February 24, 2016 by GLOBAL MEDIA MIRROR LIMITED

Buhari, Saudi King committed to oil market rebound Rotimi Fadeyi Abuja

resident Muhammadu Buhari and King Salman Bin Abdul-Aziz of Saudi Ara-

Buhari

Vol. 6 N0. 1313

bia yesterday expressed commitment to a stable oil market and a rebound of oil price. At a bilateral meeting between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia in Riyadh,

hosted by the Saudi King, the two leaders accepted the fact that their two economies are tied to oil and that all cannot be well with both countries, when Continued on Page 2>>

TUC issues govt notice for increase in minimum wage Ngige

P.6

National Mirror Online @NationalMirror N150 Wednesday, February 24 , 2016

2019: Saraki, Dogara, others to form new party A za Msue Kaduna

trong indications have emerged that Senate President, Bukola Saraki, Speaker House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, and some aggrieved members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, have started talks aimed at launching a new political party ahead of the 2019 polls. An insider, who was privy to a secret meeting held on the proposed new national party, said all the emerging camps within All Progressives Congress, APC, and the main Continued on Page 2>>

PENGASSAN shuts PPPRA headquarters over leadership tussle

P.6

4 feared killed as soldiers, militants clash in Rivers P.45

Suspected cult members paraded by 2 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt, yesterday.

Confusion in PDP as Sheriff gets 3 months as chairman Reps ask FG to issue proclamation for 2017 census

P.3 P.3

News

Wednesday, February 24, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

2019: Saraki, Dogara, others to form new party CONTINUED FROM Page 1

opposition PDP would at the end of the day come together and form a political party latest next year to prepare well to face elections. Our correspondent learnt authoritatively that Saraki and some lawmakers, including senators and House of Representatives members, and a governor from North West, who are opposed to President Muhammadu Buhari and APC National Leader, Bola Tinubu, especially during the National Assembly election of principal officers, may not secure their second term tickets on the APC platforms due to their disloyalty. It was further learnt that the battered image of the PDP, occasioned by the gale of corruption allegation and the emergence of Ali Modu Sherriff as national chairman of the party have combined to frustrate some members of the opposition party. The contention is that both the APC and PDP may be difficult to sell to Nigerians come 2019, hence the need to form an ideological party. A source said: “We have started a real Nigerian party, which will drive the dream of our nation’s founding fathers. At the moment, APC and PDP may not sell to the electorate in 2019 based on indices on ground. “The economy is number one; we thought APC has solutions to Nigeria’s myriad of problems after PDP destroyed the system but it is clear to us that, APC has none. “We are thinking of an ideological based party that will shape this country for the future. Political alliances are ongoing for a new brand political party. I can tell you between now and next year, 2017, we will give Nigerians their own party. The nation was helpless and even more helpless now. “Many PDP and APC chieftains will join us, activists will join us, professionals will join us. Market women, in fact all will join us. You will be shocked of what will happen. APC may end up

being a one term party at the national level. “What happened during Speaker Aminu Tambuwal will still happen ahead of 2019 polls. APC is fighting Senate President Bukola Saraki and Speaker Yakubu Dogara for going against their wish. They will be left with no option than to join the proposed new party. We are in touch with them and persuading them on the need to forget APC.” It would be recalled that PDP is on the verge of implosion following the emergence of Modu Sheriff as national chairman. A group within the party, which called itself PDP Rescue Group, made up of former Senate President, Adolphus Wabara, and Ambassador Wilberforce Juta, had called for the resignation of Modu Sheriff. Other members of the Rescue Group included former deputy governor of Sokoto State who also doubles as the Secretary of the group, Mukhtar Shagari, John Odey, a former publicity secretary of the party as well

L-R: Denmark Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Kristian Jensen; Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; Ambassador of Denmark to Nigeria, Mr. Torben Gettermann and Permanent Secretary, Ambassador, Ulrik Vestergaard Knudse, during a courtesy visit at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, yesterday.

as a former minister and Hon. Muyiwa Oladimeji, amongst others. Also, a founding member of the party and immediate past Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Dr. Dalhatu Sarki Tafida, announced his exit from the party. Dr. Tafida who held several positions both

under Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, made this known during a special BBC Hausa interview. Speaking in the course of the interview, Tafida said: “I have decided to leave PDP…” Citing his reasons for leaving, he said: “I left because there is no focus; if a market is over, a re-

sponsible man should go home. Now the market is over. “It was good in the past, but now it is the worst, with impunity and confusion. “The party has been destroyed and reduced to nothing, and I have decided to dump the party.” Apart from that, a former Senate President,

Ken Nnamani, also had announced his resignation from the party. In a letter entitled: “PDP, the Burden and My Conscience”, Nnamani said he took the decision after all efforts to refocus and rebuild the party had proved abortive, blaming some elements in the opposition party for its dwindling fortune.

Buhari, Saudi King committed to oil market rebound CONTINUED FROM Page 1

then the world oil market is unstable. According to a statement issued by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, Buhari and Abdulaziz committed themselves to doing everything possible to stabilise the market and rebound the oil price. The two leaders who engaged in extensive discussions on regional and global issues also agreed that terrorism posed a common threat to their states and would require close cooperation to prevail over the threats. Buhari, who was making his first pronouncement on the invitation to join the coalition of Islamic states against terror, spearheaded by the Saudis, congratulated the Kingdom on its formation. Speaking on global terror generally, Buhari said: “International terrorism made a statement by attacking one of the advanced countries by carrying out an attack on Paris in which

130 were killed. Now we have to come together to find a common solution to the problem of terrorism.” He thanked the Saudi government for its continuing support to Nigeria in the fight against terror. Speaking on the issue of Libya, Buhari regretted that the late Libyan leader Muammar Ghaddafi recruited, trained and armed citizens of many states in the Sahel region. With his fall, these mer-

cenaries have returned to their countries “doing nothing but to shoot and kill.” He cited Burkina Faso and Mali as the main victims, but expressed happiness that the countries neighbouring the Lake Chad have tightened their ranks to finish off the Boko Haram threat. The two leaders expressed hope that the Libyan factions would soon see reason to reunite and re-

store fully their own country so as to save the world from further terrorism spin-offs from that country. They also focused on trade between their states and agreed to give fresh impetus to the joint commission previously established in order to boost commercial and other activities to unify their peoples. In his remarks, the Saudi King commended the progress made by Nigeria in combating terrorism and

promised to give further support and assistance. He welcomed the support of the Nigerian government for the new antiterrorism coalition and implored the President to consider its full membership. The Saudi King also pledged his full support and cooperation to Nigeria under its present leadership and directed all agencies of his government to follow up on the discussions.

Reps ask FG to issue proclamation for 2017 census Ubong Ukpong Abuja

ouse of Representatives yesterday, asked President Muhammadu Buhari, to without further delay, go ahead and issue proclamation for the national population and housing census in 2017. This followed a motion brought by Hon. Mohammed Abdulkadir Mahmud, calling on the executive to prepare adequately for the census. He noted that section 153

(1) of the third schedule to the 1999 constitution empowered the National Population Commission, NPC, to undertake the production of demographic, socioeconomic and health data through the conduct of census, surveys, vital statistics. The lawmaker regretted that the census, earlier proposed for this year was no longer feasible owing largely to challenges of funding and lack of political will, which scuttled the proper implementation of the earlier scheduled pre-census

activities. He also expressed worry over the poor funding provision in the budgets for the NPC to conduct the census, which he said stood constantly at only 15 per cent between 2012 and 2015. Mahmud stressed that there was a renewed regional and global concerns to reinvigorate the system of civic registration, which is the building block for establishing sustainable demographic databases that help in monitoring developments.

He further said international donor agencies could only offer assistance when there is a Presidential proclamation for the take-off of the census. The House, presided over by Speaker, Yakubu Dogara, adopted the motion calling on the presidency to issue a proclamation to this effect. It also urged NPC to continue its exploits in technology utilisation to reduce cases of irregularities and controversies to the barest minimum.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

News 3

Wednesday, February 24, 2016

Confusion in PDP as Sheriff gets 3 months as chairman Obiora Ifoh Abuja

ational leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday mandated the Senator Ali Modu Sheriff-led National Working Committee, NWC, to organise a national convention within three months. This was the outcome of a meeting, involving governors, National Assembly Caucus, NWC and BoT, which held at the residence of Ondo State governor, Olusegun Mimiko, who doubles as chairman of the PDP governors. Sheriff, while briefing newsmen on Monday, had said he awaited the leadership of the party to tell him when his time in office would expire. Speaking after the meeting, which lasted over three hours, Mimiko disclosed that the timeline for the conduct of the convention would be released within two weeks. He further stated that all organs of the party had agreed to stand by Sheriff, adding that recent controversy arising from the emergence of the national chairman had been resolved. Mimiko further declared that decisions reached at the meeting were binding on every member and organs of the party, including former ministers, who he said, were part of the decision reached over the emergence of Sheriff. He said: “As you can see we are just from a meeting. You are all aware of some controversies generated by the appointment of our new national chairman. “In view of the recent development in our party, I want to let you know that all organs of the party, the governors’ forum, National Assembly Caucus, BoT have agreed to stand by our national chairman to ensure that our party moves forward. “We have put behind us all the controversies in the last few days and I want to assure you that we are together as a party. “We have also mandated the National Working Committee, NWC, to put in motion immediately, the processes of ensuring that

within three months the national convention of our party is called.” He noted that members of the party would be briefed within the next two weeks on the timetable for the conduct of the national convention. “I want to assure all of you that PDP is ready. Let them know that as one big family, we are set and ready to move forward and ensure that we give good governance to the country. Reacting to the absence of former ministers’ forum at the meeting, Mimiko, said: “All I can tell you is that every past minister is a product of the state caucus of the party. They emanate from the state. The caucus of the party is all designed that every state is represented by the chairman of the party. “Secondly, all the key organs in the party are also represented in the caucus. The governors are there, National Assembly members, National Working Committee members, BoT members are there. And I tell you that every governor, NWC member, member of the National Assembly emanate from the state organ of the party. “And all state chairmen are members of the Caucus, they are members of NEC. They were part and parcel of the decision that led to this controversy. And everything is going on very well. There is no problem.” Acting BoT Chairman, Senator Walid Jubrin, thanked the governors for bringing the controversy to an end, corroborating the decision by the organs of the party to hold national convention in three months. But former ministers of the party, who rose from their own meeting yesterday, insisted on rejecting Modu Sheriff as national chairman. They also declared that national convention must hold on March 28, 2016. They were holding their meeting while the governors, BoT and NWC were also meeting. Chairman of the Ministers Forum, Tanimu Turaki, said: “The forum of PDP ministers affirms the commitment of ideals and core values of founding fathers and reject Sheriff

L-R: Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, Mrs. Ayotunde Adesugba; Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed; Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Gu Xiaojie, and Director, China Cultural Centre, Mr Yan Xiangdong, during a courtesy visit by officials of Embassy of China to the minister, in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN as national chairman due to the illegitimacy that brought him into power. “That the forum commends and supports the stance of the BoT for the rejection of the imposition of Sheriff. “The forum calls for the conduct of congress at all levels of the party, leading to the national convention to be held on March 27, 2016 so as to return power to the people. “The forum condemns

all acts of impunity in the running of the party and calls for the respect of the party constitution. The forum agrees to continue with consultation with all relevant stakeholders. “The forum noted with dismay the threat to one of our own, Femi FaniKayode, by the chairman, Ali Modu Sheriff. We want to note a threat to one is a threat to all.” Reacting to questions that the BoT has accepted

Sheriff ’s chairmanship and timetable for national convention, Tanimu said that by the time they took their position which was guided by their conscience “we felt that the process deployed to appoint national chairman was flawed.” He added that in the first instance the person who presided over the meeting was barred by court injunction and “to the best of our knowledge

that injunction has not been lifted. “We believe that we should not give room for impunity. If the BoT chairman changes the position of BoT, it will not change our position. We stand by them and we still feel the way we feel. “Unless there are new reasons for us to reconsider our position we stand on our ground. But there will still be room for consultation,” he added.

Allocations to FG, States, LG drops to N370.38bn in January Chidi Ugwu Abuja

llocations to the three tiers of government declined by N17.38bn from N387.77bn shared in December to N370.38bn in January. The development was confirmed by Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun while addressing journalists shortly after this month’s Federation Accounts Allocation Committee meeting which was held at the headquarters of the ministry in Abuja. She attributed the decline in allocation to drop in oil prices from $43.4 to $39.04, which resulted into a loss of revenue of $22.55m. In addition, the minister said the Cash Call obligation of the

Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, to its Joint Venture partners led to a reduction in the amount available for sharing by the three arms of government. She said as part of measures aimed at reducing the negative impact of cash call obligation on the federation account, NNPC is proposing a Modified Carry Arrangement. This, according to her, would be more beneficial to the country owing to the continuous decline in oil prices. She said details of the agreement is being worked out and would be presented to the National Economic Council, NEC, for approval. Giving a breakdown of the allocation to the

three tiers of government, the minister said in the area of statutory allocation, the Federal Government after deducting the cost of collection to revenue generating agencies received N137.47bn representing 52.68 per cent. States, according to her, got N69.72bn or 26.72 per cent, local governments N53.75bn or 20.8 per cent, while N22.38bn was allocated to oil producing states, based on the 13 per cent derivation principle. For Value Added Tax, VAT, revenue, the minister said Federal Government received N10.04bn or 15 per cent, states N33.46bn or 50 per cent, while local governments received N23.42bn or 35 per cent. Adeosun said: “The gross statutory revenue

of N290.96bn received for the month (January) was lower than the N315.01bn received in the previous month by N24.05bn. “Shut-in and shutdown of production for the repairs and maintenance continued during the period under review. However, there was a slight increase in production of crude in December 2015. “The drop in the average price of crude oil from $43.4 in November to $39.04 in December 2015 resulted in a revenue loss of $22.55m. “The total revenue distributable for the current month, including VAT is N370.38bn.” Adeosun put the balance in the Excess Crude Account, ECA, at $2.25bn as at February 23.

Wednesday, February 24, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Wednesday, February 24, 2014

Wednesday, February 24, 2016

Halt power sector privatisation, ASUU tells FG

…wants varsities exempted from TSA

cademic Staff of Nigeria Universities, ASUU, yesterday in Abuja called on the Federal Government to stop private ownership of electricity in the country. President of ASUU, Dr Nasir Isa, who made the call at a news conference, explained that private ownership of electricity sector had jeopardised economic development and national security. `Ìt is obvious that the power sector epitomises the massive fraud that characterised the privatisation process. `Àt the onset, there were official campaigns on how committed and experienced investors were going to inject funds to turn around the comatose power sector. `Ìn spite of spirited efforts by patriotic Nigerians, particularly in the labour movement, the ruling class forced the bitter

pill down the throat of the helpless workers and citizens. ``Three years down the line, provision of uninterrupted electricity has remained a mirage and the story of power sector has changed for the worse. ``Nigerians now pay higher bills for less hours of brightness than they did in 2012 or earlier,” he said. Isa said Nigerians were being made to pay high bills for prolonged regime of darkness. The ASUU president said the union fully supported the massive resistance by the labour movement and other patriotic Nigerians against the increase. ``Nigerians must resist the move by the National Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, and Distribution Companies, DISCOs, to hike tariffs. ``Any pricing process

that fails to consider the prevailing socio-economic climate is bound to engender further hardship and worsen the living and working conditions of the mass of the people of this country. ``That is why, like other policies on privatisation, we call on the federal government to reverse itself on the idea of selling the power sector to the highest bidders. “Their primary interest is unbridled profit motive,” he added. The union also called on the Federal Government to exempt federal universities from the Treasury Single Account, TSA, policy. President of ASUU, Dr Nasir Isa, made the call at a news conference on Tuesday in Abuja. Isa said TSA had made it difficult for the universities to discharge their duties, especially in research.

TUC issues notice for increase in minimum wage Rotimi Fadeyi Abuja

rade Union Congress, TUC, yesterday served notice for the upward review of minimum wage to the Federal Government. The leadership of the Congress during a meeting with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa also urged the government to reverse the sale of the electricity distribution companies, DISCOs. According to the congress, the current operators of the Discos had demonstrated lack of will, capacity and competence to turn around the power sector and ensure stable electricity supply. President of the Congress, Bobboi Kaigama, pointed out in a presentation to the Vice President that the National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Act 2011 would be five years old this March. He noted that in recognition of the International Labour Organisation’s Minimum Wage Fixing Convention 131 of 1970, an ad-hoc committee should be raised every five years for the re-

view. Kaigama urged the government to expedite action on the upward review of minimum wage to save Nigerian workers from harsh effects of the current economic realities now taking its toll on their meager incomes.

The TUC boss described the current increase in electricity tariff as anti-people, stressing that the Act of the National Assembly which empowers electricity regulator the unilateral power to increase but prevented the lawmakers from reviewing the Act as misleading.

PENGASSAN shuts PPPRA Hqs over leadership tussle

…asks govt to pick one scribe Chidi Ugwu

Abuja Leadership tussle rocking the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency, PPPRA, has assumed a different dimension as the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN, branch of the agency has shut down all operations of the office. The union members, who locked up the complex, urged management of the agency to meet with government and resolve the issues of who is the authentic acting Executive Secretary of PPPRA

instead of allowing two persons to parade as head of the agency, thereby creating a tense atmosphere that is capable of driving back the operations of the organisation. Briefing newsmen on the position of the union member, chairman of PENGASSAN, PPPRA chapter, Comrade Victor Ononokpono, further noted that in less than one week, PPPRA is having about two acting Executive Secretaries in controversial circumstance void of such a sensitive regulatory agency for the critical Oil and Gas industry.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Wednesday, February 24, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Wednesday, February 24, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Wednesday, February 24, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

South West

Wednesday, February 24, 2016

Ekiti Assembly ready to treat petitions on Ikere Obaship supremacy tussle ABIODUN NEJO ADO EKITI

L-R: Solicitor-General Lagos State Ministry of Justice, Mrs Funmilola Odunlami; Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Adeniji Kazeem and Chief Press Secretary to Lagos Governor, Mr Habib Aruna, at a news conference on the usage of DNA to resolve criminal issues in Lagos, yesterday.

South African minors sue Synagogue Church over death of father WALE IGBINTADE

wo South Africans minors, Bulungu Malaika Wa Kalambaie (three years) and Nora Furah Wa Kalambaie (six years), have instituted a suit before a Lagos High Court, asking it for an order directing the founder of Synagogue Church of All Nations, SCOAN, Prophet Temitope B. Joshua, to pay them R8,772m as cost and damages for the death of their father. The claimants’ filed the suit through their mother, Amina Busseh Bashi, a citizen of Democratic Republic of Congo. In their statement of claim filed by their lawyer, Bolaji Ayorinde

(SAN), they prayed the court to order Pastor Joshua, registered trustees of Synagogue Church Of All Nations, Jadny Trust Limited, Hardrock Construction & Engineering Company, Oladele Ogundeji and Akinbela Fatiregun to pay them additional R10,000,000 (ten million) as damages for the loss of earnings and support suffered from the death of their father. Besides, they asked the court to direct the defendants to pay them N30 million, being the legal cost and solicitor’s fee incurred by the claimants in prosecuting the action. Also joined as defendants are the Lagos State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice as well as the Lagos State Ministry of Physical Plan-

ning and Urban Development. The claimants urged the court to hold that Pastor Joshua and his church, SCOAN, were negligent in their duties in failing to ensure that lives and properties of persons that come within their domain are safe and secured. They (claimants) also want the court to declare that the failure of Lagos State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development to properly regulate and ensure that the building being used as guest house and located within the premises of the church was fit for habitation is negligent. It will be recalled that the Lagos State government has set up a Coroner’s Inquest at the Ikeja Magisterial Division of

the Lagos State Magistrate Court, to ascertain the cause of the collapse of the guest house. In its verdict dated July 8, 2015 the coroner found that the guest house collapsed as a result of the negligence, omission and/or failure of the following defendants in the inquest: the Registered Trustees of Synagogue Church Of All Nations, Pastor Joshua, Lagos State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Jadny Trust Limited, Hardrock Construction & Engineering Company, Oladele Ogundeji and Akinbela Fatiregun. Meanwhile the defendants are yet to file any processes in court and the matter has not been assigned to any judge.

Domestic, sexual violence: Lagos to establish DNA forensic lab FRANCIS SUBERU

n other to reduce and nip sexual violence and other criminalities in the bud, Lagos State government yesterday revealed plans to establish a stateowned DNA Forensic Laboratory. Briefing journalists yesterday, the state’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Adeniji Kazeem, said the project would be sited at Ikorodu and would be completed between six and 12 months. The Attorney General said the DNA Forensic Centre which would be called ‘Lagos State DNA Forensics

Centre LSDFC’ would fulfil an unmet need for DNA profiling, a forensic technique that is now used worldwide. “DNA profiling is an extraction of DNA from body fluids, semen, nails, hair and other DNA generic sources. “This will controvert evidence of alibi and confirm physical presence of the suspect at the scene and the origin of DNA to the suspect. Specifically, the centre will focus on DNA analysis to support the justice sector in diverse areas,” he said. Adeniji listed areas where the lab would be of help in the criminal justice system in Lagos and the entire nation as the collection and preservation of reference and evidentiary DNA

which could later be used in identifying criminals; decoding familial relationships of individuals which could also be a tool for the judicial system; and identification of victims and remains after natural and man-made calamities. He noted that the centre would not only fulfil the growing DNA profiling needs of the judicial process, but also become a revenue generating centre for the state by serving the public, other states and neighbouring countries. He said: “The Lagos State DNA Forensic Centre will be of international standard that other stakeholders, including security agencies will also benefit from.

It will be equipped with state-of-the-art equipment to support all levels of DNA collection from people and objects, evidence examination, DNA analysis while also providing evidential DNA storage.”

kiti State House of Assembly has expressed readiness to listen to petitioners over the Olukere of Ikere Ekiti, Oba Ganiyu Obasoyin’s bid for recognition as monarch by the state government. The state government recognises the Ogoga of Ikere Ekiti, Oba Adejimi Adu, as the only traditional ruler in the ancient community, but the Olukere said his forebears were traditional rulers up to a point, hence his bid for recognition. The Olukere who has been locked in a tussle with the Ogoga over his obaship claim, had last week, alongside his supporters, stormed the Assembly to submit a petition for his stool’s recognition and other documents to back his claim. But the Speaker of Ekiti State House of Assembly, Hon. Kola Oluwawole, said

yesterday under Matters of Urgent Public Importance during the plenary that the Olukere should pursue his status in a manner that would not undermine the existing peace in the state. The House which frowned at the manner the Olukere stormed the Assembly amid drumming and dancing to submit the petition, urged him to tender unreserved apology to the Ekiti State government over the alleged embarrassment. The Speaker said: “This is a House with a high sense of decency. Anyone that wants to submit petition should do it with an equally high sense of decency; not with drumming and dancing. This place is not a fanfare venue. “This House is not opposing any petition. But they have to be brought within the ambit of the law, under an atmosphere of peace. That is when we can serve and perform our duties.

Death of student: LASU suspends 11 TUNBOSUN OGUNDARE

agos State University, LASU, Ojo, yesterday suspended 11 students of the institution following the tragic and sudden death of a female colleague at a social party organised by the History and International Studies Students’ Association of the school outside the campus recently. They are all members of the executive committee of the students’ association. And by the development, they would not attend lectures and other activities relating to their studentship pending when they would appear before a disciplinary committee set up for that pur-

pose. The university, in its weekly bulletin released through the Centre for Information, Press and Public Relations of the institution, said the deceased, Miss Omolara Gbadeyan, who was a 200-level student of the Department of Industrial Relations and Personnel Management, attended an illegal party and award night where she was said to have drank an alcoholic concoction that led to her death. The report gave the names of the affected students as Babatunde Arubo (chairman); Paul Shenjobi (president); Esther Kudayah (vice president); Matthew Balogun (general secretary); Bidemi Eletu (treasurer), among others.

UCH writes off bill of Ibadan quintuplets KEMI OLAITAN IBADAN

he family of the woman, Mrs. Sakirat Rasaq, who, penultimate Monday gave birth to quintuplets - three males and two females at the University College Hospital, UCH, Ibadan, has continued to get support from Nigerians, as the hospital authorities yesterday

promised to refund all the expenses the couple have incurred since the day of her admission. Public relations officer of the hospital, Mr. Deji Bobade, said this in a text message he sent to journalists in Ibadan. The text message said all funds paid so far since February 15, 2016 when the woman put to bed at the

hospital have been refunded as at Monday, February 22. He said: “UCH waived the hospital bill of Baba Five.” Bobade however said that “the amount cannot be ascertained now since they are still on admission. The ones they have paid before today (Monday) are to be refunded to them.”

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Wednesday, February 23, 2016

Politics

When ‘ll N/Assembly make its budget public?

Awo’s birthday commemorative symposium holds March 4 Ayo Esan

his year’s edition of the Obafemi Awolowo birthday commemorative celebrations will feature two events namely, a one- day symposium, themed, “ Awo , Then and Now: Politics, Economics, and Education” which will hold on Thursday March 3, 2016 at Awolowo Residence Ikenne, Ogun State and the 3rd edition of the Awo Memorial Kids’ Cup, the final of which is scheduled to be played at Ajele Stadium Lagos on Tuesday , March 8, 2016. Speaking with journalists in Lagos yesterday, the Executive Director, Obafemi Awolowo Foundation, Dr Olatokunbo Awolowo Dosumu said the Foundation being the custodian of the intellectual legacy of the last sage , plans to devote the symposium to an examination of several aspects of the governance legacy of Chief Obafemi Awolowo. She said the aspects to be examined by a body of experts are politics, economics and education . ‘ We do this, as the title suggests, with a view to teasing out important lessons from the governance record of the sage , in order to provide a compass for the nation’s ongoing journey to political, economic and social transformation.

