February 9, 2016 by GLOBAL MEDIA MIRROR LIMITED

Court refuses Dasuki’s application to stop criminal charges Doosuur Iwambe, Abuja

Dasuki

ustice Hussein BabaYusuf of the High Court of Federal Capital Territory, yester-

day, refused an application filed by embattled former National Security Adviser, NSA, Col. Sambo Dasuki, seeking to discharge him from criminal charges brought against him by

Ekiti teachers begin strike over unpaid salaries, gratuities

the Federal Government.

Justice Baba-Yusuf, while delivering ruling on Dasuki’s request, held that the action of one government agency Continued on Page 2>>

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Tariff hike

Labour shuts down Discos nationwide

...accuses Fashola of conspiracy to fleece Nigerians •We’ll not support any anti-people policy –Saraki Our reporters

rganised labour, comprising the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Trade Union Congress, TUC, and civil society organisations, yesterday, paralysed activities in nearly all offices of the Electricity Distribution Companies, Discos, nationwide, following its protest over increase in electricity tariff. The unions also accused Power, Works and Housing Minister, Mr. Babatunde Continued on Page 2>>

NLC and TUC protesting the new electricity tariff increment in Lagos, yesterday.

Okonjo-Iweala under probe –EFCC

PHOTO: SAMUEL ADETIMEHIN

...as anti-graft war moves to petroleum sector

Father of slain Lowo, husband of Ibadan-based lawyer, dies

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TSA recoveries to reduce budget 2016 deficit –Adeosun P.4

N34bn theft: Court directs security agencies to arrest Tompolo

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Labour shuts down Discos nationwide CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Fashola, of conspiring with the DisCos to increase the tariff. Protesters, led by labour leaders in states, picketed the companies in compliance to the directive of the labour unions NLC President, Ayuba Wabba, and his TUC counterpart, Kaigama Bobboi, led protesters numbering over 5,000 to shut down business activities in the Central Business District, CBD, area of Abuja, as the peaceful protest laced with biting innuendos against the government, lasted. The Federal Government had last week announced a 45 per cent increase in electricity tariff, a move described by labour unions as anti-people, particularly in the face of perennial power outage. Some of the offices the protesters besieged to register their displeasure over the new tariff include Abuja Electricity Development Company, AEDC, Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, and National Assembly. Most of the speakers during the 5-hour protest argued that emerging policies of government, in which Nigerians were unduly taxed, especially for inadequate electricity, was a deliberate, and a well orchestrated plan to fleece the masses. Speaking at the NERC headquarters, Wabba accused Fashola of conspiring with the DisCos to hike the price and inflict more hardship on Nigerians. According to him, President Muhammadu Buhari should, as a matter of urgency, review the privatisation in the power sector, as it was obvious that corruption was also embedded in the process. His words: “Comrades, how can we in this hard economic situation allow a situation where the tariff will be increased with about 65 per cent on the average. We would not allow a situation where few will collaborate, including our Minister of Power, Works and Housing, to fleece Nigerians. We are really disappointed by his alleged role in the new electricity deal. We wrote many letters to him, but did not even respond to any of them. “This is outrageous; why is it not possible to make metres available many months after the companies have been privatised. This is part of the extended corruption that Mr. President must fight headlong.

L-R: Former Commonwealth Secretary-General, Chief Emeka Anyaoku; National President, The Bible Society of Nigeria,Dr. Aaron Nuhu; former President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo; Charman, Fidson Healthcare, Elder Felix Ohiwerei and former Head of State, Dr. Yakubu Gowon, at the 50th anniversary of The Bible Society of Nigeria on Bring Good Tidings in Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN “In other spheres, people pay for what they have consumed and therefore the issue of estimated billing should stop from today. Any Nigerian that is given estimated billing should not pay, that is the position of NLC.” He also described as shameful the fact that NERC, a government owned regulatory agency that was supposed to protect the interest of electricity consumers, would also give nod to such an outrageous increment. Kagiama said labour had unanimously agreed to continue the protest until government rescinds the hike. He added that if peaceful protest would not be enough to convene government, the

entire labour force would shut down NERC. Kagiama, who lamented the ineffectiveness of NERC since 2014 when power privatisation took place, said government should take steps to appoint a substantive board for the commission. While receiving the protesters at the National Assembly, Senate President, Bukola Saraki assured that the 8th Assembly would not support any policy aimed at inflicting pains on Nigerians. According to him, the National Assembly had observed that the new tariff would not be in the best interest of electricity consumers, stressing that the Senate had once summoned NERC

leadership with a view to arriving at a common ground. He said: “I want to assure you that the 8th National Assembly is for the people. Even before now, we have observed that this issue of tariff increase and some of the policies were not palatable. We have summoned the NERC even before now. “We are with you, we will stand 77 with you and ensure that no policy will in any way exist that is not palatable to the Nigerian people. Yes, we all want power, yes, we want improvement, but not at the detriment of the masses. There must be consultations because we are here at your instance.” In Borno, the state chapter of NLC and Civil Society Organisations, described

the increase as illegal, unjustifiable and a move to further exploit Nigerians. Addressing the management of Yola Electricity Distribution Company, YEDC, in Maiduguri; after a peaceful street protest, NLC chairman, Ali Titus Abana, said Nigerian workers had rejected the electricity tariff for five reasons, including lack of due process to implement such hike. In Bauchi, labour unions picketed the office of Jos Electricity Distribution, JED, company. The union members arrived JED office very early in the morning and shut the gate to prevent workers from having access to their office. Workers, who came early

left when they saw the protesting labour unions. Ogun State chapter of NLC picketed the Abeokuta and Sagamu offices of Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company, IBEDC. Armed with placards bearing different inscriptions, the visibly angry protesters, who in their hundreds were led by Akeem Ambali (NLC), Olubunmi Fajobi (TUC), and CDHR state chairman, Yinka Folarin, as well as the state chairman of Electricity Consumers’ Protection Forum, Adedayo Komolafe, barricaded the main entrance to IBEDC offices located along the Moshood Abiola Way in Abeokuta Continued on Page 5>>

Court refuses Dasuki’s application to stop criminal charges CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

could not be attributed to the other. He said agencies were a creation of the constitution but with different laws guiding their operations and functions. “The argument of counsel to the 1st defendant that the Federal Government should be held liable for the actions of its agencies does not interest me. “The two agencies (EFCC and DSS) have separate identities and personalities vested in them. “Having come to the conclusion that the complainant in this case

(Federal Government) is not in contempt of my order of December 18, 2015, it is my view that this application filed on behalf of the 1st defendant (Dasuki) does not have any merit and I hereby dismiss it,” Justice Baba-Yusuf declared. It would be recalled that Dasuki, in an application brought before the court by his counsel, Joseph Daudu, SAN, had urged Justice Baba-Yusuf to prohibit the Federal Government from further prosecuting him or further seeking any indulgence from the court until his bail was allowed to be enjoyed.

Daudu had premised his arguments on the fact that Justice BabaYusuf had on December 18 last year, granted Dasuki bail and that after perfecting the bail conditions on December 29, he was re-arrested on the order of the Federal Government and taken to the custody of the Department of the State Service, DSS. The defence counsel also asked Justice BabaYusuf to discharge Dasuki of all the offences contained in the charge against him on the ground that he could not be lawfully prosecuted by the Federal Government, having been in

contempt of court. He said since Dasuki was re-arrested on December 29, he had since been kept away from his lawyers and family members. The counsel therefore urged the court to compel the Federal Government to obey the bail conditions granted Dasuki and allow him to enjoy the liberty of freedom in line with the law that presumed him innocent until contrary was proved. While opposing the motion, counsel to the Federal Government, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, informed the judge that the motion was an abuse

of court process because there was no evidence to the effect that the accused was re-arrested by EFCC. Rotimi, who is representing EFCC in the instant case, disclosed that it was the DSS, another arm of the security agencies of government that re-arrested Dasuki on the ground that they were investigating him on other offences. He advised Dasuki to evoke section 46 of the constitution and institute a civil action to challenge his arrest and enforce his fundamental right to liberty.

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Tuesday, February 9, 2016

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Tuesday, February 9, 2016

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L-R; Kwara State Chief Judge, Justice Sulaiman Kawu; Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed; Deputy Governor Peter Kisra and Deputy Speaker, Kwara State House of Assembly, Hon. Mathew Okedare, during the commissioning of Kwara State Internal Revenue Service Office in Ilorin, yesterday.

L-R: Representative of Inspector-General of Police, CP Samuel Ogunjemilusi; husband of Force Medical Officer, Chief Sonny Okudo; Force Medical Officer, AIG Grace Okudo, and former Force Medical Officer, AIG Emeka Okeke, during the send-forth of the Force Medical Officer, AIG Grace Okudo, in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

L-R: Acting Executive Secretary, Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), Dr. Orji Ogbonnaya Orji; Chairperson of Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), Mr. Fredrik Reinfeldt and EITI Deputy Head, Mr. Eddie Rich, during the meeting of EITI’s delegation with Neiti’s boss, in Abuja, yesterday.

L-R: Country Director, Concern Universal Nigeria, Mr. Tim Connell; Programme Officer, Integrated Water Resource Management, OXFAM Nigeria, Mr. Eyong Sunday; Managing Director, Guinness Nigeria Plc, Mr Peter Ndegwa and Country Representative, WaterAid Nigeria, Dr. Michael Ojo, at a media briefing on their partnership on Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) programme in Lagos, yesterday.

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TSA recoveries will partly close budget 2016 deficit gap –Adeosun Tola Akinmutimi

ederal Government yesterday hinted that the quantum of borrowed funds to finance this year’s budget deficit may not be as huge as earlier projected given the recoveries made so far through the implementation of the Treasury Single Account, TSA. Making the disclosure during a one-day TSA workshop for states’ Accountants-General in Abuja, Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, explained that indications from the implementation of the TSA showed that loopholes already covered will narrow the funding gap, with N2.2trn balance seen in the account after payments. The minister said a study had been initiated in the Office of the

Accountant General of the Federation with a view to determining how much of these funds can be utilised to part fund the 2016 budget and how much relates to pending commitments. She pointed out that this clearly indicated that the underlying assumptions underpinning the 2016 budget may only be realised with serious emphasis being placed on revenue efficiencies and expenditure discipline such as the implementation of the TSA and Cash Management concepts by all tiers of government. On the benefits of the TSA policy measure, Adeosun said the concept had provided complete and timely information on government cash resources, improved operational control on budget execution; enabled efficient cash management; reduced bank fees and

transaction costs, facilitated efficient payment mechanisms, thereby reducing government’s ways and means requirement to bridge the budget funding gap. According to her, TSA will also help improve project completion times and service delivery since it will reduce payment delays to contractors, minimise late payment penalties. “TSA has provided us with financial information on the revenues of agencies funded by government and has reduced revenue suppression. This information is being used to drive our programme to enforce compliance with the Fiscal Responsibility Act and ensure that revenue generating agencies generate expected surpluses and remit to the federal purse. “TSA has eliminated opportunities for broker-

age and other corrupt practices that previously encouraged agencies to accumulate funds with commercial banks rather than apply them to their intended uses. “We believe this will reduce payment delays to contractors, minimise late payment penalties and will consequently improve project completion times and service delivery. “TSA has corrected the practice of government borrowing short term funds at high rates of interest, whilst simul-

taneously having idle funds in various bank accounts. “By reducing the number of accounts in operation, monitoring and control has significantly improved,” Adeosun added. The minister urged state governments to embrace the fiscal option and implement the TSA in view of its far-reaching benefits in terms of blockage of all financial leakages and conservation of funds required for development at the sub-national levels.

