second Republic when the defunct National Party of Nigeria [NPN] was seen as the party of the conservatives, whereas the Unity Party of Nigeria [UPN] and the People’s Redemption party [PRP], were categorized the progressive parties. It is vital to note that in Nigeria, ideology has not been a very strong parameter of delineating political associations as ethnic and religious affiliations have taken precedence. This is why the show of shame in the Senate and House of Representatives penultimate week has once again called to question the term ‘progressives’, which some politicians have been using to describe themselves. When we are faced with a situation where political leaders cannot reach agreement about how to share posts and allocate responsibilities, but rather resorted to exchange blows like what happened in the House of Representatives recently then critical observers will be compelled to raise issues. If indeed members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) are really genuine progressives, why are they unable to sort out simple thing like who takes what

IT IS CLEAR THAT IN TODAY’S NIGERIA, WE ARE VERY FAR FROM

PROGRESSIVE POLITICS,

RATHER, WE ARE AT THE LEVEL OF ETHNICISED POLITICS responsibility or office? Why are our so-called progressives in the NASS desperate about positions and committee appointments? If these politicians are really genuine progressives, why can’t they step down for one another so that the leaders of the National Assembly could be chosen without rancor and acrimony? Between April and June 9 this year there was sufficient time to consult and reach agreement on how the various posts could be shared if national interest is the main motive. The unfolding scenario is indeed a testimony of the fact that our politicians are usually motivated by purely pecuniary motives. Why are some of the so-called progressives consumed by inordinate ambition to the extent that they could not accept party decisions? Apart from submitting to party supremacy (a concept recognized worldwide), our senators and representatives could not consult and cooperate to save the nation the embarrassment of a free-for-all fight in the full glare of

local and international media. We now have a situation where our so-called progressives being divided irrevocably into two camps. The significant thing is that these groups are not about values, debates, ideological perspectives. All of these divisions and permutations are about money and power sharing. It is no wonder, therefore, that rumour, insinuations have become the order of the day. And each day comes with new sources of alienation from the people. Such is the acceptance of the bogus wardrobe allowances for the progressives, whose state governments owe workers salaries of up to eight months or more. We are talking about a situation where a progressive senator will progressively be collecting at least N4 million yearly in a country where grinding poverty is pervasive. If the so called progressives cannot have genuine feeling for the ordinary people one cannot but ask what makes them progressives. If ethnic and geo-political calculations are still criteria for selection of leaders instead of merit and clean public service record, then one will be correct to ask: Where are the progressives? If physical combat is the modus operandi in such hallowed chambers likethe House, then one cannot be wrong to ask: Who are the progressives? It is clear that in today’s Nigeria, we are very far from progressive politics, rather, we are at the level of ethnicised politics. We are still more concerned with perquisites of office. The truth is that our politics is just not progressive.

Are the media complementing Boko Haram’s infamy?

doubt if there are enough proofs to show that the development of modern mass media is the prime underlying escalator of global terrorism, including the one by Boko Haram. However, it will be foolish to deny that many modern terrorist groups such as Boko Haram and some section of the mass media are locked in a relationship of considerable mutual benefit. Boko Haram wants to appear on every television channel to obtain not only massive publicity but also the aura of legitimization, which the media presents in the eyes of their followers and sympathisers. Coverage of the sect’s slightest moves, especially prolonged incidents such as beheadings and capture of certain parts of Nigeria in the past, provided an endless source to boost audience figures. By no means, complementing Boko Haram is beyond the powers of modern mass media because to create a terrorist group, you must understand how groups espousing terrorism originate; their motives ideologies and modus operandi must be examined. That being said, so long the mass media exist, Boko Haram will continue to long for what the late British Prime minister, Margret Thatcher, referred to as “oxygen of publicity”. But that does not mean that the mass media should cease to exist because as long as BH continues to terrorise us, irrespective of how obscene, the mass media will continue to do their job, but with a bit of reasonableness, to satisfy the need of their audiences, which include both the victimisers and victims situation. Boko Haram needs “oxygen of publicity”

MANY COUNTRIES HAVE SOUGHT TO DENY TERRORIST GROUPS DIRECT ACCESS TO IMPORTANT PLATFORMS OF BROADCAST MEDIA to convey the propaganda of its deeds and to create extreme fear, tension and alarmism to target groups, and the mobilisation of wider support for its cause among the population and international support groups such as ISIS and Al-Qaeda. It is also meant to disrupt government efforts so that the citizens will think that all counterterrorism efforts are counterproductive. This the sect achieved under the immediate past administration. The relationship between terrorist groups and media is inevitably symbiotic in two ways. First, the media is provoked into action by feasting on Boko Haram’s deeds through strategic and calculated manipulation. This is the only occasion when Boko Haram engages the media in an instrumental relationship. Yet, in reality it is intrinsic to the very activity of violence that some form of media, however, crude is utilised to disseminate the message of threats and intimidation for all to see. The coercion of the media is second form. Here, BH may see the media as an enemy to be punished. Thus media organisations have often been target of attacks, particularly in areas of severe conflicts such as Italy, turkey in the 1970s and now Nigeria. Some journalists may be subjects off at-

tack or threat to deter them from exposing some details of terrorists’ activities they wished to guard. Although, such attack or threat, if occur, does not mean that the existing symbiotic relationship will suddenly become irrelevant. The truth still remains that no matter what happens between them, the media will still cover their atrocities, at least for commercial purposes. Whichever way you look at it, when Boko Haram is mentioned, it is natural to mention the media because by its very nature terrorism is a psychological weapon that depends on communication for effectiveness. It may be argued that there exists a symbiotic relationship, yet there are other ways in which responsible media can frustrate the agenda of Boko Haram and still escape threats. It is clear that the sect likes to portray itself as the champion of the oppressed, by showing their cruelty, violence and the way in which they violate the rights of the innocent, murder women and children. Our media can help shatter their myth. To Boko Haram, no one is innocent; no one can be neutral. All are potentially expendable to their cause. Furthermore, the media can frustrate the sect by reporting responsibly and accurately incidents which can help the masses and our law enforcement workforce to be more vigilant; identify and report unusual packages, persons, objects as well as educating people how to respond in case of emergency. Meaning, although the media are subject to manipulation and exploitation, they can play invaluable role in defeating Boko Haram. However, there exists press freedom; on

Counter-terrorism Tips With

Ethelbert Oney ethelbertoney@zissltd.com, 08029929121 (sms only) the other hand, there could be press censorship of statutory regulation. Many countries have sought to deny terrorist groups direct access to important platforms of broadcast media. For instance, the late British Prime Minister, Margret Thatcher, demanded that the IRA should be denied the “oxygen of publicity” and the media were banned from giving access to the IRA spokesperson. This measure did lot of damage to their efforts to build electoral support and sympathy on their followers. For our local mass media community to be exonerated from this role of complementing BH or terrorism in general, they should genuinely exercise due care and responsibility in covering the exceedingly sensitive subjects of BH in situations where lives may well be in grave danger. They may need to work harder at devising measures of self restraint that are both appropriate and effective. 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.

Mail Mirror

Friday, July 10, 2015

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They should leave Professor Bogoro alone

I No point stampeding Buhari over ministers

igerians should not stampede President Muhammadu Buhari in his cautious drive to appoint members of the Federal Executive Council and other top aides. Doing so, will inevitably lead him into making the mistakes of the past that made the country to be saddled with half fit and misfit as ministers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. There is the popular saying that slow and steady wins the race. Let us all believe that he is out to pick the best to serve in the federal cabinet, and as such he can only succeed in doing this by making haste slowly. We must not forget that our current economic misfortunes are traceable to the errors of past presidents and their aides. The idea of governors going to Abuja cap in hand begging for handout from Aso Rock will no longer be acceptable under this change dispensation because they have local resources they can tap from to generate money to run their states. Gordon Chika Nnorom, Umukabia, Abia State .

am writing not to praise or impress Professor Suleiman Bogoro, the Executive Secretary of Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) but rather to bring to the kind attention of the general public what I consider the evil designs against him by those who are eying his position. Before the appointment of Professor Bogoro to his current position, many people had coveted the position, while many others had worked behind scenes to get it for their friends or relatives. It was no wonder that only after few months after his ap-

Letters to the Editor

found guilty of the allegations leveled against him. Thereafter, I asked rhetorically, why would you ask somebody to resign his position after being cleared of the charges of corruption against him by anti-corruption bodies like EFCC and ICPC? According to Mallam Idris, his call for Professor Bogoro’s resignation is based on the criticisms against him by some people. The question is is: Who are the people? He went further to accuse Professor Bogoro of being a member of PDP, just because his appointment

A lorry transporting huge elephant grass on Oyo-Ibadan expressway. PHOTO: ABIOLA ABDULHAMMED

Bon voyage, Mr. President!

he nation’s economy is in a very precarious situation; this is exemplified by the fact that power genera-

Prayer is answer nation’s woes

y candid advice to Nigerian politicians is to be fair to all in the provision of the necessary social infrastructures to avoid a situation of not having a nation to rule over. We should be fervent with our prayers for peace in the country and for good leadership. We should be reminded that leadership without consultation is evil. This prayer becomes Nigerians necessary because it is the only weapon we have to demand God’s intervention in the nation’s affairs. The truth is the challenges facing the nation are far above what the politicians could address. We must remain resolutely united in the fight against religious intolerance, immorality, election rigging, injustice, among many others evils. Prayer is the weapon of the oppressed, the poor and the marginalized. Everything happening in the country today indicates that there are so many things wrong

pointment, there were many petitions against him by the same people, challenging his capability and accusing him of embezzlement. The EFCC was even challenged to investigate him; this was carried out a verdict of ‘not guilty’ was returned. I was disappointed after reading a baseless or rather an invented story by one Mallam Idris Mohammed of United Coalition Group, published in the Daily Trust of Tuesday June 30, 2015, calling on Professor Bogoro to resign, even though he was not

with and we cannot continue to watch without taking steps. I pray to God to soften the minds of our politicians to jettison their inordinate ambitions for the sake of the masses. Let us with faith believe our prayers are already answered. However, there are disturbing signs of some emerging government policies that appear oblivious of the peculiar needs of Nigerians. This should be immediately addressed. We must collectively fight against unemployment, poverty, disease, tribalism, moral decadence, drug abuse, rape, religious intolerance, etc. We must be involved in this cause to demonstrate our concern for the welfare and well being of the nation and our people. Prophet Oladipupo Funmilade-Joel (Baba Sekunderin), The Way of Reconciliation Evangelistic Ministries (TWOREM) Int’l, Lagos (08033733470)

tion is below 2000MW.The security situation is equally bad, the foreign debt burden has grown to $9.4 billion. The fact that public servants in the three levels of government are owned salary arrears of many months confirms the worsening economic situation. The nation’s financials were in the public domain before the last general elections, which was why Nigerians voted for change, a change defined in bringing a man of integrity and proven antecedents to lead the country. Incumbent President Muhammad Buhari is aware of the prevailing precarious situation and is determinedly interested in driving the process of revitalization of our economy. It is, therefore, unnecessary to inundate him with the current bad situation of our economy, or his campaign promises. He knows what to fix. I appeal to Mr. President to shift his focus from a multiprong approach to that of one by one approach, because the journey of a thousand miles, they say, begins with a step. I am optimistic that his name will enter

the annals of great leaders that turn impossible situation around and history is filled with such men that they came in at a very negative point in the history of their nations to bring about the much needed charge. Examples are the Singaporean leader, Lee Kuan Yew; Nelson Mandela of South Africa, and even Jerry Rawlings of Ghana. President Buhari should be reminded that Nigerians are aware of the situation in their country; that was why they voted for him in the last March 28 presidential election. He cannot afford to let them down. So, my advice is he should not be distracted by the cacophony of voices that are hammering on the bad situation of the company. Trusting in the positive intervention of God and approaching governance with altruism, sincerity and justice, it is obvious the next four years will be a memorable time in the history of Nigeria. Bon voyage, Mr. President. Professor David Olufemi Bamgbose was Ogun State governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance in the last general elections.

came under PDP-led administration. Does that means everybody that was given appointment under PDP government is automatically a PDP card carrying member? Do we, therefore, say the former INEC Chairman, Professor Atahiru Jega and others that got their appointments to hold public offices during PDP government are also PDP members? I stand to be corrected that under ongoing administration of Professor Bogoro as TETFund Executive Secretary, universities in the country recorded meaningful infrastructural development. This was because he released funds to them. If he actually embezzled these funds as being accused, where did he get the funds he released? Did he print money and gave to these universities? Did Mallam Idris write from his personal conviction or was paid to do it by those who want Professor Suleiman Bogoro out by all means? I have the strong conviction that the call on Professor Bogoro to resign is base on ethno-religious grounds. Professor Bogoro may not be perfect, like any other person, but the fact still remains that he is working diligently and transparently. He desire kudos. I call on Mallam Idris Mohammed and others who are against him to stop being jealous and know that what one plants he will reap. Awunah Pius Terwase, Mpape, Abuja (08179289948)

CORS: Another ‘first’ for Ogun State

gun State, known to be first in many areas of development in Nigeria since the advent of the administration of Senator Ibikunle Amosun, has done it again when it becomes the first state in the country to set up three Continuously Operating Reference Stations (CORS) at Abeokuta, Ijebu-Ode and Agbara. A Continuously Operating Reference Station is an automated multipurpose GPS-based tool for Geographic Information System used by government, engineers, scientists and surveyors. The facilities in Ogun beam over 70 kilometre radius each with an overlap among them to produce corrections and give accurate location of boundaries. They are connected by the Internet, which makes them visible globally. The CORS is the main reason for the enormous contribution to the development of land reforms in the state. Kudos to Governor Amosun! Adeshina Passover, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, Ogun State.

Send your letters The Editor reserves thethe right letters or or mails mailsto toPMB PMB10001, 10001,Ikoyi, Ikoyi,or orour our Email: Email:mirrorlagos@yahoo.com mirrorlagos@yahoo.comand andinfo@nationalmirroronline.net info@nationalmirroronline.netoror08056180209, 08054103275,07033375481 07033375481(SMS (SMSonly). only). The Editor reserves right to to edit and reject letters photographs. Psuedonyms may used, must clearly marked such. edit and reject letters or or photographs. Psuedonyms may bebe used, butbut must bebe clearly marked asas such.

Your

FRIDAY

Flavour

and fifty thousand naira and that led to my disassociation from him. In other to avoid paying me the money, he decided to go and deal with the country directly after one year and two months without my knowledge but when he got his fingers burnt, he came back, trying to put it on me that he gave me eighty- six thousand dollars for five trucks. I dare him to prove with evidence his claims in the law court and stop using his police friends to try to intimidate and brutalise me, get me kidnapped and killed. “At this point, I would like to let the world know that even my attorney was threatened on the 29th of June by an unknown phone call not to appear in court. So he had to go to human right commission to seek company. Should anything happen to me or my family members, my attorneys, my employees and associates, these officers and their superiors should be held responsible”.

Inside FCT P. 24-25

resh from detention, reggae music star, Victor Essiet may not stop talking about his ordeal in a hurry. For him, it is unsettling. Friday Flavour’s investigations revealed that all started last year when one Supol Nda led members of SARS on the 29th day of November, 2014 to the venue of his first annual reggae festival, Africa Meets Reggae and World Music at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos. “I was attacked and seriously brutalised which led to Africa Meets Reggae losing over two hundred million naira in the process and I was hospitalised for months. “However, I had to follow due process by seeking redress in the court of law, against all the parties involved as it is done in America where I reside and other countries in the western world. We have been attending court sessions without any respondents showing up in court, as it was very difficult serving all the people involved, but at last my attorneys have to apply options provided by the law to get everyone served. He said the first appearance of everyone mentioned in the suit was to be on Monday the 29th of June 2015 two days after the burial of his late elder brother which was on the 27th of June 2015. “Unknowingly to me, the police were planning to get me kidnapped because I had sought a redress in the court against them and the individual whom they collaborated with, to infringe on my fundamental human right. This, they achieved on Saturday morning at about 2:30 am.”

“They came in a convoy, numbering fifteen with masks on their faces, armed to the teeth and forcefully took me away from the company of my friends and family members who were with me coming back from the wake keep of my late brother at our family compound, going to Uyo so I could take my brother’s corpse in the morning back to my village for burial. This happened in the middle of the road. “Since this incident happened, I have not seized to ask myself questions. Why would the police as an institution mask their faces if their intentions were not to abduct and kill me? Why would riffles be given to some civilians and be made to be in the company of the police? I am saying so because I realised that they were not all members of the Police Force. I was able to spot two of them they had difficulty trying to identify me from my friends who were in the vehicle with me and also had dreadlocks like me. At the process of trying to identify me, both pulled their masks. The Rat Race crooner disclosed to Friday Flavour that only three were police officers while the others were civilians. He said it was so because when the attempted kidnap was botched by the press together with the fact that some of his people saw their faces. He also said that instruction was given to them to drive him back to Lagos adding that he could recognise three of the policemen who were there during the attack at the stadium. “As the individual that I helped to get a Mack truck for in America since he didn’t have enough money to purchase the same here in Nigeria, refused to pay me the five thousand dollars that I put down to be able to secure the truck for him. Instead, he gave me a hundred

Essiet

They came in a convoy, numbering fifTeen wiTh masks on Their faces, armed To The TeeTh and forcefully Took me away

WEEKEND STARTERS Theatre@Terra presents Kongi’s Harvest Soyinka@81 event kicks off

kongi’s harvest

heatre@ T e r r a presents Wole Soyinka’s KONGI’S HARVEST. Join Crown Troupe of Africa as they celebrate 19 years of creative outbursts with one of the Nobel laureate‘s most popular plays. Date is on Sunday, 12th July, 2015 and Time is 3 pm and 6 pm (two shows daily) at Terra Kulture, Tiamiyu Savage Street, Victoria Island.

he 2015 edition of the yearly Wole Soyinka International Cultural Exchange (WSICE) project has been scheduled to hold from July 12 through the 14th. The annual programme was initiated in 2010 and debuted on the 76th birthday anniversary of the Nobel laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka as the “quintessential artist and symbol of our humanity”. The, 2015 project will focus on storytelling – “as a resourceful art form that is an integral part of the socialisation process of an average African personality.

Lagos Music Ministry Conference

ay paves for Christ lovers to worship and praise the most high as Christian Collective Africa presents the Lagos Music Ministry Conference 2015 and Evening Concert with Miller Luwoye at RCCG, House of God, 13 Alawode Street, Off Nnobi Street by Kilo Hotel, Ikate Surulere Lagos on Saturday July 11th 2015 by 8am to 6pm. It is a forum for worshippers and everyone who thirst and hunger for more of Christ to come attend the conference. It is a day of whole worship and praise, powerful teaching and influencing people around with God’s love as God is using Music Ministry to awaken the nation to his kongi’s harvest love and power.

Wole Soyinka

Critics P. 22-23

Olawale Oluwadahunsi

Arty

Story of my kidnap, detention –Mandators

News P. 32, 33

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

Mirror Mongers P. 26

Friday, July 10, 2015

Artman In The House

Friday, July 10, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

How I fell in love with television One minute with multiple award-winning TV presenter, actress, counselor and peace ambassador, Rachel Bakam aka ‘Rachel the Piper’, and one will sense her raw passion to make an impact in the society. Founder of a new sport in the country, she talks about her vision, failed marriage and career in this interview with REGINA OTOKPA. Excerpts:

Rachel

hat makes your programme ‘Yanayin Zamani Da Rachel’ and ‘Trends and Rachel’ unique? What inspired me is God; He showed me the signs of love. My programme is not such that I cover always, I speak the pidgin Hausa, whatever I do I just do it and it fascinates them. What you would do averagely in English on the red carpet I do it in Hausa dressed in a long dress which is very unusual. I am passionate about peace, I preach peace on my platform always and I believe it is possible for dialogue to work, that’s why I was made a peace ambassador. During the elections, I focused on peace, stressing how we can all make our decisions without having to fight. I kept sending broadcasts, I brought out my programmes that had to do with that and used my platform to nurture it. I believe it is possible for us to get to a point where there is a lot of sensibility in our economy, we have some very good people around so it is possible for us to be at peace and united. How many investors have you been able to draw to Nigeria? The biggest one is the Nigeria Water Ski and Wakeboard Sport Federation, on a small scale I linked some designers up

with some people here. When an opportunity presents itself, I go round carrying Nigeria flag and talk to people to come invest in Nigeria. Some people said they have initial contacts in Nigeria and I encouraged them to come. Presently, you are fueling a new sport in the country, why Water Ski and Wakeboard sport? Nigerian Water and wakeboard sport federation is something new; we don’t have anything like that here. When you go out there you will know we play safe here. Like somebody said, it is because of safety we don’t have enough. In Germany children were skiing down the mountain, they are used to it and it makes them bold, it brings out more of courage, makes people come out of their comfort zone. I want new areas, areas that have not been explored before, I like to see that my era as president produces a lot before I handover. Sometimes you hear about some sports and you don’t hear about them again because it is not easy in this country. The minister said the reason he was supporting it was because he saw passion. People just want to eat money but I want to see facilities spring up, I want to see us hosting a national compe-

tition, I have been able to get an athlete in London, there is nowhere to practice yet so he is going to train and will represent us at the world cup in Shanghai. The sport is good for our environment; we can use an existing lake or use an artificial lake. As CEO RAYZEDS Media, you have been fortunate to travel wide; do you think our local media is developing as fast as it should? I have a lot of reservations on how media is, people don’t get enough support here; you have to be the producer, marketer. The media has the power to make and break, but here the media is sometimes like a stooge. We are just bent and twisted and the media is a powerful tool in society, we are meant to be objective, have your voice, your opinion, but in Nigeria money controls a lot of things. With no support as a producer with nothing coming in, sometimes I wanted to give up but because the drive to make an impact kept me running. We can’t keep giving excuses, yes things are bad still keep your stand, how will there be change if everybody dances to the tune things are rough I just have to bend. A media personality shouldn’t take sides; you have to be objective so that when something is going wrong you can speak about it because if you take sides and you are paid for it,

I have a lot of reservatIons on how medIa Is, people don’t get enough support here; you have to be the producer, marketer. the medIa has the power to make and break, but here the medIa Is sometImes lIke a stooge

At home

then you can never be able to be honest. We need to be more disciplined and take our positions in Nigeria to influence the way things are done. And the awards keep coming nationally and internationally, how did you get to this point? I have been very fortunate, many people work harder than me sometimes I just wonder that I am blessed in this area. I used to collect a lot of awards from primary school through the university and till date because of the conscious decision I took in primary three to move from coming over 30thposition in class to the first or second position. I was fortunate to come out as the best graduating student of my faculty in ABU. Acting was my first love but TV is very demanding and I fell in love with television, began my segment on NTA Plus. Another thing is I didn’t do the normal thing, I would start the script from the end, I mix drama with TV and it’s fascinating. I remember consciously I thought about it, I want to receive awards as a TV presenter, I thought about that and I drew it because in this our industry, with the brand you’ve built you also need awards and you have to be smart. Media is not easy to make money, you have to think, be creative and my investment is my work. I got a honorary award in Amsterdam for media excel-

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Artman In The House

Friday, July 10, 2015

– Rachel the Piper

With family

lence, I got best upcoming presenter in Nigeria in London, papyrus award, accolade, peace ambassador award, heritage award, capital territory award, the U.S embassy has nominated me for an exchange programme in Television in August, and I am going to London tomorrow for leadership and media award and for founding the Nigeria water ski. The awards began to come when I had the last challenges. When I had issues with my husband there was nothing that wasn’t said about me in the media sometimes you can’t do the fight I just let God. People called me all kinds of names, on the blog it was very intense. I come from a place where divorce is a taboo but for me my marriage was like a jail. When you are not having a great marriage you are in trouble, I need affection I can do without money but a woman cannot do without affection if she is not getting it from you she will get it from somebody, if you don’t talk to your wife somebody else will talk to your wife . It got to a point I begged God to kill affection in me but God said he will not kill it but why am I so affectionate about someone who cannot give it back? What did I do wrong? I would beg for it, I would seduce for it, I would kneel down for it, I would cook for it.

Award for Rachel

On the blog where everybody was insulting me, a man looked at me and talked to the lady who owns the blog that I don’t know this lady but I want to give her an award because I know that these things are not true so sometimes you do not have to speak for yourself, In my marriage I was extremely honorable. Many people are passing through a lot in their marriages that is why before you marry how are you guys from every area from affection to sex, what do you like, except you want to die and be living. What’s the story behind your mask and hand fan? The symbolism of the mask is the piper plays a positive music of change in development because whoever plays the pipe dictates the tune and to be honest I got that name from my ex, Israel, he is a great broadcaster, he is not a bad per-

son, we were not just compatible. He had the name for long but I named the Family time segment; P- People, I- Issues, P- Places, E – Enabling events, RRave. When I wear the mask of piper, I will say I have no identity, peace has no identity, I stand there as somebody neutral. For the fan, I like to appreciate made in Nigeria things, the creativity is beautiful I have some nice fans from Italy but I like to appreciate the Nigerian brand. Secondly I always get warm so I just fan myself stylishly. As a counselor and divorcee, what would be your advice to ladies in abusive relationships? People are going through a lot, for those having it good, marriage is lovely, it is heaven on earth but you have to be independent, never ever just sit down doing nothing, sometimes you have to pressure a man, there are times you should just pack your things and say you are leaving, you need to be a bit unavailable to spice up some things. I like to go out there be a boss but come back home and be a woman to my man, to be his support but not in a case where I am abused emotionally, psychologically and physically so if you are in that kind of abusive relationship, keep trying all the methods; pray, check yourself for what is wrong, fight for it, be submissive, ask the man what he wants. The ego of an African man is much, any little thing their ego gets affected.

For those having it good, marriage is lovely, it is heaven on earth but you have to be independent, never ever just sit down doing nothing, sometimes you have to pressure a man, there are times you should just pack your things and say you are

leaving, you need to be a bit unavailable to spice up some things

Receiving an award

When I married Israel there was vision, honour but there was no money and he was twice my age, who does that? You marry someone twice your age when there is something that’s to show you that I believed in him I am not perfect, I had my issues but I believed in Israel, the only thing that cracked everything was we weren’t compatible. One of the principles in marriage is that if you don’t agree you can’t work together. It takes time to heal, the more you talk about it the more it comes out of you. Marriage is very powerful, it is not easy to come out of at all, whatever trait you see in a man while dating him, they don’t change at all. Apart from your relationship you have a destiny to fulfill so if your marriage comes to life threatening, you should walk out. Could you tell us some of the countries and cities you have visited? Las Vegas is lovely, crazy and vibrant the lights on the streets are something else, Verona the city of Romeo and Juliet is also lovely, Austria is beautiful, Germany is organised and clean, I thought I was in love with Paris but some parts are dirty. Kenya was a surprise it’s like you are not in Africa, good weather and well-arranged.

Critics

MUSIC

Friday, July 10, 2015

Oritse Femi: ‘Money Starts Nonsense’

The album comes loaded and with the Oritse Femi vocal signature. But that can hardly be what a total album should be.

OlAwAle OluwAdAhunsI

e begins the album with the first song Mercy, a medley which was inspired by his last solid hit song Mercies of The Lord possibly to reintroduce himself to his new fans who are just getting to know him on this album. The next song Story Of My Lifeis exactly that, a biographical song which details his life from when he was born till date, taking us on a journey over the Reggae instrumental which fit the message he was trying to convey just well. The Fliptyce produced Igbeyawo comes next, with this one he created a nice song that will make it to a lot of wedding playlists and engagement parties. Previously released Redi Danceborrows from a contemporary highlife sound, it was tailor made for the clubs, he sprinkled it with lewd lyrics which complimented the song, and made it another “Shoki-Ready” hit track. MSN Gang and HKN Gang get together on the next songDebe Confirm, a song which I feel was created

FILM

to cast some spotlight on Davido and Oritse Femis’ Label Proteges B-Red andOluwaseun, while the latter gave a good account of himself, B-Red didn’t leave much to be desired and sounded entirely out of place. The Harrysong featured Sukus is a highly forgettable dance song which comes next and precedes the Skales featured Zangarewa another underwhelming song which I feel would have been better off without the guest appearance. I always expect a memorable song on a Timaya featured song but that was not the case as the Album once again falters on Money which had a dancehall vibe, and sounded dated, Egberi Papa definitely left his A-game at home before recording this song. The dancehall sound continues on the next song Want It which features Cynthia Morgan and Ghanaian Dancehall maestro Shatta Wale, a nice collaboration which was laced with the “Ajegunle sound and will be appreciated by many Galala aficionados. Next comes the first single from this Album Double Wahala, a hit track which everybody is familiar with already however the song that comes next Destiny is a below

par attempt at making an R&B song and doesn’t work for me even the slightest. The sound of the album changes unexpectedly to a “Snap

Invasion 1897’s global potential

Award-winning filmmaker, Lancelot Imasuen’s new work, ‘Invasion 1897’ has been going round the world, stressing the fact that it is a local story with a global potential. AmArA IwuAlA

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he multi-million naira film by Lancelot Oduwa Imasuen, Invasion 1897, is a thought-provoking historical film on the deposing of Oba Ovarhehem Nogbaisi of the Benin Empire by the British colonialists. Oba Ovarhehem Nogbaisi is very powerful and his influence extends to Akure and other towns. Intrigues, betrayal and ambition lead to his ousting by the British administration hell-bent on instituting their supremacy through colonisation. Lancelot Imasuen justifies the huge resources invested in this film. The story is compelling, prompting reactions from the audience from time to time. The set by Iyen Agbonifo is spot-on. One imagines the creativity and effort that went into the erection of the numerous thatch and mud houses used in the film. The guy, who plays King is convincing in his portrayal of a royalty. The established as well as new actors give very good account of themselves. The soundtrack by Mike Nliam is evocative of authentic traditional African music. The costumes are beautiful. Almost all the special effects are believable. The picture quality is lovely and the sound is

impeccable. The screenplay puts the viewer on the edge of his or her seat, hoping that Nogbaisi will triumph in the end. The story is told from the Oba’s point of view, arousing empathy and sympathy at the same time for him. The dialogue is replete with very deep African proverbs rendered with oomph by the actors; simply riveting. The dialogue is also written in the English of the Victorian era - impressive. The scene where the British soldiers and Benin warriors have a confrontation and the almost simultaneous pronouncement of ‘Long Live the King’ and ‘God Bless the Queen’ is hilarious. The portrait of Queen Victoria in the office of the British administrator heightens verisimilitude. Invasion 1897, above everything else, demonstrates the futility of bloody human conflicts and the sad fact that there are people, who will always join

The cosTumes are beauTiful. almosT all The special effecTs

are believable.