It should be noted that this is in keeping with the Foundation’s forte of generating ideas, as well as provoking conversation to jump start national development”, she said Awolowo Dosumu said the event which will consist of a keynote address by a distinguished scholar, will feature incisive brainstorming led by four eminent panelists on the political, economic and educational aspects of Awo’s legacy adding that, the symposium will be moderated by a scholar of global renown in what is billed as a high profile intellectual event. She said apart from the host governor, other governors across the political divide have been invited as guests of honour “Nigeria’s Fourth Republic has witnessed important gains in the direction of democratic consolidation, not the least of which is the watershed elections of 2015 in which power was peacefully transferred from an incumbent President and party to the opposition for the first time. “The gains notwithstanding, the country faces significant challenges still. The March 3 event will subject our gains , challenges, setbacks and prospects to detailed examination , in order to chart a way forward, using as template the sem-

Lagos assembly confirms gov’s nominees, pardons Tutor-Generals Robert Awokuse

agos State lawmakers have screened and confirmed the appointments of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s nominees into the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund. The nominees are Mrs. Ifueko Omoguiyi as the Chairman of the board while Mr. Akintunde Oyebode will serve as secretary. In a related development, the House has pardoned the six TutorGenerals and Permanent Secretaries for their disrespect to the invitation extended to them to appear before the Committee on Education. It would be recalled that the

Chairman of the Education Committee, Hon. Lanre Ogunyemi representing Ojo Constituency II, informed the House over their refusal to appear before the Committee. The spokesperson of the TutorGenerals, Mrs. Iji Mary Taiwo apologized to the lawmakers for their actions. She said “I want to apologize on behalf of my colleagues for the actions, it was not intentional to disrespect the Honourable House and I promise not to repeat the same again”. In his reaction, the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa affirmed that the apologies of the Tutor-Generals had been accepted.

inal interventions in governance of the late sage”, she explained. The Executive Director of Obafemi Awolowo Foundation said the symposium will be chaired by the Governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir el-Rufai while the keynote address will be delivered by former Professor of Philosophy &Interim

Dean, College of Arts &Science at Howard University, Washington, Professor Segun Gbadegesin. According to her, the panelists are: Dr Oby Ezekwesili, Professor Williams Alade Fawole, Professor Ayo Olukotun and Dr Femi Okunrounmu while the moderator will be Professor Ladipo Adamolekun

She said the final of the 3rd edition of the Awo Memorial Kids’ cup will kick off by 2.00pm on March 8, 2016. She further said that the innovation in the competition this year is the inclusion at their request of Ogun State based grassroots kids’ soccer teams in the competition .

L-R: Former Minister of Special Duties, Dr Aminu Wali; former Minister of Education, Prof. Tunde Adeniran and Chairman, Forum of former Ministers, Alhaji Tanimu Turaki, during the meeting of Forum of former Ministers on the leadership crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abuja yesterday. PHOTO: ROTIMI OSASONA

Law to protect physically challenged coming soon —Legislator Kemi Olaitan IBADAN

member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Temitope Olatoye has reiterated the commitment of the National Assembly to pass the disability bill into law. He gave the assurance while declaring open a one- day workshop on covering and reporting persons with disabilities organised by the Oyo State Council of Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, in partnership with the Project Restoration International, at the Press Centre, Iyaganku, Ibadan. The member representing Lagelu/Akinyele Federal con-

stituency, said as part of efforts of the National Assembly in ensuring a better life for the people with disabilities, the house will ensure speedy passage of the people with disabilities bill According to him, the bill has passed the first and second readings, adding that when passed into law, the rights of persons with disabilities will be constitutional given to them. While lamenting that the rate of disabilities continued to increase globally due to accidents, illness and defects during delivery, he stated that journalists who are the mouthpiece of the society should use their talents to encourage the disabled. He said, “As pressmen, you

are the mouthpiece of both able and disable people in the world, I implore you to use your good talents to preach the same gospel on how we can help the less privileged people and also to discourage people with disabilities from begging for alms in the streets but engage in vocation of their choice for a benefiting living. “At the National Assembly, we have disability bill which has passed the first and second readings and when eventually passed into law, their rights will be constitutionally given to them and not charity any longer. I therefore call on the members of the public to support them and stop making mockery of them”.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Politics

Wednesday, February 23, 2016

Buhari’s ascension to presidency, a positive development —Akintan High Chief Agboola Akintan is the Ojomu of Idanre and the Lisa of Kosofe Lagos. In this interview with BANKOLE BETIKU, he speaks on President Muhammadu Buhari’s fight against corruption and the forthcoming governorship election in Ondo State among other issues. Excerpts.

How will you assess President Muhammadu Buhari’s fight against corruption?. Well, I have been following the politics of this country since 1948. I would say at that time we were yearning for independence and this was spearheaded at that time by Nnamdi Azikwe and Herbert Macauley . We knew him, we were school children then. He died while he was touring round the whole country. Zik took over from him. Awolowo later brought in Egbe Omo Oduduwa which eventually metamorphosed into Action Group. A very dynamic, purposeful and highly successful political party which put him on the throne of leadership aided at that time by a very dynamic people. The group was led by Anthöny Enahoro at that time who moved the motion for self government and total independence in 1960. There has been government upon government and in 1966 the military took over. I will say Buhari’s government is quite unique as sanity was a good motto for Awolowo, Azikiwe and the Sardauna of Sokoto when they were leading us. But when military took over, believe me, politics changed. I wouldn’t blame the military for everything but quite alright, degeneration started with military and it became firm by politicians eventually. It got highly monetized of recent. As my friend Lateef Jakande, will put it, I became very legal to be foul, to be dishonest and what you call “owo eyin” “riba” in Yoruba became “owo gbangba”. You have to bribe your way through in anything you wanted in Nigeria. This came to its apex in the last government. I am not saying the last government was responsible for it but it got to its apogee. But suddenly Buhari who has been vying to be a leader got to the throne and he made honest his best policy and got determined to cleanse the whole state of corruption. God bless him. It is a good decision taken by him, and hitherto as a human being he must have made a number of mistakes but quite alright I see something good for the country. We really need it otherwise we would have been drowned in corruption and the country will eventually commit suicide and destroy itself in corruption. So his coming in, I would say is very good at this moment. His success will depend on his advisers and our co-operation. The people generally must cooperate and be willing to help him. Whatever he spot now definitely is a good start and there’s no going back, so whosoever becomes the president will learn from whatever Buhari has done so far and will do till he leaves office. I do believe that there is no going back, no degeneration and we will continue to improve. Speaking as a Lawyer, how will you assess the government of the day in the area of the rule of law and respect for

human right vis- a- vis the re- arrest of some personalities who were granted bail by a competent court of jurisdiction? As a lawyer, I will think seriously and compare the action that is being taken with the situation that demands it. You see corruption at the moment is very endemic, it affects the country from head to toe. Even farmers who are employed to work in plantation want to be bribed over and above their daily pay because it’s the order of the day. To hide under the rules of law, to hide under fundamental human rights, to hide with the procedure with the laws we have now may deter people from finding out the truth. I am very much in sympathy with Buhari. Those people who steal government money, they find very clever means of dodging the law. And the law itself must find some extra way of dealing with them. So I am thinking very much as a lawyer with Buhari, provided Buhari is not sectional, provided Buhari does not torture or rather Buhari does not engage in witchhunting members of the other political parties, provided Buhari makes it general. Whether you are in PDP, APC or any other party, if we know that you have stolen government money, we should find very clever way of recovering that money. These people are very clever in stealing government money, so Buhari must be very clever in getting the money out and should not have sympathy or allow anybody to hide under the rule of law to get away with money for which he cannot account for in his account in or outside Nigeria, for which he cannot genuinely account. Believe me I said this at my age. From the look of things, it’s like you are totally in support of the Buhari’s anti- corruption war and what would you have to say on the senate president who is the Number 3 man in the Nation and has been charged for the same corruption offence? Your question itself betrays the question, you said he is being charged, he has not been convicted. He is being charged. What you are having on ground is to bail him or not to bail him. Buhari has not sent anybody to prison but some set of detention to prevent obstruction of justice has to be effected. I am not defending Buhari and I am not using the law to shield corruption in any way. I say it, I am in sympathy with the innocent, you are not found guilty until proven to be so. Buhari is still trying to investigate through the proper channel. To me personally the channel is not strong enough. People find means of sidetracking the law to steal our money. And this is not the time to reckon with flimsy mistakes made by our leaders. One thing I don’t want is for Buhari to separate people in the probe. He should probe everybody and that is all.

Akintan Let’s come down to Ondo State which is your state, how would you assess the performance of the government of the day in terms of development compared to the past administrations? Well, let me first of all start by saying I will congratulate Mimiko for having so far maneuver his own way throughout his term to run a second term. No governor has ever done this and perhaps all the governors that have served this state have sunk and collapsed with the exception of one still in Lagos. Today, we in Ondo state do not have any governor who served in Ondo state still alive. They’ve all died. I congratulate him for that. I am older than all of them, beside that, all the governors considering my age. I put Adekunle Ajasin as my best Governor and the person who wanted to improve on it is Agagu. All others have done very little or nothing. Mimiko has helped in building markets, building schools and perhaps mother and child hospitals. He has succeeded in building money consuming projects but along the line of money making projects he has scored nill. In other words, if you had asked me about internally generated revenue, how much has Mimiko faired. I will say nill. It is unfortunate. I will rather say Mimiko has not done sufficiently well to warrant been praised for helping this state. Lastly, the governorship election in Ondo state is just around the corner, as a stakeholder in Ondo state politics; do you have a preferred candidate? I do not have any preferred candidate at all. I am very happy that so many candidates are coming forward. Right from Akure Division here, I have listed about six or seven candidates most of who are very good, if we succeed in making them. Starting with Alasoadura, the gentle man has just left my house. There are two Senior Advocates of

Nigeria, SANs from my state. Olusola Oke has visited me to inform me of his interest. Jimoh Ibrahim is also in the race. Boroffice in the North is vying for the seat. Mrs Anifowoshe, Ajasin’s daughter is equally in the race. There are good materials who if well guided we will be having a good governor come this year. I do not and cannot advice any of us to pick a candidate now but we can be behind. I am not behind anyone of them. I only advise them, go to the field tell us what you are going to do for us. One thing is that we are all very hungry here. I stayed in Lagos all my years and I know what Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has done. He told me that if we allow him to be a governor in this state in three or four years he will make Lagos generate her own money such that we will not be looking up to Abuja to finance development and he did it. Obasanjo stopped paying grants to Lagos for more than three years, we did not succumb to that in Lagos, rather he did all that he had to do and all the services were done and we still had surpluses. That is what we want in Ondo state. A governor that is coming to Ondo state must be prepared to be our servant rather than our master, rather than building projects that will consume our money but secure money through internally generated revenue. He should make money internally rather than wait for money from oil, more so when revenue from oil is dwindling. Anybody who is aspiring to be a governor must try to develop our resources so that he will employ people and provide means of feeding our youth, millions of them who are suffering. And we have the resources in Ondo state. I expect a governor who will work hard to build Ondo state, not to create funny things, things that will consume our money. Make money for Ondo state, provide jobs for all the people, that is what I expect. I am not for any particular candidate as at now and I will not be.

Mail Mirror

Politics

Wednesday,February 24, 2016

When â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;ll N/Assembly make its budget public?

From The Senate with

George OJI

n the past three weeks or so, when the Ministries, Departments and Agencies of Government, MDAs commenced the defence of the 2016 budget appropriation at the National Assembly, the media had been awash with stories of padding, alterations and manipulation of figures by some unpatriotic public officers. These revelations became possible because of the constitutional provision, which empowered members of the National Assembly to subject the national budget to public scrutiny. Arising from the revelations from the budget defence exercise, while the public servants are being vilified as dubious elements, the lawmakers are unwittingly held in high esteem as saints. But before we crucify the public servants, the lawmakers must also be reminded of the age-long axioms that states that, he who goes to equity must do so with clean hands. What this means is that, the same way both the executive and the judicial arms of government subjected their budget to public scrutiny, natural justice demands that the parliament must also toe the same path. Unfortunately, since the commencement of the present democratic dispensation, the parliament has not for once allowed the public a pip into its budget and financial expenses despite several protestations. Happily, since his assumption of office as the Senate President of the present 8th National Assembly, Bukola Saraki has consistently committed to opening the activities and the running of the National Assembly to transparency and openness. Both at his inaugural address as the Senate President, the adoption of the senate legislative agenda and indeed during his commissioning of the renovated Press Corps Center at the National Assembly, Saraki was very unequivocal about his commitment to ensuring accountability and transparency in the new senate. Given the change philosophy of the present All Progressive Congress (APC) federal administration and several avowals by

f feelers that emanated from the senate last week Tuesday is anything to go by, then hard time appears to await the vocal Senator, Kabiru Marafa from Zamfara State. Marafa, a key and notable member of the Senate Unity Forum, SUF, a group, which emerged in the aftermath of the 8th senate, and committed to the emergence of Senators Ahmed Lawan and George Akume as the Senate President and Deputy respectively, has been stoutly opposed to the administration of Bukola Saraki as the Senate President. Marafa, who represents Zamfara Central in the senate has consistently refused to recognize Saraki as the authentic Senate President. Marafa was one of the senators who were caught up at the International Conference

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Budgeting N150

billion annually for the

National

Assembly

consistently for five years simply means that all the sub-head

allocations were repeated each year for five years.

Dogara

Saraki

Saraki to reform the way the business of the National Assembly is run, the public expects that moving forward, and for the first time, the National Assembly should let Nigerians know what they have budgeted for themselves and to what sub-heads those moneys would be applied. Of course, that is not asking too much from the Nigerian people who invested their vote to the lawmakers in trust. That is part of what representative government is all about. The budget of the National Assembly should not continue to be shrouded in secrecy. For five years, from 2010 to 2014, the annual budget of the National Assembly for each year was N150 billion. As a result of restive public agitations and the need to thin down the cost of governance, the amount was dropped to N125 billion in 2015. Unfortunately, nobody for one day, explained to Nigerians the use those allocations were put to. All that Nigerians were regaled with by the lawmakers was that those allocations were not only meant for the elected 469 members of the National Assembly, but it also included the bud-

get of the National Institute of Legislative Studies, NILS, National Assembly Service Commission, budget office of the National Assembly as well as the payment of the legislative aides of the lawmakers. Unfortunately, that explanation does not say much. The kind of explanations Nigerians expect to hear from the legislators for instance, is details of the allocation and for what purposes. For instance that , N45 billion was committed to buying official cars for the lawmakers, N23bn for procurement of computers, N2 billion for the maintenance of loins and grasses, N3.7 for the painting of the assembly complex, N780 million for procuring tables and chairs, N5.6 billion for purchase of books for the library, N617m to run the senate tea room etc. Budgeting N150 billion annually for the National Assembly consistently for five years simply means that all the sub-head allocations were repeated each year for five years. That means that every year, the National Assembly acquired the same number of official cars, same number of computers,

same number of books for its library, same number of furniture. This is no doubt, the obvious reason why the budget of the National Assembly has remained such a highly guarded secret over the years. It must also be made clear that the so called budget of the National Assembly does not also include the salaries and allowances of the lawmakers. This is because, their salaries are paid directly from the consolidated revenue of the federation as statutory transfers or from the direct line charge. This was the consequence of the amendment of the Constitution, which conferred on the lawmakers, financial autonomy status. In the 2016 budget appropriation bill, the sum of N115 billion was allocated to the National Assembly as its budget for the financial year. Nigerians would want to know to what use that amount would be applied. This is the only way the citizens would hold both the Senate President and the APC Government accountable to their commitment to change and transformation. Otherwise, the perception that the National Assembly is the bastion of corruption in the country will continue to fester.

Danger signals for Senator Kabiru Marafa Center Abuja, that eventful June 9, 2015, waiting to hold an elusive parley with President Muhammadu Buhari while the election of Saraki as the new Senate President and Ike Ekweremadu as the new Deputy Senate President were concluded. Since then, he has not failed to drum the anger of his disenfranchisement to the ears of any person who cares to listen. The Zamfaraborn politician unsuccessfully raised several motions at the inception of the current senate to void the leadership of Saraki. He was one of the SUF senators who petitioned the then Inspector General of Police, seeking a criminal inquest into the alleged forg-

Marafa ing of the senate standing rule that was used in conducting the election that led to the eventual emergence of Saraki as the Senate President. As the initial plots to ouster Saraki continued to fester, Marafa was also among

the senators who instituted a legal case at a Federal High Court, Abuja, aimed at achieving the same goal of ousting Sarak as Senate President. While these measures were still in place and running, Marafa continued to

make incisive remarks, impugning the office of Saraki. For a long time after the birth of the current 8th senate, Marafa was the toast of the media as he granted interviews freely, lampooning, not only the leadership of the senate but in some instances, the entire senate. Apparently fed up with the activities and antics of Marafa, the senate last week commenced the process that may likely lead to the suspension of Marafa from the red chamber if care is not taken. Rising under Order 14 of the senate standing rules on privileges, Senator Isah Hamman (Bauchi South) tendered a copy of the Punch publication of February 7, 2016, which contained scath-

ing remarks of Marafa on senators. In his comments after the paper had been admitted in evidence by the senate, Senator Mathew Oraghide from Edo State made a remark that points to the direction the senate may likely follow when he stated that, â&#x20AC;&#x153;The time has come for the senate to do the needful.â&#x20AC;? For the ardent followers of the senate, there is no interpreting what the needful would be. To further point to the path the lawmakers may likely thread on the matter, the Senate Committee on Ethics and Public Petitions, which was asked to probe the matter was given just one week to turn in its report. With this, one can only wish Marafa all the best.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Views

Wednesday, February 24, 2016

On Edo politics and perennial governorship pretenders NOSAKHARE OSAHON

he race towards who succeeds Comrade Adams Oshiomhole as governor of Edo State next November 12 has already begun. While the Independent National Electoral Commission is yet to come out with its guidelines for the election, people in the state and, indeed, political watchers already know those who are in the race for the tickets of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the two main contenders. In the APC, a certain Barrister Kenneth Imansuagbon, an educationist by vocation is one of those ready to throw his hat in the ring for the ticket of his party. Better known as the ‘rice man’ for his annual ritual of assaulting the sensibilities of Edo people every December, when he ‘distributes’ rice, Imansuagbon has taken his ridiculous ritual to a nauseating height. He now believes his annual ritual is enough to buy him the governorship of Edo State. For Imansuagbon, a few posers. He has a thriving school for children of Nigerians in the upper class, those who may have fed fat on the common patrimony and his school is located not in Benin City, the state capital nor is it located in Ewohinmi, a local place a few years ago whose fortunes have undergone extreme

transformation under the administration of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, but in far-away Abuja, Nigeria’s capital and home of the rich and powerful. Now how will Imansuagbon convince Edo people of his love for them, when he can’t even establish his school which employs more than people people including teachers in his state? On his annual rice ritual, Imansuagbon should tell the people of Edo State where his rice farm is in the state or better still, which of the rice farms he engages to produce rice for him for distribution at Christmas. The man will simply find it difficult to answer the questions. The home truth is Imansuagbon has no rice farm nor does he buy his rice from the many rice farmers in the state. He simply imports rice from Thailand or elsewhere and re-bags into one kilogramme sachets with which he seeks to warm his way into the hearts of Edolites. He seeks to replicate the repulsive stomach infrastructure politics of Ayo Fayose in Edo State, but he forgot that Edo people are very proud, industrious and sophisticated people who can’t be bought with a handful of rice grains! In the PDP is another pretender, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, former Secretary to the State Government of the administration of Mr. Lucky Igbinedion. The man, who many swear was in charge as his boss was mostly outside the country,

A MAN WHO COULD

NOT EVEN EFFECTIVELY MANAGE

JONATHAN’S

CAMPAIGN IN THE

STATE, CANNOT BE TRUSTED TO MANAGE

EDO STATE

if not climbing the Kilimanjaro to swell his over-bloated ego or in South Africa or London for one party or the other, now speaks from both sides of his mouth. Sometimes, Ize-Iyamu would seek to whitewash the infamous (un)Lucky government, explaining that the government performed, even beyond what the people see and know. At other times, he would seek to extricate himself from the mess of that government and he has hired some hack writers, including one pseudonym writer, Solomon Ibharenuafe, to launder his image. Ize-Iyamu is indeed a confused man. Now, he has extended his confusion to the government of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, believing running down the government and lying on the achievements of the administration will win him the PDP ticket. Sometimes he would say the state had collected over N1 trillion from the federation account under this present government, at other times it would be over

N4 trillion; sometimes the debt profile of the state would be over N200 billion at other times it would be over N700 billion. His confusion has extended to the Central Hospital, Benin City. He claims the sparkling brand new 200-bed hospital, the cynosure of all eyes in Edo, is a white sepulcher. Some other times, his claim is that it is not a new hospital, at other times he faults the location of the hospital, saying it should have been sited far in the bush, away from the city center. The antecedents of Mr. Ize-Iyamu, particularly his role in the many losses the PDP suffered in the hands of the Action Congress, Action Congress of Nigeria and the All Progressives Congress are still fresh in the minds of the PDP. His abuses and the many insults he heaped on PDP leaders will come back to haunt him. I can bet with my last dime, Ize-Iyamu will not get the PDP ticket and so he will never be Governor! A man who could not even effectively manage Jonathan’s campaign in the state, cannot be trusted to manage Edo State. As I advised Imansuagbon, the earlier Ize-Iyamu packed up his campaign bags, the better for him. Edo people have moved on, they are wiser, they will not be dragged to the past, they will not have an extension of the non-performing Lucky administration. Osahon wrote from Benin City.

Buhari and the burden of illusive change DESTINY ISIGUZO

t was with great hope that Nigerian voters thronged to the polling units and voted for incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari on March 28, 2015, while relishing the promises of great change; bumper economy; adequate security across the country, most especially in the North East region of the country; job creations for thousands of unemployed youths; significant infrastructural development; good healthcare delivery services; quality education; eradicating corruption, etc made by him. But nine months after, there seems to be no change at all going by the various economic analyses made by Nigerians and foreigners. Boko-haram has not been “technically defeated” and the naira on free fall under the watchful eyes of a president, who promised to stabilize the national currency. Fears are strong that if nothing is done to forestall the situation, a dollar may exchange about N1000 by early June. No matter how the Federal Government wants to pretend that about N197 exchanges for a dollar officially and more than N4OO for a dollar in the parallel market is the reality is that most Nigerians doing genuine businesses that require the dollar face. The Nigerian economy is, to say the least, simply in a mess. Companies in the private sectors are retrenching workers in their thousands, investors are losing their investments in stocks,

BUHARI’S CHANGE PROMISES ARE TRULY A REALITY IN THE MOST NEGATIVE WAYS and property owners are dazed by huge loses due to the depreciation of naira. Of course, this is change, but like one of the APC senators rightly said, “This is not the change Nigerians voted for”. Crude oil has plunged down to less than $30 per barrel, even when Iran is yet to go into the crude oil market. Any serious government faced with declining price of crude oil price and the dependency the economy on crude oil would have taken adequate steps towards the diversification of the economy. But we are witnessing is a government allocating N39.4 billion for the exploration of crude oil that may not be economically fashionable in the nearest future considering the technological innovations that are making it possible for the uses of bio energy and other eco-friendly sources of energy. I expected a government that is preaching change to do things differently - explore the options of generating revenue from agriculture, solid minerals, human capital development, culture and tourism etc. and ensure this is reflected in the 2016 budget package. The reality is Buhari seems helpless in revitalization of our economy. The situation is even made worst with

a problematic, criminal, cut and paste budgeting that seems not to reflect the desired change. For instance, given our prevailing economic situation, voting billions of naira for hand-outs in the name of welfare is a misplaced priority. Buhari wants to spend N500 billion on welfare for unemployed youths and meals for school children when both the state and federal governments are struggling to pay teachers. Nigerians don’t need this welfare, which will definitely end up in the pockets of those that do not need it. The money should better be injected in key sectors like power. The truth is that when the issue of power is resolved, the welfare of the vulnerable will be irrelevant as the rate of unemployment will reduce because small and medium scale industries will thrive and then absorb our wasting unemployed youths; and this will equally solve the over dependence on foreign made products. Buhari lamented that Nigeria is importing toothpick, but does he know that the cost of importation of a product in Nigeria is far cheaper than the cost of producing same product locally? Still on the 2016 budget, it is laughable to associate Buhari with change when his government grossly copied the last administration’s budget. They only managed to change figures. The sum of N7.5 million was voted for the Vice President to buy books in the 2015 budget and a budget of change is allocating over N4 million for the same purpose in 2016. Are we to talk about

the N6.8 million for electrical lighting and fittings in Aso Rock, which was repeated in another place as electrical distribution boards and cables with a vote of N371 million? The most annoying aspect of the budget is the allocation of over N500 million for linking cables to ridiculous places in Aso Villa. Many companies are now closing down because of the current economic crisis. Buhari’s change promises are truly a reality in the most negative ways. The 45 percent hike in electric tariff cannot be justified. In promising change, APC had thought that good governance is by merely wishing it to happen like in the bible’s creation story: “Let there be power and there was power, let one naira be equal to one dollar and it was so”. The Federal Government keeps blaming the past administration for our current economic woes, but Nigerians are tired of blame games. We voted APC for solutions to our numerous challenges, but lack of sound fiscal and monetary policies is killing our economy, thus making APC’s promises of change a mere illusion. Isiguzo is on the Art Desk of this newspaper and can be reached on isiguzocdestiny@gmail.com Send your views by mail or sms to PMB 10001, Ikoyi, or our Email: mail@ nationalmirroronline.net mirrorlagos@ yahoo.com or 08164966858 (SMS only). The Editor reserves the right to edit and reject views or photographs. Pseudonyms may be used but must be

Editorial

Wednesday, February 24, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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

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

PDP’s integrity crisis as opposition party

recisely in March 2012, before the merger of political parties that produced the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), the nemesis of the then ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), many in the country bemoaned the perceivable absence of robust political opposition to the country. The PDP had at the time controlled the Federal Government for an unbroken period of over 12 years, and had consistently dominated power in majority of the state and local government areas across the country. Public impression then had been that even the initial strength of the major opposition parties like the All Nigerian People’s Party (ANPP); Alliance for Democracy (AD); and Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), were ebbing, despite the impressive gains made by the ACN in the South-West states during the 2011 general elections. The Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), a new party, was, however, showing encouraging signs of future strength. Surprisingly, barely a year later in July 2013, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) approved the merger of the ACN, ANPP and CPC. They transformed into the APC. By the time the last year general elections were concluded, the new mega party (APC) wrested power from

THE NATION IS IN DIRE NEED OF VIRILE POLITICAL OPPOSITION ALRIGHT, BUT NOT ONE THAT FLOWS FROM A LEADERSHIP THAT IS SUSPECT the PDP at the federal level and in majority of the states, courtesy of the massive support of a people wearied for long by the uninspiring leadership of the PDP. The rest is now history. With the APC now in power and the PDP on the receiving end, political opposition vacuum was again created, a void many felt the PDP, which was booted out of power just last year, could readily and easily fill. But the party, which throws interminable jabs at the ruling APC, has been enmeshed in leadership quandary since it was sacked by from power at the centre, suggesting grave lack of focus. Perhaps, more importantly, if there is anything critical to PDP’s success in its role as a leading opposition party, it is integrity that glitters like the transparent waters of Montana. On the back of integrity, buoyed by the popular will of Nigerians, the APC rode to the pinnacle of power last year. President Muhammadu Buhari’s

acclaimed strength of character was a huge asset, perhaps one of the greatest assets the APC put to work to pluck victory. It was a corporate asset that rubbed off on anything APC. The same, however, cannot be said of the PDP, which apparently in a hurry to find a quick fix for its leadership tussles, picked a controversial figure, whose character dozens of critics and close political associates have tagged as suspect, as its new national chairman. They may not all be right. But the emergence of Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, a former Borno State governor widely suspected of having intricate links with the violent, Islamist Boko Haram sect that has been tormenting the North East axis of the country since 2009, is probably not the best the opposition party could have offered itself and the nation at this time. Whereas Sheriff had repeatedly denied the charge, the yet grim political integrity and character tell-tale still trailing him, particularly in respect of the Boko Haram misfortune, makes him an unflattering choice for the position presently. Dr. Doyin Doyin Okupe, an exSpecial Adviser (Media) to former President Goodluck Jonathan, put it succinctly when he said lately: “With the crisis rocking the PDP,

ON THIS DAY

the emergence of Sheriff might deplete the membership base of the opposition party. Impunity, presumptive reasoning (and) restrictive consultation process, are the diseases killing the PDP. PDP leaders who supported the emergence of Sheriff hinged their argument on the fact that being a wealthy politician he would be favourably disposed to funding the activities of the party. Other leaders within the party felt that Sheriff would compound the problems of the party and bring crushing weight of burden capable of fatally destroying the new strands of moral fibre in the party”. The likes of former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, a former Aviation Minister, et cetera, were more caustic in their condemnation of the choice of the new PDP Chair. All seems to boil down to the crisis of integrity, confidence and strength of character in the PDP family. And like John T. Dale says: “Above all things in this world, character has supreme value”. The nation is in dire need of virile political opposition alright, but not one that flows from a leadership that is suspect. The groundswell of opposition against the choice of Sheriff offers a rare opportunity for the PDP to revisit what appears a grave blunder.

