World Bank targets 2016 for Nigeria’s economic recovery losses of revenue on crude oil exports, Nigeria would begin to experience economic growth recovery as from next year. The Bank, in its Africa’s Pulse, a twice-yearly analy-
TOLA AKINMUTIMI
T
he World Bank has projected that despite its current fiscal travails occasioned by huge
Okonjo-Iweala
Vol. 51 N0. 1090 115
May 29: Sambo, Osinbajo committee begins work
sis of issues shaping Africa’s economic prospects published yesterday at the start of the World Bank’s 2015 Spring Meetings in Washington, D. C., noted CONTINUED ON PAGE 2>>
P.5
Sambo
Tuesday, Tuesday,June April7,14, 2011 2015
APC, PDP call for polls cancellation
...in Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Imo Taraba election inconclusive –INEC APC PDP OTHERS
ANAMBRA BAUCHI BAYELSA BENUE C/ RIVER EBONYI EDO EKITI KANO KATSINA KOGI KWARA LAGOS NIGER OGUN ONDO OSUN OYO RIVERS SOKOTO ZAMFARA
0 28 1 14 0 0 21 0 40 33 12 24 33 25 17 5 24 18 2 30 25
0 2 13 15 23 23 3 25 0 0 7 0 7 2 9 19 2 6 30 0 0
26 (APGA)
1 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 8 0 0 0
Tambuwal can’t be governor, Senator tells court
OBIORA IFOH, OLAJIDE OMOJOLOMOJU, OMEIZA AJAYI AND JUSTIN TYOPUUSU
A
ll Progressives Congress, APC, and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday, called for the cancellation of Saturday’s governorship and House of Assembly elections in three states, citing massive electoral fraud. While APC called for cancellation of elections in Rivers and Akwa Ibom states, PDP is demanding the same for Imo. Speaking through its CONTINUED ON PAGE 2>>
GUBER POLL: SITUATION REPORT FROM STATES
STATES ASSEMBLY STATE
N150
STATE
WINNER
APC
ABIA
INCONCLUSIVE
ADAMAWA
JIBRILLA BINDOW
362,329
AKWA IBOM
UDOM EMMANUEL
ANAMBRA
NO ELECTION
BAUCHI
M.D. ABUBAKAR
BAYELSA
NO ELECTION
BENUE
SAMUEL ORTOM
PDP
STATE
WINNER
APC
PDP
KANO
ABDULLAHI GANDUJE
1,546,434
509,720
98,917
KATSINA
AMINU MASARI
943,058
476,768
89,865
996,071
KEBBI
ATIKU BAGUDU
477,376
293,443
654,934
282,650
422,932
313,878
KOGI
NO ELECTION
KWARA
ABDULAFATAH AHMED
295,832
115,220
LAGOS
AKINWUNMI AMBODE
811,994
659,788
NASARAWA
TANKO AL-MAKURA
309,746
119,782
BORNO
KASHIM SHETTIMA
649,913
NIGER
ABUBAKAR BELLO
450,757
171,850
CROSS RIVER
BENEDICT AYADE
53,983
342,016
OGUN
IBIKUNLE AMOSUN
306,988
201,440
DELTA
IFEANYI OKOWA
67,825
724,680
ONDO
NO ELECTION
EBONYI
DAVE UMAHI
27,583
289,867
OSUN
NO ELECTION
EDO
NO ELECTION
OYO
ABIOLA AJIMOBI
327,319
79,019
EKITI
NO ELECTION
PLATEAU
SIMON LALONG
564,913
520,627
ENUGU
IFEANYI UGWUANYI
43,837
482,277
RIVERS
NYESOM WIKE
124,896
1,029,102
GOMBE
IBRAHIM DANKWAMBO
205,132
285,369
SOKOTO
AMINU TAMBUWAL
647,609
269,074
479,447
IMO
INCONCLUSIVE
JIGAWA
BADARU ABUBAKAR
648,045
KADUNA
NASIR EL-RUFAI
1,117,635 485,140
TARABA
INCONCLUSIVE
YOBE
IBRAHIM GEIDAM
334,847
179,700
ZAMFARA
ABDULAZEEZ YARI
716,964
201,938
Chibok girls: Buhari promises new approach to B’Haram P.6
Gov Al-Makura dedicates victory to masses
P.4 P.52
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News
Tuesday, April 14, 2015
National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
World Bank targets 2016 for Nigeria’s economic recovery CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
that although the nation’s economy would suffer this year, growth is expected to rebound in 2016 and beyond. This prediction is predicated on the expected impact of the reforms to diversify the economy. Putting the projected growth rate of Sub-Saharan Africa at 4.0 per cent this year, down from the 4.5 per cent recorded in 2014, the Bank stated that the region’s economic downturn largely reflected the fall in the prices of oil and other commodities, signaling an end to the commodity super-cycle that had been experienced for several years The Bank stated: “The 36 African countries with expected terms-of-trade deterioration are home to 80 per cent of the population and 70 per cent of the economic activity in the region. “That said, the continent’s huge economic diversity is also mirrored in the impact of commodity price declines – even among oil producers. “In Nigeria, for example, although the economy will suffer this year, growth is expected to rebound in 2016 and beyond, driven by a relatively diversified economy, and a buoyant services sector. Low oil prices will continue to weigh down on prospects of less diversified oil exporters such as Angola and Equatorial Guinea. “In several oil-importing countries, such as Cote
The table of results of the gubernatorial polls published yesterday contained some misrepresentations in the figures given to the political parties. The mix-up was in the process of production to meet deadline. The correct figures are hereby published. The error is highly regretted. –Editor
d’Ivoire, Kenya and Senegal, growth is expected to remain strong. In Ghana, still high inflation and fiscal consolidation will weigh on growth. In South Africa, growth continues to be curtailed by problems in the electricity sector.” According to the Breton
Woods institution, this year’s Sub-Saharan Africa growth forecast of 4.0 per cent is below the 4.4 percent average annual growth rate of the past two decades and well short of Africa’s peak growth rates of 6.4 per cent in 2002-2008. It stated further that ex-
cluding South Africa, the average growth for the rest of Sub-Saharan Africa would be around 4.7 per cent. Reflecting on the growth prospects, World Bank Vice President for Africa, Makhtar Diop, noted that despite the challenges facing sub-Saharan African
economies occasioned by the lull in global commodities market, the options for the economies to sustain growth abounded still. “Despite strong headwinds and new challenges, Sub-Saharan Africa is still experiencing growth. And with challenges come op-
portunities. The end of the commodity super-cycle has provided a window of opportunity to push ahead with the next wave of structural reforms and make Africa’s growth more effective at reducing poverty,” Diop said The Bank noted that AfriCONTINUED ON PAGE 5>>
L-R: Kano State Governor/Senator-elect for Kano Central, Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso; Sen. Kabiru Ibrahim Gaya; Minister of Education, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau and Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, yesterday.
APC, PDP call for polls cancellation CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
National Publicity Secretary, Lai Mohammed, in Lagos yesterday, APC said although elections went smoothly in other states
across the country, what took place in Rivers and Akwa Ibom was a charade. According to the party, elections in the two states were not conducted in ac-
OUR ERROR THE RESULTS SO FAR
STATES
APC
PDP
LAGOS
811,994
659,788
OGUN
306,988
201,440
OYO
327,319
79,019
KWARA
295,831
115,140
NIGER
450,757
171,856
*AKWA IBOM
89,865
996,071
KADUNA
1,117,635
485,140
KATSINA
943,085
476,768
KANO
1,546,434
509,720
SOKOTO
647,609
269,074
*GOMBE
205,132
285,369
*EBONYI
27,583
289,867
BAUCHI
654,934
282,650
*ENUGU
43,837
482,277
cordance with the guidelines of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. Mohammed said that as a result of the malpractices in the two states, APC was calling for the cancellation of the elections there. “The script for the distortion of the Rivers elections was written by the Presidency and executed by the PDP, the police and militants,” Mohammed said. He said that APC wrote a petition complaining of the partisanship of the Rivers State Commissioner of Police in the Presidential and National Assembly Elections, which prompted the Inspector-General of Police, IGP, Suleiman Abba, to post three Commissioners of Police from the Force Headquarters to oversee the gubernatorial and House of Assembly Elections in the state. APC said that as soon as the President learnt of this development, he directed the IGP to reverse the decision and instead requested that Tunde Ogunsakin, an Assistant Inspector General
of Police, AIG, be posted to oversee the polls in the state. He added: “As soon as electoral materials were distributed, the Divisional Police Officer for Akukutoru Local Government Area simply handed over the election materials for the local government to the militants. Upon learning of this development, AIG Ogunsakin ordered that the materials should be recovered and handed over to the Electoral Officer for the council within the next hour. Mohammed also said that contrary to INEC directive on the use of card readers, the machines were discarded, which explains why voter turnout in Rivers was 75 per cent compared to national average of between 25 and 35 per cent. He also spoke in support of the Akwa Ibom State chapter of the party, which demanded for the cancellation of the polls in the state. He said that election materials were not supplied to most of the polling units in all the three senatorial districts. He outlined that in for-
mer Governor Victor Attah’s ward in Ibesikpo Asutan, three contiguous polling units did not receive election materials, while in most of the polling units in Oruk Anam, the home local government area of Atuekong Etiebet and Chief Soni Udom, Director-General of the APC Governorship Campaign Organisation, most of the polling units did not receive election materials. “In areas where polling materials were received, hordes of deadly armed thugs, escorted by men in Nigeria Police and Army uniforms, stormed the polling units and carted away the election materials midway into the accreditation process. “Mohammed said that Nsit Ubium electoral officer admitted to APC candidate, Umana Okon Umana that the electoral process was marred by security failure, which allowed PDP thugs to hijack election materials and take them to private homes for thumb-printing. APC also said that inCONTINUED ON PAGE 5>>
National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
Tuesday, April 14, 2015
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4
Photo News
Tuesday, April 14, 2015
L-R: Head, Legal and Regulation Division, Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Tinuade Awe; Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Wema Bank Plc, Segun Oloketuyi; Executive Director, Market Operations and Technology, NSE, Mr. Adeolu Bajomo and Chairman, Board of Directors, Wema Bank Plc, Adeyinka Asekun, during Wema Bank’s Facts Behind the Figures ceremony in Lagos, yesterday.
L-R: Executive Director, Large Enterprise, Bank of Industry (BoI), Mr. Mohammed Alkali; former President, Academy of Engineers, Dr. Olusegun Ajayi; Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, BoI, Mr. Rasheed Olaoluwa; Vice President, Nigeria Academy of Engineering, Mrs. Johanna Maduka and President, Prof. Raifu Salau, during a visit to BoI in Lagos, yesterday.
National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
L-R: Executive Director, Corporate and Investment Banking, Stanbic IBTC, Victor Williams; Investment Officer, Africa, Netherlands Development Finance Company (FMO), Gerrit van Kampen; Chief Executive, Stanbic IBTC Bank, Yinka Sanni; and Portfolio Analyst, Financial Institutions, Africa, FMO, Sander Verhulp during the signing ceremony for a $90 million credit facility to Stanbic IBTC by FMO in Lagos … recently
L-R: Assistant Manager, Cabin Services, Medview Airline, Lydia Adeniyi; Head of Flight Operation, Captain Geofrey Ogbogu; Group CEO, Forte Oil Plc, Mr. Akin Akinfemiwa and MD/CEO, Medview Airline, Alhaji Muneer Bankole, during the commissioning of new Boeing 737 - 400 Aircraft in Lagos on Sunday.
National News
Chibok girls: Buhari promises new approach to Boko Haram
…routed insurgents hiding, recruiting on Lake Chad islands ObiOra ifOh ABUJA
P
resident-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, has said it was still unknown if the Chibok girls, who were abducted exactly a year ago by the Boko Haram, can be rescued. However, the retired General pledged that he would ensure the end of the outlaw group as his administration’s approach to confront them will certainly be different. In a statement he personally signed on the first anniversary of the kidnap of 276 schoolgirls from Chibok, Buhari said: “Today, we remember the kidnapping of 276 girls from a school in Chibok one year ago. This crime has rightly caused outrage both in Nigeria and across the world.
“Today is a time to reflect on the pain and suffering of the victims, their friends and families. Our thoughts and prayers, and that of the whole Nigerian Nation, are with you today. “I want to assure all of them, and particularly the parents, that when my administration takes office at the end of May, we will do everything we can to defeat Boko Haram. We will act differently from the government we replace: we hear the anguish of our citizens and intend to respond accordingly. “This new approach must also begin with honesty. We do not know if the Chibok girls can be rescued. Their whereabouts remain unknown. As much as I wish to, I cannot promise that we can find them. But I say to every parent, family member and friend of the children that my govern-
ment will do everything in its power to bring them home. “What I can pledge, with absolute certainty, is that starting on the first day of my administration, Boko Haram will know the strength of our collective will and commitment to rid this nation of terror, and bring back peace and normalcy to all affected areas. “Boko Haram means ‘Western Education is Sinful’. When they are defeated militarily, as they will be, we will ensure our citizens in the affected areas have improved educational opportunities as a direct counterbalance to Boko Haram’s twisted ideology. In particular, we will educate ever more young girls, ensuring they are empowered as citizens of Nigeria. “Let us use this anniversary to remind each other that the attack on
Chibok was an attack on the dreams and aspirations of our young people. “We stand united in our pledge to resist terror in Nigeria – not just through military means but also through the power of opportunity and the hope of a better future for all.” Meanwhile, Boko Haram insurgents, driven out of their strongholds in the country by a regional military offensive are increasingly taking refuge on remote islands in Lake Chad, terrorising locals or recruiting others. The lake is where borders meet for Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon and Niger, which are leading the fight against the Islamists and their bloody six-year insurgency that has prompted armed international response. “You see those islands, toward Nigeria? I used to
go there to sell my harvest,” said Mustapha, a farmer from Ngouboua, a Chadian village near the border with Nigeria. “But, with Boko Haram, it has become too dangerous. We don’t move without a military escort,” he added. Though Nigeria‘s military - with major help from its neighbours - has since February retaken a series of towns and villages held by the rebels, the insurgency that has left 13,000 dead has not been crushed. Some of the fighters scattered by the victories have instead fallen back to the sanctuary of remote or inhospitable areas around the lake. “Boko Haram is under pressure and some of them are taking refuge in the middle of the lake, on islands with swampy forests that are difficult for the army to reach,” said a Chadian security source. “Because they are hungry, they are attacking villagers for food,” the
source added. Theft of cattle, rice and corn has become common on the Chadian islands and mainland, near Nigeria. Boko Haram fighters have been blamed for at least two attacks on a village near Chadian market town of Tchoukou Telia. “They stole up to 500 steers,” said Al Hadji Mbodou Mai, a shopkeeper in Ngouboua. That town was victim of Boko Haram attacks in recent months, but now is “secured” by a heavy military presence, said local police commander Saleh Ali. “There are lots of problems on the surrounding islands,” he added. Fighting the Islamists in the remote, swampy areas is sure to get more difficult when the rainy season arrives in June. Also, experts have warned that hit-andrun attacks by the group could increase amid the added military pressure.
National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
News
Tuesday, April 14, 2015
5
May 29: Sambo, Osinbajo committee begins work ROTIMI FADEYI ABUJA
T
he Federal Government Transition Committee headed by Vice President Namadi Sambo, yesterday met at the Presidential Villa to consider guidelines and preparations of hand-over briefs for the incoming government of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari. The committee was set up following the emergence of Buhari of the All Progressives Congress, APC, as President-elect in the March 28 Presidential election. Similarly, the APC has also set up its own committee headed by Vice President elect, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo to ensure smooth transition. Speaking with State House correspondents yes-
terday after meeting of the committee, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Anyim Pius Anyim, said the meeting addressed the terms of reference and developed the guidelines for preparing the hand-over briefs. Anyim disclosed that the transition committee is expected to collect briefs from the Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs, put them together before meeting with the committee raised by the in-coming government. “After we have collected our own briefs from the MDAs and then we put them together, we will then interface with the other committee so that whatever clarification they want, the questions they have, then we will be able to address
them,” Anyim said. When asked if he was aware that the in-coming government had raised its own committee, Anyim said that such development was normal in the transition process. “Ours is to collect our own hand over briefs, prepare the briefs, prepare the President handover notes. “The terms of reference of our own committee is to collate relevant information for the hand over briefs from all the MDAs, prepare them and interface with the in-coming administration’s transition committee,” he added. Anyim disclosed that the committee would meet again on April 20 to continue discussion on the transition process. The SGF said everything
APC, PDP call for polls cancellation CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2
cidents of ballot boxes’ snatching and violence, leading to the death of many people marred the election. He said eight APC members were killed in the process of the election across the state by PDP thugs. Also yesterday, PDP said INEC should cancel the inconclusive elections in Imo State and conduct a fresh poll. The party said this has become imperative because of the massive incidence of irregularities that marred the elections in the state. National Publicity Secretary of the party, Olisa Metuh said PDP is demanding for the immediate cancellation, while fresh poll that would reflect the will of the people should be conducted. He said the country’s 16 years of democracy must be sustained. His words: “We demand the immediate halt to the announcement and cancellation of the elections and ordering of fresh elections in Imo. “There was massive violence, swapping of ballot papers and snatching ballots in Ideato North, Oru and other places. There was no elections in Ideato south, figures were awarded. “Our quest is this; haven sustained democracy in 16 years, are we going to witness erosion of the fundamentals of the principles of democracy in Nigeria un-
der this new government? What we are seeing is ominous times. “People of Imo have trooped out in the street demanding the correct result. If INEC cannot produce what they have voted for, then INEC should order new elections. “We in the PDP, we are willing and able to assist in ensuring that INEC in the next one week or two weeks, once they order for fresh elections in Imo state whatever cost it is, let the citizens bear it as long as genuine and true democracy is enthroned. “We want fresh elections in Imo State. Let the will of the people be enthroned.” The state governor, Rochas Okorocha has however expressed optimism that he will win in the governorship election in the state after the conduct of repeat poll in some wards in the state. Okorocha made the statement when he briefed newsmen at the Government House, Owerri yesterday. The governor said that he was used to repeat elections having been elected through a supplementary election in 2011. Okorocha explained that the spread of APC victory in 23 local government areas of the state was a clear indication of the confidence the people had in his government. In a related development, the European Union
Election Observation Mission EU-EOM in Nigeria has called for further investigation into alleged malfeasance during the governorship and House of Assembly elections in Rivers and Akwa Ibom states. Chief Observer of the Mission, Santiago Fisas stated this yesterday when his team presented its second preliminary statement on the conduct of the general elections. The Mission however commended Nigerians, political parties and candidates, INEC and all other stakeholders for the continued commitment to the electoral process. “Overall the 11 April election process appeared to be more efficient, with polling staff working diligently and improvements evident in the more timely opening of polling sites. Meanwhile, at least six people were said to have been killed in Sunkani, Ardo Kola Local Government Area of Taraba State, following tension that heralded the declaration of the governorship elections results in the state inconclusive. The state government yesterday imposed a dusk to dawn curfew in Jalingo, the state capital to maintain law and order. The Returning Officer for the governorship elections, Prof. Mohammad Kyari, had yesterday declared the governorship elections inconclusive.
about the transition committee’s mandate would be executed and completed before the inauguration of the president-elect on May 29.
While the SGF would serve as Secretary to the committee, other members include Attorney General of the Federation, Muhammed
Bello Adoke; Transport Minister, Idris Umar; Police Affairs Minister, Abduljelili Adesiyan and Minister of State for Finance, Bashir Yuguda.
World Bank targets 2016 for Nigeria’s economic recovery CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2
can exports were still dominated by primary commodities, with oil as the most important commodity traded in the region, followed by gold and natural gas. It stated that over ninety percent of the total exports of eight major oil-exporting countries derived from the three biggest exports of each country, which represent nearly 30 per cent of their GDP, adding however that the recent price declines are not confined to oil. Africa’s Pulse revealed that the prices of other commodities were now more closely correlated both with oil prices and with oneanother, consequent upon which terms of trade are declining widely among most
countries in the region. On foreign direct investment, the Bank noted that inflows to Sub-Saharan Africa were subdued in 2014, reflecting slower growth in emerging markets and declining commodity prices. It pointed out that African countries continue to tap international bond markets to finance infrastructure projects. For instance, it reported that while Cote d’Ivoire returned to the market this February and Ethiopia had a debut issue in December 2014, debt burdens remained generally manageable, debt-toGDP ratios for countries with increased bond market access picked up in recent years. The Bank also reported that despite the bright pros-
pects for the economies, uncertainty about future global monetary conditions remained an additional reason for caution. World Bank’s Chief Economist for Africa, Francisco Ferreira, said: “As previously forecast, external tailwinds have turned to headwinds for Africa’s development. “It is in these challenging times that the region can and must show that it has come of age, and can sustain economic and social progress on its own strength. For starters, recent gains for the poorest Africans must be protected in those countries where fiscal and exchange rate adjustments are needed.”
National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
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Tuesday, April 14, 2015
N25.7bn theft: EFCC prays court to adjourn ruling on Atuche’s application Matthew IrInoye
E
conomic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, yesterday prayed Justice Lateef-Lawal Akapo, of a Lagos State High Court, sitting in Ikeja, to adjourn sine die (indefinitely) its ruling on an application filed by former Managing Director of Bank PHB, Francis Atuche, seeking to quash the theft charge preferred against him and two others. It would be recalled that Atuche, alongside his wife, Elizabeth, and a former Chief Financial Officer of Bank PHB, Ugo Anyanwu, are being prosecuted for allegedly stealing N25.7 billion from the bank. However, in an application filed by EFCC
counsel, Mr Dele Adesina (SAN), it urged the presiding judge to adjourn ruling indefinitely. Adesina said this was pending the outcome of EFCC appeal against the Court of Appeal judgment of November 21, 2013, which struck out the theft charges preferred against a former Managing Director of Finbank Plc, Mr Okey Nwosu, and others for lack of jurisdiction. Adesina said the EFCC had filed an appeal against judgment at the Supreme Court, adding that the matter has being granted expeditious hearing due to its importance. However, the judge noted that the judicial practice directive was to give priority to high-profile matters. Lawal-Akapo said no-
body could predict the time the Supreme Court would arrive at its verdict in the said appeal. He added that judges at the lower court had waited for over year for the apex court to clarify the ruling given by the Court of Appeal on the Okey Nwosu’s case. Responding, Atuche’s counsel, Mr Tayo Oyetibo (SAN), asked the court to reject the application, arguing that it was aimed at truncating the ruling which was already listed as the business of the day. However, after listening to the submissions of both parties, the judge adjourned the matter till April 22 for arguments on the application. It will be recalled that Atuche had approached the court for the quashing of the charge, argu-
ing that like Nwosu’s case, the state high court had no jurisdiction to entertain the matter. Oyetibo had maintained that the cases were similar because they emanated from capital market transactions. “The appellate court held that such capital market-based matter was an exclusive jurisdiction of the Federal High Court,” he added. Oyetibo also referred the court to the December 31, 2014 judgment of the Court of Appeal, Lagos, in the case of Mr Erasmus Akingbola against the Federal Republic of Nigeria. According to him, the appellate court struck out the case against Akingbola, former Managing Director of Intercontinental Bank Plc, on the same grounds.
7
Thugs attack Ondo deputy gov ojo oyewaMIde AKURE
S
ome protesters yesterday attempted to prevent Ondo State Deputy Governor, Alhaji Ali Olanusi, from entering his official residence at the Government House, Akure, the state capital. Olanusi defected from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the All Progressives Congress, APC, before the presidential and National Assembly elections held on March 28. The deputy governor, who was coming from Supare Akoko in Akoko Southwest Local Government Area of the state, was confronted by some youths who wanted to prevent his convoy from entering the Alagbaka Government House. They carried placards with different inscriptions like ‘Ali must go’, ‘No way for Olanusi in Government House’, ‘Olanusi is a traitor’ and ‘Jasper Ali must resign’.
But security personnel attached to the deputy governor had to shoot sporadically into the air to scare away the protesters before they could pass through the road leading to Government House. Some of the protesters were throwing stones, water sachets and eggs at the convoy as security personnel were firing into the air and in the process, one of the vehicles in the convoy was damaged. Olanusi accused Governor Olusegun Mimiko of masterminding the attack on him by using suspected political thugs. Speaking with reporters after the incident, Olanusi said: “It is very surprising and a rude shock that a sitting governor, after the election, is still going around with thugs to attack me in the State House. You can see things yourself at the roundabout, the thugs he hired there and at the gate. If I had not come with my convoy, they would have attacked me.
6
News
Tuesday, April 14, 2015
National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
Sokoto guber: Tambuwal can’t be gov –Dahiru • Court adjourns to April 27 ISE-OLUWA IGE
L
ess than 12 hours after the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, declared Aminu Tambu-
wal winner of the just concluded gubernatorial election in Sokoto State, a gubernatorial aspirant, Senator Umaru Dahiru, yesterday renewed his request before a Federal High Court sitting in Abu-
ja to annul the ticket given to Tambuwal by the All Progressives Congress, APC. Dahiru is contending that Tambuwal’s emergence as APC’s gubernatorial standard bearer in a primary poll that held on December 14, 2014, was
irregular. But Tambuwal, who is Speaker, House of Representatives, told the trial high court judge, Elvis Chukwu, yesterday that Dahiru was only wasting his time. He argued that his prayers in the pre-elec-
L-R: Chairman, National Confab Advisory Committee, Senator Femi Okurounmu; groom’s father, Lt. Gen. Oladipo Diya (rtd), and Senator Anthony Adefuye, at the wedding reception of Mr. and Mrs. Oyefolarin Diya in Lagos, at the weekend.
Road crashes drop 17% during Easter –FRSC CHIDI UGWU ABUJA
F
ederal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, has said about 115 road traffic crashes were recorded nationwide during last Easter special patrol that lasted from April 1 to 8, translating to 17 per cent reduction when compared to last year’s figure of 139, within the same period. The corps Public Education Officer, Imoh Etuk, disclosed this while presenting an update on the corps’ activities during this year’s Easter. According to him, the FRSC also recorded 25 per cent reduction in vehicles involved in road crashes
within the period, which stood at 172, in comparison with 230 vehicles in 2014, while 13 per cent reduction was also recorded in number of people involved in traffic crashes in 2015, with 885 persons as against 2014 figure of 1,012. Details of the 2015 fatality figures indicate that while 85 deaths were recorded in 2015, the 2014 Easter patrols posted 80 deaths, translating to 5 per cent increase. On injuries, 463 casualties were recorded this year, while 451 persons were injured in 2014, representing 3 per,cent increase. On mobile courts, the Corps Public Education Officer also disclosed that the FRSC arraigned 23 traffic offenders out of which 20
offenders were convicted while 1,388 offenders were arrested for contravening 8,625 traffic-related offences during the 2015 festive season. Etuk further disclosed that non-use of seat belt by motorists was most prevalent with 2,194 offences, followed by riding without safety helmet (1,013) and tyre violation accounting for 1,040 offences. Similarly, speed limit violation accounted for most of the road traffic crashes during the exercise with 44 cases, followed by loss of control with 29 and wrongful overtaking accounting for 12 road traffic crashes. Reacting to the reduced figures in road crashes and traffic offenders, Corps
Commander Etuk said “it is a fall-out of the corps’ massive deployment of personnel and logistics along critical corridors based on intelligence derived from 2014 special operations.” He also informed that “455 patrol vehicles, 66 ambulances, 102 motor bikes, 12 towing trucks and over 34,000 personnel were deployed during the Easter patrol, in addition to robust public enlightenment campaigns. These strategies were also complemented with our 23 Emergency Ambulance Service Centres code named ZEBRAS, toll-free telephone number 122, which enabled FRSC to respond promptly to traffic emergencies.”
tion suit he filed to stop him from participating in the election had been overtaken by events, having not only participated in the election but also emerged victorious. Tambuwal’s lawyer, Mr E. Okutepa, consequently made a formal application to the court yesterday that parties in the case be made to address the court on whether or not issues raised in Dahiru’s case had not become dead with the emergence of Tambuwal as governor of Sokoto State. He said the need to address the matter became necessary as proceeding with a case with no live issue would amount to mere academic exercise. The APC’s counsel, Mr Sunday Ameh, also aligned with Okutepa’s argument. But Dahiru’s counsel, Prof Awa Kalu, told the court yesterday that the issues raised in the suit were still alive and that Tambuwal was only expressing his wishful thinking. “Let them file their papers and advance their arguments to demonstrate that the issues therein are no longer alive; we will respond to them appropriately. “But I must say I disagree with that position,” Kalu said. Justice Chukwu consequently gave Tambuwal five days to file his paper and another five days to Dahiru to respond while he gave Tambuwal additional three days to respond on points of law. The trial judge also fixed April 27 for parties to adopt their briefs. Dahiru, it would be recalled, had sued Tambuwal after the December 14 primaries in Sokoto where the House of Representatives speaker emerged the APC flag bearer in the just concluded party general
‘Teenage pregnancy exposes girls to reproductive risks’
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community health expert, Prof. Christiana Campbell, says teenage pregnancy could expose the girl-child to devastating reproductive health issues. Campbell, a former National President of Medical Women Association of
Nigeria, disclosed this in Lagos yesterday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN. According to her, teenage pregnancy is also capable of exposing girls to overwhelming social, educational, economic and health challenges and
sometimes death. “Teenage pregnancy is associated with obstetrics complications such as obstructed labour, Vesico Vaginal Fistula, VVF, and young first-time mothers and their children are especially vulnerable to poor health outcomes.
“It poses serious public health issues and achieving girls’ education remains a crucial issue in Nigeria. “It is important to raise awareness of the extent of teenage pregnancy and engaging communities through public campaigns and educate parents, community
leaders and policy makers about the health implications of teenage pregnancy.” Campbell said that teenage pregnancy could be reduced by investing in child survival and health programmes, as well as giving priority to free and qualitative education for all.
election in the country. He had contended that the primary poll which produced Tambuwal breached not only the provisions of 2010 Electoral Act but also APC’s electoral guidelines. The primary poll held December 14, 2014. The suit, which was filed by former AttorneyGeneral of Abia State, Prof Awa Kalu on behalf of Umaru Dahiru, specifically requested an order restraining INEC from placing Tambuwal’s name on the ballot for the 2015 governorship election pending the holding of fresh gubernatorial primaries by APC. Justice Steven Chukwu Evoh of the Abuja Federal high court had already assumed jurisdiction in the case. Also listed as co-plaintiff in the case is Barr Aliyu Abubakar Sanyinna, while APC, Aminu Tambuwal and INEC, were named as defendants. In their claims, the plaintiffs alleged that APC officials denied all other aspirants for the primary poll except Tambuwal access to the delegates. It was also alleged that the screening of delegates on the day of the primaries was not done between the stipulated hours of 8am and 12 noon, and that the list of the delegates as issued by the National Secretariat of APC was not used in the conduct of the said election of December 4, 2014. Other ground on which Dahiru is seeking redress is that on election day, members of Sokoto State, its local government and state Assembly openly canvassed votes for Tambuwal. “Also, in the open glare of spectators, voting was not conducted in secret as stipulated in the guidelines of APC, instead Tambuwal had his name written on ballot papers and those papers were freely distributed to delegates at the Ginginya Stadium, Sokoto, venue of the primaries election. “It turned out that both accredited delegates and even non-delegates were issued with already filled ballot papers with the name of Tambuwal,” the plaintiffs stated.
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ELECTION
Tuesday, April 14, 2015
PDP sweeps 23 Assembly seats in C’River richard Ndoma CALABAR
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eoples Democratic Party, PDP, has been declared winner in Cross River State House of Assembly election, picking 23 out of 25 seats vied for. Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, Dr. Sylvester Ezeani, stated this while announcing result of Saturday, April 11 election contested by candidates of PDP,
All Progressives Congress, APC, Labour Party, LP, and others. But the REC declared the results for Yakurr II state constituency and Biase state constituency as inconclusive due to irregularities during the election. Ezeani disclosed that the election has been rescheduled for Saturday, April 18. He said the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, was poised to re-mobilise all its machin-
ery, ad-hoc and other staff to conduct the election in order to get a winner from the two constituencies. “Elections were inconclusive in Yakurr II state constituency and Biase state constituency due to irregularities; we have rescheduled the poll for Saturday, April 18. “The new date, I hope, will help us finish the job and the winner announced accordingly.” National Mirror gath-
ered that two sitting APC lawmakers lost their seats to candidates of PDP. Mr Alex Irek, who represents Obubra I state constituency in the Assembly scored 4,238 votes and was defeated by Mr Gabriel Okpechi of PDP, who got 5,741 votes, even as PDP’s Dr Itam Abang scored 13,253 votes to unseat Ernest Eki of APC, a sitting member representing Boki I state constituency, who polled 8,354 votes.
National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
Bayelsa Assembly: INEC declares winners without figures osahoN Julius YENAGOA
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ndependent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in Bayelsa State yesterday announced the winners of the Saturday House of Assembly election in 14 constituencies in six local government areas of the state, but the result sheets did not give figures scored by the winners. A list of winners made available to newsmen at INEC office and signed by state Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, Baritor Kpagih, showed that Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, won 13 of the constituencies, while the All Progressives Congress, APC, won one. However, election was cancelled in Constituency 11, Brass Local Government, where youths insisted on seeing the ward collation result sheets before accreditation, while election in Ogbia Constituency 11 was
declared inclusive as hoodlums were reported to have snatched election materials at gunpoint. The winners’ list released by INEC stated thus: Brass constituency 1, winner, Israel Sunny Ogoli, APC; Brass constituency III, Abraham Ingobere, PDP, Nembe constituency I, Ololo Ebi Ben, PDP; Nembe II, Naomi Benjamin Ogoli. Others were Salon Adikumo as winner of Sagbama constituency III, while Monday Obolo, Igali Barapadei and Speaker of the state Assembly, Benson Friday, all of PDP, were declared winners by INEC in Southern Ijaw constituencies II, III and IV respectively. The PDP also won all the three constituencies Yenagoa local government areas with Parkinson Markmanuel, Ebiuwou Obiyal and Emelah Epilefa, winning in constituency I, II and III respectively. All attempts to get the figures was rebuffed by the
Gombe Speaker loses return bid L-R: Wife of Lagos State Governor-elect, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode; Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola; Lagos State All Progressives Congress (APC) Governor-elect, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (3rd right); former Lagos State Governor/APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu (2nd right) and former Lagos State Commissioner for Information, Dele Alake (right), during celebration of Ambode’s victory on Sunday night.
Group demands Speakership for S’South Wole oladimeJi ABUJA
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pro-democracy group under the auspices of Change Vanguard yesterday called on the All Progressives Congress, APC, to zone the position of Speaker, House of Representatives, to the South South geo-political zone of the country. The group stated that zoning arrangement in the coming 8th Assembly would only reflect the principle of federal character required by the 1999 Constitution (as amended). The group in a statement signed by its publicity secretary, Tayo Bello, and issued to newsmen in Abuja yesterday, raised alarm over possibility of the three northern geo-political zones producing the President, Senate President and Representatives Speaker, respectively. Already, six federal lawmakers vying for the House speakership position are Abdulmumin Jibrin from Kano (North-west), Yakubu Doga-
ra from Bauchi (North-east), Femi Gbajabiamila from Lagos (South-west), Mohammed Monguno from Borno (North-East), Pally Iriase from Edo (South-South) and Israel Ajibola Famurewa of Osun State (South-West). Gbajabiamila is currently minority leader in the lower chamber. Jibrin, on the other hand, is chairman, House Committee on Finance. Dogara is chairman, House Services and Welfare Committee. Monguno is chairman, House Committee on Agriculture. Iriase is deputy chairman, House Committee on Legislative Outreach. Monguno, like Dogara, has been in the House since 2007, while Iriase, Jibrin and Famurewa first came to the House in 2011. But Gbajabiamila has been in the House since 2003. "Change Vanguard welcomes the positive political revolution brought by APC and the subsequent election of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari as president-elect on March 28, 2015," the group stated.
It stated that Change Vanguard is disturbed by ongoing political developments in the lead-up to the May 29 handover date. According to the group, "As it stands, the incoming APC administration already has the president-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari from the North-west and the vice president-elect, Prof Yemi Osinbajo from the South West. "Change Vanguard is aware that the position of the Senate President may go to the North Central or North East geo-political zone since the South East previously touted for the Senate presidency failed to produce any APC senator. "Change Vanguard is disturbed by the reported moves by APC to zone the position of Speaker, House of Representatives to the North East. "Change Vanguard reminds APC that if the House speakership position is zoned to North East, it would be a clean sweep for the country’s northern
region with the President, Senate president and House Speaker coming from there. This will be in breach of the constitution and a divisive development,” it stated. "Change Vanguard recognises that the South East failed to produce any federal lawmaker in the Senate and House of Representatives. However, the South South geo-political zone returned at least three ranking and qualified APC House members. This is a golden opportunity that the APC must not miss.
daNJuma Williams GOMBE
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peaker of Gombe State House of Assembly, Inuwa Garba, was over the weekend denied a return to the legislative chamber as Abubakar Ibrahim of the All Progressives Congress, APC, unseated him in the House of Assembly election. Garba of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, had been in the House three consecutive terms, but was denied a fourth attempt to represent Yamaltu West constituency in Saturday’s House of Assembly poll. Garba, who had been at the House since 2003, was the immediate past chair-
man of the Nigerian Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures. According to results released by the Gombe office of INEC, the PDP won 14 constituencies while APC won 9 of the 23 so far declared. The only result still pending is that of Kwami East constituency, where election was cancelled due to election violence. Confirming this, the Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, Kassim Geidam, said the difference between the two main contenders is about 500 votes while total votes from the four polling units exceed 2000, making it very significant to repeat the election in the affected areas.