The picTure

qualiTy is lovely and The sound is

Invasion 1897

forces with the enemy to undo their kinsmen. However, in spite of its merits, there is an observable flaw in Invasion 1897. A couple of the British actors did not perform well. In fact, one of them was almost reciting his lines, appallingly. The producers should revisit the film’s subtitle before it starts showing in the cinemas. Diligence and several other words were spelt wrongly. One expects that the artistic and cinematic success of Invasion 1897will surely lead to the production of other remarkable historical films. The excellence displayed by the producers of this film will ex-

pel the skepticism displayed by organizations that are keen on making endowments for film production in Nigeria. This is also a call for PublicPrivate Partnerships that will lead to the production of films, which will not only highlight our rich cultural heritage but will, also, tell our numerous untold stories. If the 83-minute picture, which yours truly saw at the premiere, was quite interesting, then viewers will certainly be thrilled when the 2-hour version of the film hits the cinemas on December 5, 2014. *Iwuala, an art critic and blogger lives in Lagos

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Critics

Friday, July 10, 2015

Almost All the collAborAtions here sounded more obligAtory thAn orgAnic And there is nothing to tAke home lyricAlly from this project Rap” sound on Gat It which featured another verse by Ice Princewhich was riddled with the word “Nigga” (this seems to be his favourite word at the moment ),On this one Oritse Femi did his best Migos/Young Thug impression, though it was made to appeal to the rap heads, it did not fit into the “soundscape” of the album at all. You probably will not hear a better Davido collaboration this year than Sexy Lady, the next song which is a sure fire hit song, the album mix made it sound even better. He enters his comfort zone on Oju Ti Leri, the next song which is one that will make Kegites and Drunkards happy as it was performed over a “gyration instrumental” and celebrates drunkenness. Culture which filters in next follows in the sound of its predecessor down the gyration lane, but is more geared to his fans in Eastern Nigeria, I’m quite sure this one will go down as a fan favourite as well. Patoranking shows up on Sodiyen, another repetitive pop song which I feel should have been left on the cutting room floor. Next track is Halla My Name featuring Phyno, another below par collaboration which doesn’t do much for me. The album continues on Body and Soul which is yet another poor song which doesn’t have replay value whatsoever to me. M.I Abaga is the guest on Life Is Good, with an uncharacteristic poor verse which was only matched my Oritse Femi’s unmotivated and lack lustre performance on this song. Double Wahala Part 2 features D’Banj who added more star power to the song and gave it a very much needed international exposure. The curtains fall on the album with the next two songs Oma Ilaje Featuring White Man & Shookah and Ijoya Featuring Remi Alukowhich are actually two of the better songs on here, but didn’t do much to salvage the final collective output. The listening process of this album was more of an Augean task than an actual musical experience. Almost all the collaborations on here sounded more obligatory than organic and there is nothing to take home lyrically from this project. Out of all the 4 of his Albums he has produced, this may be the “biggest” in terms of collaborations and fan-reach but it is the worst in terms of musicianship, Oritse Femi Is someone who is very talented, but he has proven to me with this Album that you need much more than talent to put a classic project together and can release over 20 songs with 10 A-List guest appearances without saying anything, apart from the obvious hit tracks, this album is almost a throwaway project which I think should have been appropriately titled Money Starts Nonsense.

BOOK

Unveiling Anioma Kingdom The book, ‘Anioma: Resolving the Identity Crisis’ restates the obvious about the history of a people diluted over the years with half-truths and misinformation.

Ngozi EmEdolibE

lthough Anioma is a coinage chiefly championed by late Dennis Osadebey, former Premier of the Mid- Western region during the first republic, its essence was to unite the Igbo-speaking communities located on the west of River Niger with other neighbouring clans who share both cultural and geographical affinities. The coinage, somewhat embracing was done to capture the then four local government councilsAniocha, Ndokwa, Oshimili and Ika. But several incidents in the past have suffused to create confusion, spawning what is today known as ‘identity crisis’ in this zone. As the zone, constituting the Delta North senatorial district intensifies its clamour for political relevance in Delta State; the arrival of this book (authored by Prince Charles Anyasi, who is passionate about the Anioma cause) is very timely. The book is a thirtyone chapter explanation backed with historical, Biblical and anthropological evidences which trace the origin of most of the people in this location to their relatives across the River Niger. It however goes a step further to link the people so described to Jewish ancestry. But towards the end of the book, there is a clear impression to the reader that the author’s intention is not to re-unite the Anioma people politically with their kith and kin but to establish its identity by the way of a state to be known as Anioma State, which would include Onitsha, the commercial hub of not only Anambra State but also of the entire eastern region of Nigeria. The author backed up his declaration by publishing an endorsed document signed by some prominent Onitsha sons, some years ago, stressing their determination to be lumped under Anioma State. Far from explaining the root of the Anioma people, the book also went further to solicit for the creation of Anioma with the belief that the land is blessed with both natural and human resources to sustain it as a state. This may not be far from the

truth, but the idea of recreating the borders across the geographical expression as embodied by the River Niger may not be necessary at this point in history. The author also explained in detail what could be called the grouse of the Igbo on the West of the Niger against those on the East of the Niger, citing frequent snide refereeing to those on the west as ‘lazy’, and the instances of marginalisation encountered during the civil war. In backing up the derogatory snide, the author referred to an English author, Basden G.T, who wrote an account meant to distinguish the ‘two stocks’. But he failed to recognise that a white author like Basden needed to write this to have a grip on the tool of discrimination to achieve the ultimate goal of the colonialists. The author should have also explained the fact that ‘marginalisation’ is an intrinsic part of the human population and runs on every rung of the human society until perhaps the last, which is our mother’s kitchens. The instances raised during the war could have arisen out of the desperate need for the people to survive as has been captured in the books explaining the war in de-

Book

chArles AnyAsi’s

book must however be commended for A number

of reAsons. it is not one of those books published in A hurry As the Accounts portrAy

A well-reseArched, well-written And

well-printed book tails. The author however failed to highlight the different fence-mending efforts being made by the entire Igbo land to unify all its sons and daughters through the pan-Igbo group, Ohaneze Ndi Igbo, whose former president, late Ralph Uwechue belonged to the Anioma stock. Charles Anyasi’s book must however be commended for a number of reasons. It is not one of those books published in a hurry as the accounts portray a wellresearched, well-written and well-printed book. Commendation must be given to the cover design as the picture tells the story with the cap worn by the cover model with its portrayal of the theme. Perhaps the author’s feats make his account of this debate very authentic. He, Anyasi has traversed the media landscape in Nigeria as a writer and television host and has also become the spokesperson of Umu Anioma Foundation Wo rl d w i d e . His account of this largely politicallymotivated debate will help to enrich minds.

Inside FCT

Thursday, July 10, 2015

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Succour for widows, orphans in FCT Regina OtOkpa

iving in a one room apartment with seven children in Byazhin across, a slum in Abuja, Cordelia Unogwu a roadside corn vendor would give anything to bring her husband back to life. Narrating her story to Inside FCT, she said “before my husband died, we were living at Jabi. He was a good furniture maker, there was always enough money to buy food, take care of the children so I did not bother so much to learn any skill, but I was into petty trading. “After his sudden death, life became tough. My business wasn’t generating much and so my children couldn’t continue their education. We hardly have enough food to eat and worse of all we had to relocate to Byazhin across because we couldn’t afford our rent but at least I can afford this one even though the environment is not a place I intended to ever raise my children. “I am sure my husband is turning in his grave because if he were to be alive, we would not have to pass through so much suffering just to keep surviving.” There are worse case scenarios of rejection, oppression, neglect, oppression and depression facing widows in society, as they grapple to move past their predicament and etch a living for self and family in spite of the numerous challenges they encounter in their day to day living especially widows in the FCT, where the cost of living is high. Considering these challenges, a Non-Governmental Organization, Rock of Ages Empowerment Foundation, RAEF, has consistently encapsulated widows in its annual activities as a means to help relieve the pain and suffering they pass through in catering for their families. Marking the 5th edition of the International Widow’s Day celebration in the Federal Capital Territory, the foundation as always, made provision of relief packages and over N4m to no fewer than 240 widows, 10 elderly women who just graduated from an economic empowerment and skills acquisition training, and granted scholarships to about 135 primary and secondary school students. Speaking to Inside FCT, the founder of the NGO, Evangelist Ignatius Newman, explained that “As part of activities lined up, the foundation by virtue of its scholarship scheme is giving out free education to about 85 pupils and fifty secondary school students. “Furthermore, about 40 widows have been trained for catering, 95 for bakery and 105 for soap making. In addition, the foundation will be giving out the sum of N20, 000 each to 240 widows totaling four million, eight hundred thousand naira and also equipped with all the materials needed for initial take off in their business. These are batch of the people graduating in 2015.

Giving succour to widows in Abuja

“The elderly ones amongst them, about 40in number are to receive grinding machines each valued at between 35000 and 40000 naira only. About 120 bags of rice will be shared and also wrappers,” he added. Inside FCT checks revealed that RAEF in the space of three years, has successfully empowered over 3, 000 widows and had also donated a total of over N70m to widows living within the FCT alone. According to Newman, the foundation would stop at nothing in achieving its dream of giving a sense of belonging, improving upon the welfare of widows and orphans in the FCT through small and medium scale enterprises. To this end, he disclosed that there were ongoing plans to establish an academy and cooperative society where widows could be trained and empowered to boost their welfare. The founder added that the foundation had procured lands on which quality free academic institutions would be constructed for fatherless children as well as houses for widows and their children to live in. He also told Inside FCT that as part of its future socioeconomic plans, the foundation was already working assiduously on an agricultural project that would engage bereaved families in a continuous business to help them cater for their needs with little or no assistance. “The foundation has concluded arrangements to embark on a programme named ‘vegetable for life’. We have pro-

cured lands in various locations in our various branches to be leased to beneficiaries and crops supplied to them for planting. Additionally, boreholes are to be provided in various locations to make for an all year round farming,” Newman revealed. Commending the initiative, Mr. OkpewumEgbe, an assistant director women education and organization in the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, told Inside FCT that the joy about such empowerment programmes was the capacity in which they bring to the front burner not only the numerous challenges revolving round women who are widowed in society, but it helps the federal government, concerned organizations and individuals in identifying, sensitizing, training and empowering affected women to boost their level of livelihood. Emphasizing the need for economic empowerment and psychosocial support to assist widows’ step out from traumatic experiences, he noted that such programmes heightens self-esteem and ease socio-economic integration. Egbe said “Your remarkable contribution especially in this era, when the population of widows has steadily increased as a result of the recent spate of terror attacks in some parts of the country. It is pertinent to point out that these kinds of events have the potential of not just recognizing and bringing to limelight challenges these women pass through, but also to identify, sensitize, train and empower them

InsIde FCT CheCks revealed ThaT raeF In The spaCe oF Three years, has suCCessFully empowered over 3, 000 wIdows and had also donaTed a ToTal oF over n70m To wIdows lIvIng wIThIn The FCT

in order to enhance their income.” While appreciating a donation of N200, 000 from RAEF in support of ongoing women projects in the ministry, the director said the ministry in its continuous drive in promoting the economic empowerment of women was working towards training about 100 widows in basic skills in addition to start off grants and tools. She enjoined concerned persons to join the movement saying “I wish to call on the stakeholders to support these empowerment schemes as a sure way to ensure that widows’ vulnerability issues and concerns are positively addressed and be encouraged to participate in economic and other activities geared towards improving their status and ensuring full integration into national development Also chatting with Inside FCT, Mrs. Emily Herbert, a director with National Human Rights Commission, said economic empowerment of widows was the best solution in tackling the plight of widows in society saying Condemning the prevalence of rights violation of widows by their kinsmen in the South East and South West regions of the country, she disclosed that women were mostly responsible for inflicting harmful practices on widows. Herbert however noted that even though the Commission has had “series of enlightenment sessions and town hall meetings with the intention to stop the barbaric act, some of these unaccepted acts are gradually going extinct.” After Mrs. Eucharia Chudi lost her husband in 2007, she was embattled with a challenge of catering for her family. Although a primary school teacher at Kabusa, one of the suburbs in Abuja where she resides, the economic and in 2010 she learnt about rock of ages foundation. I joined them and it was then I took courage I see others they have empowered me twice the other day they gave me 10, 000 the second time they gave me 20000 after I learnt catering. Now I am using the money in my business although I teach in a school, I will make snacks and sell in school and still sell after I get home from work to Inside FCT; one of the widows, Mrs. EuchariaChudi said she lost her husband in 2007 and in 2010 she learnt about Rock of Ages Foundation. I joined them and it was then I took courage I see others they have empowered me twice the other day they gave me N10, 000, the second time they gave me N20,000 after I learnt catering. Now I am using the money in my business, I will make snacks and sell in school and still sell after I get home from work. Inhale just one child. My fellow women thatbare coming here should make sure they put their minds here to learn whatever skills they are taught. The moneybtheybare giving us, no matter the amount, it is helping us tremendously. Kabusa, since enjoined tis foundation I no longer lack food as before.

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Inside FCT

Thursday, July 10, 2015

Residents access free kidney screening Regina OtOkpa

obody wants to die young, a huge percent of people are aware of the importance of staying healthy but how many of them have knowledge of the little things they must do to keep healthy and live a normal life as long as possible? Every day, people die prematurely from various health-related complications in and outside medical facilities. Some could be out of negligence on the part of individuals and sometimes medical personnel, others due to lack of finance or even ignorance. Statistics however, has shown that the incidence of some of these diseases including kidney failure has been on the rise in the country. It was on this vein that the Julie Donli Kidney Foundation, embarked on an awareness walk within the Federal Capital territory over the weekend, to sensitize residents on the need to cultivate healthy lifestyles that would check the occurrence of kidney failures and also proffer support and advice to patients with renal failure and undergoing dialysis or patients penciled down for a kidney transplant. This was in addition to a free screening exercise for residents to check for abnormalities that could lead to renal failure. Only recently, the foundation had visited the Utako ultra-modern market, where no fewer than 50 out of over 300 persons were screened and found to have medical concerns. Speaking to Inside FCT, the convener and president of the foundation, Julie Donli, said there was need for people to constantly undergo quarterly checkup at medical facilities to ensure that their blood pressure and sugar

Kidney Awareness Walk levels were normal. According to her, there was also need for individuals to go easy on sugar and bottle of drinks, eat healthy, carry out regular exercises, avoid tobacco, reduce the intake of alcohol, desist from abuse of medication especially drugs like Paracetamol and Ibuprofen. She noted that her foundation was passionate about letting the “general public be aware that kidney disease is real, kidney failure is on the rampant now. If you go to the hospitals, most of the patients there are suffering from kidney failure, if you go to the dialysis centers you have so many people doing dialysis and it is an extremely expensive

treatment which over 80 per cent of sufferers cannot afford. The idea is to go out and preach this word to make people go for screening to prevent the disease because it is easier to prevent the disease because the disease has no cure, it is a lifelong treatment.”

Donli disclosed that due to the high percent of people living with kidney problem and the high cost of dialysis, the foundation since it started its operations April this year, has assisted about 20 persons with financial difficulties in offsetting the dialysis bill. She maintained that, “In order to make it less complicated, we partner with the national hospital dialysis centers. For those who cannot afford the dialysis, national hospital is very gracious, they usually do it for them at a reduced cost, what we do is we give some financial assistance to match up with whatever the patients can pay so we work through them in reaching out to the dialysis patients.” Keen on impacting on the lives of those handicapped due to financial constraint, she revealed that plans were equally underway to establish dialysis centres across the Federal Capital Territory and the country and also expand the foundation’s scope of reach to teaching hospitals as well as all general hospitals located in and outside the FCT. Donli also added that one of the objectives of the foundation was to ensure that they provide subvention for no fewer than a hundred patients who are financially destabilised, to enable them undergo dialysis even as 500 persons should also have accessed free screening quarterly to curb the rate of kidney failures.

Kidney failure is on the rampant now. if you go to the hospitals, many of the patients there are suffering from Kidney failure

RTEAN remembers IDPs in Abuja adeOla tukuRu

t was a memorable day for the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp in Abuja when the Road Transport Employments and Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), recently distributed relief materials to them as part of its corporate social responsibility (CSR).

This group of IDPs which were over 750, having escaped from the Boko Haram-menaced areas in the North Eastern states of Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe, have found temporary refuge in the FCT-squatting with relatives and friends located at New Kuchingoro, Airport road in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The IDPs got bags of rice, gallons Groundnut oil, Yams, Bags of Rice, Onions, Provisions, Cloths, Soaps, amongst others. But, the National President, Road Transport Employer’s Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), Alhaji Musa Isiwele Shehu, said they are so doing constituting burdens on their host,also calling on Nigerians to seek God’s intervention to curb insurgency in the country. “These ones are people that suddenly found them running away from attackers and they remember that somebody came from their village and they trooped there. Because those they run to also need help, they become extra burdens to them. In fact, it affects the quality

of lives of the families they are running to. It affects those running and their recipients. “So, all these have a lot to do with furthering security problem because idle hands become the workshop for the devil. So empowering those takes away idleness from them and giving them a platform to seek help from the Almighty,” he said. He emphasised that Nigerians should embrace love as well as seek god’s intervention towards surmounting the current security challenges, adding that Nigeria was suffering from lack of love and harmony among her people. RTEAN boss opined that the dearth of love among Nigerians had given birth to distrust, intolerance, hatred and unwarranted violence among the citizens of this country. “We brought these items because of the Ramadan season and to also use this opportunity to pray to God that he will put a stop on this insecurgency in the country before the end of Ramadan,” he said. One of the leaders of the horde, Alhaji Usman Adamu, lauded the good gesture after receiving the provisions, which he said will last his household weeks. He further called on the Federal Government to reinforce its soldiers so as to put an end to the insurgency in the country especially the North. “This is the first time we are receiving attentions. Other groups have been coming to the camp we have not received anything like this,” he said.

dearth of love among nigerians has given birth to distrust, intolerance, hatred and unwarranted violence

At the IDPs camp

It would be recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari, lastweek assured victims of terrorism across the country and indeed all Nigerians that there is hope for them. Buhari’s message of assurance was conveyed by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo in Yola, Adamawa State, when he visited internally-displaced persons in the NYSC Orientation Camp and terrorism patients at the Federal Medical Centre both in Yola. Osinbajo had since Wednesday embarked on visits to the north-eastern part of the country, which is the epicenter of Boko Haram insurgency, on the instruction of President Buhari. The VP assured the displaced persons that Buhari would ensure that everything was done to resettle them back to their homes. “The President asks me to say to you that there is hope, great hope. That the Federal Government under his leadership will ensure everything is done to provide for you and resettle you back to your homes, your work, your businesses and your places of worship”,

a statement by the Presidency quoted Osinbajo as saying. The vice president, however, asked the people concerned to be patient with the government. He said patience was needed because the government “is not too buoyant”. “But you have to be patient, you have to be patient. As you know, the government has very little money. We are running after all the money everywhere, so that we can use it to serve you”, he was quoted to have said. Mr. Osinbajo said despite the poor financial status of government the President thinks of the terror victims every day. While commenting on the problem of unemployment and poverty in Adamawa State, the VP disclosed that his party, the All Progressives Congress, is specifically concerned with these major problems. Osinbajo assured the government of Adamawa State that the present administration was committed to assisting in rebuilding and reconstructing affected parts of the state.

Mirror Mongers

Friday, July 10, 2015

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Actress Adiele: Pregnancy and controversies

ollywood fans were initially mad and actually called her names when those pictures of her pregnancy surfaced online. And that is the beginning of the controversy. Nollywood actress, Dior Chidera Adiele has ‘posed nude’ for reasons yet to be disclosed to her followers. The actress, whose major prominence to acting came through her role in The Blur, released pictures of herself standing completely naked while other pictures had her with loose clothing. But with the barrage of criticisms came an explanation that pregnancy comes with hormonal changes which spurs one to do certain unconventional things. The actress did not end at that, she went a step further to condemn those calling her names for her attitude. She says she cannot try to be perfect for anyone. Mhmmm…So take a good look at Chidera Adiele and figure out if you would love your wife, daughter, sister or

Hawkers in Abuja

FCT without Bala Mohammed

etter don’t ask who Bala Muhammed is, because it is just a little over one month since he left power as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory. And you know that he made Abuja tick for people on different divides. If one happens to be an okada man, bus driver or hawker in Abuja during his reign you would know the effect of this Bauchi State born politician. If you happen to be a rich man, developing a building in an unapproved location, you would also get a bit of Bala Mohammed. In spite of all that, the FCT seems to be missing the man already. Barely six weeks after his face stopped adorning walls of most offices in the FCT, things

are going from bad to worse in terms of orderliness in the city. MM gathered that okada riders who used to be rarely seen in Abuja are back on the major roads of the city, while street traders and beggars are also having afield day, doing their thing. Of course, people are heaping blames on the vacuum created since the President is yet to name his cabinet, but others are quick to point out that FCT under normal circumstances ought to run on the existing structures in the Ministry. According to this school of thought, the Ministry has directors and a permanent secretary who should take charge even when the substantive Minister is not around.

Adiele

mother to pose like this under the prevailing circumstances.

Fake officers at CMS, Lagos

In search of Black Face

he last time Black Face got in the news it was over his absence at the flamboyant wedding party of his colleague and partner 2Face Idibia. He told the world that ‘he would not attend an event he was not invited to’, which some persons have interpreted to mean deep angst, if not envy. The next time was when Black Face ‘came face to face with trouble’ at the Degak Hotel in Abuja, where he lodged for one week and created a ‘million dollar trouble’. According to a MM source, Black Face checked into the hotel with a friend of his, after telling the hotel’s manager, a Liberian that he was in Abuja to transact some quick business which would spin money at the end of the day. His prayer was that the hotel’s manager should allow him a grace of one week to settle the bill which should

ONE-SECOND &

With

ALIKO DANGOTE

CMS Lagos

H Black Face

have come to N175k but was graciously reduced to N70k. A lot of things happened afterwards, but since then the music act seems to be missing in action. Even the tabloids have not been able to pin him down to any location in the country. Of course, people are missing his style in the scene.

Some Nigerian football fans have expressed displeasure over plans by business mogul, Aliko Dangote to buy English premiership club, Arsenal, instead of buying wholly Nigerian football clubs. He reacts to the concerns:

ave you been to CMS in Lagos lately? Well, a scam seems to be going on there right now. Some people are feeding fat from indiscipline, much like what obtains in some developed climes, but the difference is that the proceeds from the operations are lining private pockets rather than the government. Now the offences these guys are looking out for include: failure to use pedestrian bridges, failure to use the waste bins etc. How do they operate? MM gathered that the moment such an offence is committed one would be accosted by four hefty men who would brandish ID cards,

lish club, ArseWhy the passion to acquire Eng s are begging nal, when Nigerian football club for attention? Nigerian he issue is that if I buy all the continue clubs, the Nigerian flags will Arsenal ing to remain here. But buy Just ide. ldw wor flag will take the Nigerian ed, tion men is ich mov aha like whenever Abr up, eves com sia Rus , ntry cou his the name of eryone knows he’s Russian.

but before the victim reads it, they would announce that the person was under arrest for committing the particular crime. Then the person would be made to follow them to a cabin tucked under one of the flyovers, where the victim would be interrogated by a ‘superior officer in uniform’. Those who do not have the time to be dragged around, usually part with some money to get off the hook. Sums collected depend on the victim’s bank balance and could be as high as ten thousand naira, which are mostly withdrawn from the ubiquitous ATM galleries in the vicinity.

Friday, July 10, 2015 23 Ramadan, 1436

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Call to Worship

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

RELATED BY BUKHARI AND MUSLIM

Shunning the Love of Power

now that goodness in all cases is for authority to be given to a servant who takes charge of it. (Therefore) whomsoever we see striving hard to get it, more especially if he asks for it; we know for sure that he does not deserve it. And whoever entrusts such a person with it has transgressed, for he has put it in the wrong place. This is because, even though it is by means of such authority that the proper order of the whole world can be maintained and the Law implemented, it could nevertheless be a show of temptation. It is for this

reason that no hadith bearing an instruction to appoint a supreme leader or his deputies has ever been reported, as such posts mean leadership and haughtiness, from (the evils of) which no-one escapes except a person who is protected by Allah. Had the law giver asked us in a clear statement to seek for state power that would have been an exposure to temptation. But the law giver does not enjoin any actions which leader to temptation. On the contrary, he prohibits asking for public office unless the person is asked to undertake it.

Quoted from: Principles of Leadership According to the Founding Fathers of the Sokoto Caliphate

Collated and edited by Hamid Bobboyi with the Compliments of His Eminence Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar mni, CFR, LLD, Sultan of Sokoto

Over 4,000 Katsina pilgrims for Hajj James DanJuma KATSINA

o less than 4,413 intending pilgrims from Katsina State are to participate in this year’s hajj exercise in Saudi Arabia.

Executive Director of the State Pilgrims Welfare Board, Ahmed Hassan said sum of N773, 476. 59 would be paid by intending pilgrims for minimum fare, N813, 476. 59 for medium fare and N912, 556. 59 for maximum fare.

He said intending pilgrims that paid the minimum fare would get $750 Basic Travelling Allowance, BTA, while those that paid for medium and maximum fares would get $1, 000 and $1, 500 BTAs respectively. He said that they were given only

ten days to balance their payments. He called on intending pilgrims to deal directly with zonal offices of the board for payment of their fares which should be in certified bank drafts. He said the board had as parts

of preparation for the exercise, placed order for the manufacture and purchase of pilgrims’ uniform materials and suit cases while pregnancy screening for intending female pilgrims was ongoing at the board’s seven zonal offices in the state.

Quote

Head of Department, Insurance and Actuarial Science, University of Lagos, Dr. Tajudeen Yusuf; Dr. Jubril Salahudeen; Ustadh Nojeem Jimoh and chairman of the occasion Alhaji Niyi Akinlusi; Alhaji AbdulKabir Aliu and other dignitaries at LEMU’s quarterly workshop held at Vice Admiral Jubrila Ayinla Multipurpose Hall, Lekki Central Mosque, Lagos recently.

Historic significance of Lailatul Qadr 29

‘Make Qur’an memorization first priority’ 29

We sent it (Quran) down in a blessed night. Verily we have ever warned therein (in that night) is decreed every matter of ordainment.

Selfreformation and helping others reform 30

Call to Worship

Giving priority to Qur’an study too

t was a thing of joy as I watched my little girl preparing seriously for her Qur’an recitation competition and she was so excited when she scaled through the first preliminaries. As the competition became stiffer at the finals at the weekend and she took 4th position contrary to her expectations, she felt so bad and wept throughout. I understand her plight anyway. And it is high time Muslim parents give as much priori-

ties to Islamic education as much as we do for western education. We should be able to correct their bad Arabic grammar as we do for their English grammatical blunders. We should assist them in easing their memorization, expose them to varied Qur’an recitation competitions and take them to events that will encourage them in being very serious with their Qur’an classes. I could remember that my twins and other kids around too were so eager to be

THE PLATFORM with

Sekinah

Lawal E-mail: sakinah207@yahoo.com t: 08055102994 part of the next competition just because they were part of the whole processes. Yes, it should not be only parties, Shoprite and the likes. We should always expose them to beneficial programmes; create enabling environment for them at home to love learning Qur’an. This also brings us to the issue of sponsorship for these competitions. We have cases of Hajj tickets being given to those who do not even merit it because they are

... Do a test before taking malaria drug

any people are in the habit of taking malaria drugs once they feel feverish or any other symptoms of fever which might not be due to malaria. This is a dangerous trend which must be stopped. Malaria has been a major threat in Africa with Nigeria’s large population being affected. According to recent figures from the World Health Organisation, WHO, half of the world’s population is at risk of malaria with an estimated 627,000 malaria deaths. This statistics is enough reason to be worried by the surge in malaria cases in Nigeria. More worrisome is the fact that deaths from malaria in Nigeria, as at the last count, were the highest recorded worldwide. This is why all our health facilities and as individuals

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23 Ramadan, 1436 Friday, July 10, 2015

and families, we must begin to totally eliminate malaria and insist on getting appropriate testing and treatment for malaria. Without appropriate diagnosis, the war against malaria is far from being won. As we all know, malaria is a potentially fatal mosquito-borne parasitic disease that kills an estimated 655,000 people, mostly children, worldwide each year, hence; there is a dire need for us to prevent the breeding of mosquitoes and having mosquito bite. Malaria is probably the only infection that can be treated in just three days but still kills millions every year due to lack of prompt and appropriate treatment, Malaria can be particularly fatal in children under five years of age and pregnant women. At a media roundtable

organised recently by Malaria No More in partnership with ExxonMobil, National Malaria Elimination Programme Federal Ministry of Health and others, participants were reminded of the fact that Nigeria has the world’s largest malaria burden with nearly one-third of the cases in Africa as well as the leading cause of clinic attendance and absenteeism in Nigeria, presenting with such varied and dramatic manifestations that malaria may have to be considered as a differential diagnosis for almost all

not used to observing regular Salat and lack piety. Those Allah, the Most-High, has blessed enough to be able to give out Hajj tickets should start thinking of encouraging these young ones and their teachers. Though the reward in the Hereafter is the ultimate, there is no harm in getting enough motivation here on earth too. By so doing, they will be further motivated and Allah the Most-High will also increase the donors’ blessings.

clinical problems. Based on statistics from the Clinton Health Access Initiative, CHAI’s presentation done at the media roundtable, if left untreated, severe malaria leads to near 100% mortality within 48hrs, with a heavy toll on pregnant women and children. There are approximately 208,000 deaths from malaria in Nigeria alone. Despite all efforts, children are still dying from severe malaria. And this is why it is very painful when we notice bad attitudes

we must begin to totally eliminate malaria and insist on getting appropriate testing and treatment for malaria

of some of our health workers in government hospitals especially. I was in one of Lagos general hospitals recently and was really upset when I saw a boy of about two years old left unattended to. From the way he was breathing rapidly, I could sense a symptom of severe malaria and the nurses on ground did not see it as an emergency to be attended to immediately. I had to draw the attention of the mother to the severity of the boy’s condition. Anyway, it is a long story for another day. As we are doing prompt diagnosis and effective treatment by getting tested before treatment, let’s keep our environment clean, use insecticide-treated nets, do indoor residual spraying when needed and keep the campaign of malaria no more going.