February 24, 1945

February 24, 1989

February 24, 2008

Egyptian Premier, Ahmed Maher Pasha, was killed in Parliament after reading a decree. Ahmed Maher Pasha (1888 – 1945) was the Prime Minister of Egypt from October 10, 1944 to February 24, 1945. He was a member of the Saadist Institutional Party and was appointed Prime Minister following the removal of Mustafa an-Nahhas Pasha by King Farouk. Maher was assassinated by 28-year-old Mustafa Essawy.

Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini offered a $3 million bounty for the death of ‘The Satanic Verses’ author, Salman Rushdie. The Satanic Verses is Rushdie’s fourth novel, first published in 1988 and inspired in part by the life of Prophet Muhammad. The title refers to the satanic verses, a group of alleged Quranic verses that allow intercessory prayers to be made to three Pagan Meccan goddesses.

Fidel Castro retired as the President of Cuba after nearly 50 years in politics. Castro is a Cuban communist revolutionary and politician who was Prime Minister of the country from 1959 to 1976; and President from 1976 to 2008. He also served as the Commander-inChief of the Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces from 1959 to 2008; and as the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba from 1961 until 2011.

Wednesday, February 24, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Health & Wellbeing

Eating chocolate may improve brain function 20

Malnourished infants will have high blood pressure –Cardiologist 22

Hypertension: Why govt must act now Franka Osakwe

hile government (with the help of donor agencies), channel increased resources on infectious diseases, over 20 million Nigerians (mostly young adults), already hypertensive, are daily losing their lives and body organs, to complications arising from the condition. The economic implication is, loss of productivity, as a result of more young people living with disability or dying, experts warn. In the absence of a national data on prevalence rate, a group of researchers from Edinburgh University in the United Kingdom were able to give this estimation, after carrying out a detailed survey in Nigeria. They found out that hypertension affects one in three men and one in four women in Nigeria. The worrying thing about this situation is that more young people and adults are affected. An estimated 4.5 million young people within the age of 15, and 40 per cent of the adult populace have hypertension, an advocate against hypertension and the Managing Director of Neimeth Pharmaceuticals Plc, Mr. Emmanuel Ekunno, also revealed. Unfortunately, over 80 per cent of Nigerians living with the condition are not aware that they have it (since many do not go for routine blood pressure test), he said. As a result, many of them end up in the hospital with complications such as stroke, kidney failure, paralysis, coronary heart disease, cardiac arrest and untimely death. He warned that except government comes out with policy to address this situation, the nation will continue to lose its manpower. Unlike the infectious diseases that are easily noticed, raised blood pressure could be hidden for ages, without any symptoms, striking when it is too late. A particular case is that of a nurse at Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) who never knew she had high blood pressure until her colleague playfully put the BP cuff on her. To their amazement, her blood pressure was 180/130mmHg. She was admitted immediately but unfortunately died six months later. The nurse had daily access to BP monitor, but never bothered to check her reading. “Like the nurse, many people with hypertension do not even realise they have it because majority do not have symptoms and this is why it is necessary to go for regular check-up”, said Norvatis Medical Consultant, Dr. Chinwe Adebiyi. According to her, normal BP reading is below 120/80, it is considered high when it is 140/90 and above, while 120/80 and 139/89,

is pre-hypertensive. She recommends that those prone to the disease should eat healthy diets with less salt, exercise regularly, quit smoking (if they do), reduce alcohol and caffeine intake, and maintain a healthy weight. But beyond a change in lifestyle, a cardiologist and president, Nigeria Heart Foundation, NHF, Kingsley Akinroye, said there was an urgent need for Nigerian government to tackle the rising incidents of high blood pressure and its subsequent complications. Just like the massive awareness campaign done on HIV, Lassa Fever and Ebola, more public sensitization on need for regular check-up should be carried out, as well as increased funding for treatment of non-communicable diseases, he said. Once diagnosed with this condition, the individuals have to live with it for the rest of their lives, but the cost of daily treatment cannot be afforded by most average Nigerians since they pay out of pocket. For example, the cost of a 30-day high blood pressure medication (Norvatis goes for N1800 x 2 monthly (about $18) in a country where millions live for less than a dollar a day. As a result, about 70 per cent of people diagnosed with High BP, default in their medication, Dr. Akinroye divulged. Although hypertension treatment is covered in the national health insurance scheme, most Nigerians are not enrolled in the scheme, as revealed by National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) Assistant General Manager, Dr. Christopher Okoh. This is compounded by unavailability of hypertensive treatment at the Primary Health Centres (PHC’s). Research carried out by National Mirror shows that

Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole patients with high blood pressure are usually referred to the secondary health facility, hence nearness and access to treatment is a problem. A health worker at Lagos Mainland PHC, Akinterinwa Temitope, who confirmed this, explained that the PHC’s (with exception of Lagos flagship PHC’s) only treats childhood diseases, uncomplicated maternal issues and public health issues such as family planning, HIV. Experts are certain that an improved PHC will bring treatment nearer to the populace, help in managing the high incident and reduce strain on teaching hospitals. Professor Ngozi Ajuluchuku, a professor of medicine and a Cardiologist at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) revealed that incidents of cardiovascular diseases are now more

frequent at the hospital than infectious diseases, with cases of high BP recorded on daily basis. This agrees with a recent World Health Organization (WHO) report, that hypertension is responsible for an estimated 45% of deaths due to heart disease and 51% of deaths due to stroke globally. Due to increased hypertension, more Nigerians are also dying from stroke, a professor of Neurology from University of Ibadan, Prof. Adesola Ogunniyi, said. According to him, about 91,800 new cases of stroke are expectedly diagnosed each year, with 64,076 (69.8%) dying from it. Comparing the stroke mortality rate of various countries from World Health Organization figure, Prof. Ogunniyi said that Nigeria has one of the highest occurring deaths from stroke. From the data, the Don noted that while stroke patients in other developed countries are able to manage their disease for a long time, stroke patients in Nigeria often die quickly, within the same year due to inability to cope with the economic cost of stroke management. According to him, the average cost of care for stroke within first 36 weeks in government and private Hospitals are N95,100 ($600 ) and N767,900 ($4860) respectively. “Managing stroke constitutes a huge direct cost burden unaffordable by an average Nigerian stroke sufferer”, he explained. The implication is that lack of means for rehabilitative care may result in disability adjusted life years which further compounds burdens in terms of indirect cost on the sufferers’ and care givers’ productivity.

Health & Wellbeing

Wednesday, February 24, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Diabetes: More die from foot ulceration Franka Osakwe

a Emmanuel Dodoh never really paid any serious attention to his blood sugar level, least of all his feet, when he was diagnosed with diabetes 28 years ago. He walked around on bare foot to the market and never bothered to change his sandals even when they had holes on them. However, last year, luck ran out on him as he sustained an injury on his left foot that refused to heal. “I was hit by a stone while working, some days later, I found out that the sore had refused to heal. So my family took me to the Christian group medical centre, Warri where the wound was dressed and my feet bandaged,” he narrated to National Mirror. This treatment however worsened his condition as the foot got infected from the dressing. By the time he got to the General Hospital, Warri, he was told by the doctor that the infection was already spreading so fast and could result in death if the leg was not amputated immediately.

Pa Emmanuel had his left lower limb amputated in August 2013 and was only too glad to be alive. He told National Mirror that he has been living a normal life with his new prosthesis limb. Pa Emmanuel is not alone. Studies from international diabetes federation estimates that about a quarter of people in Nigeria with newly diagnosed diabetes already suffer foot ulceration. The studies further revealed that in 2005, people with diabetes-related foot ulceration were almost 12 percent of total hospital admissions. Dr. Afoke Isiavwe an endocrinologist told National Mirror that most patient with diabetes mellitus foot disease end up dead. According to Nigeria African journal of Endocrinology and metabolism, Diabetes mellitus foot is the second leading cause of diabetes-related deaths in Nigeria, accounting for 19.5 to 24 percent of all diabetes mortality. Further studies in International Diabetes Federation, says that 85 percent of diabetes related lower extremity amputations are pre-

ceded by a foot ulcer. A recent publication of a Profile of amputations in Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Lagos, Nigeria in Nigeria Medical journal 2013, showed diabetes-related foot ulceration accounting for most amputation in the surgical unit (55.14 percent of all amputation). However, Dr. Isiavwe says 85 percent of these ulcers and amputations could be prevented by early recognition and management of risk factors. For instance, the risk of ulcers or amputations is increased in people

who have had diabetes for more than 10 years, are male, have poor glucose control, or have cardiovascular, retinal, or renal complications, she said. Other warning signs according to her include Peripheral neuropathy (loss of sensation in the foot), swelling of the foot or ankle, very cold feet or legs, colour change: red, blue or black discoloration, pain in the legs while at rest or while walking, open sores, none healing wounds, in-growing toe nails, corns and callouses. She stressed the need for all individuals with

diabetes to receive an annual foot examination to identify high-risk foot conditions. “The presence of Erythema (reddishness of the skin), lump or callus formation may indicate areas of tissue damage with impending breakdown. Bony deformities, limitation in joint mobility, and problems with gait and balance should be assessed,” she said. According to her, People with loss of sensation may be adequately managed with well-fitted walking shoes or athletic shoes. They should also be educated on the implications of sensory loss and the ways to detect signs of problem. She advised such persons to always wear footwear that cushions and redistributes the pressure also adding that calluses can be removed with a scalpel by a foot care specialist or other health professional. Also, she further advised, People with bony deformities (e.g., hammertoes, prominent metatarsal heads, and bunions) may need extra-wide shoes or depth shoes while those that cannot be accom-

modated with commercial therapeutic footwear may need custom-moulded shoes. She warned that Minor skin conditions such as dryness and tinea pedis (fungi foot infection) should be treated to prevent the development of more serious conditions. . Experts have declared that people with diabetes have an increased risk of developing foot ulcers. Studies from International diabetes Federation (IDF) shows that diabetics often develop foot problem such as nerve damage, also called neuropathy, which result in loss of feeling in your feet, or peripheral arterial disease (PAD) which reduces blood flow to the feet. Diabetes nerve damage makes an individual not to feel much pain when pricked by sharp objects so he can easily get injured without feeling or knowing it. Such an individuals may have a tack or stone in his shoe and walk on it all day without knowing or feeling the blister, even tight shoes can easily injure you because of reduced feeling.

SCIENCE

Compiled by Franka Osakwe

Eating chocolate may improve brain function

new study has found that regular chocolate consumption is associated with improved brain function. According to the research, which has been published in the journal Appetite, eating the sweet treat was linked to cognitive performance irrespective of other dietary habits. The study examined results from a previous study, which had researched dietary intake and cardiovascular disease risk factors. Participants of that study, were also given a series of tests to measure their brain function. Researchers concluded that regular chocolate consumption could help ‘protect against normal agerelated cognitive decline’. The researchers said: “More frequent chocolate consumption was significantly associated with better performance on (tests including) Visual-Spatial

Memory and Organisation, Working Memory, Scanning and Tracking, Abstract Reasoning, and the Mini-Mental State Examination... “With the exception of Working Memory, these relations were not attenuated with statistical control for cardiovascular, lifestyle and dietary factors.” Scientists also noted that chocolate was used to ‘reduce fever, treat childhood diarrhoea, promote strength before sexual conquests, decrease fe-

male complaints, encourage sleep and clean teeth’ historically. In contemporary society, experts have claimed that eating chocolate every day can cut the risk of heart disease and stroke. Shockingly, one study even linked the indulgent treat to weight-loss. Neuroscientist Will Clower claimed that melting a small square of ‘good’ chocolate 20 minutes before a meal can tell the brain that you are full, and thus encourage you to eat less.

en who talk on their mobile phone for an hour or more a day could risk becoming infertile, scientists have warned today. Researchers revealed that mobile activity can drastically reduce sperm count in men, with those looking to have children being urged to turn off the devices altogether. Scientists believe that the heat and electromagnetic activity given of by mobiles penetrates the body and “cooks” sperm alive. And they have warned men that keeping their phone in their trouser pocket during the day, or on a bedside table at night, could significantly reduce sperm count. Chatting for more than an hour daily makes you twice as likely to have low sperm quality, and for those people who talk whilst their phone is charging the risk doubles on top of that. The dire warning comes amid a sperm crisis in western countries, with scientists saying that the qual-

Men beware: Long mobile phone chats reduce sperm count

ity of sperm amongst men is decreasing alarmingly. Sperm count is now a factor in an astonishing 40 per cent of all recorded cases in which couples have difficulty conceiving a child. And the research by Israeli scientists will raise serious concerns about the impact some modern technology is having on our health. The team, who monitored 106 men attending a

fertility clinic for a year, found that 47 per cent of men who kept their phones within 20 inches of their groin had sperm levels that were seriously affected, compared with just 11 per cent of the general population. The findings, published in Reproductive BioMedicine, support a long-feared link between dropping male fertility rates and the prevalence of mobile phones.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Health & Wellbeing

Wednesday, February 24, 2016

BOI, NAFDAC assure on funding, SMEs registration

Expert urges more attention to non-communicable diseases

Marcus Fatunmole Abuja

he National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control, NAFDAC, and Bank of Industry, BOI, have promised to grow the non-oil sectors of the nation’s economy by encouraging small scale enterprises, SMEs. Both organizations gave the assurance at NAFDAC Product Registration Outreach, NaPRO, a platform for meeting owners of SMEs on the procedure for registration and approval of drugs and other consumables which fall under NAFDAC’s regulatory powers. NAFDAC Director, Registration Outreach, NaPRO, Dr Mona Henben Eimunjeze, said new technologies employed by the organization had made it easy for people around the country to register their firms and products at the agency. She appealed to all persons with business skills that could help in producing any product that falls within the powers of the agency in the country not to nurse any fear over the registration of their products and approval of such. She told the participants that counterfeiters are responsible for most of the loses recorded by producers of consumables in the country, and urged them to watch over their products and have them fully registered by the agency. According to her, NAFDAC new law is seeking life jail and confiscation of assets upon conviction of counterfeiters, adding that the agency had recorded some successes in its fight against products counterfeiting in the country. Speaking with National Mirror, Senior Official of Abuja office of BOI, Ifoma Akabo said the bank had made funding accessible and available for intending borrowers for SME in the country. According to her, the bank gives at least five million naira to borrowers, and that it takes within four to six weeks to get the money, should the intending borrower meet the conditions set for getting the fund.

Abiodun Nejo Ado Ekiti

T L-R: National President, Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Dr. KayodeObembe; Chairman HERFON Board of Trustees, Dr. Ben Anyene; PSN-PACFaH Program Director for Strategy, Pharm. Remi Adeseun, during a one-day PACFAH meeting on the 2016 budget in Abuja recently.

Health budget controversy: Stakeholders demand inclusion of 1% consolidated revenue Franka Osakwe

takeholders have called for the inclusion of 1% consolidated federal revenue to fund primary health care (PHC) in the new version of the 2016 health budget to be submitted to the National Assembly, saying the budget ought to respond to the needs of the people and national health priorities. It will be recalled that the Health Minister, Prof. Isaac Adewole, had raised the alarm over the budget before the National Assembly, penultimate week, saying that it was not the original budget it prepared. He said the figures were in contrast

with the priorities of the health sector and some of the votes earmarked by the ministry for some activities had been re-distributed while some important fields in the sector had been excluded. He said: “In the revised budget as re-submitted, N15.7 billion for capital allocation has been moved to other areas. “Some allocations made are not in line with our priorities. There is nothing allocated to Public Health and Family Health. Over the last two years, nothing has been done on HIV… Based on this, the budget was retrieved and a fresh budget will be presented by the health minister in a

matter of days. However, a coalition of health-related non-governmental organizations known as Partnership Advocacy in Child and Family Health, PACFaH, last week advocated for the 1% of consolidated federal revenue, to be included in the new budget. They also stressed the need for increased funding, timely release, and efficient utilization of resources in the 2016 health budget. According to them, child and family health, nutrition, family planning, routine immunisation and childhood killer diseases, should be given priority According to Dr. Ben Anyene, Chairman, Board

of Trustees HERFON, Federal government need to take immediate steps to ensure full implementation of the provisions of the National Health Act 2014. “ it must insist on full use of the new zero-based budgeting framework and template by all MDAs and especially the FMoH in subsequent budgets. “The FGN should establish a platform for health financing interface between Federal, State, and Local Governments to increase synergy and reduce duplication and wastages; more funding options should be explored to ensure sustainable health financing for better health outcomes”, the group said.

Zika virus: FG, states not committed to mosquito control –Findings Marcus Fatunmole Abuja

ederal and state governments in Nigeria are not serious with mosquito control as part of efforts to prevent Zika virus and contain high toll from malaria disease in the country, National Mirror findings have shown. The findings also revealed that residents in the country are afraid of possible outbreak of the disease following rapid growth of mosquito population in all regions of the country. “There is mosquito everywhere, especially in Kano and Abuja that I have visited recently,” Angeline Paul, a British told our correspondent while departing for the United Kingdom at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Internation Airport, Abuja at the weekend.

Last Monday, National Mirror contacted 12 people across the six geo-political zones of the country about mosquito control by both arms of government. All 12 persons spoken with (one person in each state, and two states from each geopolitical zone) expressed fear that the ailments are not far from plunging the

nation into crisis, soon. Chinedu Okoye from Anambra state said “this state is a commercial city, and with the level of poor sanitation here, you expect mosquitoes to breed freely. Government is not helping matter because there is nothing to suggest that we are larviciding here.” A student of North-

Western University, Kano, Adamu Mustapha told National Mirror that “they (mosquitoes) are in thousands on the streets of Kano here every evening. If you are visiting the city for the first time, you will understand what I mean.” The situation remains the same in Abuja, Lagos, Adamawa, Ondo among others.

Franka Osakwe

the weekend. He said there was a need for pharmacists to develop new ways to support patients in their use of medicines through clinical decisions across the range of ailments. “This is the major reason why the PSN continues to champion the dire need for a consultancy cadre in public service pharmacy practice. Our duty is to work and ensure that the added value we bring to healthcare and our poten-

tials are taken into account and respected by policy makers and other health professionals. We note here that there is a lot of competition, confrontation and distrust in the health sector”, he said. According to him, pharmacists must address the needs of society, in preserving the health of the people. In other to achieve this, he called for collaboration, consultation, and cooperation of all stakeholders.

he Mobilization Officer of the Adunni Olayinka Diagnostic and Wellness Centre, Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Mrs Bola Solanke has canvassed more attention of government to non-communicable diseases to reduce mortality rate and avoidable fatalities. Solanke said mortality rate and avoidable fatalities would be significantly reduced if government could pay half the attention being accorded to communicable diseases to non-communicable diseases. According to her, the commendable prompt response to the outbreak of Ebola and Lassa fever is not demonstrated in equally serious issue of non-communicable diseases like cancer, diabetes and hypertension among others. The expert, who spoke at a forum ion Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, at the weekend, cautioned that the current economic downturn should not be excuse for governments to continue to show less concern for non-communicable diseases to the detriment of the people who might not be able to access adequate healthcare delivery. She said that noncommunicable diseases accounted for large percentage of death recorded among Nigerians above the age of 30 years on account of the nonchalant attitude of the people. According to her, ordinary regular medical check-ups and early detection of cancer and other non- communicable diseases would serve as a panacea for high mortality rate and avoidable fatalities among middle aged Nigerians.

PSN president calls for consultant pharmacists at public service

n other to address patient’s pharmaceutical needs, the newly inaugurated Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) President, Pharm. Armed Yakassi, has called for consultancy cadre in public service pharmacy practice. Pharm. Yakassi, made this call during his inauguration ceremony, at Transcorp Hilton Abuja during

“We must open our hearts and minds to allow the team concept to rule our worlds in healthcare delivery. There is no doubt that the cost of fighting against disease and preserving health will continue to increase in spite of constant control and intervention. There are manifold reasons and benefits for wishing to create a genuine cooperation between pharmacists and other healthcare providers.”

Health & Wellbeing

Wednesday, February 24, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Malnourished infants will have high blood pressure –Cardiologist

ir, What kind of condition do you refer to as high blood pressure? High blood pressure is a condition that exists when the blood pressure is found to be elevated persistently above what we regard as normal. We have blood pressures; but whether it is high is a different ball game. Blood pressure is necessary because that is the pressure that the heart requires to pump blood round our system and to supply blood oxygen and nutrients to our various organs. So, when that pressure becomes higher persistently than what we expect, we regard that as high blood pressure or hypertension. What is the specific range at which our blood pressure should flow? By convention, because God has not placed a limit, it is doctors who arbitrarily fix these values. At a value of more than 140 upon 90, systolic and diastolic, we say that the person has high blood pressure or hypertension. What actually causes hypertension? Hypertension is a disease that we can only be sure of the cause in less than five percent of cases. In the vast majority of patients, we do not know the cause because we investigate these patients and we do not find obvious reasons why they have high blood pressure. However, there are certain factors that we have come to associate with high blood pressure. Factors like genetics, obesity, sedentary lifestyle, advancing age, smoking, excess alcohol use, there are a number of factors that are normally associated with high blood pressure. What I am saying is that as people age, they tend to have high blood pressure more than people that are younger. You find that in people who are in their 20s, we find very few of them with high blood pressure. But, as people get to their 40s and 60s, more likely it is that they become hypertensive. Could you elaborate on the genetic condition of the disease? There are some evidences that high blood pressure can be inherited. We know clearly that when one’s parent has high blood pressure, the risk will increase. And, when your both parents are hypertensive, the risk will increase dramatically. It is a hereditary disease. Could you provide some statistics on patients with high blood pressure in Nigeria? At least, three in ten of adults in Nigeria have high blood pressure. And of these figures, less than one-third would know that they have high blood pressure. Most people will not know ordinarily unless they do routine checks. That is why we doctors insist that people do routine checks. What I am saying in effect is that high blood pressure basically has no symptoms. There are people who have associated high blood pressure with headaches, dizziness, and tiredness. But, these are by no means fool proof. There is no concrete evidence that once someone has high blood pressure, he has headache or vice versa. Sometimes, we have some people who have high blood pressure with headache, some have dizziness. Basically,

At least, three in ten adults in Nigeria have high blood pressure, according to Dr. Tochukwu Uwaezuoke, a Chief Consultant Cardiologist/Physician at the National Hospital, Abuja. In this interview with Health Correspondent, Franka Osakwe, the cardiologist stresses the need for people to adopt various preventive measures to prevent the deadly condition. He calls for weight shedding, increased natural food consumption, less salt intake among others for such measure. Excerpt:

Dr. Uwaezuoke

high blood pressure is in-symptomatic, that is symptomless. You only find out when you go to hospital and get your blood pressure checked. That is why it is called a silent killer because it silently works to cause harm. Hypertension is said to result in heart failure, slumping, how does it graduate to this level? That is actually the big deal about blood pressure. The higher the blood pressure, the more likely you will get complications. The organs that are most easily targeted are the heart, the kidneys, the brain and sometimes the eyes. What is does basically is to damage the vessels to those organs. It damages the vessels that go to the heart causing heart failure, it damages the vessel that go to the brain thereby causing stroke. It also damages the vessels that go to the kidneys. The heart, particularly, is the organ that bears the brunt of blood pressure. This means it is the heart that pumps and generates the pressure. When the heart generates pressure for a long time, the heart is working too hard and that heart could fail. It can cause heart failure, it can cause heart attack, it can cause stroke, and it can also cause kidney failure. Many Nigerians, including prominent people have suddenly slumped and died. Would you say hypertension is responsible for this?