Jubilation in Plateau over Lalong's victory James abraham JOS
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upporters of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Plateau State yesterday took to the streets in celebration of the victory recorded by the party's governorship candidate, Simon Lalong. Lalong was declared winner by the Indepen-
dent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in the early hours of yesterday after polling 564,913 votes to defeat other candidates, including Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Senator Gyang Pwajok, who scored 520,627 votes. Following the announcement, many APC supporters waving brooms went wild with jubilation in different parts
of the state. Many of them also formed a long convoy of vehicles, causing serious gridlock on major roads within the state capital, which lasted all day. Lalong in his acceptance speech at a press conference he addressed at the party's headquarters in Jos, described his victory as "victory for Plateau people."
National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
Tuesday, April 14, 2015
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ELECTION
Tuesday, April 14, 2015
National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
Civil groups express misgivings over elections Gloria Usman ABUJA
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igeria’s Civil Society Organisations, CSOs, under the auspices of the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room (Situation Room), have expressed deep concern on the overall conduct of last Saturday's gubernatorial elections across the country, particularly in Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Abia states. The organisations called on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to probe alleged rigging during the elections and sanction offenders accordingly. "Situation room is further concerned about the overall conduct of the elections in Rivers and Akwa Ibom, where there are good grounds to question the credibility of election results in both states.” Briefing journalists in Abuja on behalf of the Situation Room, Executive Director of Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre, PLAC, Clement Nwankwo said,
"The Situation Room hereby calls on INEC to urgently take steps to clinically scrutinise the final collated results from these three states against the polling unit result and make a reasoned judgement about them. "In our view, INEC should concern itself with possible negative public perception of the election in the three states and ensure it takes necessary steps to protect the integrity of the elections there as a way of strengthening the trust of the electorate in the voting process. "The Situation Room also notes and condemns in the strongest terms the leading role played by prominent public political office holders and other politicians as well as some INEC officials in encouraging and actively taking part in organised misconduct and disorderly behaviour that violated the sanctity of the electoral process and calls for action to be taken to investigate their activities with a view to prosecuting and sanctioning them, if found culpable under the law.
Uduaghan congratulates Okowa, calls for calm TheophilUs onojeGhen WARRI
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elta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, has called on people of the state to remain peaceful after the pronouncement of Senator Ifeanyi Okowa as winner of Saturday's governorship election. Uduaghan in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Sunny Ogefere, said the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, victory at the polls was clear testimony of the party's performance in government in the state. While congratulating the governor-elect, he said PDP’s success was “a total victory for all Deltans.” The governor thanked people of the state for their peaceful conduct during and after the elections and assured that development strides in the state under Okowa would be rapid, peaceful and progressive. He assured that the transition would be smooth and called on other political parties that contested the elections to accept defeat, embrace the winner and help
to create an atmosphere of peace and development in the state. Uduaghan further called on aggrieved parties to channel their grievances to the election tribunal for redress rather than throw the state into crisis.
paTience oGbo
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embers of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Lagos State yesterday took to the streets to protest the loss of their candidates in the gubernatorial and House of Assembly elections last Saturday. Hundreds of placardcarrying PDP members and supporters marched from the party's secretariat at Idimu Alimosho Local Council about 1pm, causing traffic jam on the LASU-Iba road and major streets, as they called for cancellation of Saturday, April 11 polls in Alimosho Local Government. The All Progressives Congress, APC, candidates were declared win-
Akwa Ibom State Governor Godswill Akpabio (right) and Governor-elect, Mr. Udom Emmanuel waving to the crowd during a victory rally in Uyo, yesterday.
Elections: Army parades suspected thugs, recover arms Dennis nakU
PORT HARCOURT
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he 2 Brigade of the Nigerian Army in Port Harcourt has paraded six political thugs, while its ongoing mopping up operations has unearthed a cache of arms. Commander of 2 Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Koko Essien, disclosed this to newsmen yesterday in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital. Essien said the operation was conducted in Ahoada East, Ogbakiri community in Emohua and Buguma town in Asari-Toru Local
Government Areas of the state, respectively. According to him, "in continuation of operation to mop up arms and ammunition in 2 Brigade’s area of responsibility, we conducted series of operations before and during April 11 elections in Rivers. “On April 10, we got information of stockpile of weapons at Samroyal Hotel in Ahoada East, whereby soldiers carried out a cordon and search operation with discoveries. “Two suspects (names withheld) were arrested at the hotel with two pumpaction guns, 41 machetes, 55
cartridges and N300,000,” he said. Represented by the Brigade’s Commanding Officer, Intelligence Group, Lt-Col Bayo Lawal, he said on April 11 at Ogbakiri community in Emohua, it arrested two suspected political thugs after a tip-off. He further said the suspected thugs (names withheld), who intimidated electorates, also threatened to disrupt election process in the area. “Subsequently, soldiers went after them and arrested two suspects with two AK-47 rifles, three AK-47 magazines and 41 rounds of
7.62mm Special live ammunition,” he said. Essien said soldiers were able to restore order at Buguma town in Asari Toru Local Government, which witnessed deadly violent attacks by hired political thugs on Saturday. “Our troops after a hot pursuit arrested two suspected arsonists, who set ablaze a building in Buguma town during Saturday’s elections,” Essien said. The commander added that the suspects while fleeing from soldiers dumped their arms in the river, adding that efforts were ongoing to recover the weapons.
PDP protests defeat in Lagos ners in the election. However, Alimosho PDP members said the election was fraught with irregularities, accusing the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, of compromise and
bias that led to the party's defeat. PDP chairman in Alimosho area, Prince Ayodele Adelaja, accused APC of conniving with INEC officials to manipulate the electoral process in
Alimosho to favour APC candidates and therefore urged INEC Chairman, Attahiru Jega, to cancel the election and organise a re-run. Adelaja, who led the protest, had during a
press conference earlier at the party's secretariat in Alimosho called on well-meaning Nigerians to demand a probe of the 2015 elections, adding that the votes were rigged to favour APC.
Fashola thanks Lagosians over Ambode's victory Francis sUberU
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overnor Babatunde Fashola has commended Lagos State residents for voting en masse to ensure the victory of All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship candidate, Akinwunmi Ambode, in the April 11 poll. Fashola lauded Lagos
residents for keeping faith with the model of development that allows people to compete and give the best they can, rather than follow the model of patronage few days to an election. The governor pointed out that the people had chosen service, competition and choice over very banal patronage few weeks to the just concluded election.
He was elated that all the hard work in the last eight years had been vindicated, particularly with the mandate given to Ambode, saying this was in line with the choice and model of governance. According to him, the residents have chosen accelerated development where one does not need to know anybody before he gets an
opportunity. He promised to share his wealth of experience with the governor-elect, adding that he would not advise him in the open but privately. Fashola added that the important thing is for the newly elected governor to stay connected to the people and ensure they enjoy dividends of democracy.
National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
ELECTION
Tuesday, April 14, 2015
Electoral violence: Police parade 15 suspects in Oyo KeMi olAitAN IBADAN
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yo State Police Command yesterday paraded 15 suspected electoral offenders, who were arrested over last Saturday's gubernatorial and House of Assembly elections. Commissioner of Police, Mr. Muhammed Musa Katsina, while addressing jour-
nalists at the command's headquarters, Eleyele, Ibadan, the state capital, said the suspects were arrested in different locations before and during the elections. The CP, who was represented by Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, DSP Ade Ajisebutu, also said a six-man armed gang using vehicles that moved round some of the polling
stations within the state got themselves entangled in the impenetrable cobweb of Ambush Squad and when arrested one Englishmade gun, 27 live cartridges and assorted charms were recovered from them. He added that two men, who stormed a polling unit at Kinni-Kinni Primary School, Saki, on the election day and violently assaulted a security officer
were also arrested. He stated further that one Ayo Ajiboye was arrested on April 10 with some Accord Party posters with pictures of Governor Abiola Ajimobi superimposed on it with a view to misleading the public, while four persons were arrested on April 11 in Kishi area of Oorelope Local Government Area of the state.
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Kogi Assembly: PDP 12, APC 7 WAle ibRAhiM LOKOJA
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ndependent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has released result of last Saturday’s Kogi House of Assembly election. The result showed that out 25 constituencies, INEC declared election in five constituencies inconclusive, and there was no election in one constituency. The Affected constituencies are Lokoja II, Ofu, Dekina/Biradu, Igalamela/Odolu and Ajaokuta, while election did not take place in Dekina Okura constituency. The ruling Peoples Democratic Party won 12 House of Assembly seats, while All Progressives Congress, APC, won 7. PDP candidates have been declared winners as follows: Okene 11, the in-
cumbent Speaker of Kogi State House of Assembly, Momoh Jimoh Lawal; Omala - Honourable Ali Akuh; Idah - Ukwubile Ochijenu Achuru; Ibaji John M.U. Abbah; Kabba/ Bunu - Prince Mathew Kolawole Olushola; Yagba West - Oluwatoyin Lawal; Yagba East - Musa Jimoh; Ijumu - Omofaye Victor Adewale; Ogori/ Magongo - Oshiyi Godwin Ojo; Bassa - Sunday Raishe Shigaba; Okehi - Kekere Sanni Abdulkareem; Adavi - Adoke Uktar Bello. APC candidates: Ankpa I - Ibrahim Abdulmumini Alhaji; Ankpa II - Alfa Rabiu; Okene I Mohammed Lawi Alhaji; Lokoja I - Umar Ahmed Immam; Koton Karfe - Zakari Mohammed Olamaboro; Enenche Ojochenemi - Limus A. Mopamuro; Obaro - Abayomi Sunday Pedro.
Ogun SDP concedes defeat, congratulates Amosun
...fingers PDP in electoral misfortune FeMi o yeWeso ABEOKUTA
L-R: Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona; Olori Kemi; wife of Ogun State Governor, Olufunso, and Governor Ibikunle Amosun, during the governor's thank-you visit to the Awujale in Ijebu-Ode, yesterday.
Sambo congratulates Kaduna governor-elect, el-Rufai AzA Msue KADUNA
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ice President Namadi Sambo yesterday called Kaduna State governor-elect, Malam Nasir el-Rufai, to congratulate him for emerging victorious in last Saturday's governorship election. El-Rufai's spokesperson,
Samuel Aruwan, who disclosed this in a statement, said Governor Yero has also written official congratulatory letter to el-Rufai. Sambo was governor of Kaduna State between 2007 and 2009 before President Goodluck Jonathan picked him as his Vice President, following the death of the late President Umaru Musa
Yar'Adua. Yero, a PDP guber candidate, had called el-Rufai on Sunday to concede victory to the APC candidate. El-Rufai polled 1,117,635 to defeat Yero who scored 485, 833. Sambo, according to Aruwan, wished el-Rufai a successful tenure in office and urged him to use his wealth
of experience for the peace and development of Kaduna State and Nigeria at large. Sambo further appealed to citizens of the state to give maximum support and cooperation to el-Rufai. He also tasked the incoming governor to work hard in taking the state to greater heights.
C`River APC rejects guber, Assembly results RichARd NdoMA CALABAR
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ll Progressives Congress, APC, yesterday rejected results of the just concluded Saturday governorship election in which INEC declaired PDP candidate, Professor Ben Ayade governor-elect for Cross River State. State chairman of APC in Cross River, Mr Usani Usani, on Monday said the party had rejected result of the poll for both the House
of Assembly and the gubernatorial election in the state. Usani stated this while fielding questions from journalists in Calabar, stressing that the party took the position after a thorough investigation that the result sheets were tempered with by the PDP in favour of its candidates. “The election was characterised by irregularities and my first demand is for cancellation of the election. My second demand is that
perpetrators of this illegal act should be prosecuted. “As a progressive party, we demand the immediate release of all our members who have been beaten and kept in detention. “The information available to me as we speak now is that over four persons died during the polls in Mkpani community in Yakurr Local Government Area as a result of electoral violence,’’ he said. “In most of the polling units across the state, the
use of card reader was not employed contrary to the directives from INEC,” the APC boss stated. “INEC directed that card readers be used for this election, but it was not adhered to in Cross River State as manual accreditation was all over the place. “Some members of the PDP in Yakurr Local Government Area went to some polling units and snatched the ballot boxes from the presiding officers.
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eadership of Ogun State chapter of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, has congratulated candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and governor of the state, Ibikunle Amosun, over his electoral victory at the just concluded governorship election in the state. State chairman of the party, Chief Olu Agemo, who addressed a press conference yesterday in Abeokuta, the state capital, said SDP was congratulating Amosun based on its conviction that his electoral victory was a well-deserved one and that leadership of the party was satisfied with it. Flanked by National leader of the party, Chief Yemi Sanusi, SDP governorship candidate, Senator Akin Odunsi, state Secretary, Alhaji Abimbola Awofeso, among other state executive members, Agemo also stated that SDP's candidate at the poll had already sent a congratulatory message via sms to Amosun after announcement of the governorship and
House of Assembly election results. With veiled reference to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP-controlled presidency, SDP's state chairman, however, blamed opposition political parties for his party's abysmal performance at the poll. Agemo alleged that opposition political parties were circulating false news through "sms, WhatsApp and facebook" on the election day that SDP's candidate at the guber poll, Odunsi, had stepped down for PDP's candidate, Gboyega Nasir Isiaka. When asked whether the leadership of the party is contemplating returning to its original mother party, the APC, Agemo explained that he does not have the mandate of the party to speak on such move, but emphasised that discussion is presently on-going between leadership of his party and that of APC. He however, expressed appreciation to the leadership style of Aremo Olusegun Osoba who he said never declined all requests from SDP members to provide direction.
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Tuesday, April 14, 2015
Ekiti guber: Anxiety as S’Court gives verdict today abiOdun nejO ADO EKITI
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nxiety has gripped the people of AdoEkiti, as the state awaits the Supreme Court’s verdict today on the June 21 governorship election won by Governor Ayodele Fayose. The All Progressives Congress, APC, in the state, having lost the bid to have the Election Petition Tribunal and the Appeal Court upturn the victory of Fayose of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, had approached the Supreme Court to seek redress. While Fayose in a statewide broadcast yesterday asked residents to keep the peace and go about their lawful duties, the APC raised an alarm over alleged plan by PDP to attack its members and supporters if the judgment threat-
ened Fayose's position. Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatunbosun, said in a statement that the party had uncovered plans to burn houses of APC leaders and cause bodily harm to its members and supporters if the judgment is not favourable to the governor. However, factional Speaker of the House of Assembly, Dele Olugbemi, alleged plan by some individuals to plunge the state into chaos. Olugbemi said yesterday that he was under pressure from some unnamed forces in Lagos and Osun states to withdraw his support for Governor Fayose "with a view to succeed in the illegal bid of the APC lawmakers in the state Assembly to impeach the governor." The PDP speaker, who said the decision of the APC lawmakers to discontinue suit No FHC/L/
CS/1823/2014 filed by the embattled Speaker, Dr Adewale Omirin, challenging his November 20, 2014, impeachment was among steps being taken to lure him into their camp. Olugbemi, who said his belief in the cause of Ekiti development could not be sacrificed on the altar of any form of inducement from sponsors of the APC lawmakers, said Ekiti would not be allowed to become a theatre of war again. The lawmaker told a press conference in AdoEkiti yesterday that the plan of APC lawmakers "is to cause another state of emergency in the state. That is why they are coming up with all these. "We have had enough political instability in Ekiti State and this time around, those who caused the 2006 imbroglio will not be allowed to destabilise the state
just because their party has been voted out of power in the state. "Governor Fayose was elected to govern Ekiti for four years and those throwing stones from Lagos and Osun states are warned to desist lest they incur the wrath of Ekiti people," Olugbemi said. Last Thursday, the Omirin-led APC lawmakers had said they had written the state Chief Judge, Ayodeji Daramola, to set up a sevenman committee to investigate Fayose over the impeachment allegation they leveled against him. But Olugbemi, in a swift reaction on Friday, urged the Chief Judge to ignore any letter purportedly written by the APC lawmakers, describing Omirin as an impostor having been impeached and challenging his impeachment as Speaker in court.
National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
LASAA begins clean-up of political posters, banners Francis suberu
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s the general election ended, weekend, the Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency, LASAA, has commenced removal of all political posters and banners across the state. Managing Director of the agency, George Noah, who disclosed this to National Mirror, said now that the elections were over, LASAA had begun immediate removal of all posters, banners, flags and other campaign materials across the state. He said: “We have expanded our plan to ensure the clean-up exercise is completed in the next two months. We are also ready to scale up our effort whenever the need arises. "From our findings, over 1,000,500 posters will be cleaned out in Lagos. We are also removing 358 illegal billboards of various
types deployed in the state, with Alimosho and Eti-Osa accounting for the highest numbers.” Also, Head of Enforcement of the agency, Mrs. Olamide Oyegoke, said: “We have mapped out areas requiring heavy clean-up and are already mobilising our men and equipment to those areas.” It would be recalled that in its effort to minimise abuse of the environment before the just concluded elections, LASAA organised a town hall meeting with all political parties, where it issued guidelines on the display of election campaign materials in Lagos. The agency was involved in a battle with various political parties days to the general election over indiscriminate use of election campaign materials. It is expected that this cleanup exercise will return order to the visual environment in the state.
Ogun NDE trains 50,000 on skills acquisition
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L-R: Former Super Eagles Captain, Austin Jay Jay Okocha; Chief Marketing Officer, MTN, Bayo Adekanmbi; former Super Eagles Captain, Kanu Nwankwo and General Manager, Consumer Marketing, MTN, Richard Iweanoge, during the launch of MTN Best 11 promo at Campos Mini Stadium in Lagos, at the weekend.
OPC council tells Adams to resign Kemi Olaitan IBADAN
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odua People’s Congress, OPC, seems set for a crisis as the National Coordinating Council of the congress has asked its National Coordinator, Gani Adams, to immediately resign his appointment to forestall another "internal war". Spokesman of the council, Adesina Akinpelu, while speaking with journalists in Ibadan yesterday, also asked Adams to make accessible OPC's statements of accounts since March 1, 1999, when Adams was made na-
tional coordinator of the Yoruba socio-cultural group. Akinpelu called on Yoruba monarchs and governors of Yoruba-speaking states to prevail on Adams not to cause another crisis within the OPC, saying several lives were lost during two of such internal crises fuelled by the national coordinator in Lagos and Ibadan in the past. He said, "It is on record that lives of many indigenes of Oyo and Lagos states were lost in the battles between Otunba Gani Adams and Dr. Frederick Fasheun in Lagos and between him (Adams) and Alaka in Ibadan in the
past. We will not allow him to shed any blood in Ibadan or Lagos again. Any attempt by him to cause another internal war within OPC, the battle will be taken to Arigidi-Akoko, his hometown. "We now know the antics of Gani Adams, and we will never allow him to have his way to start another internal war within the OPC. Just as OPC in Ekiti State has been liberated from his shackles, other state chapters also would be liberated. Oyo OPC has equally been liberated. No amount of threat and intimidation from Gani Adams and his cohorts will stop me and
other members of the council, opposed to his tyrannical rule, from upholding the truth we stand for.” He also accused Adams of using OPC to enrich himself and his family members at the expense of members of the organisation, stating that the OPC boss had registered many companies under his name using funds generated from the organisation. According to him, the Olokun Foundation, which has been approved by UNESCO, is one of such avenues that Adams is using to siphon funds meant for OPC.
ational Directorate of Employment, NDE, in Ogun State has trained and empowered over 50,000 jobless people in the last three years. Ogun NDE Coordinator, Engr. Femi Oyenekan, disclosed this while welcoming NDE South West zonal Director, Engr. S. A. Adegbite, and his team to his office. Giving Ogun NDE’s scorecard in the area of job generation, Oyenekan said NDE Skill Acquisition Training Centres sited in each of the three senatorial districts alone have trained close to 10,000 youths since inception. “Besides, the directorate has trained 27,974 youths in various demand-driven skills such as electrical installations, auto mechanic, fashion design, plumbing, barbing, catering, tie and dye, GSM repairs, gas welding, computer operations and other related skills through the Basic National Open Apprenticeship Scheme, NOAS of NDE. In the area of power generation, the NDE through the Solar Energy Training Scheme, SETS, also recently trained 20 young graduates.
He said, “The electricity from solar energy being enjoyed by NDE office in Ogun State was installed and sponsored by the last graduands of the programme.” Similarly, 50 youths and women under CommunityBased Training Scheme of NDE in the state recently went through a mandatory three months training and was thereafter resettled and empowered with equipment in the areas of hairdressing, fashion design, Adire/Kampala making, vulcanising and GSM repairs. To boost food production and improve on Rural Employment Promotion, the directorate established Agricultural Skills Training Centre, ASTC at Odomefin in Ogun State where over 3,000 people were trained and empowered in agriculture-related businesses. Oyenekan thereafter called on the jobless people in the society to approach NDE for job opportunities. In his address, Mr. Adegbite reminded the staff of the vision and mission of the NDE, saying “NDE was established to fight unemployment.”
Tuesday, April 14, 2015
SUPER TUESDAY
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Politics
Present government, PDP leaders have a lot to explain over mis-governance –Buhari
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Against the backdrop of predictions and projections for violence in Nigeria and its subsequent collapse in the electoral year of 2015, the presidential election was held peacefully and the winner emerged without signs of war in sight. In this report, our correspondent UBONG UKPONG takes a critical look at the challenge of securing the nation in an election year and the survival of Nigeria
The challenge of securing the nation to survive 2015 elections
S
ecuring any nation in an election year to ensure its peace and survival, is seen as a very challenging task, but for a diversified one like Nigeria, it is even more daunting, as the country was seen to be sitting on a cake of gun powder, ready to explode. The challenge was occasioned by series of predictions and projections of Nigeria’s imminent collapse in the 2015 electoral year in view of the likely violence that would erupt if the presidential election did not tilt to the direction of the opposing forces. About six years ago, these predictions and projections for violence in Nigeria and its subsequent collapse in 2015, came to the fore and became very popular when the electioneering activities commenced in earnest in 2014. It even brewed serious anxiety at the dawn of the year 2015. The desperation and strength exhibited by the Boko Haram terrorists group in causing havoc and capturing territories became even more worrisome since the insurgency and elections were two major factors believed to threaten the country’s continuous existence.
TOP STORY Jonathan
Buhari
A conference report titled ‘Mapping Sub-Saharan Africa’s Future’ by a group of experts assembled by the United States National Intelligence Council predicted the possibility of ‘outright collapse of Nigeria’ The report said, “While currently Nigeria’s leaders are locked in a bad marriage that all dislike but dare not leave, there are possibilities that could disrupt the precarious equilibrium in Abuja. The most important would be a junior officer coup that could destabilise the country to the extent that open warfare breaks out in many places in a sustained manner. “If Nigeria were to become a failed state, it could drag down a large part of the West African region. Even state failure in small countries such as Liberia has the effect of destabilising entire neighbourhoods. If millions were to flee a collapsed Nigeria, the surrounding countries, up to and including Ghana, would be destabilised. Further, a failed Nigeria probably could not be reconstituted for many years - if ever and not without massive international assistance.” This prediction was attributed directly by the Nigerian people to the United States government, insisting that it was the desire of the Americas to see the fall of Nigeria. Not even the intervention by the US Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Terence McCauley, that it was not the US government that made that projection, could put to rest the prevailing view that the US had predicted that Nigeria would be a failed state in 2015.
ritual killings, Niger Delta militancy, Fulani herdsmen/ farmers clashes among other communal clashes and crimes, but the most that appeared to weigh down the country was the militancy in Niger Delta, which was eventual overcame under late President Umaru Yar’Adua through the amnesty programme. However, the new challenge of terrorism by Boko Haram Islamists Sect surfaced with bombasts in the North, when the south was getting relieved from the explosive sounds by the militants. Boko Haram took the centre stage of Nigeria’s security and politics, as it became a dividing factor and campaign issue, just as the security forces threw their all into addressing the problem. Having been contained to the North East by the Ni-
gerian Military, the insurgents suddenly became powerful and grew from throwing bombs and killing innocent citizens to abduction and capturing cities and communities in Borno, Adamawa, Yobe and other parts of the North East to establish the Islamic phantom caliphate until the last one, Gwoza in Borno State was reclaimed by troops of the Nigerian Military and its administrative headquarters destroyed on March 27, just before the national election on March 28. Since the emergence of the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan, the country has been quite ungovernable and insecure and this was attributed to the insistence on Northern presidency and alleged campaigns threats and utterances by prominent Northern presidential candidates, including the present President Elect, General Muhammadu Buhari of All Progressives Congress, APC, that they would make the country ungovernable unless a Northerner was president. The challenge was even more daunting when neighbouring Niger Republic, Cameroun and Chad failed to support Nigeria until about two months back when Chad and Niger entered an understanding with Nigeria and Cameroun took position against the insurgents, leading to the present noticeable victory. The United States went ahead to deny Nigeria the opportunities to buy arms for this purpose and blocked every move by Nigeria to buy from other countries, while the insurgents were getting arms freely, making it look like President Jonathan and the military were incapable of confronting the insurgents.
The security challenges Previously, the country grappled with the security challenges occasioned by armed robbery, kidnapping,
ACTIVITIES COMMENCED
The prediction
ABOUT SIX YEARS AGO, THESE PREDICTIONS AND PROJECTIONS FOR VIOLENCE IN
NIGERIA AND ITS
SUBSEQUENT COLLAPSE IN
2015, CAME TO THE FORE
AND BECAME VERY POPULAR WHEN THE ELECTIONEERING
Military’s commitment CONTINUED ON PAGE 45
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Politics
Tuesday, April 14, 2015
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Present government, PDP leaders have a lo President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari over the weekend said that so much went awry in the 16 years of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, rule, insisting that a lot of explanation must be made by past leaders. OBIORA IFOH brings excepts: Since your victory at the polls two weeks ago, a lot of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, members from across the country have been joining your party, the All progressives Congress, APC. How do you intend to manage this? I think that this is mainly a question meant for the party. I wish John Oyegun was here to answer you because we have a system. Just because I am the presidential candidate and the President-elect, I don’t think that the system has allowed me to usurp the power of the party executive. But certainly, in multi party democratic system, fundamentally, it is the number that matters for the people. But for the party, what matters is the ability to manage the number so that the majority will have its way so that there will be justice. No matter what the remnants from the PDP by May 29, I assure you or I assure them through you that there will be justice in APC. In composing your cabinet, what are those criteria you will be using in selecting those Nigerians that will work with you? It is a difficult time for Nigerians as you all know. I have said it in the past that in the last 16 years, Nigeria has never realised the amount of revenue it received. A barrel of crude oil which rose to about $140 has crashed to about $50 now. During these 16 years, we know some big companies that employ a lot of Nigerians and give them training facilities. Even the Nigeria Railways is managing to be on paper with some refurbished engines moving from Lagos to Ibadan and a few other places. If you go to their stations all over the country, you will realise that they are in a terrible shape. The important thing in a country with a huge population of youths with more than 60 percent of them under the age of 30 who are unemployed, is that you need these institutions to give jobs and training to Nigerians. It is very disappointing that the PDP government virtually failed to use those resources to make sure that the economy continues to grow in a sustainable way. I think the worst thing is the lack of accountability and the terrible budgetary system. Imagine that over 90 percent of Nigerian budget is on recurrent. How can you sustain development in a developing country like Nigeria with only about 10 percent of your income? Things just have to change. There must be more money available for infrastructure, for investment in getting the factories back, employment and getting goods and services for the population. I think the sins of PDP will be coming out for several years to come. Two weeks ago, Nigerians came out to vote for you in a peaceful manner. During the governorship elections on Saturday, there were pockets of violence across the country. How do you feel about this? I think there are fewer disruptions today than it was during the presidential election. I hope that it was as a result of the bandwagon effect, because APC had the upper hand during the last election. But what happened in the SouthSouth and the South-East cannot be compared to what happened today. What I saw was that there were a few ballots snatching in some local government areas in Bayelsa and a few disruptions in Adamawa State, but that is nothing near to what happened two weeks ago. I don’t think it is up to 25 percent of what happened two weeks ago? I think that after the elections, both parties, APC and PDP will perhaps make their representations to INEC or the courts and then more details will emerge. Definitely maybe because the turnout is much lower. From what I have heard, the turnout is much lower from what it was two weeks ago. Maybe the people just wanted a president and once they got one, they just walked away. They are Nigerians and there is nothing we can do, but to convince them that they have to use this weapon which is the permanent voter cards, PVCs.
Do we expect to see you put in place a government of National Unity? Again, you want me to encroach into the party’s main power. Even if I, as President-elect wants to form a broad based government, I think that the executive of the party will have some influence on that decision. So, for me to maintain a good rapport with the leadership of my party, I want to keep your question in abeyance until further notice. Reports across the South-South and South-East gave indications of violence, especially in Rivers and also in Lagos State. How do you feel about this? I think we should allow INEC to give its comprehensive report. Meanwhile, as you mentioned in some of the states, especially in Rivers and Lagos, the two parties are slugging it out. I think we have to take our time and let us get as much report as possible in accordance with the Electoral Act. I personally want to be legal about this so that people will appreciate that we believe in a system. What we need to do is to modify the system according to the law if we don’t like it and that no one should come out and do to the system whatever he likes. For what is happening in Lagos, I think that for whatever political reason, the PDP wants to have Lagos by all means. I have a lot of respect for the governor of Rivers State for his courage. It has been a long time as you all know where at a certain time, the Commissioner of a Police virtually hijacked the state and the governor was virtually sentenced to the streets fighting thugs without law enforcement agents to survive as a governor while the constitution made it very clear to all of us that the governor is the Chief Security Officer of the state. So, a lot of unconstitutional and lawless acts of the PDP are on record and we intend to make the PDP understand it and make sure that according to law, those who are responsible for that are taken to the court and properly charged. We are in this system because we believe in it and we want it to be stabilised because it is better for our country. If Nigerians have the confidence that their votes count, then they will mind their own business and I assure you that there will be much security in the country. But when people feel that they are abandoned, then they will resist. I think that by nature, human beings are rebels especially in Nigeria. You either try and placate them, convince them or show them that their rights are respected. Unless you do that, you will not have peace. What we hear about the money that changed hands in this country, it would have been impossible for APC to win anything in this country because we don’t have any treasury in our pocket. There was no amount of money that could convince Nigerians this time around. A lot of them took the money and did exactly what their conscience wanted them to do, while some even returned the money. Somehow, Rivers and Lagos were somehow seen as strategic to the PDP. Otherwise, how can APC have a marginal 100,000 votes over PDP in Lagos which is virtually the capital of the APC in the South-West? A lot of things will come out, but we want to do it basically on facts which can be verified and quantified. Attahiru Jega has said he will not accept renewal of his tenure. Talking about building institutions, what do you intend to do to ensure that the successes so far recorded are sustained and improved upon? I think that Prof. Jega knows exactly what to do. He has already said that he is not going to accept a renewal of his tenure in June. I believe that he has learnt enough and will submit a comprehensive hand over notes some of which he seems to have written. At the last National Council of States meeting, he submitted a document of INEC activities right from the last general election from 2011 to date with attachment showing the personnel trained, acquisition of election materials, the distributions, security among others and I don’t think that such report can be faulted. In fact, INEC was forced to accept the six-week extension by the office of
Buhari+
A LOT OF UNCONSTITUTIONAL AND L
RECORD AND WE INTEND TO MAKE TH
SURE THAT ACCORDING TO LAW, THOS ARE TAKEN TO THE COURT
the National Security Adviser. Luckily, those six weeks were accommodated within the constitutional time limit within which election must hold. The law says election must hold 30 days before May 29. So, INEC did not have much trouble to agreeing to the six-week extension. As people say, it has come to pass. For many years, Nigerians have been clamouring that something be done to punish those involved in election rigging. The Justice Mohammed Uwais Committee recommended a special court that should try electoral offenders, but the government has refused to implement that recommendation. Will your government set up a special court to try electoral offenders? No matter how you the media try, you will not catch me undermining the authority of the party. I will look for understanding and cooperation from the National Assembly when a change of the constitution or Electoral Act is necessary. So for me to make up my mind here and later try to lobby is out of it, because some of them, if they are very hard, they will give me a tough time. I will say that I haven’t read the Uwais report, but I have read a few of the extracts from the papers, I think it is a good thing and we will encourage it. But we need to get a comprehensive report from the field. The running battle from Rivers, South-East and the rest of the South-South, especially by Governors Rotimi Amaechi, Rochas Okorocha and governor of Edo state with INEC officials and law enforcement agencies in lauding the Army is
Tuesday, April 14, 2015
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A PUBLICATION OF NATIONAL MIRROR NEWSPAPERS
Edo woman extradited, faces trial in UK SebaStine ebhuomhan EDO
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36-year-old Nigerian mother of one, Franka Asemota, was arrested last week in Benin City, Edo State capital, handcuffed and extradited to the United Kingdom for prosecution. Franka, an indigene of Edo State, would be tried for smuggling several innocent and not-so-innocent girls abroad for prostitution and sex business as the ring leader of an international human trafficking and prostitution gang. The arrest that officials of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Traffic in Persons and Other Related Matters (NAPTIP) carried out in conjunction with the National Crime Agency of the UK, which has been tracking the accused person since 2011,
took place at a fancy shop near New Benin Market, believed to be one of the businesses established by the accused person with the proceeds from money laundering. One of the charges against Asemota, according to police authorities, is that she accompanied about 40 women victims of sex trafficking on eight separate flights into Heathrow Airport in London between 2011 and 2012. The women—most aged below 18 years-old— were said to have been recruited from remote Nigerian villages into Europe through Heathrow Airport as transit hub. Most of the girls were ensnared under the guise of furthering their education or getting dreamed jobs such as hairdressing in such European countries as France, Belgium and Spain but were soon
forced into prostitution as soon as they arrived. Others were raped under oaths by their traffickers, who also used witchcraft and threats to terrify them that they would die or that their parents would be killed so as to ensure that they never had any plan to report to police or seek to escape from their abduction. While a European warrant of arrest was issued for Franka’s arrest from the UK, which enforcement authorities had initially thought that she was hiding in Italy, it was soon discovered that she had actually relocated to Nigeria, where the NCA collaborated with NAPTIP and the Nigerian Police Force to get her arrested and extradited to the UK. A statement by the National Crime Agency made available to National Mirror said, “Asemota’s arrest
was the result of exceptional collaboration with our partners at home and in Nigeria” and added, “This operation demonstrates our global reach and our determination to track those wanted in the UK, no matter where in the world they are.” But UK criminal and legal experts insisted that Asemota’s arrest was probably aided by the whistle blown by a Nigerian member of the trafficking ring, Odosa Usiobaifo of Enfield in the UK, who was jailed for 14 years by Isleworth Crown Court in 2013 for conspiring to traffic persons for sex exploitation. In October 2014, David Osawaru, a Nigerian man, was jailed for nine years for chaperoning two women in transit to Prague, Czech Republic. He had been arrested by Border Force officers at Heathrow in UK.
Calabar monarch advocates emolument slash for politicians
RichaRd idoma CALABAR
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he Muri Munene Effiong Okokon Mbukpa Eta Odionka Ebuka V11, at the weekend advocated for the trimming of emolument of elected office holders saying that take home for public office holders is outrageous. The Efut monarch made the suggestion while fielding questions from journalists in Calabar, saying that the enormous resources spent as emolument for elected officials can be channel into fixing the nation`s decaying infrastructure which can in turn impact positively on the economy of the nation. The monarch wondered why legislators and those in the execu-
Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson (L), with the Ibenanaowei of Ogboin Kingdom, HRM, King Oweipa Jones-Ere, during his visit to Amassoma, Southern Ijaw LGA, Bayelsa State, yesterday.
tive cadre often take home a large portion of the country`s resources leaving the common man to continue to wallow in abject poverty. He said that the resources allocated for the funding of these offices were quite enormous that if properly utilize could have helped in addressing the nation`s educational system. He advised the government to cut down the salaries of every public office holder adding that when such cuts are made the government could use the funds to address the nation`s dwindling health sector stressing that when such cuts are made the money can be used to engage more medical experts in our rural areas to help salvage the country`s health institutions which is at the verge of collapse. He said that such health workers can be posted to our primary health centres to help the pregnant women who hitherto use to depend on traditional birth attendant who are not better equipped when compared to the doctors. The royal father called for proper harnessing of the nation`s economic resources so as to help in turning around Nigeria`s economy adding that a time has come when the country needed to come up with a more sophisticated strategy on how to revive the economy of Nigeria. According to him when such cuts are made, the money realized can be used for the establishment of cottage industries within the rural areas so as to drastically reduce the high rate of unemployment.
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Oshiomhole whips PDP in Edo assembly, wins 21 of 24 seats
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INEC Staffs during collation of result in Rivers State.