Ustadh Umar Sayeed; Mallam Yusuf Abdullah; Ustadh Uthman; Ustadh Nurudeen Atolagbe; Ustadh Abdullah Abdullateef and Ustadh Muh.Rabiu Sayeed at the finals of the Quran memorization/recitation competition organized by The Young Muslims Association, TYMA, at Musbaudeen Central Mosque, Iloro-Agege Local Government at the weekend.

L-R: Alhaji Luqman Ayantayo; Ustadh Ishaq Mansur; Alhaji Ahmad Mayna; chairman of the occasion, Engr. Ibrahim Oyewande at the event.

Winner, Juzu Mujadilah, Rohmah Abdulfattah of Al-Hikmat College, (3rd left) surrounded by her mother and teachers at the Quran recitation competition organized by The Young Muslims Association in Agege-Lagos.

L-R: Mrs. Adio, Hajia Adebari, Fawziyyah Muh/Awwal, Aisha AbdulWahid; Aisha Abdulfattah and Hajia Musa of Al-Hikmat College at the Quran recitation competition organized by The Young Muslims Association in Agege-Lagos.

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Call to Worship

Friday, July 10, 2015 23 Ramadan, 1436

Historic significance of Lailatul Qadr A ll praises and adoration are due to Allah (SWT) and may his peace and benediction be upon the soul of the noble Prophet, his household, the companions and generality of Muslim Ummah (Amin). The night of Lailatul Qadr is indeed great since the Holy Qur’an was sent down in this night. Muslims should stay up and pray whole night out of faith, hoping for reward from Allah. It is better than a thousand of months. Allah almighty says in the Holy Quran: “Verily; we have sent it (Quran) down in the night of Majesty (Lailatul Qadr) and what will make you know what the night of Qadr is? The night of decree is better than a thousand months. There descend the Angel and the Rooh (i.e Gabriel) by Allah’s permission with all decrees peace until the appearance of dawn”. (Al-Qadr 97: 1-5). So if you worship there, you stand a chance of gaining rewards of a thousand nights. Also importantly related to his night is that in it every decree matter is conveyed as mentioned in the Holy Quran “we sent it (Quran) down in a blessed night. Verily we have ever warned therein (in that night) is decreed every matter of ordainment. Amran (i.e a command or this Quran or his decree of every matter) from us verily we have ever sending the messenger in a mercy from your Lord (Ad- Dukhaan, 44: 3-6). When is Lailatul Qadr? It is known form hadith that the exact knowledge of when Lailatul Qadr falls was taken because some people argued. Ubaadah ibn As – Saamit (R.A) said: “The

Prophet (P.B.U.H) came out intending to tell us about Lailatul Qadr, however, two men were arguing and he said : “I came out to inform you about Lailatul Qadr, but so and so were arguing, so it was raised up and perhaps that is better for you , so seek it on the (twenty ninth and twenty seven and twenty fifth) (Bukhari). It is reported from the Prophet (PBUH) that: Verily; I saw Lailatul Qadr and I was caused to forget it, and indeed it is during the last ten nights of Ramadan. It is during an odd night.” It actually means that night of decree occur in odd numbered nights during the last ten days of Ramadan i.e twenty- first, twenty-third, twenty-fifth, twenty-seventh or twenty nith. Narrarted by Aisha (R.A)” Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) used to preach itikaf in the last 10 days. If someone is too weak and unable to pray for all odd nights, then he must not let go the last seven nights. Reported from Ibn Umar(R.A): “Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said “seek it in last 10 night and if one of you is too weak or unable then let him not allow that to make him miss the final seven” (Bukhari Muslim) The Prophet (P.B.U.H) used to stay up and pray Lailatul Qadr. It is prescribed. The prophet said whoever stand in prayer in lailatul – Qadri out of faith and seeking reward then his previous sins are forgiven (Bukhari). It is also prescribed to supplicate greatly in it. Aisha (R.A) said: “O Messenger of Allah: What if I know which night lailatul qadr is, what should I say in it ? He said

say; Allahuma Innaka Affuwum, Tuhibbul Afwa fa’fu’ annee (Ho Allah are forgiveness, so forgive me) (At – Trimidhi) One should strive hard in worship during the last 10 days of Ramadan. Aisha (R.A) said: Prophet (PBUH) used to exert himself in the last ten nights more than he would at other times (Muslim). According to authentic hadith, the following signs are evident; sun rises early in the morning without rays, Rain may fall or shower either during the night or during the day of the night, during the night, the sky will be lightly foggy, the sky will be slightly lighted without reflections and without rays and moon seems like half plate, night will be very comforting and soothing with no trouble from high or low temperature. 16 things we can do on the night of power Ramadan; Take a vacation for Allah. We take a break from our jobs for almost everything in life. Why not this time to focus on worshipping and thanking our Creator? Do Itikaf; It was a practice of the Prophet to spend the last ten days and nights of Ramadan in the masjid for Itikaf. Make this special Dua: Aisha may Allah be pleased with her, said I asked the Messenger of Allah. “O Messenger of Allah, if I know what night is the night of Qadr, what should I say during it? He said Say O Allah. You are pardoning and You love to pardon me. Recite and reflect on the meaning of the Qur’an. Get your sins wiped out. Abu Huraira narrated that the Messenger said. Whoever stands (in prayer in Laylatul Qadr while nourishing his faith with self-evaluation,

Zakat Is 2.5% Of YOur tOtal Wealth, knOWn as nIsab. after havIng fulfIlled all OblIgatIOns, paY YOur Winner of 1st prize for Juzu Hama, 5 years-old Rodiyah Ayinla with Hajia Hawwa Bakare and the 2nd prize winner with her mum at the Quran recitation competition organised by The Young Muslims Association in Agege-Lagos.

Zakat

‘Make Qur’an memorization first priority’ Sekinah L awaL

uslims have been advised to make Qur’an memorization their first priority in order to excel in other areas of endeavour. Giving the advice recently at the Quran recitation competition organized by The Young Muslim Association in Agege-Lagos, one of the

judges, Ustadh Uthman urged Muslims to memorize the glorious Qur’an first as it will help them in every other thing they want to do in life. Also speaking, chairman of the occasion, Engr. Ibrahim Oyewande called on Muslim parents to give the same priority to Islamic education as done for secular one. For Juzu Mujadilah, Rohmah Abdulfattah of

Al-Hikmat College took 1st position with Abubakar Abdullah coming 2nd while Murjanat Abdullah took 3rd position. Speaking with newsmen, Rohmah Abdulfattah revealed that the focus on the Hereafter and the reward of Al-Janah is her motivating factor. Rohmah who is an SS3 student of Al-Hikmat College, Lagos, said she wants to become a Gynaecologist in future.

Winner of 1st prize for Juzu Hama, 5year-old Rodiyah Ayinla started ifs just ten months ago. Fatia MuhAwwal came second while Nusaiba Hud took 3rd position. Muzab Kamil-Yusuf took first, Maryam Zakariyah second, Rumaitha Adegbindin third position with Fawziyyah MuhAwwal of Al-Hikmat College taking 4th position for Juzu Tabarak category.

expecting reward from Allah will have all of his previous sins forgiven (Bukhari and Muslim), Make a personal Dua list. Evaluate yourself: Do an evaluation of where you are and where you are going. Make long, sincere and deep Duas: One of the best time to do this is during the last part of the night. Memorize a different Dua every night. Have lftar with the family: If you have spent iftar time on weekdays in your cubicle at work alone with a couple of dates, now is the last few days you‘ll have this Ramadan to spend with your family. Use it wisely. Take the family to Tarawih. Attend the Dua after the completion of Quran recitation. Finish reading a book on the Prophet. Read about the Prophet’s life, which can increase your love for him and Islam by seeing how much he struggled for Allah’s sake. It may inspire you to push yourself even harder during these last ten nights. This community is built on sacrifice. By AbdulKabir AbdulQadir Adedeji, Chief Imam AllahuAkbar Central Mosque, Unity Street Igbusi, Iyano-Ilobu, Ogun State.

Why divorce rate is increasing –Asmawiy JoeL aJayi ABUJA

he Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at, Nigeria, Abuja Chapter has attributed high rate of divorce to inability to recognize Allah as God as well as misunderstanding of the family structure, values and confusing religious teaching with cultural legacy. Speaking in Abuja during a Ramadan lecture organized by the Jama’at, Barr. Raji Asmawiy, noted that Ramadan is a month of self-assessment for all Muslims. According to him, Many Muslims enter marriage without understanding its true purpose. “The increasing rate of divorce within the Muslim community is due to lack of understanding of the purpose of marriage and its significance. Unnecessary involvement of parents in their children’s marital life, lack of understanding the high objectives of marriage and prior knowledge of what it means to be a committed

and responsible husband or wife, domestic violence and verbal and emotional abuse, big cultural differences, having high unrealistic expectations and lack of spirituality, where people focus on the legal aspect of marriage with a dry and materialistic approach has ruined many home.” “Many Muslims just get married as a cultural practice choosing a partner “randomly” not caring about their piety and its significance in building an Islamic home, the love and mercies are at times replaced by abuse. If we stick to the Holy Qur’an and practice of Prophet Muhammad, we shall all have peace.” “Parents must do all they could to take care of their family for a better society adding that family is the microcosm of any society.” President of the Jama’at, Abuja Chapter, AbdulLateef Busari disclosed that the lecture is to remind ourselves of our duties and obligations to Allah and fellow human being.

Call to Worship

23 Ramadan, 1436 Friday, July 10, 2015

Every Friday with

Khalifatul

Ahmadiyya

Self-reformation and helping others reform

e should remember and revisit the commandments given by God in the Holy Qur’an. Those given the responsibility to remind others about the commandments should indeed do so. Those with such responsibility are missionaries and office-holders. With the grace of God the Jama’at operates on central as well as auxiliary levels and these in turn have office-holders from national to neighbourhood level. Each of these office-holders is expected to discharge of the responsibilities as helpers of Khilafat; i.e responsibilities of Khilafat on a wider scale. If all missionaries and office-holders were to understand this a revolutionary change could come about. This entails the person given the responsibility to have the awareness that having devoted/dedicated their life or having received a Jama’at obligation they should first self-reflect if they are abiding by God’s commandments and presenting themselves as a role model so that they can remind others about their responsibilities. If they only remind others while not practicing on the commandments themselves it a great cause for concern and they should engage in istaghfar (seeking forgiveness from God). It should be clear to all office-holders that advising others is not just the responsibility of the Ameer, or the presidents of Ansar, Khuddam or Lajna or their respective tarbiyyat secretaries. Each secretary, for example those serving for hospitality or sports should all present themselves as role models in this regard. If this was put in practice it would ensure that more than fifty percent of Jama’at would abide by commandments of God, be they regarding attending the mosque or be they about paying dues of mankind. Any person serving Jama’at should first self-reflect and see how much he is abiding by the commandments, change himself for the better and then advise others. Similarly, each Ahmadi who says that he took bai’at to bring pure changes in his life should repetitively keep God’s commandments in view. Not only would this bring about their own reformation it will also enable them to impart true morals to the world. Special attention should be given to this and Divine commandments should be looked for and practiced. Last Friday sermon was based on some qualities of true believers; today again some other qualities were expounded. Ramadan is a great source of reformation. While it draws us to worship of God it also makes us look at our weaknesses.

Any person serving JAmA’At

should first selfreflect And see how much he is Abiding by the commAndments We should thus make full efforts during this month to make good our shortcomings. If we do not do so we will only be partaking of sehri and iftar with no effect on our practices to enhance our spirituality and morality. It would be like a case of those who come up with excuses when they are asked to fast or asked to offer optional Prayer or Taraweh or asked to offer congregational Prayer. But when they are asked regarding iftar they readily agree saying of course they are not that bad at practicing religion. We should not be like such believers who make a mockery of faith and their situation is indicative of the rather sorry state of Muslims. The standards of those who accepted the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) should be very high. With the exception of proper justification for not fasting, they should keep fasts and have a most excellent level of worship of God and read the Holy Qur’an during Ramadan. Hazrat Jibraeel used to specifically have the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) repeat the Qur’an during this month. Thus everyone should pay special attention to recitation of the Qur’an and search God’s commandments and practice them. Taraweh Paryers are not obligatory in Ramadan. They were started in the time of Hazrat Umer (may Allah be pleased with him) to facilitate those who could not offer Tahajjud. Indeed, those who can wake up early should offer Tahajjud. These days there is little time to offer Tahajjud, so a few should be offered. It is not essential to offer Taraweh Prayers when fasting and Tahajjud is also not obligatory. However, optional Prayers should be offered during Ramadan and Tahajjud is encouraged even outside of Ramadan. This clarification was made because someone had said that it was essential for a person keeping fast to at least offer eight units of Prayers or Taraweh. This is not a condition of keeping fast. However, reading of Holy Qur’an is desirable and commendable. Indeed, one should try and further adorn one’s worship during Ramadan and spend as much time as possible in remembrance of God.

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‘Pray more in last 10 days of Ramadan’ In this interview with Olawale Mustapha, Dr. Tijani Kehinde Fadlu-r-Rahman, the National Chief-missioner of Alfathu-l-Qareeb Muslim Organisation of Nigeria speaks on essence of Laylatu-l-Qadri among other issues. What is the essence of Laylatu-l-Qadri? Laylatu-L-Quadri (Night Of Majesty). Special prayers are organised in the last ten days of ramadan in order to harvest the blessings of the night of majesty .It is a night where Muslims can have better changes in their Lives. The Prophet Mohammed (SAW) recommended strongly that Muslims should pray more seriously both as individuals and in congregations to the last 10 days of ramadan. Quran chapter 97, verse 3, says the night of majesty is better than a thousand month. The implication of this is that the devotional services engaged in at this perio attract rewards equal to a thousand month. Human management in every organisation is challenging and demanding. However, I enjoyed the cooperation of many members who keep on sharing their good ideas for the smooth running of the organisation. I became the missioner after the death of my twin’s brother, Shaykh Tijani Abdul-Mumim Taiye, the founder and spiritual leader. He passed on, on January 6, 2011 at the age of 51.The loving members of the society unanimously agreed to appoint me as the successor. What are your achievements? We tried as much as possible to work towards achieving the set goals of the organisation. We have intensified our efforts to enlighten, train and educate our members to understand Islam better .We have lectures every week, observe night vigil (Tahjud) twice in a month that is, first and third Friday of the month at the National headquarters in Lagos while other branches observed their night vigil every second and fourth Friday of the month. We organise marriage seminars on quarterly basis , we have radio and television programmes and publications in some print media. We also have primary and secondary schools established in some states such as Lagos, Oyo and Kwara .We built mosque in some states like Lagos, Oyo, Kwara, Niger, Kano, Osun. However, our schools are not for members only, but for the general public. Also, we are working on our higher institution (University). What is your opinion about terrorism? Terrorism is un-Islamic in all its ramifications. There is propaganda against Islam and Muslims from time immemorial because Islam stands for justice and uprightness, wherever Muslims stand to defend their religious rights, protects

ALFATHU-L-QAREEB MUSLIM ORGANISATION OF NIGERIA

Dr. Tijani Kehinde Fadlu-r-Rahman

their lives and integrity of the Muslim, they are easily tagged terrorist. However, terrorism in the name of Boko Haram or any other name is undoubtedly political rather than religious. Reports all over the world if objectively viewed proved that terrorism is more of politics than religion. In Nigeria, Muslims and their Mosques have been terrorised just as the Christians and their churches have been attacked. Disappointedly enough, those who have been identified with the incidence of bringing ammunition to the country or aiding such practices have been left without any punishment. Your advice to present government? They should fulfill their campaign promises geared towards better changes for Nigerians and Nigeria. They should appoint people of worthy character to occupy different public offices. The appointed officers equally should discharge their duties with the fear of God. During the last election, members of our organisation were encouraged to participate actively and vote for right candidates. Special prayers were organised with fasting to ensure peaceful transition. Please share some outstanding testimonies in your society? We have some members who felt hopeless due to some challenges facing them. With prayers, many had breakthrough. The organisation itself has a testimony because many people thought that the death of the founder will lead to its end. How should Muslim live their lives after Ramadan? Muslim should continue to utilise the moral trainings received in the month of Ramadan

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People In The Mirror

Friday, July 10, 2015

L-R: Mrs Oluranti Ademowo; the Diocesan Bishop of Lagos and the Dean Emeritus of the Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion Most Rev. (Dr.) Adebola Ademowo, former Deputy Governor of Lagos State Mrs. Adejoke Orelope Adefulure, the Groom Oreoluwa Ademowo, the Bride Adeola Ademowo, Deputy Governor of Osun State, Otunba Titilayo Laoye-Tomori and Deputy Governor of Ogun State, Chief (Mrs.) Yetunde Onanuga at the Wedding ceremony of Oreoluwa and Adeola Ademowo which took place recently in Osun State

L-R: South African singer and United Nations’s MDG Envoy for Africa, Yvonne Chaka Chaka; a participant, Ms Amina Doherty; President African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF), Erelu Bisi Fayemi and the Queen of Buganda Kingdom, Uganda, HRH Sylvia Nagginda, at a panel on African Women and Philanthropy at the African Grantmakers Network Conference, Arusha, Tanzania, recently.

L-R: Director, Sales and Strategy, Infrastructure Business Division, Inlaks, Mr. Precious Osegi; Regional and Country Director, Temenos, Suleiman Shaibu; Board Member, Keystone Bank, Mrs. Teju Phillips; Managing Director, Africa Operations, Inlaks, Mr. Femi Adeoti; and Regional and Country Director, Global Solutions Limited, Mr. Olufemi Muraino, during the Annual Temenos Community Forum at Istanbul in Turkey, recently.

L-R: Onijaiye of Ijaiye, Oba Nafiu Adeyemi; Representative of District Governor of Rotary Club, Rotn Abas Olaniyan; President of Rotary Club of Oke-Ona, Rotn. Festus Adetonwa and Biotech Project Coordinator, Fidson Healthcare Plc, Mr Yinka Olukoya during the commissioning of the Fidson sponsored Modern Toilets and Water borehole at ANLG Primary School, Oke Ona, Abeokuta.

L-R: Director, Marketing, West Africa, VISA, Kehinde Adekeye; Business Development Manager, VISA, Oluwatoyin Badeji; Head, Cards, Stanbic IBTC, Ademola Adeniran; Deputy Manager, National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC), Onyemenam Ike Daniel; and Assistant Manager, NLRC, Menye Henrietta, at the Stanbic IBTC/VISA Gold Credit Card promo draws held at Stanbic IBTC headquarters in Lagos.

L-R: General Manager, Philips Lighting, West Africa, Mr. Felix Darko; Chairman/CEO, Philips Africa, Mr. JJ Van Dongen; GM Philips, Personal Health, West Africa, Mrs Chioma Nweke, and Secretary to Lagos State Government, Mr Tunji Bello, at the Philips 2015 edition of Cape Town to Cairo Road Show in Lagos.

Wife of the Anambra State Governor, Chief (Mrs.) Ebelechukwu Obiano and the UBA delegation during the presentation of books to CAFÉ in support of Girl-child Education campaign in Awka.

L-R: Marketing Director, Pernod Ricard Nigeria Sola Oke; Senior Brand Manager, Premium, Adebola Williams and Managing Director, Olivier Fages, during the Road To MAMAs 2015 event supported by Absolut Vodka, Lagos

Arty News

Friday, July 10, 2015

‘Basketmouth Day’ in Houston

Basketmouth

imOleayO Fatunase

right Okpocha fondly known as Basketmouth is no doubt one of the most sought-after Nigerian comedians as he is highly blessed when it comes to deals and endorsements. He has deals with different companies both in Africa and abroad, one of the biggest ones, being that between him and telecoms giant, Globacom. The Nigerian born comedian best referred to as undisputed king of comedy has gained a reward from his hard work as July 17 has been declared as

“Basketmouth Day in Houston” as officially announced by Annice D. Parker. Basketmouth becomes the first Nigerian entertainer to have this honour conferred upon. He receives this special recognition and honour as a result of his contribution in uniting the Nigeria and America communities with his art for the past 6 years in Houston, Texas US. The 37 year old, disclosed that the Recognition Event will hold on the 18th of July in Houston Texas. This will be followed by ‘One Man Stand Comedy Concert’ and ‘Basketmouth Uncensored’ which follow at Avya Centre in Houston, Texas US.

AFRIMA in South Africa for conference

he All Africa Music Awards, AFRIMA In partnership with the African Union Commission, AUC, will be holding a stakeholders’ conference in Johannesburg, South Africa on Friday, July 10, 2015 at Crowne Plaza Hotel, The Rose Bank, Johannesburg, South Africa beginning Dede from 10.30 GMT/ UTC. The Johannesburg conference is expected to bring together policy makers, artistes in Southern Africa, media executives, music producers, record label owners, artistes’ managers, video directors, music entrepreneurs, music enthusiasts, officials of ONE. org and relevant government officials and AFRIMA partners to discuss strategies and actions needed to facilitate better opportunities for stakeholders from Southern Africa in the AFRIMA initiative. The stakeholders’ conference will feature panelists from the continental secretariat of AFRIMA and the Southern Africa region of AFRIMA among who are AFRIMA Executive Producer/President, Mike Dada; Sponsorship and Communica-

tion Director, Matlou Tsotsetsi (South Africa); Chairman, AFRIMA International Media Committee, Steve Ayorinde (Nigeria); and AFRIMA Jury members from Southern Africa, Delani Makhalima (Zimbabwe) and C h r i s C y r e n ( S o u t h Africa); Creative and communication Manager for ONE [1] campaign, Nde Nfodika among others. According to AFRIMA Communication and Sponsorship Director, Matlou Tsotsetsi, “we are very keen on engaging the people who are critical to the awards process to give them a platform for knowledge sharing and capacity building. Without the artistes and allied professionals in the music industry there can be no awards to give out. The International Committee of AFRIMA appreciates the support of the South African music industry and Africa at large for aligning with the vision and objectives of AFRIMA which are aimed at continental integration towards a peaceful and prosperous Africa using the platform of art and music.”

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Why Frankfurt is hosting NFFG –Izoya

Izoya (middle)

adewunmi peteRs

hizoya Golden Entertainment, headed by Isaac Izoya consciously chose the cosmopolitan city of Frankfurt as host city of the Nollywood Film Festival Germany, NFFG, after a consideration of the multicultural outlook of Frankfurt and the model role the city is playing in promoting integration as well as the city’s well-documented pragmatic policy against racism, intolerance and discrimination. Berlin, a city which shares the above-stated virtues of Frankfurt, was the starting point where the vision bearer of this initiative first established Nollywood’s active presence in Europe. Mr. Izoya started building Nollywood’s presence in Europe in 2002 through Nollywood film productions and the promotion of shows; stand-up comedy

shows, music and cultural road shows across Europe. Recently, he relocated to Frankfurt due to the well documented supportive character of the city of Frankfurt as well as demand by Africans, especially Nigeria immigrant population in and around Hessen. According to him, “Since the regular storming of Europe by Nollywood movie stars, Germany has played a major role in giving comfort and pleasure for the visiting stars from Nigeria and Ghana. Germany was described as “Home abroad” by a majority of the Nollywood stars who have visited Germany through Ehizoya Golden Entertainment e.V. Thus, the choice of Frankfurt, Germany will be building on already existing structures. Considering the growing numbers of Africa immigrant children and families in Germany, and the desire of a majority of them to have basic knowledge of

life in Africa, the concentration in promoting Nollywood movies as a tutorial apparatus and a window of knowledge of Africa for the African-German descendants is becoming inevitable. It has been our dream to promote Germany to become a rewarding promise land and “Mecca State of Excellence” for Nollywood (Africans) film makers and a choice tourist destination for the bourgeoisie; Nollywood movie stars who otherwise spend a lot of hard currencies on holidays in America, United Kingdom, France and Italy. We believe that making Germany a favourite location for Nollywood tourism and cultural exchange will not only generate income for Germany but could also serve as a medium for re-branding both the German and the Nigerian images, home and abroad.” The event is slated for September, 2015.

Group completes Igbo language TV series

Set of Things Fall Apart

Regina OtOkpa

few months ago, some Igbo celebrities and entertainment lovers came together to celebrate the launch of a dedicated indigenous channel on DSTV with a resolve to generate content. In line with this, the National President of the Igbo Film-

makers Association, Chinyere Okafor, has disclosed that several moves were already in play to ensure that channel does not lack good content to disseminate to its dedicated viewers. One of such moves according to her was the recent conclusion of a project which entails of 26 episodes of total Igbo content soon to take its place showing on television screens.

She said: “We just finished 26 episodes of a TV series which I wrote, we have done the production but still waiting for the editing which I believe will be out soon. It is acted in Igbo but subtitled in English and targeted at the national audience.” Commenting on the challenges confronting the location of the headquarters of the association in Plateau State far away from home, she noted that Igbo’s were the majority in Plateau State and environs, adding that “most of the people who acted the movie lived all their life in Plateau State but you would think they just came in, it is a thing of joy that our mother tongue did not leave us.” Okafor maintained that the association was a mediator with an aim of ensuring the timely discovery of raw talents in addition to promoting Igbo culture, peace and progress in the country especially in nonIgbo speaking states.

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He joined the film industry as a location driver, but now, he drives the industry as one of the leading producers. Ifemechukwu Ibeh is the Chief Executive Officer of Ifeme Divine Productions Limited. He shares his experiences in the industry with UGOCHUKWU FAVOUR-MAYOR Excerpts: Briefly tell us how it all started for you in Nollywood? It all started in 1996, when I joined the Nollywood industry as a location driver. Though then, I had an opportunity of appearing in my first movie, which was Silent Night, a film produced and directed by Chico Ejiro. That was when the industry was operating with VHS, you can imagine when they hustle all started for me. In that very movie, it was more like an opportunity, because it wasn’t so serious, even as I played the role of an extra alongside other major casts of the movie. After my appearance in that very movie, I furthered the journey while working with the then big names like O.J Movies, Infinity Productions, Emmalex, Alex Merchandise, Amaco Investment and many others. These were people who held the industry strong in terms of constant production of films. And it was cool working with them then; and the experience of working with them even helped in shaping my present position as a producer. Did you later think of advancing your career in acting? Yes, I did! I really thought of acting further, but then it was so tough that I had to pull out even as a location driver. But later on, I returned. When I returned, I started as an associate producer under Divine Touch Productions Limited. And the film I started with as an associate producer was Men In Love. As time kept rolling, we worked as a team in producing Ada-Mbano, which you know was a blockbuster movie. Today, we have some other well sold movies like, Ofe Owerre, Madam Success, Strippers, Sex Slave, Dirty Secret and many others.

Passion to fix society drives my film career –Ifemechukwu Ibeh

Another issue bothering us is the one on power. Today, you can’t find light in homes for our movies to be watched. Not every house could afford the excesses of a generator set. And you know that people at homes are our film consumers. If they don’t enjoy good light, they can’t enjoy our films.

I do glamour movIes, but I concentrate a Ifemechkwu ibeh and family

How about your recent movie, Mother’s Club? It’s actually a good movie, though we had financial problems, but we were able to overcome it. As you know, it ended successfully, and it will soon be in the market. What inspired you to go for such movie? The need to fix a society with the right attitude and mindset to living; it was what inspired me. The movie, Mother’s Club is about two belligerent women who went for another marriage while keeping an existing one. And the question was what could make them go into another marriage? Could it be self-enrichment or what? It’s a suspense-filled one, I must say. It got directed by Reginald Ebere, while starring Mike Ezuruonye, Uche Ogbodo, Clarion Chukwurah and few others. What is your area of strength when it comes to story to produce? I do glamour movies, but I concentrate a lot on family-related issues. There are things going wrong in homes, and they need urgent attention for proper correction. Through my films, I help to put those things right.

Ifemechkwu Ibeh

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Friday, July 10, 2015

What is your love for the Nollywood industry all about? Right from my childhood, I have always loved entertainment. And I believe, it was exactly what attracted me to the industry. And here in Nollywood, we have this accommodating industry. Everyone here is accepted, and you have the opportunity to showcase your talent without anyone being a hindrance to it. So, I will say that the love I have for this very industry is numerous.

lot on famIly-

related Issues.

there are thIngs goIng wrong In

homes, and they need urgent attentIon for

proper correctIon.

through my fIlms, I help to put those thIngs rIght

Outside being in the entertainment industry, where else would you have seen yourself? From where I come from, we are business minded people. I would have gone into the business of buying and selling, but it’s all good that the industry took over me first, and I couldn’t help it. Maybe in the nearest future, I will try my hands in other trades, even as I can’t put my eggs in one basket. But for now, film production is my area of concentration. How challenging is the industry? It gets tough day after day. Though it all falls on marketing, and which involves the piracy aspect. You will work so hard to get fund, you go to location to produce, and finally when the movie is out, you then see your films being added to a DVD compilation without due permission. It’s a problem for us who are independent producers. We are using our hard-earned money to produce, and we are not getting support from anybody.

Outside all these challenges, what motivates you? There is this popular say: A quitter doesn’t win, and winner doesn’t quit. It’s a popular say, and it keeps me going whenever I feel like quitting. A lot of people stopped on the way as a result of the challenges faced. But remembering that assertion, it encourages me to do more. While working with Divine Touch Productions, what level of support did you receive? I got a lot of support and experience. I will not be fair without appreciating this wonderful man in the person of Mr. Kingsley Okereke. He is the Chief Executive Officer of Divine Touch Productions Limited. He is one man who likes to encourage people in business. He is my friend, but then, I owe him a lot for his show of love and support. I also want to thank his amiable wife, Chisom Juliet Okereke who brings out her quality time in developing good stories for all my films. That we have good stories that are making our films to be blockbuster ones, it is all because of her support. She writes and screenplays for us. Also don’t forget that behind a successful man, there is a woman. I won’t forget to mention the name of my beautiful wife, Vivian Chinwe Ibeh. She is a very supportive wife. With all the experiences you’ve gathered for yourself in this industry, what advice would you give to people aspiring to be here? I would want to advise the younger people. Before investing into any business, try as much as possible to study it. Take a good survey of what you want to do. We have a lot of fake people in the industry, who are claiming to be what they are not. They are out there to reap people off their money. One has to be careful. Be mindful of those who call you into business for investment. Be careful with your kind of association, it’s very important. Then pray for the right people.

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Known as the “birthplace of reggae”, Jamaica boasts of a treasure trove of natural jewels aside a colourful African vibe.