Despite the benefits of the concept, the minister pointed out that its implementation had not been free from some challenges, including poor computerisation, lack of skilled and dedicated employees, corruption, lack of awareness and unpatriotic conduct by some of the operators. Adeosun however promised that government would do the needful to tackle the challenges frontally in order to consolidate on its key achievements for national development.

PDP shifts NEC meeting to next week

eoples Democratic Party, PDP, said it has shifted the planned meetings by its key statutory organs earlier scheduled for this week to next week. The party said the shift was necessitated as a result of requests by its critical stakehold-

ers and leaders. National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, in a statement yesterday said: “In the new schedule, the meeting of the National Caucus of the party has been shifted to Monday, February 15th, 2016 at 7pm.

“In the same vein, the meeting of the Board of Trustees (BoT) will now hold on the morning of Tuesday, February 16th while the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting will hold at 2pm on the same Tuesday, February 16th, 2016.”

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Tuesday, February 9, 2016

Okonjo-Iweala under probe –EFCC George Opara, Abuja

cting Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Mustapha Magu, yesterday disclosed that former Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi OkonjoIweala, was being investigated by the Commission.

Magu, who appeared before the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Financial Crimes, also said the ongoing anti-graft war would soon move to the petroleum and other sectors of the economy. In this wise, the EFCC boss said former Petroleum Minister, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, is also being investigated. Also being investigated is Kola Aluko. Aluko has been described as a close associate of Allison-Madueke, and there were allegation that he helped in siphoning money out of the country. Magu, who was in the House to defend last year’s budget performance and the 2016 budget proposals of the anti-graft agency was responding to a question asked by a member of the committee, Razak Atunwa. The lawmaker, representing Kwara State on the ticket of the All Progressives Congress, APC, had asked the EFCC boss if both Okonjo-Iweala and Alison-Madueke were among those being investigated. Confirming the lawmaker’s question, Maku said: “Very soon, we will go into the petroleum industry. “We have to build capacity, we have to bring in experts to enable us tackle what we are doing properly and the investigation must be conducted properly. We have internal lawyers and external lawyers, we have to pay insurance.” There have been calls for both ministers to be investigated, especially in the area of fuel subsidy, which has allegedly been a monumental fraud.

Magu, in his presentation, also drew the attention of the committee members to a recommendation by the Federal Ministry of Budget and Planning to slash the agency’s overhead cost for 2016 from N2.9 billion to N1.3 billion, which represents a shortfall of N1.6 billion or 116 per cent. He said doing so would adversely affect the prosecution of the ongoing war against corruption. He listed the areas to be affected by the budget slash to include investigative activities, manpower development and maintenance of logistics. The EFCC boss, who added that the commission was not unaware of the dwindling oil revenue and the Federal Government’s commitment to reduce recurrent expenditure, however called on the National Assembly to consider the approval of an additional N500 million for the agency in order to aid its operational activities. “More sectors of the economy may come under investigative activities during the year,” he said. He also highlighted the challenges facing EFCC to include space constraints as a result of the inability to complete the permanent headquarters, high rent, dearth of adequate manpower and operational vehicles. He said the commission achieved about 91 per cent of its 2015 approved budget with only about 9 per cent shortfall. Magu also craved the support of the National Assembly in the planned recruitment of additional 750 personnel of different cadres for the agency in 2016 in order to create core staff as most staff were on secondment presently. Earlier, chairman of the committee, Kayode Oladele, assured of the legislature’s readiness to assist EFCC to achieve its mandate.

L-R: Global Head, Oil and Gas, Standard Chartered Bank, Mr. Peter Gaw; Group Executive Director, Finance and Services, NNPC, Isiaka Abdulrazaq; Head, Energy and Chemicals - Africa and Middle East, Mr. Ade Adeola and Group Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer, United Bank for Africa Plc, Mr. Phillips Oduoza, during the presentation of Thomson Reuters /PFI Magazine “Africa and Middle East Oil Deal of the Year to the Joint Finance Team (JFT) of NNPC, Chevron, UBA and Standard Chartered in London, recently.

Labour shuts down Discos nationwide CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

and the one in Sagamu where they prevented personnel from gaining access into their offices. The protesters had earlier taken their protest to markets and some major areas of the town to sensitize the public on the need to kick against the tariff. In Katsina State NLC also picketed the office of Kano Electricity Distribution Company, KEDCO. The workers, who converged on the NLC head office at Sabon Layi Road, moved in a large group to picket the office. Speaking during the demonstration, state NLC chairman, Tanimu Saulawa, faulted the hike, saying it went against government’s effort to revamp the economy. In Lagos, Ikeja Electric, IE, was picketed for over three hours by organised labour. The protesters blocked the main entrance of the company and prevented customers from gaining access. Chanting solidarity songs, the protesters had marched from Allen on Awolowo Way, Ikeja, down to Alausa. Vice President, NLC, Amaechi Asugwuni, said the tariff increment negated the present economic hardship, saying it was an attempt to further impoverish the poor masses. Chief Finance Officer, Ikeja Electric, Aigbe Olotu, described the labour’s action as misplacement of

priority, saying the company was not in the right position to resolve the labour’s grievances as the Ministry of Power and National Electricity Regulatory Commission were involved. Coordinator, Consumer Protection Forum, Adeola Samuel-Ilori, stated that the organisation had engaged distribution companies several times on the issue of estimated billing without result, saying if the DisCos were able to metre all Nigerians within the 18 months gestation period, the problem of estimation billing would have been solved. In Plateau State, protesters urged Federal Government to beam its anticorruption searchlight on the power sector and investigate the activities of the DisCos. The labour unions also vowed to engage in mass action, which will cripple activities in the energy sector should they continue with the high tariff. The protesters picketed the head office of JED, even as the state chairman of NLC, Jubril Bancir, lamented the estimated bills given to customers. “DisCos staff will not go to read any metre, they will just sit in the comfort of their offices and speculate and send you bills that you cannot afford to pay,” he said. Ekiti State chairman of TUC, Odunayo Adesoye, and his counterpart in NLC, Ade Adesanmi, led the organised labour to

seal off the situation office and building of Benin Electricity Distribution Company, BEDC, in Ado Ekiti and slammed the DisCos over arbitrary charges and extortion. In Oyo State, NLC and TUC members as well as civil society organisations in their hundreds stormed the streets of Ibadan in protest against tariff increase. The three major offices of IBEDC, including the Ring Road, Ibadan headquarters, were picketed by the protesters. The protest commenced as early as 8 a.m. from Monatan to Dugbe and ended at the headquarters of IBEDC, Ring Road, Ibadan. IBEDC staff could not wait to witness the picketing as all fled their offices. The protesters included market men and women, students, artisans, and members of transport unions. The atmosphere was tense as the protest affected business activities in some parts of the city. At the head office of Enugu Electricity Distribution Company, EEDC, in Imo State, protesters, as early as 7 a.m., padlocked the gate to the company, preventing entry into the premises. At the office located at No. 1, Royce Road, a banner with the inscription, “Organised labour says no to hike in electricity tariff; provide us with prepaid metres, not estimated bills”, was tied to the gate. Austin Chilakpu, state

NLC chairman, said the reason for the action was to make known their displeasure over the hike in electricity tariff. In Calabar, Cross River State, NLC locked out workers of the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company, PHEDC. Chairman of NLC in the state, Mr. John Ushie, said the action became necessary in order to stop the uncompromising attitude of the distribution companies towards the plight of Nigerians. According to him, allowing the hike will cause more hardship and increase the spate of criminality in the country. Meanwhile, NERC said existing electricity tariff order which became operational on February1was carried out after wide consultation with different shades of opinion, and in strict compliance with extant rules and judicial pronouncements. The clarification was made known by NERC’s Head, Public Affairs Department, Dr. Usman Abba Arabi, in a statement. In the statement, NERC said that while it would restrain itself from delving into a matter already before the court, it had taken note of the protest by NLC. “In this regard, the Commission hereby states that it is committed to act in the best interest of electricity customers and all stakeholders in the development of the electricity industry,” the statement said.

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PIB: NASS won’t wait for presidency, says Dogara Ubong Ukpong ABUJA

ouse of Representatives Speaker, Hon Yakubu Dogara, yesterday, said the National Assembly would no longer wait for President Muhammadu Buhari to transmit the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, but would proceed to introduce a new version. This followed perceived delay by the President to transmit the all-important bill that was said to be the antidote to corruption in oil sector. A statement by his media

aide, Turaki Hassan, further disclosed plans to commence debate on the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiatives, NEITI’s audit report. Dogara said these were in line with the need for urgency in reforming the nation’s oil and gas sector. The Speaker, who made this known while receiving the International Board of Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative, EITI, and the Nigerian Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative, NEITI, at the National Assembly on Monday, also said the bill, which has gone

into its final stages, would be given expeditious consideration on the floor of the two chambers of the National Assembly. Dogara also informed the delegation that in line with the resolve of the House of Representatives to fully work with President Muhammadu Buhari to implement reforms in the oil, gas and mining sectors, the House is giving them priority attention in legislative business. “We have repeatedly, especially my humble self, have repeatedly called on the executive to present reform

proposals in the petroleum sector. However, we may not continue to wait for an executive bill on this subject matter as we are prepared to introduce the National Assembly's version; what we believe should be the legal framework for the oil and gas sector in Nigeria. “We cannot continue to take the blame for non passage of the petroleum reform legislation in Nigeria. As I speak with you, work on our own version has reached advanced stage and hopefully, we hope to introduce it in both chambers of the National Assembly. If it

happens that the executive transmits its own version of its vision of the oil sector, we have ample provision in the House Rules to merge the two together. We will not continue to wait.” He said the legislature is determined to ensure that resource curse syndrome is reversed in the country as a situation where there is so much poverty in the midst of abundant resources is unacceptable. Expressing the desire of the House to partner with EITI, Dogara said starting from the first quarter of this year, the House would begin the consideration and debate of the NEITI’s Extractive Industry audit report on the floor of the House as this

will help to actualise the 8th Assembly's desire to be more thorough with its oversight functions, especially in the oil and gas sectors. He further directed the Committees on Petroleum (Upstream) and Rules and Business to introduce and scheduled the report for debate before the end of this quarter. Earlier, the Acting Executive Secretary of NEITI, Mr Orji Ogbannaya Orji, who accompanied the incoming chairman of EITI and former Prime Minister of Sweden, Mr Fedrick Reinfeldt, stressed the need to fight the resource curse the country is presently faced with, which is the sole purpose for which the agency was created.