We know, medically, that all deaths that occur suddenly are not truly sudden. Most of them that we see are not truly sudden. The backgrounds of those deaths have been laid down for a while. High blood pressure would form the majority of those deaths because like I said earlier on, it affects the heart muscles; it affects the vessels that work with the heart. Therefore, it can block the vessels and cause heart attacks. Heart attacks are the commonest cause of somebody that you have seen apparently healthy and dies suddenly. High blood pressure is the commonest cause of sudden deaths in Nigeria. It occurs often because the patients do not check their blood pressure. How long could one have high blood pressure before it leads to sudden death? Well, that is a question that is difficult to answer because like human beings, we have different ways of responding to diseases. Some people will respond to diseases very fast. Other will respond very badly. It depends on the make-up of the person. The fact is that the longer you are hypertensive, the more likely it develops complications. What preventable measures can be taken against this disease condition? That is actually where I think that emphasis should be laid because drugs are expensive; high blood pressure is not curable. Prevention is the best thing that we can do. The first step is to ensure

people go for check regularly. Blood pressure doesn’t just rise overnight. It rises slowly overtime. If one doesn’t take adequate measures, it begins to rise. There are measures you can take. You can exercise regularly, you can eat a lot of fruits; you can lose weight if you are obese; you can quit alcohol drinking if you drink; you can also quit smoking. If you do all these, you could reduce the chances of developing high blood pressure. What is the prevalent rate of the disease here in Nigeria, compared to developed nations of the world? High blood pressure is a world-wide disease. It affects every race. What we do know for sure is that the complications appear to be heavier or more serious in blacks. Black, especially male, tend to have more stroke, more heart attacks and generally more complications than in other races. If you have high blood pressure and you are a black male, you are at a higher risk to have complications. People often attribute stress to high blood pressure. How true is this? Stress can obviously cause high blood pressure but it is not just stress alone. If you look around the society, you discover that both the rich and the poor have high blood pressure. People that are lazy have high blood pressure; people that are busy have high blood pressure. But, stress might worsen it. With much stress, it is likely to rise. If you have stress for like a week, and that force sustains your high blood pressure for like a month, that is something that is clear. Could there be a way of stopping the disease from its genetic transmission to the new born? The fact that we say high blood pressure is genetic or hereditary does not mean that it is infectious. But, if there is anything you have noticed that your parents do that makes them to have high blood pressure, you try to avoid such. If for example your parents are obese or eat too much salt, you should avoid being obese and you should also limit your salt intake. As for children, there are recent reports that children that are malnourished from the womb tend to have higher blood pressure. Comparing the urban and rural areas in any society, where do you think high blood should be prevalent? That is a very key point; it is a very good point you have raised. It is clear and we also notice that westernization has increased the burden of high blood pressure. The reason is that people now eat fast food. Fast foods contain more salt and they also make us fat. We exercise less in the cities. Our fathers in the villages will eat and go to farm, work and sweat; they never grow so fat. They tend to have less blood pressure. There are other factors as well that compound this problem. But, basically, less salt, less fat, the less obese you become, the less your high blood pressure. It is quite clear that if people will eat more of natural food, they will have less blood pressure.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Wednesday, February 24, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA www.cenbank.gov.ng In furtherance of the transparency and full disclosure stance of the Central bank of Nigeria, the Monetary Policy Committee has decided that henceforth the lending rates obtainable in all Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) be made public to guide business decisions. Consequently, find below the applicable rates for each of the DMBs as at February 19, 2016. The rates will also be available on the website of the Central Bank of Nigeria

S/N

NAME OF BANK

1 Access Bank 2 Citi Bank Nigeria 3 Coronation Merchant Bank

Average Deposit and Lending Rates as at February 19, 2016 Lending Rate Deposit Rate Demand Savings Time Deposit Agriculture Mining & Quarrying Oil & Gas Manufacturing Real Estate & Const Deposit Deposit Ave.Int Ave.Int Ave.Int Rate Rate Rate Prime Max. Prime Max. Prime Max. Prime Max. Prime Max. 0.09 3.30 7.32 7.00 25.00 13.00 25.00 7.00 25.00 12.00 25.00 1.03

3.90

2.73

15.00

19.00

15.00

19.00

15.00

19.00

15.00

19.00

15.00

19.00

6.70

14.00

22.00

14.00

22.00

14.00

22.00

14.00

22.00

14.00

22.00

4 Diamond Bank

0.54

3.30

6.80

14.00

22.00

17.00

25.00

17.00

25.00

17.00

25.00

17.00

25.00

5 Ecobank Nigeria

0.01

3.30

7.77

19.00

24.00

21.00

24.00

17.00

28.00

15.00

24.00

17.00

28.00

6 FCMB 7 Fidelity Bank

0.59 2.00

3.30 3.30

5.00 6.00

6.00 6.00

26.00 28.00

17.50 19.00

27.00 28.00

17.50 19.00

28.00 28.00

7.00 19.00

26.50 28.00

17.50 19.00

25.00 28.00

8 First Bank of Nigeria

3.30

3.56

9.00

24.00

20.00

27.00

20.00

27.00

20.00

27.00

20.00

22.00

9 FBN Merchant Bank

7.58

9.00

9.97

13.69

15.05

15.00

19.00

10 Guaranty Trust Bank

0.90

3.30

5.97

14.00

25.00

14.00

25.00

12.00

26.00

13.00

24.00

3.30

9.00

23.00

26.00

23.00

26.00

23.00

27.00

23.00

27.00

12 Keystone Bank Ltd

0.59

3.20

9.63

n/a

19.00

30.00

19.00

30.00

19.00

30.00

19.00

30.00

13 Rand Merchant Bank Nig. Ltd

1.50

3.10

14.50

17.00

7.47

14.00

28.00

31.00

28.00

31.00

28.00

31.00

28.00

31.00

5.50

28.00

16.00

27.00

16.00

27.00

12.50

27.00

16.00

26.00

16.00

25.00

17.00

14.50

25.00

14.00

25.00

18.00

25.00

11 Heritage Bank

14 Skye Bank 15 Stanbic IBTC Bank 16 Standard Chartered Bank 17 Sterling Bank

3.30

0.03

3.63

3.30

5.03

3.30

6.03

7.00

26.00

19.00

27.00

19.00

27.00

19.00

27.00

19.00

27.00

18 Union Bank

0.50

3.30

4.63

26.50

28.50

26.50

28.50

26.50

28.50

26.50

28.50

19 United Bank for Africa

0.05

3.30

4.00

7.00

25.00

24.00

29.00

19.00

29.00

19.00

29.00

24.00

29.00

20 Unity Bank

0.75

3.60

9.00

24.00

30.00

24.00

30.00

24.00

30.00

24.00

30.00

24.00

30.00

21 Wema Bank

0.16

3.32

6.50

9.00

25.00

27.00

28.00

22 Zenith Bank

0.50

3.30

5.00

17.00

19.00

17.00

23.00

17.00

24.00

17.00

24.50

17.00

24.00

S/N

NAME OF BANK

Deposit Rate Demand Savings Time Deposit Deposit Deposit Ave.Int Ave.Int Ave.Int Rate Rate Rate

Lending Rate Mortgage

General Comm. Prime

Max.

Prime

Transp. & Comm.

Max.

Prime

Max.

Govt.

Fin. & Ins. Prime

Max.

Prime

Max.

1 Access Bank

0.09

3.30

7.32

12.00

29.00

14.00

28.00

12.00

28.00

15.00

25.00

8.00

18.00

2 Citi Bank Nigeria

1.03

3.90

2.73

15.00

19.00

15.00

19.00

15.00

19.00

3 Coronation Merchant Bank

6.70

14.00

22.00

14.00

22.00

14.00

22.00

14.00

22.00

14.00

22.00

4 Diamond Bank

0.54

3.30

6.80

17.00

26.00

17.00

25.00

17.00

25.00

17.00

25.00

17.00

23.00

5 Ecobank Nigeria

0.01

3.30

7.77

15.00

28.00

14.00

26.75

15.00

28.00

21.00

28.00

15.00

19.00

6 FCMB

0.59

3.30

5.00

17.50

30.00

17.50

19.95

17.50

25.00

17.50

27.50

17.50

25.00

7 Fidelity Bank

2.00

3.30

6.00

19.00

28.00

19.00

28.00

19.00

28.00

19.00

28.00

19.00

28.00

3.30

3.56

20.00

27.00

20.00

22.00

20.00

27.00

20.00

27.00

19.00

27.00

8 First Bank of Nigeria 9 FBN Merchant Bank

7.58

13.00

22.00

19.00

14.00

16.00

10 Guaranty Trust Bank

0.90

3.30

5.97

13.50

26.00

13.00

24.00

14.50

23.00

15.00

23.00

12.50

16.00

11 Heritage Bank

3.30

9.00

23.00

29.00

23.00

26.00

23.00

28.00

23.00

26.00

9.00

12 Keystone Bank Ltd

0.59

3.20

9.63

21.00

30.00

19.00

30.00

19.00

30.00

21.00

30.00

21.00

30.00

13 Rand Merchant Bank Nig. Ltd

1.50

3.10

15.95

3.30

7.47

28.00

31.00

28.00

31.00

28.00

31.00

28.00

31.00

28.00

31.00

0.03

3.63

13.75

28.00

16.00

26.00

16.00

27.00

13.75

27.00

14.00

24.00

3.30

14.50

25.00

18.00

14.00

25.00

18.00

18.50

16.00

14 Skye Bank 15 Stanbic IBTC Bank 16 Standard Chartered Bank 17 Sterling Bank

5.03

3.30

6.03

19.00

27.00

19.00

27.00

19.00

27.00

17.00

27.00

19.00

27.00

18 Union Bank

0.50

3.30

4.63

26.50

29.00

26.50

28.50

26.50

28.50

26.50

28.50

26.50

19 United Bank for Africa

0.05

3.30

4.00

24.00

29.00

24.00

29.00

19.00

29.00

19.00

29.00

24.00

29.00

20 Unity Bank

0.75

3.60

9.00

24.00

30.00

24.00

30.00

24.00

30.00

24.00

30.00

24.00

30.00

21 Wema Bank

0.16

3.32

6.50

27.00

28.00

27.00

29.00

27.00

26.00

22 Zenith Bank

0.50

3.30

5.00

17.00

27.00

17.00

23.00

17.00

25.00

17.00

24.00

17.00

24.00

These are the interest rates banks charge the public on loans and advances. It reflects the cost of borrowings and also includes all charges and commissions levied by banks. (Signed) Management

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Arts Lounge

Wednesday, February 24, 2016

ARTISTE UNCENSORED

Why Jos residents excel in arts –Kenneth Gyang

Kenneth Gyang, who trained at the National Film Institute, Jos, remains one of the shining lights of his generation of film directors in Nigeria.

onfusion ensues at a junction where an accident takes place and two happy-go-lucky friends come in possession of a phone with certain messages and try to blackmail the owner. That action has a ripple effect on all the characters in the film leading to the death of one of the two friends. That is Confusion Na Wa with its interlinked stories. “The interlinked stories has to do with the fact that I am a big fan of cinema I love filmmakers like Alejandro González Iñárritu. So it was actually seeing films like Amores perros and Babel when we said we can actually do a film like that,” Gyang explained. Interesting, just like synchronising

t h e actions so that the film takes place in one day. To achieve that Gyang, whose film company is called Cinema Patapata said he and his partners, Yinka Edwards and Tom Rowland Rees, had to be very clever with how they told the story. For one, costume which most of the characters had only two for the 24 hours. “So, basically, from one costume to the next you just know it is the next day,”

Gyang, who attended the National Film Institute, NFI in Jos, stated. He confessed that the most challenging part of the whole process was trying to sort it out with continuity and the script supervisor, but at the end of the day they pulled it off. “I wouldn’t say it is easy but we were clever with the script to make it easy,” he said. He went further to say that editing also played a very important part as what was on paper as the final script, which he and his partner co-wrote, is not what materialised as the film that audiences have been enjoying. Perhaps that would not have been the case had they succeeded with the artylike film they had set out to make with each scene introduced by Fela Anikulapo Kuti’s song, which not only speaks to the Africaness of filmmakers but also of their love for the Afrobeat legend. “We were inspired by Fela so we were actually trying to put every segment according to a song title of Fela. So you have like ‘Chop and quench’ and so on. But at the end of the day we were not able to do that because we still wanted it to be a film that people can watch and understand so we tried to commercialise it a bit instead of making it too arty,” Gyang stated. This combination is probably why many a jury cannot resist the film and audiences like the one at the LCA festival in Lagos are lapping it up. A dark comedy, a tragicomedy with much fun before the dark side begins to come to the fore later in the story shot for all of 18 days on location in Kaduna because the original location of Jos, Plateau State was engulfed in crisis once more. However, Kaduna still came with its own crisis challenge. “But the artistes were brave and they still came over and we shot,” Gyang said. But Gyang, who comes from Plateau State, says he could never run away from Jos. “I still go back to Jos and I tell people that once you are from Jos you always have to make sure you have land in Jos so that when you are getting old you can

MIDWEEK JUMP

Thresholds International Fiction open

hresholds is the only online forum dedicated to the reading, writing and study of the short story form. They are inviting submissions in either of the following feature categories: Author Profile – Exploring the life, writings and influence of a single short story writer. We Recommend – Personal recommendations of a collection, anthology, group of short stories or a single short story. One overall winner will be chosen

(£500 prize), followed by two runners-up (£100 prize each). All shortlisted writers will receive a selection of short story titles.

go back to a place where you get the fresh air and then stay in a serene environment,” the filmmaker said. He named the serene environment for being responsible for Jos’ recognition as a place not just for the arts but also for producing artistes. “The thing is, what is it about Jos and art that when it comes to things like plays, music, films, you always find Jos people there? I don’t really know. It is probably the weather because you are not staying in a place where your brain is going to get cooked all the time. Sometimes if you are in Jos it has this serenity such that it can bring out the art in you. So, probably that is why we have such people coming out of Jos,” he explained. Confusion Na Wa may be Gyang’s first film but now he has another film called, Blood and Henna. “It is about the Pfizer clinical trials that happened in Kano in 1996. So I shot a purely Hausa film with an English title but the Hausa title is Lele de jinni. It was shown at the 2012 Olympics in London at the Nigeria House and nominated for the AMAA and the Nigeria Entertainment Awards. Ali Nuhu won Best Supporting Actor for his role in the film,” Gyang explained. But for providence, the young filmmaker would have probably ended up studying mass communication in a conventional university. When that dream failed to come true, he went ahead and enrolled at the NFI in Jos. “From there I went to Berlin because my film was selected as part of films based on food and hunger. There I met someone, because he saw my short film, said you can actually work for the BBC, do you want to work for the BBC? So that is how I came back to Nigeria and started working with the BBC as the director of the television show called Wetin Dey?. I worked there for two years before I left and worked with Tajudeen Adepetu to make a television series for him called Finding Aisha. That is how the whole journey has continued. I left NFI in 2006,” he said of his journey into film. From the look of things, that journey will take Gyang to places far and wide.

Moonlit Productions Script Contest

ince 2008, Moonlit Wings Productions has mounted over 40 world-premieres of new theatre-for-youth workshop productions every summer. This summer they are selecting 4 brand-new scripts to workshop and produce. Each winning show rehearses

for a 2-week session with a professional DC creative team and concludes with a public performance. Playwrights are given a thorough written production review and the opportunity to debut and promote their work with our leading youth arts organisation.

Arts Lounge

Wednesday, February 24, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

FAR AND NEAR

‘God Dey My Side’: Afro pop tune by a Catholic priest Ngozi Emedolibe

xpressions come in various forms. Ideally now, beyond standing on the pulpit to preach the Word of God, some creative minds, albeit men of God have taken it upon themselves to employ the sound of the generation, in taking their messages across to the world. That is exactly what Father Albert Owie Ofere has done with his new work, Every Day of My Life, which has a collection of six tracks: God Dey My Side, When I Think, Where Were You, Jesus Lamb of God, God You are Good and Oghene me do. A fusion of Afro pop and gospel, this piece has made Albert Ofere, the first Catholic priest to delve into Afro pop. “I know it’s very unique and new coming from a priest I have come to realise that praising God is a powerful way of connecting with God, and it releases a great deal of power into our lives. No wonder Psalm 149.3 says: ‘Let them praise His name with dancing, and make music with tim-

brel and harp.’ The song ‘God Dey My Side’ is written in praise of God, reminding us that the Almighty God is on our side. And because He is on our side we have nothing to be afraid of. Indeed If God be for us who can be against us? Romans 8:31. Realising this fact we cannot but dance for joy.” To drive home this fact, Father Ofere has enlisted the services of award – winning director, Obi Emelonye and renowned comedian, Nkem Owoh who collaborated for a musical video that is currently trending online on You Tube. The video which captures the essence of the sing-along tune was shot on locations in London, UK.” Giving his view of gospel music in Africa, Father Ofere said: “Gospel music in Nigeria and Africa is wonderful and awesome. On the world stage we are doing well. But we can do more by seeking the face of God more, and allowing God to speak through our music.” The songs are currently available online at iTunes, Amazon and CD Baby

Oxford Gardens moves to Texas Father Ofere’s album

Amake Iruobe and Ewuro

n solidarity to the campaign for war against domestic violence, fast-rising actress, Amaka Iruobe has thrown her support behind it, following her recent appearance on the stage of an epic Broadway-styled stage play, Ewuro. Ewuro, which is the Yoruba representation of the popular Bitter Leaf (Vernonia amygdalina) is a story by Tim Godfrey, scripted by Doris Chinasa Ariole and directed by Joseph Ofili. The allegory between Ewuro and the plight of the Nigerian woman is apt in the

Obi Emelonye

sense that the intense bitter taste of Ewuro when consumed strives to capture the misery of Nigerian woman. However, the sweet after taste coupled with the beneficial effects of the consumption strives to capture the sweetness of freedom from fear, violence and discrimination. The relieve that can only come from the freedom to be. Ewuro as modified into drama, Amaka Iruobe stressed that it is a message of solidarity, hope and support to the women all over the world, who are having depression from domestic violence. “The journey of endurance from the bitter to the sweet axis for these women is not an easy one. It won’t be easy and they would require help to get there. For those who have traversed that realm and are now on the sweet plain, this is invitation to lend a hand to those still tasting the bitterness. To those still on this journey, this is a message of hope.” Expressing how delighted it was for her to reel out talents to the entertainment of her fans, light-skinned actress, Amaka Iruobe said she wishes another opportunity will avail itself for her to use such means to battle domestic violence against women. The story which was delivered through intriguing hybrid of drama, music and dance followed the trajectory of each character’s peculiar emotional dilemma, leading to a thought provoking resolution, before climaxing in a high-energy musical performance. Held at Shell Hall of the Muson Centre, it featured performances from singer, Waje, Yaw, Femi Jacobs, Lepacious Bose, Nosa, Nedu, Chinonso Young and Gloria Young in a very peculiar and emotional character like never seen before.

Ewuro on stage

Ngozi Emedolibe

he Nollywood sensational film Oxford Gardens by the acclaimed director of The Mirror Boy and Last Fligh to Abuja blasts into the city of Houston, Texas for an exclusive gala premiere screening and comedy party hosted by one of Nigeria’s biggest comedians, Okey Bakasi. In a statement, Nollywood fans were requested to “come and experience the film that has been described as the ‘film with the most impressive visual effects in African cinema. Obi Emelonye, the writer/ director/producer of the film will be in attendance, with the stars of the film, including Ngoli Okafor (Golden Gloves Heavyweight champion/Model and Holywood Actor). You cannot afford to miss this unforgettable evening of cinema and comedy fun with music, food and drinks galore”. The event comes up on Saturday April 2, 2016 and Wednesday May 4, 2016 at 9pm(CDT) at the All Saints Hall, Renn

Road, Houston, Texas. The film tells the story of a cancer patient who escapes from the hospital to Oxford Gardens where she meets a frustrated retired boxer, where both of them decide to make the best of her last moment on earth, and is a joint production between the Africa Magic and The Nollywood Factory. The trailer stirred a lot of interests owing to the realism achieved in an accident scene is one of the works being facilitated under the Africa Magic Original Films (AMOF) initiative. Talking about this partnership, Emelonye said, “AMOF is aimed at supporting the industry in a period of dwindling returns on investment because of the demise of the DVD and stunted development of the cinema sector. Africa Magic would provide budget for film projects and share the ensuing rights with the producers and directors. This kept filmmakers and artistes in work and devised a more sustainable but frankly speaking, more expensive means of content acquisition for Africa Magic.”

Business

Wednesday, February 24, 2016

Kasapreko, Alomo Bitters maker, launches $70m plant 30

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Oil firms sustain costsaving measures on sliding prices 33

Auto policy ‘ll fail if not tied to industrialization–Efex Motors

CBN puts credit to economy at N14.7trn, tasks DFIs on lending Chidi Ugwu, Abuja

he Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, yesterday put the total credit extended to all sectors of the nation’s economy as at June 30, 2015, at N14.7 trillion. This is even as it charged Development Finance Institutions, DFIs, to improve their lending to key sectors with a view to achieving better performance of the economy in the years ahead. The Governor of the apex banking institution, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, said this during the maiden edition of the Bi-Annual Forum for stakeholders of Development Finance Institutions DFIs. Emefiele, who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Financial System Stability, Dr. Okwu Joseph Nnanna, disclosed that of the N14.7 trillion credit extended to borrowers, the DFIs contributed only N760.8 billion, representing about five percent of the credit in the economy. Given the sub-optimal performance of the DFIs, Emefiele suggested that the credit contributions of the DFIs must increase significantly if they were to make the needed impact on the targeted sectors. He hinted further that CBN had over the years facilitated their establishment to stimulate and provide affordable long-term credit to the real sector, adding that currently there are six DFIs various mandates focusing on providing credit to

agricultural,‎ manufacturing, SMEs, Exports, Real Estate and Mortgage. According to him, the apex bank has, in line with its development function, introduced several targeted real sector financing and intervention schemes that have had some salutary impact on the economy in three broad areas of Agriculture, MSME and Infrastructure. Emefiele listed some of the intervention schemes and programmes to include, the Agriculture Credit Guaranty Scheme Fund (ACGSF), Commercial Agricultural Credit Scheme (CACS) Power and Airlines Interventions Fund (PAIF), Nigerian IncentiveBased Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL), Anchor Borrowers Programmes, (ABP), and Nigeria Electricity Market Stabilisa-

tion Facility (NEMSF) , amongst others. On the challenges facing the DFIs, the CBN Governor pointed out that numerous difficulties had beset the institutions in recent times thereby constraining their capacity to effectively deliver on their mandates. “Some of these challenges include, high levels of non-performing loans owing to ineffective credit appraisal, analysis and recovery effort, mission drift, corporate governance issues, weak risk management, under-capitalisation, political interference and limited use of information technology”, Emefiele said. While noting that there is need for a paradigm shift if the desired goals of their establishment must be achieved, the banking expert ex-

plained that as part of the apex bank’s efforts to resolve these challenges, a key provision of the guidelines was the introduction licensing requirements for all DFIs operating in the country. He said that the requirement is in line with global best practices. Emefiele explained further that the current administration appropriately placed emphasis on diversifying the economy by shifting from the dominance and over-reliance on oil as the main source of government revenue to agriculture, manufacturing and mining of solid minerals to improve the economy’s performance.

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

Dana Air

L-R: Company Secretary and Legal Adviser, Vitablom Nigeria Ltd., Mr Olalekan Sanni, Shareholder, Chief Samuel Bolarinde, Managing Director and Chief Executive, Mrs Titi Bakare and Chairman, Mr Taiwo Adeniyi at Vitablom’s Annual General Meeting in Lagos

Report re-confirms Globacom as fastest Internet solutions provider

new telecom industry report has confirmed Globacom as the fastest growing internet solutions provider in the country. This confirmation was contained in a new statistics of internet subscriptions of the four major service providers for the last quarter of 2015. The report showed that Globacom was the only operator that recorded an increase in its internet subscriber base in the last quarter of 2015. According to the data, the telco had 23,285,454 internet users in October, 24,952,559 in November and 25,082,066 in December, which is an addition of 3.2m new internet subscribers in the quarter, says telecoms industry report. In a previous industry report released last month, Globacom gained the highest number of internet users in September of 2015 with over a million new internet users on its network, up from 20,765,379 data users in August to 21,896,229 data users the following month. The figure showed an addition of 1,130,850 new internet subscribers which was much more than

the total number of new internet users that joined the three other major telecom operators - MTN, Airtel and Etisalat, which collectively recorded 716,450 new internet subscribers in the month under review. That Globacom grew its data subscriber base in the last quarter under reviewwas due to its improved internet service delivery. In the last one year, Globacom announced that it had invested heavily to significantly upgrade its data network. The upgrade was complemented by its extensive nationwide optic fibre infrastructure linked to its Glo 1 submarine cable which connects Nigeria to Europe, America and the rest of the world. Besides the upgrade, the network also offers several attractive and affordable internet packages which have a lot of appeal to data users. These include Free Tomorrow, Bumper Data, Campus Booster, Twin Bash and Weekend and Night packages.

Free Tomorrow, for instance, calculates all the value of airtime a subscriber uses in a day for internet services, phone calls and SMS, doubles the value and credits the subscriber’s phone by 12 midnight with the value. On its own, Campus Booster is a special data plan that allows students and others on campus to get up to eight times more data value whenever they use their Glo lines on campuses. In the Bumper Data Offer, subscribers get 1.5G for just N1000 and 4.5G for N2500. Similarly, a N3,000 data plan gives subscribers 6GB data valid for one month, while a N4000 data plan gives 9GB data plan valid for a month. Also, Twin Bash offers subscribers the facility of recharging data directly from recharge cards in denominations of N200 to N5000 and getting voice free. A customer who recharges with N200 gets 200 MB of data worth N800 and N200 worth of airtime free for voice calls.

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

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

Executive Discourse

Wednesday, February 24, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Auto policy ‘ll fail if not tied to Engr. Isaac Uhumwagho, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Efex Executive Motors, is one of the leading players in the nation’s motor transportation business. Over the years, after spending years in the corporate business environment, he has braced the odds to keep his company going, thereby contributing his own quota to national development. In this interview with Adejuwon Osunnuyi, the Edo State-born transport business veteran speaks on sundry issues affecting the nation’s transportation sector, amongst other issues. Excerpts:

fex Executive Motors is no doubt one of the major transport companies in Nigeria. Sir, what has been your experience in this business over the years?