Friday, July 10, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Jamaica: Golden beaches, emerald mountains

Olawale Oluwadahunsi WITH AGENCY REPORTS

amaica is an island country situated in the Caribbean Sea, comprising the thirdlargest island of theGreater Antilles. The island, 10,990 square kilometres (4,240 sq mi) in area, lies about 145 kilometres (90 mi) south of Cuba, and 191 kilometres (119 mi) west of Hispaniola, the island containing the nation-states of Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Jamaica is the fifth-largest island country in the Caribbean. Once a Spanish possession known as Santiago, in 1655 it came under the rule of England (later Great Britain), and was called Jamaica. It achieved full independence from the United Kingdom on 6 August 1962. With 2.8 million people, it is the third most populous Anglophone country in the Americas, after the United States and Canada. Kingston is the country’s largest city and its capital, with a population of 937,700. Jamaica has a large diaspora around the world, due to emigration from the country. Jamaica is a Commonwealth realm, with Queen Elizabeth II as its monarch and head of state. Her appointed representative in the country is the Governor-General of Jamaica, currently Patrick Allen. Thehead of government and Prime Minister of Jamaica is Portia Simpson-Miller. Jamaica is a parliamentaryconstitutional monarchy with legislative power vested in the bicameral Parliament of Jamaica, consisting of an appointed Senate and a directly elected House of Representatives

Geography and environment Jamaica is the third largest island in the Caribbean. It lies between latitudes 17° and 19°N, and longitudes 76° and 79°W. Mountains, including the Blue Mountains, dominate the inland. They are surrounded by a narrow coastal plain. Chief towns and cities include the capital KingsBlue mountain tour

Bloody bay ton on the south shore, Portmore, Spanish Town, Mandeville, Ocho Ríos, Port Antonio, Negril, and Montego Bay on the north shore. Kingston Harbour is the seventh-largest natural harbour in the world, which contributed to the city being designated as the capital in 1872. Tourist attractions include Dunn’s River Falls in St. Ann, YS Falls in St. Elizabeth, the Blue Lagoon in Portland. Port Royal was the site of a major earthquake in 1692 that helped form the island’s Palisadoes. The climate in Jamaica is tropical, with hot and humid weather, although higher inland regions are more temperate. Some regions on the south coast, such as the Liguanea Plain and the Pedro Plains, are relatively dry rainshadow areas. Jamaica lies in the hurricane belt of the Atlantic Ocean and because of this, the island sometimes suffers significant storm damage. Hurricanes Charlie and Gilbert hit Jamaica directly in 1951 and 1988, respectively, causing major damage and many deaths. In the

2000s (decade), hurricanes Ivan, Dean, andGustav also brought severe weather to the island. Among the variety of terrestrial, aquatic and marine ecosystems are dry and wet limestone forests, rainforest, riparian woodland, wetlands, caves, rivers, seagrass beds and coral reefs. The authorities have recognized the tremendous significance and potential of the environment and have designated some of the more ‘fertile’ areas as ‘protected’. Among the island’s protected areas are the Cockpit Country, Hellshire Hills, and Litchfield forest reserves. In 1992, Jamaica’s first marine park, covering nearly 6 square miles (about 15 km2), was established in Montego Bay. Portland Bight Protected Area was designated in 1999. The following year Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park was created on roughly 300 square miles (780 km2) of wilderness, which supports thousands of tree and fern species and rare animals.

Flora and fauna Jamaica’s climate is tropical, supporting diverse ecosystems with a wealth of plants and animals. Jamaica’s plant life has changed considerably over the centuries. When the Spanish arrived in 1494, except for small agricultural clearings, the country was deeply forested. The European settlers cut down the great timber trees for building and ships’ supplies, and cleared the plains, savannas, and mountain slopes for intense agricultural cultivation. Many new plants were introduced including

sugarcane, bananas, and citrus trees. Areas of heavy rainfall contain stands of bamboo, ferns, ebony, mahogany, and rosewood. Cactus and similar dry-area plants are found along the south and southwest coastal area. Parts of the west and southwest consist of large grasslands, with scattered stands of trees. The Jamaican animal life, typical of the Caribbean, includes highly diversified wildlife with many endemic species found nowhere else on earth. As with other oceanic islands, land mammals are mostlybats. The only non-bat native mammal extant in Jamaica is the Jamaican hutia, locally known as the coney. Introduced mammals such as wild boar and the small Asian mongoose are also common. Jamaica is also home to about 50 species of reptiles, the largest of which is the American crocodile; however, it is only present within the Black River and a few other areas. Lizards such as anoles, iguanas and snakes such as racers and the Jamaican boa (the largest snake on the island), are common in areas such as the Cockpit Country. None of Jamaica’s eight species of native snakes is venomous. One species of freshwater turtle is native to Jamaica, the Jamaican slider. It is found only on Jamaica, Cat Island, and a few other islands in the Bahamas. In addition, many types of frogs are common on the island, especially treefrogs. Birds are abundant, and make up the bulk of the endemic and native vertebrate species. Beautiful and exotic birds, such as the Jamaican

Tody and the Doctor Bird (the national bird), can be found among a large number of others. Jamaican waters contain considerable resources of fresh-and saltwater fish. The chief varieties of saltwater fish are kingfish, jack, mackerel, whiting, bonito, and tuna. Fish that occasionally enter freshwater and estuarine environments include snook, jewfish, mangrove snapper, and mullets. Fish that spend the majority of their lives in Jamaica’s fresh waters include many species of livebearers,killifish, freshwater gobies, the mountain mullet, and the American eel. Tilapia have been introduced from Africa for aquaculture, and are very common. Insects and other invertebrates are abundant, including the world’s largest centipede, the Amazonian giant centipede, and the Homerus swallowtail, the western hemisphere’s largest butterfly.

Music Though a small nation, Jamaican culture has a strong global presence. The musical genres reggae, ska,mento, rocksteady, dub, and, more recently, dancehall and ragga all originated in the island’s vibrant, popular urban recording industry. Jamaica also played an important role in the development of punk rock, through reggae and ska. Reggae has also influenced American rap music, as they share roots as rhythmic, African styles of music. Some rappers, such as The Notorious B.I.G. and Heavy D, are of Jamaican descent. Internationally known reggae musician

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Bob Marley was also Jamaican. Many other internationally known artists were born in Jamaica, including Millie Small, Lee “Scratch” Perry, Peter Tosh, Bunny Wailer, Big Youth, Jimmy Cliff, Dennis Brown, Desmond Dekker, Beres Hammond, Beenie Man, Shaggy, Grace Jones, Shabba Ranks, Super Cat, Buju Banton, Sean Paul, I Wayne, Bounty Killer and many others. Band artist groups that came from Jamaica include Black Uhuru, Third World Band, Inner Circle, Chalice Reggae Band, Culture, Fab Five and Morgan Heritage. The genre jungle emerged from London’s Jamaican diaspora. The birth of hiphop in New York City owed much to the city’s Jamaican community.

Literature Ian Fleming, who lived in Jamaica, repeatedly used the island as a setting in his James Bond novels, including Live and Let Die, Doctor No, “For Your Eyes Only”, The Man with the Golden Gun, andOctopussy and The Living Daylights. In addition, James Bond uses a Jamaica-based cover in Casino Royale. So far, the only James Bond film adaptation to have been set in Jamaica is Doctor No. Filming for the fictional island of San Monique in Live and Let Die took place in Jamaica. The journalist and author H. G. de Lisser (1878–1944) used his native country as the setting for his many novels. Born at Falmouth, de Lisser worked as a reporter for the Jamaica Times at a young age and in 1920 began publishing the magazine Planters’ Punch. The White Witch of Rosehall is one of his better known novels. He was named Honorary President of the Jamaican Press Association; he worked throughout his professional career to promote the Jamaican sugar industry.

Film The actor Errol Flynn lived with his third wife Patrice Wymore in Port Antonio in the 1950s. He helped develop tourism to this area, popularising trips down rivers on bamboo rafts. A look at delinquent youth in Jamaica is presented in the 1970s musical crime film The Harder They Come, starring Jimmy Cliff as a frustrated (and psychopathic) reggae musician who descends into a murderous crime spree. The American film Cocktail (1988), starring Tom Cruise, is one of the more popular films to depict Jamaica. Another popular Jamaican-based film is the 1993 comedy Cool Runnings, which is loosely based on the true story of Jamaica’s first bobsled team trying to make it in the Winter Olympics. Cuisine The island is famous for its Jamaican jerk spice, which is integral to Jamaican cuisine. Jamaica

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Friday, July 10, 2015

Devon house Kingson Bob marley museun

is also home to Red Stripe beer and Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee.

Top Tourist Attractions Negril Beach Also known as Seven Mile Beach, Negril Beach is one of Jamaica’s most beautiful stretches of white sand and aqua sea. The beach extends from Bloody Bay to Long Bay and the Negril Cliffs south of town. Tucked within groves of coconut palms, many resorts and restaurants fringe the shore here. Water sports abound, and snorkelers will find schools of fish swimming in the clear waters. Be prepared for persistent hawkers prowling the beach.

Doctor’s Cave Beach, Montego Bay One of the best beaches in Montego Bay, Doctor’s Cave Beach is an alluring strip of white sand fringed by clear waters that helped shape the fate of Montego Bay. In the early 1920s a famous British osteopath declared that the water had curative powers after swimming here, a claim which began to lure visitors from around the world. Hotels sprouted and the area became a popular tourist destination. The cave for which the beach is named was destroyed by a hurricane in 1932, but the beach is as popular as ever and is often crowded with cruise ship passengers.

Rose Hall Great House, Montego Bay Built in 1770, Rose Hall is a restored plantation house with beautiful ocean views. Legendary Annie Palmer (the White Witch) ruled here with cruelty and met a violent death. Today her home is adorned with period furniture and visitors can choose between a day tour or a spooky candlelit evening tour topped off with tales of ghost sightings. Falmouth Surrounded by sugar estates and cattle land, Falmouth is one of the Caribbean’s best-preserved Georgian towns. Once a leading port, the town offers excellent examples of 19th-century Georgian architecture including a faithful restoration of the courthouse. Greenwood Great House is a major tourist attraction in the area. Built in 1790 by Richard Barrett, a relative of poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning, the Great House is now

a museum with period furniture and a rare collection of musical instruments and Wedgwood china. Martha Brae River Rafting the Martha Brae is one of Jamaica’s most popular tourist attractions. At Martha Brae Rafter’s Village guests can glide down a picturesque stretch of the river on bamboo rafts poled by local guides. This relaxing trip is a great way to soak up some of the tropical scenery and many guides will share information about the flora and fauna.

Kingston At the foot of the Blue Mountains, Jamaica’s busy capital city offers a cosmopolitan contrast to the island’s relaxed pace. Kingston can be intimidating, but visitors can view some of the town’s attractions on organized tours. The Bob Marley Museum, at the reggae superstar’s former home, is Kingston’s most-visited attraction and the site of the Tuff Gong recording studio. Highlights are Marley’s bedroom with his star-shaped guitar by the bed. Look for the bullet holes in the rear wall, evidence of an assassination attempt. Tours will also take travelers to explore mansions like historic Devon House, as well as museums such as the National Gallery, and the Natural History Museum, Jamaica’s oldest museum, with preserved specimens of the island’s plants and animals. Also in town, the Institute of Jamaica’s museums cover a wide range of the country’s history from prehistoric to modern times, Hope Gardens is the largest botanical park in the West Indies, and National Heroes Park features statues of leading players of Jamaican history and independence. At the tip of the peninsula surrounding Kingston Harbor lies the community of Port Royal, the focus of British fortification in the late 17th century. Blue Mountains and John Crow Mountains National Park Blue Mountains and John Crow Mountains National Park is an unspoiled preserve offering breathtaking mountain vistas, waterfalls, lush rainforests, and exotic plants and animals. Encompassing 200,000 acres of tropical rainforest, the park is divided into three sections: Portland Gap, which includes Stony Hill and the Hills of St. Andrew; Hollywell and

Martha brea-rafting

Annotto Bay; and Portland and Millbank which include the John Crow Mountains.

Port Antonio Set between mountains and a double harbor, Port Antonio exudes the relaxed charm of a sleepy fishing village. Once a center for banana export, the area is distinctly less commercial than the other resort towns. Visitors can explore the many art galleries, hike jungle trails, and snorkel and scuba dive the coral reefs. A popular swimming spot is the beautiful 60-meter-deep Blue Lagoon, fed by freshwater springs, and site of the namesake movie starring Brooke Shields. Navy Island, set between Port Antonio’s two harbors and reached by ferry,

was once owned by movie swashbuckler Errol Flynn and was renowned for wild parties. Today the island is a favorite for picnics and day trips. Jamaica’s spicy “jerk-style” of cooking originated in the region and some of the best can be found atBoston Beach east of Port Antonio. Other highlights of the area include the 18th-century British stronghold Fort George and beautiful Frenchman’s Cove, where a fish-filled river flows into the sea. The beaches here are a wonderful mix of white sand, shallow waters, and lush outcroppings of land. Nearby, Daniel’s River plunges through a gorge of natural rock in a series of cascades and pools known as Somerset Falls.

Kingston

Falmout trebah parks gardens

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Friday, July 10, 2015

Road Accidents: Stakeholders worry over fleet operators’ attitude to safety regulations With the increasing spate of road accidents on major highways across the country with the attendant human casualties, Adejuwon Osunnuyi writes that stakeholders, especially the FRSC are worried over poor response of to safety standard on roads

An accident involving container and bus which claim the lives of the occupants of the bus

‘

The

cerTificaTion is a developmenT ThaT has really helped us To grow and iT has added value To The field of operaTions.

iT has assisTed

in guiding our drivers and reduced The raTe of road accidenTs drasTically

‘

minat adebayo was full of smiles and simply ecstatic when on Thursday, 25 June, her parents reminded her of her plan to go to olabisi onabanjo university in ago-iwoye, to complete her post Jamb form. she had just finished her secondary school education and she was eager to be in the university as soon as possible to pursue her dream. hence, the following morning, she set out as early as possible to make the ago-iwoye journey so as to be the first set of students that would be attended to. as planned, aminat got to oou as she filled the forms and exchanged pleasantries with her colleagues telling them they would be seeing soon. however, as sad as it would later turn to later that evening, aminat would never resume at oou nor see any of her colleagues she had promised to see when she eventually gain admission into the school as fate had other plans for her. The bus she and many students from same school were travelling in was involved in an unfortunate accident with an articulated vehicle whose driver lost control of the mammoth machine along on sagamu-Benin expressway, a few kilometers away from ago iwoye where it had taken off. The container truck had collided with the bus load of students killing about 12 persons. on daily basis, there have been reported cases of such vehicles becoming ‘harbinger of death’, as they have abruptly cut short the dreams of many people. Though this is not to say that all articulated vehicles are harbingers of death, the rate at which multiple deaths occur daily from road accidents resulting from their plying the highways is quite alarming.

Boboye Oyeyemi, FRSC boss

worried by this development, the federal road safety corps has again harped on ensuring safety standard especially among fleet operators on nigerian roads. while the frsc has expressed displeasure to the poor response of fleet operators to the road Transport safety standardisation scheme, it however maintained that the corps will forge ahead with its enforcement of safety standard among motorists, especially commercial drivers. for instance, the corps said on Tuesday that only 15 of the 42 registered fleet operators in the

lagos island local government area of lagos state passed the 2014/2015 rTss test. The frsc unit commander for lagos island, mr. sodiq abdulrahman, gave the figure to the news agency of nigeria after the presentation of certificates to successful fleet operators. abdulrahman said that the scheme was aimed at certifying drivers of fleet operators and making sure the vehicles were regularly inspected for the general safety of people. “every fleet operator with five and above vehicles is mandated by section 119 of the na-

tional road Traffic regulation to register with the scheme. “what the scheme entails is the inspection of the organisation’s vehicles on yearly basis and training and certifying of their drivers and fleet managers. as far of this command is concerned, we have only 15 fleet operators certified in lagos island and we have given certificates to them,” he said. according to him, organisation with vehicles below 25 is categorised under class c; those with less than 50 vehicles fall under class B while 50 and above belong to class a. he said that each fleet operator must have a manager in each

terminus provided for drivers to rest after driving for four hours. he said that the certification showed that the operators fully complied with safety standards. reacting, mr. sam akerele, the manager of Transports and logistics for artee group, the owner of park ‘n’ shop, said the scheme had helped the organisation a lot. “The certification is a development that has really helped us to grow and it has added value to the field of operations. it has assisted in guiding our drivers and reduced the rate of road accidents drastically,” he said. he said that the organisation had been participating in the training every year by enrolling 30 of its drivers. The manager, who said the major challenge of the scheme was that it required travelling to far north for training, urged the frsc to decentralise the training programme. The head of human resources, mandilas group of companies, mrs. rose osuinde, said that the rate of accidents and losses being recorded on the road required that much attention should be given to drivers and their vehicles. osuide said that once the drivers and vehicles were taken care of, road traffic crashes would reduce. The head of Transport and logistics, cornerstone nigeria insurance limited, mr. chinomoso elechi, said that the training programme had helped the company to improve its mode of operations. he urged the frsc to increase its publicity of the scheme so that other fleet operators could key into the programme. meanwhile, the frsc has advised commercial motorists to carry out regular inspections of their vehicles before driving out, no matter how short the journey is. abdulraham gave the advice in lagos while addressing drivers during a sensitisation programme tagged ‘Beyond the road’. he urged the drivers to avoid the use of faulty vehicles and shun recklessness, hard drugs, alcohol, distraction among other things capable of endangering their lives and other passengers. he said that speed, bad tyres and hard drugs with other forms of distraction while driving had sent many drivers to the grave.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Friday, July 10, 2015

Ganduje lauds Peugeot for investment, job creation in Nigeria

he Executive Governor of Kano State, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has said PAN Nigeria Limited is a house hold name as far as the Nigeria’s automotive sector is concerned. Governor Ganduje stated this when the management of PAN Nigeria Limited paid him a congratulatory visit at his office, over his victory and subsequent inauguration as the state governor. He noted that Kaduna (where the company is located) was synonymous with PAN; as PAN was also synonymous to Kaduna. Governor Ganduje, who bemoaned the neglect of the company by the Federal government that was supposed to rear, nurture and protect it for any harm as a ‘father’ over the years, regretted that state governments have little to do with regards to changes in the fortunes of the company, fiscal policy wise. He however expressed optimism that with the new National Automotive Development Policy (NADP), PAN Nigeria Limited will bounce back better and stronger than ever before. The Governor, who expressed gratitude to the delegation for the visit, explained that his administration has embarked on financial prudence measures in the face of dwindling revenue accruing to the state. According to the Governor, cut in the costs of governance

Ganduje

by his administration was as a result of the country’s present economic reality that has led to the inability of some states to pay workers’ salaries. He also thanked God for Kano State not being among such states. He assured of his administration’s readiness to partner PAN Nigeria Limited in terms of patronage (of cars) and in training the youths on vocational and technical skills to reduce unemployment; and therefore required that a blueprint of training from PAN Nigeria training school, be sent to him for consideration. Earlier in his speech, the Managing Director, PAN Nigeria Limited, Mr. Ibrahim Boyi expressed gratitude to the Governor for the warm reception accorded his team. He explained that the visit was to congratulate the gover-

nor for his well-deserved victory at the polls and hailed the good people of Kano State for making a wise and informed choice in electing a loyal, focused and thoughtful personality as their governor. Mr. Boyi who also took time to reel out the history of PAN, its status then and now in the Nigeria’s auto market, stated that it was painful to see the company that was seen thriving as the leading indigenous auto company both in terms of sales and employment opportunities, now strives to make little sales. The implication of which according to the him, led to privatization and so many job cuts from the initial over 4,000 workforce in the early 80s, to about three hundred now in its payroll. He call on the governor to patronise the Peugeot vehicles which are very competitive in terms of products offer and maintenance life circle. In a similar development, the Management of PAN Nigeria also paid a courtesy visit to His Highness, the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II, at his palace in Kano. Speaking on behalf of the management, the Managing Director of the company, Ibrahim Boyi stressed that the purpose of their visit was to congratulate the Emir on assumption of throne. He therefore prayed to God to grant His Highness the wisdom, good health and long life to steer the affairs of the Emirate in the right direction.

Kia K900 (Quoris) wins AutoPacific Vehicle Satisfaction Awards

our models from Kia Motors America (KMA) were recognized as segment winners of the 2015 AutoPacific Vehicle Satisfaction Awards (VSA), including the K900 (known as ‘Quoris’ in some markets) luxury sedan, which ranked at the top of the Luxury Car category and won AutoPacific’s coveted President’s Award, given to the vehicle that achieves the highest-ever overall VSA score. This is only the third time this award has been given in the 19-year history of the VSAs. The other three Kia winners included the 2015 Cadenza, 2015 Soul (tie) and 2015 Sportage in the Large Car, Compact Car and Compact Crossover SUV categories, respectively, with the Soul scoring its second consecutive win. Kia had more category winners than any other brand and ranked third (tie) among all Pop-

Kia K900 (Quoris)

ular non-premium automakers for overall brand score. “We are honored that four of our world-class vehicles have earned AutoPacific Vehicle Satisfaction Awards, affirming Kia’s on-going commitment to design, craftsmanship and the ownership experience,” said Orth Hedrick, vice president of product planning, KMA. “While Cadenza, K900, Soul and Sportage each have their own personalities, together they represent the collective strength of the entire Kia model line. We’re especially proud of K900’s recognition as Kia continues to move

u p m a rke t and compete with long-standing luxury brands.” AutoPacific’s VSAs identify the most satisfying vehicles for sale in the U.S. market and assist new car buyers in making informed vehicle purchase decisions. The results are based on responses to over 66,000 surveys completed by owners of new, model year 2015 vehicles. The survey measures owner satisfaction through 50 separate attributes ranging from interior comfort and convenience to fuel economy and performance.

megacrown1@yahoo.com 08025237926

Audi reveals 2016 generation A4

udi has revealed what the next generation of the A4 will look like. The company revealed the pictures of the A4, in both the sedan and wagon guise and said that it will make its public debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show this year. Compared to its predecessor, the new A4 looks compact and sharp. It also features a wider single frame front grille and revamped headlights. There are new LED daytime running lamps, while the tail lamps too have LEDs in them. When it comes to design, Audi has given the new A4 a sleeker look with a more sloped roofline and the wheel arches too look enlarged while the rear too brings in a bit of freshness to the look of the car. The B9 (as it is called) is bigger than the outgoing car and is now 4730m long(25mm m o r e ) , 1840mm w i d e , 1430mm in height. T h e

wheelbase of the car too has been stretched by 12mm to provide space in the car. According to report monitored on autondtv.com, what Audi has managed to do, however, is putting the new car on a diet which is why there is a considerable weight loss. According to the company, the A4 with the 1.4-litre TFSI engine has lost up to 120kg and now tips the scales at 1320kg. But the biggest and most substantial change is on the inside. It is more spacious than before and the new A4 comes with redesigned seats. There is ambient LED lighting as well which is available in 30 colours. Then, there is the 12.3-inch digital and customisable instrument cluster, which is quite familiar as we’ve seen this one on the new TT and the Q7 SUV.

Audi 2016 A4 sedan

2015 Fiat 500 revealed

iat has released official pictures of its facelifted 500. Said to have undergone more than 1800 changes, the new small Fiat supermini sports a new front-end that features LED daytime running lights, a new larger trapezoidal grille and a more slanted pair of headlights. Fiat’s exterior makeover also stretches to the rear of the 500, where it gains a pair of redesigned tail-lights. The rear fog lights and reversing lights have also been relocated to the lower half of the bumper. Other changes include new 15- and 16-inch alloys and the introduction of two new colours -- Corallo Red and Opera Burgundy. Fiat will also offer buyers greater opportunity to personalise their 500 with a new range of decals, stripes and even twotone paint. Inside, the interior has also

2015 Fiat 500

been rethought. In comes Fiat’s latest U-Connect infotainment system, which is now standard on all models with higher trim models offering touch-screen capability. Range-topping models will also come with U-Connect Live, which tethers with your smartphone to mirror your phone’s home screen. This allows music steaming and access to the internet. As well as the new infotainment system there’s also a new multi-function steering wheel while the most expensive 500s also come with a new round 7.0-inch virtual dashboard that displays speed and trip information. Other changes in the cabin include more comfortable seats made out of new fabrics, of which there’s the choice of nine different colours. There’s also a new additional glovebox in the dash. While refreshing the Fiat’s interior, engineers also took the opportunity to add more soundproofing for quieter cruising. Under the bonnet all engines carry over from the current model, but have been tweaked for lower emissions and fuel consumption.

Cocktail

Friday, July 10, 2015

Drunken man seeking ride home calls 911 to report fake crash

olice in New Jersey say a drunken man twice called 911 to report a fake accident because he wanted officers to give him a ride home. Hackettstown police say the initial call from the 38-year-old man came in Tuesday night around the same time the department received a domestic violence call. Some officers who were headed to the domestic violence call instead were diverted to

the reported accident. While officers were en route, the man called 911 again and asked the dispatcher “where the police were.” But when officers arrived, they couldn’t find a crash. But they soon found the man and determined he had called 911 because he wanted a ride home. The man was charged with falsely calling 911 and improper behavior.

Police seek help after nut theft, post mug shot of

olice in suburban Detroit are having a little fun while asking for help from the public in figuring out who swiped roughly 28,000 pounds of packaged nuts. The Shelby Township Police Department says a truck and trailer packed with 18 pallets of walnuts and other snack nuts were taken the weekend of June 27. Police say the truck and trailer were found July

1 in Detroit, but the nuts worth more than $128,000 were gone. The department on Tuesday issued an appeal for information on its Facebook page — posting a mug shot of a squirrel along with details of the case. Police in the Macomb County community have had a few noteworthy animal encounters recently, rounding up a goat in a parking lot and capturing a stray pig.

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Oddities Oddities

Andy Murray plays with pups in sniffer-dog video A

ndy Murray goes to the dogs, or more precisely the puppies, in a video released on Tuesday which shows him playing at Wimbledon with five cocker spaniels being trained to become sniffer dogs. The six-week-old puppies are being raised by the Metropolitan Police Service and Murray, a selfprofessed dog lover and a World Wildlife Fund global ambassador, supports the use of sniffer dogs to crack down on wildlife poaching in Nepal, a release from the Wimbledon press office says. Murray is shown playing with the puppies on the famous hill within Wimbledon’s grounds while they run around him and chew on his shoelaces and fingers. “Hey, that’s my finger,” he says at one point, com-

menting that the pup has “sharp little teeth”. Eventually one of them seems to bond with Murray and he cuddles it. “I think this one’s ready,” he says. “It listens to me.” Police sniffer dogs are used at Wimbledon and Murray said in a state-

ment that he supports their use at the Championships and to crackdown on illegal trafficking in wildlife. “Sniffer dogs do an incredible job whether it’s keeping us safe and secure here at Wimbledon, or fighting wildlife crime in Nepal,” Mur-

ray, who is battling for a second Wimbledon men’s title, is quoted as saying. “I’m really hoping that whilst I battle it out on the court this summer -- people will join the battle to help fight the global problem of wildlife crime.”

Great Britain’s Andy Murray celebrates during the second round Mandatory Credit

Friday, July 10, 2015

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Business Maritime

Weighing suspension of agents’ practising fees’ impact on freight operations The recent directive by the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase, suspending the collection of the Practitioners Operating Fee, POF, meant primarily for the funding of the Council for Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria CRFFN, pending the election of the governing board of the council, has continued to raise concern amongst maritime industry’s stakeholders. FRANCIS EZEM reports on the order and its implications for freight operations.

o most maritime stakeholders, the decision of the Federal Government in 2012 to introduce the Practitioners Operating Fee, POF, as a primary funding source for the Council for Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria, CRFFN, was a well intended fiscal measure. The establishment of the Council, which was part of the fallouts of the port reform, was aimed at setting standards for and regulate freight forwarding practitioners and associations. The government believed that reforming the ports without reforming the freight forwarders could be counter -productive. After providing funding for the council for the first few years, government realised it might not sustain this, especially given the increasing financial burden associated with the funding of the various government agencies and so decided to introduce the POF. Under the new fees regime, importers will pay N1.50 per kilo of every air cargo, N1, 000 per 20- foot container, N2, 000 per each 40-foot container, N500 per car or Jeep imported into the country sand N1,000 per every truck or 20-foot equivalent. Others include N2, 000 per truck or 40foot equivalent, N3.50k per every ton of general cargo imported into the country and N1.00 per ton of every dry bulk cargo handled in any of the nation’s seaports as well as collection of practicing fees from agents. Former Minister of Transport, Mallam Idris Umar, had announced the new range of fees in a letter dated July 3, 2012 to be collected on goods imported into the country through the seaports and land borders to fund the CRFFN, which has no statutory source of funding. The Minister, who urged the operators to comply with the new fees regime, argued that the nation needed to reform the freight forwarding segment of the maritime industry but regretted that funding the new council was becoming a burden to the government. But the first indication that all was not well was the decision of president of Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents, Prince Olayiwola Shittu, to resign his membership of the governing board of the CRFFN to protest the new fees. His grouse was that the government should scale down some of the charges and also allocate part of the proceeds to the freight forwarding association.

Aniebona

The Minister responded by suspending the collection and hired a consultant to scale down the fees and also allocate proceeds of the collections to the registered associations to enable them build capacity for their members To this effect, 65 per cent of the collections go to the CRFFN, 30 to the five freight forwarding associations and five per cent o the individual freight forwarding firms that pay the fees, which was accepted by all parties. More than two years after this new arrangement was re-introduced, the council has yet to begin the collection of the fee meant to fund its operation, primarily due to the failure of the associations to reach a consensus on the sharing formular for their 35 per cent. Moves by operatives of the council to commence the collection at Seme Border were greeted with violence as some thugs suspected to be hired by ANLCA. Registrar/CEO of the CRFFN, Mr. Mike Jukwe had while flagging off a recent training programme for the staff of the council lamented the dearth of funds, which is currently threatening the ability of the council to carry out its statutory core mandates of regulating, setting standards and training of freight forwarders as provided in the enabling Act. The CRFFN-boss pleaded with all the registered freight forwarding associations to sheath their swords to save the council from crippling effects of lack of funds.