Germany President, Joachim visits Ambode

.... Says Germany will help Nigeria fight terrorism Francis Suberu

G L-R: Deputy Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Mrs Sarah Alade; Federal Minister of industry Trade and Investment, Mr. Okey Enelamah; CEO, Nigeria Leadership Initiative, Mr Yinka Oyinlola and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, during the Vice President's meeting with senior fellows of Nigeria Leadership Initiative in Abuja, yesterday.

Transparency, key to managing Nigeria's resources —Osinbajo Rotimi Fadeyi ABUJA

cting President Yemi Osinbajo, yesterday, said it was important for the country to manage its resources by ensuring transparency and good governance. Osinbajo said transparency, especially in the extractive industry was a critical pillar of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration. The Acting President spoke when he met with a delegation of the global body - Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, NEITI. Osinbajo said, “One of the objectives we have set for ourselves is to ensure

that we are transparent and able to handle our resources well.” He said as a nation, we have learnt our lesson, stressing that going forward the government would work in a transparent manner and generate more revenues. He stated that as a government, the Buhari administration was determined to work with NEITI to ensure good governance and ways of generating more revenues and keep proper accounts. On the issue of the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, Osinbajo assured that government was working with the National Assembly to get the PIB passed into law. Earlier, the in-coming global Chairman of EITI, Mr. Fredrik Reinfeldt, a for-

mer Prime Minister of Sweden, commended Nigeria’s commitment to the EITI process. According to him, he has been following the restructuring of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, and other developments in the oil sector. Also yesterday, Osinbajo received a delegation from Nigeria Leadership Initiative, NLI, class of 2015 and the Nigerian Institute of Legislative Studies, NILS. He told the NLIS delegation that considering the extent of effort required to address the socio-economic impact of the insurgency in the North East, Nigerians with the required capacity should partner with different agencies of government

to rehabilitate and rebuild the area. While commending the class for its work, he said the group should go further and play more active role beyond making a documentary submission. In his remarks, Enelamah informed Osinbajo on the proposed documentary project of the group, which focuses on the humanitarian crisis in the North East as a collective issue rather than government concern alone. During his meeting with the NILS, the Acting President expressed government readiness to support the work of the Institute, stating that the institute plays a prominent role in the legislative arm of government.

erman President, Mr. Joachim Gauck in the late hours of Monday visited Lagos State Governor Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, saying his country will help the country with technical knowhow to successfully fight terrorism. Gauck who spoke through an interpreter stated that the purpose of his visit was to strengthen the cordial relationship between the two countries and to forge additional trade ties. He expressed his willingness to share his countries experiences in the field of science and technology, especially in the areas of capacity building. The German President’s who is visiting Nigeria for the first time, scheduled to meet with President Muhammadu Buhari later in the week expressed confidence in steps being taken by the present government in the country to address the nation’s challenges. He said, “I am delighted to be here in Lagos and we in Germany and in Europe are more than aware of the importance of this city as a centre of business, of political development, of creativity and intellectively in the art of West Africa. At the same time I am delighted

to be here in Lagos on my very first visit to Nigeria. I am happy to learn more and hear more about the successes of this country and the problems it has to tackle. “My visit is meant to underline the friendly close ties existing between Germany and Nigeria. We have great interest in the area of trade. We in Germany are ready to share our experiences in those areas where you think they might prove helpful or necessary and we are happy to share the experiences we have acquired in fostering security and fostering social security. “We are happy to share the knowledge we have acquired in the field of science and technology and cooperate with you and we are also happy to the knowledge we have when it comes to bringing about a fruitful cooperation between the business community to bring about benefit for all. “That is all we want to talk about and look at the potentials on these subjects and other matters. I am happy not only to get an opportunity to meet the representatives of the business community and to get to know more about the strength of assisting this country in those areas but also to have the opportunity to learn more about the culture in diversity that this country has to offer.

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Tuesday, February 9, 2016

Oil & Gas audit: Nigeria faces suspension from EITI Club CHIDI UGWU ABUJA

igeria may be suspended from Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, EITI, club for failing to meet the deadline on pub-

lication of the new 2013 oil and gas, solid minerals audit reports on or before December 31, 2015, the visiting EITI’s Deputy Head, and Regional Director for Africa and Middle East, Eddie Rich, has said. Publication of the

two reports, which the Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, NEITI, claims had been ready even before the December 31, 2015, has been stalled due to absence of the National Stakeholders

Working Group, NSWG, board, which is yet to be reconstituted by the government of President Muhammadu Buhari. The laws require that the reports be duly approved by the NSWG board before such re-

Pall bearers carrying remains of the late Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Samunel Odulana, during the lying-in-state at Igbo Elerin village, Ibadan, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

Unlawful arrest: Tarfa sues EFCC, Magu, demands N2.5bn WALE IGBINTADE

ess than 24 hours after he was granted administrative bail by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, a Lagos-based lawyer, Ricky Tarfa, SAN, has filed a N2.5bn suit against the commission for unlawful arrest. The embattled lawyer led by former President, Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Chief Wole Olanipekun, is asking the court to compel the anti-graft agency and its Acting Chairman, Ibrahim Mustapha Magu, to pay him N2.5bn. Joined as defendant are the commission’s Acting Chairman, Ibrahim Mustapha Magu, EFCC operatives that arrested him, Moses Awolusi, and Deputy Director Operations, EFCC, Lagos office, Iliyasu Kwarbai. Apart from the monetary compensation, Tarfa also asked the court to compel the defendants to release his two mobile handsets allegedly collected from him on Friday, February 5, 2016, at their Ikoyi office in Lagos. He stated that EFCC intended to destruct all information, data and oth-

ports are published, but government was yet to constitute another board months after dissolution of the old board, forcing NEITI to seek extension of the publication deadline to enable it complete the processes involved. But, speaking during a visit at the NEITI Secretariat yesterday, Rich said even though Nigeria has communicated her peculiar situation with regard to delay in the publication of the reports through a letter to the EITI secretariat, there is a significant possibility for her suspension from the EITI club. Rich, visited NEITI in company of the incoming Chairman of the global Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, EITI, Fredrik Reinfeldt, who arrived Nigeria on Monday February 8th 2016 on a two days working visit. According to him, from international stand point, Nigeria has violated the EITI standards regardless of its peculiar situation of regime change and internal politics. Rich said when if Nigeria eventually gets suspended from the EITI, it remains suspended unless it is able to publish the report within six months, and in the event that it fails to produce for the next year it will be delisted from the EITI club. He explained that if the country could pro-

er retrievable materials stored in the two handsets. He also sought an order urging the court to direct the defendants to release his Mercedes Benz SUV marked KJA 700CG unlawfully seized from him. The legal practitioner also asked the court to order EFCC, Magu and two other defendants to publicly apologise to him in at least two widely circulated national newspapers, social media and the Nigerian Television Author-

ity, NTA, as well as Channels Television within 24 hours from the day of the judgment of the suit. Besides, he asked for an order of perpetual injunction restraining all the defendants and their agents from further violating his rights apart from the payment of N20m for the cost of this suit. The 52 paragraph affidavits in support of the suit was sworn to by the Head of Rickey Tarfa Chambers, Mr. John

WALE IGBINTADE

Oil bunkering: Court orders arrest of 3 Russians

A Federal High Court presided over by Justice Ibrahim Buba yesterday issued warrant of arrest against three Russians that jumped bail while facing trial for oil bunkering. The court directed that they should be re-arrested and be remanded in prison custody. Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, had in June 2015 arraigned 14 citizens of Russia, Ukraine, Japan and the United Kingdom for alleged illegal oil bunkering. However, the accused pleaded not guilty to the four-count charge pre-

ferred against them and were subsequently granted N50m bail each in like sum. The accused persons are Artur Pakhladzhian, Sergo Abbgarian, Vasily Shkundich, Vitaliy Bilours, Hlarion Regipor, Laguta Oleksiy and Cadavis Gerarado. Others are Kretov Andry, Badurian Benjamin, Chepikov Olksan, Naranjo Antero, Patro Christian, Alcayde Joel and Caratiquit Beyan. However, when the matter came up yesterday for adoption of written addresses, counsel to EFCC, Rotimi Oyedepo, informed the court that

Olusegun Odubela, who narrated the circumstances leading to Tarfa’s ordeal as a witness to the Gestapo tactics employed by the antigraft agency. Tarfa was arrested on Friday along with his clients, who are Beninoise nationals, Ghanhouse Sourous Nazaire and Zenou Modeste while performing his professional duty inside the Lagos High Court room. No date has been fixed for the hearing.

three of the accused persons, Artur Pakhladzhian, Vasily Shkundich and Kretov Andry (all Rusiians) had absconded. Oyedepo in an oral application urged the court to order the arrest of the absconded accused persons. He also urged the court to withdraw the bail granted the rest accused persons and the forfeiture of the bail bond of the three accused that jumped bail. However, counsel to the accused persons, Babajide Koku, SAN, in his response agreed that the absconded accused persons should be re-arrested but urged the court not to

revoke bail granted to the rest accused. In his ruling, Justice Buba, held that the court cannot disregard the fact that the other accused persons may likely abscond from the country. Consequently, while Buba ordered the arrest of the three accused persons that absconded, he also revoked the bail granted to 12 others accused persons. The accused were said to have been handed over to the EFCC by the Nigeria Navy, which on March 27, 2015 intercepted them with their vessel, MT Anukpet Emerald, loaded with crude oil estimated at 1,738.087 metric tons.

duce the report within the six months of suspension the suspension would be automatically lifted. However, NEITI Acting Executive Director, Orji Ogbonaya Orji, however, expressed optimism that Nigeria would not get to the stage of suspension. Orji maintained that the two reports in question are not only ready, but have been reviewed by the EITI secretariat awaiting the approval of the incoming NSWG board to be published. Orji said NEITI has also simplified the reports to make it easier for the board to read and understand to facilitate easy approval. Under a programme of activities released for the visit of the EITI delegation by the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, NEITI, the outgoing and in-coming Chairman, Clare Short and Fredrik Reinfeldt, are expected to meet with the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osibanjo at the State House, Presidential Villa, Abuja. The two EITI leaders will equally hold consultations with the leadership of the National Assembly, some ministers and top government officials. Meetings with the media, civil society as well as development partners will also take place.

The foreigners were equally charged with the offence of dealing in 1,500 metric tons of Automated Gas Oil, AGO, as well as 3,035 metric tons of Low Pour Fuel Oil without lawful authority. The EFCC prosecutor, Oyedepo, had told the court that the foreigners violated Section 4 of the Petroleum Act, Cap10 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria. However, before the court could adjourn the matter, the accused persons applied for leave to issue a bond of N750m bank guarantees in order to avoid delay of producing sureties.