Our experience, just like most other transportation companies, can be described as having been quite bumpy. It has had its ups and downs. But one thing is for sure, it has been a long journey. We are about forty years old as a transport company. At the time we went into transportation about 40 years ago, we identified a huge necessity for organised transportation services in the country, especially in our part of the country, which was then Bendel State. Especially from a major city like Benin to Lagos. Lagos was the capital of Nigeria and the economic hub of the country. It had a huge pull for most people in Southern Nigeria. But we did not just come in to increase the number of vehicles on the roads although we started in a fairly modest manner. Our motivation was to provide quality services as well as have our premium on safety. Our intention was not only to match what was already available but to raise the bar within the industry. The fact that I schooled in to Lagos. Of necessity, people would Europe obviously gave me a higher travel for various reasons. They have insight than the local transport opera- choices on what mode of transportators, majority of whom had not left our tion to opt for. Talking about viability, maybe you shores. You must not forget that majority of travellers only had the option are talking of profitability in busiof travelling in older , rickety vehicles ness. Profit should not be the prime without a brand name or known own- motive for venturing every business. er. You did not know the condition of Businesses are set up to meet up with the vehicle or driver. You simply hoped needs or to satisfy some demands. That that the vehicle would get you to your is what you look at. After you estabdestination. Unfortunately, it is still lish the need or demand of providing that way in some parts or regions of a service, like transport service for Nigeria. They just go to a general mo- instance, you then closely look at the tor park, and enter one vehicle, hoping associated financials. How much is and praying, that he gets to his destina- it going to cost me to set up, and how tion in one piece. But organized trans- much am I likely to realise if I do all port companies like ours are totally different. Our customers already know what standards we have, both in quality services, safety, reputation, etc. Essentially, we are simply a known brand name in transportation in the country. Looking at the transportation business generally, would you say it is a viable business? I don’t know whether that question is a correct one to ask if the sector is a viable line of business. One thing is sure, just like food, people must move from one place to the other. For example, nobody from one location like Benin City, Ibadan or Asaba would trek

Uhumwagho, the things that are required to be done. That is what they call feasibility study. You check what the market prices are, what it costs to go from A to B, and how much you are likely to realize and so on and so forth. At the end of the day, you take a critical decision to see if it’s a viable business or it’s not a viable business. If you do your homework and you find for example, that where you want to travel to is already saturated by so many transport operators, and you know their fares. It would be futile for you to embark on such a route knowing fully well your costs, expenses and likely income. In real terms, any business you are doing, you have to borrow money, but in Nigeria, things are different. Nigeria is different from the real world be-

When we started transportation, we started with new vehicles. The money we used in buying new vehicles then is not up to the amount of money it would cost us in putting fuel in that same vehicle to travel from here to

Benin. In paper money terms, our first vehicle, a 30-seater coaster bus cost us less than N10,000 then

cause in many cases, the people who are investing in businesses are people who have somehow succeeded in making some small fortune elsewhere, and they just set up their business to achieve legitimacy. At the end of the day, they now are anxiously looking for where to invest the millions or billions. Such investors could kick start their transport business with 20 or 50 vehicles. Definitely, for those types of people, they are not in need of profits. They will be quite satisfied if the business is still in existence in five years. But in the real sector, a person who goes into business would actually go in with funds sourced. And if the cost of fund is 15 per cent or 20 per cent, then, he factors it in that he is going to require N20m, starting the business, he is going to borrow N20m, and as the initial capital, maybe he has N2m, that’s about 10 per cent of the money required, hence, he factors everything into that he should be able to get a repayment from the business over a period of time to meet with the bank requirement or the financing body that you have utilised. So, if you want to look at transport in that perspective, as at now, I wouldn’t tell you that transport is not a viable business because you cannot go to any bank to secure money to establish a transport company, buy vehicles, have operational staff and then expect to be able to pay back your financier or bank because economically the inter-

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Executive Discourse

Wednesday, February 24, 2016

industrialization –Efex Motors boss est rates cannot support such an outing. Your company has been operating for about 40 years now. Taking a critical look at the challenges in the transportation sector, how have you been able to weather the storm? What you find out is that about 80 per cent of those who are into transport business are people who are not fully educated. In the past, majority of them were either drivers previously or motor park operatives. Luckily, for me, I was a qualified mechanical engineer before I purchased my first commercial vehicle. There is a strong relationship between automobile vehicles and mechanical engineering. I attended a technical college before going for my degree programme. I trained in the United Kingdom, where a lot of engineering students carry out 90% of the maintenance of their old 10 year and above jalopies. Not only that, I have worked for over 20 years in the private sector, in big organizations for very many years in maintenance department aswell as in management position. So, I have operated my business from a great position of strength and knowledge. That is position of knowing what to do, what it takes to manage a business successfully. As a seasoned manager, I could use people right from day one to run, and operate my business. All of these have impacted and succeeded in making my business stay through good times and difficult times. In the last 40 years, you remember we went through SAP, that is, Structural Adjustment Programme. Suddenly we found that what we could buy before before, became totally out of reach. When we started transportation, we started with new vehicles. The money we used in buying new vehicles then is not up to the amount of money it would cost us in putting fuel in that same vehicle to travel from here to Benin. In paper money terms, our first vehicle, a 30-seater coaster bus cost us less than N10,000 then. Today, N10,000 would not be enough to fuel a bus from here to Benin. Though N10,000 was a lot of money, but what I am trying to tell you is that because we have knowledge of economics, we have knowledge of all the factors that come to play, we were able to weather various storms. We are quite aware that in 2016, it is going to be a very difficult year for example and if you are knowledgeable and well-informed of the effects that are likeable to be and how it would affect your own business, then it may be one year, 2016, it may be two years or three years, we don’t know how long the difficult time we are entering would end, but you have to adjust philosophy or put in system to match what the economic environment dictates. Those are some of the ways in which we as an ongoing concern has been able to cope. For instance, in 2016, we are not

I really don’t know what Nigeria’s policy regime in terms of transportation is all about. Does Nigeria as a country have a policy or blueprint for transportation? I don’t think so. I have not seen any looking at the volume of profits we are able to make, as a result of the difficult time, but if some companies are going to make it through, we would be among the companies. How do you rate Nigerian policy regime in terms of transportation? I really don’t know what Nigeria’s policy regime in terms of transportation is all about. Does Nigeria as a country have a policy or blueprint for transportation? I don’t think so. I have not seen any. Is is Goodluck Jonathan’s policy framework for transportation? Is it Mohammadu Buhari’s framework for transportation in the country? I have not seen it. So, I don’t know what it is but all I know is that transportation essentially has to do with vehicles and it has to do with roads. And in Nigeria, for reasons best known to us, we decided to break off what our colonial masters put down for us when they were leaving when they had Ministry of Works and Transport. Then, works, which is the construction of roads, was tailored towards transportation needs. For reasons best known to the Federal government and states government, which have adopted similar patterns where they have ministry of works, doing one thing and ministry of transport doing another thing. In all sincerity, I don’t know what ministry of transport does as far as road transportation is concerned. I don’t know what their work is. If their work is to provide input towards where roads should be constructed? May be. But I don’t know what government policy as relating to transportation. On transportation generally in Nigeria, there is a consensus that railway transportation is acutely deficient. It is a crying shame to see thousands of heavily loaded trailers and fuel tankers on all our highways. They constitute the greatest dangers on all our roads. They are responsible for 90% of the damage on our highways. They are responsible for over 60% of accidents and deaths on our highway. And to have these heavy vehicles causing so much damage to roads and travellers, without paying a dime for using the roads, is the height of irresponsibility by our government. What is your assessment so far of the implementation of the nation’s auto policy and how does it affect your business? When you say auto policy, if I get you correctly, maybe you are talking about the present attempt to have vehicles

assembled in Nigeria. Well, that on its own is a welcome development. But in Nigeria, we jump into things without doing necessary works associated with ensuring that what we are jumping into is really of benefits. If you are assembling vehicles in a country, then you are not doing that as part of industrialization programme, then you are just wasting your time. Don’t forget that over 40 years ago, we had assembling plants in this country. We had Volkswagen of Nigeria, VON, Peugeot Assembly of Nigeria, PAN, and even in Ibadan, there was a Leyland plant that was assembling some of the vehicles that I used about 30 years ago. When you set up such assembling plants in the country and you do not tie it up with local indigenous industrial base, you are building a structure without a foundation because these assembly plants are simply existing in isolation. They are likely to die the same way previous ones did. To set up an assembly plant is no big deal. We must have a larger purpose as a developing country. It must have a lot of Government involvement to assist the smaller companies that are supposed to grow to world class standard in providing component parts for the Assembly plants. If Government folds its hands and does not provide support, funds, and other technical backup to these smaller indigenous companies, then the Government is not serious.

Uhumwagho,

Before this new policy, which is being implemented, Innoson has been assembling some vehicles in the East in the last five or six years. So, what does it take to have an assembling plant? A vehicle probably consists of maybe 4000 to 5000 component parts. If as a country, you start to have assembling plants and you have not looked at how maybe 5% or 10% or 20% of those 5,000 components can be sourced, made or produced here in Nigeria to inject into those vehicles, then you are just wasting your time. Take the car seats for example. Hardly any country with Assembly plants would bypass its domestic furniture industry and happily allow car seats to be imported for Assemby Plants. It won’t surprise me if that is happening in Nigeria. Let us go back to 45 years ago. We were probably at the same level of industrialization with China. When plants were being set up in China for the assembling of vehicles, at the same time we had VON and PAN, China was probably injecting not more than 5% of the components into their own Assembly Plants. That percentage of local content kept growing at not less than 10% annually in China. I can tell you that today, a 100 per cent of everything that is required to make a car is produced in China. This is because the assembling of vehicles was integrated into the industrialization of the country. Meanwhile, our leaders have been happily consuming the most expensive champagne in the world with our oilwealth, and telling us we are developing. So, the auto policy, to me can be a superficial exercise if it is not tied to industrialisation of the country. That is my remote understanding on the current policy.

Business News

Wednesday, February 24, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Nigeria signs pact for exchange of Country-by-Country Reports Tola Akinmutimi

igeria, along with 30 other countries, has signed the Multilateral Competent Authority Agreement, MCAA, for the automatic exchange of Country-by-Country (CbC) Reports. According to a Tax Alert issued by PricewaterHouseCoopers (PwC) Nigeria, Nigeria formally endorsed the agreement on January 27 this year. The mandatory preparation of CbC Reports by Multinational Enterprises [MNEs] is one of the recommendations under Action 13 of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development’s (OECD) Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) project. The Report contains financial and other data with respect to each jurisdiction where a MNE operates and can be used by tax administrators to assess high-level transfer pricing risks and other BEPS related risks. The initiative shows Nigeria’s dedication to the implementation of the OECD’s BEPS recommendations.

Action 13 of the OECD’s BEPS Action plans had recommended the preparation of CbC Reports by MNEs as their Ultimate Parent Companies were also required to report certain data on a country by country basis including information on revenue, profit or loss before income tax, income tax paid, accumulated earnings, number of employees and tangible assets. These critical information also cover those on each entity within the group showing the tax residence of each, main business activity and so on. The information provided in the CbC Reports are expected to assist tax authorities in assessing high level transfer pricing and BEPS related risks. To ensure quick implementation of this recommendation, the OECD developed a CbC Reporting Implementation Package. The package consists of a model CbC legislation (for introducing CbC requirements into local tax laws) and three Model Competent Authority Agreements (to facilitate the exchange of CbC Reports by

Kasapreko, Alomo Bitters maker, launches $70m plant Olusegun Koiki

asapreko Limited, manufacturers of Aloma Bitters, has launched a $70m bottling plant for Kasapreko in Ghana, which would churn out hundreds of thousands of bottles daily, of a variety of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, which include Kalahari Bitters and Carnival Strawberry.

This is even as Chairman of the company, Dr. Kwabena Adjei, also bagged the Master Entrepreneur of the Year in the West African edition of the Ernst & Young, EY, World Entrepreneur of the Year Awards, held in Lagos at the weekend. Kasapreko Company Limited based in Accra, Ghana is the maker of authentic Alomo Bitters – the brand named by CNN as one of the top five emerging drink brands in the world recently, and has seen major success across West Africa and beyond at the 5th edition of the award. The World Entrepreneur of the Year Award programme was created by Ernst & Young to recognise the accomplishments of entrepreneurs with Award programmes in more

than 60 countries around the globe. Members of this elite community are exceptional leaders, who defy the status quo, drive innovation, create jobs and transform economies. While in the country, Adjei also paid a courtesy visit on Ghana High Commission in Nigeria, Lagos Consulate, where he was received by Mr. Kwabena O. Appiah, Consulgeneral. The Consul-General commended Adjei for being Ghana’s worthy ambassador and urged him to continue with the good work. He also had a brief stopover at the prestigious Lagos Business School where he was received by the school’s Associate Director, Executive Education, Bridget Chukwumah. The award was launched in West Africa in 2011, the EY Entrepreneur of the Year Award programme is about honouring and celebrating entrepreneurs who have combined ingenuity, hard-work and perseverance to create and successfully sustained growing businesses and has enjoyed international recognition for the past 30 years.

tax authorities). Nigeria’s signing of the MCAA will allow the country access to CbC information of MNE groups with operations in Nigeria. The principal objective of the MCAA is to aid the annual automatic exchange of CbC Reports between or amongst countries, in which an MNE carries on business even if through a Permanent Establishment [PE]. The CbC Reports will also provide some of the informa-

tion needed by tax authorities to better understand the way MNEs structure their global operations. According to PwC, the signing of the MCAA by Nigeria is an indication that the country is taking the recommendations from the BEPS project seriously and that CbC Reporting legislation will be introduced in Nigeria shortly. Once this is done, Nigerian headquartered MNEs will be required to provide the relevant

CbC information on all their operations outside Nigeria to the FIRS. “For MNE’s with headquarters outside Nigeria, the FIRS can obtain the information from the tax authorities (if a party to the MCAA) of the country where the headquarters is located. It is also possible for the FIRS to request the CbC Reports directly from a Nigerian subsidiary of an MNE which is headquartered outside Nigeria”, PwC stated.

L-R: Member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Sen. Adamu Aliero; Chairman of the Committee, Sen. Theodore Orji; another member of the committee, sen. Abdullahi Adamu; Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri and Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, during the visit of a team of Agricultural Experts from Denmark visit Ministry of Agriculture and Rural development in Abuja yesterday. PHOTO:NAN

Partnership, key to business survival in Nigeria –Expert David Audu

ounding Partner, John Rhoda Enterprise, a content and market solution provider, Mr. Michael Akindele, has described the Nigerian business environment as challenging due to the current downturn of the economy occasioned by the falling exchange rate of the Naira against major world currencies. Akindele made the observation during the unveiling of Mi-Tribe phone brand in partnership with Konga in Lagos recently. He said the Naira exchange rate had made doing business in the country increasingly more difficult, but was however optimistic that with more business to business partnerships evolving firms are able to work around the challenges to deliver services to clients. “The partnership between Konga.com and Mi-Tribe phone brand is a testimony to that, business partnership is about sur-

vival, businesses partner so that they can survive the economic turbulence currently being experienced by a number of firms”. He said despite the market environment being what it is more people are still going to buy phone, noting that it is the same with ant other business that of-

fers value to the society. “The harsh business environment may not go away quickly but in the midst of it some businesses still thrive. So, it is about how firms go about it and one of such ways is partnership to deliver quality services to people”.

Standard Chartered Drops After First Annual Loss Since 1989

ill Winters took more “painful” steps to turn around Standard Chartered Plc as the bank posted its first annual loss since 1989. The shares fell.

The Asia-focused lender reported a pretax loss of $1.5 billion in 2015, down from profit of $4.2 billion a year earlier, as revenue missed estimates and loan impairments almost doubled to the highest in the bank’s history. The company wrote down the value of its business in Thailand, said it was reviewing its operations in Indonesia, further cut its commodity exposure and eliminated all executives’ bonuses.

“Our 2015 performance was poor, and in many ways unacceptable” with the drop in income “precipitous,” Winters, the company’s chief executive officer said on a call with reporters Tuesday. 2016 “will be another difficult year, no doubt.” Winters, 54, is attempting to unwind the damage caused by predecessor Peter Sands’ revenue-led expansion across emerging markets, which left the bank riddled with bad loans when the commodity market crashed and growth stalled from China to India.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Business News

Wednesday, February 24, 2016

Banks pay customers N400m cash back on PoS usage –CBN Johnson Okanlawon

eposited money banks in the country have paid out almost N400 million as cash back on the use of Point of Sale, PoS, terminals, the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, has confirmed. However, four of the banks were last year sanctioned for non-reversal of dispense error within the specified 48 hour timeframe given by the CBN. Speaking with journalists in Lagos on Monday at a press conference organized by the Nigeria Inter Bank Settlement System, NIBSS, the CBN Assistant Director, Payment Policy and Oversight, Banking and Pay-

ment System, Shola Agboola said that following the issuance of a circular directing banks to install and automize auto reversal, four banks have been found wanting. He said:”When we carried out oversight function on the banks to ensure that they have done what they were asked to do, four banks were penalized and sanctioned last year.” According to him, a situation whereby customers will have a problem, complain and the bank will not attend to them can no longer continue. Also, the NIBSS Executive Director, Business Development, Mrs Christabel Onyeje-

kwe noted that the payment of cashback to bank customers have been stopped in December 2015 but will be replaced with the loyalty engine which will give out points for PoS usage. She explained that the cashback was introduced in 2014 as an incentive for customers to use their cards for payments and to drive the usage of PoS, customers.

Onyejekwe stressed that the difference between the cashback and the loyalty engine is that one gives back cash and the other records points that can be redeemed at a later time. She noted that of the 120,000 PoS terminals in the country, only about 100,000 are connected to the NIBSS platform and only 62,000 are active. The financial expert hinted

that NIBSS had opened discussions with stakeholders as part of efforts to withdraw the dormant PoS from circulation. Meanwhile, banks as well as merchants will tomorrow be given awards for their contributions towards driving the cashless programme at the CBN Electronic Payment Incentive Scheme Efficiency Awards.

Ghana’s banks face leaner time in 2016 –OBG

he Ghanaian banking sector remained profitable and well capitalised last year, with combined assets rising by 22.3% to reach GHS70.4bn ($17.8bn), according to the Bank of Ghana (BoG). A repeat performance in 2016 will require some adroit manoeuvring, however, as macroeconomic pressures began to slow activity by the end of last year. Lending growth by the country’s commercial banks trended downward in 2015, for example, while NPLs increased, although recent interest rate moves by the central bank point towards a more encouraging outlook for the coming months. Credit growth slowed significantly in 2015, according to BoG figures, with lending to the private sector expanding by 23.5% yearon-year, compared to 51.6% in 2014. The ratio of NPLs, meanwhile, recorded an increase over the year. By the end of the third quarter of 2015, NPLs accounted for 13.5% of

total loans, up from 12.2% at the end of 2014. According to year-end figures from the BoG, the share of NPLs rose further in the last quarter, reaching 14.1% by the end of December. However, a late January announcement from the BoG that benchmark interest rates would remain unchanged signalled positive news for Ghana’s banks and borrowers. According to BoG officials, signs that inflation was beginning to ease had informed the decision. Analysts had expressed concerns that the BoG’s previous hike, which increased the policy rate by 100 basis points to 26% in November, would trigger an increase in NPLs, due to the higher potential for borrower default. While inflation reached 17.7% in 2015, due in large part to the slide of the Ghanaian cedi, prices began to flatten out somewhat in the last quarter of the year, suggesting the central bank’s latest interest rate hike was yielding the desired results.

L-R: Communications Manager, Airtel, Erhumu Bayagbon; Assistant Manager, E-commerce and Digital Services, Airtel, Adedeji Ayobola and Director of Public Affairs, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Tony Ojobo at the Media Lounge with bloggers, during the 2016 Social Media Week in Lagos, yesterday.

Air Côte d’Ivoire to increase aircraft to nine by April Olusegun Koiki

ir Côte d’Ivoire, has unveiled plans to increase its current fleet of seven aircraft to nine by April this year. The airline stated this recently in Abidjan, Cote D’Ivoire when its received its third new Bombardier Dash Q400 NextGen aircraft, which increases its fleet to seven. The airline also said that it hoped to increase the cities it flies into to 22 from its present 18 by 2016 and estimated a capital incre-

ment of 65 billion to over 100 billion FCFA before the end of next year. Statement issued in Lagos by the media consultant to the airline quoted its Managing Director, Mr. Rene Decurey as saying that the airline was achieving its target with the delivery of Bombardier Dash Q400 Aircraft, which had enabled it increase regional and domestic routes and frequencies. Decurey explained that its new aircraft was as fast as a jet, flexible, silent, comfortable and energy

Orange, Google partner on mobile internet services in Africa. Middle East

range on Monday announced a new partnership with Google to bring the best of mobile internet across its full African and Middle Eastern (Orange MEA) footprint.

By combining the strength of Orange’s mobile network and mobile expertise with Google’s mobile applications, the move offers customers the best of both partners in terms of access and content through an allinclusive digital communication package. Orange and Google have come together to deliver a package that is tailored to meet the needs of the market. Customers across the Orange MEA footprint will now have access to a range of best-in-class online services including, but not limited to, popular content covering fashion, sport and music, as well as everyday tools such as Google Search™, YouTube™ and Google Maps.

The partnership will address the mass market for Orange in Africa and the Middle East, following Orange’s ongoing success of delivering smartphones across the region. Through an educational campaign, customers will be offered advice to better understand the benefits and direct value mobile internet can bring. Important information will be made accessible, for example, finding answers to questions instantly through Google Search or the ability to locate the nearest health clinic using Google Maps. Languages, such as Arabic, will be supported to enrich the customer experience, with additional languages to be added throughout the year. The digital communication package is especially well-adapted to youth who have high data usage and want the latest generation smartphone. Customers will receive

one of the most competitively priced tariff plans in the region starting at $40, which will consist of a high-specification smartphone and a communication bundle with voice, SMS and data. The offer will be delivered in a phased approach and will start to roll-out across the full Orange MEA footprint in Q2 this year. The device will launch with the native set of Google services and the goal of the partnership is to develop local services and content over time. “As the first pan-Africa and Middle East mobile partnership with Google on this scale, we are able to bring direct value to our customers by offering the best access and services to ensure they get the most out of the mobile internet,” says Yves Maitre, Executive Vice President of Connected Objects and Partnerships, Orange.”

efficient, adding that it’s an idle aircraft that could operates both domestically and regionally. Decurey emphasised that by 2018, the airline would have been profitable, but noted that to achieve this, new route must be opened and new planes must be acquired. With such growth and prospect, he said the airline has invested in training its own pilots and airplane mechanic with the partnership of INPHB and the Aeronautic institute Amaury of Grange (IAAG) and is currently training 15 pilots, and by 2018 would have 20 airplanes mechanics. Also commenting, Bombardier Chief Operating officer, Mr. Alain Dugas who delivered the aircraft explained that the aircraft was the right aircraft type for Air Côte d’Ivoire’s regional and domestic plan, adding that the Q400 interior is built to modern technology, with Air Côte d’Ivoire specification and taste to give passengers a brand feeling. “With its excellent performance when operated from high altitude and high temperatures airports, the Q400 aircraft is the ideal device to operate from airports in the most difficult conditions. The device is also unbeatable for carriers seeking high productivity and profitability for a variety of connections”, Dugas declared.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Wednesday, February 24, 2016

Commerce & Industry

FG targets 2m MSMEs with N500bn intervention fund ABOLAJI ADEBAYO

he Federal Government has disclosed its plans to upgrade about two million Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, MSMEs, with its 2016 N500 billion Social Protection Programme fund. The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Okechukwu Enelamah, who disclosed this to journalists in Lagos, said the fund would be for the entrepreneurs under MSMEs who include traders, farmers and artisans. He said the amount of the credit given to each entrepreneur would be based on some factors such the size, nature and

type of the business, adding that the conditions for accessing the credits would not be stringent as other previous funds were found to be. Enelamah, who promised that the government would work out the modalities for the distribution of the fund to be managed by the Bank of Industry, said there would be close monitoring to make sure that the fund is not misused or diverted by any beneficiary entrepreneur. As a means of creating jobs and achieving inclusive growth, the Minister said his ministry would roll out programmes and initiatives focused on supporting MSMEs with financing, infrastructure, technical support and training.

Why foreign investment inflows remain low - Stakeholders ABOLAJI ADEBAYO

conomic stakeholders have reiterate agitation for creating investment environment that is attractive to foreign investors as a way to relive the country of its current economic woes. Leading the discussion at a forum in Lagos, the Director General of the LCCI, Muda Yusuf, disclosed that there were various factors preventing foreign investors from putting their businesses in Nigeria. In respect of investors’ interest as explained by Yusuf, Nigeria fell by one basis point on protecting minority investors ranking as it moved from 61st position to 62nd position. And on tax payment, Nigeria was ranked 179 as against 177 in the previous year. The LCCI Boss said that all these indicators were relevant to having an attractive investment climate. He said: “I wish to use this opportunity to call on government to put in place conducive policy and business environment, where investment can thrive. The much needed industrial revolution in Nigeria requires massive inflow of foreign investments into productive sector of the economy. “There is therefore the need for strong

Sachet water production

institutions with strong adherence to sound corporate governance and international best practice. Our regulatory environment must portray a good sense of certainty and consistence of regulations and policies.” The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission, NIPC, Mrs. Uju Aisha Hassan Baba, who informed that access to finance was one of the indicators used by the World Bank in its “Ease of Doing Business” report, said that Nigeria’s ranking may slide by seven point in 2016, advising that efforts should be made to ensure that there is an improved ranking but not the reverse. She lamented that despite being the largest economy in Africa and 21st largest in the world, Nigeria was still lagging behind smaller countries in attracting foreign direct investment, FDI. She said that the picture became more worrisome when FDI from oil sector was discounted because the bulk of FDI into Nigeria was from the oil sector as opposed to the countries in comparison where the bulk of FDI was from non-oil sector. She disclosed that NIPC has recently developed an investment promotion strategy to make the Nigerian investment environment more investor-friendly.

Enelamah

He said that the ministry would work with the agencies like the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria, SMEDAN, the Bank of Industry, BOI, the Industrial Training Fund, ITF, and the Nigeria Export Promotion Council, NEPC, while collaborating with other Ministries and Agencies of government to achieve its goal. To attract proactively long-term local and foreign investment, the Minister said that the approach to attracting investments would be driven by a ‘PublicPrivate Partnership, PPP, agenda, considering the scale of the infrastructure deficit, and the limits of government’s resources. He maintained that partnering with Private Capital would be the most sensible approach to financing the substantial ambitions. He pointed out that the size and type

of financing requirement in Nigeria suggested that the preferred partners would be those who would show evidence of a commitment to a long-term partnership. He noted that the current economic challenges called for increase in the levels of domestic and foreign investment in Nigeria, especially for the purpose of closing the massive infrastructure gap, adding that this capital is available, within and outside Nigeria – in private equity and venture capital, Pension and Sovereign Wealth Funds, and so on. However, the Minister said that the achievement of the overriding goal of the present government, and that of his ministry, which included inclusive growth and shared prosperity that would touch every corner of Nigeria would be based on the proper implementation of his vision and the lay-down plans, working with the relevant agencies. Speaking on the influx of imported foreign products especially as it effects the productivity of the SMEs, Enelamah said the government had detected a technological solution, which would be employed to control the situation. He assured that through the technological devices, the illegal importer would be brought under control. He therefore appealed to the Nigerian citizen to patronise made-in-Nigeria products as a way of encouraging and developing the entrepreneurship in Nigeria, adding that the government would lead by example in the patronage of home-made products.

Sachet water price up 100% in Abuja MARCUS FATUNMOLE Abuja

rice of sachet water has increased by 100 per cent in Abuja, a survey conducted by National Mirror in the nation’s capital shown. The rising price of water coincided with sudden re-appearance of long queues at fuel stations, following scarcity of premium motor spirit, popularly referred to as petrol in the city. Sachet water, also called ‘pure water’ is the most handy and cheapest drinking water for many homes and offices across the country. The packaged water is consumed more during the hot season, as currently experienced in Abuja and other parts of the country. Until its price ballooned by 100 percent between the last weekend and yesterday, a bag of sachet was sold between N70 and N80 by wholesalers. In most cases, three or four bags were sold for N250 by the wholesalers. Each sachet was also sold for N10 by retailers and vendors who sell mainly on highways and on major streets before the price rose. But on Monday, vendors and retailers sold sachet water pack for N15 per sachet or two sachets for N25, as observed by our reporter. A bag of sachet water was sold between N130 and N150 by wholesalers in many parts of the city.