Jukwe

THE ISSUE HERE IS THE GREED AND PERSONAL INTEREST OF SOME

PEOPLE, WHO BELIEVE THAT INSTEAD OF BEING PAID TO THE

GOVERNMENT, THE MONEY SHOULD BE PAID TO THEM TO SATISFY THEIR GREED AND SELFISHNESS But some stakeholders have wondered why the collection of the POF is proving difficult probably due to the direct involvement of freight forwarders. An operator who pleaded anonymity noted that government had in the past introduced fees even for the funding of its agencies, which were paid without any objection even when no portion of the proceeds was allocated to the agents or freight forwarders. For instance, the government introduced the Sugar Levy, seven per cent National Automotive Council Levy, Port Development Levy for the Nigerian Ports Authority NPA to develop the port infrastructure and superstructures as well as the one per cent Comprehensive Import Supervision Scheme CISS, introduced to fund the Pre-

Shipment Inspection Agents PIAs and later for the service providers under the Destination Inspection Scheme, which is still being collected years after both schemes have been scrapped. “The issue here is the greed and personal interest of some people, who believe that instead of being paid to the government, the money should be paid to them to satisfy their greed and selfishness”, the operator said. Efforts by the Federal Ministry of Transport to reconcile feuding freight forwarding associations over the collection of practicing levy approved abortive. Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mallam Mohammed Bashar had recently summoned all the fiver freight forwarding associations comprising the ANLCA, National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders NAGAFF and the Association of Registered Freight Forwarders of Nigeria ARFFN to a meeting over the issues. Others in attendance at the meeting include National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents NCMDLCA, and National Association of Freight Forwarders and Consolidators NAFFAC. It was gathered that the other four associations are disposed to the collection of the levy to save CRFFN from immediate collapse except ANLCA. Founder of NAGAFF, Dr. Boniface Aniebonam, who spoke recently on the issue, expressed regrets that over the years, government makes financial allocations to private operators, which are shared without rift, wondering why that of the freight forwarders should be different. In what appeared a confirmation of ANLCA’s hard line position, president of the association, Alhaji Olayiwola Shittu, who spoke in Lagos swore that the government must not be allowed to collect the fees, insisting that members of the association would not comply with the directive until all ‘grey areas’ about the fee is sorted. In what appeared a confirmation of this, the association instituted a case at the Federal High Court, Lagos as well as reporting the matter to the Police IG. But stakeholders are of the strong view that these hard lines are unnecessary and counter-productive, as it would hinder government’s efforts at reforming the freight forwarding practice, which is critical to efficient and timely cargo release at the ports.

Business Maritime

Friday, July 10, 2015

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‘International funding option key to maritime industry’s growth’ STORIES: FRANCIS EZEM

aritime industry stakeholders have made a strong case for the Federal Government to explore the options of international financing to grow the nation’s maritime industry to an enviable level. Chairman of the planning committee of the Nigeria Maritime Exhibition and conference, an initiative of the Nigerian Ship Owners Association NISA, Mr. Ayo Adedoyin, who spoke in Lagos, said that the current realities in the global crude oil market call for concerted action by the government to develop the maritime industry. He noted that the government’s over-dependence on crude oil export as the only source of revenue has made the country a monolithic economy, which is currently suffocating under the uncertainties in the global crude market, which led to a sharp decline in the demand and price of the product. According to him, government should as a matter of urgency pay serious attention to challenging issues of maritime funding for vessel acquisition and tonnage building, sundry equipment procurements and ancillaries that would propel the growth and development of the industry. “It is of dire importance that investments in the maritime industry should be exponentially upped so as to attract interest and

therefore increase and enhance the profitability of international collaborations and synergies and also strengthen the Local Content and Cabotage policies”, he said He also said: “Nigeria must find the trajectory to international funding and effective structure of the local maritime banking and funding, building adequate maritime infrastructure and seeking dimensional approaches to enforcing the maritime domain to check economic seepages”. He also charged the various stakeholders to join hands to provide a roadmap that would enable the government to grow and develop the industry in the best interest of the Nigerian nation and her citizens.

“I will not hesitate to point out the need for all players and stakeholders in the maritime industry to join forces to positively, constructively, patriotically and progressively in one accord join in the determined task of building a strong and virile maritime industry in Nigeria. Stakeholders had over the years listed the twin issues of funding and lack of the required manpower as part of the challenges facing the growth and development of the maritime industry in the country. The stakeholders had cited the absence of a single vessel on the nation’s fleet, a development that has given rise over the years to foreign domination of the industry.

This development has been blamed on the low capitalisation of most banks in the country, most of which cannot fund ship acquisition. Another factor believed to be responsible for this is the lack of adequate indigenous manpower since the old brigade of seafarers in the country cannot operate most modern and sophisticated vessels, having been trained many decades ago when such vessels have not been built. It was in response to these challenges that government enacted the Coastal and Inland Cabotage Act 2003 and the Nigerian Content Act, 2010 with a view to increasing indigenous participation in maritime and oil and gas activities.

MOL Eminence container vessel

Maersk Line orders $1.1bn container ships at Hyundai

aersk Line, the world’s largest container shipping company, has signed a USD 1.1 billion contract with South Korean shipbuilder Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) for the construction of nine container ships with a capacity of 14,000 TEU (twentyfoot equivalent) each. The nine vessels will join Maersk Line’s fleet in 2017 and sail under Singaporean flag. This is the third new building order in Maersk Line’s investment programme announced in September 2014. The now officially confirmed new building contract was announced by World Maritime News back in June. The order follows the seven 3,600 TEU feeder vessels and eleven 19,630 TEU Triple-E vessels announced earlier this year as part of Maersk Line’s USD 15 billion investment in newbuildings, retrofitting, containers and other equipment. ”I am very pleased about this order for which we have taken a new approach. The vessels will be designed to operate in and perform efficiently across many trades and not just designed for one specific trade. They will help us stay competitive and make our fleet more flexible and efficient,” said Søren Toft, COO of Maersk Line.

River Benue dredging contract to enhance inland transport –NIWA

bout two years after the dredging of River Nigeria and commencement of port operations at the Onitsha River Ports, the Nigerian Inland Waterways Authority, NIWA, has said that the Federal Government has awarded the contract for dredging of lower River Benue at a cost of N26 billion. Acting Managing Director of the agency, Mr. Danladi Ibrahim,

made the disclosure in Lagos during a visit to the Lagos area office of the authority as part of his familiarisation tour of the operational bases of the agency across the country. According to him, the project, which would be completed in two years, would further boost inland transportation. He also disclosed that the contract was awarded to Messer Oy-

ins Oil and Gas Limited. Ibrahim said, “We have awarded the dredging of lower river Benue for a tune of N26b. Also, the dredging of the lower river Niger is completed and quite a number of boats and jetties are under construction, we are all aware that we have completed the Onitsha river port and it will be concessioned to the private sector to operate any time from now.

According to him, the dredging of Baro channel is 95 per cent completed, while Lokoja is between 50 to 60 per cent completed. It was further gathered that the Oguta River Port project is also on course while the contract for the construction of Markurdi River Port is concluded and would fully commence operation any moment from now. The acting MD said the agency

is doing everything possible to become the best inland water ways transportation manager in Africa. The agency had been facing sharp criticisms over the building of the Onitsha River Port, which is currently under lock and key. Stakeholders had argued that the government should have completed the concession programme before spending public funds to the tune of over N4.7 billion.

Capital controls may cripple Greek shipping business

apital controls introduced by the Greek government could have rippling effects on Greek ship owners, leaving their ships stranded in port as they were unable to buy fuel. The estimate relates to up to a fifth of the country’s fleet, according to the Telegraph, which have been prevented from doing business outside the country due to

the capital control implemented as the country had run out of Euros. “There is a problem in the industry because many companies cannot buy any oil,” a source at the Zouros Shipping Company in Piraeus told the UK newspapers. “Many ships are locked in harbours – maybe as many as 20pc – and are not allowed to make payments outside the country be-

cause of capital controls.” The effect of the capital controls is the biggest on smaller companies dependent on local banking system, Zouros said, whereas for bigger players with accounts outside Greece it is business as usual. According to an update from Inchcape Shipping Services (ISS) on port operations in Greece and local conditions to 7 July 2015,

there were no issues or changes of itinerary because of capital controls with respect to cruises. Piraeus container terminal has not reported operational delays in port operations since capital controls were enforced and the only vessel supply operation presently affected is delivery of ‘Cash to Master’ for any vessel type. ISS said that foreign bank card holders (tourist and cruise pas-

sengers) could use ATMs as normal. However, remittances outside Greece from a Greek bank account are still not possible. As informed, there have been no incidents to date affecting port safety and/or security. ISS said that imports are expected to be affected in the near future but initially only for local importers that do not have a nonGreek bank account.

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Business News

Friday, July 10, 2015

World Bank lauds NDIC on target funding initiative TOLA AKINMUTIMI

he World Bank yesterday commended the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) for its Target Fund Ratio Framework which enables it to meet its obligation to depositors. A statement by the Head, Communication and Public Affairs of the Corporation, Alhaji Hadi Birchi, quoted the Head of the World Bank Technical Team, Mr Julian Casal, as giving the commendation at the end of its 4-Day working visit to the NDIC for a

formal presentation of the Target Fund Ratio Framework and capacity building to employees. Casal said that the NDIC’s framework was suitable in determining the adequacy of the Corporation’s Deposit Insurance Fund (DIF); adding that the framework was a ‘model’ and expressed their intention to adopt the document as a benchmark for other African deposit insurance Corporations. In his response, NDIC’s Managing Director, Alhaji Umaru Ibrahim, thanked the World Bank for its continuous support towards the Corporation’s capacity build-

ing initiative and effective discharge of its mandate. Before concluding its assignment, the World Bank team, comprising Messrs Julian Casal, Jan Philipp Nolte and John O’Keefe interacted with the NDIC staff from relevant departments with a view to clarifying the data and other issues considered in establishing the target fund ratio framework. They also interacted with other stakeholders in the banking sector, including officials of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) on issues relating to banking supervi-

sion and distress resolution The Target Fund Ratio is the ratio of fund that determines the optimal fund level that enables a deposit insurer to effectively meet its obligation to depositors. Under the International Association of Deposit Insurers (IADI) Core Principle 11 for Effective Deposit Insurance System, “the Fund Reserve Ratio should be based on clear, consistent and well developed criteria”. The development of the Target Fund Ratio by the Corporation was premised on the recommendation at the end of an IADI international workshop on the

“Methodology for Assessing Compliance with the IADI Core Principles for effective deposit insurance system which was hosted by the Corporation in 2011. The Corporation was advised to comply with some Core Principles, among which was Core Principle 11 on funding. To ensure the required compliance, the Corporation approached the World Bank for technical assistance towards the development of the Target Fund Ratio and the request was granted in 2014 under the World Bank Financial Sector Reform and Strengthening (FIRST) Initiative.

Apapa gridlock: Eastern ports’ operations drop to 40% FRANCIS EZEM

L-R: Olutoyin Okeowo, Director, Equipment Leasing Association of Nigeria; Executive Secretary, Andrew Efurhievwe; Chairman, Chuka Onwuchekwa,and , Vice Chairman, Abdullahi Ibrahim; at the Association’s 20th Annual General Meeting held on Wednesday in Lagos.

trong indications emerged that a major cause of the gridlock on most port access roads in Apapa and the recurring cases of congestion in the ports in Lagos might not be unconnected with the overconcentration of container and general cargo operations, thus leaving the seaports in the Eastern part of the country with less than 40 per cent of installed capacity. Former Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority NPA, Chief Adebayo Sarumi had

Quota system ‘ll hamper national carrier project –Ex-NCAT boss OLUSEGUN KOIKI

he former Rector and Chief Executive Officer, CEO, of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, NCAT, Zaria, Capt. Adebayo Araba has said that national carrier, is mandatory for Nigeria, but opined that quota system should be eschewed to make the project a success. Speaking with our correspondent on Wednesday in Lagos, Araba insisted that Nigeria required a national carrier for the sector to compete with others, provide jobs for qualified Nigerians and increase the Gross Domestic Prod-

ucts, GDP, for the country. He maintained that quota system was good for the development of the country, but should not apply to every sector of the economy especially the critical ones, warning that introduction of quota system in the airline project may spell doom for it just like the defunct national carrier, Nigeria Airways. While recalling that as a result of quota system, Nigeria Airways lost about six or seven aircraft and hundreds of lives to accidents, the industry expert insisted that quota system robbed off over 20 students from a particular state in the country from gaining entrance into NCAT for their preferred

courses when he was the rector of that institution. He said:“You see, Federal Government is very clear concerning some certain issues. For instance, we are talking about quota, which government is very clear about, but when it comes to some specific disciplines, we have to be very careful how we manage the quota system. “The former company I worked in so many years back, Nigeria Airways, we tried the quota system, we lost. Because of that single act of quota, we lost about six to seven aeroplanes and so many lives. The airline is gone now and we can’t rectify the past, but we

should be able to learn from what happened in the past and implement it with the future. “At NCAT where I worked for about five years, we put the quota system on ground anytime we had any new intake, we go strictly with the quota system, but once you are in, and the flag is down, for you to continue in that college, would be whatever you have in your head. Anything short of that, forget about quota system.” On the challenges facing domestic airline operators in the country, Araba, queried their backgrounds and the technical-know-how of their sponsors on the airline business.

said recently that the installed capacity of the ports in Lagos at inception was 40, 000 metric tonnes of cargo annually, but noted that the ports have since been handling in excess of 80, 000 metric tonnes per annum, thus over-stretching their facilities. A survey on the causes and remedies to the worsening gridlock on port access roads conducted by NAFITH, a logistic Consultancy firm based in Jordan, said that in addition to concentrating all port operations in Lagos while leaving others grossly underutilized, the heavy traffic was also caused by the failure of the various agencies to automate their operations. Managing Director of the company, Mr. Sameer Mubarak, who made a presentation at the ongoing Maritime Exhibition in Lagos, disclosed that the company was contracted by the Nigerian Shippers Council, nation’s economic regulator of the port industry to carry out the survey. On solutions to the problem, he noted that the Federal Government should take urgent steps towards rejuvenating cargo activities at the ports in the Eastern flank of the country by putting in place the necessary infrastructure and superstructures, as a way of reducing the volume of cargo that come to Lagos, which he said is a long term plan.

Emirates Airlines earns $5bn than Nigeria’s crude export yields in 2014 OLUSEGUN KOIKI

he Managing Director, Omni-Blu Aviation Services, Mr. Akin Olateru has disclosed that Nigeria needed to focus more attention to the development of aviation sector for it to earn respectable revenues just like other countries

around the world. Olateru told journalists during the week at the launch of Sesby’s Travels and Tours Ltd portal, in Lagos that the gulf carrier, Emirates earned a turnover of $24 billion in 2014 financial year in ticket sales while Nigeria earned just $19bn from crude oil exploration within the same period. Olateru explained that aviation business was highly tech-

nical, sensitive and visible, but with marginal business profit. He noted that the earning of the airline became possible due to the high infrastructure in place at the airport, stressing that with investments in infrastructure, Nigeria would earn more revenues from the sector. He decried that infrastructure had been the bane of the Nigerian aviation industry over the

years, saying that the recently installed conveyor belts by Princess Stella Oduah had packed up and slowing down luggage clearance at the airport. He said, “There is solid airport infrastructure in Dubai airport. An airport can’t stand on its own, even with the best airport and without the driver – infrastructure on ground, the airport won’t grow. There is massive security

issue in Nigeria, which prevents airlines from flying into several cities regularly in the country. “We all know that to fly from London to Lagos is about six hours, but at times, for you to get your check-in luggage out from the conveyor belts, it takes over two hours, but when you are in London, the same luggage can be gotten within five minutes of your arrival.’’

Business News

Friday, July 10, 2015

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AfDB partners CBI to boost continent’s agriculture, trade SYLVA EMEKA-OKEREKE

frican Development Bank Group and Netherlandsbased Centre for Promotion of Exports from Developing Countries, CBI said that viable market for agricultural produce would diversify the livelihood of farmers’ as well as exporters. According to the bank, the use of technology to maximize productivity would engage youths in agribusiness in Africa. Tagged ‘A knowledge-driven one-stop-shop programme for improved productivity, transparent and effective regional and global agricultural trade’ the two organisations said that the partnership provided opportunity for them to determine the level and scope of technical support required from CBI. Both agreed on sequencing the projects in relation to resources required and sensitising Africa’s Regional Economic Communities, RECs, to be involved in the pilot project. African Development Bank’s

Agriculture and Agro-Industry Director, Chiji Ojukwu, summed up the Bank’s Agriculture and Agro-Industry Strategy, emphasizing areas related to rural infrastructure, agribusiness innovation and resilience building and natural resource management. He said: “Agriculture is beginning to change. It is a business and the youth should be fully involved in it. “We need to demonstrate

that, through technology, we can improve productivity. We want to show the youth something concrete to enable them do business and use our resources to create wealth”. On the extent strong links to market for rural producers could generate growth and reduce hunger, the pan African bank’s Lead Agricultural Expert, Benedict Kanu, pointed out that agricul-

ture remained a productive sector that relied heavily on efficient, accurate and transparent interaction as well as flow of information between various players in the landscape. He explained: “Strong links to markets for poor rural producers are essential to increasing agricultural production, generating economic growth in rural areas and reducing hunger and poverty.

Improving these links would create a virtuous circle by boosting productivity, increasing incomes and strengthening food security. “Market access is a function of importer mandated requirements – standards, regulations, price and quantity and productive resources including finance, water, electricity, land and soft and hard infrastructure,” Kanu stated.

Samsung to train 10,000 engineering students in Africa ISAIAH ERHIAWARIEN

he capacity of engineering students across countries in Africa will soon be increased by 10,000 as Samsung Electronics revealed that it has completed the training of a set of engineering students in Nigeria. The project, which is being implemented through the Samsung Engineering Academy, a Public Private Partnership (PPP) initiative between Samsung Electronics and the Lagos State Government with support from the World

Bank and the Lagos Eko Secondary School Education Project, is designed to create a large pool of skilled engineers with a target of training students across Africa. At the completion of the programme in Lagos, 53 technicians graduated from the academy, with the hope that they will help deepen the pool of well trained technicians in the country. Head, Lagos State Eko Secondary School Project, Mrs. Folasade Fasehun, at the graduation of the 53 technicians applauded Samsung Electronics West Africa for investing in such a critical initia-

tive that has the potential of empowering beneficiaries to become entrepreneurs. She explained that the students were trained on basic, intermediate and advanced engineering skills saying that they have been equipped with sound technical skills to build a better future for themselves while contributing towards driving the economy growth and development. Managing Director of Samsung West Africa Mr. Brovo Kim, said that the Samsung Engineering Academy in 2012 was established to empower indigent

Nigerians and positively impact communities. He said that the Samsung Electronics Engineering Academy provided hands-on, vocational skills training, opening up wellpaying job opportunities for its graduates to work in the electronics industry either as employees in repair centres, assembly lines or as independent entrepreneurs. The graduating students who were drawn from Government Technical College, Agidingbi, Ikeja, have successfully completed one year intensive specialised training at the academy.

Access Bank launches multi-channel payment solution

NDIC MD/CEO, Alh. Umaru Ibrahim (2nd Right) welcoming the World Bank team of Jan Philipp Nolte (3rd Left), John Okeete (4th Left) and Julian Casal (1st Right) to the NDIC Head Office, Abuja for a formal presentation of NDIC’s Target Fund Ratio Framework while the Corporation’s Director Research, Dr Ade Afolabi and Executive Director (Corporate Services), Hon. (Mrs) Omolola Abiola-Edewor watch.

Nigeria consumer banking viable as ID theft drops –Citigroup JOHNSON OKANLAWON

itigroup Incorporation has said Nigeria’s efforts to crackdown on identity theft are making it more attractive to start a consumer banking business in the country. The United States bank said it is looking at rolling out consumer banking in Nigeria because individuals dealing with banks in the country are increasingly. The Chief Executive Officer of Citibank Nigeria Limited, Mr. Akinsowon Dawodu, told Bloomberg that lack of security around identification has been an impedi-

ment to personal banking in the country in the past. The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, is requiring customers to provide fingerprint identification, a system it started introducing with commercial lenders in February 2014. A deadline for customers to get bank verification numbers has been extended to October 31 so that Nigerians living abroad can enroll. People who don’t comply will lose access to their accounts. “The system, combined with a growing network of credit bureaus that collect information on customers, makes the consumer proposition fairly viable for an

organization like ourselves. We are looking at the opportunities in that space,” Dawodu said. According to him, an entry into consumer banking would enable Citigroup to market products like personal loans and mortgages in the country of about 170 million people, where the New York-based bank already provides corporate banking services. He said that the country’s economy is forecast by the government to grow 3.9 per cent this year. The CBN had in June last year said that the absence of a unique identifier had curbed growth in credit cards and credit-related products.

ccess Bank Plc has introduced a new multibanking payment solution, PayWithCapture, in furtherance of its leading roles in promoting digital banking in the nation’s financial industry. A statement by the Bank’s Head, Media Relations, Abdul Imoyo, described PayWithCapture as a mobile payment solution that permits customers to make payments by scanning a merchant’s pre-generated QR-Code using the camera of their mobile device or via a one-step BeaconNFC System. He stated further that the payment solution can be linked with different payment cards (Any Bank’s MasterCard/VISA, Bank Account, Mobile Wallet) and affords customers the opportunity of selecting which payment instrument he/she chooses to use. “With PayWithCapture, a user can add as many cards or payment instruments (bank accounts and mobile money wallets) as desired. This journey of inclusiveness is based on the belief that inclusiveness is the first step in the journey of innovation and the biggest players in the mobile space have been those who opened up their platforms to other players. “This is a unique mobile payment solution with in-built loyalty points & coupon rewards. Merchants can also use the PayWithCapture Coupon System to

reward their customers without the need to invest in complex reward systems. “PayWithCapture Beacon-NFC Pay allows Merchants to push Ads & content to consumers which helps to look beyond traditional value chains for new opportunities” , he stated. Commenting on this innovation by Access Bank, Group Managing Director, Mr Herbert Wigwe said, “forging growth in mobile payment solutions requires inclusiveness. For the potential of mobile payment technologies to truly explode, it is important that we begin to see it as more than a bank initiative but more of a consumer initiative and that is where inclusiveness comes in. “We are committed to providing solutions that meet people in their niche and we have been working closely with technology partners to achieve this. Nigeria is an exceptional country with unique consumer needs”, he added. Wigwe pointed out that Access Bank introduced PayWithCapture because it remained a solution that allows for a combination of payment solutions to accelerate financial inclusion in Nigeria and also allows the Bank to meet every consumer in their niche. “Banking is morphing into something at the intersection of retail and mobile, and inclusiveness is the way to go.’

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Business News

Friday, July 10, 2015

ITF to adopt German vocational, skills devt model MESHACK IDEHEN

he Industrial Training Fund, (ITF) has indicated its intention to adopt Germany’s modeled dual technical and vocational trainings as part of its efforts to improve Nigeria’s technical and vocational competences and by so doing, reate employment and entrepreneurial opportunities for Nigerians. Disclosin this yesterday in Abuja while receiving a delegation of the German technical and vocational development team, the Director General of the ITF, Dr Mrs Juliet Chukkas Onaeko, said that that approach remained one of the options that will help develop the nation’s manpower and create opportunities for youths and the unemployed in the country

Onaeko said thousands of young Nigerians had been trained in various technical and vocational skills in the past one year, adding the agency in its commitment and determination to empower Nigerians with adequate life-long technical and vocational skills will continue to partner with world class training and manpower development organisations in order to achieve its objectives. According to her, the objective of the Fund in the immediate and long terms is to amongst other goals, have two million Nigerians trained in various skills and vocation. She pointed out with the initiatives already put in place at the agency that she is optimistic that achieving set objectives is very realistic. While describing the German vocational and technical training

set up as highly effective and worthy of emulation by countries targeting industralisation, yetgrappling with unemployment, the ITF DG reiterated the importance of the partnership and support towards the agency by the Germans as helpful, noting also that the concepts will be infused into the ITF’s training activities in order to expand the scope and benefit more Nigerians. “The ITF will take these initiatives to the next level. The partnership will be expanded to cover and accommodate other trade and skill development areas. Even as we continue with the programmes, the highest quality and standards will be maintained and improved upon for the benefits of the country”, the ITF DG explained.

Coty to buy P&G beauty business for $12.5 bn DAVID AUDU

rocter & Gamble, P&G, has agreed to sell its beauty business, which includes brands such as Clairol and Wella, to Coty Inc in a $12.5 billion transaction that will make Coty the world leader in perfume and hair care. In a tax-efficient deal designed as a “Reverse Morris Trust” transaction, P&G will separate 43 of its cosmetics, fragrance and haircare brands and fold them into Coty. The deal is a game-changer for Coty as it adds popular brands such as Wella and Clairol hair color products and Cover Girl and Max Factor make-up to its portfolio of perfume brands that include Marc Jacobs and Calvin Klein. Coty will also gain access to Gucci and Dolce & Gabbana perfumes as part of the deal.

For P&G, the sale is part of a plan to narrow its focus on fewer, faster-growing brands. The world’s No. 1 household products maker said last year it could sell about half of its slow-growing brands. The combined company is expected to have annual revenue of more than $10 billion - double Coty’s turnover - and will be led by Coty CEO Bart Becht. Coty, which is trying to staunch a decline in sales, said it expects hair color products to account for 24 percent of total sales after the deal is completed. Coty said it expects to generate about $4.5 billion in annual sales from its fragrance business, making it the world’s largest fragrance company by sales. It also expects to become the third largest brand in the color and cosmetics sector, behind L’Oreal and Estee Lauder JAB Cosmetics B.V. owns 97 percent of Coty’s Class B shares is in favor of the deal, Coty said.

PepsiCo profit, revenue beat estimates

R-L: Executive Director, Commercial Banking, Access Bank Plc, Roosevelt Ogbonna; Vice President & Area Business Head, West Africa, MasterCard, Omokehinde Ojomuyide; Group Head, Channels Services, Access Bank, Segun Ogbonnewo, and Managing Director, Easy Taxi, Adaora Asala, during the launch of PayWithCapture, a new multi-banking payment solution by Access Bank in Lagos .

Global economy growing too slowly –OECD

he global economy still isn’t growing fast enough to quickly replace the jobs lost in the wake of the financial crisis, while millions are at risk of a lifetime of insecure and low paid employment, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development said Thursday. In its annual report on employment, the Paris-based research body said that as of May 2015, around 42 million persons were without work, 10 million more than just before the crisis. It forecast that the unemployment rate will continue its “slow decline” through this year and next, and reach 6.5% by the end of 2016, from 7.1% at the end of last year. “Employment is still growing too slowly in the OECD area to close the jobs gap induced by the crisis any time soon,” wrote Stefano Scarpetta, the OECD’s director

for employment, labor and social affairs. “Consequently, unemployment will remain high even by end 2016.” According to the report, the proportion of people aged 15 and over in work will be just 54.8% at the end of next year, still below the 55.8% recorded at the end of 2007. That difference of one percentage point is the equivalent of 11 million jobs. The size of the “jobs gap”--or the difference between the employment rate now and before the crisis--varies widely across the OECD’s 34 members, most of which are developed economies. It remains widest among those European countries that were forced to seek international bailouts. In Greece, the employment rate is almost 11 percentage points lower than in 2007, while in Ireland the gap is just short of 10 percentage points. By comparison, the jobs

gap in the U.S. is under five percentage points, and much of that is due to withdrawal from the jobs market, rather than unemployment. The OECD warned that longterm unemployment remains very high, threatening a lifetime of insecurity and low pay for those affected. Across its 34 members, 15.7 people had been without work for 12 months or more at the end of last year, more than a third of all unemployed. The size of that group was 77% higher than in 2007, while more than half had been jobless for two years or longer. It said part of the increase in long-term unemployment may be due to the disappearance construction and manufacturing jobs, leaving workers from those sectors with the wrong skills for a jobs market that is shifting toward services.

epsiCo, like other soft drink makers, has been battling falling soda sales in the United States, with customers turning to healthier drinks that use natural ingredients. However, revenue from the company’s Americas beverages business, its largest, rose 1 percent to $5.34 billion in the second quarter, helped by a 1 percent rise in organic volume sales and its strategy of raising product prices overseas to offset the impact of a strong dollar. The company said on Wednesday that it would report results for its North America beverages business separately from the

third quarter, instead of clubbing it with Latin America beverage sales. PepsiCo plans to report Latin America beverage sales together with Latin America food sales from the current quarter. Analysts welcomed the move, saying it would increase transparency into the company’s North America beverages business. PepsiCo took a net charge of $105 million in 2014 as it reassessed the value of its assets in Venezuela after the devaluation of the bolivar, and said exchange mechanisms in the country are still shrouded in significant uncertainty.

AfDB invests ZAR 4.5bn in Development Bank of Namibia

he Board of Directors of the African Development Bank (AfDB) approved on Thursday, July 9, 2015 a line of credit amounting to ZAR 4.5 billion (about US $450 million) to Development Bank of Namibia (DBN) to finance projects in key priority sectors in the country including infrastructure, manufacturing, logistics and tourism. The LOC will enhance DBN’s liquidity and ability to provide financing on appropriate terms to projects and enterprises in key sectors including those with lower levels of economic activity, infrastructure and formerly disadvantaged segments of Namibia’s population, particularly women and young entrepreneurs.

The financed projects and enterprises are expected to contribute to Namibia’s economic development, generate employment opportunities and reduced income inequalities. In addition, the LOC is expected to contribute to infrastructure development through the provision of support to energy and transport infrastructure initiatives; contribute to private sector development through alleviation of financing constraints, as well as contribute to gender and social development through support to projects in rural underserved communities and social infrastructure initiatives such as vocational training and health facilities.

Friday, July 10, 2015

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FG sensitises Thailand on Nigeria’s agric investment opportunities ABOLAJI ADEBAYO

he Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Arc. Sonny Echono has called on the Thai agribusiness community to take advantage of the huge agricultural opportunities presented by the various crop processing zones in Nigeria and invest in the value chains existing in them. He urged the business entrepreneurs to come to Nigeria and establish rice and other crops’ production and processing plants

to produce for export, disclosing that the Nigerian market is the hub of the West African sub region. Echono, who made the call while receiving a delegation from the Board of Investment of Thailand in Abuja, told the Thai team that Nigeria is willing to partner with Thailand to develop her agriculture in order to diversify exports, increase employment level and economic growth. He welcomed the rice technology plan of the Thai investors and canvassed collaboration in the areas of cassava processing, agricultural machinery and in-

frastructure. Earlier, the head of the Thai delegation to Nigeria, Mr. Werapang Sirimon had explained that the team was in Nigeria to see the areas of possible investment in the country because Thailand wanted to expand her market in food processing. He explained that the Thai government would be willing to de-

velop Nigeria’s agriculture business sector, adding that she has been able to build her agricultural production from small to medium scale. Sirimon further disclosed that the Thai government was already partnering with farmers in Niger State and was working to take the farmers to Thailand for capacity building.