Landlords eject BEDC over inability to pay rent SebaStine ebhuomhan EDO
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he financial condition of electricity distribution companies (DISCOs) in the country seems to be growing worse every day in spite of the huge amount of money the companies rake monthly from fixed charges. The latest evidence of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC)’s acute insolvency and crumbling operation in Edo State is a glaring difficulty in paying rents for most of the ordinary apartments that BEDC inherited as business and operating offices from its predecessor, the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN). For example, thousands of law-abiding customers of BEDC in Benin City, especially in Ogbe Area around Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, have found themselves in a sort of confusion over where to pay their monthly fixed charg-
es and electricity bills since the landlord of the BEDC business office on No. 2, Ora Crescent, Off Stadium Road gave BEDC the quit notice following which the company was ejected. As Niger Delta Mirror reliably gathered from sources, the landlord, Dr. Fred Okhomina, a former Chief Medical Director of the Psychiatric Hospital in Benin, ejected BEDC from its office on the ground floor of the building following the company’s inability to satisfactorily discharge its responsibility on rent. A source further disclosed that the landlord as well as customers and staff of BEDC found it difficult to understand the company’s inability to pay rents as at when due in spite of the proceeds of payments customers make daily on fixed charges and actual electricity tariffs, with long queues that sometimes extend down to the road and disrupt human and vehicle movements on the street. It was further gathered that the office was not the first of the
inherited offices and buildings from which the BEDC was being ejected for not paying its rents. Ironically, while BEDC cuts, drops and seizes the wires of customers who are unable to pay fixed charges, bills and tariffs even for unavailable electricity supply after they are served, the company is assailed by the yoke of accumulated rents for offices. When National Mirror visited the building located behind the secretariat of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Edo State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists during the week, other occupants still occupied the building even as doors and windows of the ground flat hitherto used by BEDC were all removed for repair and renovation, an action that was said to have forced the company out of the building. In a reply to a text message and calls from our correspondent on the company’s financial situation, Acting Head of Corporate Affairs of BEDC, Mr. Curtis Nwadeyi said, “I have read your
text message. I will need to consult with another department to adequately answer your question. Please, be patient with me until tomorrow. You will get my response by tomorrow.” He is yet to respond until this story was filed. Meanwhile, the operations of BEDC in Edo State have continued to suffer intermittent disruption as residents of the state have continued to mobilize from time to time to the company’s headquarters on Akpakpava Street in Benin City in protest against lack of electricity supply. According to such residents who usually chanted war songs after seizing gates of the company to prevent going in and coming out of management and staff, they are often denied electricity supply for as long as three months, sometimes, even as BEDC unrelentingly and forcefully collects fixed charges of between N750 and N1, 800 from them every month besides electricity bills paid for the non-supply of electricity.
devil men shot sporadically causing panic in the area.. Eye witness said that three people were said to have been shot by the robbers during the incidence as they went on rampage with petrol stations, shops, motorists and commuters. Another account said that the operation also extended to Prosperous Oil and Gas Ltd located at Mount Zion Road adding that the gunmen, went about without any mask comfortably held residents
of the area for close to 45 minutes, carried out the robbery with impunity and unchallenged by the police. The armed robbers, however, came in confrontation with eight SARS patrol police in a blue Hilux van with registration number NPF94I6C at Atamunu by Mount Zion where they engaged in a gun battle causing the police officers to abandon their van to flee for dear lives. A man, who gave his name as
Eka Ohose had his right fingers were shattered by the robbers while in a bid to restrain them from snatching his Toyota Rav4 jeep said: “The people came to me, I thought they were police; they said where is the money and I tried to take out money, they shot my hand, I saw people running; and then I decided to run. Another victim of the attack, who gave her name as Liliana Awan lost her handbag to the robber while in a tricycle. “I was
Robbers invade Calabar shops RichaRd ndoma CALABAR
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n armed robbery gang on broad daylight at the weekend invaded some shops along the Calabar Road by White House street holding resident of the area hostage for hours. The robbery operation which was also extended to electronics shops lasted for hours. The dare
enin City. Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole’s lastminute aggressive campaigns yielded bountiful results with the state-ruling All Progressives Congress whipping the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) silly by clearing a total of 21 seats in the 24-seat legislative chamber of the state. Although APC however lost the rescheduled Edo South senatorial election that held in Orhionmwon Local Government Area and parts of Uhunmwode Local Government Area to the PDP, which candidate, Mr. Matthew Urhoghide defeated APC’s reigning Minority Whip of the House of Representatives, Hon. Samson Osagie by 139, 784 votes to 117, 759 votes, the performance of the APC in the state assembly election that held the same day was far better than it was for the governor in 2008 and 2012 when he was overwhelmingly re-elected. Yet, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the PDP, Chief Tony Anenih, apparently proved his mettle by pulling all strings to pick three seats for his party in Edo Central Senatorial District. Declaring the results in Edo State, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mr. Mike Igini, commended the people of the state for their lawful conduct and support that made the elections successful. “Overall, I am very satisfied, particularly with the performance of Saturday’s election. Unlike the first election last two weeks, our logistic arrangement was perfect,” Igini said. Declaring Urhoghide winner of the hotly contested and rescheduled election winner, the Returning Officer Professor Joseph Osemwenkhai said he scored the highest number of votes to satisfy the requirements to win the election.
inside Keke (name given to tricycle), they were just in front of me, they were telling me I shouldn’t move, that they just killed four policemen and that if they see any bad thing in my bag they will shoot me.” When contacted on telephone, the Cross River Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Hogan Bassey said that the armed robbers have been chased out of town and that the police were now in control of the situation.
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Tuesday, April 14, 2015
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National interest and Nigeria’s development OLUSOLA AKINYEMI
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have learnt that national interest is the aggregate of interest of individuals and groups within a given state. It is all that a nation considers vital for its survival and prosperity. Proximate to this is protecting and preserving the interest of its citizenry within and abroad. National capability on the other hand is described as the ability of a nation to protect its national integrity, which is premised on national interest. The question to ask is what Nigeria’s national interest is and what national integrity are we protecting? Section 19 of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended), which provides for Nigeria’s foreign policy objectives includes promotion and protection of national interest, though it failed to define what it is. One of the problems of our national integrity may be lack of defined national interest. The meaning is, therefore, left to what any leader who has interest in such definition gives it. However, from our earlier description, Nigeria’s national interest should revolve more around the survival and prosperity of Nigerians, home and abroad, than on the continent of Africa and the globe. In fact, the deeds of Nigeria in foreign relations should strategically centre on Nigerians interest. Therefore, Nigeria’s national interest should include Nigeria’s economic prosperity, social welfare and protection of the nation’s national security.
Having a concept of Nigeria’s national interest in mind, how best can we make it a panacea for national development? It is congenial to have an understanding of what national development in Nigeria is or should be. In context, it may include: First, economic growth with a GDP and GDP Per Capita statistics that is tangible to over 70 percent Nigerians being able to feed their families, afford education for family members, and basic health care for the family. This will be identified by the following: revival of the agricultural sector; functional real/manufacturing sector with uninterrupted power supply; revival of the mining sector; provision of infrastructural facilities with enabling environment for the SMEs to thrive, and Nigerians being able to provide up to 70 percent of products and services consumed in Nigeria. Second, education sector overhaul, with emphasis on civilisation, technological advancement and innovation flow towards environment with standard education. Third, exalted national ethics, which should include selflessness, discipline, integrity, dignity of labour, ethnic and religious tolerance, self-reliance and patriotism according to Section 23 of the Nigerian Constitution (selflessness and ethic tolerance mine). Fourth, security of the national territory for the safety of Nigerians and foreigners; adequate and well equipped health care facilities with skilled staff. Reduction of child mortality, maternal mortality, containment of malaria and proximate ill-
Jonathan’s finest moments DESTINY ISIGUZO
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he stark reality of the March 28 presidential is that President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan lost his seat to a challenger. Some people think that Jonathan had little to do to frustrate the election, citing the fact that Prof Attehiru Jega was resolute and uncompromising in his bid to conduct a credible, free and fair election that will count. While Jega’s qualities are selfevident, this group of critics forgot that any desperate president would employ the instruments of the state to frustrate any step that he suspects will oust him from power. With this suspicion, a desperate president may not have approved or released funds for all Jega’s electronic innovations and logistics that led to the success of last presidential election. This set of people, who sees no good in anything Jonathan had done cried foul when there was a request in some quarters for the election to be postponed citing security reasons. When this was actualized, we discovered to our dismay that INEC was not ready as at February 14th and that Jega was deceiving Nigerians. It was discovered that millions of PVCs were not even produced and the card readers untested. While the postponement was within the ambit of law, it helped the military in war against terrorism in the North East. Jonathan would have been the benefi-
ciary if elections were not conducted in the North-East. He was vindicated in the postponement as more PVCs were produced and collected while other plans were perfected. Putting this situation in perspective, the irregularities we experienced during the presidential election would have been worst if the election was conducted on the 14th of February. This cynics forgot the support of GEJ towards a credible election in Nigeria and his undaunted resolve to concede defeat if it is the will of the people. No doubt Jega is a blessing to Nigerians, he is indeed a hero. But Jonathan is unequivocally a greater hero than Jega. The successes Jega recorded in this presidential election was guaranteed by GEJ. Several hours before INEC declared the winner of the presidential election, President Goodluck Jonathan in a very patriotic poise, called the President-elect General Muhammed Buhari to congratulate him and concede defeat. This singular action saved Nigerians an impending crisis that may have been unleashed in Nigeria. Again, these unpatriotic irrational cynics alludes this singular action to fear of being probed, saying he was compelled to do so. They even added that he had no choice. Let me quickly remind them that we always have a choice: choices of action or inaction. Buhari had this choice in 2011, but he chose inaction and did not accept defeat and thus, so many lives were lost and several property destroyed. Buhari may have chosen inaction in
NATIONAL INTEREST SHOULD NOT BE AN
ABSTRACTION, BUT A REAL WATCHWORD FOR ALL NIGERIANS
nesses, control of the spread of HIV/AIDS, reduction of death from curable diseases and maintenance of hygienic environment; and regional harmonization and security with interest in matters of global importance; safe recreational and tourist attraction around the country; and practice of constructive or progressive politics that is built around national growth and international reputation as opposed to political party’s interest or leaders’ gain that contravenes public interest. At this point, let us try to relate national interest to the components of national development highlighted. It is in the interest of all persons that the components identified should be realised. In other words, it is in national interest for Nigeria to pursue and ensure the accomplishment of national development goals. The benefit of this extends beyond social welfare of every Nigerian to promoting an image of dignity, trust and opportunity for the citizens and the country to the international community. Disregard to national interest is part of what has kept Nigeria as a developing nation of its current state for over 50 years of independence even in the midst of abun-
IRRESPECTIVE OF HIS FAILURES IN SOME
AREAS, JONATHAN NEVERTHELESS IS A HERO 2011, but in 2015, the General is nevertheless the people’s General. His resume is loaded with achievements that Nigerians think should be replicated with Nigeria under his watch. One thing that people have not accused Buhari of is corruption even with his list of human right abuses and accusations of ethnicity and religious bigotry. Nigerians believe that where Jonathan had failed Buhari would succeed. This assumption is based not on the failures of Jonathan in terms of physical achievements, but on morality and values, especially in providing exemplary leadership. Jonathan may have built roads and brought back the trains, built universities and revolutionized the agricultural sector, his policies of privatizations and promotion of local contents in the Nigerian economy and his victory over BokoHaram could be forgotten in the face of several corruption scandals in aviation and the oil sectors, where the President did not intervene or intervened very late. Again, at a very critical moment in this country when Nigerians were brooding over sad events, Jonathan went dancing as if nothing happened after terror-
dance of natural and human resources. President Obama one said, Nigeria was the major hope for real growth in Africa. But how are we trying to live up to this? Just as we know of the US that national interest is a fundamental guide to its domestic policy and foreign relations, it is a pre-requisite for national development in Nigeria. Every citizen in whose benefit national interest is must rise to take responsibility for national development. A survey of the leadership of White House presidents from George Washington to Bill Clinton showed that the US attained the height of economic vibrancy and global political influence through continuous contribution of every generation of the country till date holding firmly to the watchword, national interest. Upholding national interest by the leaders, policy influencers and makers, institutions, organisations, politicians and citizens in general is the ultimate guarantee to promoting and realising national development in Nigeria. National interest will demand for contribution, discipline and sacrifice for us to experience all the components earlier described. Most assuredly, there will be better life for everyone both citizens and foreigner to trade, deal or visit us. In conclusion, national interest should not be an abstraction, but a real watchword for all Nigerians. Akinyemi is President, Joseph Initiative Ltd, Lagos and wrote via olusola. akins@gmail.com
ists’ attacks that led to several loss of lives. His inaction was a confirmation of this unconcerned attitude. Worst still, his unchecked controversial utterances and his pardoning of ex-convicts of corruption cases undermine his so called fight against corruption. Jonathan, I must confess, was also unduly criticised. While he was responsible for his failures in so many ways, there were also several conspiracies by his aides to ensure that he was kept in the dark on the groaning of Nigerians. Irrespective of his failures in some areas, Jonathan nevertheless is a hero. He is gentle in heart, unlike the sit-tight leaders in African. Apart from the struggle for Independence by Nigerian nationalists, Jonathan’s achievement in Nigeria in terms of electoral reform is the greatest any one has ever given to us. His carriage during his recent electoral loss is awesome. He bequeathed to us free and credible elections in Edo, Anambra, Ekiti, Osun and now, in this general election. He has now given to us the basic need of every society: true democracy. Isiguzo is on the Art Desk of this newspaper. Send your views by mail or sms to PMB 10001, Ikoyi, or our Email: mail@ nationalmirroronline.net mirrorlagos@ yahoo.com or 08164966858 (SMS only). The Editor reserves the right to edit and reject views or photographs. Pseudonyms may be used but must be clearly marked as such.
Editorial
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Tuesday, April 14, 2015
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All the Facts, All the Sides A PUBLICATION OF GLOBAL MEDIA MIRROR LTD BARRISTER JIMOH IBRAHIM, CFR PUBLISHER
SUNDAY OLAJIDE MANAGING DIRECTOR/CEO SEYI FASUGBA DAILY EDITOR GBEMI OLUJOBI SATURDAY EDITOR AYO OLESIN SUNDAY EDITOR BEN MEMULETIWON GENERAL EDITOR DOZIE OKEBALAMA COORDINATOR, EDITORIAL BOARD CALLISTUS OKE EDITORIAL PAGE EDITOR ISE-OLUWA IGE ABUJA BUREAU CHIEF AUGUSTUS IMEKAN ACTING HEAD, GRAPHICS
Another political odium from Ekiti State
T
hreat by 19 All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmakers in the Ekiti State House of Assembly, led by ‘impeached’ Speaker, Dr. Adewale Omirin, to remove Governor Ayo Fayose from office is currently heating up the state. Reports said the lawmakers, shortly after General Muhammadu Buhari was pronounced Nigeria’s presidentelect a couple of days ago surfaced at the Ekiti State House of Assembly, while seven Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmakers led by a factional Speaker, Dele Olugbemi, were holding a plenary session. On realising that the presence of the APC legislators could spark the breakdown of law and order in a looming face-off between them and their PDP counterparts, the Commissioner of Police, Ekiti State Command, Mr. Taiwo Lakanu, hurriedly ordered his men to seal-off the House. However, the APC lawmakers reportedly served Governor Fayose impeachment notice, alleging gross misconduct against him. The allegations, among others, include invasion of the House of Assembly with thugs and miscreants; instigating unconstitutional takeover of the House by seven legislators to sit, in contravention of Section 96 (2) of the Nigerian
Constitution; prevention of the 19 APC legislators from performing legislative duties with the use of security agents and armed thugs; and sponsoring an unlawful impeachment process in the house. The rest are spending Ekiti State funds without the requisite constitutional approval; running the state government without legally constituted Executive Council in contravention of Section 192 (2) of the Constitution; operating an illegal 2014 Budget as well as sponsoring and instigating illegal sitting of the House in contravention of Section 96 (1) of the Constitution. They gave the governor seven days notice to respond to the allegations. Fayose has since dismissed the lawmakers as jesters, while factional Speaker of the House, Olugbemi, described the development as a ploy by the APC to distract the state government. Olugbemi also petitioned the State Commissioner of Police and the Director, Department of State Service, accusing Omirin of forgery, impersonation and attempt to cause breach of public peace. “The House never sat at any time to deliberate and or pass any motion for impeachment of Mr. Ayodele Fayose”, Olugbemi stated. Governor Peter Ayodele
April 14, 2005 The Oregon Supreme Court nullified marriage licenses issued to gay couples a year earlier by Multnomah County. The Oregon Supreme Court (OSC) is the highest state court in the United States’ state of Oregon. The only court that may reverse or modify a decision of the Oregon Supreme Court is the Supreme Court of the US. The OSC holds court at the Oregon Supreme Court Building in Salem, Oregon.
CAUTION, RESTRAINT AND POISE WILL COUNT A WHOLE LOT IN THE SEARCH FOR JUSTICE IN THE MATTER AT HAND Fayose was the PDP candidate in the June 21, 2014 gubernatorial election held in Ekiti State. He won the election, having defeated former Governor Kayode Fayemi of the APC; and was sworn-in as the new Ekiti governor on Oct 16, 2014. Recall also that Fayose had earlier served as governor of the state between May 29, 2003 and October 16, 2006, when he left office abruptly through impeachment. A panel constituted by the then Chief Judge of the state had indicted him on fraud-related offences as were reported to the House by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Not in dispute is the fact that Fayose poses a controversial figure, occasioned by questions on his qualification to contest the last year poll in the first place, having once been indicted and impeached (though supporters claim the 2006 impeachment was politically motivated); as well as his conduct after he won the June 21, 2014 poll. Still being interrogated was the curious ‘impeachment’
ON THIS DAY April 14, 2010 Nearly 2,700 are killed in a magnitude 6.9 earthquake in Yushu, Qinghai, China. It originated in Yushu, Qinghai, China, at 7:49 am local time. According to the Xinhua News Agency, 2,698 people were confirmed dead, 270 missing, and 12,135 injured of which 1,434 were severely injured. The epicenter was located in Rima village (Upper Laxiu township) of Yushu County, in remote and rugged terrain.
of Omirin by seven legislators, the invasion of Ekiti High Court complex by thugs allegedly loyal to Fayose before he was inaugurated as governor, alleged video/audio tape conversation of how the June 21, 2014 election was rigged, and so on. Not a few people will also consider as sacrilegious, the role the governor played during campaigns for the presidential election against the APC candidate, Buhari. But all notwithstanding, and no matter the point the 19 APC governors want to make, their timing of the impeachment notice on Fayose is scarcely auspicious. The notice ought not to have been used to heat up the polity the more at a time when the nation is going through a major general election, or immediately after the polls. Besides, the case instituted by Omirin in court challenging his impeachment is yet to be determined, according to reports. Therefore, notwithstanding the excitement wafted up by Buhari’s victory, the APC lawmakers should tarry a while. They should persevere until the rule of law prevails against perceivable impunity. Caution, restraint and poise will count a whole lot in the search for justice in the matter at hand.
April 14, 2014 Twin bomb blasts in Abuja, Nigeria, killed at least 88 people and injured about 200 others. Boko Haram claimed responsibility for the bombing six days after it occurred. Explosives hidden inside vehicles detonated during morning rush hour in a bus station in Nyanya on the outskirts of Abuja. After the initial blast, further explosions occurred as fuel tanks in nearby vehicles ignited.
Business
Tuesday, April 14, 2015
Deforestation: Nigeria loses 400,000ha of forest, targets 25% cover
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Stakeholders set aviation sector agenda for in-coming govt 31
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How NAICOM can create awareness –Experts
IMF Panacea: Stakeholders set priorities for Nigerian economy As the World Bank and the International Monetary Funds, IMF, open their Spring Meetings this week in Washington D.C, the Fund last week set a new agenda for global policymakers on how to strengthen the various economies to consolidate on their current modest growths in the years ahead. In this analysis, TOLA AKINMUTIMI, looks into the economic reform imperatives for Nigerian economy from key stakeholders’ perspectives.
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AIRLINES’ FLIGHT SCHEDULES Dana Air Abuja-Lagos 9am, 1pm, 5.28pm daily Lagos-Abuja 7am, 11am, 1.23pm,3.30pm daily Lagos-PH: 7.20AM, Ph-Abuja9.54am, Abuja-ph: 3.30pm and Ph-Lagos: 5.28pm daily Lagos-Uyo: 9.20am, Uyo-Abuja: 11.07am, Abuja-Uyo 1.05pm, Uyo-Lagos: 3pm daily Weekends Lagos-Abuja: 7.02am, 9am, 3.30pm Abuja-Lagos: 9am, 2.20pm and 5.28pm Lagos -Phc: 11.07am Phc-Lagos: 1.05pm Phc-Abuja: 12.51pm Abuja-Phc: 10.50am Lagos-Uyo: 9.18am Uyo-LOS -3.03pm Uyo-Abuja: 11.07am Abuja-Uyo: 1.05pm
Aero Contractors
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enerally, the global economic outlook has remained a major concern for the World Bank and the IMF amongst other multilateral economic development institutions over the year as development in the BRICs, the Euro zone and the African region have not truly guaranteed robust trajectories required to stabilize the global economic system on a sustainable basis. Appreciating the enormity of the task ahead the various governments, particularly in those climes with natural and human-triggered crises zones, the IMF Managing Director, Christine Lagarde, urged them to work together to maintain the pace of economic recovery while creating more growths in the future. While disclosing that the global economy grew by 3.4 percent last
year, the IMF boss also said, the growth averaged that of last three years, raising further hope for the global economy of tremendous growth. Despite the signs of better performance prospects, Lagarde however urged the world leaders to prevent what she described as a ‘new mediocre’ from becoming a “new reality” noting that, more effective policies and structural reforms are needed to boost economic growths She warned: “The challenge for policymakers around the world is to combine the policies needed to boost today’s growth with those fortifying tomorrow’s prospects. Six months ago, I warned about the risk of a ‘new mediocre’, low growth for a long time. Today, we must prevent that new mediocre from becoming the ‘new reality’”. Lagarde also disclosed that glob-
al economy had benefited from the low oil prices as well as the strong performance of the world’s largest economy, the United States of America, adding that global recovery has continued, though moderately, but uneven. She however noted that the growth remained moderately and roughly as observed last year, disclosing that advanced economies are doing better with prospects in euro areas improving. “With the overall growths, being moderate, the global economy will continue to face significant challenges’’, she added. According to her, the risk of low growth, low-inflation and high unemployment has persisted in advanced economies, advising those affected countries to use demand policies to lift the growths. This is just as she advised on
the need for monetary accommodation, especially in the euro areas while fiscal policy should be calibrated to strengthen the recovery. “Risks to global financial stability are rising and they are also migrating, for example, from banks to non-banks and from advanced economies to emerging markets. To address these risks, at the global level, will mean ensuring market liquidity during times of stress, improving macro and micro prudential policies for non-banks, following through on the regulatory reform agenda. At the country level, it means limiting excessive risk-taking and managing existing vulnerabilities’’, she added. While noting that the advanced and emerging economies potential growth are being pared down, reflecting lasting scars from the CONTINUED ON PAGE 20
Lag-Abj: 06.50, 13.30, 16.30, 19.45 (Mon-Fri/Sat/Sun), 12.30 (Sun) 16.45 (Sat) Abj-Los: 07.30, 13.00, 19.00 (Mon-Fri/Sat, 10.30, 14.30, 19.30 (Sun, 18.30 Sat) Lag-Benin: 07.45, 11.00, 15.30 (Mon-Fri/Sat/ Sun) 12.30 (Sun 15.30 (Sat) Ben-Lag: 09.15, 12.30, 17.00 (Mon-Fri/Sat/Sun) 17.00 (Sat) 14.00 (Sun)Lag-Owe: 7.45am, 2pm daily
Med-View Airline Lagos- Abuja (Mon-Fri): 07.00, 08.50, 12.00, 16.30. Abuja- Lagos (Mon-Fri): 09.00, 14.00, 15.00, 18.30. Lagos-Yola (Mon-Fri): 8.50am. Yola-Lagos (Mon-Fri): 13.00. Lagos- PHC (Mon-Fri): 17.00. PHC-Lagos: 19.00. Abuja-Yola: 11.00. Yola-Abuja: 13.00. Lagos-Abuja (Sat): 08.00, 08.50. Abuja-Lagos (Sat): 10.00, 15.00. Lagos-PHC (Sat): 17.00. PHC-Lagos (Sat): 19.00. Lagos-Yola (Sat): 08.50. Yola-Lagos (Sat): 13.00
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Business
Tuesday, April 14, 2015
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IMF Panacea: Stakeholders set priorities for Nigerian economy CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19 financial crisis, the IMF boss explained that this suggested clearly that structural reforms needed to go hand-in-hand with macroeconomic and financial policies to raise confidence as well as generate investments. She confirmed that the Fund’s research indicated that boosting efficient infrastructure investment can be a powerful impetus to growth, both in the short and long runs, adding that “this year presents a special moment and opportunity to make a tangible difference in the lives of large number of people in the world, especially the poorest ones.” Even when Lagarde was not speaking specifically about the Nigerian economy, the IMF report clearly captured the nation’s economic realities as huge investments in key sectors have not translated to socio-economic gains for the country in concrete terms. As most development analysts have noted, the nation’s economy remained largely structurally defective as decades of failure to plan and policy inconsistencies continue to hamper national agenda for socio-economic transformation. For instance, several trillions of naira committed to national economic recovery agenda over the past decade, especially those intended to strengthen key infrastructure have not achieved much as most of them remain in critical state of dilapidation with the attendant negative implications for socio-economic well being of the citizenry. Yes, the rebasing of the nation’s economy which pushed Nigeria into the 26th position in global economic ranking have reflected fantastic statistics which indicated that the Transformation Agenda of the President Jonathan-led administration was achieving its objectives, one key issue that stuck out like a sore thumb and which the Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, admitted was that the growth lacked the inclusive index, a key component in assessing real growth. Renaissance Capital Limited (RenCap), an investment and financial advisory consultancy in its report titled: “Big Revisions in Nigeria,” stated that improving the measurement of the GDP did not raise monthly wages nor did it make Nigeria better off in any material way. RenCap stated that under the rebased figures, Nigerians still had lower per capita GDP ($2,400) than Egypt after three hard years of political instability, and far less than South Africa ($6,800). This will not be easy to explain to the population. It reported: “It could also make life hard for us economists, as we will have to compare a rebased Nigeria with other countries that may not have rebased their data. The important fact to bear in mind is that GDP is only being recorded better. Rebasing does not mean Nigerians are better off – it just means they are better off than official statistics previously indicated”, it added. As preparations for change of guard at the highest level of government in the country assume increasing focus, analysts have begun to set new development priorities for the nation’s economy as a strategic option of addressing its key anomalies and promoting inclusiveness of its growth in the years ahead. The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and
Okonjo-Iweala
ELAN Chairman, Onwuchekwa
Bello
Industry, LCCI, in its agenda-setting template urged the incoming administration to address the fundamental issue of the high cost of doing business and low productivity which could be ascribed to macroeconomic factors, institutional challenges and structural issues. The Chamber in a statement by its President, Alhaji Remi Bello, specifically called on the President-elect to ensure the blocking of all fiscal leakages and wastes in government as well as ensure prioritisation of government expenditure to boost investments in critical infrastructure. The challenge of high cost of governance, collapse of the rail system, poor power supply also demand urgent attention. “The government should ensure acceleration of reforms on the Oil & Gas sector in order to attract more private investments in both the upstream & downstream segments of the sector. This would save the economy the current huge foreign exchange used for importation of petroleum products. It should improve the scope and depth of financial intermediation for the benefit of all investors in the economy irrespective of size. Guidelines for accessing intervention funds should be reviewed and made less stringent. “It should also ensure a level playing field for all investors across all sectors with regard to import tariffs, funding opportunities, tax incentives etc, and also charged the new government to ensure the sustainability of selected policies and programmes of the present administration, which currently offer value to the economy. Reflecting on the state of the economy and what needed to be done to broaden its growth thrusts, a financial expert and management consultant, Dr Boniface Chizea, has urged the President-elect, General Muhamadu Buhahi (rtd), to prioritise the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill
(PIB) into law, immediate ending of the fuel subsidy regime and a more pro-active approach in managing the yearly budgets would go a long way in addressing major distortions in the economy and promote its inclusive growth. He said: “The sentiments overseas are that the investment environment in Nigeria would be burnished if you crackdown on corruption thereby positively impacting on the cost and ease of doing business in the country. But one thing that would send a strong and definite message is the caliber of your appointees particularly those you put in charge of the key public facing ministries and departments. “The mark of the leader that wants to succeed is to appoint those who will add real value as could be gleaned from their antecedents”, Chizea added. Describing the budget as very important blue print for running the affairs of the country, he advised that Nigeria must quickly migrate to the practice whereby the annual budget is ready for implementation in the first day of the year. According to him, the budget structure as it is today is not consistent with the need for job creating growth of the economy, adding that the balance between the Capital and Recurrent aspects of the budget must be restored. Similarly, the capital market alliance, which comprised the Association of Stockbroking Houses of Nigeria, ASHON, Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers, CIS, and Association of Issuing Houses of Nigeria, AIHN, penultimate week also urged the government to, in line with the IMF position, to adopt deliberate policy at increasing domestic aggregate production as well as other measures that can support ease of doing business in Nigeria while enabling environment should be created for businesses to thrive. Canvassing these positions jointly at a
media briefing in Lagos, the leaders of the alliance, namely Mr. Albert Okumagba, Mr Victor Ogiemwonyi, and Emeka Madubuike all agreed that incentives should be given to listed companies and prospective companies to be listed so as to have some advantage over unlisted companies, including some tax incentives for listed companies and those that are in the process of getting listed. The operators also urged the government to promote marketability of agriculture products to boost the operation of the commodity exchange, reduce the rate of public borrowing in the capital market to avoid crowding out of funds in the market and accord regulatory support for the two existing Over-The -Counter markets and FMDQ platform to enhance the expansion of their operations in the financial market. “As a major asset class, the Federal Government should reform the operations of the mortgage institutions in order to be fully integrated into the capital market activities,” they added. Also, the Equipment Leasing Association of Nigeria, (ELAN), which reported N869billion as the outstanding lease volume of the industry last year, stated that appropriate funding would be critical to the success of the leasing industry, adding that the available sources which are primarily banks appear inadequate to provide the right kind of funding for the leasing industry to meet the huge demand for capital assets in the economy. The Association’s Chairman, Mr. Chuka Onwuchekwa, in a comprehensive industry report for 2014 canvassed the need for a funding mechanism that would provide cheap long term funding, pointing out that some of the intervention funds for development in specific sectors of the economy could be channeled through leasing to broaden the funding sources and strengthen the capacity of the industry to expand the scope of its leasing activities. ELAN also called for the strengthening of the regulatory framework to provide protection, encourage investment and support the overall development of the leasing industry just as it lamented the continued absence of a specific Leasing law for the industry, a flaw which, it noted, continued to create uncertainty and ambiguity in the industry, thereby further exposing the lessor to risks, especially in the event of dispute between the lessee and lessor.
AS A MAJOR ASSET CLASS, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHOULD REFORM THE OPERATIONS OF THE MORTGAGE INSTITUTIONS IN ORDER TO BE FULLY INTEGRATED INTO THE CAPITAL MARKET ACTIVITIES
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Business News
Tuesday, April 14, 2015
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Electricity consumers in Lagos to hit 2.2m UDEME AKPAN
E
lectricity consumers in Lagos and its environs have been projected to rise from 1.7 million to 2.2 million in 2018. The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC disclosed over the weekend that the 581,032 consumers under Eko Electricity Distribution Company in 2014 would rise to 760,781 in 2018. The Commission maintained that consumers under Ikeja Electicity Distribution Company
would rise from 1,128,010 in 2014 to 1,493,631 in 2018. It maintained that the estimated rise in consumer population would amount to 2.2 million in 2018, thus making Lagos and its environs second to Ibadan that is estimated to have over 2.3 million consumer population during the period. The Commission maintained that power would be supplied to Electricity Distribution Companies; DISCOs based on estimated demand projections. According to NERC figures Yola Electricity Distribution Company would likely get the
Group petitions FG over Customs’ exchange rate application FRANCIS EZEM
C
ustoms brokerage agents under the aegis of National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents, NCMDLCA, have petitioned the Federal Government over alleged wrongful application of exchange rate on goods imported into the county by the Nigeria Customs Service. The letter dated March 23, 2015, addressed to President Goodluck Jonathan and signed by the National President of the association, Mr. Lucky Amiwero, had copies sent to the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Minister of Trade and Investment, Governor of the CBN, Comptroller General of Customs and Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers Council, among several others. The group accused the Service of illegally issuing additional Demand Notices, DNs, on imported goods that have already been approved with Form ’M” exchange rate issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria under the current Pre-Arrival Assessment Report PAAR regime of the service. According to the aggrieved agents, the practice is a clear violation of the CBN Monetary Policy Circular No.39 paragraph
4.24 on Import Duty Payment Procedure. The circular states: “Import duty payable on items registered under From ’M’ transactions whether or not valid for foreign exchange, shall be calculated on the basis of CBN’s prevailing exchange rate on the day the From ’M” was approved”. The Council also accused Customs of wrong application of section 78 of the Customs and Excise Management, which deals with the time of importation and exportation for exchange rates, stating that the application of the rate should have been restricted to the process and time of goods that falls under prohibition. It also cited the concluding part of section 78 of the CEMA, especially sub- section three (b), which gives a clear picture of the nature of goods that is relevant to the section, which refers to prohibited goods and not the exchange rate and insisted that issues of exchange rates are clearly under the authority of the CBN, which issues guideline for that purpose. The NCMDLCA also noted that the in addition to violating the CBN guidelines, the Customs’ application of foreign exchange rate contravenes the Federal Ministry of Finance Import Guideline of Destination Inspection and Exchange Rate application.
least as it consumer population is estimated to rise from only 344,868 to 447,882 between 2014 and 2018. Meanwhile, in exercise of the powers conferred upon it by Section 76 (6) of the Electric Power Sector Reform Act 2005 and of all other powers enabling it in that behalf, the Nigerian electricity Regulatory Commission adopted the Multi-year tariff Order (MYTO) methodology for electricity pricing in Nigeria, which sets out the basis and pricing principles and procedures for affecting minor and major review. The Commission maintained that in the light of the above, section 6.3 of the MYTO Methodology, the Transmission Company
of Nigeria, TCN has applied to the NERC to review its tariff upward. “TCN claims that a number of significant changes have taken place or are expected in 2015/16 since MYTO-2 were determined 3 years ago,” NERC said. It disclosed that TCN requests for the review of its cost components in three separate but interdependent departments – Transmission Service Provider (TSP), System Operations (SO) and the Market Operations (MO) in the areas Network/capital expenditure component; operation expenditures; and transmission losses. The Commission has it that in line with existing tariff review
Regulations, the Commission has developed and published a Consultation Paper to guide the process. It maintained that the Consultation Paper presents TCN request and will be open for comments for 28 days (4weeks) starting Friday, 10th April to Friday, 8th May 2015. “Accordingly, the Commission now undertakes this review of the TCN tariff application in line with extant tariff regulations and wishes to draw the attention of the general public to the said application by TCN, more particularly detailed in TCN’s formal application and its various supporting documents,” it added.
Buying and Selling during the Elections yesterday.
PHOTO: ROTIMI OSASONA
Merger won’t work in aviation sector –Discovery Air MD OLUSEGUN KOIKI
M
erger and acquisition might have worked perfectly in the banking sector, but such exercise if carried out in the Nigerian aviation industry would fail. This was the view of the Managing Director of Discovery Air, Capt. Abdulsalami Mohammed in an interview with some aviation correspondents recently at the airline’s headquarters in Lagos. Mohammed said that since every investor wanted his company
to flourish, no one in the airline sub-sector in the country would allow a bigger company to swallow its investment. Rather, he said that the airlines could collaborate or partner in order to boost their businesses and ensure stability in the country’s aviation industry. He insisted that partnership was the way to go for the airlines in the country just like their foreign counterparts, adding that the International Air Transport Association, IATA, and other major organisations in the sector had thrown their weights behind this initiative.
He said, “The merger in the banking sector is that the stronger companies took over the weaker ones. What we can do in the sector is for the players to partner. I don’t think merger would work because it means killing a company for the other and every investor wants his company to survive. “However, partnership is the way to go in this industry. IATA has stressed it and we have discussed it in several forums. The airlines are talking to each other in this area. You can cooperate commercially and in terms of aircraft maintenance.”
NOTAP moves to improve dairy development REGINA OTOKPA ABUJA
T
he National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP), has said it would soon improve on the poor level of dairy development in the country, even as Nigeria remains one of the highest cow
breeders in West Africa. The Director General of NOTAP, Engr. Umar Bindir during a stakeholders meeting held in Abuja to kick-start the process, lamented that Freesland Campina Wapco, producers of Peak Milk had operated in the country for some decades yet the raw material for production of milk which
is basically cow milk continues to be imported from Holland and Vietnam. To reverse the ugly trend, Bindir revealed that cow breeders in the country would soon receive a boost in diary development as NOTAP was perfecting arrangements to partner with the Nigerian Incentive based Risk Sharing
System for Agricultural Learning (NIRSAL) to reverse the trend. He explained: “Nigeria has enough cows, we also have adequate Maize and grasses to feed the cows but what is lacking is the highly skilled manpower to decade the technology in diary development. “As a regulatory agency of Gov-
ernment, NOTAP goes to monitor Technology Transfer Agreement and on one of our monitoring visits to Vietnam and Holland where Friesland Compina is getting its raw material, we were amazed by the fact that the cow owners formed co-operatives and were trained for grazing and production of cow milk”.