South West

Tuesday, February 9, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Ekiti teachers shun work over unpaid salaries, allowances Abiodun Nejo Ado Ekiti

ctivities were paralysed in primary schools across the 16 council areas of Ekiti State yesterday, as teachers began a two-day warning strike over unpaid salaries

and entitlements. Although there were denials at the weekend that the teachers would not embark on strike over nonpayment of their 2014 leave bonus and the outstanding September 2014 salary owed them during the

administration of former Governor Kayode Fayemi, they refused to show up at their desks yesterday. Pupils, who came to school, had to return home when their teachers did not show up. Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers,

NUT, in the state, Comrade Samuel Akosile, said it was quite disturbing that the allowances were not captured in the bailout released by the Federal Government to the state recently. Akosile, who said the agitation for payment of the

entitlements, which other workers had received, had been on for some time, even as he regretted that the present administration did not treat their demands with fairness. The NUT boss, who said the former governor did not pay them the September 2014 salary to punish primary school teachers for their roles during the last governorship election, said the present government should pay without hesitation. He said: “Government is a continuum. This situation is a product of actions and inactions of the Fayemi’s government which this government inherited and it has to inherit it properly. “This agitation has been

on, but I pleaded with my people to dialogue first. The governor said he would pay with the bailout but it seems as if we are running out of patience and we have no option than to embark on this strike to press home our demands.” Akosile, however, advised the government to look inward “for alternative to pay my members if the bailout is not forthcoming because this payment is long, long overdue.”

Abiodun Nejo

gineered and orchestrated by those who were not doing well academically and who are not prepared to improve on their academic performances. “But rather than continue with examination, those with low academic grades, some of who did not have clearance for the first semester and or did not register for the examination, went on rampage and in the process vandalised some property, the cost of which is being assessed.” Olofintila, who assured that the university had decided to continue with examination in view of its stable calendar, said the outcome of police report was being awaited to know the cause of the crisis and how to deal with those connected with it. A police truck and several Hilux vans loaded with anti-riot policemen and men of the Nigerian Service and Civil Defence Corps were stationed on campus yesterday with intention to quell any further crisis. Sources however differ on the cause of the protest. While some believe it was related to the exam, others said it was the fallout of misunderstanding among some students which later degenerated into exchange of verbal tirades.

He also denied allegation by All Progressives Congress, APC, that the governor was using security agencies to hound them over the proposed strike, saying nothing of such happened to any of the members.

ABUAD students vandalise property in midnight protest

Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode (right), condoling the state’s first Military Governor, retired Brig.-Gen. Mobolaji Johnson, over the death of his wife, at his residence in Lagos yesterday.

Ado Ekiti

Boat mishap: Lagos Assembly summons S commissioner, special adviser, others Francis Suberu

agos State House of Assembly yesterday summoned Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Dayo Mobereola and Special Adviser on Transportation, Olarenwaju Elegushi, over increasing rate of boat accidents in recent times in the state. The lawmakers also summoned General Manager, Lagos State Waterways Authority, LASWA, Abisola Kamson. They are to throw light on the shocking circumstances surrounding incessant waterway accidents. It would be recalled that in a spate of two weeks, two boat mishaps occurred in Ijede, Ikorodu, on January 23, and Badagry, on February 6, during which nine passengers died. House Committee Chairman on Transportation, Fatai Mojeed, in a report presented at the plenary, noted that the Ijede mishap in which seven passengers died, was caused, among

others, by the inexperience of the captain, use of rickety boat, over-speeding and activities of sand dredgers. Mojeed said though the ill-fated boat was already weak, it was running on a 200HP engine instead of the approved 80HP. According to him, while all the 20 passengers in the Ijede incident wore lifevests, it was a different case in the Badagry accident where two passengers died.

The deceased were the captain and a woman, both of whom were without lifevests. Mojeed said the disturbing findings necessitated the need to call on the governor to optimise efforts on safety on the waterways. Reacting, Rotimi Olowo (Somolu I Constituency), said the incessant cases of boat mishaps in the state should be curbed immediately.

Olowo said though water transportation remains the most viable means to ease pressure on roads, the use of substandard boats is unbefitting of a megacity. He added that the absence of adequate local investors in the sub-sector has shown that the state government must begin to attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to help improve water transportation.

Boladale Bamigbola

third reading of the bill, adding that the motion was seconded by Nureni Adebisi (Ede South constituency). According to him, the bill sponsored by the executive was seeking to make provision for the Consolidation of all Property and Land Based Rates Law, the Neighbourhood Improvement Charge Law and Tenement Rate Law into a new Land Based Charge, to be called Property Land Use Charge to make provision for the levying and collection of charges and for connected purposes.

The Assembly had on November 3, 2015, held a public hearing, where professional bodies and other stakeholders lauded the bill and said it was coming at the appropriate time. The Speaker, Najeem Salaam, said the bill’s passage was delayed to ensure that affordable rate that would not put unnecessary burden on the people is arrived at. The Speaker said the present economic situation require that every property owner must contribute to support the government.

Osun Assembly passes Land Use Charge Bill Osogbo

sun State House of Assembly yesterday passed into law a bill on Land Use Charge 2016. Chairman, House Committee on Information and Strategy, Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, in a statement in Osogbo disclosed that the bill was passed after it scaled through third reading. Oyintiloye said Leader of the House, Timothy Owoeye, moved the motion for

tudents of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, on Sunday night went on rampage and destroyed property worth millions of naira belonging to the institution and individuals. The rampaging students broke into some structures in the university, including two cafeterias, Owolabi Hall, the Talents Discovery Building and the College of Engineering, where they wreaked havoc. They also smashed a Toyota Corolla car and Toyota Highlander and torched about eight motorcycles belonging to security men just as several cars parked within the university at different locations were smashed. Sources said about N10m kept in the accountant’s office in one of the cafeteria was stolen just as the students allegedly beat up some porters. The university’s Public Relations Officer, Mr. Tunde Olofintila, said the violent protest was carried out by academically deficient students, who were afraid of being expelled after the ongoing first semester examinations. Olofintila said: “As it is in some public universities, the skirmish was en-

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South West

Tuesday, February 9, 2016

Collapsed building: Court to arraign Synagogue trustees Feb 18 Matthew Irinoye

Lagos State High Court, sitting in Ikeja, has fixed February 18, 2016, to arraign Trustees of the Synagogue Church of All Nations, SCOAN, over the collapsed six-storey guest house belonging to the church on September 12, 2014, which led to the death of about 116 persons. The trustees will be arraigned alongside two en-

gineers that constructed the collapsed building, Messrs Oladele Ogundeji and Akinbela Fatiregun, and their companies, Hardrock Construction and Engineering Company; and Jandy Trust Limited. Presiding judge, Justice Lateef Lawal-Akapo, fixed the date following dismissal of the separate applications filed by the two engineers, seeking to stop their prosecution for lacking in merit.

It would be recalled that the Lagos State government had late last year slammed a 111-count criminal charges against trustees of the church, the two engineers, Messrs Oladele Ogundeji and Akinbela Fatiregun and their companies, Hardrock Construction and Engineering Company; and Jandy Trust Limited, respectively. However, the two engineers, who are the 4th and 5th defendants in the case, challenged the legality of

the court processes as it affects them by the Lagos State government. The court had also on December 11, 2015 granted an application by the prosecution to serve the 4th and 5th defendants through substituted means after several attempts to serve them was not successful. The presiding judge, justice Lawal-Akapo ordered the prosecution to paste the court papers on the front doors of the 4th

Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola (middle)and Electrical Engineer, Engr. Oladele Babatunde, during an unscheduled inspection to the ongoing construction of Osogbo Government High School, Osogbo, yesterday.

StarTimes unveils new offer for subscribers David Audu

igital TV provider, StarTimes Nigeria, has announced a new offer called “Extra Special Offer”, which allows existing subscribers recharge on any bouquet before due date and be rewarded with extra viewing days free in multiples of the number of months paid.

StarTimes Marketing Director, Mr. Oludare Kafar, said the special offer is designed to reward loyal subscribers for continuous recharge and to encourage subscribers to pay before due dates as well as gain more free-viewing time to make up for entertainment period lost due to power failure challenges. With this development, subscribers will enjoy three days extra free-viewing per

month for every recharge before due date cumulatively. The new offer, which commences this month, will last till end of April this year. StarTimes will offer subscribers six days, 144 hours of free extra viewing upon recharge for two months, nine days, 216 hours, of free extra viewing upon recharge for 3 months, and for those who subscribed one year before due date, they will get as much as 36 days, 876 hours of

extra free viewing after the main recharge period. The marketing director said the offer will be available on either digital terrestrial and digital satellite packages and on any bouquet including Nova, Basic, Classic and Unique, digital terrestrial, and on Nova, Smart & Super digital satellite. Subscribers can also recharge via online platforms and get the extra viewing bonus.

LAUTECH holds int’l confab, MGA dinner 2016

epartment of Management and Accounting, Faculty of Management Sciences, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, LAUTECH, Ogbomoso, is to hold its maiden 3-day international conference with the theme “Institutional Frameworks Building and National Development”

from Wednesday, February 10 to 12. A statement signed by Pastor Mark Debo Taiwo, on behalf of Professor Owolabi A. Usman, Conference Chairman and Head, Department of Management and Accounting, LAUTECH, stated that Professor I. A. Adeyemi, Vice Chancellor, Bells University, Ota,

Ogun State; Professor Kabir Dandago, Commissioner for Finance, Kano State and Professor P.O. Olomola of the Department of Economics, Obafemi Awolowo University, are expected to deliver keynote addresses. Also, MBA, MPA, and PGD 2016 alumni reunion dinner will take place on Saturday, February 13,

2016 at Atimaggis Hotel, Yoaco area, Ogbomoso. The conference will be declared open by LAUTECH, Vice Chancellor, Professor A.S. Gbadegesin, with Professor O. A Usman as the Host, Professor J.O Adewoye, Special Host and Professor A.S. Gbadegesin, the Chief Host for the MGA Dinner 201.

and 5th defendants' addresses in Alagbado and Ikeja areas of Lagos State respectively. The judge also ordered the prosecution to file photographic evidence featuring the sheriff pasting the court papers. But the defendants through their lawyers, Chief E.L. Akpofure (SAN) and Mrs. Titi Akinlawon (SAN), contended that the order to serve them by substituted means was wrongfully granted by Justice Lawal-Akapo. The two senior lawyers described the judge as functus officio and urged him to set aside the order for substituted service because it was obtained in breach of the relevant laws. Akpofure further argued that in the absence of a valid service everything done by the court would be a nullity. He also argued that the Lagos State Attorney General, Mr. Adeniji Kazeem, ought not to have filed the charge in the first place as he had on December 2, 2015 been restrained by Justice Ibrahim Buba of a Federal High Court in Lagos not to prosecute the engineers pending the outcome of an appeal they filed against Buba's judgment in their fundamental rights enforcement suits. The lawyer also pointed out that the engineers were charged based on the July 8, 2015 verdict of a Lagos Coroner Court presided over by Mr. Oyetade Komolafe, which he said was against the provisions of relevant laws. Counsel to Fatiregun and Jandy Trust Limited, Mrs. Akinlawon in her submission also aligned herself with Akpofure's argument and urged Justice Lawal-Akapo to "stop the Attorney General of violating a subsisting court order." But in her response, the Lagos State Director of Public Prosecutions, Mrs. Idowu Alakija, described the defendants' application as frivolous and urged the court to dismiss them. She further argued that once Justice Lawal-Akapo had made the order, he could not overrule himself, stressing that only an appellate court could set aside the order of substituted service already

granted. According to the DPP, what the defendants were asking the court to do was to grant a stay of proceedings, which, according to her, had been outlawed by the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015. Ruling on the applications Justice Lawal-Akapo said the essence and importance of service to judicial system in criminal matter cannot be over-emphasised. The judge held that the purpose of service is to afford the person being charged to court to react, adding that there is provision for substituted service in the law of the country. On the issue that Lagos State Attorney General ought not to have filed the charge in the first place as he had on December 2, 2015 been restrained by Justice Ibrahim Buba of a Federal High Court's ruling, the judge held that the order of a high court whether state or federal, cannot be binding on another high court. He held that both the federal and state high courts are court of same coordinate jurisdictions and so Justice Buba's ruling cannot stop the proceedings in his court. "The order of a high court cannot be binding on another high court be it federal or state because they are both court of coordinate jurisdictions. "The order of justice Buba cannot bind this court and cannot stop this proceeding. "I find no merit in the two applications and they are hereby dismissed", the judge held. Meanwhile, Justice Lawal-Akapo, has fixed February 18, 2016 for the arraignment of the defendants.