Apart from rice, he noted that Thailand is also into production of palm oil for export, and that it is second in the world for sugar cane export and number one in cowpea export. The Thai team was made up of representatives of the business community, the Thai Embassy in Nigeria and Thai Board of Investment.

FOREIGN BRIEFS

SA’s exporters to explore growing Eastern trade route benefits

he rapid increase of the rate at which reefer cargo, also known as perishable cargo, is exported from South Africa to the Middle and Far East regions, is slowly overtaking South Africa’s ‘traditional’ reefer trade lane to Europe. This has resulted in a noteworthy shift in trade lanes and is creating an opportunity for local exporters exploring these emerging markets. According to Dirk Hoffmann, MD of Safmarine - a member of the Maersk Group - and one of the world’s leading ocean transporters of perishable cargo, reefer exports to the Middle East have increased in volume by over 20 per cent year to date, with the Far East route experiencing a 10 per cent increase, adding that the increases could be attributed to a faster population growth and more disposable income in the region. He said that he had seen a significant increase in the amount of citrus and apples being exported to these regions. He said the country was at the peak of the citrus export season. He explained that Citrus exports were a combined 50 per cent of the total perishable export volume from South Africa. Hoffmann explained that in the past reefer cargo to the Middle and Far East had been very

low yielding. He said that exploring new trade routes were indeed a viable opportunity for South African fruit exporters. “Now that this type of export is growing, the dynamics of the South Africa/Middle Far East trade lanes are evolving in terms of diversity of cargo. It is interesting to note how the demand for this type of cargo has changed over the recent past. “This new route can, however, present challenges to exporters, including cultural differences and longer transit times. When it comes to these challenges, it is important to understand how the various complexities impact on doing business in the region. “These challenges are among the largest hurdles in today’s international marketplace, as different countries have different values and ways of conducting business, and if the legal complexities, culture and language of a country are not known, it could potentially jeopardise the business.” Hoffmann said that in order for South Africa’s fruit producers to meet the growing demand for fruit in the East, exporters need to partner with reliable specialists who make use of technologically advanced and temperature sensitive containers.

Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Arc. Sonny Echono with delegates from the Thailand Board of Investment.

Covenant University moves to curb tuber crops virus SAIDAT ALAUSA

ovenant University, Ota, Ogun State, has launched the West African Virus Epidemiology, WAVE, for root and tuber crops (WAVE Nigeria 1: Covenant University hub) in the university. The project, which was funded by the Global Development Program of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, was aimed to increase the productivity of root and tuber crops in six West African countries. Speaking at the first phase of the project in the university, the team leader and a senior lecturer at the Department of Biological Sciences, Dr. Angela Eni, disclosed that the virus was already in some African countries, hence, the need to equip breeders with accurate information needed for

identification and deployment of resistant and tolerant root and tuber crops. According to her, the move is also to ensure a clear understanding of virus threat of roots and tuber crops in West Africa, strengthening national and regional capacity to respond to these threats and facilitating increased demand and availability of clean planting materials. The university don said: “Also, to conduct field surveys in participating countries, consultative workshops with policy makers and other stakeholders on root crop viruses, train farmers on use of clean planting materials of root and tuber crops, train students in various aspects of plant virus epidemiology and to train breeders and field technicians on proper assessment of virus resistance” The WAVE regional coordi-

nator, Dr. Justin Pita told participants at the launch that the project was also aimed at saving tuber crops especially cassava being a major cash crop in the region because the virus was already in the continent. He therefore urged stakeholders especially farmers to cooperate with their team so that the areas they would cover would be well taken off. Other participating universities include, Université Felix Houphouët -Boigny (UFHB), Côte d’Ivoire Sub- grantees, Covenant University (CU), Nigeria, CSIR Crop Research Institute (CSIR CRI), Ghana, Institut de l’Environnement et de Recherches Agricoles (INERA), Burkina Faso, National Root Crop Research Institute (NRCRI),Nigeria, Université d Abomey- Calavi, Benin and Université de Lomé, Togo.

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Capital Market

Friday, July 10, 2015

NSE introduces Pension 40 Index Tola akinmuTimi

igerian Stock Exchange yesterday introduced NSE Pension 40 Index as part of key initiatives to drive market optimisation. The Exchange stated that the Index conformed to the requirements of the Pension industry as specified in the Pension Reform Act 2014 (as amended) and Regulation on Investment of Pension Fund Assets as prepared and amended by the National Pension Commission. It stated further that the new index provided tracking mechanism for PFAs, CPFA, Fund Managers and others that Invest in accordance with the PENCOM guidelines, adding that it can also act as a benchmark for mea-

suring performance and reporting performance to Retirement Savings Account (RSA) holders. Commenting on the new Index, Executive Director, Business Development, NSE, Mr. Haruna Jalo-Waziri, said that “investors want a diversified way of measuring market movements which has a wider coverage of companies as is the global practices”, assuring that the NSE Pension Index will provide investors with additional tool to make the most of Nigeria’s market and also encourage the development of other products such as Exchange Traded Products (ETP’s) and Index Futures in the Exchange According to the management of the Exchange, the Index will have the top 40 com-

panies based on market capitalisation and liquidity just as the companies to be included must have Free Float Factor of at least five percent. The NSE Pension Index is a Total Return Index. NSE stated: “Consequently, normal dividend payments will be reinvested and accounted for in the Total Return Index by a Divisor Adjustment. Similarly, special dividends from non-operating income require index divisor adjustments to prevent the distributions from distorting the index (same with price index). “The NSE Pension Index constituents would be reviewed, re-balanced, re-weighted and changed once in a year on the first business day in January whereby constituents are changed (added or deleted) based on their market

Market capitalisation dips N90bn in bearish trading Johnson okanlawon

enchmark indices of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) yesterday dropped to 31,000 marks as selling pressure outweighed demand for stocks Specifically, the indices lost 263.50 points or 0.82 per cent to close at 31,768.23 points, making it the lowest in the year against 32,031.73 posted a day earlier due to huge

loses. The Market Capitalisation which opened at N10.934 trillion lost N90billion or 0.82 per cent to close at N10.844 trillion. An analysis of the price movement chart indicated that Forte Oil topped the losers’ chart, declining by N9.74 to close at N185.24 per share, followed by Guinness Nigeria Plc which lost N7.31 to close at

N138.93, while Seplat declined by N4.89 to close at N330.11 per share. 7UP lost N3.60 to close at N188, while Lafarge dropped N1.89 to close at N101.11 per share. Oando led the gainers’ table, grossing 38 kobo gain to close at N14.69 per share while Cement Company of Northern Nigeria followed with a gain of 31 kobo to close at N11.49, while Dan-

Wall St. trims strong gains fueled by China relief

.S. stocks trimmed earlier strong gains in afternoon trading on Thursday after Wall Street found relief in Beijing’s efforts to halt a rout in Chinese stocks, which lifted markets around the world. Wall Street had fallen sharply in the previous session as market turmoil in China, a rout in commodity prices, the Greek debt crisis and a major outage

on the New York Stock Exchange spooked investors. China’s securities regulator, in its most drastic step yet to arrest a selloff on Chinese stock markets, banned shareholders with large stakes in listed firms from selling for the next six months. About 30 percent has been knocked off the value of Chinese shares since mid-June. Some investors fear that the turmoil in the

Chinese market could destabilize the global financial system, making it a bigger risk than the Greek crisis. Adding to cautious optimism on Wall Street, European markets rose on hopes that Greece might be able to win a deal that could keep it in the euro zone. Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has until midnight to propose spending-cut plans.

capitalisation, liquidity in the previous twelve months and Free Float Factor. The Nigerian bourse began publishing The NSE 30 Index in February 2009 with index values available from January 1, 2007. “On July 1, 2008, the NSE developed four sectoral indices with a base value of 1,000 points, designed to provide investable benchmarks to capture the performance of specific sectors. The sectoral indices comprise the top 10 most capitalized and liquid companies in the Banking, Insurance and Food/ Beverage & Tobacco (now Consumer Goods) sectors and the top five most capitalised and liquid companies in the Oil & Gas (Petroleum Marketing) sector”, the Exchange added.

Source: NSE

Inter-Bank Rate Naira Market indicators All-Share Index 31,768.23 points Market capitalisation 10.84trn

Stock Updates GAINERS COMPANY

OPENING

CLOSING

CHANGE

% CHANGE

IKEJAHOTEL

3.83

4.10

0.27

7.05

NAHCO

5.02

5.24

0.22

4.38

CAVERTON

3.25

3.39

0.14

4.31

DANGFLOUR

3.29

3.42

0.13

3.95

UBA

4.10

4.25

0.15

3.66

TRANSEXPR

1.39

1.44

0.05

3.60

MAYBAKER

1.55

1.60

0.05

3.23

CCNN

11.18

11.49

0.31

2.77

OANDO

14.31

14.69

0.38

2.66

PORTPAINT

4.90

5.00

0.10

2.04

CHANGE

% CHANGE

LOSERS COMPANY

gote Cement inched 30 kobo to close at N168.30 per share. Ikeja Hotel gained 27 kobo to close at N4.10, while Stanbic IBTC went up by 26 kobo to close at N25.01 per share. Over all, the volume of shares traded increased by 14.55 per cent with a total of 222.19 million shares valued N4.25 billion transacted in 3,714 deals. Rate (%) Inflation

8.2

MPR

Crude oil price

$58.96

US Dollar

N196.95

OPENING

CLOSING

COSTAIN

0.80

0.76

-0.04

-5.00

FLOURMILL

34.00

32.30

-1.70

-5.00

194.98

185.24

-9.74

-5.00

GUINNESS

146.24

138.93

-7.31

-5.00

ACCESS

5.45

5.18

-0.27

-4.95

CHAMPION

5.90

5.61

-0.29

-4.92

MCNICHOLS

1.50

1.43

-0.07

-4.67

VONO

1.36

1.30

-0.06

-4.41

EVANSMED

0.91

0.87

-0.04

-4.40

TRANSCORP

2.67

2.56

-0.11

-4.12

FGN Bonds

Offer

Bid

Description

Price

Yield

Price

Yield

13.05 16-AUG-2016

1.11

98.63

14.39

98.78

14.24

15.10 27-APR-2017

1.80

100.41

14.79

100.56

14.69

16.00 29-JUN-2019

3.98

102.83

15.03

103.13

14.92

15.54 13-FEB-2020

4.60

101.68

15.01

101.98

14.92

16.39 27-JAN-2022

6.56

105.52

15.03

105.82

14.96

14.20 14-MAR-2024

8.68

96.15

14.99

96.45

14.93

Closing Market Prices of July 8, 2015

Treasury Bills Maturity Date

Bid

Offer

Exchange

Rates (N)

01-Oct-15

12.75

13.14

WAUA

270

USD

196.95

07-Jan-16

12.58

13.42

EURO

214

02-Jun-16

12.71

14.36

CFA

0.32

YEN

1.64

Tenor

Rate (%)

SWISS FRANC

202

O/N

5.3350

POUNDS STERLING

293

13.0677

15.0944

SDR

273

16.1675

NIBOR

The Fixings of July 9, 2015

Capital Market

Friday, July 10, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Stock exchange daily equities summary Daily Summary as of 09/07/2015 Printed 09/07/2015 14:32:09.009

Equities as at July 9, 2015 Daily Summary as of 09/07/2015 Printed 09/07/2015 14:32:09.009

Daily Summary (Bonds) No Debt Trading Activity

1st Tier Securities Sector

Company name

Daily Summary (Equities) Daily Summary (Equities)

No Of Deals

Quotation(N)

Quantity Traded

Value of Shares(N)

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

Symbol OKOMUOIL PRESCO

No. of Deals 27 8 35

Current Price 28.00 34.00

Quantity Traded 219,776 52,237 272,013

Value Traded 6,186,434.50 1,708,449.95 7,894,884.45

Symbol LIVESTOCK

No. of Deals 36 36

Current Price 2.03

Quantity Traded 474,264 474,264

Value Traded 965,920.23 965,920.23

746,277

8,860,804.68

Current Price 1.40 2.56 40.01

Quantity Traded 1,000 7,361,147 961,988 8,324,135

Value Traded 1,330.00 18,992,138.19 38,569,471.78 57,562,939.97

8,324,135

57,562,939.97

Current Price 0.76

Quantity Traded 172,063 172,063

Value Traded 133,290.88 133,290.88

Page Quantity Traded 100 100

12 1 of Value Traded 4,949.00 4,949.00

Quantity Traded 10,086 10,086

Value Traded 106,877.60 106,877.60

182,249

245,117.48

Daily Summary as of 09/07/2015 AGRICULTURE Totals

Printed 09/07/2015 14:32:09.009 CONGLOMERATES Diversified Industries A.G. LEVENTIS NIGERIA PLC. TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATION OF NIGERIA PLC U A C N PLC. Diversified Industries Totals Activity Summary on Board EQTY CONGLOMERATES Totals CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Building Structure/Completion/Other COSTAIN (W A) PLC. Building Structure/Completion/Other Totals Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Infrastructure/Heavy Construction JULIUS BERGER NIG. PLC. Infrastructure/Heavy Construction Totals Real Estate Development UACN PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT CO. LIMITED Real Estate Development Totals

Symbol AGLEVENT Daily Summary TRANSCORP UACN

No. of Deals 1 (Equities) 115 51 167 167

Symbol COSTAIN

No. of Deals 10 10

Symbol JBERGER

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 48.50

Symbol UAC-PROP

No. of Deals 7 7

Current Price 10.40

CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Totals CONSUMER GOODS Automobiles/Auto Parts Daily Summary as of 09/07/2015 DN TYRE & RUBBER PLC Printed 09/07/2015 14:32:09.009 Automobiles/Auto Parts Totals Beverages--Brewers/Distillers CHAMPION BREW. PLC. GUINNESS NIG PLC INTERNATIONAL BREWERIES PLC. Activity Summary on Board NIGERIAN BREW. PLC. EQTY Beverages--Brewers/Distillers Totals CONSUMER GOODS Beverages--Non-Alcoholic 7-UP BOTTLING COMP. PLC. Beverages--Non-Alcoholic Totals Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Food Products DANGOTE FLOUR MILLS PLC DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY PLC FLOUR MILLS NIG. PLC. HONEYWELL FLOUR MILL PLC P S MANDRIDES & CO PLC. MULTI-TREX INTEGRATED FOODS PLC NATIONAL SALT CO. NIG. PLC N NIG. FLOUR MILLS PLC. Food Products Totals

Daily Summary as of 09/07/2015

Food Products--Diversified Printed 09/07/2015 14:32:09.009 CADBURY NIGERIA PLC. NESTLE NIGERIA PLC. Food Products--Diversified Totals Household Durables VITAFOAM NIG PLC.

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

Symbol

No. of Deals 4 87 21 122 234

Current Price 5.61 138.93 19.00 137.50

Quantity Traded 84,300 816,775 204,681 1,331,704 2,437,460

Value Traded 473,155.00 113,581,745.35 3,931,040.78 183,584,167.13 301,570,108.26

Symbol 7UP

No. of Deals 20 20

Current Price 188.00

Quantity Traded 132,111 Page 132,111

Value Traded 24,890,492.30 12 224,890,492.30 of

Symbol DANGFLOUR DANGSUGAR FLOURMILL HONYFLOUR MANDRID MULTITREX NASCON NNFM

No. of Deals 23 20 59 12 1 1 19 2 137

Current Price 3.42 6.35 32.30 3.40 5.35 0.50 7.50 18.05

Quantity Traded 327,742 320,588 443,228 146,125 5 200 276,571 1,300 1,515,759

Value Traded 1,115,188.96 2,011,446.80 14,490,197.89 493,741.50 25.45 100.00 2,059,709.24 22,295.00 20,192,704.84

Symbol CADBURY NESTLE

No. of Deals 14 65 79

Current Price 35.05 850.00

Quantity Traded 5,481 377,098 382,579

Value Traded 183,347.30 319,044,439.37 319,227,786.67

Symbol VITAFOAM VONO

No. of Deals 19 3 22

Current Price 5.88 1.30

Quantity Traded 304,030 207,000 511,030

Value Traded 1,725,353.80 269,300.00 1,994,653.80

Symbol PZ UNILEVER

No. of Deals 65 16 81

Current Price 29.02 42.00

Quantity Traded 921,918 64,735 Page 986,653

Value Traded 26,824,145.20 2,583,026.50 3 of 12 29,407,171.70

Banking ZENITH INTERNATIONAL BANK PLC Banking Totals

Symbol No. of Deals ACCESS 225 DIAMONDBNK 43 ETI 81 FIDELITYBK 91 GUARANTY 402 SKYEBANK 103 STERLNBANK 10 Daily Summary (Equities) UBA 196 UBN 31 UNITYBNK 28 WEMABANK 22

5,977,439

697,288,841.07

Current Price 5.18 3.95 21.00 1.65 26.10 2.26 2.12 4.25 8.91 2.28 1.00

Quantity Traded 25,622,205 2,730,548 3,299,708 11,764,421 13,547,930 3,430,911 33,336 9,776,264 105,287 800,531 334,280

Value Traded 134,493,354.61 11,124,919.88 69,699,386.45 19,396,841.15 353,954,112.05 7,469,508.72 69,165.85 40,568,767.91 925,733.44 1,837,722.02 330,890.69

Value Traded 1,367,860,022.19 2,007,730,424.96

Electronic and Electrical Products CUTIX PLC. Electronic and Electrical Products Totals Packaging/Containers BETA GLASS CO PLC. Daily Summary as of 09/07/2015 Totals Packaging/Containers Printed 09/07/2015 14:32:09.009

Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors CONOIL PLC ETERNA PLC. FORTE OIL PLC. MOBIL OIL NIG PLC. TOTAL NIGERIA PLC. Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors Totals

Symbol AIICO CONTINSURE CORNERST EQUITYASUR GNI INTENEGINS LASACO LINKASSURE MANSARD MBENEFIT NEM NIGERINS PRESTIGE REGALINS STDINSURE UNIVINSURE WAPIC

No. of Deals 18 24 1 1 1 1 1 3 8 1 33 2 2 1 2 1 3 (Equities) 103

Current Price 0.95 1.02 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.51 2.81 0.50 0.70 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50

Quantity Traded 602,868 3,755,120 Page 1,770 30,000 37,626 210 3,200 65,133 268,640 1,000 2,515,841 7,000 10 1,000 1,530 6,000 50,136 7,347,084

Value Traded 575,207.65 3,844,128.18 4 of 12 885.00 15,000.00 18,813.00 105.00 1,600.00 32,570.50 755,474.40 500.00 1,719,445.27 3,500.00 5.00 500.00 765.00 3,000.00 25,068.00 6,996,567.00

Symbol NPFMCRFBK

No. of Deals 7

Current Price 1.05

Quantity Traded 222,000

Value Traded 222,300.00

Symbol

No. of Deals 7

Current Price

Page Quantity Traded 222,000

12 5Value Traded of 222,300.00

Mortgage Carriers, Brokers and Services ABBEY MORTGAGE BANK PLC Mortgage Carriers, Brokers and Services Totals

Symbol ABBEYBDS

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 1.25

Quantity Traded 5 5

Value Traded 5.95 5.95

Other Financial Institutions AFRICA PRUDENTIAL REGISTRARS PLC CUSTODIAN AND ALLIED PLC FBN HOLDINGS PLC FCMB GROUP PLC. ROYAL EXCHANGE PLC. STANBIC IBTC HOLDINGS PLC UBA CAPITAL PLC Other Financial Institutions Totals

Symbol AFRIPRUD CUSTODYINS FBNH FCMB ROYALEX STANBIC UBCAP

No. of Deals 32 20 315 58 2 81 50 558

Current Price 2.74 4.10 7.95 2.91 0.50 25.01 1.36

Quantity Traded 1,515,681 3,300,455 10,958,840 14,853,455 1,600 3,796,281 796,938 35,223,250

Value Traded 4,150,292.20 14,380,029.65 87,121,467.90 43,728,245.50 800.00 96,277,488.26 1,093,981.17 246,752,304.68

186,261,738

2,261,701,602.59

FINANCIAL SERVICES Totals HEALTHCARE Healthcare Providers EKOCORP PLC. Healthcare Providers Totals Pharmaceuticals EVANS MEDICAL PLC. Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

2,172

Symbol EKOCORP

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 3.72

Quantity Traded 1,152 1,152

Value Traded 4,078.08 4,078.08

Symbol EVANSMED

No. of Deals 8

Current Price 0.87

Quantity Traded 747,300

Value Traded 650,151.00

Page

Exploration and Production Daily Summary as of 09/07/2015 SEPLAT PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LTD Printed 09/07/2015 14:32:09.009 Exploration and Production Totals

SERVICES Automobile/Auto Part Retailers Activity Board EQTY R Summary T BRISCOEon PLC. Automobile/Auto Part Retailers Totals SERVICES Courier/Freight/Delivery Published by RED The Nigerian Stock Exchange STAR EXPRESS PLC ©

Quantity Traded

Current Price 3.48 43.50 1.60 1.39 6.32 2.25

111

Value of Shares(N)

Quantity Traded 120,700 50,325 2,799,244 934,062 50 604 4,652,285

Value Traded 402,155.00 2,122,018.26 4,196,177.45 1,265,325.98 300.50 1,313.56 8,637,441.75

4,653,437

8,641,519.83

Symbol CWG

No. of Deals 3 3

Current Price 3.98

Quantity Traded 600 600

Value Traded 2,274.00 2,274.00

Symbol CHAMS

No. of Deals 2 2

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 2,650 2,650

Value Traded 1,325.00 1,325.00

3,250

3,599.00

Value Traded 2,238,711.82 85,087.45 364,455.15

Daily Summary (Equities) Symbol ASHAKACEM BERGER CAP

No. of Deals 11 4 4

Current Price 22.15 10.68 41.00

Quantity Traded 106,198 8,383 9,357

Symbol CCNN DANGCEM FIRSTALUM PORTPAINT WAPCO

No. of Deals 34 37 2 10 55 157

Current Price 11.49 168.30 0.50 5.00 101.11

Page Quantity Traded 552,826 5,900,895 300 212,135 853,036 7,643,130

Symbol CUTIX

No. of Deals 3 3

Current Price 1.50

Quantity Traded 21,917 21,917

Value Traded 34,409.69 34,409.69

Symbol BETAGLAS

No. of Deals 5 5

Current Price 34.20

Quantity Traded 36,943 36,943

Value Traded 1,259,218.90 1,259,218.90

7,701,990

1,100,848,808.97

Quantity Traded 2,050 2,050

Value Traded 9,483.00 9,483.00

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

2 2

4.86

12 7Value Traded of 6,331,839.30 1,003,120,194.39 150.00 1,062,515.00 86,352,227.27 1,099,555,180.38

2,050

Symbol JAPAULOIL

No. of Deals 4 4

Current Price 0.50

Symbol OANDO

No. of Deals 175 175

Current Price 14.69

Symbol CONOIL ETERNA FO MOBIL TOTAL

No. of Deals 14 18 42 17 15 106

Symbol SEPLAT

No. of Deals 19 19

OIL AND GAS Totals

9,483.00

Quantity Traded 135,850 135,850 Page Quantity Traded 2,527,299 2,527,299

Value Traded 67,925.00 67,925.00 8 of 12 Value Traded 36,577,772.45 36,577,772.45

Current Price 40.85 2.34 185.24 148.00 151.00

Quantity Traded 15,612 184,252 203,711 24,116 14,071 441,762

Value Traded 607,218.07 416,921.60 37,929,243.48 3,702,487.01 2,079,686.40 44,735,556.56

Current Price 330.11

Quantity Traded 69,851 69,851

Value Traded 23,237,915.00 23,237,915.00

3,174,762

104,619,169.01

304

Daily Summary (Equities) Symbol RTBRISCOE

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 0.77

Quantity Traded 40 40

Value Traded 29.60 29.60

Symbol REDSTAREX TRANSEXPR

No. of Deals 14 2 16

Current Price 4.75 1.44

Quantity Traded Page 10,143

Value Traded 9 48,575.70 of 12 122,635.60 171,211.30

Employment Solutions C & I LEASING PLC. Employment Solutions Totals

Symbol CILEASING

No. of Deals 19 19

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 2,521,963 2,521,963

Value Traded 1,269,094.36 1,269,094.36

Hotels/Lodging IKEJA HOTEL PLC TRANSCORP HOTELS PLC Hotels/Lodging Totals

Symbol IKEJAHOTEL TRANSCOHOT

No. of Deals 25 1 26

Current Price 4.10 7.86

Quantity Traded 883,214 3,000 886,214

Value Traded 3,530,699.90 24,300.00 3,554,999.90

Symbol ACADEMY LEARNAFRCA UPL

No. of Deals 2 1 12 15

Current Price 0.95 1.25 6.03

Quantity Traded 5,856 100 238,578 244,534

Value Traded 5,328.96 123.00 1,341,416.58 1,346,868.54

Symbol ABCTRANS

No. of Deals 3 3

Current Price 0.51

Quantity Traded 273,500 273,500

Value Traded 139,885.00 139,885.00

Symbol AIRSERVICE Symbol NAHCO

No. of Deals 10 No. of Deals 26 36

Current Price 2.08 Current Price 5.24

Quantity Traded 39,807 Quantity Traded 684,664 Page 724,471

Symbol CAVERTON

No. of Deals 7 7

Current Price 3.39

Quantity Traded 283,695 283,695

Value Traded 899,581.55 899,581.55

123

5,032,550

11,052,029.35

3,712

222,059,877

4,250,833,914.95

Quantity Traded 140,000 140,000

Value Traded 200,203.00 200,203.00 200,203.00

TRANS-NATIONWIDE EXPRESS PLC. Courier/Freight/Delivery Totals

Quantity Traded 72,023,978 143,469,399

NPF MICROFINANCE BANK PLC FINANCIAL SERVICES Published byMicro-Finance The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Banks Micro-Finance Banks Totals

No. of Deals 10 14 55 19 1 3 110

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Integrated Oil and Gas Services OANDO PLC Integrated Oil and Gas Services Totals

Current Price 18.71

Micro-Finance Activity SummaryBanks on Board EQTY

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

NATURAL RESOURCES Totals OIL AND GAS Energy Equipment and Services JAPAUL OIL & MARITIME SERVICES PLC Energy Equipment and Services Totals

No. of Deals 271 1,503

Daily Summary

Quotation(N)

INDUSTRIAL GOODS Totals

Symbol ZENITHBANK

Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services AIICO INSURANCE PLC. CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE PLC Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © CORNERSTONE INSURANCE COMPANY PLC. EQUITY ASSURANCE PLC. GREAT NIGERIAN INSURANCE PLC INTERNATIONAL ENERGY INSURANCE COMPANY PLC LASACO ASSURANCE PLC. LINKAGE ASSURANCE PLC AXAMANSARD INSURANCE PLC MUTUAL BENEFITS ASSURANCE PLC. N.E.M INSURANCE CO (NIG) PLC. NIGER INSURANCE CO. PLC. Daily Summary as of 09/07/2015 PRESTIGE ASSURANCE CO. PLC. Printed 09/07/2015 14:32:09.009 REGENCY ALLIANCE INSURANCE COMPANY PLC STANDARD ALLIANCE INSURANCE PLC. UNIVERSAL INSURANCE COMPANY PLC WAPIC INSURANCE PLC Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services Totals

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

Value Traded 5,923.50 5,923.50

574

No Of Deals Symbol FIDSON GLAXOSMITH MAYBAKER NEIMETH NIG-GERMAN PHARMDEKO

ICT Totals

Quantity Traded 11,847 11,847

CONSUMER GOODS Totals FINANCIAL SERVICES Banking ACCESS BANK PLC. DIAMOND BANK PLC Daily Summary as of 09/07/2015 ECOBANK TRANSNATIONAL INCORPORATED Printed 09/07/2015 14:32:09.009 FIDELITY BANK PLC GUARANTY TRUST BANK PLC. SKYE BANK PLC STERLING BANK PLC. UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA PLC UNION BANK NIG.PLC. Activity Summary on Board EQTY UNITY BANK PLC WEMASERVICES BANK PLC. FINANCIAL

Processing Systems CHAMS Daily Summary as of PLC 09/07/2015 Processing Systems Totals Printed 09/07/2015 14:32:09.009

Current Price 0.50

Daily Summary (Equities)

Company name

HEALTHCARE Pharmaceuticals FIDSON HEALTHCARE PLC GLAXO SMITHKLINE CONSUMER NIG. PLC. MAY & BAKER NIGERIA PLC. NEIMETH INTERNATIONAL PHARMACEUTICALS PLC NIGERIA-GERMAN CHEMICALS PLC. PHARMA-DEKO PLC. Pharmaceuticals Totals

ICT IT Services COMPUTER WAREHOUSE GROUP PLC IT Services Totals

No. of Deals 1 1

GUINNESS INTBREW NB

Sector

HEALTHCARE Totals

Symbol DUNLOP

CHAMPION Daily Summary (Equities)

1st Tier Securities Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Printing/Publishing ACADEMY PRESS PLC. Daily Summary as of 09/07/2015 LEARN AFRICA PLC Printed 09/07/2015 14:32:09.009 UNIVERSITY PRESS PLC. Printing/Publishing Totals Road Transportation ASSOCIATED BUS COMPANY PLC Road Transportation Totals

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Transport-Related Services SERVICES AIRLINE SERVICES AND LOGISTICS PLC Transport-Related Services NIGERIAN AVIATION HANDLING COMPANY PLC Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Transport-Related Services Totals Support and Logistics CAVERTON OFFSHORE SUPPORT GRP PLC Support and Logistics Totals

Daily Summary (Equities)

SERVICES Totals

EQTY Board Totals

87,990 98,133

Value Traded 80,550.60 Value Traded 3,589,808.50 10 of 12 3,670,359.10

Daily Summary (Equities) Activity Summary on Board ASeM CONSUMER GOODS Food Products MCNICHOLS PLC Food Products Totals Daily Summary as of 09/07/2015 CONSUMER GOODS Totals Printed 09/07/2015 14:32:09.009

Symbol MCNICHOLS

No. of Deals 2 2

Current Price 1.43

140,000

ASeM Board Totals

140,000

200,203.00

Equity Activity Totals

3,714

222,199,877

4,251,034,117.95

Page

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

Symbol LOTUSHAL15 NEWGOLD VETGRIF30

No. of Deals 1 1 2 4

Current Price 10.35 2,243.00 14.53

Quantity Traded 10 50 1,015 1,075

Value Traded 103.50 112,150.00 14,717.95 126,971.45

ETF Board Totals

1,075

126,971.45

ETP Activity Totals

1,075

126,971.45

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

News

Friday, July 10, 2015

Buhari assures of local manufactures’ protection ROtImI FadeyI ABUJA

resident Muhammadu Buhari yesterday said his administration would implement essential reforms to protect Nigerian manufacturers from unfair foreign competition. A statement issued by Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity,

Mr. Femi Adesina, said Buhari stated this at a meeting with Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment and senior officials of relevant agencies. Buhari stressed that with focus on job creation, his government was ready to do whatever it considers necessary to boost domestic manufacturing and industrialisation.