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Business News
Tuesday, April 14, 2015
World Bank approves $200m for Nigeria’s polio eradication SYLVA EMEKA-OKEREKE WITH AGENCY REPORT
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orld Bank has approved $200 million to eradicate polio and sustain routine immunization of children as well as women of reproductive age in the country. The Country Director of the World Bank in Nigeria, Francoise Marie-Nelly, disclosed that the amount was an additional financing from the International Development Association, IDA. According to her, Nigeria is making significant progress towards polio eradication with no new cases of the virus reported. “The disease surveillance system, even in insecure areas, continues to perform well. This additional financing will build on the positive results of the original project, approved in July 2012 to sustain the gains achieved to date. “Sustaining routine immunization is critical to completing polio
eradication and improving the health of children and mothers in Nigeria’’, Marie-Nelly said. The Polio Eradication Support Project, according to the Country Director, would assist Nigeria to increase and sustain its coverage of oral polio vaccine immunization; saying with five more months of zero cases of Wild Polio Virus, WPV, Nigeria will officially interrupt the transmission of polio, which is a significant milestone toward eradication. Also, the Task Team Leader for Polio Eradication Support Project of the World Bank, Oluwole Odutolu said that eradicating polio remained a global public good because of its epidemic potential and devastating impact on children and adults. Odutolu said polio remained a lethal and crippling disease that is entirely preventable, saying ending it will make the world a safer place for all children. According to him, the addi-
tional financing would also help sustain the coverage of routine immunization in the country as well as the prevention of vaccine preventable-diseases, which is a major cause of under-five mortality in Nigeria. World Bank has been a proud partner with other global agencies aimed at eradicating polio through the Global Polio Eradication Initiative while strengthening routine immunization with partners, including Gavi, Vaccine Alliance, UNICEF and the World Health Organization. “With no new cases of polio in Africa, efforts to interrupt transmission of polio as part of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative are looking extremely promising,” the Senior Director for Health, Nutrition and Population at the World Bank Group Tim Evans said. Presently, polio has been reported in only two countries in the world this year, namely Afghanistan and Pakistan.
National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
MultiChoice updates product amidst legal battle ISAIAH ERHIAWARIEN
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ultiChoice is beginning the update of its flagship product, the DStv Explora this week midst of legal battle over the increase of its bouquet price in Nigeria. DStv customers with ‘s flagship decoder, the Explora, can expect a series of updates to go live next week, with more to follow as MultiChoice focuses on diversifying its Internet offering. This new development is coming few days after a legal battle began between the South African company and its Nigerian customers over the increase of tariff for its bouquet. A Federal High Court in Lagos had ordered Multi Choice Nigeria Limited, to hold action on its planned subscription fee increment. Justice C.J. Aneke, who made the interim order last week, held that it would subsist till the determination of a lawsuit contest-
ing the legality of DStv’s newly introduced rates and increase in tariffs payable by all its subscribers in the country. Two legal practitioners in Lagos, Osasuyi Adebayo and Oluyinka Oyeniji, had approached the court challenging what they described as arbitrary increment in DStv subscription rates imposed on its customers. The action, they said, followed an announcement by Multi Choice in March that it was increasing DStv subscription fees by 20 per cent on all viewing plans effective from April 1, 2015. The company had reportedly explained that the price increase was necessary for it to be able to continue to offer the best in local and international entertainment to its subscribers. Meanwhile, Consumer Devices General Manager, Nyiko Shiburi has announced that MultiChoice willing doing update on the Explora, and that there will be constant enhancements going forward.
AllPoints Jet acheives ARGUS Platinum Rating, ISBAO Certification
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Locked up shops at Iyana Ipaja, during presidential national assembly elections in Lagos, on Saturday.
PHOTO: SAMUEL ADETIMEHIN
Nigeria to join 20 largest economies’ league by 2030 –USDA DAVID AUDU
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ith just five years to year 2020 which Nigeria initially projected to be among the 20 largest economies, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s latest macroeconomic projections have shifted the realization of the dream backward by 10 years. This implies that Nigeria’s dream to make the list of the top 20 most developed economies may now be realized by 2030, when the country is predicted to occupy the 19thposition. It will be recalled that following the rebased Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2014 from 1990
to 2010, Nigeria moved up 11 steps to number 26th largest economy globally ahead of South Africa. The country’s GDP subsequently increased by 75.58 per cent from $258.55 billion before the rebasing to $453.96 billion. Based on this forecast, it will take Nigeria another ten years from 2020 to be among the biggest 20 largest economies According to the USDA forecast, globally in 15 years from now, the U.S. will be far less dominant, while several emerging markets will catapult into prominence, and some of the largest European economies will be slipping behind The Department stated: “The U.S. will just barely remain the global leader, with $24.8 trillion
in annual output. The country, worth 25 percent of the world economy in 2006 and 23 percent in 2015, will see its share decline to 20 percent. China’s GDP will grow to more than twice its size today, helping the Asian powerhouse to almost entirely close its gap with the U.S. “India, ranked eighth for 2015, will climb past Brazil, the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Japan to take third place in the world ranking. The International Monetary Fund calls India “the bright spot in the global landscape.” The country will have the largest workforce in the world within the next 15 years, the IMF notes, and among the youngest.
RGUS International, Inc. (ARGUS) and T3 Private Jets Asia have recognized AllPoints Jet’s accomplishment as a new Platinum Rated Operator during a special presentation at the ABACE Convention. During AllPoints Jet’s combination audit, they also earned IS-BAO Stage 1 certification. The Platinum Rating is the highest ARGUS Operator Rating and is awarded only to those air charter operators who have demonstrated successful implementation of industry best safety practices relative to their operations and maintenance. “Our achievement of the ARGUS Platinum Rating means that AllPoints Jet meets the world’s highest level of safety management within the business avia-
tion industry,” said Wenbin HU, Chairman of AllPoints Jet. “This is a great milestone for Allpoints Jet’s global development. Based on the achievements of 2014, we will go forward with the international highest safety standard for business jet operation, in order to maintain steady and healthy development.” “I would like to congratulate and welcome AllPoints Jet to the elite and esteemed group of ARGUS Platinum Rated Operators,” said Joseph Moeggenberg, ARGUS International, Inc. President and CEO. “Recently, we’ve seen an increase in the number of international Platinum audits, and we are pleased to celebrate AllPoints Jet’s achievement at an international aviation event, and particularly, in their home country.
China to build $2bn Iran-Pakistan natgas pipeline
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hina plans to build a pipeline to transport natural gas from Iran to Pakistan in a move to alleviate the crippling burden of electricity shortage in Pakistan, a report said. A deal is likely to be signed during the Chinese president’s visit to Islamabad this month, Pakistani officials were quoted as saying in the Tehran Times report. Pakistan has been negotiating for months for China to build the Pakistani portion of the pipeline,
which will cost up to $2 billion, according to the report. “We’re building it,” Pakistani Petroleum Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi told The Wall Street Journal. “The process has started.” Dubbed the “Peace Pipeline,” its 900-kilometre part from an Iranian gas field is complete and Pakistan is under pressure to complete its part of the scheme. Pakistan hasn’t begun construction in light of threatened US sanctions for trading with Iran, the report said.
National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
Tuesday, April 14, 2015
Jobs & Career
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Workers lament over minimum wage, delayed salaries
Even within organised labour circles, tension is mounting as workers lament the disparities in the implementation of the new minimum wage. The pains of the ugly phenomenon are further accentuated by delayed monthly salaries which, analysts believe, might jeopardise the current industrial harmony in the country, if not urgently addressed. MESHACK IDEHEN writes.
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actional leaders of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) said they would engage the Federal Government over the removal of minimum wage and salary issues in public and private sectors. According to the leadership of some organised labour unions which are planning to put the government on notice of impending strike action without warning, workers’ wages and salaries are still subject of debates and manipulations years after the Act backing the minimum wage regime and timely payment of salaries and wages had been signed into law. The unions lamented it was now a practice of authorities in Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs, at all levels of government and the private sector to render apologies to their workers every month over why wages and salaries are not paid as and when due. In particular, the newly elected NLC President, Mr. Ayuba Wabba, told our correspondent that the removal of salaries and wages from the exclusive list will expose Nigerian workers, especially those in the low-income level, saying there are grave implications for security, productivity and national well-being. Wabba said that organized labour’s fear was justified or underscored by the reluctance or refusal of some state governors to implement the N18, 000 minimum wage laws, adding it will be an invitation to confusion, chaos, possible anarchy in the polity and judicial nightmare. However, an industrial relations expert and member of the Nigeria Institute of Management (NIM), Dr. Peter Okhiria, told National Mirror the delay and inconsistencies associated with the full implementation of the new minimum wage may, in the long term, slow down productivity, particularly in the public sector. He said though the issue of fully implementing the new minimum wage was always more linked with public service employees, that private sector workers who wages and salaries have no minimum wage standard are grappling with the matter of delayed or unpaid salaries and wages, adding in the end that both challenges are directly interwoven. “Non-implementation of the minimum wage by government and its agencies to the letter; lack of wages and salaries standard in the private sector and delay or non-payment of earned wages has successfully combined to put Nigeria’s industrial growth at risk”, Okhiria said. Okhiria, a part time Lecturer at the Michael Imodu Institute of Labour Studies (MIILS) Ilorin, pointed out that delayed
Wabba
Kaigama
The unions lamenTed iT was now a pracTice of auThoriTies in minisTries, deparTmenTs and agencies, mdas, aT all levels of governmenT and The privaTe secTor To render apologies To Their workers every monTh over why wages and salaries are noT paid as and when due salaries and wage fell short of standards declared by the International Labour Organisation (ILO), adding from a professional point of view, that it was better to earn less and receive prompt pay, than supposedly earning more and living in penury by not being paid on time. President of Trade Union Congress, (TUC), Mr. Bobboi Kaigama, said workers nationwide would embark on strike should government go ahead to implement the suggestions made by the Senate to include minimum wage issue in the exclusive legislative list. Kaigama explained that apart from the NLC’s readiness to bring government activities to a standstill, due to the minimum wage issue, the decision to deny local government councils autonomy would as well attract the wrath of labour in all nooks and crannies of the country. He expressed surprise on why the issue of minimum wage has continued to drag in spite of the earlier agreements entered into by organised labour and the Federal Government, explaining that labour has three controversial issues to sort out with the incoming Nigeria Senate, which are in the area of national minimum wage, delayed or unpaid wages and local government autonomy. Insisting that there should be a certain
benchmark below which no employer of labour should go on the minimum wage issue while also urging National Assembly to retain minimum wage matter on the exclusive legislative list, Labour Activist, Mr. Emmanuel Ezueme, recalled that organised labour in the past decade has been in the forefront of agitations for the new wage, saying the patience of the nation’s workers may have been stretched beyond
People queue for payment of their wages
reasonable limit. Ezeume pointed out that all workers deserved of their wage in a timely and respectful manner from their employers irrespective of whether they are engaged in the public or private sectors, and that the majority of the country’s workforce are groaning and barely managing to make ends meet. Making a case for timely payment of salaries since workers needed to adequately plan for the utilisation of what they earn, immediate past Chairman of the Lagos State Chapter of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria (ICSAN), Mrs. Jacqueline Olayemi Odiadi, said there was no justification for workers to be owed salaries by their employers. She noted that cost of living have more than quadrupled wiping out the initial gains of the wage increase as inflation gallops on two digits and food, utility, transportation and accommodation costs shoot through the roof. Odiadi explained: “As it stands now, the average Nigerian worker is struggling to survive. As such, if states are allowed to determine what they pay to their workers it means the future of the Nigerian workers have been mortgaged. “Over the years, the claim by defaulting governments and private sector employers was that they cannot pay the N18, 000 minimum wages because they are not oil producing states, whereas a sitting senator from Kaduna State for instance, earns the same salary and allowances as does a sitting senator from the Niger Delta. For us these arguments are baseless because what is sauce for the goose is also sauce for the gander”.
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Jobs & Career
Tuesday, April 14, 2015
National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
Job search tips for experienced, older workers W ith the unemployment rate essentially unchanged, many mature workers worry that their age will work against them in a job search. Older workers can improve their success rate by focusing on the value of their experience. Here are steps you can take to make age an asset. Network across all platforms- Harness the power of your personal, community, and business network. Mature workers have the advantage of a developed network, both online–for example, through LinkedIn–and offline. Think about your connections and who can potentially refer you for an open position. If your application is marked as a referral, it triples your chances of securing an interview. Don’t procrastinate when you find out about job openings- Research shows that 50% of successful new hires applied within the first week of a job being posted; 75% applied in the first three weeks. If you find out about a job opening from a contact, send in your application immediately and have the contact mark it as a referral. Focus on relevant, recent experienceThere is no need to list on your resume every position you have held since you entered the workforce. That will put the spotlight on your age, rather than your talent. Instead, focus on work experience that shows you have the skills needed for the job you are targeting. If you can’t make that connection, in your description of a past position, consider downplaying or removing it from your resume. Find employers who will value your
know-how- Many employers seek out older workers. Far from being a blemish, your age will put your resume on top of the pile. Financial services firms, for example, have a primarily older client base. To best reflect their clientele, they often prefer older employees. Other companies, constrained by the current economy, do not have the time or resources to extensively train new hires. They want to bring someone in who can sit down and produce work on day one. This is a growing trend across multiple industries. And don’t overlook startups and non-profits. Don’t ignore glaring resume gaps- While you shouldn’t list every experience held, try to fill in recent resume gaps when possible. Employers will wonder what you were doing, and in the absence of information could assume the worst. If you were forced to take time off to care for a loved one, it is okay to put caregiver in place of a gap. If you’ve filled time with volunteer work, include that detail. It’s a bonus if you’ve honed skills while volunteering, so feel free to mention it very briefly. Stay in the loop- Keep up with trends in your industry. Follow blogs, join relevant groups on LinkedIn, and participate in the discussion. Look for a local networking group for people in your profession, or start one if it doesn’t exist. Joining a group like this or a job club or meetup group for job seekers can help you stay on top of trends. The more people you meet and reach out to, the more you will learn and the more likely you are to find job opportunities. Upgrade your skills strategically- Depending on your field, you may need to ad-
Workers sharing an idea in office
vance your skills to be competitive. This is especially true with new technology. Find out what programs potential employers value, and take a class or a refresher course in your community or online. If you’re not already active in social media, develop a digital footprint. Practice interviewing- If you haven’t recently participated in interviews, brush up on your skills. Do a practice round with a friend. Focus on the skill set that you can bring to the company. Have a few questions of your own ready–for example, about the company’s plans
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mployment hopefuls must at all times be aware that their quest for getting jobs does not begin or end with applying through conventional methods. According to human resource experts, recruiters are constantly offering jobs to qualified candidates that are bold enough to walk into companies; make enquiries about available vacancies, and show proof they are willing and capable of being given responsibilities. In that regards, job seekers are advised to always take the first step by doing the leg work associated with job search, instead of waiting for firms or recruiters to make such vacancies public; a wait that may never end. On available vacancies this week, the position for Trade Marketing Coordinators (www.findjobafrica.com) who are to be based in Ibadan, Aba and Makurdi are on offer. Description for the job includes working very closely with the Operations Director,
he President of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN, Mr. Francis Johnson, has stated that the incoming government should give adequate attention to the development of the oil and gas sector in order to consolidate on the recent achievements recorded by the out-going administration.
Job vacancies
and will be responsible for all aspects of coordination and collaboration with the distributor on the sales and distribution operation, including on the trade marketing field force deployment and monitoring. They are also to ensure that distribution and merchandising strategy agreed upon with the distributors are being met, alongside the execution of trade and consumer activation programs as well as monitor implementation and competitive activity. Other areas of responsibility are to contribute to planning and execution of all marketing related activities in order to achieve sustainable volume growth, working in liaison with the distributor staff and effectively managing the sales and marketing activities in the region in order to ensure the attainment of set objectives for our brands as set by management. Qualifications required are a university degree, 5-7 years’ experience in sales and distribution / channel management. Fluency in English, while a master’s degree
Source: Forbes.com
PENGASSAN tasks in-coming govt on oil, gas sectors Meshack Idehen
Workers in an office
for the future. Try to stay away from personal topics- A friendly interviewer and your own nervousness may lead you to let your guard down and reveal personal details that work against you, like health problems and family woes. It’s often in these moments that employers make a decision on your cultural fit for the organization. So show off your best self.
would be an added advantage. Also on offer this week from www.findjobafrica.com is a vacancy for a Travel Consultant who is expected to be based in Dubai, United Arab Emirate. The job description includes dealing directly with clients and potential clients, providing superior and consistent quality of travel services to sell airline tickets, travel related products and leisure travel products, handle complex transactions and advise clients on the finer points of difficult itineraries, as well as provide them with efficient travel solutions and up to date information. Qualifications needed are an A’ level education with a minimum of 2 years front line travel experience as a reservation/Ticketing/Sales agent. Knowledge and skills of standard fares and ticketing certificate from IATA or experience in an IATA certified environment. Knowledge of world geography and major carrier networks to facilitate quick
The PENGASSAN president, in a statement noted it was the hope of oil and gas workers that issues affecting the sector which account for a large portion of the nation’s revenue will be sustainably resolved for the greater benefits of the country. According to him, issues of strikes and products scarcity can become a thing of the past, if the government and stakeholders come together to fashion out ways and means by which the sector can be utilised for the benefits of the country
itinerary planning, proficiency in MS Office applications i.e. word and excel spoken Arabic or any other foreign language would be an advantage. Strong verbal and written English skills, Interpersonal ability, telephone and customer service skills are also required. From (www.jobberman.com) are fulltime vacancies for Marketing Executives who are expected to be based in Lagos. Responsibilities for the positions amongst other duties are to manage and control the relationship between products and target audience, promote whatever products or services that are on offer and developing new marketing strategies which is an important part of the role. Others are to generate, follow up on leads and prospect, and manage customer relationship. Qualifications and requirements are a minimum of OND in marketing or a relevant field, 1-3 years’ experience, ability to meet and exceed revenue targets and ability to be outspoken and friendly.
Tuesday, April 14, 2015
National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
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Real Estate & Environment
Deforestation: Nigeria loses 400,000ha of forest, targets 25% cover As the year is rolling by, experts in forestry have doubted the possibility of Nigeria, achieving the 25 percent forest cover by 2015, following the high rate of deforestation in the country. SYLVA EMEKA-OKEREKE reports.
Expert forecasts real estate growth 27
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ot too long ago, the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, IITA, disclosed that Nigeria loses over 400, 000 hectares of forest land annually to deforestation. Director General, IITA, Mr. Nteranya Sanginga said, in Nigeria today, deforestation or loss of vegetation for economic reasons is about 3.5 percent. According to him, to salvage the situation, the youths involved in conservation could also help to preserve the forests, sustain its efforts on reforestation while slowing down the alarming rate of de-
forestation and degradation of natural resources. Sanginga however, disclosed that between 1990 and 2005, the world lost about 3.3 percent of its forests, just as Guinean Rainforest, GRF, of West Africa identified over 20 years ago, as a global biodiversity hotspot, which was reduced to 113,000 km2 with 18 percent of its original area. Experts said, for the country to retain its forest reserves, it must achieve over 25 percent forest cover by the year 2015, even as they noted that it might not be feasible due to serious pressure on forest
resources. They might be right as, four months into the year, there appears to be no solution in sight to achieve the desired target. Professor of Forest Economics, Labode Popoola noted with dismay that with the growing deforestation in the country, the promise by the federal government to achieve the forest cover by 25 percent by 2015, might be ruse describing it as a mere policy statement. According to the don, there was a time Nigeria had close to 30percent of its land CONTINUED ON PAGE 26
Simple steps for painting Living rooms
US real estate financing hit $400bn in 2014 30
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Real Estate & Environment
Tuesday, April 14, 2015
National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
Deforestation: Nigeria loses 400,000ha of forest, targets 25% cover CONTINUED FROM 25 area under forests, disclosing that the figure dropped to 10 percent, thus heightening the fear that Nigeria might not achieve 25 percent by the end of 2015 and beyond. Nigeria, according to him, could return to its past glory, if the country engages in massive forestation, urging state and federal governments to spend on seed productions, instead of engaging in deforestation. ‘Without forest, we are all dead. In our own little spheres, we should try as much as possible to plant at least one tree a year, even in your backyard. If I plant one, you plant one and he plants one, it means we already have three trees. And if 10 percent of 150 million, Nigerians plant a tree each, that means 15 million trees each year’’, he explained. He therefore urged federal and state governments to be involved in massive forestation, as they can use their forestry departments to achieve this, instead of using contractors, stressing that, if the state and federal departments receive money to plant trees and fail to do same, they will be held responsible, but if it is contractors, they might not be found. According to him, policies are like a dream and dreams are not realities, it is a case of saying, Nigeria will be among the first 20 economies in the world by the year 2020. He however noted that to achieve this feat, the policy should be very strict, as Nigeria does not have enough foresters to complement the efforts of the Ministry of Forestry, just as the population keeps on increasing on daily basis. The don therefore decried a situation, where the nation’s Universities do not offer courses in forestry while the few tones that offer such courses do not have enough land to practice what they teach. The IITA said the consequence of this situation has led to global warming and climate change that is now affecting agricultural production. It further stated that, apart from deforestation, there is also loss of biodiversity and soil degradation. ‘’All of these are contributing to the low yields that farmers are now experiencing in the field,” he added. Nigeria’s first professor of forestry and past president of the Nigerian Field Society, NFS, Mr. David Okali had also noted that the impacts of deforestation and degradation on the environment and livelihoods are enormous. Recent studies have shown that forests in Nigeria occupy about 923,767 km2 or about 10 million ha, which is about 10 percent of Nigeria’s forest land area and below the recommended national minimum of 25 percent by the Food and Agriculture Organisation, FAOs. Stakeholders said, one of the principal drivers of this environmental change across West Africa has been the expansion of low-input small-holder agriculture that depends on environmentally-destructive practices such as slash-and-burn as well as land clearing. Other factors driving deforestation include infrastructural and estate developments.
Goodluck
Mallam
Akon
Adeshina
WE WORK WITH THE REGULATED COMMUNITY IN SUCH A WAY THAT THERE IS NO WINNER OR LOSER. WE LET EVERY MEMBER OF THE REGULATED COMMUNITY FEELS THAT HE HAS AN OBLIGATION TO PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT FROM ITS OWN SECTOR Experts also noted that, if farmers have improved seeds and inputs such as fertilisers, and also receive training, they would not need to embark on practices that would harm the forests. According to them, forests play important roles globally as they help to combat climate change by absorbing about 15 percent of the planet’s greenhouse gas emissions while providing economic, social and environmental services. An estimated 1.3 billion people, or nearly 20 percent of the world’s population, rely on forests and forest products for livelihoods. Experts said, forest-dependent communities are marginalized in the world, with majority living on less than $1.25 per day, noting that deforestation does not only damage surroundings, but also adds to the carbon footprint. Vice President, World Bank Group and
Special Envoy for Climate Change, Rachel Kyte said, “The global mechanism fully recognizes the vital role communities play in the stewardship of forests and is the first to ensure that indigenous people and forest dependent communities will design, implement and govern the programme according to their own priorities. So far, funding has been approved for the global learning project, nearly $5 million and for the first of the country series in Brazil, where $6.5 million was approved for a project in the Cerrado region, a massive expanse of wooded grasslands that makes up more than 20 percent of Brazil. Such money will be used in part to help finance agro forestry initiatives based on native and adapted fruits, to help pay for processing units for agriculture and nontimber forest products and also to help with production and commercialization
of handicrafts. Environment expert and the Head, Department of Agronomy, University of Ibadan, Prof. Victor Adetimirin said, emission of greenhouse gas has contributed immensely to global warming as it traps heat in the atmosphere. Explaining that greenhouse gases are produced from burning fossil fuel along with agricultural activities, he said global warming can also be caused by the use of synthetic fertilizers, burning of crop residue as well as animal manure generated from livestock production. According to him, the contribution of agriculture to the emission of greenhouse gases in the country, increased from 20.1 percent in 1990 to 35.7 percent in 2011, disclosing that the total greenhouse gases emission from agriculture in Nigeria in 2011 was 15.2 percent. In addition, he said, manures are sources of greenhouse gases. “Increased use of fossil fuel, which is non-renewable for various agriculture operations through land clearing, preparations, processing and packaging of agriculture produce has serious consequences on the environment”, he said. The indirect effects of gasses, according to him, have indirect effects on the environment as exerted through the production of crops and plants. According to him, the environmental problems associated with intensive livestock production are more severe in factory farms, where a large number of animals are stocked and raised in a small area of land More than 100 countries have adopted a global warming limit of 2 °C as a guiding principle for mitigation efforts to reduce climate change risks, impacts and damages. The greenhouse gas emissions corresponding to a specified maximum warming are poorly known, owing to uncertainties in the carbon cycle and the climate response. It would be recalled that the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency, NESREA, has vowed to deal with companies that violate the country’s environmental laws and regulations. NESREA Director General, Dr. Lawrence Anukam said that the law would take its course on any company, organisation that degrade the environment through its operations. “We work with the regulated community in such a way that there is no winner or loser. We let every member of the regulated community feels that he has an obligation to protect the environment from its own sector. And we do this by encouraging them to follow the rule, comply with the regulations and to make sure that as much as possible, all what is required in the law, they do and live by it’’, he said. On the imperative of sustainable environment, Anukam added, “When will have eco-friendly environment, when we have eco-friendly industries, when we have sustainable livelihoods, our economy will boom, our people will live a better life and our resources will be effectively harnessed.
National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
Real Estate & Environment
Tuesday, April 14, 2015
Expert forecasts real estate growth
MORTGAGE NOTES with Adenike Fasanya-Osilaja
SYLVA EMEKA-OKEREKE
Email: Nike@MVPSolutionsinc.com Fasanya-Osilaja https://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=35277333
Why I support the NMRC
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y the time this column piece goes to print, the Nigerian national elections must have taken place. We have spent the last few months in a frenzy of preparation for this event, and it is a relief that it is finally happening. I offer my congratulations to the winners of the election, and offer my thanks to those who did not win the elections, for at least stepping forward to offer themselves in the service of their nation. It takes a special person to take on the rigors and stresses on running an election race, and we are a better nation because of you all. I spent the last three or so weeks writing a (long) letter to the NMRC and offering an in-depth review of the NMRC underwriting standards, as published on their website. I was honestly rather surprised at some of the comments I received on that piece. They ranged all the way from “Great piece, so on point” to “Why would you support another government agency when they are all crooks?” I have therefore decided to respond to some of these questions in today’s piece. I support the NMRC one hundred percent because I have reviewed their mandate and truly feel that, with the right guidance and hopefully lack of external influences, the NMRC may actually be the catalyst to revolutionize the Nigerian mortgage industry. The very premise upon which it is founded is the same premise that similar international organizations have been established, that have worked extremely well to standardize and enhance mortgage lending, and therefore home ownership, in their nations. Put very simply, shelter is, and rightly so, a fundamental human right. Until a person is settled in their own space, they are not really in charge of their destiny. There is a peace that comes with knowing who you are in your own home that is absolutely priceless. I have
seen homeownership change so many client’s lives, that I have no choice but to fight passionately for every opportunity that increases its accessibility, especially to first time home buyers. The advent of NMRC should be seen as a hugely positive event because we have seen what happens in Nigeria when there is almost zero regulation. The previous mortgage experiment in Nigeria failed due to several reasons, but the major one was definitely a lack of cohesion. This was a period in which loans were being made with predatory lending rates, excessive fees and unrealistic terms. It was so clearly ill conceived that its failure came as no surprise. I was one of the major sceptics when I heard about the NMRC until I really started to review the IDB facility paperwork. There are several new programs and incentives required as part of the terms of the facility, that I am optimistic of a much more desirable future for the mortgage sector, so long as the programs are properly implemented. The NMRC emerges as the umbrella agency for the development and implementation of the said IDB programs and incentives. What I consider to be its greatest strength is the fact that the agency is not the typical government agency or department. This gives it the capacity to act with the speed, agility and versatility required in today’s financial markets. Also, there is a legitimacy the NMRC brings to the industry that can only boost the profile of the Nigerian mortgage sector and provide access to funding on much better terms than we saw in the past. I also support the need for a regulatory system to weed out the bad apples and ensure that the industry produces seasoned and specialized professionals that enhance its international profile. With a robust education-
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al curriculum, especially if a licensing requirement is added, we will at least be certain of employing loan officers, who are able to process transactions properly. In my opinion, all ancillary industries should also require education and licenses, especially the appraisal industry. The caveat I offer though, is that such education should be actual hands on workshops, where the participants get proper education and solve real fact pattern issues, not where they just sit in conferences and listen to “abstract ramblings” as I call them. Finally, the ability of NMRC to buy closed loans as a secondary purchaser of MBS tranches is arguably its most important strength. This provides consistent liquidity and protects the market from scarcity of supply, which is the number one factor for high rates and predatory loan terms to meet demand. It also ensures that loan retail suppliers originate loans in accordance with formal underwriting standards designed to ensure sanity in the market. So, yes I do support the xxxxx NMRC. Why would I not? Whichever way you dice it, the NMRC presents a start towards the re-emergence of a stronger, saner and hopefully more productive mortgage industry, and that is well worth my strong and unfettered support. If the NMRC is well set up and properly managed, it will bring us into a time of ease and cohesion in the mortgage process, and ultimately another area in which Nigeria once again asserts herself, as the continental leader she is known and expected to be. As always I welcome all questions and comments, and encourage you to make it a great day.
ABOUT THE WRITER Fasanya-Osilaja a lawyer and mortgage expert has owned and operated Marvel Ventures Mortgage, Inc. (www.marvelmortgage.com), a Chicagobased Mortgage Brokerage Company since 2000 and has worked in the US Mortgage industry since 1996. She also consults and facilitates industryrequired activities, from set up of mortgage organisations to documentation, training and compliance.
I
ndication has emerged that the nation’s real estate sector will grow tremendously with new impetus to be added by the incoming administration. A mortgage expert, Bolajo Omowole, who disclosed this, decried the dwindling fortunes of the real estate sector due to paucity of funds. According to him, the sector is expected to grow, if the incoming administration would strengthen the apex mortgage bank to be able to play its statutory roles in the country. ‘’Though, the incoming administration has not said anything on the housing sector, but with its anti-corruption stand, any fund earmark for the sector will definitely be safe. With the funds invested in the sector over the years, there is nothing to show for it’’, he stated. The legal practitioner, who
Kumo
gave the advice during an interview with National Mirror, noted that the bank has been unable to play its roles of providing affordable housing for Nigerians, due to paucity of funds. Omowole also noted that, improving the fortunes of the bank, coupled with expected anti-corruption stance of the incoming administration would ensure the growth of the sector, thus reducing the 16 million housing deficit in the country. According to him, any incoming Minister of Housing should keep a tab on the real sector with the aim of growing the sector to the benefits of Nigerians. ‘’Though, the incoming administration has not said anything on the housing sector, but with its anti-corruption stand, any fund earmark for the sector will definitely be safe. With the funds invested in the sector over the years, there is nothing to show for it’’, he stated. He recalled that the United Nations, UN, estimated that Nigeria’s population would reach 289 million by 2050 while the United States Census Bureau projects that by the year 2050, Nigeria’s population will hit 264 million, thus making the country the 80th most populous country in the world. Rapid economic growth in population, according to him, puts enormous pressure on demands for shelter and other basic utilities and services. Already, Nigeria has sadly lapsed into this tight corner. We, therefore, urge the incoming government to take pro-active step towards addressing the problem of the FMBN.
Forestry Research Institute gets new Director FEMI ADEOSUN ABUJA
P
resident Goodluck Jonathan has approved the appointment of Dr. Adeshola Olutunde Adepoju as the Executive Director for the Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria (FRIN). According to a statement by the Ministry of Environment the appointment was conveyed in a letter dated 7th April, 2015 and signed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Pius Ayim Pius. Until his appointment, Dr. Adepoju was the Rector of the
Federal College of Forestry, Jos. The President said it is hoped that with this appointment, Dr. Adepoju would bring his wealth of knowledge in technical, administrative and management experience to bear in running the affairs of Institute. The appointment took effect from 1st April, 2015 and is expected to last for a period of four years. Adepoju holds a PhD degree in Agricultural Economics with specialization in Agriculture/ Environmental Economics from the Ahmadu Bello University from where he also earned his first and post graduate degrees.
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Real Estate & Environment
Tuesday, April 14, 2015
National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
Sim
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Step 1 Clean walls.
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FG pays N1.2bn for cook stoves production FEMI ADEOSUN ABUJA
T
he Minister of Environment, Mrs. Laurentia Mallam, said government had signed a contract for the production of the first batch of the 750,000 clean cook stoves. In furtherance of this, the minister revealed that a sum of N1.2 billion had been paid to the contractor out of the N9.2 billion approved by the Federal Government for the project. Under the National Clean Cooking Scheme, government had last year approved N9.2bn to procure 750,000 units of clean cook stoves and 18,000 wonder bags. Mallam, who spoke during a recent presentation to the House Committee on Environment, revealed that the production of the clean cook stoves would boost the employment generation programme of government while
helping to prevent avoidable diseases and deaths. She stated that the modalities for the distribution of the clean cook stoves nationwide are diligently being worked out in the ministry in such a manner that would satisfy the yearnings and aspirations of all segments of the country. According to her, “The contract has already been signed, and the sum of N1.2 billion has been paid out to the Contractor to commence the production of the clean cook stoves. Apart from that, the minister also revealed that the proposal for a bill for an Act to establish the Great Green Wall Agency had already been approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC), and that the Ministry was putting finishing touches to it before it would be forwarded to the National Assembly for enactment. The Minister assured the committee that the implementation
of the programme was effectively on course, appealing to members to visit the11 states where the programme is being implemented to ascertain the level of work done. Responding, the Committee Chairman Hon. Uche Ekwunife, called for synergy among the various stakeholders for the full and successful implementation of the programme. The legislator also assured the people of Nigeria that the National Assembly would diligently exercise its oversight responsibility to ensure the success of the programme. She called on the minister to ensure that the imputs from the International Community, the African Union and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) as well as other relevant stakeholders are properly harnessed for the faithful implementation of the programme in line with Global Environment Facility (GEF)
standards, in order to achieve maximum and desired results. Ekwunife advised that the implementation of the Great Green Wall programme should be anchored on the blueprint of the project and a carefully designed work plan in order to avoid the pitfalls of past efforts at implementation, adding that her committee would work closely with the ministry to ensure the success of this laudable programme.
Completed East-West road by FG
Coop Society, firm sign pact on 1 FEMI ADEOSUN ABUJA
T
he Ministry of Environment Staff Multi Purpose Cooperative Society has signed an agreement with a private developer, Korlie Mobs Ventures Limited, for the construction of 128 units of housing in Kuje and Maitama Extension.
In the two locations, the units of housing expected to be built by the company include one-bedroom flat, two-bedroom block of flats, threebedroom, three-bedroom block of flats, four-bedroom terrace apartments and four-bedroom terrace duplex. Speaking during the MoU signing event, the Cooperative Chairman, Mr. Ibrahim Boriya, pointed out
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National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
Tuesday, April 14, 2015
Real Estate & Environment
29
mple steps for painting
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ed the walls, the actual painting is easy.
and grease spots (which can ruin a smooth finish) with water, r, a ng detergent, and a cellulose sponge. Rinse walls with clean water n terr te ap residue. a
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Step 4 B Brush where you can’t roll.
Brush or paint around trim and in the corners of walls, where ere ur u roller can’t reach, with a two-inch angled brush. Extend out two wo ee e inches from windows, doors, and moldings.
Gas emission causes global warming –Don SYLVA EMEKA-OKEREKE
H
ead, Department of Agronomy, University of Ibadan, Prof. Victor Adetimirin has disclosed that greenhouse gas emission contributes immensely to global warming, saying it traps heat in the atmosphere. Noting that greenhouse gases are produced from burning fossil fuel along with agricultural activities, he said global warming can be caused by the use of synthetic fertilizers, burning of crop residue as well as animal manure generated from livestock pro-
duction. The don said, the contribution of agriculture to the emission of greenhouse gases in the country, increased from 20.1 percent in 1990 to 35.7 percent in 2011, stressing that the total greenhouse gases emission from agriculture in Nigeria in 2011 was 15.2 percent. In addition, he said, manures are sources of greenhouse gases. “Increased use of fossil fuel, which is non-renewable for various agriculture operations through land clearing, preparations, processing and packaging of agriculture produce has seri-
128 housing units
hat the construction of the housng units which consists of 63 at Kuje and 65 at Maitama extension in Mpape, was being financed through he personal savings of members. According to him, the core active s expected to provide 20 per cent of he total cost of each unit and 20 per ent for the provision of infrastrucure in the estates. Providing other details regarding
the housing programme, Boriya also explained that the project, which will be jointly funded by the SMCS) Cooperative) and KMVL( Developer) at 20 per cent and 80 per cent respectively, would be completed within three years and handed over to all the beneficiaries. He said: “It is pertinent to nite that the 20 per cent provided by the cooperative shall be in form of loan
to allot tees, towards the completion of their houses. It is also noteworthy to explain that direct funding from other incomes or autonomous sources are allowed for the payment of the houses.” The Coop Society’s leader noted that qualified allottees could access housing loans either from the National Housing Fund or Federal Loans Board of Nigeria in the Office
of the Head of Service of the Federation. The chairman, KMVL, Kolawole Kayode, promised to deliver on the units of housing within the stipulated time frame, adding that his interest in the provision of quality and affordable housing was developed from his days as the Managing Director, Nigerian Army Post Service Housing Development.
ous consequences on the environment”, he said. The indirect effects of gasses, according to him, have indirect effects on the environment as exerted through the production of crops and plants. According to him, the environmental problems associated with intensive livestock production are more severe in factory farms, where a large number of animals are stocked and raised in a small area of land More than 100 countries have adopted a global warming limit of 2 °C as a guiding principle for mitigation efforts to reduce climate change risks, impacts and damages. The greenhouse gas emissions corresponding to a specified maximum warming are poorly known, owing to uncertainties in the carbon cycle and the climate response. “’We show that, for the chosen class of emission scenarios, both cumulative emissions up to 2050 and emission levels in 2050 are robust indicators of the probability that twenty-first century warming will not exceed 2 °C relative to preindustrial temperatures.