Ambode

South East

Tuesday, February 9, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

‘Unemployment big threat to South East’ Emmanuel E zeh ENUGU

business tycoon and philanthropist, Mr. Kingsley Amechi Ubenyi, has expressed concern over the level of unemployment in the South East of the country, urging government to establish necessary partnership with private investors. Ubechi, who is Managing Director of a financial institution, KSLEY MEGA VISION, stated this in Enugu at a public function to mark the company’s second annual stakeholders’ conference. He stated that his decision to establish the company was borne out of the passion “to impact on societal business stereotypes, adopt new ways of wealth creation,

poverty alleviation, idea development and marketing. The businessman further stated that within a period of four years he had employed no less than 2000 youths, thereby reducing the number of youths on the streets and reducing unemployment rate. He added, “The company is also involved in upcoming youth empowerment projects through the media and other partners. “The main objective of this organisation is to be closer to the masses as much as we can. In that regard, the company has expanded from one branch to about seven new branches across the federation within four years. “We need support from the government,

organised cooperative and private organisations to help us alleviate poverty in major areas because we are creating wealth, employment and human capital development. “We plead with the government, the Bank of Industry and cooperative societies to help us access interest-free

loans that will help us improve our society and better the nation.” Earlier, Chairman of the event, Chief Uche Nnadi, described Ubechi as “a source of hope and respite for Nigerian youths”. He noted that “the company is doing what government could not do; he has empowered

no less than 2,000 youths and we know the multiplier effect of such in Enugu State here and the country at large. “You know how difficult it is to secure loan, but here in Enugu State, we have a young man who is assisting youths to set up businesses without asking for collateral. All that

is required from you is to come up with a business plan. “So, he has essentially done so much towards reduction of unemployment, reduction of crime and creating a safer Enugu State”. The climax of the event was the unveiling of KSLEY Mega Micro Finance Bank.

We’ll resist imposition of candidates, says Imo PDP caretaker chair Chris Njoku OWERRI

eoples Democratic Party, PDP, new Caretaker Committee Chairman in Imo State, Vitalis Okafor, yesterday vowed to resist any leader that would want to impose candidates on the party in the forthcoming congress election in the state. Okafor told newsmen in Owerri, the state capital, shortly after parley with members at the party’s state secretariat at Okigwe road that his committee would carry out its mandate without being unduly influenced by any leader in the state. He disclosed that the major problem facing the party in the state was that of imposition of candidates by leaders, adding that his mission was to ensure that the cankerworm was destroyed to give way for a repositioned party. “I will ensure that one vote counts in the coming congress election and the mandate is to reposition the party in the state to ensure that no candidate is imposed on the party,”

he said. He also assured members of the party that he would observe the zoning principle in the forthcoming state congress election. The chairman also disclosed that his committee was never refrained by any court injunction as being speculated in some quarters that the former chairman, Nnamdi Anyaihe, secured a court injunction against the committee. He agreed, however, that he had read a court writ, adding that nothing in the writ stops him from performing his function. “I am a lawyer, I know what injunction is and there is a court process in serving an injunction, I have not seen one, “he stated. Okafor, who is from Anambra State, said he was appointed not to take any instruction from any leader in the state, adding that “I am to use my initiative, consult my members when any decisions are to be taken, we are not here for any leader to direct, that is why I am not from Imo State.

Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Imo chapter, Mr. Austin Chilakpu (with Public Address System) and other labour leaders, during a protest against the new electricity tariff increment at Enugu Electricity Distribution Company in Owerri, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

Ikpeazu on right track —Orji Olusegun Koiki

ormer Governor of Abia State, Senator Theodore Orji, has said his successor, Mr. Okezie Ikpeazu, is on the right track to move the state forward. Orji also canvassed support for the incumbent governor, saying the governor would only perform if he received massive support from Abians. He stated this yesterday at the Murtala Muhammed Airport Two, MMA, Ikeja, Lagos, while fielding questions from airport correspondents. Orji insisted that there was no problem in the state, but said some people outside the state wanted to manipulate the ongoing developments in the state to create unrest. He further described

the recent Supreme Court judgment, which gave the governorship election in favour of the governor as a well-deserved victory, alleging that before the judgement, the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, candidate at the election, Dr. Alex Otti, was manipulating the minds of Abians. He insisted that Otti lost the election. He said what was paraded as APGA in Abia State was never APGA, maintaining that APGA had done its primaries before Otti came in as candidate of the party. He urged the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, members who left the folds to join other political parties to return to PDP and join hands with the governor to move the state forward. He said, “It was some

section of the PDP who felt they can easily catchin on the situation at hand and become governor. But with this Supreme Court judgment, APGA has died a natural death in the state. “They never left PDP, they were opportunists, they tried to see if they could actually realise whatever ambition they have through another party.” He expressed hope that the state would be transformed with the pace of developments set by Ikpeazu. Also, Orji said he had concluded plans to empower youths, less privileged and students in his constituency. Besides, he said he was working to ensure federal presence in Abia State through road network construction, explaining that he had about

seven developmental programmes to be unveiled for the youths especially in scholarships, while the downtrodden in the society would equally be touched. "From now till December this year, these programmes will be manifested and we cannot afford to disappoint the people,” he said.

Ikpeazu

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

News

Tuesday, February 9, 2016

N34bn theft: Court directs security agencies to arrest Tompolo Wale Igbintade

Federal High Court, Lagos, presided over by Justice Ibrahim Buba, has again renewed the order of arrest against Niger Delta militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo (alias Tompolo) charged with N34 billion theft. Justice Buba in his

order directed security agencies in the country to compel the attendance of Tompolo in court on February 19 without further delay. Justice Buba had on January 14 issued a bench warrant against Tompolo and ordered his arrest for failing to honour a court summons dated January 12 in respect of a 40-count of alleged N34bn fraud lev-

elled against him and nine others by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. However, Tompolo in an application filed by his lawyer, Tayo Oyetibo (SAN), prayed the court to set aside the warrant of arrest issued against him. Those charged alongside Tompolo are Patrick Akpobolokemi, Global West Vessel; Odimiri Elec-

trical Limited, Kime Engozu, Boloboere Limited, Rex Elem, Destre Limited, Gregory Mbonu and Captain Warrendi Enisuoh. When the matter came up yesterday, Tompolo's lawyer, Tayo Oyetibo (SAN), informed the court of an application dated January 27, challenging service of the charge based on a defect in the address of service.

L-R: Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike; former Governor of Rivers State, Dr. Peter Odili and Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson, during a thanksgiving reception ceremony organised Nyesom Wike to mark his victory at the Supreme Court in Port Harcourt, yesterday.

Oyo/Osun Customs generates N14bn in 2015 Kemi Olaitan IBADAN

ith the determination to build on its revenue generation and anti-smuggling activities, Oyo/Osun Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, yesterday, said it generated N14.59 billion in 2015. The Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Tope Ogunkua, made the disclosure while hosting Customs Zonal Coordinator, Zone ‘A’, Mr Eporwei Edike, at the command’s headquarter in Ibadan. Ogunkua, who assumed duty about a month ago, said the revenue generated in 2015 fell short of the revenue target of N21.83 billion set for the command. The customs boss, who said the command generated N15.20 billion in 2014, attributed the shortfall in 2015 to election period, exchange rate and 41 items restricted from foreign exchange

transaction by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, in 2015. He said, “Our command is basically more of enforcement than seizures. All officers of the command are focused, which gives me an assurance that we will meet up our expectations. “We made giant strides in the area of duty payment on second-hand vehicles as a result of aggressive enlightenment campaign organised by the management of the service. This has resulted in the command generating N932.86 million in January 2016,’’ he said. According to him, in 2015, the command intercepted 2,786 vehicles with a Duty Paid Value, DPV, of N294.36 million, adding that it also seized 1,625 vehicles in 2014 with a DPV of N163.64 million. Ogunkua added that the DPV on rice across the border between November 2 and December 31, 2015, was N191.08 million.

Oyetibo argued that his application does not attack the competence of the charge, but rather, service of the charge. He said the charge was effected on Agbanu Street, instead of Agbamu Street. Oyetibo added that the residence of the accused in Warri has a black gate, but that service was effected on a residence with see-through gates. He, therefore, urged the court to hold that service of the charge was not properly effected on the first accused. Opposing the application, Keyamo argued that the application is in violation of the provisions of section 96 (2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act. In his ruling, Justice Buba urged counsels not to waste the time of the court on mere technicalities. Buba said that the whole essence of substituted service was to bring to the attention of the accused, that a charge had been preferred against him. The judge added that regardless of however the service is effected, if the accused becomes aware of it, then the purpose of service has been fulfilled. Justice Buba dismissed the application and ordered the attendance of Tompolo in court. Buba held: "The entire gamut of this application is for the court to set aside the order granting substituted service of the charge. "The first defendant missed the point completely; the law is that a body like the EFCC has the power to arrest any-

one if it has reasonable belief that such person has committed an offence. "On January, 12 when the application for substituted service was moved, one of the averment was that the applicant was invited by the EFCC to answer to some allegations, but up till today he has not deemed it fit to honour the invitation. "It is very clear that the order for substituted service is more than justified against a man who has refused to honour lawful invitation by the EFCC. "Not only is the accused aware of the charge, but has further briefed counsel representing him, who on his behalf, demanded for all processes filed. "Therefore, all the authorities cited on this issue are with respect, misconceived: whether served by substituted means or not, the accused is aware of the charge. "The application challenging service is misconceived, same be and is hereby dismissed. "The order for arrest still subsist; all authorities in Nigeria are hereby further ordered to ensure that the order of this court for the arrest of Ekpemupolo (a.k.a. Tompolo) is carried out to the letter," he said. In the charge, the accused were alleged to have conspired to convert and steal the sum, which is property of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA. The alleged offences are said to have contravened the provisions of sections 15, 15 (3), 18, and 18 (a) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Amendment Act, 2012.