The president said his administration would fully support effective implementation of the plan evolved by the ministry to boost local manufacturing through legal, regulatory and structural reforms, lower interest rates, special intervention funds, protection of local manufacturers and significant improvements in national infrastructure. “With high interest rates

and entrepreneurs needing trillions of Naira to buy machinery, we are virtually back at Ground Zero as far as industrial development is concerned. “So, we will shun all anti-development policies, and make the climate more suitable for entrepreneurs. We will create the environment for them to thrive. Generating employment was one of our key cam-

paign promises and we will keep that promise. “We will no longer allow our markets to be flooded with things we can produce ourselves. We must believe in our system. Whenever you need my intervention at anytime, please come to me”, Buhari told the Permanent Secretary, Abdulkadir Musa and senior officials. The Permanent Secre-

tary and his team explained to the president that the objective of the ministry’s industrialisation plan was to create more jobs, diversify exports and broaden the country’s tax base. They said that the plan’s critical success factors included dialogue and consultation with industry stakeholders, essential reforms and greater collaboration among relevant agencies.

Building collapse: Synagogue church faults coroner’s verdict

ynagogue Church of All Nations, SCOAN, on Thursday faulted the verdict indicting the church on the building collapse at its premises, describing it as ‘’one-sided and biased’’. SCOAN said this in an official statement signed by its legal counsel, Mr Olalekan Ojo, and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN. It also rejected the verdict of the coroner calling for the prosecution of two of the collapsed building’s contractors for criminal negligence, saying it was premature. The church maintained that the building collapsed as a result of sabotage. The Coroner, Mr Oyetade Komolafe, in his verdict on July 8, said the building collapse was caused by structural failure due to a combination of designs and detailing errors. The September 12, 2014 collapse of the six-storey guest house within the Synagogue Church premises led to the death of 116 people most of whom were foreigners. Eighty-five of the victims were South Africans, 22 were Nigerians with two Beninoise and a Togolese while six victims remain unidentified. A coroner’s inquest was instituted under the Lagos State Coroner’s System Law No. 7 of 2007 for the purpose of establishing the cause and manner of the collapsed building incident. The inquest commenced sitting on October 13, 2014 and also visited the collapse scene on October 16, 2014. The SCOAN in the statement rejected the coroner’s claim that it had no building approval for the collapsed structure. The church said that SON gave evidence at the coroner and certified that the materi-

als used were all approved and of good quality. The statement faulted the coroner’s rejection of the claim that the building collapse was caused by a mysterious aircraft which hovered over the building moments before it came down. The church noted that Magistrate Komolafe in his verdict did not refer to the interim report and investigation by the Nigerian Police Force which pointed to sabotage by external forces. On the coroner’s call for the prosecution of the architect, Mr Oladele Ogundeji, and the contractor, Mr Akinpela Fatiregun of Hardrock Construction Limited, for criminal negligence, the church said the call for prosecution was ‘premature.’ The church said Komolafe did not refer in his verdict to the evidence of registered engineers and contractors used by the church. It said he did not equally evaluate the conflicting evidence given by engineers as to whether or not the incident was as a result of structural failure.

L-R: UNFPA Resident Representative, Mrs Ratidzai Ndhlovu; Board Chairman, Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN), Alhaji Mustapha Jumare; wife of Senate President, Mrs. Toyin Saraki and Accounts Manager, Merck Sharp and Dohme, Mr. Jeremiah Yem, unveiling training arm models to be handed over to NMCN for midwifery schools in Nigeria in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

Fraud: Abuja court to decide Sylva’s fate soon Ise-Oluwa Ige

ustice Adeniyi Ademola of a Federal High Court in Abuja yesterday reserved ruling in an application filed by former Bayelsa State Gover-

nor, Chief Timipreye Sylva, to quash fresh charges filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. The court reserved ruling in the case after parties in the suit argued their applications.

Akwa Ibom exco members for retreat today

retreat for members of Akwa Ibom State Executive Council will be declared open today by Governor Udom Emmanuel. Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Ekerette Udoh, said the retreat will focus on industrialisation to keep the state on sound economic footing. The statement added that the governor had earlier declared his commitment to leverage on the effort of exGovernor Godswill Akpabio to continue with transformation of the state, which it claimed had earned the state encomiums from the

American State Department, as well as leading local and international institutions. To achieve this objective, Udoh said the new governor had set up a technical committee on agriculture and food sufficiency, technical committee on Ibom Deep Seaport, and that on Monday, a Technical Committee on Foreign Direct Investment will be inaugurated while a ground breaking ceremony for the construction of a plant to assemble luxury cars, ambulances and fire trucks in Itu will also hold same day. While setting up the tech-

nical committee for the realisation of the deep seaport project recently, Emmanuel stated that the; “Ibaka Deep Sea Port is an audacious attempt to re-write the maritime story of Akwa Ibom State. It holds the promise of an industrial revolution of our state. It holds the promise of the industrialisation of Akwa Ibom. It holds the promise of the creation of over 100,000 jobs. It holds the promise of a self-sustaining commercial city with oil and gas support services. It holds the promise of tapping into our awesome and largely untapped maritime potential.”

Counsel to the former governor and All Progressives Congress, APC, chieftain, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), asked the court to set aside the charges against Sylva on ground that he could not be re-arraigned on charges that had been dismissed by the same court. “He cannot be re-arraigned on the same fact, same event and same investigation. We are challenging the jurisdiction of this court to hear the charges against the accused person. We urge the court to decline jurisdiction”, he argued. On his part, counsel to the EFCC, Mr. Rotimi Jacob, in his objection to the application to quash the charges, told the court that the charges before it, is different from the ones earlier dismissed by the court last month. He said the charge had been expanded to 50 from the 42-count charge that was dismissed by Justice Ahmed Mohammed of the same court.

“The motion asking for the dismissal of the charges is misconceived. What the court should look at in criminal matter is the constitution and the Criminal Procedure Act, CPA”, Jacob argued. Justice Ahmed Mohammed had on June 10 dismissed one of the two charges earlier brought against Sylva and some others by the EFCC on the ground that it amounted to an abuse of court process. However, EFCC disagreed with the judgment on the ground that it was premature as the accused persons had not taken plea before the court. Earlier on June 1, Justice Evoh Chukwu, also of the Federal High Court, Abuja struck out the other charges upon EFCC’s application for withdrawal. In the fresh 50-count charge, Sylva is charged alongside Francis Okokuro, Gbenga Balogun, and Samuel Ogbuku.

Transition

Friday, July 10, 2015

Isiwat Mumuni A lhaja Chief Isiwat Abeni Mumuni was born on 3rd May 1937 in Abeokuta Ogun State, Nigeria. As an infant, Isiwat was one of the survivors of the mortality and morbidity of the killerdiseases such as small pox, poliomyelitis and measles which characterized her childhood period. Unfortunately, the little Isiwat had not reached the years of discretion when death took her loving mother. The untime-

ly death of her mother together with the fact that western education was not given paramount attention in those days put paid to her educational ambition. Isiwat later got married to her first husband Alao Ishawu Adefolami a retired police officer, from Abeokuta. The marriage was blessed with three children. The marriage was blissful affair for some years until it suffered a severe setback which later led to divorce. She later moved to Lagos where she met and married Alhaji Lateef Mumuni, also blessed with children. She assumed the chairmanship position of the Lagos State Market Advisory Council in 1999. This role without gainsaying, earned her the enviable title: ‘Settle Mother’ for her trouble shooting nature. Alongside other market leaders Isiwat protested the annulment of June 12 election in 1993. The move earned her 14 days of police custody. Her services to her community, State and

country didn’t go unacknowledged. A heap of laurels bestowed on her by different associations in Nigeria. Alhaja Chief Isiwat died at the age of 66 in 2003. It will be exactly 12 years by July 12, 2015, that she left to answer the call of Almighty Allah. The 12 years remembrance and celebration will be held on Thursday August 20, 2015, by 8.00 am at Alhaja Mrs.

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Tawakalitu Odulate resident, Umukoro Street, Ilupeju Estate, Giwa Oke-Aro Ogun State. She is survived by her sons and daughters, many grandchildren and other relations. Her grand children include: Ahmed Odulate (London); Mutiat Adefolami (London); Abibat Adefolami; Lukman Odulate (London); Airat Adefolami; Basirat Adefolami; Kazeem Odulate (London); Nofisat

Sonekan(America); Mariam Adfolami; Saidat Adefolami; Rilwan Adefolami; Bilikisu Adefolami; Biola Adefolami; Sodiq Adefolami (America); Amudat Sonekan(America); Toheeb Sonekan(America); Isiwat Mumuni (America); Sadiat Adefolami(London); Idris Adefolami(London); Malik Abass (America); Taofeek Odulate(London); Sultan Mumuni(America).

Sikirat Atobajaiye A lhaja Atobajaiye, aged 85, died on June 7 after a brief illness at a Lagos hospital. Lagos State literally stood still recently as eminent Nigerians, clerics and well wishers among others, thronged the palatial Ikorodu home, venue of the 8th Day Fidau prayer for the repose of late Chief Sikirat Atinuke Atobajaiye (alias Majayalolo), a devout Muslim leader and Iya Suna-General of Alasalatu (Muslim women group). A philanthropist, Atobajaiye has been honoured with many

Islamic titles in recognition of her contribution to the promotion of Islam in Nigeria. Chief Imam of Ikorodu, Sheikh Seiffudeen Ademoritan Oloworibi, who conducted the Fidau, led various Muslim clerics who offered prayers and gave sermons at the well attended event. Eldest daughter of the deceased, Honorable Princess Folashade Oba described her mother as very caring to a fault. “My mother played caring role that all mothers are supposed to play. But mummy, even in her advanced age, continued to monitor my well-being as if she

were caring for a five-year-old girl. She could not believe I can care for my own children,” said the budding politician. The final burial will be coming up by August 23, 2015.

News

80-year-old woman’s kidnap rattles Ekiti community Abiodun nejo ADO EKITI

he kidnap on Tuesday of an 80-year-old woman, Mrs Rose Aina, in IlogboEkiti, Ido/Osi Council area of Ekiti State has thrown the com-

munity into panic. More disturbing to them was the fact that her kidnappers had not made any contact with her relations on the possibility of how she could regain freedom. Aina was said to have been kidnapped about 9.00 pm on Tuesday while sleeping in her bedroom.

Residents said that search parties raised to comb the forest in the community and other neighboring towns had not yielded any result. A resident, who preferred anonymity said: “We have been searching for the old woman without success and nobody knows where they had taken

her to. “The kidnappers have not made any contact since then and this has heightened our fear. This is an old woman, she is poor woman who only depend on what her children and Good Samaritans give to her. “The whole community is afraid and we now live in per-

petual fear because it can happen to anybody. We are more concerned because we are no longer safe,” he said. Spokesman for the police in Ekiti State, Mr Alberto Adeyemi, said efforts were on by the officers and men of the command to secure the release of the octogenarian.

Ramadan: NEMA donates food items to IDP in Abuja

ederal Government, through the Abuja Operations Office of National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), on Tuesday distributed food items to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the FCT. Mr Ishaya Chonoko, Zonal Co-ordinator of NEMA, presented the items to the IDPs at their Area 1 and New Kuchingoro camps in Abuja. He said the items were provided to reduce their plight, especially during the Ramadan month. Chonoko said the items would help in alleviating their sufferings and give them a sense of belonging during the Ramadan and the forthcoming Ed-el-Fitri.

``We are here today because of the plight of our brothers who ran away from their domain as a result of the insurgency which is no longer news in Nigeria. ``Just like what the beneficiaries have said, we have been here once, twice, and today, we are here for the same purpose: to provide support for them to cushion their sufferings. ``We have both Christians and Muslims amidst these IDPs, considering that it is going to serve our Muslim brothers who are fasting and the nonMuslims. ``Everything here can serve the interest of everybody. ``This is a continuation of what we have been doing. We have visited Gwagwalada and

Nyanya, Mararaba axis. Today, we are here in Area 1 and after this place we are going to Kuchingoro. ``We are going to continue this distribution at other locations like Waru, and Wassa. ``We have identified about seven locations in the FCT and all of them are going to benefit from this distribution that we are doing today’’. Chonoko said the sufferings of the IDPs were of great concern to the Federal Government and the agency would never be tired of assisting them to alleviate their pains. He assured that NEMA had put necessary security measures in place to ensure that the items were distributed to the real IDPs as they were aware of

infiltrators. The zonal co-ordinator also advised the IDPs to be of good behaviour, co-ordinate themselves properly and stay away from any form of crime and other vices. Also speaking, Mr Bala Yusuf, the Secretary of the Association of IDPs, Durumi-Area 1 camp, commended NEMA for their continuous assistance and provision of their needs. ``We are very grateful for your coming because we never expected this type of assistance since we have been facing this difficult condition. ``It is God that has come through NEMA to give us food items, especially for our children, because many of us are living here without a means of

livelihood or what to do. ``We are also grateful to the security personnel, because they are always here on patrol all through the night and day.’’ Yusuf promised that the association would organise the IDPs to ensure peaceful distribution of the items among them. At the Kuchingoro Camp, Mrs Liatu Ayuba, the IDPs Women Leader, said NEMA’s continuous assistance had enabled them feed and take care of their children as concerned mothers. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the items distributed include bags of rice, beans, soya beans, cartons of liquid Peak milk and maize, among others

Friday, July 10, 2015

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World News

We are counting on President Francois Hollande because France holds the key to the negotiations and we hope he understands. –GREECE PRIME MINISTER, ALEXIS TSIPRAS

AfolAbi GAmbAri

WITH AGENCY REPORT

S Secretary of State, John Kerry has said that America and other major powers are not in a rush to reach a nuclear agreement with Iran. But he warned that the socalled P5+1 (US, UN, Russia, UK, France and Germany) would not wait indefinitely. The pace at which sanctions are lifted is a major issue at talks in Vienna. Pressure is mounting on world powers and Iran to reach a deal on its nuclear programme and avoid the issue becoming bogged down in the US Congress. “We’re here because we believe we are making real progress,” Kerry told reporters in the Austrian capital, Vienna yesterday. He cautioned that “we are not going to sit at the negotiating table forever” and that he was prepared to “call an end” to nuclear talks with Iran if “tough decisions” are not made.

Iran talks: US won’t be rushed over deal –Kerry

Kerry

“We also recognise that we shouldn’t get up and leave simply because the clock strikes midnight. And I emphasise, giv-

en that the work here is incredibly technical and that the stakes are very very high, we will not rush and we will not be rushed.”

“It is not a test of a matter of days or weeks or months, it’s a test for decades, that’s our goal here.” The White House has said that it is unlikely that the talks will go on for many more weeks after a June 30 deadline imposed by both sides has already been missed. If a final agreement is not reached today, Congress will double the time it takes to review an accord. Iran also wants a UN Security Council arms embargo to be scrapped, something the US has ruled out. World powers want assurance that Iran is neither trying to develop a nuclear bomb nor has the capability to do so in under at least a year. But Iran insists its nuclear programme is for purely peaceful purposes.

Bush’s speech fee raises dust

ormer US President, George W. Bush, is under fire for charging $100, 000 to speak to a group of veterans wounded in a pair of wars he started when he was in office, just the latest front in a political battle over speaking fees that has hit both sides of the aisle. Members of the Texas-based Helping a Hero charity said yesterday that Bush charged the fee for his 2012 speech at a charity fundraiser for veterans who lost limbs in the Afghanistan and Iraq Wars. The former president was also

Bush

given use of a private jet at a cost of $20, 000 and former First Lady Laura Bush was paid $50, 000 to speak to the group last year. The fees infuriated one of the board members, who insisted that Bush should not have accepted any money. “The point here is that a leader should not charge to speak on behalf of the men that he sent into combat, at any level, let alone the commander in chief,” Eddie Wright, a Marine who lost both his hands in a 2004 rocket attack in Fallujah, Iraq said. Helping a Hero builds hous-

es for wounded veterans. But Wright and others were involved in a legal battle last year accusing some of the group’s leaders of siphoning money and forcing veterans’ wives to sell beauty products. The crimi-

nal complaint and a defamation lawsuit filed in response were settled out of court, according to the Houston Chronicle. Following the reports, Helping a Hero issued a statement supporting Bush.

Leave Tunisia, UK urges citizens

ll British nationals are being urged to leave Tunisia because a further terrorist attack is highly likely, Foreign Secretary, Philip Hammond, said yesterday. Thirty Britons were among 38 tourists killed in an attack there last month. The Foreign Office estimates 2, 500 to 3, 000 UK tourists are in Tunisia and a few hundred British residents. It is advising against all nonessential travel to Tunisia, and some travel firms are repatriating their British staff. Britons are urged to get in touch with their tour operators to plan their return, with those travelling independently advised to return on commercial flights. Tunisia declared a state of emergency after the June 26 attack in the popular resort of Port El Kantaoui, just north of Sousse.

Witnesses described how the gunman, identified as Tunisian student Seifeddine Rezgui, opened fire at tourists on sunloungers outside the five-star Hotel Rui Imperial Marhaba. Plans to build a wall along Tunisia’s border with Libya to counter the threat from militants were announced earlier this week.

Cameron

WORLD BULLETIN

‘Russia, threat to US security’ A general in line for the highest US military post says Russia poses the greatest threat to national security. During his confirmation hearing to become chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Marine Gen Joseph Dunford called Russia’s recent actions nothing short of alarming. Relations between the US and Russia have deteriorated since Russia annexed Ukraine’s Crimea region last year. A pro-Russian insurgency in eastern Ukraine has also prompted US sanctions. “So if you want to talk about a nation that could pose an existential threat to the United States, I’d have to point to Russia,” Dunford told senators yesterday.

Strikes ground London Underground Tube and train strikes yesterday caused misery for travellers, with the entire London Underground network shut down and many rail services cancelled. London Overground, bus and boat services were reported to be very busy. London Underground (LU) has contacted the conciliation service Acas to set up fresh talks with unions which are on strike over pay and night services. A separate strike at First Great Western hit travel between London, the West and Wales. Many of the staff in the Tube strike ended their 24-hour action, but Tube services will only resume today. LU said its trains were in all the right places to minimise delays when services restart, but could not rule out some disruption.

Debt latest: Greece submits proposals Greece’s government has agreed a reform programme and will submit its proposals to its international lenders soon, the Defence Minister, Panos Kammenos, has said. The reforms are thought to include tax rises and pension changes. Greece was due to present the proposals late yesterday to try to secure a third bailout and prevent a possible exit from the eurozone. The new proposals will be studied by eurozone finance ministers on Saturday and a full EU summit on Sunday. Kammenos, who is also a junior coalition party, leader gave no further details of the agreed plans as he left the prime minister’s official residence, where ministers had been meeting. Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has spent the day discussing the proposals with his cabinet.

World News

Taliban spokesman killed in Afghanistan

former Taliban spokesman who pledged allegiance to ISIS, Shahidullah Shahid, has been killed in an airstrike in eastern Afghanistan, according to that nation’s National Directorate of Security. The agency said Shahid was planning “a big war in the region and turned himself to a famous and central figure of the terrorist group” in Nangarhar province. Earlier this year, Afghan President, Ashraf Ghani, deemed ISIS a “terrible threat” to his

Friday, July 10, 2015 country, which has been beset for years by violence from other groups, like the Taliban. Shahid was a longtime spokesman for another militant organization, the Pakistan Taliban, that’s long been blamed for unrest in the region. In October, he issued a statement expressing solidarity with ISIS and other fighters in Syria. “In these times when the enemy is standing against you we ask that you forget internal strife and rivalries and stand up against the nonbeliever army,” Shahid said then in a statement. A few weeks later, the Pakistan Taliban announced that Shahid had been replaced as spokesman.

IMF predicts fall in global economy

he IMF expects the global economy will grow by just 3.3 per cent this year, down from its previous forecast of 3.5 per cent. That means growth will be even slower than in 2014, when global GDP rose by 3.4 per cent. The IMF points the finger squarely at the U.S., where a contraction in the first quarter also dragged down Canada and Mexico. It also blamed “one-off factors” such as a harsh winter, port closures and reduced in-

vestment in the oil industry for the weaker U.S. activity. “The unexpected weakness in North America, which accounts for the lion’s share of the growth forecast revision in advanced economies, is likely to prove a temporary setback,” the IMF said in its July 2015 economic forecast. Easy monetary policy, low fuel prices, improving confidence and better labor market conditions should support activity through 2015.

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Ahead 2016 poll: Museveni arrests challengers U gandan Police yesterday arrested a former prime minister, Amama Mbabazi, who wants to challenge to President Yoweri Museveni for the ruling party’s candidacy ahead of 2016 elections, while he was on his way to meet supporters at a town near Kenya’s border. In June, police had banned Mbabazi from holding meetings to promote his challenge against Museveni, saying their party had not yet nominated a candidate. “I am the police and I have arrested Amama Mbabazi. He has to stick to what the law requires that there’s no going to Mbale. He’s now under incarceration,” Uganda Police Operations Commander, Andrew Felix Kawesi, said on a local television programme. Mbabazi was travelling to Mbale, a town near Uganda’s border with Kenya to do a consultative meeting with his sup-

Museveni

porters and promote his candidature. Police also arrested another presidential aspirant, opposition leader Kizza Besigye, early yesterday as he left his house, his aide, Francis Mwijukye, said. “He had just left his home this

YETVILLE HOLDS CULTURAL GRADUATION CEREMONY

morning going to the American Embassy for a meeting with the Ambassador when police intercepted him and ordered him either to return home or be arrested,” the aide added, stressing, “He refused to return home and was immediately arrested and taken to Nagalama Police Post.”

PHOTO: ADELE ADEMOLA

Future Profesionals, Doctor, Nurse Lawyer And Engineer On Parade School Proprietress Mrs F.t Olawore With Pupils On Children’s Day

Another picture on children’s day

The proprietress of the school, mrs f.T olawore with School pupils on children’s day

Pupils doing urhobo cultural dance from the delta region

Pupils of yetville primary school on their graduation day

School teacher Mr Martins with school pupils

Pupils in ceremonial outfit in one of their ocassions

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North

Friday, July 10, 2015

CSO hails police over fake medical doctor’s arrest ADEOLA TUKURU ABUJA

L-R: Deputy National Chairman, North, All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Lawal Shuaibu; National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun and President Muhammadu Buhari and others, during the breaking of Ramadan Fast with members of APC National Working Committee at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Wednesday.

Bombing: Kaduna civil servants want verification exercise stopped

ivil servants in Kaduna State have appealed to the state government to stop the ongoing verification of its workforce in view of recent suicide attack on civil servants in Zaria. Some of the workers told the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, on Thursday that they no longer feel safe gathering for the verification exercise after the bombing in Zaria. They argued that continuing with the exercise would negate the directives of Governor Nasiru el-Rufa’i asking residents to avoid crowded

places. One of the workers, Hajiya Rakiya Usman, told NAN that the current environment was no longer conducive for workers, considering the security risk. “What government should do is to set different days for each bank instead of gathering people in the same place, making the place rowdy and a good target for attack,’’ she said. Usman called on the government to do something urgent about the situation, so as to avert a recurrence. Another civil servant,

Malama Monsura Ibrahim, said the process was stressful and time consuming, adding that it takes days before one could get screened. “But we have no option than to stay in the queue, under the sun or the rain so as to comply. “I wonder how civil servants will celebrate Sallah without getting their salary since a large percentage of workers were yet to be screened due to the slow nature of the exercise. “Many of us have nothing to take care of our family and with the ongoing fasting; we need

to take something home instead of spending the whole day on queue. “How do we buy clothes for our children and things to celebrate? ``she asked. She advised that the verification exercise be carried out in respective ministries instead of bringing all the workers in one place. Monsura said: “People come from far places and are faced with the challenge of accommodation, feeding. “Our children are left at home; so imagine the hardship we go through.”

Idoma Bible for presentation Saturday

he long-awaited Idoma Bible, Ubayibu k’Idoma, will be formally presented to the general public on Saturday, July 11, 2015. The event, which is being coordinated by Reverend Fr. Anthony Ochigbo of the Catholic Church of Assumption, Asokoro, Abuja, will hold at Saint Aloysius Primary School, Garki, Abuja, after a mass to be concelebrated by Cardinal John Onaiyekan and Bishop Michael Ekwoyi Apochi of the Catholic Diocese of Otukpo, Benue State. This is the first time the Old Testament and New Testament would be fully translated into Idoma lan-

guage. The first translation of the Bible, the Gospel of Mark, was done in 1927 by Reverend William Norcross of the Primitive Methodist Church at a time no Idoma person could read or write English. That feat was followed by the translation of Christian Hymns into Idoma language, also by Norcross. The Methodists were soon followed by the Catholic Church, which made spirited efforts to translate Hymns, prayers and the Catechism of the Catholic Church into the Idoma language. In the early 1970s, there was another bold attempt

by the Steward Company to translate the Bible into Idoma language. Entitled Eka Eyipe, the New Testament, that effort received the acclamation of Christians in Idomaland. That effort, however, failed to hit the target, apparently because there were very few copies of the book in circulation. Moreover, the translators used the Agatu dialect which made its reading difficult for most Idomaspeaking people. This book, Ubayibu K‘Idoma, is the first attempt to give a full translation of the entire Bible in Idoma since Christianity reached Idomaland in

the early parts of the 20th Century.

oalition of Civil Society Organisations, CSO, has commended the police for arresting a 44-year-old impersonator, Martins Ugwu Okpe, who impersonated his childhood friend, George Davidson Daniel, a medical doctor. The Coordinator of CSO, Comrade Okpokwu Ogenyi, in a press statement yesterday, while praising the police for living up to its constitutional bidding, also took a swipe at the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, ICPC, for what he described as lukewarm attitude to work and neglect of primary duties. He said: “I am of the opinion that the Nigeria Police with this kind of practice should be made

NERC wants order on new electricity tariff vacated

igerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, on Thursday filed an application to discharge the ex-parte order restraining it from implementing the new electricity tariff scheduled to take effect from June 1. Mr Tonbofa Ashimi, counsel to the commission, informed the court that he had filed the application to discharge the ex-parte order, including a preliminary objection challenging the substantive suit. Justice Mohammed Idris of a Federal High Court, Lagos, had given

Emir of Zazzau visits bomb blast victims, donates N1m

mir of Zazzau, Dr Shehu Idris, on Thursday visited survivors of the Sabongari, Zaria, bomb blast victims at the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, ABUTH, and donated N1 million towards their treatment. Presenting the cash donation to chairman of Governing Board of ABUTH, Chief Shu’aibu Afolabi, at the Accident and Emergency Unit of the hospital, the Emir said the money was meant to assist the vic-

the standard for all antigraft and security agencies. They have certainly set a standard with the arrest of this impostor. “We specifically think the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission is one of those who need to sit up to their responsibility. He further called on the commission to redeem its image before the civil societies, by taking up the gauntlet and investigating with a view to prosecute all cases before them. He cited an example of a case of forgery and falsification of records by an Executive Director at the Nigerian Export Import Bank, NEXIM, which was forwarded to the commission on the 5th of July, 2015, but no action have been taken so far on the matter as the said director is still working at the bank.

tims who were undergoing treatment. Idris, who is also the chairman, Kaduna State Council of Chiefs, advised the victims to accept the will of God in good faith. While sympathising with the affected victims, the royal father prayed that such ugly development would totally vanish from Nigeria. Responding, the governing board chairman expressed appreciation for the Emir’s concern for the people.

the order in a ruling on an ex-parte application filed by a Lagos lawyer, Mr Toluwani Adebiyi. Idris had restrained the NERC and the electricity distribution companies from effecting any increment in electricity tariff pending the hearing and determination of the suit. At the resumed hearing of the case on Thursday, Ashimi told the court that he is the counsel representing NERC and that the commission has filed an application seeking to discharge the exparte order earlier granted the plaintiff. ``We also filed a preliminary objection challenging the suit in its entirety.” Responding, plaintiff ’s lawyer, Adebiyi, told the court that he needed more time to reply to the application on points of law. Justice Mohammed Idris, consequently adjourned sitting to July 21 for hearing of all pending applications. The News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, reports that at the last adjournment on June 11, NERC had yet to employ the services of a lawyer. Adebiyi had at the sitting urged the court to renew the order to preserve the subject matter of the suit.

Friday, July 10, 2015

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Miss Owamoboye Christiana Kikelomo, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Cole Christiana Kikelomo. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Ezenwafor Emeka Anselem, now wish to be known, called and addressed as Ezenwachukwu Emeka Anselem. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly addressed and known as Miss Adebiyi Rofiyat Adenike, now wish to be called and addressed as Mrs. Ponnle Christianah Adenike. All former documents remain valid. Osun State College of Education Ila-Orangun and general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Miss Ajiboye Joke Abosede, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Ojo Joke Abosede. All former documents remain valid.General public take note

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Oyebanji Oluwatoyin Olanike now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Owoeye Oluwatoyin Olanike. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Miss. Profit Brown, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Profit Olabokunde. All former documents remain valid. Immigration Service and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Miss. Oluwaseun Oluwayemisi Abudu, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Oluwaseun Oluwayemisi Oke. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Miss Faromiki Titi Christanah, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Oluwatoyin Titi Christanah. All former documents remain valid. Ekiti State Hospital Management Board, Ado Ekiti and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly known and addressed as Marian Udeme Albert, now wish to be known and addressed as Marian Udeme Isaac. All former Documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

ILOKA: I, formerly known and addressed as Christy Iloka, now wish to be known, called and addressed as Christy Edwin. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

SHOWUNMI: I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Showunmi Taiwo Oluwabukola, now wish to be known, called and addressed as Mrs. Amao Taiwo Oluwabukola. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Taiwo Adenuga, now wish to be known, called and addressed as Lawal Anota. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

Formerly known and addressed as Oke Abiodun Adedayo, now wish to be known and addressed as Oke-Akande Abiodun Adedayo. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss. Adisa Olabisi Monsurat, now wish to be known and address as Mrs. Oke Olabisi Hanna. All former documents remain valid. LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Ogbomosho and general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CORRECTION OF DATE OF BIRTH I, Oladimeji Funmilola Tawakalitu wish to notify all concerned authorities that my date of birth was wrongly written as 10th day of September 1982 instead of 10th day of September 1980, in the NOV/DEC 1999 Examination with number 5302710108. All former documents remain valid. WAEC and general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Osagioduwa Eguagie now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs.Osagioduwa Micheal Ozoh. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

Formerly known and addressed as Miss Akinwale Jumoke Christianah, now wish to be known and called as Mrs. Oladokun Jumoke Christianah. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note .