Some residents who spoke with National Mirror lamented that the rise in price was wicked and would further compound the prevailing socio-economic woes being experienced by many people in the city, and other parts of the country. Olubunmi Adesina who spoke with our correspondent said: “We shouldn’t let the poor this way. Things are becoming too unbearable for the masses. If water which God gives us freely could be this costly, then, many people will continue to suffer. We voted for change, we want to see change for the better, not change for the worse. Nigerians are suffering, President Buhari and other leaders in Nigeria should come to our rescue.” During the hot season, an adult could drink about 12 sachets or more a day, which implies an adult pays about N150 for drinking water per day. Efforts to officially get the reason for the rise in price of the water by our reporter yesterday however proved abortive, as he could not immediately locate any sachet water factory in the city, nor get the contact of chairman of sachet water producers in the nation’s capital. But, some of the wholesalers claimed the producers had complained of increased cost of production such as dearth of petrol to run their facilities.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Wednesday, February 24, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

EnergyWeek Wednesday, February 24, 2016

Govt spends N2trn on fraudulent subsidy claims –PPPRA boss

Oil exporters lose over $340bn from price slump –IMF 36

Satchet water price up 100% in Abuja 32

Oil firms sustain cost-saving measures on sliding prices The current slumping trend in the global oil market is taking huge toll on funding of International Oil Companies, IOCs, as well other indigenous entities involved in Exploration and Production (E & P) operations in the country. In this report, UDEME AKPAN analyses what the companies are doing to reduce operation-associated losses in the face of prevailing low oil prices at the international market.

here are indications that the International Oil Companies, IOCs have continued to cut their 2016 budgets because of low prices in the global market. Investigations showed that the companies who have joint venture arrangement with the Federal Government through the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC have started reviewing their budgets because of the prolonged low price regime. A source in one of the companies who preferred not to be named indicated that: “For us budget review is an ongoing thing. We are constantly looking at new ways and means of reducing cost in the light of the present low crude oil prices. We will continue to do so because we need to bring down cost in order to sustain operations in short, medium and even long term.” “It is important that we cut cost and try to invest scarce resources in capital projects and programmes of lasting value at this time. We need to explore for crude oil and natural gas, build reserves and production capacity,” he added. He maintained the budget cut becomes imperative as oil prices may not leap in a short term. The International Energy Agency, IEA also supports this position. In its annual Medium-Term Oil Market Report, MTOMR released on Monday, this week, the

IEA indicated that while U.S. light, tight oil, LTO output is falling steeply for now, the market will begin rebalancing in 2017 – and by 2021 the United States and Iran are seen leading production gains among non-OPEC and OPEC countries, respectively. The report noted that while oil prices should start to rise gradually once the market begins rebalancing, the availability of resources that can be easily and quickly tapped will limit the scope of rallies – at least in the near term. However, the report points to the risk of an oil price spike in the later part of the outlook period arising from insufficient investment. According to the report, it is easy for consumers to be lulled into complacency by ample stocks and low prices, but they should heed the writing on the wall: the historic investment cuts we are seeing raise the odds of un-

pleasant oil-security surprises in the not-too-distant-future. The report sees 4.1 million barrels a day (mb/d) being added to global oil supply between 2015 and 2021, down sharply from the total growth of 11 mb/d in the period 20092015. It observed that the drop in supply growth comes as upstream investment dries up in response to the current glut that is pressuring prices. Global oil exploration and production capital expenditures (capex) are expected to fall 17per cent in 2016, following a 24per cent cut in 2015 – which would be the first time since 1986 that upstream investment has fallen for two consecutive years. The report has it that US production is seen reaching an all-time high of 14.2 mb/d by the end of the forecast period, but only after falling in the short term. LTO output declines by 0.6 mb/d

Christine Lagarde, Managing Director of the IMF, said on Monday that supply and demand factors in the oil market suggested that oil

prices are “likely to stay low for an extended

period.”

This will mean that all oil exporters

will have to reduce spending and work on raising revenue

this year and by a further 0.2 mb/d in 2017 before a gradual recovery in oil prices, combined with further improvements in operational efficiencies and cost cutting, allows production to resume its upward climb. The United States remains the largest contributor to supply growth during the forecast period, accounting for more than twothirds of the net non-OPEC increase. Freed from sanctions, Iran leads OPEC gains: Iranian oil output rises 1 mb/d to 3.9 mb/d by 2021. The report sees global oil demand growing at an average rate of 1.2 mb/d through 2021, crossing the symbolic 100 mb/d mark towards the end of the decade before reaching 101.6 mb/d by 2021. Indian consumption races ahead as more motorists take to the roads, while Chinese demand growth cools in tandem with the economy. Global oil trade continues its pivot towards Asia. The Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC also maintained that OPEC Reference Basket (ORB) declined by around 21per cent to average $26.50/b in January. It indicated that ongoing excess supply, the weakening Chinese economy and lower seasonal heating demand continued to weigh on the market. Crude oil futures prices also declined significantly, with ICE Brent down $6.98 to CONTINUED ON PAGE 34

Wednesday, February 24, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Energy Week

Wednesday, February 24, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Oil firms sustain cost-saving measures on sliding prices

Buhari CONTINUED FROM PAGE 33

average $31.93/b and Nymex WTI losing $5.67 to average $31.66/b. It maintained that the OECD growth in 2016 has been revised lower to 2.0per cent, the same pace as in the previous year. In the emerging economies, China’s growth in 2016 has been revised down slightly to 6.3per cent while India’s growth has been revised lower to 7.5per cent. The organisation disclosed that meanwhile; increasing difficulties in both Brazil and Russia are seen pushing both economies into recession for the second consecutive year. “In 2016, world oil demand is expected to grow by 1.25 mb/d, representing a marginal lower adjustment of 10 tb/d from the previous forecast, to average 94.21 mb/d. Non-OECD countries will continue to contribute the bulk of oil demand growth this year.” “In 2016, non-OPEC oil supply is projected to decline by 0.70 mb/d, following a downward revision of 40 tb/d, mainly due to announced capex cuts by international oil companies, the fall in active drilling rigs in the US and Canada, and a heavy annual decline in older fields. OPEC NGL production is expected to grow by 0.17 mb/d in 2016, up from 0.15 mb/d last year. In January, OPEC crude production increased by 131 tb/d to average 32.33 mb/d, according to secondary sources,” it added. The expected cut in budget is expected to culminate in a gross reduction in the number of projects executed in 2016 as well as contracts awarded to servicing companies. It is also expected to result in increased unemployment and underemployment on Nigerians as well as other nationals. Already, the International Mone-

Kachikwu

tary Fund maintained that oil-exporting countries in the Middle East and Africa lost more than $340 billion in oil revenue from their budget in 2015, amounting to 20 per cent of their combined gross domestic product. Christine Lagarde, Managing Director of the IMF, said on Monday that supply and demand factors in the oil market suggested that oil prices are “likely to stay low for an extended period.” This will mean that all oil exporters will have to reduce spending and work on raising revenue. The US oil and gas industry has lost about 100,000 jobs over the past 16 months, according to the US Bureau of Labour Statistics. Employment losses worldwide are probably at least double that figure. These are only people employed directly by oil and gas producers, drilling contractors and other oilfield services firms. Tens of thousands more jobs have been eliminated throughout the supply chain. Job losses range from truckers and sand producers to the manufacturers of everything from drilling pipes, rigs and pumping equipment. Skilled and highly trained professionals are the most important assets of the oil and industry and parts of the supply chain. The availability of an experienced

Okunbor

workforce, as well as an ecosystem of drilling contractors, surveying firms and other specialist services companies is critical to maintaining and expanding output. Lack of skilled personnel after the mass layoffs of the 1990s was one of the main reasons oil companies struggled to raise their production between 2002 and 2008 even as oil prices quadrupled. Now history is about repeating itself as layoffs continue to threaten the workforce and ecosystem of companies that will be needed to meet oil demand towards the end of the decade and into the 2020s. Similar budget cut took place in 2015 which indicated that planners might not have had a clear picture of what the global oil market portended when they set out to work on the budget. They first proposed $78, then $73 before adopting $53 per barrel as the nation’s budget oil benchmark for the financial year. Even then, oil prices had continued to fall below that range, thus compelling the Joint ventures to cut their budgets by as much as $40 per cent. The National Petroleum Investment Management Services, NAPIMS, which issued the directive on behalf of the government, had reminded them that the budgets were drawn early in

Investigations showed that the activities of indigenous companies that provide specialised services to the majors in the oil and gas industry

are not spared. While many of them have managed

to hang on, others have gone as far as sacking their personnel because of significant reduction in their volume of projects and programmes

2014 when crude oil prices hovered at over $100 per barrel. NAPIMS, which manages government’s investments in the JVCs, production sharing companies, PSCs, and services contract companies, SCs, had explained that the directive was essential because it would be impossible for the joint ventures to execute all their projects earlier drawn up for implementation. The agency, which also engages frontier exploration services in basins where the multinationals hesitate to venture, including the Chad Basin, indicated that the 2015 budgets had to be slashed in line with the present funding constraint. Expectedly, the development had affected the capacities of the various international oil companies, IOCs, including Shell Petroleum Development Company, Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited, Total Exploration and Production Limited, Chevron Nigeria Limited, Nigerian Agip Oil Company, that operate the joint ventures with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, to finance new and ongoing projects. Investigations showed that the activities of indigenous companies that provide specialised services to the majors in the oil and gas industry are not spared. While many of them have managed to hang on, others have gone as far as sacking their personnel because of significant reduction in their volume of projects and programmes. It is against this backdrop that the minister of state for petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu has indicated that funding constraints must be urgently addressed, especially with the collaboration of the private sector and international investors into the nation’s petroleum industry.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Wednesday, February 24, 2014

Energy Week

Waste to wealth programme to balance energy mix – Minister

he Minister of State for Power, Works and Housing, Hon. Mustapha Baba Shehuri, has urged stakeholders to increase research into waste to wealth in order to boost power supply nationwide. Shehuri gave the advice when he hosted the Vice Chancellor and members of the Governing Council of the University of Maiduguri. He said: “The Waste to Wealth Programme, if properly initiated across the country, will address environmental issues, balance the energy mix, as well as boost economic activities of the people through the eradication of waste dump sites and landfills that usually pollute the air and water, especially in low-income and high density populated areas, where waste generation is traditionally high and improve power supply” The Minister called on the University and other academic institutions in the country to guide students through training, research and practical demonstrations on how recycling, composing and zero waste initiatives can improve power generation thereby reducing the need for disposal facilities and most importantly enhance economic activities. Earlier in his remarks, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Maiduguri, Professor Ibrahim Njodi said the purpose of his visit is to inform the Minister about the forthcoming 22nd Convocation and 40th Anniversary ceremonies scheduled for the11th -16th April, 2016. Njodi added that the University has not had any convocation ceremony since 2010 due to the insurgency being faced by the State, in particular and the North East Region, in general. The Vice Chancellor hinted that this year’s ceremony will showcase the university’s developmental strides in both human capital and infrastructure despite the prevailing security challenges. Also present at the meeting were the Permanent Secretary, Works and Housing, Engr. Abubakar Magaji, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Central Administration), the Registrar, Management Staff of the University and some Management Staff of the Ministry.

Wednesday, February 24, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Oil exporters lose over $340bn from oil prices’ slump – IMF STORIES: CHIDI UGWU with agency reports

il-exporting countries in the Middle East and Africa lost more than $340 billion in oil revenue from their budget in 2015, amounting to 20 per cent of their combined gross domestic product, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Christine Lagarde, Managing Director of the IMF, said on Monday that supply and demand factors in the oil market suggest that oil prices are “likely to stay low for an extended period.” This will mean that all oil exporters will have to reduce spending and work on raising revenues. At the same time, these economies need to strengthen their fiscal frameworks and reengineer their tax systems - by reducing their heavy reliance on oil revenues and boosting non-hydrocarbon sources of revenues,” Lagarde said. The slump in prices led Nigeria to loss of over $62.8 million revenue between November and December last year. President Muhammadu Buhari left Nigeria Sunday for the Gulf in what Presidency officials said is an ongoing efforts by Nigeria and other members of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries to achieve greater stability in the price of crude oil exports. Speaking at the Arab Fiscal Forum in Abu Dhabi, Lagarde added that such adjustments will help bolster growth and job creation and help maintain debt sustainability. The US oil and gas industry has lost about 100,000 jobs over the past 16 months, according to the US Bureau of Labour Statistics. Employment losses worldwide are

probably at least double that figure. And these are only people employed directly by oil and gas producers, drilling contractors and other oilfield services firms. Tens of thousands more jobs have been eliminated throughout the supply chain. Job losses range from truckers and sand producers to the manufacturers of everything from drilling pipes, rigs and pumping equipment. Skilled and highly trained professionals are the most important assets of the oil and industry and parts of the supply chain. The availability of an experienced workforce, as well as an ecosystem of drilling contractors, surveying firms and other specialist services companies is critical to maintaining and expanding output. Lack of skilled personnel after the mass layoffs of the 1990s was one of the main reasons oil companies struggled to raise their production between 2002 and 2008 even as oil prices quadrupled. Now history is threatening to repeat itself as layoffs threaten the workforce and ecosystem of companies that will be needed to meet oil demand towards the end of the decade and into the 2020s. “Previous cycles have shown that the impact of oil prices is long lasting, and that the scars from a sustained period of low prices can’t easily be erased,” Saudi Arabia’s vice-minister of petroleum, Prince Abdulazziz bin Salman, warned last year (Sixth Asian Ministerial Energy Roundtable, Doha, 2015). “During sharp downturns, the industry tends to lose talent, technical expertise, financial resilience and the confidence to embark on

new investments. Unfortunately, none of these adverse impacts on our industry can be quickly reversed.” Oil and gas companies have tried to protect as much of their specialist workforce as possible during the current slump to be ready for an eventual recovery when the cycle turns. But the lower oil prices fall and the longer they stay there, the more difficult it becomes to preserve the industry’s specialist workforce and supply chain. The current slump is starting to dismantle and scatter the workforce and community of suppliers rebuilt with so much difficulty and expense over the past decade following the slump of the 1990s. The effect of the current downturn on the workforce and the supply chain could prove to be one of its most lasting effects. The effect on the workforce and supply chain is the most enduring source of competitive advantage Saudi Arabia can create from the current price war. The techniques at the heart of the shale revolution as well as offshore megaprojects cannot be unlearnt, but the workforce in which they are embodied can be harmed by attrition. If the oil market rebalances over the next 12-24 months, as many analysts expect, consumption starts to outstrip production, and prices rise, how easy will it be for the oil industry to begin increasing output again? The prolonged slump of the late 1980s and 1990s hollowed out an entire generation of jobs within the oil and gas industry. By the late 2000s, the workforce consisted of a large number of age-

Lagarde

ing professionals nearing the end of their careers, recruited in the 1970s and early 1980s. There were also a large number of young and relatively inexperienced professionals recruited in the 2000s with less than 10 years’ experience. But there was a severe shortage of midcareer professionals with 10-20 years’ experience, the missing generation that would otherwise have been recruited in the 1990s. The “talent gap” on the workforce side was matched by a similar “supplier gap” as the industry struggled to replace the pipe makers, drilling manufacturers and specialist steel producers downsized in the 1990s. The acute shortage of specialist labour and supply firms contributed to the enormous wage and cost inflation in the industry between 2004 and 2014 as it struggled to increase output in response to soaring prices. The problem of maintaining a specialist labour pool and supply chain in the face of deep and long activity cycles is both a consequence and contributor to instability in the industry. The current slump is already creating the conditions that will lead to the next boom at some point within the next five to 15 years.

NEMSA stops illegal pole manufacturers’ production

he Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA) has stopped some electric concrete pole manufacturers in Abuja and Ibadan from further production since they were yet to be certified by it.

Ewesor

In a recent inspection in Abuja, two firms, Bonabest poles and Kaycee Best poles along Apo residential area were told to stop further production by the agency until they are duly certified. Speaking at the factory site, the NEMSA Managing Director, Engr. Peter Ewesor told a staff member of Kayceebest to tell his boss who was absent on the penalties. He said, “Tell him to stop producing poles until when he is set with the equipment and certification.” The other manufacturer, Bonabest Poles presented certification by the Licenced Electrical Contractors Association of Nigeria (LECAN) which NEMSA said does not make him a pole manufacturer. Similar uncertified pole makers were marked out and warned

in Ibadan, Oyo state recently. Two of such factories were also told to stop production and get registered. The Zonal Inspector for Abuja Zonal Inspectorate, Engr. Usman Momoh said the defaulters will get a period of time to come for the certification during which the agency will check their facilities and conduct strength analysis on some poles to determine its durability. NEMSA was established to do technical enforcement, test meters and inspect the many networks under the private led power sector. The agency had also stopped the contractors of Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) at the site of a 132kv power line being constructed in Abuja

after they discovered the use of uncertified poles with poor specifications. “The poles are planted haphazardly without any survey or design and are not certified. If they do not correct it now, in less than six months, they will start bending and even fall off,” Ewesor said. The nationwide inspection is coming on the heels of the agency’s disclosure that it will ban the use of wooden poles across the 11 electricity Distribution companies (Discos) before the end of March. Ewesor had said most accidents in the networks are traced to broken wooden poles among others thereby making it dangerous for an efficient and safe electricity installation.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Wednesday, February 24, 2016

From The Civil Service NTDC backs launching of Ile-Ife as global tourism zone Joel Ajayi Abuja

igerian Tourism Development Corporation, NTDC, has thrown its weight behind the launching of Ile-Ife in Osun State as a global tourism zone by the Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi. Speaking ahead of the launching, the Director General of NTDC, Dr. Sally Mbanefo, disclosed that the corporation would leave no stone unturned to promote domestic tourism in Ife, Nigeria, Africa and beyond. According to her, we are aware of the launching of Ife as a tourism zone in Nigeria and we have a special invitation, I have been to Ile-Ife and I was at all their traditional shrines and I can tell you right here that Ile-Ife has so much to offer. What we do is that we endorse what they are doing. “And I am very happy that Ooni of Ife, a young and vibrant person will initiate this for our youths to be engaged; so we are going to endorse him and we are backing him all the way. “Nigeria has taken a bold step in taking agriculture to a higher level, now is the time for tourism. Tourism has a value chain

that touches every sector of the economy. “Our campaign has been domestic tourism. Domestic tourism generates revenue but before that, you have to change our mindset. Nigerian people need to know what we have and access to the tourism sites has to be easy. “This is a wake-up call for all the states with numerous tourism sites to take a cue from this and join the federal government in its effort to diversify Nigeria’s economy. We shall continue to encourage states that are not doing much and our job is to support them, collaborate with them in creating awareness in attracting domestic and international tourists to these attractive destinations.” Meanwhile, in a related development the National Troupe of Nigeria, NTN, has also promised to ignite the Ile-Ife come Saturday 26th when the Ooni of IleIfe will declare the ancient city as a tourism zone. The Director General of NTN, Mr. Akinsola Adejuwon, stated this shortly after the troupe performed at Cuba Embassy in Abuja to showcase the rich culture of Nigeria.

Participants at the distribution of National Union of Bauchi State Students (NUBASS) 2015/2016 first free Education Initiative Programme at General Hassan Usman Katsina Unity College, Bauchi, yesterday.

Bye election: NYSC redeploys Rivers State coordinator Joel Ajayi Abuja

anagement of the National Youth Service Corps has deployed the Kwara State Coordinator, Mr. Henry Enyenihi, to oversee the scheme in Rivers State

FCTA to tackle sub-standard private schools –Minister Blessing Ukaegbu Abuja

he current Federal Capital Territory Administration is poised to tackle the proliferation of sub-standard private schools making them maintain acceptable minimum standard. The Minister of the FCT, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, dropped this hint while delivering a speech to mark the flag-off of the 2015/2016 Annual School Census at Government Secondary School, Area 10, Garki I District, Abuja. The Chief Press Secretary, Muhammad Hazat Sule, in a statement noted that the minister reiterated that if such schools were left the way they were, their activities would be counter-produc-

tive to the Federal Capital Territory educational system. Malam Bello remarked that proprietors of such schools were exploiting the unfettered influx of people into the Federal Capital Territory, which according to him, was unacceptable. The minister reiterated that though the proliferation of sub-standard private schools remained a challenge, the administration would address it with seriousness. He said “Sub-standard private schools that take advantage of the unfettered influx of the people into the city remains a challenge but the current administration would redress it to ensure provision of high quality education for our children.” He commended the

principal, teachers and students of Government Secondary School, Garki, for maintaining high standard of environmental sanitation and urged other public institutions in the territory to emulate what was seen in the school. Also speaking at the occasion, the Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, said that in order to facilitate the collection and collation of education data in Nigeria, the Federal Ministry of Education had concluded arrangement to host the NEMIS software on the internet for real-time online data entry and processing. According to him, this will further ensure uniformity in data reporting so that end-users will have timely reports for decision-making and research.

during the forthcoming bye-elections in the state. This was contained in a statement issued by the scheme’s head of press, Mrs. Bosede Aderibigbe. She stated that Mr. Enyenihi, who replaced Mrs. Ngozi Nwatarali, will take charge with immediate effect . Meanwhile, the management has assured all Nigerians of the continued neutrality of the scheme during the conduct of the forthcoming bye-elections in state and

federal constituencies of Kaduna, Plateau, Niger, Benue, Nasarawa, Kogi, Taraba, Imo, Abia, Anambra, Bayelsa, AkwaIbom, Cross River and Rivers. It stated that corps members are non-partisan and non-aligned to any political party as they only answer the clarion call of national service and, therefore, will always remain neutral in all their conduct during the elections. While commending the corps members for their

high level of discipline and patriotism in the conduct of past elections, the management urged them to continue in the same stead and work vigorously to ensure successful, free and fair elections. NYSC also, called on the general public, especially, the politicians to understand and co-operate with the corps members by ensuring that they are protected at all times in the course of the arduous service to fatherland.

Chidi Ugwu

ister also distributed 100 RoRo refuse bins to all ward heads in the Gwagwalada Area Council with a directive to the council chairman to ensure prompt collection and emptying of refuse bins at all times. The minister further assured that the cleanest area council would be given a befitting prize in order to encourage the sustainability of the laudable exercise. According to him, “the FCT Administration has already put mechanism in place to reward the cleanest area council in the Federal Capital Territory with a befitting prize”. Malam Bello empha-

sized that the culture of a clean environment being spearheaded by household and community leaders must be brought back to the society; stressing that the people must be involved in order to get it right. He urged the people of Gwagwalada not to wait for someone to teach them how to clean their environment; adding that the behaviour must be instilled and sustained. Malam Bello reiterated that the FCT Administration had considered the policy of reward and punishment as it concerns environmental sanitation.

…sustain environmental sanitation campaign Abuja

he Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, has vowed that environmental sanitation campaign across the entire Federal Capital Territory, particularly in the area councils and rural areas would be sustained. The minister made this commitment while flagging off the Household and Community Sanitation exercise in Gwagwalada, the headquarters of the Gwagwalada Area Council of the FCT on Saturday. At the occasion, the min-

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

EnergyWeek Wednesday, February 24, 2016

Govt spends N2trn on fraudulent subsidy claims –PPPRA boss

Oil exporters lose over $340bn from price slump –IMF 36

Satchet water price up 100% in Abuja 32

Christine Lagarde, Managing Director of the IMF, said on Monday that supply and demand factors in the oil market suggested that oil

prices are “likely to stay low for an extended

period.”

This will mean that all oil exporters

will have to reduce spending and work on raising revenue

Energy Week

Wednesday, February 24, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Oil firms sustain cost-saving measures on sliding prices

Buhari CONTINUED FROM PAGE 33

Kachikwu

Okunbor

Investigations showed that the activities of indigenous companies that provide specialised services to the majors in the oil and gas industry

are not spared. While many of them have managed

to hang on, others have gone as far as sacking their personnel because of significant reduction in their volume of projects and programmes

Wednesday, February 24, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Wednesday, February 24, 2014

Wednesday, February 24, 2016

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as MR. OGONNA CHRIS FELIX, now wish to be known and addressed as MR. UGOCHUKWU CHRIS FELIX. All former documents remain valid. General Public should take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME This is to confirm that AJUEYITSI UROSOMIDOLE SUNDAY is the same one person as AJUEYITSI SUNDAY. That henceforth wish to be known and addressed as AJUEYITSI UROSOMIDOLE SUNDAY. All former documents remain valid. General public and Authorities concerned to please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly known and addressed as LAMIDI AKEEM, now wish to be known and addressed as SHOKUNBI OLANREWAJU AKEEM. All former documents remain valid. UBA bank and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Odetuyi=I formerly Miss Odetuyi Grace Adesola now wished to be known and addressed as Mrs Ajayi Grace Adesola,all former document remain valid, Ekiti state teaching service commission and the general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

‎NGOZI: FORMERLY known and addressed as NGOZI DURU NOW wish to be known and addressed as MAGDALENE DURU NGOZI. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME This is to confirm that AYOBAMI AYODEJI JUNAID is the same person as JUNAID RASAQ AYOBAMI. All documents bearing the two names remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly known as OBASOGIE OSAGIE SUNDAY now wish to be known and addressed as JOHN SUNDAY OSAGIE. All former documents remain valid, General public take note

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly known an addressed as MISS ADEOGUN OLAJUMOKE OPEYEMI now wish to be known an addressed as ODUDIMU OLAJUMOKE OPEYEMI general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly known as IWEREBOR JOSEPHINE now wish to be known and addressed as CHUKWUYEM JOSEPHINE. All former document remain valid, General public take note

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Miss Salami Shakirat Abiola now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Ogunjimi Shakirat Abiola. All former documents remain valid. General public take note

Formerly known and addressed as Adewale Adedeji Halim is the same person known as Ojobaro Adewale Ayinla now wish to be known and addressed as Ojobaro Adewale Ayinla Adedeji. All former documents remain valid. Gtb, Eco Bank and General public take note

CHANGE OF NAME

OBE=I formerly Miss OBE Motunrayo now wished to be known and addressed as Mrs Aniunlopo Elizabeth Motunrayo,all former document remain valid, Ekiti state teaching service commission and the general public take note.

ADDITION OF NAME That I was formerly known and addressed as ABDULLAHI ABUBAKAR ADAMU, that I now wish to add DANGONGOLA, to my former name. That I now wish to be known, called and addressed as ABDULLAHI ABUBAKAR ADAMU DANGONGOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly known and addressed as ETUK AKWAEMEM SUNDAY now want to be known and addressed as IDIADO AKWUAEMEM All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

TAWAKALTU: FORMERLY known and addressed as TAWAKALTU K. OMOTOSHO TAWA KIKE MUKHTAR NOW wish to be known and addressed as TAWAKALTU MUHAMMAD. All former documents remain valid. Authorities concerned and General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

‎WADA : Formerly known and addressed as WADA JENIFA NOW wish to be known and addressed as RAMAT JENIFER MOHAMMED . All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as MISS. OLOWOYO MOPELOLA AINA. Now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. ADEBOLU MOPELOLA AINA. All former documents remain valid. Stanbic Bank, GTB and general public take note..

I formerly known and addressed as MR. SULE AKINJIDE. Now wish to be known and addressed as MR SULE BABAJIDE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly known and addressed as Ifeanyichukwu Emmanuel Uwazie now wish to be known and addressed as Uwezie Boniface Maduwuba. All former document remain valid, First bank Nigeria Ltd and General public to take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Mrs Omoboja Sunday now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Omoboja Apotieri. All former documents remain valid. General public take note

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as miss Lawal Esther Kehinde now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Fasina Esther Kehinde. All former documents remain valid . Ogun SUBEB and genenal public take note

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and called as Miss Abdulazeem Khadijat now wish to be addressed and called as Mrs Fasasi Khadijat. All former documents remain valid, general public should please take note.

I, Formerly known and addressed as MISS ABDUL RAHEEM SULIAT ADEBOLA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. AZEEZ SULIAT ADEBOLA. All former documents remain valid; National Youths Service Corp (NYSC), general public should please take note

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Miss Lawal Adijat Arinola now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Tijani Adijat Arinola. All former documents remain valid. Nysc and General public take note CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as miss Edun Gbemisola Foluke now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Adewale Gbemisola Foluke all former documents remain valid . Federal Polytechnic, ilaro and genenal public take note

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly addressed and known as Miss Adegbulugbe Fadeke Salewa now wish to be known and called as Mrs Deitan Fadeke Salewa. All former documents remain valid, general public should please take note.