While stating that in 2015, the command seized 182 items with a DPV of N442.67 million, he said in January 2016, officers of the command intercepted two trucks and five cars conveying 1,165 bags of rice along Saki-Oyo road with a DPV of N10.54 million. He, however, assured genuine rice importers that rice importation and duty

payment through the border were still approved, stating “all recalcitrant smugglers will have the arms of the law catch up with them soon". Ogunkua stated further that the current administration had zero tolerance for corruption and revenue leakages in all ramifications, adding that the area command was committed to enforcing same.

Boladale Bamigbola

Father of slain lawyer, Lowo dies

OSOGBO

resh tragedy hit the family of late Lowo Oyediran Ajanaku, who was allegedly murdered by his wife, Yewande, in Ibadan recently, with the death yesterday of the deceased foster father, Pa. Oyewole Yahaya Ajanaku. The death of Pa. Oyediran, said to be the patriarch of Ajanaku family, occurred in the early hours of Monday in Gbongan, headquarters

…mother still in the dark of Ayedaade Local Government Area of Osun State. Family sources told National Mirror that Pa Ajanaku, aged 89, may have died of high blood pressure following disclosure to him that his son had been murdered. A member of Ajanaku family, who spoke with our correspondent on condition of anonymity,

confirmed the death of Pa Ajanaku in his residence at Owoope area of Gbongan. The source added that Pa Ajanaku, though immediate senior brother to the real father of the late Lowo, took over his upbringing in 1990 when the deceased father died. "But on hearing the sad news last week, the man who was the immediate

senior brother of Lowo's father could not bear the shock. He developed complications and later died of high blood pressure in the early hours of Monday", the source explained. The source added that the mother of the deceased had not been informed of Lowo's death since the incident happened last week, saying "she is being kept in Ile Ife".

North

Tuesday, February 9, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Appeal court sacks Benue lawmaker D OOSUUR I WAMBE ABUJA

buja Division of the Court of Appeal yesterday sacked a member

of the House of Representatives, Hassan Saleh, representing Benue South constituency. The court also ordered that Christian

Abah be allowed to replace him with immediate effect. In the lead judgment delivered by Justice Tani Yusuf Hassan, the appellate court said al-

legation of certificate forgery upon which Abah was barred by the Federal High Court from being inaugurated has never been proved beyond reasonable

Chief Executive Offficer, International Operations of Prognoz, Mr. Vladimir Eskin; Executive Director, Corporate Services, Bank of Agriculture, Alhaji Mohammed Adamu, and Managing Director of the bank, Prof. Danbala Danju, during the management training in Kaduna, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

N58,000 babies born with HIV in Nigeria yearly –UNIAIDS MARCUS FATUNMOLE ABUJA

nited Nations Programme on HIV/ AIDS, UNIADS, yesterday revealed that Nigeria has 58,000 of her new-born infected with Human Immune Deficiency Virus, HIV, yearly. Executive Director, UNAIDS, Michel Sidibé, stated this in Abuja when he visited management of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS, NACA. Sidibe, who is in Nigeria for three days, courtesy of Secretary General of the United Nations, to foster efforts to contain the disease, said more efforts should be committed to testing people and placing persons positive on treatment. “If there is any one country where I should be today to be able to talk about ending this epidemic, it should be Nigeria, because if we fail to control the epidemic, it will be disastrous. “If we fail to quicken the pace and reach people, we may not be able to end the epidemic. We are

in a defining moment. Nigeria has been able to demonstrate that result is possible; that we can see decline on new infections, that we can see decline on the number of persons who are dying from HIV/AIDS, that we can increase the number of people on treatment. “If we do not demonstrate that we are capable to achieve mother to child transmission at the federal level, at the state and local government levels and at every single place, it will be difficult. “From data in our books, 58, 000 babies are born with HIV/AIDS every year in Nigeria. “We need to be able to make sure that we don’t have those babies born with HIV. We need to make sure that we have a new generation born without HIV. With that you would have been able to demonstrate, like I just said at all government levels. “We know that when babies are born with HIV, and these babies are not put on treatment, they have 50 per cent chances to die before their second birth-

day. He has 30 per cent chances of dying before his third birthday. That is a huge lost for Nigeria and Africa. “In Southern part of Africa, the epicentre of this epidemic where we were thinking that a country like even Botswana or Swaziland will disappear from the map, today they managed to ensure that they don’t have babies born with HIV. “South Africa used to have more babies than Nigeria. They had 70, 000 babies born with HIV every year. In less than four years, they managed to reduce it to lesser than 60, 000. “So, it is possible that we could do the same thing in Nigeria. I am seeing the trend. We are seeing the positive pace. But we need to quicken the pace. We need to accelerate. “The second thing which I think is very important is that we should not be scared of paying today. If we don’t pay now, we will pay for ever. That is the real issue. “We are seeing that the epidemic in the

North is almost controlled because when they put people on treatment, you reduce the infection by 96 per cent. So, you are controlling the epidemic and you are about to eliminate it because the reservoir become so small. “That is why they are trying to reach 90, 90, 90, because the last 90 is to completely suppress the activities of the virus in your blood,” he said. He noted that Nigeria should be able to produce antiretroviral drugs that would be administered on people who are positive to HIV to help save their lives and reduce the costs of importation. According to him, Indian Pharmaceutical firms produce drugs that are used to cater for 85 percent of persons who are on treatment for the disease. He noted that Africa should be able to produce drug for treating HIV, and that Nigeria should be one of the best hubs for producing medicine not for only the region, but the entire continent.

doubt as demanded by law. Hassan Saleh had challenged the eligibility of Abah to stand for election on ground that he forged an Ordinary National Diploma, OND, in Accountancy certificate purportedly obtained from the Federal Polytechnic, Mubi, in 1985. Abah was the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, candidate in the April 11, 2015, election. The appellate court also held that the judgment of Justice Adeniyi Ademola, which nullified the election of Mr. Abah on ground of certificate forgery, has therefore been set aside. The court held that Justice Ademola’s judgment was perva-

sive because the ingredients of criminality in the allegations against Abah was not proved, let alone beyond reasonable doubt. Justice Hassan also held that the federal high court was wrong in its order that INEC should issue a new certificate of retur n to Saleh and dabbling into the issue of nomination when in actual fact the allegation made by Saleh against his opponent has not been proved by any law court. The cour t therefore upheld the cer tificate of retur n earlier issued to Abah by INEC and ordered him to be inaugurated as a member of the House of Re presentatives from Benue State.

Kwara flags off N5bn monthly revenue drive Wole Adedeji Ilorin Kwara State government yesterday announced plan to meet a new monthly revenue target of N5bn. Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed, who stated this while inaugurating a new Revenue House, said there could no longer be a sustainable state government in the country in view of the turbulent national economy, occasioned by the instability of global oil market. He said the state that used to get an average of N3.4bn monthly now collects N1.4bn on the average in a situation where government requires N2.4bn for workers’ salary alone. “The truth is that no state can lay claim to selfsufficiency or deliver the required social services for citizens without an effective tax system,” he said. The governor added that the situation made his government to resolve to identify new sources of revenue from existing sources, adding that proper tax collection strengthens governance as it makes the government more accountable. He regretted that the Board of Internal Revenue has consistently

failed to meet its target of N1bn monthly despite getting the necessary assistance from government. Governor Ahmed added that with the current economic reality, it became evident that the state government needed to align IGR with current realities by changing the people, process and technology for revenue collection. The new arrangement, the governor said, brought about the establishment of Kwara Internal Revenue Service, KWIRS, for which a bill was sent to the House of Assembly, passed and signed into law. KWIRS, he said, would garner into the purse of the state, an estimated N60bn annually, which would change the fortune of the state aside the traditional federal allocation. The governor also commissioned the state’s Revenue Court, designed to try tax evaders and all other tax related offences.

Gov Ahmed

Tuesday, February 9, 2016

SUPER TUESDAY Reps’ ‘annoyance’ with Buhari’s budget 36

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Politics

We must build strong institutions to fight corruption —Lebo Hon. John Gaul Lebo, a Lawyer, is the Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly. In this interview with RICHARD NDOMA, he said there is nothing wrong in the arrest of those that are alleged to be corrupt, but suggested that such suspects should be charged to court rather than being locked up at the EFCC custody for long.

There’s been this rumour that you are planning to defect to the All Progressive Congress, APC from the PDP. How true is this? I am not defecting. That is not true, I won’t defect. I remain a PDP man. And for those who are defecting that is their own cup of tea. It is not sensational and surprising because the PDP does not control the centre. There are politicians who are only interested in playing politics at the Federal level and they do not like to be part of politics in the state. They believe that the only way they can be relevant is when they are involved in the presidency, federal boards, Parastatals or they are ministers at the federal level. PDP had been in power for sixteen years, so we have built politicians who survived at that level. Their leadership and political growth had been anchored around Abuja. Now that we are not in control at the centre, it is difficult for them to settle around the state, they are tired, they feel that they are no longer in control and they are now in opposition because they are Abuja Big boys. The Nigeria political class is lacking in ideological decorum, they don’t have ideological basis. They are just prevaricating. They are political contractors. They believed that the best thing that can happen to them is to move out of the party. Look at the list of those who had moved. The former governor who was on board at that time. people tried to underrate him. They dared him without knowing that he had enough capacity to execute his plan to the end. Those who dared him saw the consequences. He got the most successive political victory. He won almost all of the elections in the House of Assembly, House of Reps and the Senate. Before now, we even lost one of the House of Assembly’s elections but this time around, we won all. We had these set of people who felt they can leave the PDP and the governor to another party to win their elections and he brought them down to their surprise. It is these set of people who had chosen to move to another political party. Remember that they were in transition. They moved from the PDP to Labour Party Some of them were in PDP but their minds were in Labour Party. There were few APC members. With all these intrigues, don’t you think it is going to pose a threat to democracy and of course the state? It’s not a threat rather it is good for democracy. PDP has been in power for the past 16 years. Ayade is going to take us perhaps till 2020. You cannot expect someone who has been in power since 1999 to continue to be in power. Take someone like me by 1999,I was less than 30years old and you expect that after 16 years I should remain like a political child who cannot contest elections into the House of Assembly or House of Reps. That I should continue to remain like a child who cannot aspire to occupy a higher office. You want us to recycle and keep those same set of people. Somebody contested election and went to the senate and want to remain in the senate when ordinarily the senate is zoned to the senatorial district

but this time around it was clinical, we had these crop of people who felt they can leave the governor to another party and win election and he brought them all down As a lawyer by training what would you say about the indictment of the Ekiti state Governor by the PDP secretary in that state concerning how election was rigged and the process manipulated in favour of the sitting governor, Ayo Fayose, a PDP man? This is the beauty of democracy. Democracy offers people opportunities to engage in question and answers, make enquiry and all of that. It is only in politics that a person can come out to make bogus claims and he will not be ask to prove it. The public just take side and make great emotional statements towards what he had said. Once the person is a public office holder, he is already convicted by the public . Once you say Speaker has done this, everybody say it is true. But in real life situation once you make an allegations you substantiate it, so let him go and prove it.