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Real Estate & Environment
Tuesday, April 14, 2015
National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
US real estate financing hit $400bn in 2014 A ccording to the report of the US’s Mortgage Bankers Association, MBA, the commercial and multifamily mortgage bankers closed at $399.8 billion last fiscal year. According to the association, “last year was a strong year for commercial and multifamily mortgage borrowing and lending. MBA’s Vice President of Commercial Real Estate Research, Jamie Woodwell said, the year recorded origination volumes from life insurance companies with second highest level for banks. In 2006 and 2007, it recorded
the highest overall origination volumes. With property fundamentals and values continuing to improve, and interest rates still extraordinarily low, last year’s momentum has carried into the start of 2015.” Commercial mortgage-backed securities, CMBS, issuers were the leading investor group for whom loans were originated in 2014, responsible for $106.3 billion of the total. Commercial banks saw the second highest volume, $102.5 billion, and were followed by: life insurance companies and pension funds; Fannie Mae; Freddie
Mac; as well as REITS, mortgage REITS and investment funds. In terms of property types, multifamily properties saw the highest origination volume, $150.3 billion, followed by office buildings, retail properties, and hotel and motel, industrial and health care. First liens accounted for 97 percent of the total dollar volume closed. The reported dollar volume of commercial and multifamily mortgages closed in 2014 was 12 percent higher than the volume reported in 2013. Among repeat participants in the survey, the dollar volume of closed loans
rose by 6 percent. Based on the latest research from CBRE, commercial real estate lending in the U.S. increased for the fifth consecutive year, as a strong fourth quarter capped expansion across lenders and property types. Loan closings were boosted by the demand for acquisition financing, which accounted for close to one-half of lending volume in 2014. This demand was boosted further by the increase in property sales, which rose 17 percent in 2014, according to Real Capital Analytics (RCA). Retail, hotel and specialty
property types saw the biggest gains in lending volume in 2014, as investors appeared to focus more attention on high-yielding property types and secondary markets, with cap rates remaining tight across the major property categories. CBRE expects that demand for commercial and multifamily mortgages will remain strong in 2015. In addition to more potential growth in acquisition activity, loan maturities will begin to ramp up, as 10-year mortgages issued during the boom years of 2005-2007 come due.
Cuba witnesses revolution in real estate
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n Cuba, 220 miles south of Miami, real estate is considered hotter than any other commodity on the world market. Most Americans and foreigners are mostly shut out of the potentially lucrative product. Raul Castro, President since 2006, has become an ardent probusiness advocate in a Communist country. He said, allowing Cuban residents to buy and sell their own homes. That has never happened in such volume since Raul’s ailing brother Fidel took over the island country 54 years ago. While bonafide Cuban residents may be enjoying what they perceive as a real estate revolution, foreigners are blocked out of this new market. That has been the situation since 1962, when Fidel Castro seized nearly all foreign-owned real estate in Cuba without giving them a peso for it. At that time, Fidel, now 88, nationalized most private companies. He also confiscated property belonging to Cubans who fled the country. Raul so far is not saying whether his government would give back those properties to Cubans who later return to permanently reside in Cuba. So what can frustrate, cashloaded American and foreign investors do right now to enter the Cuban real estate arena? For example, an American investor could consider funnelling funds to a Cuban resident friend in Cuba to purchase properties and hold the title under the friend’s name. The hope here is that Raul Castro’s government, sometime in the near future, would allow non-Cuban Americans to legally buy real estate in Cuba with no restrictions attached. The risk, of course, is that such a move by Raul might be many years away, thereby leav-
ing the property in the Cuban friend’s name for an unknown period. Another example of how some non-American, non-Cuban investors are skirting Cuban property purchase laws, involves the investor marrying a Cuban woman and both beginning to live permanently in Cuba. The property could be bought in the woman’s name. She would hold the title for life. And if the two divorce, the property remains in the woman’s name. True love would have to blossom and endear in this situation. For instance, right now Cuban Americans can send $8,000 annually to relatives and others in Cuba. On top of that amount, they can also bring with them up to $10,000 in cash each time they visit the island. Using that formula, Cuban Americans quickly could be accumulating thousands in funds for their relatives to buy properties -- in the relatives’ names, of course. The hope is that Raul Castro might change the regulations in his lifetime to allow Cuban Americans to buy in their own name. Although the current real estate rush in Cuba sounds exciting to Cuban residents at least, there still remain several roadblocks, even for them. For example, permanent resident Cubans can own only two homes, a primary residence and a vacation site. This allows the government to continue keeping tight control over the market. The answer is yes, with qualifications. There still are around two dozen dilapidated apartment buildings developed 20 years ago in the Havana market. Foreigners are allowed to buy them. And unconfirmed reports from Cuban Americans claim those properties are being scooped up quickly.
American property
Lamudi launches hotline for property seekers
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n increasing number of Sri Lankans are switching online to make the most of web-based services, including tools for finding property to buy or rent. About a quarter of the country’s population of 21 million currently has access to the Internet and the number of users is growing at an estimated annual rate of nine percent. However, there are still many Sri Lankans who have yet to incorporate the internet into their daily lives. This means a large number of people still use traditional methods when searching for real estate. Most of those aged above 35, with a superior spending power, browse through real estate classifieds or supplements, call brokers or agents, or talk to their friends and family to find their ideal house, apartment or commercial space. Many prefer to make a quick phone call rather than searching online and sending an email. To assist these offline househunters, global property platform Lamudi has launched the Dial 4
Home service, which allows homebuyers to call a hotline to find property for sale or rent. House-hunters can explain their requirements - such as property type, size, location and price and Lamudi’s customer care staff will cross reference these with the platform’s 13,000-plus property listings. The caller will then receive an SMS with contact details of the property sellers or agents. Lamudi Sri Lanka’s Managing Director, Hugh van der Kolff, said: “By making use of common technologies such as mobile phones and SMS, the Dial 4 Home service aims to help property seekers with limited internet access, find their dream home. With this service, we are trying to tap into this large offline market, while maintaining the advantages of online house-hunting such as filtered searching and a broad supply.” The new service will put offline house-hunters in touch with a broad selection of property listings from the Lamudi website, which is the nation’s leading property-focused platform. The service was designed to simplify property
search by allowing house-hunters to use a single platform to find their ideal home, said Van der Kolff: “All you have to do is dial 0114 500 123 and the properties will come to you,” he said. To get in touch with a Lamudi Dial 4 Home representative, property seekers can call +94 114 500 123 between 9am to 6pm on weekdays. Sri Express does not endorse or adhere to views or opinions expressed in the articles posted. This is purely an information site, to inform interested parties of Sri Lankans around the world. Photos and other content materials posted at SriExpress might be from other websites, the legal copyrights of that content belong to the actual owners. Using or re posting any content without prior written consent of copyright owners is not permitted. Publisher has taken every effort to acknowledge the copyright owners where possible, but there might be some missing out. If you feel any of your copyrighted material is seen without acknowledgement, email us atinfo@sriexpress.com. We will remove them immediately from the site.
Aviation
Tuesday, April 14, 2015
National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
31
Stakeholders set aviation sector agenda for in-coming govt Stakeholders and professionals in the Nigerian aviation industry say for the sector to propel forward, the new administration should prioritise improved funding and affordable aviation fuel pricing regime, amongst other developmental initiatives. OLUSEGUN KOIKI writes.
I
n March 2011 during his presidential campaign train to Jigawa State, President Goodluck Jonathan,promised to establish domestic airports in all the 36 states of the federation, if voted to power in that year’s general election. He said the move to establish such airports was part of his government’s blueprint towards facilitating efficient movement of goods and services and by so doing, engendering broad-based development of the nation. Though the administration was not able to construct airports in the 36 states as planned four years after, it however commissioned four airports within the period including, the Dutse International Airport, which the State Government said did not enjoy any funding support from the Federal Government, contrary to the terms of an earlier agreement. In addition to the construction of the few airports, the outgoing administration also embarked on re-modelling of the existing airports with the deposited funds of about $88 million initially sourced from the Bilateral Air Service Agreement, BASA and drawn from the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, with the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, being one of the signatories to the account. The result of the re-modelling exercise was the massive debts of N74 billion bequeathed by the former Minister in the sector, Princess Stella Oduah, just as questions are still being raised about the quality of the jobs done. Although General Mohammadu Buhari (rtd) the newly elected President did not make any categorical statement on aviation industry, but players and leading unions in the sector are already setting agenda for the in-coming government on how the sector could be properly positioned on the track of sustainable growth. The Deputy General Secretary, the National Union of Air Transport Employees, NUATE, Comrade Olayinka Abioye in an interview with our correspondent said that aviation industry being the engine room of any economy in the world, the incoming government could not afford to neglect the industry if it really wanted to grow the nation. Abioye maintained that for the incoming government to move the sector forward, it would need to review the several mechanism put in place to revive the industry by the outgoing government. Most especially, he wanted the Government to review the existing contractual obligations the Federal Government had with private investors in the system, say-
A typical MRO facility for airlines
With the current interest rate, you can’t make it. We are Waiting to see What the government Would come up With ing that most of the contracts are skewed in favour of the private investors at the detriment of the public. Besides, he would like the incoming government to address the issue of the skyrocketing price of Jet A1 (aviation fuel), which he noted had negatively affected the operations of the country’s carriers. He said such product should be refined in the country in order to bring down the price. The union executive also charged the government to introduce waivers for ground handlers on the importation of their ground equipment, just as it was recently done with the airline operators. He added, “Also, there is manpower shortage among the professionals in the system. In the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, NAMA, for instance, about 200 technical personnel would be retiring this year and these are people trained with government money. I want to suggest that in a bid to avoid the manpower shortage, some of them should be brought back into the system as contract staff while the government employs and trains more professionals for the sector in
order to address the manpower shortage. “The issue of Nigeria Airways workers is still very important; their remaining several packages of 20 years, which is about N52 billion should be paid by the incoming government. We wish the government can comprehensively review this and pay them off as quickly as possible. “There is massive infrastructural decay in the system despite the so called remodelling exercise by this government. The lifts, elevators and others are not working and this is compounded by the epileptic power supply. The address of all these will go a long way in helping the sector to move forward.” The Managing Director, Discovery Air, Capt. Abdulsalami Mohammed urged the government to critically address the issue of falling rate of naira against the dollar. Abdulsalami noted that most of the transactions of airlines are in dollars and the continue rise of dollars against naira was having a massive negative effect on its operations. Besides, he hoped that the government would further address the difficulty by the airlines in accessing loans for busi-
ness upgrade, saying that the interest rates on loans were too enormous. He said, “Aviation fuel is deregulated and the fuel marketers are the ones that will determine the price of their products. What will affect it is the exchange rate because the stronger the naira, the better for the industry. “We hope to get measures that would make it easy for aviation companies to get loans with low interest rate. With the current interest rate, you can’t make it. We are waiting to see what the Government would come up with.” The spokesman for AIB, Mr. Tunji Oketunbi also wanted the government to focus more attention on policies with a view to enhancing the capacity of the industry to play its critical role in the economy and improve its contribution to the Gross Domestic Product, GDP, from the paltry 0.04 per cent to something more significant. Oketunbi also tasked the government to fund AIB more in order to be able to carry out its duties more professionally. “For AIB, what we need is in the area of funding. AIB is the only agency that is not positioned to generate revenues because of the nature of its duties. It cannot commercialise its services; it needs improved funding from government. Now, we rely on Government allocation and 3 per cent of the five per cent ticket sales,” he said. Besides, the Chairman, Airline Operators of Nigeria ,AON, Capt. Nogie Meggison said that the incoming government required a policy change to address the high unemployment rate among technical personnel in the sector. Meggison also reiterated the call for the construction of a Maintenance Repair and Overhaul, MRO, facilities for checks of aircraft in the country, saying that the absence of this is leading to massive capital flight out of the country regularly. Besides, he urged the incoming government to address the skyrocketing price of aviation fuel in the local scene, multiple tax regime by aviation authorities to domestic carriers, removal of Value Added Tax, VAT, on air transportation as other modes of transportation. He added, “We want the incoming government to also as a matter of urgency address the multiple entries right given to foreign carriers operating into our country by the Ministry of Aviation. This is killing the business of the operators in the country as the passengers they ought to ferry are being taken directly to their destinations by the foreign airlines.”
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Nigeria ahead of Europe, America in pilots’ psychological test – AIB spokesman StorieS: oluSegun KoiKi
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he impending psychological assessment for pilots in Europe and America has been implemented in the Nigerian aviation industry since 2008, the Accident Investigation Bureau, AIB, spokesperson, Mr. Tunji Oketunbi, has confirmed. Oketunbi, who made the disclosure during an interview with our correspondent, explained that in line with the Bureau’s recommendations to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA in 2008 following the Bristow Helicopters aircraft crash, it had recommended that the regulatory agency should include psychological assessment test for pilots during its Authorised Aviation Medical Examiners, AAME. He declared that investigation of the bureau on the accident indicated that the pilot had crashed the helicopter due to psychological stress and in a bid to forestall recurrence in the future, AIB recommended to the agency to include such test in its AAME, which he said NCAA immediately accepted and commenced its implementation. The AIB top shot pointed out that
psychological testing of pilots was a necessity if safety was to be enhanced in the system, stressing that the safety, quality and efficiency of the operations in air traffic had been improved upon to a large extent by a decrease of the number of crew related incidents. He noted that air traffic area fortunately has given more attention to human factor topics while at the same time; new challenges arise from the environment of the company, but said psychologists could help to face these new challenges. It would be recalled that following the deliberate crash of Germanwings aircraft Airbus 320 flight 9525 by the co-pilot, Andreas Lubitz with 150 souls onboard recently in France, European Union, EU, and America are discussing how to include psychology assessment AAME for all the pilots. Oketunbi said: “When you look at some areas, Nigeria is high commended even at international level. For instance, I just came back from Miami, United States for a course. One of our instructors commended Nigeria for being among the countries that have opted to comply fully with the International Civil Avia-
S
state to be able to transport secured cargo to the European Union. According to him, ACC3’s are obliged under EU regulation EU1082 to ensure that cargo and mail destined for the EU was screened or comes from a secure supply chain. From 1st July 2014, the EU regulations state that ACC3’s must be in possession of security verifications of their cargo and mail operations at the relevant non-EU airports. This verification activity must be undertaken by an Independent Validator, certified by an EU regulator. By this validation, all customers using the SAHCOL warehouse are ensured of reliable security verification of all air cargo & mail operations bound for countries under the European Union. The statement emphasised that
The Chief Executive Officer, CEO, Overland Airways, Capt. Edward Boyo, a participant and the Minister of Aviation, Chief Osita Chidoka at the Aviation Executives Business Forum, AEBF, organized in Lagos recently by the Ministry of Aviation.
Airside shegzzy4live2000@yahoo.co.uk 08186007273
Jobless 500 Nigerian pilots and engineers
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Oketunbi
tion Organisation, ICAO, recommendations on separate bodies for regulation, accident investigation and airspace management. “Also, in the area of psychological test for pilots, before Europe, which is still contemplating it now and America being mandated to do same, we have recommended that to NCAA as far back as 2008. This was so due to the Bristow Helicopters aircraft crash. NCAA has accepted the recommendation and it has been implementing it ever since for pilots flying in the country.”
SAHCOL gets EU’s ACC3 validation
kyway Aviation Handling Company Limited, SAHCOL, said European Union, EU, has designated it as a 3rd country European Union Aviation Security Validated Regulated Agent. The ground handling company said that the validation certificate was issued to it after an onsite confirmation of the implementations of the security controls, which were certified to be in compliance with the objectives of EU/EEA bound air cargo and air mail. An online statement by the General Manager, SAHCOL, Mr. Basil Agboarumi, stated that according to EU regulations 173/2012 and 1082/2012, all air cargo and air mail entering the European Union from Third Countries Airports, otherwise called ACC3 should be validated and approved by the appropriate authority from a European Union
National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
the new face of SAHCOL had experienced massive deployment of modern state-of-the-art equipment and facilities with the construction of a modern corporate headquarters, construction of a first class fully automated Customs bounded warehouse and building, increase in quality trained manpower, international certifications, increase in clientele base, and many others. Caption for page 2, 2nd lead picture: The Chief Executive Officer, CEO, Overland Airways, Capt. Edward Boyo, a participant and the Minister of Aviation, Chief Osita Chidoka, at the Aviation Executives Business Forum, AEBF, organized in Lagos recently by the Ministry of Aviation.
t a time in the Nigerian aviation industry, stakeholders and professionals raised the alarm over the dearth of professionals and lack of replacements for ageing technical staff. Analysts then called for training and retraining of young and vibrant youths to take over from the ageing workforce, a call, which several state governments especially those in the Northern States of the Federation hearken to by sending their indigenes to aviation colleges within and outside the country. But, Airside is worried that barely after three years of intense training for these set of people, no fewer than 500 Nigerian licensed pilots and engineers are roaming the streets with their certificates in their hand folder. Ironically, most of the country’s airlines apart from MedView Airline that has consis-
tently given employments to Nigerian technical personnel engage the services of no fewer than 1000 foreign pilots without much consideration to the young graduates. Airside observes that most of the local operators don’t want to expend their money on training of pilots and engineers in the sector, a situation, which has not made the young graduates type-rated on any aircraft. Airside insists that this is a bad policy from the domestic carriers as the foreigners they engage are paid in enormous foreign currencies especially dollars, given accommodation and full security while they discharge their duties in the country. Airside charges the incoming administration to address the plights of these pilots and engineers in the industry before they become airport Bingo.
Need for technocrat as aviation minister
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ery soon, the Gen. Mohammadu Buhari’s led government would commence nomination of ministers to various ministries. Majorly, most of the nominees will be politicians with a mixture of technocrats. Over the years, aviation stakeholders, professionals and unions have been craving for the appointment of an aviation expert as a minister in the sector, but the Federal Government has consistently ignore this noble course for the reason best known to them. No doubt, the current minister, Chief Osita Chidoka has performed to the best of his ability, but dynamic sector
needs to move forward. Airside opines that the new administration should obliterate the tradition of appointing a politician to head the helms of affairs in the sector and look for a technocrat in the class of the erstwhile Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, Dr. Harold Demuren,, to take over the mantle of leadership. Airside urges the new administration to look in the direction of this incorruptible and highly professional Nigerian if it really wants the sector to improve from its paltry 0.04 per cent to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product, GDP, to something more appreciable.
US regulator upgrades India’s aviation safety rating
U
nited States authorities have upgraded India’s aviation safety rating, in a boost for Indian airlines, which can now increase the number of flights they operate to the United States. US transportation secretary, Anthony Foxx said recently that India had taken corrective action to address the Federal Aviation Administration’s, FAA, concerns, after the regulator downgraded India’s rating to Category 2 from Category 1 in January last year, citing a lack of safety oversight. The decision, which takes
the rating back to Category 1, was expected as Indian aviation authorities had said they were working hard to win back the higher rating. Foxx did not specify the action India had taken, but a person with knowledge of the decision said authorities had recruited more flight operations inspectors and streamlined certain procedures to improve safety. The upgraded rating is expected to help Jet Airways and state-owned Air India, the two Indian airlines, which currently fly to the United
States. The downgrade had meant both carriers could not increase flights to the country and faced extra checks for existing ones. “The United States Government commends the Government of India for taking corrective action to address the safety oversight issues identified during the International Aviation Safety Assessment, IASA, process,” Foxx said in a statement after meeting with India’s civil aviation minister in Delhi. India first achieved a Category 1 rating in 1997.
Insurance
Tuesday, April 14, 2015
Operating expenses dip Mansard’s net profit StorieS: tayo elebijo
D
ue to the tough operating environment that culminated in increased costs, the operating expenses of Mansard Insurance went up by 35 percent to N4.54bn in 2014 as against N3.37bn in the preceding year of 2013. Thus, Mansard’s net income was reduced by 22 percent to N1.61bn in 2014 from N2.08bn the same period in the preceding year. However, the analysis of the 2014 audited financial statement shows that its underwriting capacity has spurred Mansard Insurance plc to growth, as its gross premium surges 28 percent to N17.40bn, from N13.60bnin 2014, the same period of the corresponding year financial year of 2013. Mansard’s audited financial statement showed net premium earned spiked by 20 percent to N9.05 billion in 2014, from N7.53 billion in 2013. Underwriting profit spurted by 79 percent to N3.38 billion in 2014, compared with N1.89 billion in 2013. Mansard which aimed at consolidating its position as one of Nigeria’s leading non-financial services groups, announced the completion of its acquisition of 60 percent of Penman Lim-
ited, having already made inroads into asset management, health insurance and property segments through its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Mansard Investment and Mansard Health. It was also selected as an outstanding quartile in the insurance industry category of publicly listed Growth Strategy Leaders in Nigeria for the year 2015 award season organized by the MSY Analytics, a teaming partner and Nigerian representative of global research and growth consulting giant, the Frost & Sullivan. The award was based on the performance of all the publicly traded companies on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, as at December 31, 2014. The research body listed the total shareholders’ returns, revenue growth and profitability growth as its methodology in scoring the performance. Despite the lack of insurance package awareness among the people, the company achieved growth in a rather difficult operating environment and the huge cost of operations caused by epileptic power supply, as the firm running cost on generating plant became more ex-
Mansard Insurance MD, Yetunde Ilori
pensive. Its Net claims incurred moved by 17 percent to N4.11bn in 2014 from N3.50bn in 2013. Mansard outstripped other insurers to win the Insurance and Pension Service Risk award for its ability to incorporate the social factor risk as part of its package, which the awardees say distinguished the company from other players in the industry. Total assets were up by 23.60 percent to N44.89bn in the review period from N36.13bn in 2013. Total shareholders’ fund increased by 9 percent to N16.32bn in in 2014 from N14.93bn in 2013.
Ojumah predicts stronger liquidity for industry
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he Chief Executive Officer, FBN Life Assurance Limited, Mr Val Ojumah, has said the enforcement of ‘No premium, no cover,’ a policy initiative of the National Insurance Commission as provided in the Insurance Act 2003, will lead to increased liquidity, higher returns on
Ojumah
investment and timely claims settlement. In a statement on Friday, he said, “No Premium No Cover” a provision in Section 50 (1) of the Insurance Act of 2003 states that “the receipt of an insurance premium shall be a condition precedent to a valid contract of insurance and there shall be no cover in respect of an insurance risk, unless the premium is paid in advance.” Ojumah said the insurance industry and the insurance consumers would be the ultimate beneficiaries of the policy, which became effective from January this year. He explained that it would enhance adherence to best practices and professionalism in the sector and ultimately promote insurance penetration and patronage.
“The policy provides an excellent platform for the sector to raise the bar of service excellence and responsiveness when it comes to claims settlement. All of these will lead to a better image for the industry, increased confidence in the business from consumers and prospects alike and better return on investments for all stakeholders,” he said. According to him, the current regulation by NAICOM is a welcome development. He said, “The policy again will save the industry billions of naira loss on premium receivables as well as millions spent on pursuing premiums.” Ojumah noted that FBN Life aligns fully with the regulation in line with its commitment to best practices as well as good corporate governance.
National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
33
NAICOM lists 10 compliant firms
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he National Insurance Commission, NAICOM, has listed Aiico Insurance Plc, Industrial & General Insurance, IGI, and Standard Alliance Insurance Plc among seven other companies that are yet to submit its 2014 first quarter financial returns to the commission. This is contained in a notice posted on the commission’s website that other companies that are yet to submit are Lasaco Life Assurance, Law union & Rock Insurance, NICON Insurance, Unic Insurance, Investment & Allied Insurance, Spring Life Assurance Ltd and Alliance & General Life Insurance. The commission further listed Mutual Benefits Insurance Life and General Insurance, Goldlink Insurance plc, Sovereign Trust Insurance Plc, Cornerstone Insurance Plc, Custodian General and Life Insurance, Mansard Insurance, Consoli-
dated Hallmark Insurance, Sterling Assurance Plc, Lasaco General Insurance and Linkage Insurance as companies that have submitted 2014 first quarter financial returns. Others that have submitted are FBN Life Assurance, Old Mutual Nigeria Insurance Company, Old Mutual Nigeria Life Assurance ,Equity Assurance , Fin Insurance Company, Guinea Insurance, Leadway Assurance Company, NEM Insurance, International energy Insurance, KBL Insurance, Niger Insurance Plc, Nigeria Reinsurance Corporation, Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Corporatio, NSIA Insurance, Oasis Insurance, , Prestige Assurance Plc, Regency Alliance Insurance Plc, Royal Exchange Prudential Life, Standard Alliance Life, UBA Metropolitan Life Insurance, Union Assurance Co. Ltd and Staco Insurance Plc, amongst others.
US insurers facing $1bn payout
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on’s catastrophe model development team, Impact Forecasting said in their monthly Global Catastrophe Recap report that US insurers face a minimum of $1bn payout following February US winter weather losses. The report, which evaluated the impact of the natural disaster events that occurred worldwide during February 2015, reveals that 72 people died during five separate periods of heavy snow, frigid cold, freezing rain and ice impacted parts of the US. “Prolific winter weather highlighted a very active February for the eastern half of the United States. Arctic cold, including multiple returns of the Polar Vortex, also contributed to residential and commercial losses that impacted dozens of states. As we begin to transition to the start of the severe weather season, it will be interesting to see if a cooler pattern lingers into the spring months. Should such a scenario occur, it is entirely possible that US tornado totals could remain at historically low levels for a fourth consecutive year,” says Steve Bowen, senior sci-
entist and meteorologist at Impact Forecasting. Meanwhile in Africa, Tropical Storm Fundi brought torrential rain and strong winds to Madagascar, causing six fatalities and damaging almost 7 500 homes. Elsewhere, two spells of winter weather impacted parts of Europe and Asia. In Europe, 19 people died as heavy snow fell across large areas of the continent resulting in power outages and transport disruptions. While in Asia, large avalanches killed at least 286 people and destroyed 1 250 homes in Afghanistan. Cyclones Lam and Marcia both made landfall in Australia within the space of six hours on 20 February, resulting in nearly 15 000 insurance claims as insured losses from Marcia alone reached $69m. Combined economic losses from the storms were preliminarily listed at $312m. Flooding addicted all six inhabited continents during February, with the costliest event occurring in Indonesia, killing six people. Total damages in Jakarta alone were listed at $235 million.
34
Insurance
Tuesday, April 14, 2015
National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
How NAICOM can create awareness –Experts
Awareness, being the outcome of information flow, may just be the key initiative the insurance industry needed to pursue in its efforts to regain public confidence and patronage of its products and services. TAYO ELEBIJO writes that this could enhance premium volume and improved contribution of the industry to the nation’s Domestic Gross Product, GDP.
G
etting the people involved in the insurance products could be tasking. It is not only tasking in Nigeria, but also in other parts of the world. Although, the National Insurance Commission, NAICOM, has done a lot to get the people to participate in insurance, still several million Nigerians who were supposed to take insurance policy seemed to be apathetic to its promises . This is not to say that the NAICOM has not made any impact in this area, in fact, it has helped to move the insurance industry from the comatose stage it had been to a new virile stage of recognition such that investors across the world now have confidence in the Nigeria insurance industry. Many of them have already invested in the industry just because of the new best practices standard put in place by the insurance regulatory body. The Market Development and Restructuring Initiative, MDRI, is one of the marketing and insurance compliance team put in place by NAICOM to create awareness as well as enforce the insurance code best practices in the industry. This body has helped expand the reach of insurance as well as the compliance to the code by the insurance operators in the country. However, a top insurance company manager in the country who pleaded anonymity told National Mirror that though NAICOM needs to enforce the law but it should do so with caution so as not to have a counter result or setback. According to him, the insurance regulatory body needs to employ the services of psychologists who will help it in its enforcement and marketing drives. This he said would help NAICOM have a blue print on which it could design the measures awareness it wants for the people. He said, “Why are many people accepting to participate in insurance in the advanced countries and why do people not want to participate in Nigeria despite the repeated calls by the insurance operators and NAICOM”. The regulatory body he said needs information on these questions before it can have further breakthroughs in its efforts at repositioning the insurance industry. “It’s not that there no money in the system that the people have refused to insure themselves and their businesses, rather something is wrong because these people seemed to have their preferences. Many are spending hundreds of thousands to of naira on gambling
Commissioner for Insurance, Fola Daniel
Lawal
In other countrIes, people buy assets and Insure them agaInst damages because they could be destroyed by rIoters, fIre and other unforeseen perIls and the Insurance companIes would be there to provIde mInImal dIscomfort to the owner across the streets in the country for instance , so it is the duty of NAICOM to seek to know why the people prefer gambling where they could lose totally to taking insurance policy which gives them a brighter future. If they can find answers to these questions, then they are on the road to further achievements because it will help them to know the methodology to apply in their awareness programmes.” In reality, NAICOM could design some new ways of awareness programmes that will lure if need be , the generality of the Nigerian people into the mainstream of insurance policy holders. Somehow, NAICOM, the insurance regulators, may consider the new strategy whereby those being targeted for the awareness programme would be divided into segments . It could get to the people through the trade associations they belong. The strategy to get the insurance message across would be in such a way that at the end, the message received would create immediate positive response that would make the receivers subscribe to some of the insurance products presented to them. Getting to the people through their village meetings in Lagos for instance, is another option NAICOM could consider to create its insurance awareness among the Nigerian people. In addition,
NAICOM could also get its messages across to the people through their religious associations. For instance, it could use the church and the mosques but the whole efforts must be systemic in such a way that the entire awareness programme package would not be hurried but handled cleverly with the intent to communicate to them. Furthermore, to get tangible result from the awareness programme, NAICOM must have regard for the culture and the norms of the people being targeted for the awareness programme at a particular time at a particular place. It is very imperative not to overlook these points as they would help disarm many people who place high premium on their cultures and norms. As it is, many Africans are known to cherish their cultures and norms. It would therefore be a misplaced priority to ignore what they hold so dire to them if one wants to get them to participate in the insurance. There is no doubt that involving the people in insurance has always been challenging. In Nigeria, it is no exception . Today, in Europe and America, insurance has for long been known to be a greater player in the liquidity reserve which has always been to the benefits of the economies of those countries. But why should Nigerian be an exception
even with its over 175 million population figure? A figure that has encouraged top Europe insurance companies to invest in the insurance industry in Nigeria. Somehow, the government would need to assist NAICOM in its drive to get the insurance messages across to the generality of Nigerians. Creating awareness has remained the key to the success of the insurance industry in the country as several millions of the people are ignorant of the what insurance denotes or what contribution it could make to their lives. So government would itself be in a better position in the near future if it could consider as a matter of urgency financial aid to NAICOM by way of intervention fund to help the insurance regulators create the much needed awareness that would shore up the insurance premium generation in the country to develop the economy and set the pace for greater employment opportunities for the teeming millions of the unemployed Nigerian youths. Rather than lay emphasis on enforcement for now, NAICOM would be better positioned if it could create awareness with fun which will endear it to the people than holding the big stick against the people who are even uninformed about its contribution so far to the growth of insurance, what insurance stands for and what they stand to gain all the time if they are insured. The Managing Director, Sterling Assurance Nigeria Limited, Fatai Kayode Lawal told National Mirror that NAICOM has done well so far but stressed that continuous awareness is key to getting the people informed about what they stand to benefit from insurance. In other countries he added, people buy assets and insure them against damages, because they could be destroyed by rioters, fire and other unforeseen perils and the insurance companies would be there to provide minimal discomfort to the owner. “I think NAICOM has done well. They need to continue to do the same thing along the line of Marketing Development and Restructuring Initiative because continuous awareness is important. In other countries, people buy assets and insure them against damages because they could be destroyed by rioters, fire and other unforeseen perils and the insurance companies would be there to provide minimal discomfort to the owner” he said.
Tuesday, April 14, 2015
Money
National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
35
ICT infrastructure: Operational boost to cashless policy drive The Central Bank of Nigeria’s CBN’s, cashless policy initiative is aimed at financial inclusion, amongst other objectives. Despite the initial pessimism among analysts about the feasibility of the project, the increasing investments by banks on critical Information and Communication Technologies to drive the policy implementation have changed the old story as more stakeholders embrace the policy. UDO ONYEKA reports
T
here were initial anxieties that inadequate Information and Communications Technology ,ICT, infrastructure may frustrate the Central Bank of Nigeria’s ,CBN’s, cashless policy and the financial inclusion project, but Deposit Money Banks, DMBs and their counterparts at the micro economy, the Micro Finance Banks, MFBs, have revved up the drive to ensure the success through massive investments on critical ICT infrastructure and other initiatives In the recent past banks delivered poor service to their customers due to regular breakdown of internet and other electronic facilities. During those period banks customers were put through untold hardship in trying to obtain the services of the banks. The CBN cashless programme which began in Lagos in January is aimed at among other things make transactions with financial institutions very easy and simplified. It also fashioned at bringing the money outside the banking system into the banks for the growth of the economy. National Mirror investigations revealled that banks had actually delivered on this laudable project as many of the banks services have gotten better by the day. Many watchers of the industry have said that the encouragement and regular supervision by the regulatory authority has actually brought out the best in the banks in terms of service. Many of the banks’ are beginning to record new customers and many who withdrew their patronage as a result of unsatisfactory services they received in the past are returning to patronise the banks. Many banks’ customers have continued to recount of improved services in the banking halls while complaints by those using the Automated Teller Machines ATMs has reduced to its barest minimum. It was discovered that increasing numbers banks customers also owing to financial inclusion drive of the CBN, motivated the financial institutions to upgrade their IT infrastructure which enabled them to render qualitative service. Before the banks step up in upgrading their IT facilities stakeholders had however said that if nothing was done about the state of IT facilities and infrastructure in the banking sector, the industry might find itself were it was before the reforms, when customers spend several hours in transactions which ordinarily would have taken few minutes. Even though many do not agree that service quality in banks has improved tremendously, market watchers believe that the quality of services of banks has improved, especially when situated side by side with current charges. It has been observed that while services of banks are improving, their charges are had dropped. Managing Director, Access Bank plc, Her-
CBN, Governor, Godwin Emefiele
GT Bank, MD, Segun Agbaje
It Is the value we place on
satIsfactIon of
customers of fInancIal InstItutIons that led to creatIng of new dIrectorates that handles customers complaIns bert Wigwe, at a forum in Lagos said that in pursuing business opportunities, Access Bank’s customers’ needs would always be taken care of, through well trained workforce and up to date facilities. “It is our sole responsibility to ensure that we provide a first class service to our customers at all times,” he said. According to Director of Corporate Communications, Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Ibrahim Mu’azu the apex bank has always encouraged the banks to regularly upgrade their facilities in line with trends in the industry. He said bank customers deserve good services and must be satisfied for them to continue to patronise the banks. “The CBN is interested in banks’ customers receiving quality services and we have encouraged the banks’ to adequately upgrade their facilities so that their customers would not continue to complain. “It is the value we place on satisfaction of customers of financial institutions that led to creating of new directorates that handles customers complains. And I must tell you that the CBN does not sweep any complain under the carpet. We monitor the activities of all the banks and any financial institution that is found wanting has never and would not go without being punished”, Mua’azu said. National Mirror gathered that in order that banks give adequate internet banking services the CBN put in place guidelines for internet, online, banking in Nigeria. “There are guidelines provided by the apex bank. The CBN monitors the technological acquisitions of banks. It also ensures that all banks that operate e-banking
work within the required ambit”, a CBN staff said. Head of Corporate Communications, Accenture, Mr. Niyi Yusuf, who spoke on ways of improving infrastructure and high operating cost said high operating cost resulted in high cost- to –income ratio across the banking industry. Yusuf said that the CBN would soon address the rising cost profile of the banks and the consequent high cost of banking services just as he hinted that the CBN had identified options for improving the industry Cost Profile, through a three-pronged approach. According to him, market Regulation/ Rationalisation by the regulator, Collaboration/Sharing of certain Functions by the industry players, and improving internal processes by individual banks were keys to achieving the desired improvements. “On market regulation, the CBN introduced cashless policy, new Point of Sales guideline, Direct Debit Guideline, among others; the Sharing functions include: industry collaboration on POS aggregator, centralized direct debit mandate management, Centralised Industry cash management among others. However, internal improvements by individual organisations remain a key component to achieving the desired efficiencies,” Yusuf said. Managing Director of Guaranty Trust Bank, Mr. Segun Agbaje had regularly assured GT Bank customers that the bank’s card products, internet banking platform and other alternative channels are safe and reliable. He reiterated his bank’s regular upgrade of IT facilities when the bank’s alternative banking channels received a boost recently with the
Access Bank, MD, Herbert Wigwe
receipt of the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard certification, PCIDSS, after the bank updated its facilities. PCIDSS certification is worldwide security standards maintained by the Payment Card Industry Security Standards Council, PCISSC, to detail acceptable technical and operational requirements, which help organizations that process card payments prevent credit card fraud, hacking and various other security vulnerabilities and threats. In the same vein, First Bank regularly upgrade its facility by working with the Pan African ICT Company, Computer Warehouse Group ,CWG, months ago to develop Firstmonie Mobile Money Service, an innovative product that enables customers to access financial and other value added services offered by the bank through their mobile phones. Firstmonie mobile money service was birthed as part of First Bank’s dynamic innovative drive to drastically reduce the rate of unbanked adults in Nigeria while providing “convenient and safe banking” for the “under banked “and the “banked” to access their bank account through their wallet and transfer fund from their bank account to wallet and vice versa using their mobile phone. According to Head, Mobile Money Unit, ExpertEdge, The software division of CWG, Tayo Oduwole, said Firstmonie is a unique technology approach to meet and exceed holistic needs of the customers. He noted that at the heart of the FirstMonie service is the latest release (version 5) of Fundamo mobile financial technology. “The Fundamo software is regarded as the world’s leading financial services platform and the latest release which is the fifth version of the technology is the culmination of more than 11 years’ worth of best of breed technology, best practices and vast experience in deploying successful mobile financial services platforms on a global basis,” Oduwole said.