PUBLIC NOTICE THE RETIRED CUSTOM OFFICERS AND MEN ASSOCIATION PLATEAU STATE This is to notify the general public that the above named Organization has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part ‘C’ of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 1990 THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1 Gotip Gideon Ezra - 2. Bahal Ponfa Rudyard 3. Bitrus Wurim 4. Dr. Thomas V. Anpe 5. Allahbura Iliyasu Yakubu 6. Sefiatu Mohammed 7. Helen Odufuwa

Chairman

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To foster unity and progress amongst all retirees. 2. To promote, pursue and sustain the welfare of all members. 3. To liaise with the Nigerian custom Services in areas of common interest, goals and objectives. 4. To assist in the pursuance of benefits and other needs of members as provided in the constitution 5. To promote development policies, programmes and projects for the good of all retirees of the Nigeria Custom Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the RegistrarGeneral Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within twenty-eight (28) days of this publication SIGNED: Chairman

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly known and addressed as AKPOBIYE OFIYAI and TAMARABRAKEME DIYEPREYE, now wish to be known and addressed as GORDON OFIYAI. All former documents remain valid. Authorities of Richrock Martine Security of Legistics Limited, UBA Bank and General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Adebola Adeyemi is the same person known as Adebola Adeyemi Ganiyu, Adebola Adeyemi Adegboyega now wish to be known and addressed as Adebola Adeyemi Ganiyu Adegboyega. All former documents remain valid. Nigerian Port Authority and General public take note

CHANGE OF NAME

ABIOLA: I formerly known and addressed as ABIOLA TRACY BABALOLA, now wish to be known and addressed as ABIOLA TRACY AYELABGE. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly Miss JACINTA EJIRO OGHENEDE wish to be known and addressed as MRS JACINTA EJIRO ZION. All former documents remain valid, National examination council NECO, Minna and general public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

‎SANI: FORMERLY known and addressed as SA’IDU SANI NOW wish to be known and addressed as SANI SA’IDU. All former documents remain valid. ECOBANK PLC and General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I FORMERLY KNOWN AS BLESSING EZEIGBO LOVE UCHE NOW WISH TO BE ADDRESS AS ONUELUWA LOVE EZEIGBO. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC TAKE NOTE.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, Formerly known and addressed as MISS OYEBADE ADEREMI, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. OLASUPO ADEREMI. All former documents remain valid; National Youths Service Corp (NYSC), general public should please take note.

I, Formerly known and addressed as MISS ODERINDE BUSAYO KEHINDE, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. ADEROGBA BUSAYO KEHINDE. All former documents remain valid, general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Miss Gbadebo Modupe Taibat now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Eweje Modupe Taibat. All former documents remain valid. General public take note

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Akinsanya Taofik Abiola now wish to be known and called as Akinsanya Timothy Abiola. All former documents remain valid, general public should please take note

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Badmus Abiola now wish to be called and known as Gbadamosi Abiola Waheed. All former documents remain valid, Access Bank Plc and general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Doherty Yeside Tolulope now wish to be known and addressed as Adenaike Emmanuella Tolulope. All former documents remain valid. General public take note

Formerly known and addressed as Akin Adaramola Adeola Anike now wish to be known and addressed as Amigun Adaramola Adeola Anike. All former documents remain valid, general public should please take note

Formerly addressed and known as Miss Hammed Mujidat Asunke now wish to be addressed and known as Mrs Akanmu Mujidat Asunke. All former documents remain valid, general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known as Adeyemi Abibulahi Akorede now wants to be addressed as Adeyemi Adesile Adelaja. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

Formerly known as Adeyemi Abibulahi Akorede now wants to be addressed as Adeyemi Adesile Adelaja. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note. CHANGE OF NAME FOLASADE: I formerly known and addressed as ODEYEMI RAFIAT FOLASADE, now wish to be known and addressed as MUSTAPHA RAFIAT FOLASADE.. All former documents remains valid, The General Public. Please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Esuabom Ashinedu Grace, now wish to be known and addressed as Nduka Ashinedu Grace. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

AKPAN: I formerly known and addressed as ENO JOHN AKPAN, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS ENO BASSEY AKPAN. All former documents remains valid, The General Public. Please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as OLAJIDE OLUMIDE EMMANUEL, now wish to be known and addressed as FADAYINI OLUMIDE EMMANUEL. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly known, called and addressed as ROMEO JOHN OGHORODI, now wish to be known, called and addressed as BROWNE COLEMAN CHRISTIAN. All former documents a remain valid. General public and Authorities concerned should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as SANTOS ALBERT FOLAREMI AJONGBOLA Now wish to be known and addressed as PRINCESS FOLAREMI AJONGBOLA JENFA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly Miss Ayegbusi Mercy Funke now to be addressed as Mrs. Alabi Mercy Funke. All former documents remain valid, Skye bank PLC ado Ekiti and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

IFEANYI : FORMERLY known and addressed as UBAKAMMA ERIC IFEANYI NOW wish to be known and addressed as FRIDAY NWODON . All former documents remain valid. UBA, ECOBANK and General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

NAZIRU : Formerly known and addressed as NAZIRU SALE NOW wish to be known and addressed as NAZIRU MOHAMMED. All former documents remain valid. FIRST BANK and General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly known and addressed as EDJERUME FRANCIS, now wish to be known and addressed as OGHENERUME FRANCIS. All former documents remainvalid. Banks and General public should please take note.

CORRECTION OF NAME

I hereby notify the General public that my name was wrongly written as Adewole Christian Orisomaye instead of Adewole Christian Orishomayae. All former documents remain valid. Zenith Bank, Federal Polytechnic, oko and General public take note

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly Miss Boladale Adeyemi now to be addressed as Mrs. Boladale Stephen-Amzat. All former documents remain valid, general public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

ESTHER : FORMERLY known and addressed as MISS ESTHER IFY UKAH NOW wish to be known and addressed as MRS ESTHER IFY OPARAH . All former documents remain valid. FMI, NSCDC and General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

‎SALAWU: Formerly known and addressed as HUZZAIN SALAUDEEN RIJAU NOW wish to be known and addressed as HUSSAINI SALAWU RIJAU. All my relevant documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly known and addressed as Aisha Mohammed Babayo now wish to be known and addressed as Aisha Sani Adamu, all former document remain valid, general public to take note.

I formerly known and addressed as Iwerebor Dorcas Nkem now wish to be known and addressed as Rapheal Dorcas Nkem, all former document remain valid, Union Bank of Nigeria and general public to take note.

I, Formerly known and addressed as MISS ONAYEMI OLUWATOSIN ALICE, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. LAWAL OLUWATOSIN AYO. All former documents remain valid, general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME I, Formerly known and addressed as OCHE ALEX, now wish to be known and addressed as OCHE ALEX OCHAI. All former documents remain valid; First Bank Plc, general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Mr Alkasim Hamisu Ibrahim now wish to be known and addressed as Mr Nura Inuwa Usman. All former documents remain valid . General public take note.

Formerly known and addressed as miss Olamileyin Monsurat Ayodele now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Olorunnisomo Monsurat Ayodele. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Miss Makinwa Victoria Oluranti now wish to be called and addressed as Mrs Faniyi Victoria Oluranti. All former documents remain valid, general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly called and known as Miss Oyerinde Nasirat Oyeyemi now wish to be addressed and known as Mrs Imran Nasirat Oyeyemi. All former documents remain valid, general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

This is to inform the general public that due to marriage rites duely settled, I formerly known and addressed as MISS VIVIAN EBIO UMOH now wish to be known and addressed as MRS VIVIAN IMABONG OSAYANDE. All former documents remained valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as AYOELE OLUFUNMI TEMITOPE, now wish to be known and addressed as AYODELE OLUWAFUNMILOLA TOPE. All former documents remain valid; First Bank Plc, FCMB, general public should please take note

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as OLUDOLAMU JEREMIAH ABIOLA, now wish to be known and addressed as OLUDOLAMU JEREMIAH ADERIBIGBE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly addressed and known as Miss Owoseni Omolola Aishat now wish to be called and addressed as Mrs Adegoke Aishat Owoseni. All former documents remain valid, general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Miss Adeeyo Sulaehat Aderonke now wish to be known and called as Mrs Ajao Sulaehat Aderonke. All former documents remain valid, general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly Known and address as miss akinola mulikat.now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs oluwabusuyi mulikat.all former documents remain valid.Ijero local government and general public to take note..

CHANGE OF NAME

ZUBAIR: FORMERLY known and addressed as ZUBAIR OYIZA HABIBATU NOW wish to be known and addressed as ZUBAIR OYIZA HABIBAT. All my relevant documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as UMEDIOHA LAWRETTA NWADIOZO, now wish to be known and addressed as OBIEGBULEM LAWRETTA NWADIOZO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as OSHO TAIYE , now wish to be known and addressed as OSHO KEHINDE TOPE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Babatunde Victoria Adeola, now wish to be known and addressed as Jimoh Victoria Adeola. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

OWOICHO: I, formerly known and addressed as OWOICHO RAPHEAL AMEH, now wish to be known, called and addressed as ANDREW ODEH OKPACHU. All former documents remain valid. General public and Authorities Concerned should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as MAGDALENE YEMISI IWOJE LAWAL, now wish to be known and addressed as MAGDALENE YEMISI IWOJE ONIME. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Steven Ikechukwu, now wish to be known and addressed as Stephen Ikechukwu Pascal. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

EZEKIEL: I, formerly known and addressed as EZEKIEL COMFORT ABIODUN, now wish to be known, called and addressed as OBIJE ABIODUN COMFORT. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as MISS. AMAIHE JOY, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. EKEBOR JOY former documents remain valid. General public take note.

Formerly known and addressed as Amusat Kamorudeen Ademola, now wish to be known and addressed as Amusat Kamoru Ademola. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

Formerly known and addressed as John Saratu Samaila, now wish to be known and addressed as Saratu Yohanna. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CORRECTION OF NAME This is to inform the public that my name was mistakenly written as Akinjobi Pauline Abidemi instead of Akinjobi Paulina Abidemi. that henceforth i wish to be known and addressed as AKINJOBI PAULINA ABIDEMI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Thomas Thona Maria, now wish to be known and addressed as Irokosu Thona Maria. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME This is to confirm that SODIQ AYOBAMIDELE OPEYEMI is the same person as SODIQ BAMIDELE OLAYINKA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as PETER SIMON, now wish to be known and addressed as UTOBO SIMON. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

OBAZE: I, formerly known and addressed as OBAZE ELIZABETH UWADIEGWU, now wish to be known, called and addressed as AJIBADE ELIZABETH .U. OBAZE. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

WAHEED: I, formerly known and addressed as MS WAHEED BOLANLE SAKIRAT, now wish to be known, called and addressed as MRS. OLALEYE BOLANLE SAKIRAT. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

HAMMED: I, formerly known and addressed as HAMMED TIJANI HAZEEN, now wish to be known, called and addressed as AHMED IBRAHIM. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

ADEOYE: I, formerly known and addressed as ADEOYE RAFIAT MOTUNRAYO, now wish to be known, called and addressed as MRS. BELLO SHERIF RAFIAT MOTUNRAYO. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

formerly known and addressed as oluwaseun idowu mesioye now which to be known and addressed as oluwaseun idowu ogunbi.all former documents remain valid. banks and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly Miss Olayiwola Abosede Victoria now Ogunlade Victoria Jumoke Abosede. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note CHANGE OF NAME

AUGUSTINE: I formerly known and addressed as AUGUSTINE AYOUNIWE OGOH, now wish to be known and addressed as AUSTINE AYOUNIWE OGOH. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

GARBA: I formerly known, called and addressed as ABUABAKAR GARBA GARBA, now wish to be known, called and addressed as NUHU ABUBAKAR SULAIMAN. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I Formerly known and addressed as MISS EZIHE KELECHI LILIAN, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS MICHAEL KELECHI LILIAN. All former document remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

EZE: Formerly known and addressed as Eze Bianca now wish to be known and addressed as Eze Eucharia. My correct date of birth is 23/7/1979 as against 23/7/1978. All former documents remain valid. General public take note

AUCTION!

NWEKE FRANKLIN EJIKE SAME PERSON AS NWEKE FRANK IFES NOW Which TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS NWEKE FRANKLIN EJIKE. DOCUMENTS BEARING FORMER NAMES REMAIN VALID AND.GENERAL PUBLIC TAKE NOTE

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as miss Temiotan Temidayo Ruth now which to be known and addressed as Mrs Dada Temidayo Ruth all former documents remain valid NYSC and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS BISKILA JAMES NOW BISKILA ZODI. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD TAKE NOTE.

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly known and addressed as Miss AJIBOLA MODUPE now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs ADELEKE MODUPE. All former documents remain valid, general public should take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

ADEBISI: Formerly known and addressed as ADEBISI FOLASHADE MODUPE now wish to be known and addressed as OPADIRAN FOLASHADE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note

CHANGE OF NAME

OSENI: Formerly known and addressed as Oseni Adekola Adebare now wish to be known and addressed as Oseni Adekola Waliu. All former documents remain valid. General public take note

PUBLIC NOTICE AUCTION !!

AUCTIO!!!

There will be a Public Auction and Clearances of various CARS, JEEPS. DATE:

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 26, 2016

VENUE:

OPEN PLOT AT CIPM AVENUE

TIME:

Wednesday, February 24, 2016

10am. Prompt

Beside INSTITUTE OF TOWN PLANNERS Beside LAGOS STATE BOARD OF INTERNAL REVENUE BUILDING. Directly Opposite Lagos State Secretariat Mosque Alausa Ikeja, Lagos.

AUCTIONEER AROGUNDADE TEL: 08033323101, 08029222246

NNAMANI CYPRAIN MMADUABUCHI WRONGLY WRITTEN AS NNAMANI CYPRAIN MMADUCHI NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN & ADDR. AS NNAMANI CYPRAIN MMADUABUCHI. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID AND GENERALPUBLIC TAKE NOTE.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as miss Adetunbo Mosunmola Alaba now which to be known and addressed as Mrs Kuku Mosunmola Alaba, all former documents remain valid Ministry of Health Abeokuta Ogun state ,TASUED and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS IDRIS MOHAMMED NOW IDI MOHAMMED. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD TAKE NOTE.

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly known and addressed as Miss ONAYEMI MARY ABOSEDE now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs ADEOYE MARY ABOSEDE. All former documents remain valid, general public should take note. CHANGE OF NAME

JACOB: Formerly known and addressed as Jacob Olayinka Hamer now wish to be known and addressed as Sanni Segun Olayinka All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

OGUNREMI: Formerly known and addressed as Ogunremi Kolawole now wish to be known and addressed as Collins Kola Gabriel. All former documents remain valid. General public take note

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known as Miss Akinbinu Sileola Clara now Mrs Akingunola Sileola Clara. All former documents remain valid ,general public take note

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly Esther Olaitan now wish to be addressed as Esther Micheal All former documents remain valid. Keystone Bank,Mechanised Salary Section and general public take note CHANGE OF NAME

OBUTE: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS OBUTE CHIOMA LILIAN, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS EZEH CHIOMA LILIAN. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

IYERE: I, formerly known and addressed as IYERE OJIAYELIA FRED, now wish to be known, called and addressed as IYERE OJIAYELIA FREDRICK. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

This is to confirm that PRINCE SOPURUCHI UWAOMA is the same person bearing SOPURUCHI UWAOMA IHEJIRIKA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

MOMODU: I, formerly known and addressed as SALAMOTU AKONEFUA MOMODU, now wish to be known, called and addressed as SALAMOTU MUHAMMED. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

ALEX: I, formerly known and addressed as RUTH ALEX, now wish to be known, called and addressed as RUTH AIDELOJE. All former documents remain valid. General public and Authorities Concerned should please take note.

THOMAS: I, formerly known and addressed as IBIKUNLE OLANREWAJU THOMAS, now wish to be known, called and addressed as ADENIRAN ISMAILA TEMITOPE. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MISS OYENUGA TITILAYO ADEBOWALE NOW WHICH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MRS ODUWOLE TITILAYO ADEBOWALE. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID AND GENERAL PUBLIC TAKE NOTE.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as miss Oyelana Damilola Gbemisola now which to be known and addressed as Mrs Moshood Damilola Gbemisola Aminat. All former documents remain valid NYSC and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

VICTORIA RAPHAEL SAME PERSON AS JANET RAPHAEL NOW WHICH TO BE KNOWN & ADDR AS RAPHAEL VICTORIA JANET. DOCS.BEARING FORMER NAMES REMAIN VALID AND.GENERAL PUBLIC TAKE NOTE.

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

ADAOBI: Formerly known and addressed as Adaobi Ezerioha Herieth now wish to be known and addressed as Adaobi Agu Herieth. All former documents remain valid. General public take note

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly Olabisi

known

Funbi

Miss

now

Mrs

Olabanji Funbi. All former documents

remain

valid

,general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

ADINDU: I, formerly known and addressed as ADINDU ISIAGU, now wish to be known and addressed as IKECHUKWU BENJAMIN ISIAGU. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

A G B E D O A N YA E N E : I , formerly known and addressed as AGBEDOANYAENE CHUKWUNONSO, now wish to be known and addressed as AGBEDO CHUKA .P. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as miss Raheem Barakat Opeyemi now which to be known and addressed as Mrs Kuku Raheem Barakat Opeyemi all former documents remain valid and general public take note. Formerly known and addressed as miss Adetayo Olusola Kafayat now which to be known and addressed as Mrs Bamidele Olusola Kafayat all former documents remain valid and general public take note.

SAMUEL : FORMERLY known and addressed as JAMES SAMUEL NOW wish to be known and addressed as ASOGWA SAMUEL OKECHUKWU. All my relevant documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

ALONGE: Formerly known and addressed as Alonge Olusegun John now wish to be known and addressed as Alonge Oluwasegun John. All former documents remain valid. General public take note

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly known and addressed as OKEKE NGOZI JECINTA now wish to be known and addressed as OKEKE NGOZI NWEKE. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

Formerly known and addressed as miss Kehinde Baliqis Olorode now which to be known and addressed as Mrs KehindeOlorode Baliqis Dada all former documents remain valid and general public take note.

I FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS KWENDO GWADAMASI ADAMU NOW ADAMU GWADA KWENDO. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD TAKE NOTE.

I formerly known and addressed as ADELEKE GRACE now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs AJIBADE GRACE. All former documents remain valid, general public should take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly known as miss Ojo Mariam Olabisi now wish to be known, called and addressed as MRS ADEBIYI MARIAM OLABISI . All former documents remain valid.SUBEB and General public take note.

MUHAMMED: This is to confirm that MUHAMMED MUSA BATURE and MUSA MUHAMMED MUHAMMED refer to one and same person.now wish to be known and addressed as MUSA MUHAMMED MUHAMMED All documents reflecting any of the Stated names remain valid and should be treated as one person. Banks and the general public take note

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

This is to confirm that I Ogunlana Nofisat Olabisi is the same and one person as Odewale Nofisat and Odewale Nofisat Abiodun. All former documents with these names remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

OLAITAN: Formerly known and addressed as OLAITAN MOJIROLA NURAT now wish to be known and addressed as AJISHIAN MOJIROLA NURAT. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known as Godwin Ekoko Ujerekre now wish to be addressed as Godwin Ekoko Oshare.All former documents remain valid,general public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

UGWOKE:I, formerly known and addressed as MISS UGWOKE RITA NGOZI, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS UGWU MARTH. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

EZE: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS EZE NKECHINYERE FAVOUR, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS MATHEW NKECHINYERE FAVOUR. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

Muhammed Danladi Garba is the same person as Muhammed Garba now which to be known and addressed as Muhammed Danladi Garba all former documents remain valid Banks and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly known and addressed as OGUNLEYE DAMILOLA JOKE Now wish to be known and addressed as OSADEBE NKEMDILIM NKECH. All former documents remain valid Banks and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Nwariri Onyealisi Darlington now wish to be known and addressed as Chukwunyeremaka Onyealisi Darlington. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CORRECTION OF NAME

I TURU BIRIBOMOWEI AUSTINE that i registered my name with the Eco Bank Plc as Turu Augustine instead of TURU BIRIBOMOWEI AUSTINE. Henceforth my correct name is TURU BIRIBOMOWEI AUSTINE. All former documents remain valid. Eco Bank Plc and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly Loveday Chinaedu Anyanwu now wish to be known as Loveday Iherorochi Anyanwu.All former documents remain valid,general public take note CHANGE OF NAME

NJOKU: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS NJOKU MAUREEN CHINENYE, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS OTTAH MAUREEN CHINENYE. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

NWAGWU: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS NWAGWU MIRIAN NJIDEKA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS NJIDEKA CHUKWUKA BOSAH. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

Wednesday, February 24, 2016

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly known and addressed as Blessing Emanuel, Now wish to be known and addressed as Blessing Oritsemolebi. All former documents remain valid. General public take note

ADDITION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

This is to confirm that l, Eze Samuel Sunday Blessed is the same person as Sunday Samuel. Existing Documents remain valid. General public take note

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME This is to inform the general public that I, IGWE CHIKEZIE JUDE. am the same and one person known as IGWE CHIKE JUDE. All former documents remain valid. General please take note.

That I was formerly known and addressed as SUNDAY KAKPO that I now wish to add DANSSOU to my former name that I now wish to be known and as SUNDAY KAKPO DANSSOU. All former documents remain valid. Banks and general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as Mr KAZEEM AHMAD LANRE now wish to be known and addressed as Mr KAZEEM HAMAD LANRE. All former documents remain valid, general public should take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as AJIBOLA DAYO TIMI, now wish to be known and addressed as DAVID TIMI DAYO. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I formerly known and addressed as Ezekiel Oluwajide David, Now wish to be known and addressed as Ezekiel Oluwajide Ojedeji David. All former documents remain valid. General public take note

CHANGE OF NAME

This is to confirm and certify that UDEH BERNARD UGWU and ONYEJIUWAKA UDEH BERNARD refer to one and the same person, now wish to be known and addressed as UDEH BERNARD ONYEJIUWAKA. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

NWODO: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS NWODO CHINENYE DEBORAH, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS OGBODO CHINENYE DEBORAH. All former documents remain valid General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Miss Awolope Bukola Toyin now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ajigbon Bukola Toyin. All former documents remain valid. SKYE BANK plc,Ekiti State Teaching Service commission and General public take note.

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Ojetola Tosin Mary, Now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Busola Ogunsanya . All former documents remain valid. General public take note

I FORMERLY KNOWN AS MISS ANTHONIA NWAKAEGO JAMES NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AS MRS ANTHONIA NWAKAEGO ADEREMI. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID GENERAL PUBLIC TAKE NOTE.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Adesipe Shade , now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Dorcas Folashade Okekoya IBRAHIM . All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Edet Gregory Etim, now wish to be known and addressed as Edet Edet Etim. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

Formerly known and addressed as RAHEEM ADEWUMI RASHEEDAT, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. ADERIBIGBE ADEWUMI RASHEEDAT. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Olalude Tosin Fatimat, now wish to be known and addressed as Olutayo Tosin Fatimat. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

Formerly known and addressed as Miss SHOYEMI MUINAT GBEMISOLA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS, FAGBEMIDE SHOYEMI MUINAT GBEMISOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

ADEBISI: Formerly known and addressed as ADEBISI FOLASHADE MODUPE now wish to be known and addressed as OPADIRAN FOLASHADE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note

Formerly known and addressed as Akanbi Omowunmi Rashidat, now Yussuf Omowunmi Rasheedat. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

ADAOBI: Formerly known and addressed as Adaobi Ezerioha Herieth now wish to be known and addressed as Adaobi Agu Herieth. All former documents remain valid. General public take note

CONFIRMATION OF NAME This is to inform the general public that I, MOSES TUNBOSUN MICHAEL is the same person bearing OGUNDULU TUNBOSUN MOSES MICHAEL . All documents bearing both names remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly known and addressed as SULAIMAN AYINDE LUKMON now wish to be known and addressed as SULAIMAN OLATUNDE LUKMON. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

Formerly known and addressed as Olalude Oluwakemi Abiodun, now wish to be known and addressed as Olaniyan Oluwakemi Abiodun. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as CHUKWU JACINTA UZOMA now wish to be known and addressed as OBASIANI JACINTA UZOMA. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Miss ORIOLA AYOTOMIWA SELIMOT, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. IBRAHIM FAEDOT AYOTOMIWA. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note. CORRECTION OF DATE OF BIRTH

I OKEKE JULIUS hereby state that my date of birth is 01-011988, and not 16-08-1982. All former documents remain valid. WAEC and the general public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

JACOB: Formerly known and addressed as Jacob Olayinka Hamer now wish to be known and addressed as Sanni Segun Olayinka All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

ALONGE: Formerly known and addressed as Alonge Olusegun John now wish to be known and addressed as Alonge Oluwasegun John. All former documents remain valid. General public take note

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME N WA C H U K W U : F o r m e r l y known and addressed as MRS NWACHUKWU BLESSING now wish to be known and addressed as MRS PATRICK BLESSING CHIMA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

OLAITAN: Formerly known and addressed as OLAITAN MOJIROLA NURAT now wish to be known and addressed as AJISHIAN MOJIROLA NURAT. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

PUBLIC NOTICE OAKLAND MUTUAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION This is to inform the general public that the above named Association has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja for registration under part ‘C of the Companies and Allied Matters Act. No 1 of 1990 as NGO for the community health insurance of its members. THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Dominic Nnaemeka Okechukwu 2. Roseline Elele Okechukwu 3. Andrew Abu 4. Ibrahim Tanko Abdullahi 5. Nkeiruka KK Betram Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja, within 28 days of this publication. Signed: Dr. Okechukwu Dominic Nnaemeka

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

NUJ condemns assault on journalists Chris Njoku Owerri

igeria Union of Journalists, NUJ Imo State council, yesterday condemned the brutal attack on three journalists last weekend in Owerri by men of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, and Federal

CHANGE OF NAME

SHERIFAT: Formerly known and addressed as SHERIFAT FOLAKE TIJANI now wish to be known and addressed as SHERIFAT FOLAKE SANNI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note

CHANGE OF NAME

BAKARE: I, formerly known and addressed as BAKARE AZEEZAT ORIYOMI, now wish to be known, called and addressed as ALEEM AZEEZAT ORIYOMI. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed Miss Saffron Nneka Munonye, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Saffron Nneka Imolode. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Miss ADEJOKE ABIMBOLA NKPEJI, now wish to be known and as Mrs. ADEJOKE ABIMBOLA SADIKU. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Nanjul Caleb, now wish to be known and addressed as Dennis Musa. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note. CORRECTION OF DATE OF BIRTH

I MADUMERE IKENNA ALLWELL hereby state that my date of birth is 07-07-1991, and not 01-07-1992. All former documents remain valid. WAEC and the general public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

MUHAMMED:Formerly known and addressed as MISS MUHAMMED MAIMUNAT now wish to be known and addressed as MRS MUHAMMED MAIMUNAT.All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

PUBLIC NOTICE

Road Safety Commission, FRSC. A statement signed by the state chairman, Sir Innocent Igwe, noted that the incident should have been amicably resolved on the spot but for unwarranted, excessive and abusive use of force by the officers involved. “NUJ views the incident and the brutality meted on the

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as ALI PETER CHUKWUMA. now wish to be known and addressed as ALI PETER CHUKS. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note. CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Miss. EBUBECHUKWU JACINTA ONYENWEH, now wants to be known as Mrs. EBUBECHUKWU JACINTA IFOH. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Augustine Imegwu, now wish to be known and addressed as Augustine Abraham. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as AKANWA CHIDIEBERE now wish to be known and addressed as AKANWA CHIDIEBERE PRINCEWILL. All former documents remain valid general public take note

CHANGE OF NAME

OSENI: Formerly known and addressed as Oseni Adekola Adebare now wish to be known and addressed as Oseni Adekola Waliu. All former documents remain valid. General public take note

journalists, Nnamdi Okonya of Silverbird TV, Tope Kuteyi of Channels TV and Obioma Oburuoga of AIT whose offence was that they prevailed on the FRSC men on vehicles’ check to release a car carrying a woman in labour to the hospital in order to avert a possible human casualty, as most uncalled for and profoundly embarrassing.”