Lebo

my concern as a lawyer is that he should recognise the provision of section

134 of the constitution which provides presumption of innocence of anyone accused of any offence. and to the local government and for somebody to remain in the local government and do sixteen years, that is not politics. I believe that what we should emphasize is a political system which has a political order which will guarantee a transition from one political generation to another. You can’t remain there forever. Senator Liyel Imoke had opportunity to return back to the senate after leaving office as governor but he looked at the succession plan and after realising that he has built a generation of young people and after 16 years he needed to retire and pave way for these category of people. Let’s assume Senator Liyel Imoke wanted to run election into the senate I would not had ran election for the House of Assembly. Looking at Senator Liyel Imoke he got a more successful political history in the state. He won the election victory for all state House of Assembly, House of Reps and the Senate. Before now we even lost one of Assembly seat to APC

The Buhari’s fight against corruption is seen by many of your party members and leaders as partisan. They said it is mainly targeted at the opposition members . What is your take on this? I am not against probe, but my problem with anti - corruption campaign is that Buhari is not the first president to engage in that. When Obasanjo became president in 1999 he did the same that culminated in the setting up of EFCC. President Yar`Adua and even Jonathan also got involved in the anti- corruption war one way or the other. Now Buhari has come on board from an opposition and now has got leadership and even risen to form a perception that is rightly or wrongly that certain things went wrong that needed to be investigated. I don’t have problem with that, my concern as a lawyer is that he should recognise the provision of section 134 of the constitution which provides presumption of innocence of anyone accused of any offence. That somebody is corrupt in investigation does not mean he is corrupt at conviction. There is no volume of suspicion no matter how great and enough to sustain a conviction, suspicion will always remain suspicion . If someone had stolen one, two or three million naira, is it a probe we need to strengthen the criminal justice system in such a way that it gives a quick dispensation of justice. If someone is accused of stealing money, we should be able to arraign the person in a court of law within one or two weeks. Now the problem I have with fighting corruption is that corruption does not need to be fought along party lines, which is what we are talking about. Are you supporting the view that the current fight against corruption is selective? Buhari administration is fighting corruption as a political strategy. For a politician who when he leaves office will also be accused of corruption he does not have the moral justification to take corruption as the only agenda which he has. Let us built our institutions. Let us build our institutions to become strong enough that no matter or whoever is there, Buhari or John Gaul or Liyel Imoke is out or in Government , the strong institutions of government , the EFCC, the anti- corruption agencies are built with a strong institutional memory and the infrastructure to indict any public servant who does not have an immunity or to invite and investigate. I expect that, that is what you find in the UK and the Europeans countries, that once you leave public office beyond code of conduct, you submit yourself for investigations and you get a clean bill or otherwise as you are leaving office you go with your file to appear

Politics

Tuesday, February 9, 2016

Why hooliganism is rampant in Lagos Island —Chairmanship aspirant Francis Suberu

s threat of hooliganism and cultism continue to increase daily in Lagos Island, a chairmanship aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Mr. John Omotola Soares has identified lack of opportunities and education as the root cause of hooliganism and cultism, adding that most urchins in Lagos Island are victims of the environment. Soares who said this at the weekend during a visit to Asiwaju Forum’s office at Ikeja, where he was received by the group’s coordinator, Seyi Bamigbade reiterated that most of the hooligans would appreciate more meaningful lives if given opportunity to discover and redeploy their talents. According to the chairmanship aspirant, if given opportunity to serve as the chairman of Ikoyi-Obalande Local Council Development Area, he would create opportunities for the youths in the LCDA by supporting them to acquire the right developmental education and attitude. He said from his interactions with youths and the so called hooligans, he has found out that “most of them are not even happy the way they are. They just want to survive; “ saying one of his plans for them is accessible education. “I believe everyone deserve at least basic education. It will shock you that many of those you call hooligans are even willing to go to school. What we

Wale Ibrahim LOKOJA

s people of Kogi state are still waiting to Know who will be the Deputy to Governor Yahaya Bello , a group, Kogi Progressive Alliance for Good Governance, KPAGG has warned the state governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello against replacing Hon. .Abiodun Faleke with Hon. Simon Achuba as deputy governor, saying such decision is not in the overall interest of the party and the state. This was contained in

would do is to encourage them, try to know their area of interest and help them go through the necessary process that can transform their lives. “If you want to go to college, we would help you through sponsorship. We would set up vocational schools for those who like to develop their skills in a particular vocation. We would create opportunity for them;” Soares said. In his short address at the reception, Asiwaju Forum’s Coordinator, Seyi Bamigbade assured Soares of the group’s support during and after the Lagos State council elections, expressing confidence that APC will sweep all the elective posts in all council areas in the state by the time the elections hold

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N4bn loan: Bauchi 7th assembly accused of receiving bribe Ezekiel Titus BAUCHI

auchi state 7th assembly has been accused of collecting bribe in their desperation to exonerate Governor Mohammed Abubakar over N4bn loan he allegedly secured from bank without approval from the House. This was just as the lawmakers were said to have denied having any shody deals with the governor over approval to collect the loan from UBA . Alhaji Nasiru Ibrahim Darazo who made the allegation while speaking to newsmen said, he has a clear evidence that the 7th assembly were bribed to help Abubakar perfect the

N4bn loan which was obtained without the assembly approval. Darazo tendered to newsmen a purported document allegedly signed by the state assembly where members allegedly collected N300,000 each and indicated that the house approved the said N4bn loan on 11th June, 2015 in an emergency meeting at the speaker’s official residence . It could be recalled that a citizen and tax payer in Bauchi, Alhaji Nasiru Ibrahim Darazo had dragged the Governor before Bauchi State High Court, No 4 in a suit number BA/258/15 that seeks for the determination whether the Governor has the power within the provisions of section 128 and 129 of the 1999 constitution

as amended to source for , collect and utilized the 4bn loan on behalf of the state government without the approval of the state House of Assembly.‎ “ I have recorded voices of some of the former lawmakers who are pleading with me to drop the charges against the governor ‎and how some of them indicated their weakness and involvement in the shoddy deals with the government agents after series of denials that they did not approved such loan to Abubakar.” said Darazo He alleged that the former lawmakers were said to have hold a meeting at Zango in one of their colleague’s residence and allegedly signed a document backdating the approval of the said loan

after they were pacified with money. In the same vein, Bauchi High Court No 4 has again adjourned the case against Abubakar over the N4bn loan for hearing to 24th February, 2016 Counsel to Darazo, Barrister Umaru Sarki told newsmen that the defence counsel had apply for preliminary objection that the court lacks the competency to entertain the case against the governor shortly after the case was mentioned for hearing . Darazo had accused the 7th assembly of purportedly signing a document of approving the loan to Abubakar after collecting money according to the document which he made available to newsmen

L-R: Senator Binta Garba, Senator John Eno, Chairman Senate Committee on Women Affairs, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, Senator Monsurat Sunmonu, and Senator Fatimat Raji Rasaki, during Budget Defence of the Ministry of Women Affairs, at the National Assembly, Abuja.

Kogi deputy gov: Don’t replace Faleke, group tells Bello a statement signed by the president of the group, Mr. Sunday Adejoh and the secretary, Mr. Alimi Rotimi, and made available to newsmen in Lokoja yesterday. The group wondered why the governor would be insisting on the choice of Hon. Achuba when the leadership of the party has ratified Hon. Alex Akoje, stressing that doing anything contrary would be unwise and unacceptable.

The group which membership drew from the defunct All Nigerian Peoples Party, Action Congress of Nigeria and Congress for Progressive Change across the 21 local government areas of the state further noted that the governor being the product of party supremacy should listen to the voice of reason. The group also posited that they decided to support the governor in spite

of the circumstance that trailed his emergence because they strongly believed in party supremacy, maintaining that shunning the advice of the party hierarchy on the choice of a deputy for the state would be counter -productive. The statement further. Stated that Hon. Achuba who joined the All Progressives Congress in October last year cannot be chosen

ahead of core party men who have been in opposition for a very long time and worked assiduously towards the victory of APC in the last governorship poll. It stressed that being a former candidate of defunct CPC and APC in the 2011 and 2015 House of Assembly polls respectively for Ibaji state constituency as well as co-ordinator of President Buhari in Idah

federal constituency in both 2011 and 2015 elections, Hon.. Akoje has paid his dues as a loyal party man. The statement therefore stressed the need for the elders of the party in the state to prevail on the governor to do the right thing by presenting the name of Hon. Alex Akoje to the state assembly for ratification in the interest of justice, fairness and equity.

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Tuesday, February 9, 20167

A PUBLICATION OF NATIONAL MIRROR NEWSPAPERS

Bayelsa embarks on waste management reforms

ayelsa State government has commenced waste management reforms, aimed at ensuring clean and safe environment. The state’s Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Inirue Wills, made the announcement on Monday in Yenagoa at the inaugural stakeholders’ meeting on Waste Management Reforms. He said that in coming months, the waste management reforms would ensure the participation of private sector operators, who would be licensed and regulated to collect and dispose refuse. The commissioner said that the ministry would inaugurate the Bayelsa State Waste Management Agency to regulate the operations of the proposed Bayelsa State Waste Services Company and other operators. Wills said that since inception, the state had lacked the requisite infrastructure for solid and liquid waste management and had resorted to ad-hoc measures. He said that waste management had degenerated to a crisis point, compelling the government to embark on the reforms. ``We have failed so far since our inception as a state and the situation at the temporary dump sites were deplorable to the extent that people were setting fire on refuse dumps to complicate the problem. ``The heap of refuse on the streets is exposing us to health hazards and burning the refuse further pollutes the air we all breathe; air pollution in Bayelsa is alarming and we must tackle it. ``The challenge before the government is so much and the people expect results and we must find a way to solve the problem in a sustainable manner,” Will said. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that representatives of civil society groups, government ministries and agencies participated in the meeting. In a contribution at the interactive session, Mr. Alagoa Morris, Head of Field Operations of the Environmental Rights Action, noted that the reforms were long overdue. Morris, however, urged government to focus on rendering services in an environmentally friendly manner rather than focusing on revenue generation.

Auchi: Poly lecturers on strike over non-payment of salaries

cademic activities at the Federal Polytechnic, Auchi, Edo State, were on Monday paralysed following indefinite strike embarked on by members of Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic (ASUP) over nonpayment of two months’ salaries. A correspondent of News

Agency of Nigeria (NAN), who visited the school premises, reports that the lecture halls and offices were locked. The polytechnic secondary school was also affected as teachers and students were asked to stay at home. The chairman of Auchi Branch of ASUP, Mr. Abdu-

lazeez Isah, said the strike, which commenced on Monday, would be indefinite until the management paid their outstanding salaries. “We are on indefinite strike because the polytechnic management has refused to pay us our December and January salaries.