36
Taxation
Tuesday, April 14, 2015
National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
Planning to file your returns? do it before the due dates!
I
t takes more than just paying your taxes to be a good taxpayer, you must ensure you pay on or before your tax liability is due; if every taxpayer decides to pay their taxes only when they feel like, or when it is convenient for them, then they probably maynot pay at all since there may never be such a time that is ‘convenient’ to pay. For this reason, the tax laws are drafted in such ways as to ensure that taxes for a particular period are not carried over to other periods. The statutory date required for a particular tax type to be remitted or filed is called “due date”. Any taxpayer who remits or files returns after the statutory due dateis considered late and this attracts certain penalties. The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) is saddled with the responsibility of ensuring that taxpayers remit and file their taxes as and when due, and also enforce penalties where there is lateness. The lax laws are actually considerate as they give adequate time to allow taxpayers prepare to make payment for each tax type. Tax types and their Statutory Due Dates 1. Pay-As-You-Earn (PAYE): PAYE is expected to be remitted by the employer on behalf of the employee after deducting the appropriate amount of tax from the employee’s monthly salary. The deducted tax is expected to be remitted not later than 10 days after the end of the month for which the tax was deducted or duty to deduct arose, i.e. 10th of the month after the month deduction was made (Operation of the Pay-As-You-Earn (PAYE) Scheme Regulations Section 7(1)). Annual returns must however be filed with the relevant tax authority, not later than 30 days after the end of the year of assessment – this is usually taken as 31st January of the succeeding year (Operation of the Pay-AsYou-Earn (PAYE) Scheme Regulations Section 10(1)).Failure of the employer to deduct or having deducted (failure) to pay to the relevant tax authority within the stipulated time from the
Finance Minister, Okonjo-Iweala
FIRS House
day the amount was deducted or the time the duty to deduct arose, amounts to an offence under the Act.Section 94(1) of PITA (as amended) stipulates a penalty of N5,000.00 on conviction, plus N100 for every day in which the failure continues in addition to the principal amount to be remitted.Section 81 (3) of PITA stipulates a penalty of N500,000.00 for corporate bodies and N50,000.00 for individuals for late filing of annual returns upon conviction. 2. Personal Income Tax (PIT):Due date for filing PIT is 90 days after the end of the year, this is usually taken as 31st March of the following year (PITA Section 41(3). The penalty for late filing of PIT is the same as that of PAYE as prescribed in the PIT Act in Section 82. 3. Value Added Tax (VAT)& Withholding Tax (WHT):FIRS Information
Ag. Executive Chairman FIRS, Samuel Ogungbesan
Circular 9304 on VATprescribes that returns should be rendered on or before the 21st day of the Month following that in which the sales/supply was made. A taxable person who fails to submit VAT returns as stipulated is liable to a fine of N5,000 for every month in which failure continues (VAT Act Section 35). The same date applies to the WHT. Failure to deduct or to remit after deduction attracts a penalty of 10% of the amount of tax to be deducted in addition to the amount itself plus interest at prevailing rate (PITA Section 74(1) as amended). 4. Company Income Tax (CIT)& Education Tax (EDT): CITA Section 55(3)(a & b) explains that any company that has been in existence for more than eighteen (18) months is required to file returns every year not later than six (6) months after the end of its accounting year. For a new company however, returns is expected to be filed within eighteen (18) months after the company was incorporated or not later than six (6) months after the end of its first accounting period; whichever is earlier. A company can apply in writing for an extension of the date for filing their returns for a particular year, provided the application is made before the statutory due date and that the company shows a good cause for the inability to meet the statutory due date. The penalty for late filing of CIT as spelt out in the Section 55 (3) a & b of CITA LFN 2004 (as amended) is N25,000.00 in the first month of failure and N5,000.00 for each subsequent month. 5. Petroleum Profits Tax (PPT): This is peculiar to companies involved in petroleum operations. PPTA Sec-
tion 30(1) prescribes that an estimated returns should be filed not later than two (2) months after the commencement of the accounting year (this is different from others that are filed at the end of the accounting year). Section 30(2) further states that “if, at any time during any such accounting period, the company having made a return as provided for in sub-section 1 is aware that the estimate in such returns requires revision, then it shall submit a further return containing its revised estimated tax for such period”. In a case where a company has a good reason (satisfactory to FIRS) for which it cannot meet up with the timeframe stipulated in Section 30 - 33 of the PPTA, such company can write to request for an extension in the time which the Board (FIRS) may grant after necessary consideration. At the end of the accounting year, a final tax returns is expected to be filed as stipulated by Section 30(2) of the PPTA not later than five (5) months after the accounting year end. Section 51(1) stipulates an initial penalty of N10,000 for failure to file returns within the period stated in the Act plus N2,000 for every day the failure continues. 6. Capital Gains Tax (CGT): This is the tax imposed on the gains made from the disposal of an asset such as a house, vehicle, machinery etc. It is charged at 10%. The due date for filing CGT according to the CGTA Section 17(3) is the last day in that year of assessment. It should however be noted that individuals will file CGT returns with the relevant State Board of Internal Revenue while companies will file with the FIRS.
Tuesday, April 14, 2015
Capital Market
National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
37
Transcorp revenue hits N41.3bn in 2014 Johnson okanlawon
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ransnational Corporation of Nigeria, Transcorp, has announced its audited full year result for the 2014, showing a 120 per cent growth in revenue. The group declared a revenue ofN41.3billion from N18.8bn recorded in 2013. Analysis of the result showed a gross profit of N27.6 billion, an increase of 92 per cent when compared to NN14.4billion recorded in the same period of 2013 . The company operating profit for 2014 stood at N13.6bn, an increase of 33 per cent from the amount recorded in 2013. The company net finance cost for the year grew from N2.5billion in 2013 by 208 per cent to N7.8billion in 2014, principally from foreign exchange losses and full year of debt service on acquisition finance loan for Transcorp Ughelli Power Limited. Profit before tax declined 14 per cent to N7.7billion in 2014 from N9.0billion in 2013. Total assets for the group grew by 14 per cent, from N149.6billion in 2013 to N170.8billion for the period.
NSE DG Oscar Onyema
The company attributed the increase to strong contributions from power business (Transcorp Ughelli Power Limited) and hospitality subsidiary (Transcorp Hotels Plc). Speaking on the result, the President of the company , Mr. Emmanuel Nnorom said, ‘We are delighted to record an impressive performance, despite the challenges we experienced within our operating environment. “We achieved significant growth in
May & Baker posts N103m profit Johnson okablawon
M
ay & Baker has has returned to profitability going by its result for the financial year ended December 31, 2014. The company rose from a pre-tax loss position of N11.4 million in 2013 to N101.1 million. Similarly, after tax profit rose 161 per cent from a negative of N103 million in 2013 to a positive of N63 million in 2014. This was achieved on a group turnover of N7 billion, against N6.3 billion in 2013, a growth of 10.2 per cent. Result for the year 2014, shows that the company recorded a 990 per cent growth in profit. Analysis of the result shows thay cost containment and efficient resource utilization were responsible for the positive signals by way of reduced financing charges, distribution, sales and marketing expenses all which combined to deliver healthier bottom-line.
Key extracts of the audited report and accounts of the company for the year ended December 31, 2014 made available by the Nigerian Stock Exchange showed a growth of 10.2 per cent in sales. The company boosted its operational profitability with 16.2 per cent increase while sales and marketing expenses dropped three per cent and finance costs also dropped 4.2 per cent. However, finance cost still remains a challenge to the company. It will be recalled that the company got under pressure from financing charges and depreciation allowances as a result of its new pharmaceutical manufacturing plant, which was financed largely by loans during the 20082009 capital market recession. Finance costs rose by 34.3 per cent to N630.71 million in 2013 compared with N469.63 million in 2012, while the company provided about N240 million annually in 2013 and 2014 out of its gross profit
for the depreciation of the new pharmaceutical facility with monthly depreciation average of N19.8 million. Depreciation on the new plant started in second quarter of 2012. The company had raised her capacity to produce more products with the construction of the world class pharmaceutical centre known as the PharmaCentre located in Ota Ogun State. The facility has raised production capacity by over 60 per cent. The PharmaCentre is a mega investment in the pharmaceutical sector targeted at making Nigeria one of the leading producers of quality medicines in the world. It is one of the few Nigerian pharmaceutical facilities that were recently certified by the World Health Organisation on good manufacturing practice. The PharmaCentre is currently undergoing the process of WHO pre-qualification for its specific products
Transcorp President/CEO. Nnorom
our top line and maintained our margins within acceptable limits, despite the delayed implementation of the Transitional Electricity Market (TEM), exchange rate movement and reduced occupancy arriving from security challenges and the viral epidemic in West Africa.” He said that the company is particularly impressed with the performance of power business, which currently is producing a generating capacity of 610MW, up from 160MW at acquisition in Novem-
ber 1, 2013. “Our ability to outperform our capacity targets agreed at privatisation, reiterates our commitment to excellence and our diversification strategy,” he added. On the company outlook, he said, “We expect an even better performance across all our business focus areas, including the anticipated implementation of TEM and an increasing stability in the economy and tourist environment. “ Our new hotels development in Lagos and Port Harcourt are progressing well and our Agribusiness division has commenced delivery of juice concentrates to international beverage manufacturers in Nigeria,” he said. He added that with the signing of production sharing contract by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, the oil and gas business is on course for the drilling of its first well this year. The company is a publicly quoted conglomerate with a diversified shareholder base of over 300,000 investors. Its portfolio comprises strategic investments in the power, hospitality, agribusiness and oil and gas sectors.
UBA deploys new technology to boost e-banking
U
nited Bank for Africa has deployed a new information technology platform to boost its electronic banking channels. A statement from the bank said the platform, called Finacle 10x, will enable customers to carry out quick, efficient and secure services via the bank’s e-platforms such as Internet banking and mobile banking, according to a statement by the lender. It added that it had improved the uptime period on the bank’s e-channels like the Point-of-Sale machines and the Automated Teller Machines. The Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, UBA, Mr. Phillips Oduoza, was quoted as saying, “We embarked on this major upgrade of our systems to simplify our processes and significantly improve the customer experience across all channels including e-channels like smartphones, tablets, phablets, laptops and desktops. “UBA customers can now enjoy faster, richer and more secured services on these channels
using our internet banking application ‘U-Direct’ and our mobile banking application ‘U-Mobile’. We have also made these applications more accessible by providing a seamless, self-service enrolment process.” Finacle 10x is said to be the latest generation of banking applications developed by Infosys, the world’s leading developer of banking applications. “The system will enhance our multi-country operations by facilitating new levels of process integration across our diverse African footprint spanning 19 African countries, enable rapid innovation and expand our capacity to offer a comprehensive set of products to meet the specific requirements of different segments of our diverse customer base.” The CEO, UBA Africa, Mr. Kennedy Uzoka, added. According to him, the new platform will improve all segments of the bank’s operations including; retail, trade and corporate banking, deposits and loans management, product development and
enhance customer information management. The Director, Group Information Technology, UBA, Mr. Rasheed Adegoke, said “Innovation and cutting edge technology will continue to shape banking operations in the increasingly competitive banking industry. “Our new IT platform will enable us to be at the forefront of innovation and efficiency in the banking industry, and position UBA for global competitiveness.” The bank, however, warned its customers to watch out for ‘phishing emails’, stating that it would never contact customers by e-mail to change or confirm their data. The lender urged its clients not to respond to e-mails purportedly from the UBA requesting the confirmation of their bank details. “All customer details will remain the same after the upgrade. Therefore, we have no reason to ask for updates to personal details from our customers and certainly not via email,” Adegoke said.
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Features
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Auchi: Ancient kingdom
A typical erosion-devastated road
Auchi, an ancient cultural kingdom, epicenter of businesses, melting point of Edo North socio-political and administrative headquarters of Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State, had for years been buried under the rubble of erosion that continues to wreak havoc there: killing, destroying houses, uprooting crops, stifling businesses, devastating the environment and forcing residents to relocate from their ancestral homes until Edo State Government came to the rescue. Our Chief Correspondent, SEBASTINE EBHUOMHAN, reports after a visit
W
ith no authority, government, philanthropist or moneybags to look up to for protection or rescue, residents of Auchi for years resolved to look up to God for a miracle as they slept with an eye opened. The fear of losing kinsmen and homes to erosion especially in raining season was strong enough to banish sleep from weary eyes in Auchi. As an environmental scourge in Nigeria, erosion has a devastating and debilitating effect not just on the ancient kingdom but also on many other communities in Edo State. Indeed, the anxiety of the residents of Auchi, the heartbeat of Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State and livewire of Edo North reached feverish level when the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) predicted the heaviest rainfalls last year. The fact is: heavy rainfalls have been identified as the catalyst of erosion.
While some experts claim Auchi is a highly urbanized city, second only to the state capital, Benin City, others claim Auchi is one of the fastest growing towns in Nigeria. Whichever you accept of these claims raises the need for an urgent solution to the age-old problem of erosion in Auchi. Noted for a very unique but challenging topography of hilly and mountainous landscape, a large area of the town is susceptible to flooding, however. This has, over time, resulted in severe gully erosion problem ravaging many parts of the town for years, resulting in the loss of many lives and properties estimated at billions of naira. As a result, residents of the affected areas constantly live in fear when rain comes because they do not know what fate holds for them. Really, Auchi erosion gully spans tens of kilometres. It cuts through Warrake Road, ripping the environment down to Inu Umoru Street from where it extends
to Igarra Road. Erosion has become a persistent problem in Edo State. The havoc of erosion particularly in Queen Ede, 2nd Cemetery, Uselu and other areas of Benin City has recorded high human fatality and destroyed many public and private properties such as schools, PHC hospitals, parks and recreation centres as much as it has adversely affected political, social, and economic development. Overwhelmed with the dreadful reality in Benin City, Edo State blamed the Federal Government for causing the Queen Ede erosion disaster. The government claimed the erosion occurred from design error in the construction of Benin—Asaba Highway, which now requires billions of naira to fix owing to years of neglect. The search for a permanent solution led to the organization of a stakeholders meeting in Benin City in 2013. The meeting unveiled a new initiative backed by the Federal Government in partnership with World Bank and Edo State government. Called the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEW-
MAP), a team that involved officials of Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), Federal Ministry of Environment as well as other national and international consultants, the experts spent two weeks in Edo State for a Joint Technical Mission to facilitate the implementation of NEWMAP during which time they interacted with residents of erosion-devastated areas. Furthermore, continuous scientific researches on erosion had also raised hope of solutions. One of such research works, Aspects of Gully Erosion in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria, by Messrs Eseigbe Joseph Omon, Ojeifo, and Magnus Oisasoje, sought to ascertain the nature of soils in gullies subsoil using 2nd cemetery gully as a case study for the reasons why soils are easily washed off by runoff. The research particularly considered moisture content of soils, degree of firmness of physical state of the soils and particles size analysis; showed result that revealed the soil type as acid clay soil and silty gravel sand; and recommended the need to protect top soils from storm water and runoff, the regulation of land use types, and the use of manual brakes especially where money for the control of soil erosion is lacking. In spite of these efforts, the problem of erosion remained severe in Auchi, where laymen, community leaders, traditional rulers and political chieftains lament and agonize daily over their fate. Owing to the devastation of lives and properties by erosion, the Otaru of Auchi, Alhaji Haliru Momoh urged the Federal Government to declare Auchi a “disaster zone” after complaining that past pleas, correspondences and protests to government authorities yielded no results. Although, the traditional ruler had not too long ago led a delegation to the Minister of Works, Mr. Mike Onolememen, to intimate him of the threats posed by erosion to life on a portion of the Benin—Auchi—Okene Highway before the FG repaired the spot. Yet, Auchi people continued to live with the threats and dangers of erosion. For example, hundreds of travellers died from accidents at the erosion spot on the busy interstate federal highway before the Federal Government repaired it last year. Even more travellers died after a bridge on the Auchi—Igarra Road collapsed before prompting the government into action. While residents of Auchi commended the Federal Government for the dual action that reduced road traffic accidents and deaths on the roads,
NOTED FOR A VERY UNIQUE BUT CHALLENGING TOPOGRAPHY OF HILLY AND MOUNTAINOUS
LANDSCAPE, A LARGE AREA OF THE TOWN IS SUSCEPTIBLE TO FLOODING
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Features
Tuesday, April 14, 2015
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buried by erosion they urged the government to respond to the bigger threat erosion poses in the villages, towns and communities of Edo State. Particularly, they urged the Federal Government to tackle the largescale corruption that has prevented its Ecological Funds from achieving the objective of tackling erosion. According to a former Minister of Information and Culture and chieftain of the newly elected All Progressive Congress, Prince Tony Momoh, “The whole of Auchi Kingdom is going under.” Speaking at an erosion site, where he had taken former members of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change to after the installation of Chief Imams for Arafat Mosque in Auchi, Momoh explains that “Auchi erosion is different from any other erosion in Nigeria. It is cutting through Auchi Town. There is no place where erosion is dividing a community like it is doing in Auchi.” “Some schools have been closed; some houses, churches and mosques have been swallowed by the erosion. It is not what a state government can do alone. If I were the President, I would channel Ecological Funds to save this community. People have come. World Bank, Federal Government and agencies are always coming and going but nothing is happening. I came with our party leaders to see and they wept. People have to see before they believe what is happening here. The whole community is going under,” Momoh laments. But a community elder and publisher, Alhaji Usman Abuda, says it is regrettable that nothing concrete has been done by the Federal Government for a permanent solution. Abuda recalls, “There was a little solution when President Ibrahim Babangida was in power. Then, one Benin contractor was involved. But the problem was beyond his capability as one of his equipment (a caterpillar) was swallowed up by the gullies.” The problem of erosion historically challenges beyond Auchi-Jattu Road, leaving glaring mark at Iyuku junction of Okpella Road and the Water Board, which reportedly lost an engine some years ago. Abuda explains, “The culvert they built there was a poor work. We cried to the Federal Government. Whatever is their reason for ignoring the Auchi gullies, we don’t know. Lives have been lost. Houses have been submerged. About eight houses have caved in at the gully erosion route by Union Bank along Warake Road alone. These are not the ones that have been damaged in the other parts of Auchi. Hundreds of people have been rendered homeless in Auchi. Yet, the Federal Government is doing nothing about it. It is now threatening Auchi Town Hall.” A resident, Prince A. Z. Momoh, has been watching helplessly as his storey building now stands precariously on the precipice in Aboitse Quarters. “Nobody is listening to us. Every-
An ancestral home giving way to erosion
body is quiet about it. It looks as if they (FG) don’t know what is happening in Auchi. It appears as if they regard us as outcasts. It’s as if we are not Nigerians, for reasons we don’t know,” he cries. Momoh recalled that over 50 houses have been consumed by the ravaging gullies that often hasten the death of their owners and businesses and forced many to relocate from ancestral homes. He accused Federal Government officials of looting the funds meant to tackle erosion in Auchi because the kingdom is not a traditional stronghold of the ruling People’s Democratic Party since 1999. Other streets that are severely affected include Audu Momoh, Egbeadokha, Momoh and Inu-Umoru, where the only primary school has long been washed away by ravaging erosion that now threatens the neighbouring Central Hospital. As the faces of Auchi residents continued to reflect pain, forlorn and hopelessness over the years without any help from the Federal Government’s Ecological Fund, Edo State government stepped in last year. The Governor, Comrade Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole, vowed to put a permanent solution to the problem of erosion not only in Auchi but also at Queen Ede in Benin City. During an inspection, the Commissioner for Works, Mr. Osarodion Ogie said Auchi and Queen Ede pose the most serious threats to life and property in Edo State. True to his promise, Oshiomhole unveiled on 6th February, 2015, a N5.7 billion Auchi Erosion Project to tackle the menacing gully erosion threatening to consume the entire ancient kingdom. The project is a collaboration of Edo State Government, NEWMAP and the World Bank, which provided the fund after due diligence, assessment and ap-
SOME SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN CLOSED; SOME HOUSES, CHURCHES AND MOSQUES HAVE BEEN SWALLOWED BY THE EROSION. IT IS
NOT WHAT A STATE GOVERNMENT CAN DO ALONE
proval. Speaking during the flag-off ceremony, Oshiomhole lambasted the FG for denying Edo State access to Ecological Funds. The governor says, “We have borrowed N5.7 billion naira to protect this great kingdom of Auchi, to restore hope, to remove fear and the pain that the people suffer when it rains because that is the primary purpose of government. The loan that the bank gave us is at an interest rate of less than one per cent and it was spread so thinly that we can pay painlessly.” “Different governments in the past have attempted to address this problem. I am told that one contractor that was given the job in the past by some federal interests even have some of his second hand tractors still trapped in the valley of the kingdom because whereas the people of Auchi wanted government to solve the problem, some persons in government were more interested in pocketing tax payers’ money.” In his remark, the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Programme (NEWMAP) National Project Director, Mr. Chikelo Nwune says,
“Whatever will be done the challenge is on all of us to make it work. The money we are going to use to do this project is a loan that will be paid over several years. So, it is important for us to be prudent in the management of the project.” “The terrain of Auchi area is something we cannot change. We have done the design and the people who have the expertise and the skills are going to translate it and you will see the drain that will convey the runoff water into the water bodies. Beyond that, the natural environment will be tampered with. Some houses will go. But thank God, the resources are there to give compensation,” Nwune adds. The Project Engineer, Mr. Amim Tawk, says the reclamation process of devastated land is progressing even as the task is divided into three parts for simultaneous execution. The main part of the 24-month completion time project deals with sand filling and construction of centre drains for the main gully of about 820 metres. In his reaction, the Chairman of Auchi Erosion Gully Management Committee, Chief Aziz Ogboano expresses satisfaction with the quality of the job and appreciation to the Oshiomhole administration. He affirms that residents who lost their houses are to be compensated and resettled. According to the Commissioner for Environment and Public Utilities, Prince Clem Agba, it took Edo State about five years to accomplish the feat during which time it contributed an initial N30 million for designs, hosted an engineering clinic to review the designs, signed the subsidiary agreement with the Federal Ministry of Finance, issued a legal opinion in respect of the project and provided office accommodation for the state project management unit.
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Global Business
Tuesday, April 14, 2015
National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
United States loses sparkle, Europe shows recovery signs V I
Volkswagen chairman appears isolated on board after CEO criticism
nvestors will cast a wary eye on the latest gauges of the United States’ economic health this week, while troubled Europe shows early signs of turning the corner. As finance ministers and central bankers from the Group of 20 top economies gather in Washington, on the sidelines of the International Monetary Fund’s Spring meeting, they view a subdued global landscape where even the United States’ prospects seem tarnished. For a change, however, there are reasons for hope in the euro currency bloc, despite still low growth and high unemployment. European Central Bank President Mario Draghi will be able to claim an early success in the bank’s fledgling money printing program with figures on Friday set to confirm that falling prices throughout the 19-country euro zone are beginning to stabilize. Bank lending too is improving. “We’re seeing the opposite of 2014,” said Carsten Brzeski, an economist at ING bank. “Now there are more doubts about the U.S. and China than the euro zone.” The ECB’s long-awaited scheme to buy 60 billion euros a month of chiefly government bonds is also helping to steady nerves in wran-
gling with debt-strapped Greece. Greece has until mid-week to improve a package of reforms required for the release of euro zone loans that it needs to stay afloat, and that will be a hot topic in Washington. Were Greece to tumble out of the currency union, it could upset an already delicate global picture where even the U.S. economy, a beacon of economic strength, is losing some of its shine. On Tuesday, the United States will release March retail sales data. Although economists expect a rebound, shoppers are being cautious, holding back much of the savings made on lower petrol prices. Consumer inflation, one way of taking the pulse of the economy, has also slowed as oil prices drop. But even stripping out the impact of energy prices and the cost of food, analysts expect only a 0.1 percent month-on-month gain in U.S. consumer prices in March, due on Friday. Such signs of a sagging economy, including disappointingly low hiring last month, are leading investors to bet that the Federal Reserve will wait before hiking the cost of borrowing until October or even December. Many had previously pencilled
Obama
in a mid-year U.S. rate hike, which will be the first in more than eight years and likely to send ripples around the globe. For many of the central bankers and officials attending the IMF meeting, the later the United States moves to hike rates the better. The IMF’s economic outlook report, due early in the week, will likely make for sober reading. China, previously the main growth engine for the world economy, is likely to continue to slow despite two recent interest rate cuts. On Wednesday, the world’s secondlargest economy will unveil its economic output for the first quarter, alongside readings of factory activity, retail sales and investment.
Greece may have blown best hope of debt deal
E
ven if it survives the next three months teetering on the brink of bankruptcy, Greece may have blown its best chance of a long-term debt deal by alienating its euro zone partners when it most needed their support. Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras’ leftist-led government has so thoroughly shattered creditors’ trust that solutions which might have been on offer a few weeks ago now seem out of reach. With a public debt equivalent to 175 per cent of economic output and an economy struggling to pull out of a six-year depression, Athens
Tsipras
needs all the goodwill it can summon to ease the burden. It owes 80 per cent of that debt to official lenders after private bondholders took a hefty write down in 2012. Since outright debt forgiveness is politically impossible, the next best solution would be for Greece to pay off its expensive IMF loans early, redeem bonds held by the European Central Bank and extend the maturity of loans from euro zone governments to secure lower interest rates for years to come. “This step would save Greece’s budget billions of euros, while reforming the Troika arrangement, eliminating the IMF’s and the ECB’s financial exposure to Greece,” said Jacob Funk Kirkegaard, senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, who advocates such an arrangement. It would lower the effective interest rate on Greek debt to less than two per cent, far less than Athens was paying before the euro zone debt crisis began in 2009, and radically reduce the principal amount to be repaid over the next decade, giving Greece fiscal breathing space to revive its economy. And unlike ideas floated by
Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis to swap euro zoneloans for GDP-linked bonds and ECB holdings with perpetual bonds, paying out the IMF and the ECB early would be legal and supported by precedent. But if the economics make sense for Greece, the politics no longer add up for its partners. A euro zone official said there had been exploratory talks with the previous conservative-led Greek government about such a plan last year, before then Prime Minister Antonis Samaras chose to bring forward an election he lost rather than complete a bitterly unpopular bailout program. “Now it’s a political non-starter,” said a euro zone official. “There’s just no appetite in theeuro zone for a grand bargain to take over Greece’s debt to the IMF and the ECB.” Tsipras’ denunciations of EUprescribed austerity, demands for German war reparations and cosying up to Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Varoufakis’ footdragging on reform negotiations and initial calls for a “haircut” on Greek debt, have dried up the reservoir of sympathy for Athens.
olkswagen (VOWG_p.DE) Chairman Ferdinand Piech faces growing resistance within the carmaker’s supervisory board to his criticism of Chief Executive Martin Winterkorn. Piech on Friday publicly withdrew his confidence in Winterkorn who has been at the helm of Europe’s largest automaker since 2007, telling German magazine Der Spiegel he has “distanced” himself from the CEO. Piech’s remark was viewed by analysts as undermining the CEO’s prospects of renewing his contract, due to expire in December 2016 and to become chairman himself when Piech retires. “The comment from Dr Piech represents his personal opinion which has in substance and factually not been coordinated with the family,” a spokesman on Sunday quoted Wolfgang Porsche, member
of VW’s supervisory board and chairman of Porsche SE (PSHG_p.DE) as saying. The comments by Wolfgang Porsche, a cousin of Piech, indicates that the VW chairman, who has spent almost 22 years at the helm of VW, nine as CEO, may be isolated within the supervisory board. The state of Lower Saxony, where VW is based and which owns one fifth of VW’s voting shares, as well as the carmaker’s labor leaders who represent half the 20 members on VW’s supervisory board on Friday gave their backing to Winterkorn. Winterkorn, who in his eight-year reign has overseen VW’s transformation from a struggling German group saddled with high labor costs into one of the world’s most successful automakers, will fight for his job and feels emboldened by support from strong allies, company sources said on Saturday.
Volkswagen car
Nikkei hits 20,000 level for first time in 15 years
I
nvestors focused on Japan on Friday as the country’s benchmark Nikkei 225index traded above 20,000 for the first time since April 2000. The high was short-lived however with the index closing down 0.15 per cent at 19,907.63 points after hitting 20,004.99 in early trade. Shares were boosted by Wall Street ending higher after US energy stocks performed strongly. The Nikkei was also boosted on Friday by Japan’s Fast Retailing. Shares in Asia’s largest clothing retailer closed up more than 3.5 per cent on Friday following its announcement a day earlier that it had raised its income forecast for
Shinzo Abe
the full year to August by 20 per cent. Investors had also hoped for larger shareholder returns and a recovery in domestic consumption. The Nikkei is up nearly 15 per cent this year. Shares on mainland China reached a seven-year high on Friday as the Shanghai Composite benchmark index crossed the 4,000 mark for the first time since 2008. The index closed up 1.94 per cent at 4,034.31. China’s consumer inflation rate remained at 1.4 per cent in March. The lukewarm data may see China introduce further easing policies amid its slowing economy, analysts said. The country’s producer price index showed that factory deflation continued with prices down 4.6 per cent, although analysts had predicted a 4.8 per cent fall. In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng index continued its week-long rally. It closed up 1.22 per cent at 27,272.39, also marking a seven-year high. The chief executive of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange said it would “substantially increase” the quotas for the stock connect program between Hong Kong and Shanghai.
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Tuesday, April 14, 2015
Why I’m against Ejele’s role in pipelines surveillance project –Commissioner
equity, fair play and accountability come to play. I am asking him to pay the backlog of salaries he owe because I am very aware that the other trustee from Itsekiri paid the over 700 people he recruited for the period of time the contract lasted. I also aware that recruitment of people into the second phase of the contract has commence and we will mobilize to make sure that this time around those employed will get their wages and working equipments. We will not allow what happened in the first phase to repeat itself. We also look forward to seeing speed boats and vehicles to patrol some of these pipeline especially in the creeks as these where some of the things lacking in the first phase.
Comrade Omolubi Newuwumi is a Niger Delta activist and President of Iwere Development Association, IDA. He is also Commissioner for Youth Development in Delta State. Comrade Omolubi recently started a controversy when he accused his fellow tribesman, Hon. Michael Diden, aka Ejele, of not paying those he employed in the first phase multi-billion naira surveillance contract in Itsekiri communities. In this interview with THEOPHILUS ONOJEGHEN, he clears the air on some controversial issues, saying he was never against re-awarding of the contract, but against the injustice meted out to Itsekiri youths and its communities by Ejele. Excerpts Sir recently, you raised some fundamental issues over the pipeline surveillance contract as regard the way it was handled by one of the Itsekirii trustee, Hon. Michael Diden, alias Ejele, now that the contract has been awarded to the same person, what is your say? I am not against the re-awarding of the surveillance contract to the company per say, I am against one of the trustees representing the Itsekiri interest, Hon. Diden, whose huge appetite for money has denied the people the benefit inherent in the contract. While I want to commend the federal government for awarding the contract, I want to also urge them and other trustees of the company to compel Hon. Diden to pay the youths he allegedly recruited for the first phase their backlog of salaries and allowances he owe them and also make sure that justice, equity and fair play are respected in this new contract. In the first phase of the contract, the sum of 2 million dollars were meant to train about 5, 000 youths locally and internationally and the agreement equally reveals the name of the outfit to train these youth, so Ejele should show us those he trained during the first phase. Some are of the opinion that you are saying this now because of your failed bid to get the ticket for the chairmanship of your Local Government where Ejele was a former Chairman, they regard it as a personal vendetta against who they regard as your former boss, what is your reaction to this sir? For those that knows my antecedents, even Ejele himself and many Itsekiris know me that I do not just say something because I am fighting a personal war, this
Newuwumi
I am not agaInst re-awardIng of the surveIllance contract to the company
per se,
I am agaInst one of the trustees representIng ItsekIrI Interest, hon. dIden, whose huge appetIte for money has denIed the people the benefIts Inherent In the contract is not about me, it is about us, it is about the youths of Itsekiri, it is about been fair, it’s about how one man can collect what was meant for the empowerment of the youth and the communities, sit on it alone and impoverish many people. Now that a new contract has been signed, what are you doing to make sure that these anomalies do not occur again especially as regards the recruitment and payment of the youths required to survey this pipelines against vandalisation? We (the Itsekris) will not fold our hands again and allow this to happen, we will follow this particular contract and make sure that every beneficiary get what was originally meant for them in the contract. We will follow and monitor with all the required laws in the land and make sure that
people like Ejele does not enrich themselves with our collective wealth again. While I want to commend Government Ekpemepulo, alias Tompolo, for the maturity and sincerity in the handling of the contract as regard the Ijaws end of the deal, I want to also urge him to compel the other trustees to play by the rule and regulation guiding the contract especially as it regards the beneficiaries and the host communities. The contract like I say is welcome and I was never against the re-awarding of the contract in my first letter to the Presidency but against the manner it was handle by our own representative, Ejele, who use it to enrich himself rather than the people and the communities. Federal Government and the trustees of the company should also follow up these contracts with incorruptible monitoring teams in making sure that
Why do you wait for so Long before revealing all these weighty allegations? I did not react at first because I have been engaging him on some of these issues, on the need to pay those he recruited just like others has done and I believe he will see reason until recently when it become clear that he was not ready to pay. I have evidence that he has not paid and I was worried. You are also aware that I have fought other battles for my people. I am a youth leader with conscience and a passion to see that things are done fairly, that the people are not short-changed, that equity and fair play should be the watchword in everything we do. Some of the youths are very bitter that their salaries are not paid and an activist I have to fight for them. Like I say it is not about me or about Ejele or about the governor but about justice and equity, about empowerment for the youth. If we do not correct this now it means we are setting a bad precedent and these are some of the things that led to crisis because a rich man who fails to empower the youth is like the man who go to the bush fetch home ant infested firewood, that rich man should not complain when lizards started visiting him at home. Some are also saying that you were given some huge amount of money by the governor to castigate Ejele because of his disagreement with the governor, how true is this? These are frivolous allegation because one, the governor who is also an Itsekiri and Ejele do not have any quarrel or disagreement on any issues, they have been having a cordial relationship and that has not changed. So if anyone say that I am been paid to do this means that person is either playing to the gallery or does not know my antecedents. Check my antecedents, check how much I have fought for the Itskiri and the Niger Delta in general. Even the local content act which has been passed into law also empower companies to employ people from the local communities and that mean also paying them. If you employ a number of youths and money was made available to pay them but you pocket such money, what can of society do you think we are building? Is like we are sitting on a keg of gun powder because if these restless and penniless youths become hungrier, you and I know what will happen.
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National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
Delta Poll: Policemen, INEC driver escape lynching over alleged diversion of election materials Theophilus onojeghen WARRI
F
or allegedly attempting to smuggle electoral materials meant for Saturday’s gubernatorial and assembly election in Warri South Council Area, two police officers and a driver attached to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, weekend escaped being lynched by angry mob by the whiskers. National Mirror learnt that the materials were being moved with INEC van under the guise that they were not meant for Warri South and being taken to Isoko South as the original owner but investigations discovered it was not true. The INEC driver, in company of the two mobile policemen while driving from the commission’s premises along Esisi Road in Warri were intercepted by representatives of some political parties who suspected foul play and demanded that every vehicle leaving the complex must be checked to avoid similar things that happened during March 28 Presidential election. On checking the vehicle with registration number FG714V01, some bundles of incident forms and result sheets were discovered while others concealed under the legs of the policemen. When approached by newsmen, the Electoral Officer for Warri South, Fidelia Omoile, explained that the materials were meant for Isoko South and were being returned. But when calls were placed to INEC officials in Isoko South they refuted Omoile’s claims as materials for the area were intact. Responding to the development, the Electoral Officer for Warri South, Fidelia Omoile, said she stopped at Isoko on her way from Asaba adding that while offloading the materials in Warri, it was discovered the non-sensitive materials
belong to Isoko South. She said: ‘’When I got to Warri, I discovered that the materials are in my vehicle and I had to take them back to Isoko. The party agents saw the materials and said no problem, it is unfortunate that the people did not trust their representatives. ‘’It took the security men to calm them and for peace to reign. I have dropped the materials to enable my vehicle to leave for Asaba and give me more materials.”
Reacting to the incident, the All Progressive Congress (APC) House of Assembly candidate for Warri South 2 Constituency, Robinson Ariyo, who was among those keeping vigil in front of the INEC office expressed sadness saying that the development had confirmed fears that the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) was bent on rigging the election. “The incident confirms our fear that PDP planned to rig these elec-
WARRI
W
arri branch of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, has said it was still seeking for justice, one year after two of its members were gruesomely murdered while on their way to defend suspected kidnappers in an Ozoro Court, Isoko South of Delta State. It maintained that it would continue to resist attempts to sweep the matter under the carpet until the killers are apprehended and
form is filled for such person. ‘’We have a photograph of the bundles that were smuggled out. The materials were not kept inside the rear compartment of the van but underneath the front seat and a police officer was trying to use his legs to push them in. Eternal vigilance is a price we pay for liberty, we are prepared to pay the price, when election is not free and fair, it is a negation to the idea of democracy,’’ he said.
Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State, flanked by Governor-elect of Akwa Ibom State, Mr Udom Emmanuel, addressing party women at the Government House, Uyo, during a celebration rally to mark the victory of PDP in the state, yesterday.
How we secured election materials on Calabar waterways –Navy RichaRd ndoma CALABAR
T
he Nigerian Navy yesterday boasted that its officers and personnel of the force were able to prevent
miscreants and hoodlums from hijacking election materials which were conveyed through the riverine areas because of the adequate preparation made by men of the force. The navy comended the men for blocking all gaps that were hitherto available
Warri NBA demands justice for murdered colleagues Theophilus onojeghen
tions. The position of PDP has always been that card readers should not be used to enable them perfect their rigging strategies. They do not want to relent. ‘’These incident report forms, in thousands, would have gone out of this INEC office if not for the vigilance of my party members and other parties around here. The implication of the form is that if an electorate is unable to vote with the card reader, the incident report
punished for the crime.The late lawyers were Eguonor Dafiaghor and Samuel Ekwuaghanju. In a rally to mark their deaths in Warri, the NBA branch chairman, John Aikpokpo-Martins lamented that one year after police has not done any meaningful investigation to unravel the circumstances leading to their deaths. He said, “On 27 April 2014, the NBA promptly made a petition directly to the Inspector General of Police (IG) in view of the suspected persons involved in this condemnable act wherein we made passionate call for comprehensive investigation into
the murder of our colleagues. “Nothing has been heard thus far, giving the ominous belief that this is one murder the police is reluctant in investigating and bring the culprits to book in the circumstance in spite of the pressure made to bear on the police.” Aikpokpo-Martins noted that NBA has again written to the IG to awaken the “smothering coals of police investigation in the matter”, stressing that “we are watching and at the right time we would declare a new line of action if the police remain reluctant. We shall not relent.”
to miscreants to disrupt electoral process. Briefing journalists in Calabar,Flag Officer Eastern Naval Command,Rear Admiral Henry Babalola said that the Navy did everything humanly possible to ensure that the conduct of the elections was peaceful and successful. He said that the navy activities at the waterways prevented the influx of illegal immigrants,arms and ammunition which ought to have entered into the country throught the waterways to disrupt the governorship/State Houses of Assemblies Elections in Cross River State. According to him the Navy built platforms along the waterways that falls within their purview adding that with such a strategy inflow of arms and ammunitions and illegal immigrant were drastically prevented from entering the cities to disrupt the electoral process or overpowered INEC officials conveying election materials to their primary places of assignments.
Babalola stated that with the platforms the personnel were able to carry out a rigorous sea patrol along the waterways thus preventing sea robbers and every other electoral offenders from breaching the process of election or spoil election materials. “That was why we asked Akwa Ibom to brand 13 speed boats to cover Ibaka stressing that NNS Victory was also asked to block the water ways.” The FOC maintained that though the Navy had nothing to do with the conduct of the poll except when “we are called upon to assist them in the provision of security in some flash points. “We just only escorted the materials to and fro the elections venues along the waterways. we had our men on a standby in Onne Industrial Area and we also had a control point where we send our situation report to the Navy Headquarters. Apart from that,We also had our helicopters which monitored some flashpoints concerning the elections,” Babalola added.
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Tuesday, April 14, 2015
Politics
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ot to explain over mis-governance –Buhari way we can make progress. The APC is about cleaning the system, but right now, we have a lot of people who are accused of polluting the system moving into the APC. Don’t you think they will also pollute the APC? For those that are coming into the APC, I have no fear because we have our party structure. The fact that you were a party chairman or you were a minister before you join APC, though we appreciate the fact that you remain relevant in your immediate locality, but when it comes to the centre, there is some equality in the way the government will handle you. If we win majority of members of the National Assembly and Houses of Assembly in the states, it means that it is with the agreement of their constituencies that the Federal Government has the power that it has. If the Federal Government is insisting on accountability and being responsible, even if they go back to their constituencies, there is nothing they can do about the decision of the government. We are banking on that. I will give you an example of my state, Katsina. In 2011, the defunct Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, won all the senatorial seats and 13 out of the 15 House of Representatives seats, but it lost the governorship. Who conducted the election? Did people from space come for the election? That is the bad thing about lack of cohesion in a party. Leadership at all levels must work in concert. Otherwise, what Katsina State suffered, any state or the centre can suffer same. Those who are chief executives from local government, to states will be encouraged to work together. So, those that are coming in, I hope they will accept that they are coming to join those who succeeded and they should cooperate with them. They can’t come and say that because they were once ministers under PDP, they will join APC and become ministers the following month or so. I don’t think that will be acceptable even by their constituencies.
LAWLESS ACTS OF THE
HE
PDP ARE ON
PDP UNDERSTAND IT AND MAKE
SE WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT AND PROPERLY CHARGED
remarkable and I think it has to be totally exposed, so that Nigerians will know which of the law enforcement agencies and at what levels are undermining the constitution of Nigeria, because the Electoral Act is derived from the constitution of the country so that in future, those who are in position will know that they are not beyond the law. I think that is what will bring more stability into the system. In view of that, I will try and work with the National Assembly to make sure that we do something about it. There are speculations that wide spread looting is going on at moment after the fall of the PDP. What do you intend to do to check this trend? I will like to work within the system because we believe in it. I have just told you about three governors and the battle they have with the law enforcement agents in their states. We discussed and adviced them to try and document these things legally so that it can be taken before the court and we will make sure that we register the cooperation of the court so that people who work against the law are prosecuted, especially those who have lost their immunity, those who think they have immunity because this is the best way to stabilise the system. People must not benefit from being lawless. You can’t be in a position by virtue of the constitution, subvert the constitution and continue to enjoy the privileges offered by the constitution. I don’t think that will be acceptable by the APC. So, whether you are in the opposition or the government, you have to behave yourself. I think that is the
You introduced war against indiscipline as military leader. Several years later, one of the biggest problems in Nigeria today is indiscipline. How do you intend to handle this? I will mention how it came about. When we had our first Supreme Military Council meeting and governors were appointed, in my office, it was only me and late Tunde Idiagbon. We discussed and agreed that the main problem of Nigeria was indiscipline. If we can get majority of Nigerians to accept which ever level they are, we will make a lot of progress. I could recall that I advised that we should to the the Ministry of Information because there are a lot of people with first degree, masters and PhD who are sociologists and criminologists who were just warming their seats that they should get together and come up with a programme that will last for years and not just for six months and fizzle out. That was how we came about War Against Indiscipline, WAI. It was very well thought out. It was a military system. In democracy, people want a lot of freedom, but if they see the restraint in advanced democracies in Europe and America, they will realise that discipline is forced on people. There are things that, no matter how much you want to do them, you can’t do them. I think that we have suffered enough as a people and I think that people are more prepared to behave themselves now. About two years ago, I made some remarks in Hausa and people felt because now, some senior civil servants who are directors either at the state or federal can’t educate four children because the level of education has gone down so much. Those that can afford will rather send their children to Ghana or Sudan and those who can afford it more send theirs to America and Europe because the educational system in Nigeria has virtually collapsed. Therefore, we feel that by voting APC into power, Nigerians are placing confidence in us. On security, economy, especially unemployment and corruption, I believe that Nigerians will give us the understanding to make sure that we get our priorities correct. Education is going to be very important because when you educate the people, you solve half of your problems, because there is a level that an educated person will not accept. But when people are sentenced to illiteracy, when they are exposed to all manner of social vices
such as ethnicity and religion so that people don’t move forward, they are used to fight themselves. During your campaigns, you promised to declare your asset if elected. Will you still go ahead with that? I made a statement which has not been correctly captured by the media. I said that our generation, from late Murtala Muhammed, made sure that those who had appointments must declare his or her asset and this was later articulated in the constitution. It is up to the government to make sure that those who borrow money to build a house and end up with another house somewhere else with 50 bedroom and 20 living rooms should explain to Nigerians how they get the money. I could recall that I declared my assets three times. The first was when I got my first political appointment as governor of Borno State; secondly, when I was leaving government to go to the United States War College. I declared my assets then because I was closing my political chapter then technically. I could recall that General David Jemibewon was the Adjutant General of the Nigerian aArmy then. I had to declare my asset, deposit it there to be taken to court before I was allowed to proceed to the United States for my course. The third one was when I became Head of State. From General Obasanjo down till now, those of us that were in the Supreme Military Council, Council of States, Executive Council and even those who were Permanent Secretaries, at the time we got our appointment, the courts should be made to produce our declarations. So, all these noise about people being rich and nobody is saying anything about it, why can’t you prick the conscience of the existing government or are some of you part of the cover up? There have been reports that you promised to end Boko Haram within two months, but your media team reacted, saying you never said so. We want you to use this opportunity to clarify that. I think I am too experienced in internal security to give two months deadline on Boko Haram. I don’t think I would have made that mistake because I tried to look at some of my experiences, even when I was in uniform with the rebels from Chad when I was GOC in Jos and with Maitatsine. So, for me to say that when I come into office, I will get rid of Boko Haram in two months, I don’t think I would have made that mistake. I didn’t. As I mentioned on several occasions, we that have at one time or the other wore Nigeria military uniform felt terribly embarrassed that for six years, the Nigeria military couldn’t bring order to 14 local government out of 774 local government in the country after Burma, Zaire, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Dafur where Nigerian military earned respect internationally for their performances. To fail to secure 14 out of 774 local governments, I still can’t reconcile myself with that disgrace. We will try and work with our neighbours, which is the first time we should have done such as Chad, Cameroon and Niger who are fighting Boko Haram for us. Look at Chad helping Nigeria or Niger, or Cameroon itself. This nation has been humiliated by PDP. Nigeria has been humiliated by PDP. God willing, with our experiences, we will quickly marshal support and we are asking Boko Haram to pack and go. When will the Transition Committee be put in place? We have started discussing about it. Personally, I will make sure that it is not too big because if it is big, they will start thinking of how to influence the choice of ministers either for themselves or those they want to be ministers. But my hope and my idea are to get knowledgable and experienced technocrats that are really patriotic to study the handing over notes by ministries and make recommendations. I want them to be completely detached people who are patriotic Nigerians, who are knowledgable and experienced. If we get majority of politicians involved it will lead to a lot of raw and we may end up with inconclusive recommendations, which are not very helpful in our condition. When I get it ready and before it is published, I will show it to the leadership of my party and the terms of reference as well as the time limit and the result of their work, we will quickly study before the inauguration so that before we are sworn in, we get into action.
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New defectors into APC won’t get patronage –Saraki WOLE ADEDEJI ILORIN
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enator Bukola Saraki, former governor of Kwara State and leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the state has said the wide victories recorded by the party are not for it but that of Nigerians. Saraki who was speaking with journalists after INEC declared Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed returned for the second term said the widespread
success of APC across the country showed the determination of Nigerians to effect a change and found a platform in the APC. Speaking on the spate of defections into the party now after APC had recorded its victories already, Saraki said such defectors will be out for a shocker if their interests were to come and get appointment patronage because they did partake in the struggles that fetched the party victories. This he said will be
the same in Kwara State where new comers would have to go and be on queue Pointing out the latest defectors knew all along that there was no hope anymore in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, when Saraki and others left, Saraki added that the apparent shift of Nigeria to a one-party state, would be good for the kind of democracy Nigeria desires He said there should be a need for the opposition to keep those ruling the people on their toes to make
democracy meaningful, counseling political office holders to see democracy as a service and not for personal gains saying: “Our democracy must mature this time around and Nigerians should wait and see.” Senator Saraki said requests for public officers to declare their assets would be a guarantee for them not to be corrupt while in office saying that having leadership spirit was more important than filling and signing any paper.
Some of the electoral offenders paraded by the Oyo State Police Command in Ibadan, yesterday.
APC chieftain congratulates Amosun, Ajimobi KEMI OLAITAN IBADAN
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chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Ogun State, Dr. Femi Majekodunmi, has congratulated Senator Ibikunle Amosun on his re-election as the governor of Ogun State, saying it came as a result of hard work. Majekodunmi, while speaking with journalists in Abeokuta, said the victory of Senator Amosun, only proved that the people of the state will always stand by what is good as they appreciated what the governor has done in moving the state forward in terms of development. He also congratulated Governor Abiola Ajimobi on his re-election as the governor of Oyo State, stating that his victory could only mean that the APC has come to stay as the
leading party in the SouthWest region. The close associate of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, maintained that the APC governors with their victories, have proved that they are good ambassadors of the party, who used their position to serve the interest of their people through the delivering of dividends of democracy. According to him, the victory of the two governors apart from been a true reflection of the collective wish and aspirations of the people of the two states, was due to the fact that the standard bearers of the APC saw themselves as servants of their people and went all out to prove that the APC is different from other political parties. He said: “The two governors with their re-election has shown that the
APC has come to stay as the dominant party in the South-West region which will continue to serve the interest of the people more. Their victory simply came because of their hard work and true doggedness in delivering the dividends of democracy in virtually all the sectors to the good people of their two states.”
The Baagbile of Egbaland then commended Chief Obasanjo and National Leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, for championing the cause of the party towards bringing a new lease of life to the country through putting an end to poverty, insecurity, unemployment and corruption.
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PDP protests defeat in Lagos PATIENCE OGBO
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embers of the Peoples Democratic Party in Lagos State yesterday took to the streets to protest the loss of their candidates in the gubernatorial and state House of Assembly elections which held last weekend. Hundred of PDP members and supporters carried placards as they marched from the party’s secretariat at Idimu in Alimosho Local Government Area at about 1pm causing gridlock on the LASU-Iba road and major streets as they called for the cancellation of the last gubernatorial and House of Assembly elections in Alimosho local government council. All Progressives Congress, APC, candidates were declared winners in the elections. The PDP members in Alimosho said the election was full of irregularities as they further alleged that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, was compromised and biased which led to the party’s defeat. PDP Chairman in Alimosho area, Prince Ayodele Adelaja said the APC, in connivance with INEC officials allegedly manipulated the electoral process in Alimosho to favour APC candidates and therefore urged INEC to cancel the election and organise a re-run. Mr. Adeleja, who led the protest had earlier during a press conference at the party’s secretariat in Alimosho called on well meaning
Nigerians to demand for a probe of the 2015 elections, adding that the party’s votes were rigged to favour APC. He said: “Is this the change they are calling for? Where at the end of the election, our analysis shows that the numbers of voters in Alimosho are more than the accredited voters? What happened in Alimosho Local Government Area during the presidential and the gubernatorial/state House of Assembly elections is a great betrayal of the electoral process. “The elections were fraudulent in all the polling Units in Alimosho especially in Ward E 1 polling Units 004, 017, 024, 048, 049, 063, 067, 080, 04 and many others where our votes were rigged by INEC officials . “It will interest you to know that none of our party agents were allowed to monitor the accreditation process, and they were chased away during the collation of results. “The results presented by INEC for Alimosho LGA are a sham and we are calling for the cancellation and a re-run to be held soonest. We stood a great chance to win in Alimosho especially in Constituency 02 where our candidate for the State House of Assembly Hon Fatia Awolabi Kehinde had the highest votes until the election was rigged in favour of APC candidate during the collation period. “This is not the democracy that we are asking for where a party will massively manipulate the electoral process in connivance with INEC officials.”
Post-election violence: Ondo Rep’s house set ablaze OJO OYEWAMIDE AKURE
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member of the House of Representative, Albert Akintoye, on Sunday night narrowly escaped being attacked by some people suspected to be political thugs. Akintoye, who represents Irele/Okitipupa federal constituency, was
in the town to participate in last Saturday’s House of Assembly election. It was gathered that the suspected hoodlums, numbering about 12, had invaded the legislator’s house at Akotogbo in Irele Local Government Area of the state, shooting sporadically. The legislator said the hoodlums, who thought he was still around, arrived his house shortly
after he left the town on Sunday. According to him, the suspected political thugs set his house ablaze and vandalised other sections of the building when they could not find him. Akintoye, who said the hoodlums carted away valuable items such as electronic gadgets, clothes and jewellery among others from his house, accused a politi-
cian in Akotogbo and senior citizen in the state as the brain behind the attack. Three of the suspects were said to have been arrested and currently being detained at the Area Commander’s office in Ondo town. Police spokesman in the state, Wole Ogodo said he had not yet been briefed on the matter when contacted.
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Politics
Tuesday, April 14, 2015
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The challenge of securing the nation to survive 2015 elections CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13 In the face of all these and insults, the Nigerian Military was seen undeterred. Even when some elements in the military were allegedly bought over to support the Boko Haram and sabotage government and the military, loyal troops stoop to conquer. The betrayal led to the killing of so many soldiers and capturing of territories by Boko Haram, which at a point made the battle very frustrating and the troops were almost giving up hope on victory. Presently, many soldiers and officers have been convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment and death by firing squad, while others are still standing trial for mutiny before a General Court Martial, GCM over their sabotage and alleged sabotages of the war. Bearing in mind that it must protect the territorial integrity of Nigeria and its continuous peaceful existence, as well as safeguard democratic governance, the military insisted and got involved in the elections security given the intelligence report available to it that some elements were ready to drag the country down in pursuit of their selfish ambition. Opposition elements secured court orders to prevent the military from being used polling centres at the last elections, blackmailing that the military was being used by the incumbent to rig elections. Amid all odds, the military said it would be very much involved, even as the Chief of Army Staff, COAS, Lt-Gen. Kenneth Minimah, warned trouble makers to stay away, hence the military could never sit down and watch the country scatter as plotted by both some international and local players in Nigerian politics. Repeatedly, prominent Nigerian politicians accused the military of planning to stage a coup to disrupt democracy, some accused President Jonathan of planning Interim government with the military, others said he was preparing to handover to the military. This became very worrisome leading to the caution on several occasion by the Defence Headquarters, DHQ, through its Director of Defence Information, DDI, Major-General Chris Olukolade, that politicians should desist from dragging the military into their politics as the Nigerian military had since been refined as a professional institution and was ready to remain same. Apart from reassuring Nigerian Army’s loyalty to democratic institutions and the constitution, the COAs at a press briefing in Abuja, few days to the election was emphatic when he reminded that never again, will the military watch any part of Nigeria go down or people invoke or provoke violence. “Regarding the question on provision of security before, during and after the elections, I think the armed forces, the police, other security organizations have made adequate arrangements for security during the general and local elections a few days and a few weeks back. “I do not envisage any issues because this is just an election and it will come and go, though we know there are also elements within the political class that do
Dasuki (NSA)
Badeh
PRIOR TO THE ELECTIONS, BOTH BEFORE INITIAL DATE OF FEBRUARY 14 AND NEW DATE OF MARCH 28, THERE WERE MASS MOVEMENTS OF CITIZENS BACK TO THEIR STATES OF ORIGIN not want the normal election process to come and be put behind them. “I will appeal to politicians and their followers and supporters to keep the peace, maintain the peace and ensure a violence-free election. “I will appeal to law abiding Nigerians to come out en mass, vote for candidates of their choice without fear and intimidation, without fear for their safety against their rights to vote. And whoever wants to invoke or provoke violence, will meet an organized violence waiting for him. “I say this because you are media personnel. In a few years back, Obama and Mitt Romney, they polarised the United States of America but none of them threatened violence, none of them encouraged citizens to move out of fear. The election was won and America remains. “Today, Cameron and Miliband are almost polarising the United Kingdom. None of them has threatened the UK, none of them has threatened violence. Nobody thinks of violence as a process
of election, why must we in Nigeria consider violence as a process of all lost elections? Therefore, every Nigerian should go about the elections as a normal day to day job. Do your normal engagements. “Whoever threatens violence will meet violence. The elections will come and go peacefully. If you win you rule, if you loss, the remedies are there, go to court. That is just my advice and appeal to all Nigerians regarding this election”, the Army Chief said. At the risk of been misunderstood to be deploying troops and making the statement in favour of the incumbent, Army Chief had no choice, because it is very challenging to secure the country in a nation like Nigeria, especially on an election year. To buttress how much the security forces have suffered to ensure the survival of Nigeria during this election year, some citizens who spoke to our correspondents expressed an outright distrust for them saying that they were
Minimah
taking orders from President Jonathan, undermining the fact that the incoming administration is not coming with its own security forces neither is the outgoing leaving with them, except for the few that must be retired. Prior to the elections, both before initial date of February 14 and new date of March 28, there were mass movements of citizens back to their states of origin not because they wanted to vote, but for fear that war and collapse of the country were imminent. On Tuesday March 31, while it was getting close to declaring the winner of the presidential election, at about 2:00pm, banks had all conspired together and closed offices, markets closed, some churches failed to open their doors for service, office deserted as workers refused to go to work, most people were indoors, especially in the north, for fear of the possible violence and killings that would erupt from those the results will not favour. Be that as may, security forces were on red alert. The results were announced and before the winner could be announced, President Jonathan was reported to have put up a call to his opponent, Buhari, when it was clear that Buhari had won. Thus, the call which saved the country from the projected violence and collapse, saving the security forces the stress of peacekeeping and offensive operations after the elections.
Senator-elect worried over mass defection from PDP EZEKIEL TITUS BAUCHI
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ewly elected Bauchi South senatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Ali Wakili, has described the recent gale of defections by politicians as worrisome and not healthy for the nation’s political development. The senator-elect, who spoke to newsmen in his home town, Lere, in Tafawa Balewa local government area advised those defecting to the new winning party to instead of cross carpeting, form a formidable opposition to enrich the
nation’s democracy, saying that it’s not good for a party to rule without opposition to check mate it. “The recent defection saga happening in our political arena is worrisome to me, I called on opposition party members of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP defecting to APC just because they lost out, that it is not good for our nascent democracy political development. “I advised all opposition members to stay where they are, and transform their party into a formidable opposition party to further charge our political development.” Wakili stressed that the era of bench
warming in the National Assembly is over due to the recent development in the nation’s political terrain. He expressed happiness with the level of awareness shown in the 2015 elections as the electorate used their votes to send away those who underestimated them. Wakili, a retired Comptroller of Customs assured his people of adequate representation in the Senate. He added that he would make meaningful contribution as well as move motions that would enhanced the well being of the people and Nigerians as a whole.
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BOLADALE BAMIGBOLA OSOGBO
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sun State All Progressives Congress, APC, and Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday traded blames over the post election violence that erupted in some towns in the state. It will be recalled that during accreditation on Saturday, there was an attack by hoodlums in Ilase, a town in Obokun Local Government, where one person and three of the attackers were shot, while, shortly after collation of votes began, crises erupted in some neighborhoods
Tuesday, April 14, 2015
National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
APC, PDP trade blames over election violence
in Ile Ife and some parts of Ife South Local Government Area. Reacting to the development through a press statement, the APC said: “If Osun PDP leadership and their supporters have any issue or objection to the outcome of last Saturday’s election, the lawful and civilised thing to do is to seek redress from the election tribunal.
“Resorting to the criminality of murder, arson, violence and destruction of property is not only unbecoming of a responsible party and civilised politics, it makes those associated with it unworthy of participating in the politics of this country any longer.” However, when contacted, the PDP state secretary, Prince Bola Ajao,
dismissed APC’s claims, saying details of the atrocities committed by its members is with the security agents that monitored elections in the state. But in a statement issued in Osogbo by Mr. Kunle Oyatomi, the APC’s spokesperson, the party charged the national leadership of the PDP to prevail on its Osun chapter to stop the criminality being perpetrated by
it in the state. Also appealing to security forces to be more pro-active and robust in its engagement with suspected thugs, the APC said era of impunity by PDP is coming to an end, saying the APC-controlled federal authority will bring all the malfeasance in Osun and elsewhere in Nigeria to an end. Meanwhile, checks re-
vealed there were still clashes in Gbodo area of Ife, where two people were killed and a house razed over the weekend, by suspected political thugs, yesterday. A resident, who spoke on phone to National Mirror, however confirmed that soldiers have been deployed to the area to prevent further escalation of the crises.
Enugu guber: ALGON berates APC over call for poll’s cancellation DENNIS AGBO ENUGU
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hairmen of the 17 Local Government Areas in Enugu State under the aegis of Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, ALGON, have berated the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the State, Barr. Okey Ezea over his call for the cancellation of the last Saturday governorship election on the alleged grounds that the exercise was “marred by irregularities and violence perpetrated by the PDP.” In a statement signed by its chairman and the Executive Chairman of Enugu East of Local Government Area, Hon. Prince Cornelius Nnaji, ALGON described the allegations by Ezea as baseless, false, misleading, and a calculated attempt to discredit the integrity of the PDP and competence of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in conducting transparent, peaceful and free and fair elections in the state. Hon. Nnaji regretted that the APC candidate, against the advice of the PDP, prior to the governorship election, to be ready to accept defeat, in view of the glaring projections that the PDP will sweep the polls in the state, went ahead to exhibit his usual trend of mischief, blackmail and arrogance by raising false alarm against a properly conducted election in Enugu State.
ALGON insisted that the last Saturday governorship and House of Assembly elections in Enugu State were transparent, peaceful and free and fair, stressing that as foot-soldiers of the PDP who enjoy the confidence of the overwhelming majority of the electorate at the grassroots, there is no way the APC could have made any positive impact in the elections. It also congratulated the governor-Elect in Enugu State, Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and all the candidates of the PDP for the last Saturday State House of Assembly election for emerging victorious. ALGON noted that the issues of “importation of thugs into Enugu State, snatching of ballot box, selling of result sheets and PVCs to the PDP particularly in the Nsukka area” etc, as alleged by Ezea were all trumped-up allegations against the PDP to whip up undue sentiment and undermine the outcome of the elections, emphasizing that the PDP does not need to involve itself in such practices to win elections in the state. It therefore called on Ezea and his cohorts to imbibe the new spirit of sportsmanship in the nation’s democratic process and concede defeat as was first demonstrated by the PDP presidential candidate, President Goodluck Jonathan who conceded defeat to the APC presidential candidate, now Presidentelect, General Muhammadu Buhari in the overall interest of the nation.
L-R: Wife of Kwara State governor, Mrs. Omolewa Ahmed; Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed and State All Progressives Congress, APC, leader, Senator Bukola Saraki, during a visit to the governor over his re-election in Ilorin, yesterday.
OLAJIDE OMOJOLOMOJU
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kiti State All Progressives Congress, APC, has raised the alarm over alleged plans by members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to attack its members and supporters on today if the Supreme Court judgment threatens Governor Ayodele Fayose’s position. APC Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatubosun, said in a statement that the party had uncovered plans to burn down houses of APC leaders and cause bodily harm to members and supporters if the judgment is not favorable to the governor. Today is the Supreme Court judgment arising from the petition filed by APC challenging the June 21, 2014 governorship election that returned Fayose as the winner. APC kicked, alleging that frauds, including perjury, unlawful use of soldiers, intimidation of supporters and compromised
Supreme Court verdict: Ekiti APC alleges planned attacks on members ballot papers, were used to give victory to PDP. At the lower tribunal, the petition was dismissed. The party approached the Court of Appeal, which also dismissed the petition, but noted illegality in the deployment of soldiers to rig election in the governor’s favour and agreed that Fayose was legally removed from office having been indicted in the N1.3 billion poultry project fraud over which he was impeached by Ekiti State House of Assembly. But in his Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, form for the 2014 governorship contest, while filling his nomination paper, Fayose lied on oath that he had never been indicted, claiming that he was never legally impeached. In its judgment, the Appeal Court, even though refusing to sack Fayose, ruled that the governor
was legally impeached having been indicted over fraud. Today, the Supreme Court is to rule in the APC’s appeal whether the governor was impeached over indictment and illegal use of the military to help him win the election. For this, there have been apprehensions in both camps of APC and PDP on where the pendulum would swing. Olatubosun said: “Since the Ekitigate tape emerged, PDP has become more desperate in its actions over where pendulum will swing in the impending judgment. It has mapped out elaborate strategies to attack our members if the judgment does not favour the governor. “In Ikere-Ekiti, for instance, they have threatened to burn down the homes of two members of the House of Assembly in
Ikere Local Government, Yomi Daramola and Clement Adu Sunday. One Ejila and Ibrahim are said to be the arrowheads of the planned attacks. “Just yesterday, PDP members were attacking the street sweepers in Ikere-Ekiti, accusing them of not voting for PDP in the weekend election while in Ado-Ekiti, the home of APC candidate for the last weekend House of Assembly election, Sola Olofin, was attacked, even as they are planning to attack the home of another Assembly candidate, Sola Fatoba. These attacks are carryover of the violence during Saturday’s state Assembly election marred with ballot snatching and violence.” He called on the security agencies to provide adequate security for APC members while those causing crisis in the state should be arrested.
National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
Tuesday, April 14, 2015
FBN Holdings foresees loan growth this year STORIES: JOHNSON OKANLAWON
F
BN Holdings said yesterday it expects loan growth at its banking unit to slow to four per cent this year, down from 23 per cent last year, as it shifts focus to short-term trade finance transactions. The Chief Executive of the company, Mr. Bello Maccido said the top tier lender, with over N2.2 trillion on its loan book, will be conservative on loans in 2015 after financing power and oil sectors last year but income will rise from short-term lending. He said that the holdings company should generate a tenth of its revenues from its investment banking and insurance units combined by 2016, up from around seven per cent now, after it acquired
Kakawa Discount House and Oasis Insurance last year. The company had last week announced a profit after tax of N82.8 billion for the financial year ended December 31, 2014, an increase of 17.3 per cent when compared to N70.6billion recorded in the same period of 2013. The group gross earnings stood at N480.6 billion, up 21.3 per cent when compared to N396.2 billion recorded in the corresponding period of 2013. According to the result presented to the Nigerian Stock Exchange, the group declared a non-interest income of N111.8 billion, up 66.1 per cent from N67.3 billion recorded in 2013, while net interest income added 6.0 per cent to N243.9 billion in the review period from N230.1 billion in 2013. Further analysis showed
that other key indices appreciated in value, as impairement charge for credit losses and operating expenses rose 27.7 per cent and 27.5 per cent to N25.9 billion and N236.8 billion respectively. On the group balance sheet, total assets appreciated 12.2 per cent to N4.3 trillion, from N3.9trillion in 2013, while customer deposits increased to N3.1trillion, up 4.2 per cent from N2.9 trillion recorded in 2013. Also, customer loans and advances was up 23.2 per cent to N2.2 trillion, from N1.8 trillion in 2013, while non-performing ration dropped to 2.9 per cent from 3.0 per cent. Maccido noted that the performance by the banking group was a testament to the underlying strength of commercial banking business
which is built on an extensive retail network and a robust information technology platform. Notwithstanding, he added, the tough operating environment, the group showed commendable growth across all the key performance indicators buoyed by the complementary performance of non-bank subsidiaries with gross earnings growing by 21.3 per cent to N480.6bn and profit before tax at N92.9billion. “We remain focused on diversifying our revenue streams through the extraction of value from our recent bank acquisitions, consolidating our position in the investment banking space, especially with the acquisition of Kakawa, and expanding our insurance business scope.
Index sustain low trend, gains 0.7%
T
rading in equities opened the week on a positive note on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, signalling that the market is on track to book weekly gains. The All Share Index appreciated 0.74 per cent to close at 35,189.12 points, compared to the increase of 1.19 per cent recorded on Friday to close at 34,930.02 points. Market capitalisation added N89billion to close at N11.9trillion, compared to the rise of N140 billion re-
corded on Friday to close at N11.8trillion. Analysts at Meristem Securities Limited, an investment firm, attributed the rally to the peaceful conduct of gubernatorial election. “We anticipate that the successful end of the general elections will bring confidence to the market and propel increased foreign direct investment,” the firm said. Wema Bank Plc led the gainers’ table with five kobo or 5.26 per cent to close at
N1.00 per share, followed by Guinness Nigeria Plc with N7.00 or five per cent to close at N147.00 per share. Beta Glass Plc appreciated N1.30 or 4.98 per cent to close at N27.41 per share, while Fidelity Bank Plc added ten kobo or 4.95 per cent to close at N2.12 per share. Honeywell Flour Mills Plc was up 15 kobo or 4.90 per cent to close at N3.21 per share. Conversely, Cement Company of Northern Nigeria Plc lost 60 kobo or 5.11 per cent
Diamond Bank profit drops by 9.5%
D
iamond Bank yesterday said its firstquarter pretax profit fell 9.5 per cent to N8.36 billion from N9.24 billion recorded in the same period of 2014. The mid-tier lender did not disclose why profit for the period to end-March fell but said in a statement that revenue rose 5.8 per cent during the period to N40.48 billion. Analysis of the result showed a negative total expense of N24.1 billion, from N23.4 billion recorded in the first quarter of 2014, while impairment charge for credit losses rose to N6.48 billion in 2015, from N4.99 billion in the first quarter of 2014. Further analysis of the bank balance sheet showed a decline of 3.31 peer cent to
N1.87 trillion in the review period, from N1.93 trillion recorded in the corresponding period of 2014. The bank had announced a profit after tax of N25.5 billion for the financial year ended December 31, 2014, a drop of 10.7 per cent when compared to N28.5billion recorded in the same period of 2013. The bank’s profit before tax fell 12.4 per cent to N28.1 billion, from N32.1 billion recorded in the corresponding period of 2013. According to the result presented to the Nigerian Stock Exchange, gross earnings rose 13 per cent during the period to N161.1 billion, from N143.1billion recorded in 2013. National Mirror investigation revealed that the bank has shut down its risk
asset window to customers and has embarked on an aggressive loan recovery programme. It was learnt that the poor credit risk management of the immediate past administration in the bank allegedly exposed the bank to a Non-Performing Loan portfolio, NPL, of about N114 billion within a staggering total loan exposure. “The portfolio is indeed large and the non-performing ones only highlight the poor management decisions and indecision which are akin to what you may call magic banking. You may not be surprised if the NPL goes beyond this figure when the bank publishes its financial statement shortly, “ a source said. Further analysis of the results as at nine months of
to close at N11.14 per share, while Nestle Plc dropped N52.20 or five per cent to close at N991.85 per share. Berger Paints Plc shed 47 kobo or 4.95 per cent to close at N9.02 per share, while RT Briscoe Plc depreciated four kobo or 4.94 per cent to close at 77 kobo per share. Evans Medicals Plc declined ten kobo or 4.78 per cent to close at N1.99 per share. A total of 344.7 million shares valued at N4.65bn were exchanged in 4,956 deals.
Capital Market
Source: NSE
Inter-Bank Rate Naira
Rate (%) Inflation
8.2
MPR
13
Crude oil price
$58.96
US Dollar
$1
N197.00 Market indicators All-Share Index 35,190.23 points Market capitalisation 11.99trn
Stock Updates GAINERS COMPANY
OPENING
CLOSING
CHANGE
% CHANGE
WEMABANK
0.95
1.00
0.05
5.26
GUINNESS
140.00
147.00
7.00
5.00
BETAGLAS
26.11
27.41
1.30
4.98
FIDELITYBK
2.02
2.12
0.10
4.95
HONYFLOUR
3.06
3.21
0.15
4.90
UBCAP
1.45
1.52
0.07
4.83
NAHCO
6.13
6.42
0.29
4.73
MAYBAKER
1.74
1.82
0.08
4.60
NEM
0.67
0.70
0.03
4.48
AGLEVENT
1.36
1.42
0.06
4.41
CHANGE
% CHANGE
LOSERS COMPANY
OPENING
CLOSING
CCNN
11.74
11.14
-0.60
-5.11
NESTLE
1,044.05
991.85
-52.20
-5.00
BERGER
9.49
9.02
-0.47
-4.95
RTBRISCOE
0.81
0.77
-0.04
-4.94
EVANSMED
2.09
1.99
-0.10
-4.78
NPFMCRFBK
1.05
1.00
-0.05
-4.76
CUTIX
1.58
1.51
-0.07
-4.43
FLOURMILL
34.00
33.02
-0.98
-2.88
CHAMS
0.51
0.50
-0.01
-1.96
SKYEBANK
2.64
2.60
-0.04
-1.52
FGN Bonds 2014 show that the bank’s exposure to oil and gas, general commerce and power stood at 27 per cent, 21 per cent and nine per cent respectively.
47
Bid
Description
Offer
Price
Yield
Price
Yield
13.05 16-AUG-2016
1.34
97.98
14.72
98.13
14.59
15.10 27-APR-2017
2.04
100.77
14.64
100.92
14.55
16.00 29-JUN-2019
4.21
103.89
14.71
104.19
14.61
16.39 27-JAN-2022
6.79
107.71
14.55
108.01
14.48
14.20 14-MAR-2024
8.92
98.61
14.47
98.91
14.41
10.00 23-JUL-2030
15.28 68.75
15.35
69.05
15.28
Closing Market Prices of April 10, 2015
Treasury Bills Maturity Date
Bid
Offer
Exchange
Rates (N)
16-Jul-15
13.63
14.13
WAUA
270
15-Oct-15
13.42
14.39
USD
197
07-Apr-16
13.42
15.47
EURO
214
CFA
0.32
YEN
1.64
SWISS FRANC
NIBOR Tenor
Rate (%)
202
O/N
66.7917
1M
15.9847
POUNDS STERLING
293
3M
16.9884
SDR
273
6M
18.0339 The Fixings of April 13, 2015
48
Capital Market
Tuesday, April 14, 2015
National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
Stock exchange daily equities summary Equities as at April 13, 2015 1st Tier Securities
1st Tier Securities Sector
Company name
No Of Deals
Quotation(N)
Quantity Traded
Value of Shares(N)
Sector
Company name
No Of Deals
Quotation(N)
Quantity Traded
Value of Shares(N)
Tuesday, April 14, 2015
National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
49
Community Mirror
It is Nigerians who will feel the impact of the programmes and policies of the government and speak out. I don’t think Nigerians should fear that there would be no virile opposition; the opposition will start from within. Man’s life in danger over family, Minister of State for Works – Prince Dayo Adeyeye Deeper Life land dispute 48
One killed as hoodlums protest election result in Lagos Dare akogun
O
ne person was reportedly killed on Sunday while several others sustained varied degrees of injuries in the Ogudu, Ojota area of Lagos State as hoodlums protested the result of the governorship election in the State. The incident was said to have
witnessed heavy gunfire while cars parked by the roadside were vandalized by the hoodlums. It was gathered that trouble started when the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC announced the result of the governorship election in the State where Akinwunmi Ambode of the All Progressives Congress was declared winner. An eyewitness identified as Osunde affirmed, “It has been seri-
ous chaos since the election result was announced. They have been shooting sporadically and vandalizing property. “I cannot say precisely the number of people killed, but there is confusion everywhere and the shootout is between members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and the All Progressive Congress, APC.” While confirming the incident, the Lagos State Police Public Re-
lations Officer, Kenneth Nwosu, said one person was confirmed dead in the shooting that greeted the announcement of results in the State. Nwosu further revealled, “Some hoodlums on Alhaji Abbas Street, Ogudu, this evening, engaged in a free-for-all and damaged vehicles and other property of residents. “The Commissioner of Police, Kayode Aderanti, has ordered
their arrest; we will soon bring them to justice.” The Lagos State Police Command also stated that with the intervention of law enforcement officers, normalcy has since been restored in the area.