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as YISAU KABIRU DOLAPO, now wish to be known and addressed as AMOLE KABIRU DOLAPO. All former documents remain valid. ECO BANK, STANBIC IBTC, zenith Bank and general public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Miss. KEHINDE UCHE NWAOBODO, now wants to be known as Mrs. KEHINDE UCHE AKINMOLAYAN. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Aliasau Abimbola Idowu, now wish to be known and addressed as Yusuf Abimbola Idowu. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note. CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as MADUMERE IKENNA now wish to be known and addressed as MADUMERE IKENNA ALLWELL. All former documents remain valid general public take note

CHANGE OF NAME

OGUNREMI: Formerly known and addressed as Ogunremi Kolawole now wish to be known and addressed as Collins Kola Gabriel. All former documents remain valid. General public take note

PUBLIC NOTICE

NOTICE! NOTICE!! NOTICE!!! This is to inform the general public that BUILDSKILL GLOBAL MULTISERVICES LTD located at No. 4 Alhaji Kareem Estate, Adeniyi Jones, Lagos and No. 16 Akinremi Street, Anifowose, Ikeja, Lagos is a Health Management/Maintenance organization whose members of staff are official partners of Golden Neo-Life Diamite (GNLD). No form of invitation by members of staff of the organization should be regarded as job scams. Any information to the contrary should be discountenanced and legal action would be brought against persons for any false correspondences or allegations against the organization. SIGNED: BUILDSKILL GLOBAL MULTISERVICES LTD MANAGEMENT

PUBLIC NOTICE

LOSS OF TITLE DOCUMENT

Notice is hereby given to the general public that the Original Deed of Indenture registered No 55 at page 55, in volume 852 of the Register of Deeds kept at the Lagos State Lands Registry, Alausa, Ikeja Lagos, belonging to Alhaji Musibau Abimbola Abina (Deceased) is missing, and all efforts to recover same has proved abortive.

Notice is hereby given to the general public that the Original Deed of Indenture registered No 7 at page 7, in volume 363 of the Register of Deeds kept at the Lagos State Lands Registry, Alausa, Ikeja Lagos, belonging to Alhaji Musibau Abimbola Abina (Deceased) is missing, and all efforts to recover same has proved abortive.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Aliuna Godwin Abakaliki

bonyi State House of Assembly yesterday petitioned President Muhammadu Buhari over the alleged beheading and killings of citizens by the people of Agila in Benue State. The call followed a matter of urgent public importance brought before the floor of the house during plenary on Tuesday by member representing Ohaukwu north constituency, Frank Onwe. He had disclosed that three weeks ago, two members of Ukwagba community were killed and their bodies mutilated by warriors suspected to be working for Agila people.

South South /S. East

Wednesday, February 24, 2016

Ebonyi Assembly petitions Buhari over citizens killed in Benue

According to him, “My people have been attacked severally and jointly by Agila people, killing, maiming and destroying their farm lands which provide their means of livelihood with impunity and without much resistance. “These incessant attacks had always been carried out by Agila people who are believed to be ex-service men considering the artistry and dexterity with which they handle the arms they use against my people such as AK47, SMG and at times,

hand grenades on defenseless and unsuspecting Ugwagba people each time they go to their farms. “About three weeks ago, two of my constituents, Stephen Eze and Augustine Onwe Nwede, who voted for me and our party PDP, at the last general elections were ambushed on their farm, brutally and barbarically murdered, beheaded and bodies mutilated. The pel-

lets found on the spot of the incident showed the bullets were fired from a highly sophisticated rifle as confirmed by the Nigeria Police, Ebonyi State command when they visited the area.” He called on Federal Government through the National Boundary Commission, NBC, to immediately intervene on the ongoing boundary crisis between the people of Uk-

wagba-Ngbo in Ohaukwu local government area of Ebonyi State. It was gathered that the boundary crisis started since 1920 and is presumed to be the oldest communal war in Nigeria. Onwe further noted that several attempts have been made to bring about peace in the area between the two communities but the process had always

been allegedly truncated by Agila people. The House after deliberation on the matter called on the state and federal governments as a matter of urgency, to direct the NBC to immediately move in and demarcate the boundary to stop further killings and maimings of the people, as no group, community or state would want the extinction of the other.

4 feared killed as soldiers, militants clash in Rivers Dennis Naku

Port Harcourt

wo soldiers and two suspected militants were feared killed during a gun battle in Yeghe, Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State yesterday. A group of soldiers had on Monday night, raided the residence of a former militant leader, Solomon Ndigbara, also known as Osama Bin Laden, even as some gunmen suspected to be supporters of the ex-warlord engaged the soldiers in crossfire. Ndigbara’s house in Gokana and the campaign office of All Progressives Congress, APC, senatorial candidate for Rivers South East, Senator Magnus Abe, in Khana were touched during the crisis. Sources said apart from the four persons that were killed, many others were injured, while some residents have deserted the area. The shooting was said to have forced the closure of Ken Saro-Wiwa Polytechnic in Bori, traditional headquarter of Ogoniland. A student of the school, who identified herself simply as Favour, said they were told that the polytechnic was on “indefinite lecture-free day” Meanwhile, Paramount Ruler of Yeghe Community, His Royal Highness, Chief Mene Baridam, has condemned the killing of two soldiers and other innocent Ogonis in Bori and Yeghe. Baridam, who spoke through a statement signed

by his aide, Mr. Konfidence Ati expressed worry over the destruction of property belonging to Ogoni people. He appealed to the Chief of Army Staff and the Rivers State Government to intervene in the crisis, even as he described Ogoniland as peaceful and should not be turned to a war zone. It was, however, gathered that some persons, who were travelling from Port Harcourt to Gokana, Khana and other neighbouring Ogoni communities, were forced to go back due to the heavy shooting. Reacting, 2 Brigade of the Nigerian Army in Port Harcourt told our correspondent that no life was lost in the ongoing operations. Also, the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has called on all residents of Khana and Gokana Local Government Areas, who fled as a result of military presence in the area, to return to their homes. Wike explained that the heavy military presence in the area was targetted at protecting security of lives and property and not to harm law abiding residents. In a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Electronic Media, Mr. Simeon Nwakaudu, the governor assured the people of their safety. He pointed out that his administration would always enhance the security of all residents of the state and appealed to the people of Khana and Gokana Local Government Areas to cooperate with security agencies to maintain law and order.

L-R: Programme Director, Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in Niger Delta, Mr Dara Akala; Minister of Niger Delta, Mr. Usani Uguru Usani and Chairman, Presidential Amnesty Programme, Brigadier General Paul Boroh (rtd), during the Niger Delta Way Forward, from Stabilisation to Sustainable Development Forum in Abuja yesterday. PHOTO: ROTIMI OSASONA

Imo re-run: APC seeks overhaul of INEC

…accuses Ekweremadu, Iwu of plot to rig Chris Njoku Owerri

ll Progressives Congress, APC in Imo State yesterday accused Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC and some chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP of perfecting plan to rig the postponed re-run election in the state. The APC also called for total overhaul of the commission as currently constituted in the state. The INEC postponed the re-run election following mass protest by supporters of APC over alleged transfer of some electoral officers a day to the earlier fixed date, February 20. Briefing newsmen in

Owerri, APC candidate for Imo North Senatorial election, Benjamin Uwajumogu, alleged plan by PDP chieftains in collaboration with INEC officials to rig the election in favour of his opponent, Senator Ethan Achonu of PDP, stressing that INEC officials originally positioned to conduct the poll were suddenly changed a day to d-day. He also alleged that Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu and former INEC National chairman, Prof. Maurice Iwu, had already imported 75 thugs from Enugu State who they designated as collation officers in a bid to use them to rig the election. The former speaker, Imo State House of As-

sembly therefore called for complete overhaul of INEC as presently constituted in the state, saying the commission since 2011 had never conducted a free and fair election in the state. Uwajumogu, who won House of Assembly election in 2011 under PDP platform, maintained that INEC had never conducted a free and fair election, “except where the candidate had worked hard to protect his votes. “The truth is as it stands today; INEC is an appendage of PDP and should be overhauled for any meaningful election to take place in the state. “INEC must also explain why they kept on changing officials even two days to the planned election.”

Explaining why they staged a protest that necessitated postponement of the election, Uwajumogu said by Friday preceding the election day, INEC had changed six Electoral Officers, EOs and brought in “one notorious PDP master-rigger who conducted Rivers State election as INEC operations officer. “It was at this point that we staged the protest,” he pointed out, saying that if INEC is not over hauled that there would be no election in Okigwe zone. “We will make it impossible for election to hold in the zone if INEC as currently constituted in the state is not over hauled to weed all the bad eggs in the commission,” he warned.

North

Wednesday, February 24, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Land grabbing: Ishaku suspends 7 chiefs JUSTIN TYOPUUSU JALINGO

L-R: Plateau Commissioner for Education, Mr Alex Joseph; National President, All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS), Dr Fatima Abdulrahman, and representative of the Governor of Plateau, Prof. Soni Tyoden, during the National Executive Council meeting of ANCOPSS, in Jos yesterday.

Impeachment of Kogi Speaker unconstitutional —Reps GEORGE OPARA ABUJA

ouse of Representatives led by speaker Yakubu Dogara has dismissed the purported impeachment of Alhaji Momoh Jimoh, embattled speaker, Kogi State House of Assembly, as unconstitutional. Dogara, therefore, constituted a high powered 10-man committee of the house to ascertain the causes of the purported impeachment with the aim to restore sanity and normalcy in the state legislature. Deputy chief whip of the house, Pally Iriase, was detailed to led the delegation that has as members Nnenna Ukaeje, Gyang Pwajok, Sunday Adepoju, Bassey Ewa, Haliru Chika,

Obinna Chidioka, Zakari Mohammed, Dasuki Abdulsamad and Jimoh Olajide. This development came yesterday on the heels of Hon. Karimi Sunday’s motion representing Yagba east/Yagba west/Mopamuro federal constituency of Kogi state under matter of urgent public importance titled ‘Motion on the illegality in removal of speaker of the Kogi State House of Assembly’. It would be recalled that there was a recent upheaval in Kogi legislature which degenerated to the purported impeachment of its embattled speaker on Tuesday, February 16. The house has a total of 25 members, five of which had their elections nullified at the court of appeal, and the Independent Na-

tional Electoral Commission, INEC, is yet to conduct fresh election in the affected state constituencies. Thus, the house as presently constituted comprises 20 legitimate and functional members which indicates that two-third of the house is about 13 members. And this legal requirement was not met. But Majority Leader of the house, Femi Gbajabiamila, with not a few lawmakers has condemned the Kogi legislative action in its totality. He said, ‘I am not interested in the prevailing politics but the rule of law, democracy and justice. And APC will not tolerate the same impunity it had condemned.” Other lawmakers saw the ugly episode as unconstitu-

tional, void and of no effect whatsoever. Amidst the nebulous political situation, the 15 disaffected lawmakers also alleged that it was Governor Yahaya Bello who instigated and railroaded the illegal impeachment to pave way for one of his cronies to be imposed as speaker. Reports reliably gathered also showed that the political brouhaha has even deepened as the affected majority lawmakers were allegedly prevented from entering the state assembly complex while armed police officers under the directive of the governor, led by ACP David Dantata, reportedly invaded the embattled speaker’s official residence and towed away his official vehicles and other personal chattels.

ards with inscriptions such as ‘Primary School Teachers are Human beings’. ‘We say No to 35 percent Payment of Salary’. ‘Governor Bello has not approved percentage payment for Teachers.’ While the protest was going on, it was gathered that the police shot repeatedly into air to disperse the protestors. While scampering for safety, many of the agitators fell and were injured which further infuriated them, insisting they must receive 100 percent salary payment. National Mirror gath-

ered that the Education Secretary of Yagba West had earlier invited the NUT leaders in the local council and informed them of plan to pay 35 percent of their salary. This did not go down well with the NUT leaders who reported back to their members, agreeing on yesterday’s protest to show their disgust over the government plan. Spokesperson of the teachers, Pastor Andrew Ige, told journalists at OdoEre yesterday that their demonstration was to make their suffering known to the

public. Ige explained that the meeting with council chairman did not yield positive result. According to him, the council was reluctant in paying them their full salary but ready to pay political appointees 100 per cent emolument. This, he noted did not go well with the primary teachers in the local government. “Majority of teachers are getting tired of the situation as many cannot pay their children’s school fees, they can’t feed their families well or even afford basic needs of life any longer,” he stressed.

Kogi primary school teachers protest over salary WALE IBRAHIM LOKOJA

rimary school teachers in Yagba West local government area of Kogi State yesterday rejected the bid by the council to pay them 35 percent salary against Governor Yahaya Bello’s directives. The teachers in their hundreds had gathered at the local government secretariat at Odo-Ere to protest the plan to pay 35 per cent salary, agitating for the payment of their full salary. The protesters chanted war songs, carrying plac-

overnor Darius Ishaku of Taraba State yesterday suspended four district heads and three village heads from Bali and Gassol local government areas for allegedly sabotaging his peace efforts. The governor, who said the decision was taken based on security report available to him, explained that the chiefs had embarked on indiscriminate selling of lands belonging to persons displaced by internal crisis in the state. Ishaku said the chiefs had been encouraging the influx of migrants from other North-East and North West states into the state, especially in Bali and Gassol local councils, by allocating land belonging to internally displaced persons, IDPs, mainly to stop them from returning to their homes. “This development has given rise to spate of arm

robbery, cattle rustling, kidnapping and other criminal activities in the state. “The actions of the chiefs have become very worrisome given that my administration has been battling to resettle the IDPs and promote peaceful coexistence among people of the state and I cannot fold my hands and watch this trend continue,” he stated. Those suspended from Bakundi chiefdom in Bali local government included the district heads of Kungana, Takalafiya, Maihula and the village head of Sabon Dale, while in Gassol chiefdom, the district heads of Tella and the village heads of Sandirde and Taka were also affected by the threemonth suspension. National Mirror recalls that there has been massive influx of people into Taraba in recent times, a development that made Senator Emmanuel Bwacha representing Taraba South to raise a motion over security concerns about the massive influx of people into the state.

Malnutrition didn’t kill 450 displaced children —Borno INUSA NDAHI MAIDUGURI

orno State government has debunked media report that 450 children of between one and five years living in the 28 designated internally displaced persons, IDPs camps in the state died as a result of malnutrition in 2015. It would be recalled that Executive Director of the Borno Emergency Management Agency, Dr. Sule Mele, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Sunday in Maiduguri had allegedly been misquoted. But Commissioner of Health, Dr. Haruna Mshelia, at a press briefing in his office at Musa Usman Secretariat on Tuesday said contrary to reports, statistics showed that a total of 54,000 children under age 5 were recorded in all the resettlement camps, in which 98 children (1.5%) who suffered severe cases of malnutrition died last year. He however admitted that from December to January 2015, a total average of 450 deaths was recorded across the camps as a result of common causes such as malaria,

diarrhea, pneumonia, measles and malnutrition. Mshelia noted that all children under five years living at IDP camps were screened every 2-3 months for evidence of malnutrition, meaning a child could be screened up to four times in a year. He said in 2015, over 200,000 children were screened, out of which 6,444 were found to be severely malnourished and therefore treated through Community Management of Acute Malnutrition, CMAM, and Infant & Young Child Feeding, IYCF, programmes of the State Primary Health Care Development Agency, SPHCDA, and as well supported by Nutrition Programme Support Partners like UNICEF, Save the Children, SC, Action Against Hunger, AAH, among others. He however noted that the National Demographic and Health Survey Data (NDHS- 2013) reveals that even the North East that had suffered much due to insurgency, has an under-five mortality rate of 160 deaths per 1,000, second only to the North West with 185 deaths per 1,000 population.

Wednesday, February 24, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sport

Seve (Ballesteros) – the greatest thing to come out of Spain since a painting by Picasso that made sense –Dan Jenkins

Lulu, Ogunjobi, others fail to stop corruption charge

...trial begins March 9 Marcus Fatunmole Abuja

ormer President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Alhaji Sani Lulu Abdullahi, and a former first Vice President of the NFF, Chief Taiwo Ogunjobi, have lost their bid to evade trial over corruption allegations brought against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Both accused will consequently face trial alongside other fellow accused, a former Executive Committee member, Amanze Uchegbulam and NFF former SecretaryGeneral, Dr. Bolaji Ojo-Oba, for allegedly misappropriating over N1.5billion released by the Federal Government to the NFF for South Africa 2010 World Cup which the country participated in. A statement made available to National Mirror by Head, Media and Publicity of the EFCC yesterday, Wilson Uwujaren, said Justice E. S. Chukwu of the Federal High Court sitting in Maitama,

Siasia

Olympic Football

Nigeria know opponents on April 14

…Siasia bemoans lack of funds to start camping Everest Onyewuchi and Joel Ajayi

igeria’s U-23 men’s team coached by Samson Siasia will know their opponents for the Rio 2016 Olympics Football Event when the draw is held on April 14. FIFA said in a statement yesterday, that the iconic Maracana stadium will host the draw for the Olympic Football Tournaments on that date, with the the men’s and women’s finals for the gold medal scheduled to hold on August 19 and August 20 respectively. Nigeria did not qualify for the women’s tournament.

The 16 teams in the men’s tournament, including hosts Brazil and 2012 champions, Mexico, will be drawn into four groups, and the 12 women’s teams, including hosts Brazil and 2012 champions, USA, will be drawn into three groups. Just one spot remains in the men’s tournament, with Colombia and USA playing off in March to complete the line-up. In the women’s tournament, the final five teams to qualify will all be known by March 9, 2016. Meanwhile, Nigeria’s coach, Siasia, is sad that his Olympic Games preparations have not taken off as sched-

uled. Answering questions from journalists in Abuja yesterday, Siasia expressed disappointment that the programme could not take off last week due to lack of funds. Asked when his programme will start, the former Super Eagles manager replied, “Well, I don’t know yet because NFF is working directly with the National Sports Commission. “We are trying to get where to stay for now. We want to start camping, that is why I have been here all day. “Because we have this game in Brazil and we don’t want to miss it. We want to

send invitations to players that is why I am here to explain to them that if we miss the FIFA window we would not be able to see the guys that want to see. “I want to see players like Arsenal’s Alex Iwobi and Liverpool’s Seyi Ojo, but I am afraid their teams may be reluctant to release them.” Siasia added, “Hopefully, we will start before the end of the week. We ought to have started last week.” National Mirror learnt that the friendly games between the Nigeria’s U-23 team and Brazil is scheduled for March 24 and 28th on the invitation of the Brazilians.

last Monday in Abuja dismissed the “no-case-submission” filed by Lulu and others, and ordered that he and his co-accused face trial. “They were explicitly accused of siphoning about $125,000 through shoddy hotel bookings in South Africa during the 2010 World Cup, $250,000 lost as a result of booking the wrong airline for the trip, $400,000 allegedly expended on the Nigeria/Colombia friendly match and $236, 000 which vanished from the coffers of the Glass House in 2009. “Lulu and his co-accused among other things, were also accused of flouting due process in the purchase of two Marcopolo buses for the national teams as well as sharing of N185million amongst state chairmen of the Nigerian Football Association (NFA), in their futile bid to frustrate their ouster from the football house,” part of the release said. The anti-graft agency noted that the accused had since their arraignment employed all means “known to law to frustrate their trial as they jointly filed a “no case submission” through their lawyers, but was strongly opposed by counsel to EFCC, Titus O. Ashaolu, SAN.” It added that Justice Chukwu, while dismissing the application, said the defendants were bound by the Public Procurement Act and as such should defend themselves in the charges levelled against them by the EFCC. EFCC quoted the judge as saying the NFF statute is not an Act of the National Assembly but it must be subject to the laws of Nigeria. “This is particularly in a case where the money being expended is tax payers’ money and not one of a limited liability company. “The provision of Section 60 of the Public Procurement Act (PPA) covers NFF and having said that, it followed that all the defendants are bound by the provision of the PPA,” the judge was quoted further as saying. The case has been adjourned to March 9, this year for the accused persons to open their defence, according to the release.

NPFL Fixtures

Rangers vs Plateau Utd W. Tourists vs Heartland Abia Warriors vs El-Kanemi Lobi Stars vs Sunshine MFM vs Rivers United Tornadoes Vs Giwa FC

WORLD RECORD

Most baked beans eaten in five minutes Vol. 05 No. 1313

Wednesday, February 24, 2016

N150

The most baked beans eaten with a cocktail stick in five minutes is 271 and was achieved by Ashrita Fur man (USA) in Jamaica, New York, USA, on 11 August 2014.

Who stole PDP’s thinking cap?

hen many thought the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is ticking the right boxes for 2019, the party leadership came up with something unique. There appear to be a drama series never in want of acts and scenes with its peculiar dramatis personae as professional politicians or “garrison commanders”. When one is left to think that one event is at anti-climax, another event within same plot is in ‘raising action’. The question on the minds of the audience is: When will this film come to an end? Since its shock defeat in the March 28, 2015 presidential election, the party is still licking its wounds. Will the party ever be able to play the role of the opposition? Will it just self-destruct or seek a merger with other political parties to challenge its bitter

Guest Columnist

Olalekan W. Adigun

rival, the All Progressives Congress (APC)? Should it change its name to a more acceptable one that Nigerians will easily identify with? All these are the questions bordering the post-2015 PDP. Sometimes last January, Ali Gulak, political adviser to former President Goodluck Jonathan, stormed the Wadata Plaza, National Secretariat of the party and declared self the national chairman. Many thought things could only get messier as a court declared that any politician from the North East geopolitical zone could take over the office of national chairman, meaning Uche Secondus was occupying the position illegally. No one then needed to tell Mr. Secondus that his romance with the title “acting national chairman” was over! On Tuesday February 17, we received the much-awaited news of who to occupy the exalted position. It was surprisingly former Governor Ali Modu Sheriff of Borno State. I had to run multiple tests just to be sure of the authenticity of the news! On the same day, the blogosphere was filled with information of a man “accused of sponsoring Boko Haram” as being “unanimously nominated as the substantive national chairman” of Nigeria’s largest opposition party. I came across a post on Twitter by a known PDP supporter, who maintains that Modu’s appointment is a “good strategic decision”. My first instinct on reading his tweet was to know if this man knows what constitutes a “good strategic decision” at all in relation to Sheriff ’s

THERE APPEAR TO BE A DRAMA SERIES NEVER IN WANT OF

ACTS AND SCENES… appointment. My best guess about the “good strategic decision” PDP made about Modu Sheriff is probably based on the assumption of his political and financial prowess. Some of Modu’s supporters recall his experience as a two-term Borno State governor and his understanding of the politics of the North East as an important advantage the party may capitalize on in 2019. These people also maintain that considering the financial challenges the party may be facing, Modu appears to be the “game-changer”. While on the surface, these two positions may look potent, let us be quick to register our reservations. First, the PDP looks to be making the same mistake again. The case of Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, a former governor of Kano in 2014 should be instructive in this regard. With the way the party leadership celebrated (including President Jonathan’s famous “Azonto” dance), when he defected from APC one will think the state was already in the bag. Second, one also recalls how the party overestimated the political prowess of people like Musiliu Obanikoro, who promised to “deliver Lagos” and groups like Afenifere, which

Sport Extra Prince Ali wants FIFA presidential vote suspended

awyers for FIFA presidential candidate, Prince Ali bin al-Hussein, say they have made an official request for Friday’s election to be suspended. PrinceAli,40,isunhappywith voting arrangements and has ap-

pealed to the Court of Arbitration forSport(CAS). According to BBC Sport, the Jordanian wants transparent voting booths to ensure the election is fair and open, but world football’s election commission rejected the request.

Yesterday,CAS said it will rule on Prince Ali’s appeal by tomorrowmorning. Prince Ali is one of five contenderslookingtosucceedbanned Swiss,SeppBlatter. HeisupagainstSouthAfrican businessman, Tokyo Sexwale,

Asian Football Confederation president, Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al-Khalifa, former FIFA deputy general secretary, Jerome Champagne and UEFA general secretary,GianniInfantino. Ali wants to ensure delegates do not photograph

promised to deliver Yoruba votes in 2015 to the party. If the result of the recent Borno elections are anything to go by, we may not be too far from correct to think the party is still overrating some politicians. The rest, as they say, is history! For the records, the situation the party finds itself today is not new. The party will not be the first to lose its “priced possession”, neither will it be the last. So no one should continue weeping for, or lose sleep over that for the party. The PDP has to be able to weather the storms; so it must work extra hard, if not harder, and go the extra mile to maintain its only one thing left – its brand. For the purpose of this piece, we will look at a brand as an image or feature that suddenly comes to mind when a product, service or idea is mentioned. We may also try to see it – in the traditional sense – as a name, design, symbol or distinguishing feature that sets a product or service apart. Giving these two definitions, can we say the PDP needs a brand? If the party’s brand must be worked on, then whatever the party strategists were thinking about before appointing Modu Sheriff as national chairman needed some thorough analyses. It was Chief Olisa Metuh, incidentally the same man who accused the APC in 2014 of housing sponsors of Boko Haram, was the man who reportedly made the muchawaited announcement. Metuh said: “However, the peculiar trend of the Nigerian version…summarizes a well-considered agenda of national destabilization for a purely selfish political cause. We pointedly finger the opposition.” And the evidence for that pointed fingering is: “we recall statements by some politicians, vowing to make the country ungovernable for President Jonathan on the eve of the 2011 general election.” To be concluded Adigun, a political risk analyst and strategist, wrote via olalekan@olalekanadigun.com and can be followed on twitter: @adgorwell

their ballot papers when they choose the next president. He believes transparent booths would prevent them from doing so and thus avoid coming under pressure to produce evidence of their vote to interested parties.

Prince Ali

Printed and published by Global Media Mirror Limited: Head Office, Mirror House, 155/161 Broad Street Lagos; Abuja Office: NICON House, Central Business District Area, Abuja. Email:mail@ nationalmirroronline.net. MD/CEO: Sunday Olajide: 08060852080; Acting Editor Daily: Ben Memuletiwon 08050498541; Adverts Hotline: 07066178740. ISSN 0794-232X.