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Miss Bukola Ajibola Obadina, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Bukola Ajibola Ogunmasa.All former documents remain valid.General public take note

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Allibanjo Dolapo Eunice, now wish to be known and addressed as Okudiya Dolapo Eunice. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

HYLIN: formerly known as Mr. Hylin Chukwudi Aniemena, now wish to be known and addressed as Mr. Chukwudi Serapion Onyekwene. All former documents remain valid. Public note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Risikat Bisi Borishade, now wish to be known and addressed as Risikat Bisi Dabiri. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

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Formerly known and addressed as Miss Oluwasanmi Adesola Juliet, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Ajibade Adesola Juliet. All former documents remain valid. Ekiti State Judiciary, Ado Ekiti and general public take note.

PUBLIC NOTICE

GOD OF PERPERTUAL MERCY ORPHANAGE HOME

The public is hereby informed that the above named orphanage home has applied to the CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, ABUJA for registration under part ‘C’ of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE:

1. Mrs. Ifeoma Amamchukwu Oguejiofor 2. Mr. Fidelis Amamchukwu Oguejiofor 3. Mr. Emeka Christian Nwankwo 4. Mrs. Nkem Monica Okonkwo

ÀIMS AND OBJECTIVES:

- President - Vice President - Secretary

1. To help and cater for orphans, abandoned and homeless children and impact their lives for the betterment of our society. 2. To contribute in sustaining the value of the human person. 3. To establish a platform that will enhance their creativity through skill acquisition and self help projects. 4. To organize workshops, seminars and conferences geared towards helping the less privileged in the society and contribute to nation building. 5. To restore hope to the hopeless. Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Aﬀairs Commission, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

SIGNED: IFEANYI UGONABO & CO BARRISTERS & SOLICITORS PUBLIC NOTICE

ZARON PROGRESSIVE YOUTH ASSOCIATION The general public is hereby notified that the above named Organization has applied to the Corporate Aﬀairs Commission for Registration under part ‘C’ of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Mr. Bulus Gwom Chung 2. Mr. Pius Gwom Pam 3. Mr. Yohanna Bitrus 4. Dr. Jerry Saleh Dung 5. Mr. Danjuma Moses Hwere 6. Mr. Mark Peter Pam AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE:

Chairman Treasurer Financial Secretary Member Member

1. To encourage members to pursue collective and individual economic development. 2. To promote social and educational advancement of the people of kakpwen, ket and kakpwis communities. Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General Corporate Aﬀairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris crescent, oﬀ Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within twenty-eight (28) days of this publication

SIGNED: SECRETARY

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Miss Ayeni Modinat Mopelola, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Akinyemi Modinat Mopelola. All former documents remain valid. Ogun State Civil Service and General public take note

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Miss Chinelo Ifeatu Okwuosa, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Duru Chinelo Ifeatu, All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

ORAFU: Formerly known as Miss Orafu Janefrancis Echezona, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Okeke Janefrancis Echezona. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and public note.

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Formerly known and addressed as Shittu Shakira Morounfayo, now wish to be known and addressed as Badmus Shakira Morounfayo. All former documents remain valid. Authorities concerned and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

ALI: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Sarah Sanra Ali, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Sarah Sanra Ikpegbu . All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Miss Aluko Temitope Oluwatoyin, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Ogunmuyiwa Temitope Oluwatoyin. all former documents remain valid.General public take note

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Formerly known and addressed as Radiyah Muhammad Zaidu, now wish to be known and addressed as Radiyah Zaidu Kishimi. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Miss Shodiya Basirat Abeni, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Salami Basirat Abeni. All former documents remain valid. General public take note

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Louisa Ijeoma Nenebari Ichoku, now wish to be known and addressed as Louisa Ijeoma Nenebari Emmanuel. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Miss Balogun Bola Bernice, now wish to be known, called and addressed as Mrs. Ogedengbe Bola Bernice. All documents and certificates bearing my former names remain valid. General public should please take note

PUBLIC NOTICE

GLORIOUS ETERNAL MINISTRY

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Rev. Testimony Okwuchukwu Okonkwo 2. Miss. Patience Asuquo 3. Mrs. Millicent Ikechi Orakwe 4. Mr. Kingsley Ekene Madukaejiaka ÀIMS AND OBJECTIVES:

- Senior Pastor - Assistant Pastor - Secretary - Member

1. To lead people to God their creator by the preaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ. 2. To empower people to achieve their God given purpose through the teaching of the Word of God and prayers. 3. To extend the love of Christ to the less privileged. 4. To organize crusades, seminars, evangelical outreaches and shows for soul winning for Christ. 5. To organize programmes that will educate the community and help them become good citizens that will contribute to the betterment of the society.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Miss Anebi Franca, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Franca Anebi Agada. All former documents remain valid. Federal Fire Service and the general public should please take note

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I, formerly known and addressed as Mr. Alara Aedmola Kehinde, now wish to be known and address as Mr. Alara Ademola Abiodun. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

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Formerly known and addressed as Miss Basorun Omotoke Mariam, now wish to known and addressed as Mrs Adekoya Omotoke Mariam. All former documents remain valid. General public take note

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Formerly known and addressed as Miss Sanni Aminat Olajumoke, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Adenowo Aminat Olajumoke.All former documents remain valid.General public take note

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Formerly known and addressed as Miss Adetoun Victoria Toyo, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Ayanlowo Adetoun Victoria. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note

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Formerly known and addressed as Miss Idu Gloria, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Gloria Ojiromu Atobor. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take

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I formerly known and addressed as Miss Busari Kehinde Ajoke, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. AdigunOla Kehinde Ajoke. All former document remain valid and general public take note.

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Formerly known and addressed as Badmus Kazeem Olalekan, now wish to be known and addressed as Gbadamosi Kazeem Olalekan. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note

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Formerly known and addressed as Omotola Tolulope Shonibare, now wish to be known and addressed as Omotola Tolulope Jabar. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note

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I, formerly known and addressed as Lovina Chigolum Nkwo, now wish to be known and addressed as Lovina Chigolum Opara. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

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Formerly known and addressed as Miss Lateef Olabisi Fatimo, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Adeola Olabisi Fatimo.All former documents remain valid. General public take note

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Formerly known and addressed as Miss Babalola Damilola Doyinsola, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Olatinwo Damilola Doyinsola.All former documents remain valid.Zenith Bank plc and General public take note

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Formerly known and addressed as Ojo Olatunbosun Kehinde, now wish to be known and addressed as John Bosun Tommy. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note

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Formerly known and addressed as Humphrey Success, now wish to be known and addressed as Oguamanam Ijeoma Success. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note

CHANGE OF NAME

ADEPOJU: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Adepoju Racheal Ifedayo, now wish to be known and addressed as Adeyemi Rashidat Ifedayo. All former documents remain valid. General public take note

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Akintola Folashade Monsurat, now wish to be known and addressed as Gbadamosi Folashade Monsurat. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take

PUBLIC NOTICE

UNITED BROTHERS SOCIAL CLUB ASABA This is to inform the general public that the above named body has applied to the Corporate Aﬀairs Commission for registration under thepart C of the Company and Allied Matters Act 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE:

1) Nwoba Silas Nwibina 2) Ibinna Chibueze Nwokwo 3) Eze Lazarus Nwonuvu

- President. - Secretary

ÀIMS AND OBJECTIVES:

To enhance unity and discipline among the members.

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Aﬀairs Commission, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Any objection to the above registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Aﬀairs Commission, Plot 420 Trigis Crescent, oﬀ Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja, within 28 days of this publication.

SIGNED: IFEANYI UGONABO & CO BARRISTERS & SOLICITORS

SIGNED: NWOBA SILAS NWIBINA PRESIDENT

SPEEDOOGREAT CARE FOUNDATION

GETUP AFRICA INITIATIVE The general public is hereby notified that the above named organisation has

PUBLIC NOTICE

The public is hereby notified that the above named Organization has applied to the Corporate Aﬀairs Commission for registration under part ‘C’ of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Anthony Idowu Ibatuemoh 2. Siniya Christopher 3. Bilkis Oluremi Shobo 4. Comfort Zawaya 5. Joseph Godwin Amubonovie 6. Itodo Suzan Dooshima AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1. To play appositive contribution and role in providing services and equipping the less privileged, transforming housewives and rendering a pertinent role in shapping the qaulitiy of educational services and spiritual development 2. Providing employment to the unemployed. Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the RegistrarGeneral Corporate Aﬀairs Commission, plot 420 Tigris Crescent oﬀ Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication

SIGNED: CHAIRMAN

PUBLIC NOTICE

applied to the Corporate Aﬀairs Commission for registration under part “C” of the companies and Allied Matters Act,1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE:

1. Babajide Adetutu (Mr.) 2. Kehinde Oluwemimo Olatoye (Mr.)

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE:

1. To promote agro processing and cottage industries. 2. To promote skill exchange between members and technical partners within and outside the organisation for micro and medium scale enterprises development . 3. To empower the grass roots of the society through grants assistance for income generating activities and self-reliance. Any objections to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General Corporate Aﬀairs Commission, plot 420 Tigris Crescent oﬀ Aguiyi Ironsi street, maitama, Abuja. Within 28 days of this Publication.

SIGNED: BAR.BOLU AWOFOLAJU

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Friday, July 10, 2015

Serena rides Sharapova to final

Honestly I am happy at my recovery process and just can’t wait to get in the mix for the pre-season

Sport

–Ghana midfielder, Kwadwo Asamoah

Odion Ighodalo celebrating his goal against Chad in Kaduna last month

FIFA Rankings:

Super Eagles in free fall Paul ErEwuba

he dwindling fortune of Nigeria football has been brought to fore once more as the country’s senior national team, the Super Eagles, dropped 14 places to now occupy 57th position globally in the latest FIFA rankings released yesterday. The position, stakeholders believe, is the worst in recent times especially when

one looks back to 1994 when the same Nigerian team had soared as high as the 5th spot. Though the Eagles recorded a 2-0 win over Chad in their last AFCON qualification competitive match, the result counted for nothing, putting into consideration the pedigree of the Chadian opposition in the round leather game. Nigeria now occupy 10th position in Africa, with Algeria, who are 19th in the world, remaining the highest ranked

team on the continent, while Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana Tunisia , Senegal , Cameroun, Congo, Cape Verde and Egypt are all placed above the 2013 African champions. Meanwhile, Argentina are the new top team on the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking. Despite losing to Chile on penalties in the final of the Copa América, the Albiceleste have leapfrogged over Belgium and Germany to take the top spot for the first time in seven years.

Yesterday, FIFA said in a statement, “The volatility of the ranking this month is due in part to the many matches that have been played: with 26 Copa América matches, 99 qualifying matches for the World Cup or continental tournaments, and 88 friendlies, the number of matches taken into account has almost doubled the amount for the year so far (477 matches in total). The other reason is that the matches from last year’s World Cup have been devalued.”

Oliseh’s Belgian assistant unveiled T

Francois-Lusciuto

he identity of the foreigner that will assist Sunday Oliseh as he gets set to assume the Super Eagles coaching job has been unveiled. According to supersport.com, the would-be Oliseh assistant is Belgian Jean Francois Losciuto, who is said to be no stranger to Africa. The Belgian who also holds a UEFA license, was assistant to Oliseh during his time coaching RCS Verviers before he became a director of the youth academy at Belgian club RFC Liege.

Losciuto first coached Anges de Notsè FC of Togo assisting them to become one of the best clubs on the continent before continuing at Wegnez, Halthier club and RFC Liege as pointed out above. In Africa he then moved on to coach the Nyanza-based Rayon Sport in Rwanda before finally settling at Burkina Faso’s ASFA Yennenga where they promptly became champions. The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) said on Wednesday that in addition to hopefully kick-starting the recent not so Super Eagles, Oliseh

would be tasked with setting up a proper feeder system within Nigeria and Losciuto with his keen eye will be in charge of that effort. Those who know Losciuto are quick to compare him to Claude LeRoy the fabled white witch doctor and current coach of the Congo. Considering that LeRoy has always been a thorn in the side of Nigerians most recently ending their 54-year unbeaten streak in Calabar, Nigerian fans will be praying that the comparison, even if ever so slightly holds true.

Sports

Friday, July10, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Wimbledon Open 2015:

Serena rides Sharapova to final

orld number one, Serena Williams, continued her 11-year undefeated streak against Maria Sharapova yesterday to storm into the Wimbledon final. The five-time Wimbledon winner will play world No 20 Garbine Mugurza in the final having notched a 17th consecutive victory over her long-time rival Sharapova and the 6-2 6-4 win keeps the Australian and French Open winner’s dream of a calendar Grand Slam alive, with just victory in her hometown of New York at the US Open required. Her dominance over the Russian dates back to 2004, the last time Sharapova beat her. In that year, she defeated Williams in the Wimbledon fi-

Serena

nal but any hope of a repeat win at the same venue was quickly extinguished. Sharapova got off to a poor start and couldn’t recover. She has not won a set against Williams for seven years. The American has won all three of their grass court meetings this year.

Three brutal serves, including two aces, put Williams 3-1 up and she broke again by gaining the upper hand in consecutive rallies before powering Sharapova’s serve back past her. Williams then easily moved 5-1 up and although Sharapova held for the second time, the

American won the opening set in 33 minutes with the minimum of fuss. But it was only a matter of time and Williams completed the job with her next service game to set up a sixth opportunity to be crowned Wimbledon champion.

AAG: Nigeria to compete in 21 events Paul erewuba

igeria will take part in twenty-one events at the All Africa Games taking place in Brazzaville, Congo, in September. The events are athletics,

basketball, badminton, boxing, beach volleyball, cycling, football, gymnastics, handball, judo, karate, table tennis and para-athletics. Others are powerlifting, taekwondo, tennis, rugby, swimming, volleyball, weightlifting and wrestling.

…NBF calls 26 boxers IfeanyI eduzor

igeria Boxing Federation has invited twenty-six boxers and four coaches to camp ahead of the 2015 All Africa Games slated for Congo Brazzaville in September. The invitees who are winners and runners-up of their various weight categories at the recent Kenneth Minimah National Open Boxing Championship includes Azeez Dauda (49kg), Muyideen Oyakajo (49kg), Taiwo Abiodun (52kg), Akinolugbade Lukman (52kg), Sanusi Abiodun (56kg), Olayinka Yusuf

(56kg), Oladosu Rilwan (60kg) and Soyoye Kazeem (60kg). Others are Waheed Shogbamu (64kg), Samuel Opaogun (64kg), Olufemi Oyeleye (69kg), Korede Adeniji (69kg), Kehinde Ademuyiwa (75kg), Danuloko Ekele (81kg), Musa Nehikhare (81kg), Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games bronze medalist, Apochi Efetobor (91kg), Gabriel Francis (91kg) Efe Ajagba (+91kg) who also won bronze medal at the Glasgow Games and Segun Ibrahim (+91kg). In the Women category, Caroline Linus of the Nigerian Army (51kg), Chioma Nwakpa (51kg), Kehinde Obareh also of

Secretary-General of Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), Tunde Popoola, who confirmed this in Lagos, however raised fears that not all the sports would compete at the meet. “A number of sports might be reduced due to a paucity

of funds,” Popoola stated. “The National Sports Commission (NSC) has told us that they don’t have enough funds to carry all athletes. But we are hoping that we could take all the athletes them,” the NOC chieftain added.

the Army (60kg), Dupe Akinola (60kg), Jacinta Umunakwe (75kg) and another Glasgow Games bronze medalist, Edith Ogoke Agu (75kg) have been invited, along with the Nigerian Boxing Federation Head Coach, Tony Konyegwachie, and his colleagues Adura Olalehin, Jeremiah Okorodudu and Christopher Friday. Aliu Ibrahim, a light weight boxer and Etim Henry Effiong who fights in the Bantam weight category and their coach, Sabo Mohammed, all of who are listed to participate in the forthcoming Commonwealth Junior Boxing Championship in Sa-

moa, are also invited. The boxers will resume camping on Monday at the Kenneth Minimah Boxing Hostel inside the National Stadium, Lagos.

NBF Boss, Minimah

Yakmut

Eagles’ job: Omokaro hails NFF’s response Mercy Job

ormer Nigeria international, Bright Omokaro, has praised the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for not delaying the appointing of a replacement for former Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi. The federation announced former Super Eagles captain Sunday Oliseh on Wednesday as Keshi’s successor. “NFF’s consideration for Oliseh is a good development that shows that we still have good materials,” Omokaro, who is currently assistant coach at NPL side Shooting Stars of Ibadan, said yesterday. “I just want Oliseh to learn from Keshi’s mistake by respecting respect his employers and keeping focused on the job,” Omokaro added.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sports

Friday, July 10, 2015

AAG 2015: Siasia’s team in group of death

raw for the All Africa Games (AAG) Brazzaville 2015 was conducted yesterday, at the CAF Headquarters in Cairo, Egypt. The draw for Men saw holders Ghana been handed a tough draw after being placed with rivals Nigeria and twotime winners, Egypt. Senegal complete the quartet in Group B. Hosts Congo are housed in Group A alongside Sudan, Zimbabwe and Burkina Faso. The winners and runner up of each group will qualify for the semis, with the eventual

progressing to the final. In the Women’s draw, Nigeria’s Super Falcons are grouped with Tanzania, Cote d’Ivoire and hosts Congo. The final tournament will be held from 3-18 September 2015 in Brazzaville, Congo. Men A: Congo, Sudan, Zimbabwe, Burkina Faso B: Ghana, Senegal, Egypt, Nigeria Women A: Congo, Nigeria, Tanzania, Cote d’Ivoire B: Cameroun, South Africa, Ghana, Egypt

Fed Cup: Zico hails Queens’ win AfolAbi GAmbAri

oach of the Confluence Queens of Lokoja, Adamu Suleiman, yesterday commended his players for their Federation Cup Round of 16 win over Ibom Angels on Wednesday. The Wada Queens defeated Angels 4-3 via penalties after the game ended goalless in regulation time. Suleiman, who is also known as Zico, said his team should

have won easily in regulation time but for missing several scoring chances. “We created useful-looking chances but just failed to put them in,” the coach said. “Nevertheless, I am delighted that we scaled through to the quarter finals and can now look forward to getting to the final,” he added. Goalkeeper Oluwaseun Bello was the heroine for the Queens as she saved two kicks in the shoot-outs.

Edo media practitioners honour Ogba

he umbrella body of Edo indigenes in the sports media industry has unveiled plans to host the President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Dr. Solomon Ogba JP, to a grand reception on July 20 in Lagos. Ogba was recently awarded a honorary doctorate degree by the University of Port Harcourt for his immense contribution to sports development and growth in the country. Chairman of the Edo sports media body, Osaretin Emuzie, and Secretary, Smarts Ebodaghe, said in a release that plans had been concluded to invite major sports stakeholders to the ceremony. “An organising committee is already in place and in the coming days we will announce venue for the event,” Ebhodaghe said, adding, “Dr Ogba deserves all the accolades being poured on him and we are ready to support him in his illustrious sports endeavours.” The sports body has als congratulated sports marketer Mike Itemuagbor for the successful hosting of the 3rd 10 kilometre Okpekpe Road Race few weeks ago in Etsako East LGA of Edo State.

Ogba

“We are excited that apart from that fact that the race has now been listed on the international calendar of athletics by the IAAF, Itemuagbor and the people of Edo state have demonstrated that they are ready to rediscover sports in the state with Comrade Governor, Adam Oshiomhole,” Ebhodaghe further said. The body urged Itemuagbor not to relent in his support for sports in general and athletics in particular, stressing: “We are behind Itemuagbor’s drive to help Edo State and Nigeria to rediscover its sports strength.

MANDATE

THE

SylveSter Ikuejamoye

mopheys13@gmail.com 0805-407-1194 (SMS only)

NFF and its backward movement

t may not be out of place to against all odds. It is sad to be conclude that the current running in a circle with nothing board members of the NFF new to offer except deceit and are not good learners; not to talk retardation which impede and of being fast learners. By their are inimical to the growth and action, it is obvious that they development of sports adminisare not good students of his- tration in Nigeria. tory. Sound managers should be What the board has demonable to know when it is the right strated in this particular intime for any action to be taken stance in engaging Keshi just and should also be intelligent few months ago in order to satenough to appreciate the effects isfy the whims and caprices of on the future of the organisa- the power that be at that time tion. is a clear manifestation of “eye I’m not too sure that the NFF is aware of the enormous responsibility on it shoulders to ensure Nigeria’s qualification for the 2017 Nations Cup as well as the 2018 World Cup. All serious minded countries that are desirous of qualification for the Nations Cup are busy working hard to ensure a united house against any opposition. Pinnick It is absurd and a clear case of nudity for a board that should be working hardPinnick with all hands on deck to now willingly engage itself in reverse order with activities that can only be detrimental service syndrome” that has and inimical to the yearning and eaten deep into the sporting the aspiration of the ardent foot- fabrics of the country’s revered ball lovers in Nigeria who are instrument of peace and unity. praying with high expectation They knew Keshi was not their that the country should not be preferred candidate. They only missing out at the next Africa’s tied his fate with that of the then most glamorous tournament. ruling PDP, that is, if PDP won, The sacking Super Eagles Keshi won (would remain) but coach, Stephen Okechukwu Kes- should the PDP fail, Keshi also hi, at this critical moment when failed (would go). Now that the we should be at the very top of PDP has lost the election, the our preparations for our next only thing left for the board was match is most unfortunate and to show Keshi the exit gate. They indeed ill timed. It is no doubt a should have been bold enough backward movement against our to tell Nigerians that Keshi candream to qualify for tournament. not take us to the promise land. My major concern here is In another clime, Keshi should the timing of the sack. There is have resigned long time ago. nothing wrong in doing away Particularly, his failure to qualwith an employee whose level ify Nigeria for the last Nations of performance the employer Cup is enough reason for him to may have issues with. It is also go, not to talk of the woeful perwithin the employer’s preroga- formance of the Super Eagles tive to hire and fire. But while at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. exercising the right, there is the In a more civilized country, the need to apply the right sense of coach would have voluntarily rejudgment. signed without prompting. AfriThis also calls to question the can coaches should learn the art sincerity and integrity of this of self respect. same board who could not see To the Amaju Pinnick’s anything wrong with this same board, the timing was not imporSuper Eagles coach during the tant. What is important is to do last few weeks of the last gov- away with a “common enemy”. ernment when the board “free- The implication of their action ly” enter into a two-year con- against our collective interest tract agreement with the coach is secondary to them. I see their

action as a “coup” against our collective wish and desire to be at both the next Nations Cup and the World Cup. The ill-timed sacking of the Eagles coach is the height of impunity for which the NFF must be held accountable if Nigeria fails to qualify for any of the tournaments. It is when a man takes his luck beyond his reach that he will be blowing whistle and at the same time sneezing. The intelligent one must know that both actions cannot go together at the same time. You do one first. The last three actions of the NFF board openly demonstrate its quality and level of capacity to manage crises. Two weeks ago, this column treated the issue of the query given to the Super Eagles captain, Vincent Enyeama, over his comment on Kaduna as the venue for the Eagles match against Chad. Also treated same week was the issue of the panel set up to investigate the application allegedly written by Stephen Keshi to coach the Elephants of Ivory Coast. The third one now is, of course, the accomplishment of the hatchet job the panel was meant to do– sacking Keshi. What is expected of a body like NFF is to play down on anything that could trigger division and misunderstanding within and among the players and also the technical crew led by the Chief Coach. As I said two weeks ago, no matter how idle some of the board members might be, they can be gainfully and positively engaged somewhere else. No one should be allowed to rock our collective boat. Take it or not, Enyeama as captain of the team was not speaking for himself but for the team. I doubt if some of the players will not be infuriated by the NFF’s action against their captain. I’m sure there are better options and that is my worry. My take on the three issues is that it can be resolved in-house without creating bad blood with the potential that can harm Nigeria’s qualification for the Nations Cup 2017 and World Cup 2018. Certainly, this is the time to concentrate on the road map for our qualification and not to engage in avoidable self-inflicted distractions.

Hard but the bitter truth Blindness is not only peculiar to the eyes. One can also be brain-blind, focus-blind and even can be direction-blind. Any organisation with all these can be said to be statutorily dead. Hard But The Bitter Truth. Until next week Friday, stay out of trouble and God bless Nigeria.

WORLD RECORD

Largest trick roping loop by a male

Vol. 05 No. 1153

Friday, July 10, 2015

N150

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

Federal Government Colleges of extortion, impunity

hey have not only turned the Parents-Teachers Associations (PTAs) of their schools to illegal parastatals through which they heartlessly extort money from financially weary parents. The rot dogging Federal Government Colleges (FGCs), some say nationwide, is fast spreading to include reckless management of the schools; as well as bare-faced immoral relationships between students and very senior teachers. One of such liaison, reports say, has resulted in the impregnation of a girl that just finished Senior Secondary School (SSS) III. Reports had earlier identified PTAs among the most corrupt of the lucrative industries thriving in FGCs. From the N500 or a little more charged per term a couple of years ago, the least PTA bill these days is between N10,000 and N25,000 per term of less than three months. In the Lagos area, for ex-

IFA yesterday handed a life ban from all football-related activities to its former executive member, Chuck Blazer. A statement from the FIFA Headquarters in Zurich said the ex-CONCACAF secretary general admitted to accepting bribes

FRIDAY WITH Dozie Okebalama

dozieokeama@yahoo.co.uk 08164966858 (SMS only) ample, Kings College charges N17,500 per day student per term; and N21,500 for boarders, broken down as building levy, PTA dues, barbing levy and laundry levies. But parents are compelled to buy toiletries, including laundering soaps, for their wards; and the students return home with rough and bushy hair during each vacation. It is worse in Federal Science and Technical College (FSTC), Yaba, where parents are forced to cough up N15,000 per term as PTA. It is worse because FSTC’s leadership placed the compulsory collection of the PTA bill above the academic pursuit of students. Early into the present term, for instance, the school’s authority allegedly sent text messages to all members of its PTA executive to ensure that no student with incomplete PTA bill was checked in; even if affected parents managed to pay the tuition and other bills. It is also one school where parents were, in the past, forced to buy a specified number of bags of cement before their wards could be checked into the boarding house. The spurious excuse most of them give for the heartless extortion is that the PTA agreed on the bills at its meetings, whereas the entire members of executive of PTAs are either drawn from the schools or cronies of their leadership; with the school heads as clearing houses and Enforcers-in-Chief of the arbitrary bills.

AS YOU ARE READING THIS, ANOTHER REPORT SAYS THE PRINCIPAL OF FGC, JOS ALLEGEDLY IMPREGNATED A

17-YEAR-OLD SSS 3 GIRL They also claim that because of shortfalls in fund allocation from the FG, they use PTA funds to build classroom blocks and hostels, as well as hire additional teachers to beef up staff strength. Of what assistance, then, is the FG to parents if it cannot sustain FGCs? Worse still, why has the government shut its eyes to the criminal exploitation of parents by the school heads purportedly to plug infrastructure deficits? Indeed, some angry parents that protested the decrepit state of infrastructure in Kings College lately said the school’s PTA was not discharging its duties; and no PTA meeting had been convened this session, even when the third term is almost over. Students at the annex and main complex of the school do not have water to drink even at their dining halls. But the school management which produces KC sachet and bottled water commercialized the products; and exploit the students to buy instead of providing free water for them. What a nation and

its depraved educational system! But the virtual robbery has persisted ostensibly because of the complicity and ineptitude of the Federal Ministry of Education and its officials, who have chosen to bury their heads in the sand like an ostrich, while the sordid happenings fester. About the middle of last month, an online medium, ‘New Mail’, reported how the management of FSTC Yaba ordered all final year students writing their NECO examinations at the time to leave the school hostel allegedly over the unruly behaviour of some of them. It never occurred to the school’s authorities that a lot of the students reside in states other than Lagos; and that they would be stranded. Countless bills paid for keeping the students in school, including accommodation and feeding charges, were discountenanced, without any hint on how the school intended to effect refunds. What an abrasive, high-handed and incompetent approach to minor crisis management, when all that was required under the circumstance was to isolate the deviants from the crowd for requisite censure or punishment; and communicating same to their parents? And if, like the Principal, Chris Ugorji, claimed, the students did whatever they liked; didn’t read anymore; or boasted that they were no more FSTC Yaba students but NECO candidates, who are to blame for such level of indiscipline? Parents alone; or the innocent students sent away from hostel? As you are reading this, another report says the Principal of FGC, Jos, allegedly impregnated a 17-year-old SSS 3 girl he had been dating when she was 15 years of age. In obvious desperation to cover the shame, he was said to have indicated interest in marrying the girl. How else can it be proven that many of those to whom Nigerians entrusted the upright nurturing of their children have themselves lost their bearings and are, indeed, harbingers of moral decay, graft and anarchy?

Sport Extra Bribery scandal: Blazer bags life FIFA ban for the hosting rights of the 1998 and 2010 World Cups, among other offences. Blazer has since turned whistleblower in the FBI’s probe into corruption, bribery and money laundering, which recently en-

gulfed the world’s football governing body. “The adjudicatory chamber of the Ethics Committee, chaired by Hans-Joachim Eckert, has decided to ban the former FIFA Executive Commit-

tee member and CONCACAF General Secretary Chuck Blazer from taking part in any kind of football-related activity at national and international level for life,” the statement said in part.

“Blazer committed many and various acts of misconduct continuously and repeatedly during his time as an official in different high-ranking and influential positions at FIFA and CONCACAF.

Blazer

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