Monarch appeals to FG to save community from extinction
P
Ahmadu Bello Way as residents await the announcement of results of governorship and House of Assembly election in Bauchi, yesterday.
PHOTO: NAN
Court remands man for allegedly killing his son Wale IbrahIm LOKOJA
A
Lokoja Chief Magistrate Court has remanded a 27-year-old Aluminum fabricator Abdulmalik Aliyu in Federal Prisons, Koton-Karfe for allegedly killing his six-year-old son, Sadiq Abdulmalik . Chief Magistrate Alhassan Husaini of Lokoja Magistrate Court II who gave this order in his ruling on arraignment of the accused yesterday, charged with culpable homicide contrary to section 221 of the Penal
Code law. The Police First information Report (FIR) read by the prosecuting police officer, C.S. Ayabatu, the incident happened on March 9, and was reported at the ‘B’ Division police station, Lokoja by one Sunday Akande, a neighbour of the accused. The prosecution stated that Aliyu of Zariagi, Kabba Junction, Lokoja on the fateful day, had told his wife, Mariatu Akande that he was taking the deceased by to his grandmother in Isanlu, Yagba East Local Government of Kogi. The prosecution added that Aliyu had claimed that he had
a premonition that something was wrong and needed to be corrected spiritually but on their way, the accused was alleged to have struck the boy on the head and killed him. Ayabatu said he (Aliyu) buried the body of the boy in a shallow grave in a nearby bush and return home only to be haunted by the ghost of the little boy. The accused who slumped in the dock on arraignment, confessed the crime saying that the “innocent soul” of his deceased son was tormenting him but did not say why he took the drastic action of taking the
boy’s life. The prosecution however held that investigation into the case was on-going and urged the court to adjourn the case to enable completion of investigation but held the offence of culpable homicide contrary to section 221 of the Penal Code was not bailable. The Chief Magistrate in his ruling said it is hereby further advised that the accused person be remanded at the Federal Prisons, Koton-Karfe. Husaini adjourned the case to April 28, for further mention saying, the adjournment was at the instance of the prosecutor.
aramount ruler of Olobia Community Koluama in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa, Chief Howells Levi has appealed to the Federal Government to protect their settlements from extinction. Levi while speaking to news men at Yenagoa that a violent surge had, in July 2014, rendered hundreds of Koluama residents homeless as their homes were washed away by the Atlantic Ocean. The monarch explained that the coastal community located along the Atlantic coastline in the state, had lost substantial territory to marine erosion and tidal surge, forcing residents to retreat. According to him, the Federal Fishing Terminal constructed by the Federal Government has been washed away by the violent Atlantic tide which is still threatening to submerge the remaining settlements. According to him “Koluama is faced with erosion and the erosion is so serious that within the next five years, from what we see there, the name Koluama will no more be in the history of Bayelsa State. “The people of Koluama want the government to protect the shore, so that we don’t want to be removed from that environment, government should protect the shore. “The whole land is eroded, and we see that it is the company in that environment that has caused this problem for us, because of constant exploration activities.
50
Tuesday, April 14, 2015
National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
World News
To an end of Iran’s aggression in the region, its worldwide terrorism and its threats to annihilate Israel –Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu
Low turnout as Sudanese vote, set to extend al-Bashir’s rule PAUL ARHEWE
WITH AGENCY REPORTS
O
nly a trickle of voters, some in uniform, showed up at a polling station in Sudan yesterday as the country took part in an election that will almost certainly extend the 25year rule of President Omar alBashir, the world’s only sitting head of state wanted on genocide charges. As polls closed at 6:00 p.m. (1500 GMT) on the first of three days of voting, election employees counted ballots. In one middle class neighbourhood, just 3 percent of more than 3,000 registered voters had turned up. “This is extremely low,” an election employee said as he locked up the centre. “I don’t know what is going on. We didn’t expect that.” He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the press. The second multi-candidate
President Omar al-Bashir casting his ballot as he runs for another term, on the first day of the presidential and legislative elections, in Khartoum, Sudan, yesterday
election to be held in Sudan since al-Bashir came to power in a bloodless 1989 coup has been boycotted by major opposition parties. They had demanded postponement until the formation of a coalition government to oversee the vote and ensure its fairness. The opposition also cam-
paigned for ending al-Bashir’s rule, spray-painting “irhal” or “leave” on walls and election posters. But they said widespread voter apathy, and not their boycott, would be the main cause of the expected low turnout. The election has generated little excitement in Sudan, but is not
entirely insignificant. Al-Bashir must remain in office to ensure he is never sent to the Hague to face war crimes charges related to the Darfur conflict, and needs at least the veneer of legitimacy to attract badly needed foreign aid and investment after the 2011 secession of oil-rich South Sudan.
Almost 180 migrants rescued off Tunisia
T
unisia’s coastguard and navy yesterday rescued almost 180 African migrants from two boats which broke down as they headed from Libya to Italy, the Red Crescent and a news agency said. The Red Crescent said the migrants -- 94 on one boat and 84 on the other -- sent out a distress call from off the coast of southeast Tunisia as they headed for the Italian island of Lampedusa. A previous count had said 174 were rescued. The 178 migrants from Africa
were evacuated to the Tunisian port of Zarzis and provisionally lodged in a warehouse. They were mostly from Somalia, Ghana, Gambia, Sudan and Niger, said Dr Riyadh Belhaj of the Zarzis Red Crescent which took them in, adding that all passengers on the two boats were rescued. In Italy, coastguards said Monday they recovered nine bodies from the sea after a boat carrying more than 150 migrants sank off the Libyan coast. Rescuers managed to save 144 people and were still searching
T
deny the claims. Nearly two million people signed a petition demanding justice for the girl, known as “Liz”. Her mother told the BBC she was happy that justice had finally been served. The girl was on her way home from her grandfather’s funeral in
Gandhi statue vandalised in South Africa A man has appeared in a South African court in connection with vandalising a statue of Mahatma Gandhi. “He was found while painting the statue with white paint and arrested,” police spokesman Kay Makhubele told the BBC. He was part of a group who demonstrated near the statue on Saturday with placards reading: “Racist Gandhi must fall”. This is the latest in a series of protests in South Africa calling for the removal of historic statues. While the man who led India to independence is widely regarded a man who stood for peace, some South Africans have accused Gandhi of working with the British colonial government to promote racial segregation. He lived in South Africa for 20 years and campaigned for the rights of Indian people there. The rest of the South African protesters, who managed to escape, wore caps with the governing African National Congress (ANC) but the party has distanced itself from the incident and condemned the defacing of the statue. The suspect Molese Maile, 21, was ordered to return to court on 8 May to answer to the charge of malicious damage to property. The hashtag #Ghandimustfall (sic) is being circulated on social media in South Africa.
Russia lifts ban on Iran missile delivery
Migrants arriving at the port in the Tunisian town of Zarzis, some 50 kilometres west of the Libyan border, following their rescue by Tunisia’s coastguard and navy after their vessel overturned off Libya, yesterday
for others after their vessel overturned 128 kilometres (80 miles) off Libya. Late Sunday, Italian coastguards said they had rescued a
total of 2,782 people over the weekend from the Mediterranean, with good weather prompting an increase in the number of migrant boats.
15-year-old gang-raped by three men in Kenya hree men convicted of gang-raping a teenage girl in Kenya and dumping her in a pit latrine have each received 15-year jail terms. Reports that the rapists were ordered by police to cut grass as a punishment caused global outrage last year. The Kenyan police
WORLD BULLETIN
western Kenya’s Busia County in June 2013 when the assault took place. She suffered a broken back and serious internal injuries. In October 2013, hundreds of people walked to the Kenyan police headquarters in Nairobi to deliver the petition. The case was subsequently referred to the coun-
try’s judicial watchdog. There are still arrest warrants outstanding for three other suspects in the case, who police say are on the run. The hashtag #JusticeForLiz was trending on Twitter for several hours on Monday as news of the jail sentences spread.
Russia has lifted a ban on supplying Iran with a sophisticated air defence missile system, the Kremlin has said. Delivery of the S-300s was cancelled in 2010 after the UN imposed sanctions on Iran over its nuclear programme. But the Russian president gave the go-ahead after Tehran struck an interim deal with world powers to curb nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief. Despite the sanctions, Russia and Iran have remained close allies. The contract to deliver the system was heavily criticised by Israel and the US, who feared it could be used to protect Iranian nuclear sites. When it was cancelled, Iran filed a lawsuit seeking billions of dollars in damages. Moscow said it had no choice but to annul the deal when the UN imposed sanctions, outlawing the sale of advanced weapons. The Russian defence ministry said it was ready to supply the S-300 equipment “promptly”, an official there said, quoted by Interfax news agency.
National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
South East
Tuesday, April 14, 2015
51
Group tasks Ugwuanyi on people-oriented policies Dennis Agbo ENUGU
I
ndigenes of Enugu State resident in Houston, Texas, USA, under the aegis of Enugu Remains United Patriotic Transparent, ERUPT, has congratulated Governor-elect, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, on his victory at the April 11 governorship poll, and tasked him to implement human-oriented policies. The group’s chairman, Tom Omeh, and Public Relations Officer, Rob Ndu Ofoh, said Ugwuanyi’s victory did not come to them as a surprise, going by the impressive infrastructure development put in place by the PDP-led government in the state. The organisation also applauded the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, security operatives, Governor Sullivan Chime, and the electorates for the peaceful conduct of
the polls. It therefore, called on those who went into the contest with Ugwuanyi to imbibe the spirit of sportsmanship by conceding defeat, and joining hands with him in moving the state forward, rather than engaging in prolonged litigation that would do the state no good. The group, however, attributed Ugwuanyi's victory to the fact that the PDP had been on ground in Enugu State since 1999, and because of Ugwuanyi's overwhelming popularity in the state. The group stated that as an experienced grassroots politician, they believe strongly that Ugwuanyi has all it takes to deliver the state. While assuring the Governor- elect of their unflinching support from the diaspora, ERUPT, equally charged him to endeavour to come up with aggressive human oriented programme and policies when assumes office.
NNPP pledges support for Buhari ChArles okeke AWKA
N
ational Chairman of New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, Dr Boniface Aniebonam, yesterday said his party would support President-elect, General Muhamadu Buhari, in his mission to give the country effective leadership and good governance. Aniebonam also stated that the best thing that should be done by all Nigerians now is for everybody to embrace the rule of law and obey the law, an act he said, would make the country great. Aniebonam stated that it was high time Nigerians from different political backgrounds rallied round the president-elect and join hands with him to transform Nigeria into a developed country. Addressing journalists in Awka, the state capital, yesterday, Aniebonam said now that elections were over and completed, what was needed is for the competing parties to enter into responsible partnership with the president-elect, stressing that it was now time for everybody to support Buhari. He urged Buhari to offer olive branch to his op-
ponents and see his victory within the context of no victor, no vanquished. Aniebonam, who spoke against the backdrop of the recent elections conducted by Professor Attahiru Jega’s Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, decried the trend whereby politicians were defecting to the winning party, killing the weaker parties and creating in the process the prospect of one party state. Aniebonam decried the poor performance of smaller parties in the recent elections, and said it was time to open up the political landscape and allow smaller parties to grow by giving them funds. He stated that it was a thing of joy that Nigeria is now moving towards sustainable democracy and that people are now voting based on personality of the individual, adding that people voted for Buhari because of his integrity and moral principles. He contended that politics was all about interest and realignment of forces, and called on Ndigbo to move fast, reposition themselves strategically and re-align forces with other regions and move towards the presidency in the near future.
L-R: Enugu State Governor-elect, Mr. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; Executive Chairman, Enugu Sports Club, Chief Obum Arum and Vice Chairman, Chief Ben Etiaba, during a visit to the sports club in Enugu, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN
I’ve erred, Elechi begs governor-elect AliunA goDwin ABAKALIKI
O
utgoing Governor of Ebonyi State, Chief Martin Elechi, has begged for forgiveness from Governor-elect, Engr Dave Umahi, for the numerous wrongs he committed against him. Incidentally, Umahi is deputy to the governor. Elechi’s call for forgiveness followed the declaration of Umahi as governorelect. Umahi had since his declaration as governor-elect vowed to probe the 13 caretaker council chairmen over what he called misappropriation of local government funds during the just
concluded general elections. Elechi tendered his apology to Umahi barely 24 hours after the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, declared Umahi winner of the April 11 governorship election in the state. The governor approached Umahi for reconciliation through former governor, Dr Sam Egwu. Elechi, who was said to have made the plea alongside the 13 caretaker chairmen at the Government House, Abakaliki, was said to have confessed that he (Elechi) actually promised to hand over to Umahi following his doggedness to deliver Elechi in 2011, but was deceived by his lieutenants.
It was reported that Elechi ran to former governor, Sam Egwu, to help him beg Umahi to bury the hatchet and accept him, even though he worked against his interest during the election. The governor noted that he built 36 bridges of unity, but begged Umahi to build 36 bridges of human relationship in the state, assuring that he would support him to deliver democratic dividends to the people. The presence of the council caretaker chairmen at the reconciliatory meeting was not unconnected with the threat of the governorelect to probe them for financial misappropriation and embezzlement. National Mirror gathered
that Elechi has been in a running battle with his deputy over insistence of the latter to run for the governorship election in the state, which made the governor to hurriedly anoint former Health Minister, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu, as his preferred candidate. When the choice of Chukwu could not be realised, National Mirror gathered that Elechi adopted Labour Party candidate, Edward Nkwegu, to ensure Umahi was frustrated out of the race. The state’s Returning Officer, Professor Joseph Ahaneku, had on Sunday declared Umahi winner with 289,867 votes to defeat his closest challenger, Nkwegu, who polled 124,817.
APC seeks cancellation of 13 Anambra Assembly results
A
ll Progressives Congress, APC, has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to cancel Saturday’s House of Assembly election conducted in 13 constituencies of Anambra State. Party chairman in the state, Mr Emeka Ibe, at a news conference on Monday in Awka called for cancellation of the results in Idemili North and Idemili South constituencies. Others include Orumba South, Orumba North constituency 2, Njikoka, Dunukofia, Nnewi South, Anambra East, Anambra West, Anaocha, Onitsha South and part of Onitsha North and Awka South 1 and 2 constituencies. Ibe said the polls con-
ducted in the areas were not free, fair and credible and were not conducted in substantial compliance with the Electoral Act, 2010. According to him, manual accreditation was used across the state, contrary to the provisions of INEC guidelines on elections, which did not give credibility to the exercise. He claimed that most of the presiding officers employed by INEC were card-carrying members of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA. According to him, they were mostly seen either releasing ballot papers to members to thumbprint, or carrying out simultaneous accreditation and voting, even after accredita-
tion had ended. He said that only five polling units had been collated out of 65 polling units in Obosi, when collation was discontinued without cause. “Once again Idemili North has been deliberately messed up for the simple reason of being an APC stronghold. “The same played out in Awka South, where no collation took place at all because INEC collation officer failed to report. “In Ifite Ogwari 1 and 2, Umueje, Omasi, Igbakwu and Umumbo of Ayamelum local council area, no election took place, but results were written. “The widespread shortchange of voters in Onitsha South should not go
unaddressed. “We have documentary evidence of the situation in four centres,” he said. Ibe, however, said that the party would seek redress at the tribunal, if INEC failed to cancel the election in the affected areas. The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, had on April 12, declared APGA candidates winner of the state assembly polls in 25 constituencies out of 30. The commission also rescheduled the polls in four constituencies namely Aguata I, Anaocha 1 and 2 and Ekwusigo, over irregularities while the result of Anambra West constituency was still being awaited.
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North
Tuesday, April 14, 2015
National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
Kaduna NSCDC arrests man over arms possession A ZA M SUE KADUNA
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L-R: Director, Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc, Dr. Faruk Umar; Chairman of IRS, Alhaji Rabiu I. Rabiu; Alhaji Imam Nasiru Adam of Tijjani Group, all representatives of Alhaji Isiaku Rabiu of IRS Group during their visit to congratulate the President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), at his home town, Daura, Katsina State, yesterday.
Al-Makura dedicates victory to masses IGBAWASE UKUMBA LAFIA
G
overnor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa State yesterday dedicated his victory to people of the state, saying the outcome of election in the state was the true reflection of the feelings of the masses’ yearning for development. Al-Makura stated this while speaking with journalists at Lafia Government House shortly after he was declared winner of the April 11 governorship election in the state by the Independent National Electoral Commis-
sion, INEC. He said his re-election would spur him to continue with development programmes he had embarked on in the last four years of his administration in the state. He said: “My victory is victory for all the people of Nasarawa State. It is victory for all the people that contested with me because by their participation in this exercise, they have endured due diligence in the process of democracy. “I think they should also be appreciated for having faith in the system to participate in it, and I believe all of us are
working towards one goal for the purpose of taking this state to the next level for the betterment of our people. Al-Makura contested on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and polled 309,746 votes, accounting for 12 per cent of total votes cast to defeat former information minister, Labaran Maku, of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, who polled 178,983, equivalent of 5 per cent; while Yusuf Agabi of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, polled 119,782, which was 4 per cent of the total votes cast. The confirmed results
also show Hajiya Ambaka of the Labour Party, LP, scoring 2,053 votes as Salihu Mamud of Accord Party, AP, scored 623 votes, while Zakkah Zagi Rabo of ADC polled 1,659 votes. Announcing the result at INEC state headquarters in Lafia, the state capital, amidst tight security, Returning Officer, Professor Abdumumin Hassan Rafindadi, stated that the total number of accredited voters for the governorship election stood at 650,572 of 1,203,099 number of registered voters for the state, while valid votes cast was 613,508 as 9,771 votes were rejected.
We’ll religiously pursue quality programmes –Masari …Shema congratulates Katsina governor-elect JAMES DANJUMA KATSINA
K
atsina State G ove r n o r- e l e c t , Aminu Bello Masari, has assured that his administration would religiously pursue quality policies and programmes for socio-economic development of the state. Masari was speaking after his victory at the polls in which he contested on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC. He said the state had since 1999 been in the hands of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, but with his party’s win, attention would be given
to key sectors for social transformation. He said the party’s win marked a new beginning for the state and the people and that efforts would be made to better the lives of the people in the state. He assured that under his administration the state would experience good governance, transparency and accountability. The gover nor-elect, however, extended a hand of fellowship to candidates that contested with him at the polls, with a call on them to work with him to move the state forward.
Meanwhile, Katsina State Governor, Ibrahim Shema, has congratulated the governor-elect, calling on him to brace up to lead the state to greater heights. Masari beat his major opponent, Engr Musa Nashuni of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, with 943,085 to 476,768 votes, a margin of 466,317 votes. Shema, who was speaking on the outcome of the gubernatorial polls, said leading the state was not a bed of roses and that there was need for Masari to embrace all that would help him succeed. He, however, called on
the governor-elect to ensure his supporters do not cause trouble over outcome of the polls, adding that peace was a catalyst to qualitative development. He said even though he would be leaving office by May ending, he would still remain active in the country’s political arena. Shema said his administration had witnessed quality socio-economic development with no debt incurred since he commenced leadership in last eight years. He commended people in the state for the support given his administration since commencement of his administration.
peratives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, Kaduna State Command, arrested a man for alleged illegal possession of arms during Saturday’s governorship and House of Assembly election. A statement issued by NSCDC Public Relations Officer, Orndiir Terzungwe, for Kaduna State on behalf of the commandant, Alhaji Zakari Ibrahim Ningi, said the arrest happened during a stop-and-search operation in Kaduna metropolis. According to the statement, the suspect, who gave his name as Jonathan Ahmadu, was picked up during a routine operation by NSCDC personnel at Ahmadu Bello Stadium for illegal possession of a locally made pistol. On interrogation, Ahmadu confessed that he bought the weapon in his village, Maraban Babo in Kagarko Local Government Area, from one Ibrahim Mohammed in 2010 at the cost
of N5,000 with five ammunition. The statement added further that the suspect claimed he was heading to his office at the Kaduna State University, KASU, where he kept his permanent voter card, to vote in the gubernatorial and House of Assembly election in the state. Asked why he was taking a pistol to the polling unit, the suspect instead pleaded for pardon, saying the firearm in his possession was obtained through illegal source and had no licence to carry it. It would be recalled that prior to the elections, Kaduna State Commandant of the NSCDC, Ningi, had called on the public to shun violence and embrace peace as hallmark of development. Ningi promised that appropriate security measures, including proactive steps would be taken during and after the exercise to nip in the bud any ugly incidence. The agency said the command on completion of investigation will charge the suspect to court.
I’ll publicise Niger assets, liabilities –Bello PRISCILLA DENNIS MINNA
N
iger State Governor-elect, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, has promised to make public the assets and liabilities left behind by his predecessor, Dr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu, when he assumes office, ahead of May 29 handover. He also appealed to people of the state to be realistic in their expectations from the incoming administration, because of the global collapse of oil price. Bello, who stated this in his acceptance speech in Minna, said: “You will be kept adequately informed as soon as information is made available and fully verified.” The governor-elect said
though 80 per cent of the state’s income comes from the federation account, his administration will pursue a deliberate strategic direction aimed at harnessing the abundant human and natural resources to ensure economic independence. He also described his opponent, Honourable Umar Mohammed Nasko, in the Saturday governorship contest as a “worthy adversary,” and extended respect to the outgoing governor, Dr. Babangida Aliyu, while looking forward to meeting with him to ensure a smooth transition of government. He thanked the state APC for selecting him as the gubernatorial candidate and for willingly and effectively traversing every nook and cranny to solicit support for him.
Tuesday, April 14, 2015
National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
53
Sport
AAG: Elegbeleye charges Dream Team, Falcons
We have not given up on defeating the Super Eagles one day. I think it will come sooner than later –South Africa midfielder, Thulani Serero
Seychelles 2015:
Olawale promises flying start S
upersand Eagles captain, Isiaka Olawale, has expressed confidence that the Nigerian team will emerge victorious over host Seychelles as the 2015 African Beach Soccer Championship gets underway today. Only the two finalists will fly Africa’s flag at the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in Portugal in July. “The spirit in the camp is high and I want to assure Nigerians that we will not fail to win the ticket to Portugal,” Olawale, who also stars for Dolphins FC of Port Harcourt, said from the Sand Eagles camp yesterday. “However, like we always did at past championships, we will take one match at a time and then see how things go from there. “We are ready to contest with
55
Isiaka Olawale will lead Nigeria’s charge against Seychelles today
any opposition here. We will respect all teams but will fear no one.” Coach Audu Adamu Ejo also said his players’ self-belief will see them through. “The Power Horse Invitational Tournament in Durban early March helped us to identify weak points and our areas of strength,” Ejo said. “We have played all the teams that are here at one time or the other, so none is strange to us. We are fit and confident, and we believe we can go all the way,” he added. Nigeria will also play Egypt and Cote d’Ivoire in Group A while Group B comprises Ghana, Madagascar, Senegal and Morocco.
U-23: Garba, Ugbade hail Awoniyi F
Garba
lying Eagles Coach, Manu Garba, has said the match-winning performance of striker Taiwo Awoniyi in Lusaka on Sunday has opened the door for more youngsters to get a chance with the Nigeria U-23 team. Awoniyi proved to be the match winner on Sunday as his brace ensured Nigeria beat Zambia 2-1 in Lusaka to qualify for the 2015 All Africa Games in Congo-Brazzaville. “Awoniyi has taken his chance with the U-23 team, I believe other young players like him should also get the chance,” Garba said yesterday. Flying Eagles Assistant Coach, Nduka
Ugbade, also expressed delight at his lad’s rising profile. “I am proud of the boy for representing Nigeria very well again,” Ugbade said. “The team was not given much of a chance after they could only manage a 0-0 draw at home, but the players fought back to win in Zambia.” Meanwhile, Awoniyi, who has also played for Nigeria at U-15 and U-17 levels, has pledged to do more. “As a striker you are expected to score goals and I am happy I did so again,” he said, adding, “But I am just starting and so I hope to do a lot more.”
Sports
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Tuesday, April 14, 2015
National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
UEFA Champions League…
Echiejile
Today’s fixtures
Atletico vs Madrid
Echiejile
Juventus vs Monaco
M
onaco defender, Elderson Echiejile, says the French club can upset favourite Juventus in today’s Champions League quarterfinal first leg match in Turin. “In the group stage, we set a new record by not conceding a goal in six matches. We could as well rewrite our history by winning in Italy,” Echiejile said yesterday. “We only need to stay focused in both legs and we could be in the semifinals. “Juventus are on great form in Serie A as well as in Europe, but we can get results from them to go through.” Monaco has shrugged off a wretched start to the season and
Madrid, Atletico meet in grudge game
L
ast season’s Champions League finalists Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid meet for the seventh time this season in the Champions League quarter-final today with revenge in mind for both. Real took the spoils in Lisbon last May as Sergio Ramos’s stoppage time header denied Atletico their first ever European Cup and sent the game into extra time when Los Blancos romped to a 4-1 win. However, the tables have been turned this season as Atletico have won four and drawn two of the six meetings so far this season. That run has included two aggregate victories over two legs in the Spanish Supercup and the Copa del Rey. “The last result against Atletico
is a motivating factor for us,” Madrid Coach, Carlo Ancelotti, said yesterday. “It will be a different game, but difficult as it always is against Atletico. “We come into the game in good form, we are motivated and we will give everything we have. “I don’t have any doubt that it will be an intense game. “That will be an important component of the game, but there will also be others that we need to utilise.” Most encouragingly for Atletico is the return to goalscoring form of Antoine Griezmann. The Frenchman scored twice at La Rosaleda to take his tally over the last three games to four and move one ahead of Mario Mandzukic at Atletico’s top scorer this season.
banks on ‘Turin Miracle’ has now gone eight games unbeaten in the French Ligue 1 and is now third in the standings on 58 points from 32 matches, just three points behind leader PSG. But Juve was the more convincing qualifiers to the last-eight after it dumped Borussia Dortmund 5-1 on aggregate, while Monaco needed the away goals’ rule to progress after it was tied at 3-3 aggregate with Arsenal. Echiejile, who is the only Nigerian still chasing Champions League glory this season, is in line for his fourth Champions League appearance this season having first debuted in the competition in the 2010/11 season with Portuguese club Sporting Braga.
Hummels
on way out –Coach
B
Ronaldo
orussia Dortmund Coach, Jurgen Klopp, says defender Mats Hummels is thinking about a move to Manchester United. The German World Cup winner has been strongly linked with a big-money summer move and Old Trafford currently seems his most likely destination. Klopp is reported to have admitted the 26-year-old is considering a move away from the Westfalenstadion at the end of the season following a disappointing campaign. Dortmund has strug-
gled after making a woeful start to their Bundesliga campaign, while the side’s Champions League ambition was ended by Juventus in the last 16. “Mats is good enough for Manchester United and he has told me he’s thinking things over,” the gaffer said yesterday. “That we want to keep Mats is beyond question. How that works out I don’t know. “There’s always a list of players who would be interesting in the event that you need them.”
Hummels
National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
Sports
Tuesday, April 14, 2015
Taiwo Awoniyi is one of Nigeria’s AAG 2015 medal prospects
Iroro highlights racing gains, eyes Formula 1 PAUL EREWUBA
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AAG 2015:
Elegbeleye charges Dream Team, Falcons JOEL AJAYI
ABUJA
T
he Director General of the National Sports Commission, Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye, has tasked the national U-23 team and the Super Falcons to ensure they win gold medals for Nigeria in the male
and female football events of the All Africa Games taking place in September in Congo Brazzaville. “The National Sports Commission is very happy with the qualification of the teams,” Elegbeleye told National Mirror yesterday. “We commended their efforts, determination, zeal and patriotism for ensuring Nigeria’s flag
is flown in the competition,” he added. “We are also charging them to go to Congo Brazzaville to complete the job they have started well by winning the gold medals at stake in their respective competitions. “We believe they can do it over there and as usual the NSC will
continue to encourage Nigerian sports men and women to continue to win laurels for their fatherland. “I am also urging the other sports that are still battling to qualify for the All Africa Games to put in their best to get the qualification tickets and make Nigeria proud.”
Kogi coach hails Sule’s appointment
C
oach of Kogi United FC of Lokoja, Yomi Godwin Elijah, has praised the state government on its quick decision to appoint Abdul Sule as Chairman of the stateowned football clubs. Sule, who was announced last Wednesday as Abdul Adama’s successor as boss of Kogi United and Confluence Queens, was formerly the Technical Adviser of Kogi United. “This is like putting a round peg in the round hole and a perfect decision as Abdul Sule is the best for this job,” Elijah said yesterday. “You couldn’t have gotten a better person to replace Mallam Adama at this moment, and this is to show that Governor Idris Wada is truly sports loving,” the gaffer added, stressing, “Sule has been part of the team and knows what
the team needs and I’m sure United will witness improved fortune.” Elijah, however, reiterated his side’s ambition for the new season, saying the side targeted the promotion to the elite league on the platform the vast goodwill enjoyed from people of the state.
igeria’s youngest Motor Racing champion, Ovie Iroro, has said that his greatest ambition in the sport is to represent Nigeria in Africa and the world, even as he says his mind is set on becoming a Formula One star in the near future. Iroro, 20, currently studying Mechanical Engineering at University College, London told National Mirror that motor racing sport had huge prospect in Nigeria if the necessary infrastructure and man power development were installed to encourage interested youth. He explained that he was lured into the sport due to his interest in driving fast driving since he was a kid and learnt how to drive. “I took this seriously after I won my first ever Go-kart race,” he said. “I took part in a Go-karting competition in Lagos in December 2010 and I won it, beating more than a hundred people from the qualifying stages down to the final race. That was the first time I ever made any money on my own or won any high profile competition. “My first real chance came when I moved to the UK to further my education. I did lots of research online and I got advice from a few people and got pointed in the right direction of what championship I should take part in and how I could potentially raise the money to do it. “Afterwards my mum and I worked hard over Christmas and we managed to get commitment from some Nigerian companies. “I really think the youth should not be afraid of being involved in accident if they hope to excel in motor racing.”
Sule
Osheku ready for Okpekpe
O
ne of Nigeria’s best middle and long distance runners, Lawrence Osheku, says he is ready to compete at the 3rd Okpekpe 10km Road Race on May 16 in Edo State. Osheku, who emerged the best Edo State-born athlete in the first two editions of the IAAF-sanctioned road race, believes he is ready to step up and challenge the perennially dominant East Africans this
time. “My training is going well and I believe I can improve on my time,” he said. “Last year I ran 34.10 to emerge the best Edo athlete at the event but I feel I can improve to at least 31 minutes, which should be enough to put me in the top 10 in the race,” the younger brother of the respected athletics coach, Tony Osheku, added. Elder Osheku, however, be-
lieves his brother’s time has come. “I am confident Lawrence can become the first Nigerian to break 30 minutes at the distance,” the coach said, even as he commended Pamodzi owner, Mike Itemuagbor, for organising the event that has attracted world reckoning. “Itemuagbor deserves all the praises and this is good for the development of the sport in Nigeria,” he added.
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Iroro
WORLD RECORD
Largest trick roping loop by a male
N150
Vol. 05 No. 1090 Tuesday, April 14, 2015
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.
Spare Abuja land swap programme
F
or Bala Mohammed, minister of the Federal Capital Territory, these are troubled times indeed. That should not come as a surprise. In fact, on the contrary, it will be a great surprise if his horde of detractors were to keep quiet. Given that decision-making in government could, at times, be based on misleading information or outright mischief by subordinates with hidden agenda, it is not improbable that Mohammed, like any other minister, could have made a couple of mistakes in the nearly six years he served as FCT minister. By the way, that is a record, as no other minister had stayed for that long. Putting this in perspective, it should not be forgotten that Nassir el-Rufai, easily one
Guest Columnist
Emma Agu
of the finest ministers ever produced in Nigeria, was subjected to torrents of umbrage, not excluding death wishes, when he left as FCT minister. The allegations were always the same: demolition of homes, corrupt enrichment, high-handedness, etc. No one should grudge the people the right to vent their anger when they feel short-changed; not even to deny them the right to seek restitution where genuine cases of malfeasance can be established. But to seek to discredit well thought-out programmes and projects, as some detractors are inclined to do, reeks of downright mischief. A case in point is the advertorial taken out by a group, Indigenous Peoples of Abuja, demanding among others, the ceding of the Abuja ministerial slot to an FCT indigene and the scrapping of the land swap programme of the Bala Mohammed-led FCT administration. The point needs to be made that both demands are legitimate. And that is without prejudice to one’s position on the matter. For instance, how does one react to the demand for the indigenization of the FCT ministerial slot? By the same token I will not be in a position to insist on indigenes of the Niger Delta insisting on the same treatment at the ministry of petroleum resources. If all groups were to insist on localization of resource management, are we not inching towards a consensus on the vexed issue of resource control? Are we not justifying the wisdom in calling for constitutional review? Perhaps that is a matter for another day. For now, I am sore worried that the land swap arrangement could come under serious threat if our penchant to throw the baby
TO SEEK TO DISCREDIT WELL THOUGHT-OUT PROGRAMMES AND
PROJECTS, AS SOME DETRACTORS ARE
INCLINED TO DO, REEKS OF DOWNRIGHT MISCHIEF away with the bath water is not curbed. For sure, the Abuja indigenes are within their rights to insist that the contentious matter of compensation and resettlement be addressed unequivocally. But addressing the years-long injustices meted out to Abuja indigenes, which is only consistent with natural justice and therefore justifiable, cannot in itself justify throwing the baby away with the bath water. In spite of the turn of events, the path of honour demands that we continue to admit and commend the painstaking effort of the Bala Mohammed-led FCT administration to ensure that Abuja indigenes did not suffer any untoward experience by virtue of the land swap project. The ungarnished truth is that unlike previous arrangements that were simply rammed down the throats of the indigenes, the Bala Mohammed administration ensured that there was an open conversation about the project. Through the elaborate land swap road show, which included townhall meetings at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, the International Conference Centre Abuja and various Abuja communities, the indigenes were able to articulate their
grievances, fears and expectations. It is to the credit of Bala Mohammed that he insisted that provision be made in the various separate agreements for the project affected people (PAP). In other words, contrary to the claim of those now calling for the abrogation of the programme, the final decision was extensively negotiated and agreed upon. It is not inconceivable that the new administration could have caused to review some major projects to ensure that they fall in line with the vision of the government. After all, that is the ordinary meaning of riding to power on the platform of change. Even when that is conceded, the new administration should not lose sight of the great harm that could be inflicted on the investment climate by whimsical and vendetta-induced policy changes and somersaults. If we were to suddenly abrogate the land swap programme as is being demanded, which is not dissimilar to the demands by Niger Delta militants, who want oil companies out, what message shall we be sending to investors such as Aliko Dangote, Suleiman Yahyah and Chief Mrs. Alakija, all prominent Nigerians whose companies form the fulcrum of the Land Swap programme? If that is not disturbing enough, would we not be confirming to outside investors that Nigeria is a high risk investment destination due to policy instability and personalization of governance? The aforementioned fears pale into insignificance when one considers the retardation to Abuja’s development that could arise from any attempt to scrap the land swap programme. While its implementation guarantees faster housing and infrastructure delivery, the socio-economic impact through the opportunities for direct and indirect employment and other ancillary services are too huge to be sacrificed on the altar of narrow political differences. Agu, a fellow of both the Nigerian Union of Journalists and Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), is lead consultant of Gavinta & Associates Ltd.
Sport Extra
M
anchester City midfielder, Yaya toure, has been absolved from the team’s 4-2 to Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday. City fell apart at the encounter and trailed 4-1 before a late goal by Sergio
Toure has no hand in City’s fall –Neville Aguero, who had interestingly opened scoring, halved the scoreline. But fans of the Etihad side were quick to blame Toure who they said “failed to do his work in the mid-
dle.” However, former Manchester United defender, Phil Neville, who is currently a television pundit, says the Ivorien international merely appropriated the
inadequacy in the visiting team. “It’s not fair for Yaya to get singled out again for playing poorly,” Neville, who ended his club career at Everton, said yesterday.
“At times, United were out-numbering them four to two in the middle of the pitch and that made it an impossible job for Yaya and whoever is playing alongside him,” he added.
Toure
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