“Lecturers have to stay away from work because the nonpayment of their salaries has made life difficult for them,” he said. Isah said his members had resolved that they would not return to the classrooms until the outstanding salaries were paid.

L-R: Zonal Business Manager, Airtel, Edwin Unoko; Head Teacher, Presbyterian Primary School Calabar, Cross River State, Mrs. Maria Etaike and Area Business Manager, Emmaunel Nnana with students of the school, during the presentation of bags and uniforms to the school, recently.

PDP: Oshiomhole must hand over to deputy before travelling Sebastine Ebhuomhan

he People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has demanded that Edo State governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, should properly handover governance to the state’s Deputy Governor, Dr. Pius Odubu, before embarking on any trip outside the country, henceforth. According to the party, the governor must not only preach but also practice good governance by emulating President Muhammadu Buhari, who communicated his present short vacation to the National Assembly and appropriately handed over the reins of power to Vice President (Prof) Yemi Osibanjo before travelling outside the country at the week-

end. In a critical statement released in Benin City, the party insisted that Odubu should act whenever the governor was not around, going by the Constitution. It stated, “Governor Adams has been called upon to hand over to his deputy, Dr. Pius Odubu, as he has once again travelled out of the country; this time to South Africa. It will be recalled that even though President Buhari is only travelling for five days, he has handed over to the Vice President, Prof Osinbanjo, who will act as president during the period.” Meanwhile, a chieftain of Edo State PDP, Mr. Osaze Jesuorobo, has doubted the party’s ability to win the 2016 governorship election with the continued defection of the party’s leaders to APC.

Reviewing recent performance of the party’s leading governorship aspirant, Pastor Osagie IzeIyamu, Jesuorobo doubted PDP’s capacity to win the election owing to inept leadership. He said, “I watched Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, a PDP governorship aspirant, on NTA Benin last Friday. He was a delight to watch and listen to. However, I beg to disagree with him on the aspect of the leadership of the party in Edo State. Unlike him, I believe the party is more disunited today than it was in 2006 when many members of the party jumped ship to the then Action Congress (AC).” “The leadership of Edo PDP at all levels as at today is inept, parochial, arrogant and mentally lazy. Nepotism, favouritism, mediocrity and impunity reigns more

supreme today in Edo PDP than ever experienced before. For a leadership that has lost three elections in a row wanting to cling on to power beats my imagination. “In four years, the state executive has lost five principal officers to the opposition: the State Woman Leader and Organizing Secretary in 2012; the State Deputy Chairman, Vice Chairman (South) and Financial Secretary in 2015. The party’s governorship candidates and their deputies in both 2007 and 2012 elections have all ditched the party while all the reputable and known leaders in Edo North have virtually abandoned the party. If these are not signs of the danger the party faces in Edo State today, then I wonder what other signals the national leadership is looking for,” Jesurobo concluded.

Tuesday, February 9, 2016

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Group starts Edo Heroes and Heroines Memorial Lecture Series

do Focus Parliament, EFP, a nonpartisan political group, has finally fixed March as the commencement date for the recognition of Edo heroes and heroine who have achieved noble feats in their chosen carriers. The group, early last month came up with the idea to commence Edo Heroes and Heroines Lecture series this year.

The Edo Heroes and Heroines subcommittee chaired by Dr. Osahon Enabulele came up with definitions and the purpose EFP took the task of recognising great Edo sons and daughters upon itself; outlining the mode of nomination of Edo heroes and heroines; selection criteria for nomination, screening and selection of distinguished Edo heroes and heroines.

EFP stated that it was convinced that in every progressive society premium was usually placed on individual and societal growth through various policy initiatives and programmess, including appropriate reward and recognition of the productive efforts of citizens in various sectors of the economy. “The quest for self-recognition and self-esteem are well known important deter-

A physically challenged customer leads members of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) during a protest over recent increase in electricity tariff in Benin, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

minants of job satisfaction and productivity. Therefore, the conceptualisation of the Edo Focus Heroes and Heroines Memorial Lecture series is a laudable initiative which will undoubtedly help to recognize the contributions and legacies of past and present Edo Heroes and Heroines, as well as serve as a veritable avenue for the consolidation and dynamic advancement of Edo unity, worldview, and cherished historical values and beliefs. “It is a concept bound to positively impact on the average Edo man/woman and the Edo nation”, the chairman said. He further stated that the lecture/recognition series is necessary because Nigeria and the global community is replete with Edo sons and daughters who have made significant sacrifices and contributions, as well as the growth, development and greatness of humanity. EFP harps its conviction of Edo Sons and daughters greatness upon its reflection of various developmental and historical periods of the Edo Nation, the Nigerian state and the world at large.

Joyous Edo residents recall suffering under PDP Sebastine Ebhuomhan

esidents of Benin City, Edo State capital, at the weekend narrated to Governor Adams Oshiomhole how they suffered infrastructural deficit and decay under the People’s Democratic Party (PDP)-led government from 1999 to 2008 before the coming of the All Progressives Congress (APC). It all began at Ewah Street in Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area, where residents showered praises on Oshiomhole during an inspection of the Storm Water Project in the area, a project that experts said would completely end the area’s flooding problem. According to a resident, Mr. Godwin Tom Osunde, who thanked Governor Oshiomhole for the project, “I am a common man and I know where it pains me most. I am more than 65

years old now. But I have never seen a governor like you.” “Looking at the 2nd East Circular Road since I was born, nobody, no government has ever remembered the 2nd East Circular. Those people talking (against Oshiomhole and APC) are noise makers. “They share money to people to do evil but you stand steadfast to help the masses. The sky will be your limit and you will live to inherit your inheritance. And please, bring somebody that will continue with your work by the time you are leaving.” Another resident, Mr. Bello Ogbemudia said, “You are the best governor we have ever had. We can see what you have done. We appreciate it sir. This area had almost turned to a moat but with your instruction that this area should be done, it is a different story altogether today. We pray that whoever you bring after your tenure will do even better than you have done.

We will give him our maximum support. “Under the PDP, we didn’t experience all these things. We were suffering. But today, we are happy. We are seeing the good things that our good governor is doing and we are very happy.” At Upper Lawani, Mrs. Janet Agbonze, a resident who had allegedly suffered the deadly impact of flooding for over 20 years recalled, “Water entered my house in April last year and I had no one to help me. Then, I heard you were coming to repair this road and I thanked God. Today, you have remembered us in this area. You have done so much for us. As you have remembered us, so will God remember you.” Responding, Oshiomhole promised that the government would do more work on the storm water project, especially in the dry season. He said, “As we are in the dry

season now, we want to quickly rush and do some work on this drainage. Because there was no drainage before now, the flood coming from Okhoro through this area wasn’t properly channeled and it led to the destruction of houses. Most persons fled and abandoned their houses and some even died in the past. “That is why we decided to do the work. The last time, we did it up to the bridge and everybody said we had to continue with the job. With the rains, we couldn’t continue. And I did say we will continue once the dry season comes and you can see how the drainage is now. The width of that drainage is 8 metres, which is about 26 feet wide and 2.5 meters high, which is about 8 feet high. What this means is that no matter the quantity of flood water that passes through this environs, the inhabitants of this area need not fear anymore. The water will pass through the

Labour pickets disco in Calabar, says increase in tariff a crime Richard Ndoma, Calabar

he chairman of Cross River State chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress(NLC), Comrade John Ushie, yesterday raised alarm over the hike in electricity tariff by the federal government as an economic crime which if not checked would inflict economic hardship on Nigerians. Ushie raised the alarm while picketing the Calabar office of the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company(PHEDC) stressing that the new tariff violates section 76 of power sector reform. The Cross River NLC boss stated that the law required that every consumer should have a metre before any increase in tariff, adding that, “today a very significant segment of consumers are still without metres, so on what basis is the tariff increase. “We would not accept estimated bills; every consumer should be metred. We say no to discrimination of consumers. “Stop new tariff regime, it is an economic crime and we say no to 45 per cent increase in electricity bills.” Ushie also charged President Muhammadu Buhari`s administration to obey a subsisting court order and desist from exploiting Nigerians under the guise of electricity tariff.

drainage to the river. “By God’s grace, we will continue to work. When I see you gathered like this, singing and rejoicing, I am happy. In this government job, the only thing that will remain is the work that you did when you were here. “You hear some persons complaining: ‘why is comrade doing this? Why is comrade doing that?’ They are even angry that we are building the Central Hospital. When good people are rejoicing, the bad people must cry. “When I see PDP crying and saying, ‘why is Comrade building drains?’ My answer is, in four years, they couldn’t build even one gutter. In fact, one of them that said he wants to be Governor even queried the location of the hospital we are building. Should we put the hospital inside the forest? You see, a bad man is a bad man. But my happiness is to see you people happy like this.”

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Tuesday, February 9, 2016

Open letter to Mr. President COLLINS NWEKE WITH INPUTS FROM TITI BANJOKO AND JIDE IYANIWURA

y dear President Muhammadu Buhari, I write to you because I am concerned about the state of Nigerian micro-entrepreneurs and low income earners. I am empowered to write you on the strength of paragraph 50 of your 2016 Budget Statement as presented on 22 December 2015 to the joint sitting of the National Assembly, which reads “We will welcome and be responsive to your feedback and criticisms”. Sir, the circular released on January 15, 2016 by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) directing all banks and financial institutions to commence the charging of N50 on banking instrument transactions from N1, 000 and above, is unfriendly and insensitive to the growing army of Nigeria’s micro-entrepreneurs, low income earners and the unemployed. While I support the initiative as part of recent efforts by your administration to boost non-oil revenue, there are reasons to believe that the policy could have been better thought through in terms of its impact on the struggling poor. And that is the main thrust of this write up. A responsive government should not be in the business of instituting internally generated revenue mechanism that tightens its grip on micro-businesses and the poor. If this policy step was informed by the suggestion of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that

the government takes steps to improve its public finances by increasing tax compliance and blocking leakages, you may also recall that the same IMF recommended, for example, that you prioritize better, more efficient corporate tax collection for the multinationals and high-end earners. I have wondered why your administration decided starting with economic measures that will drive the last nails into the coffin of a suffering lot. Your party, All Progressives Congress (APC) manifesto highlights accelerated economic growth as one of its seven cardinal programmes. This policy may be well intended. However, the reality and unintended consequences is that this policy is going to put structural obstacles and challenges in the way of the very people that need to be lifted out of poverty or prevent them dropping into poverty trap. For those who live from minute by minute funds, this is unaffordable tax. In addition, implementation on the ground always takes on a different format because of Nigeria’s many weak institutions and poorly trained staff. I note with limited relief that transactions on savings accounts are exempt from the N50 charges. Limited relief because while the exemption makes sense, it does not go far enough. It seems to suggest that if you are someone of a small financial means, current account should be out of your reach. Such mindset contradicts the whole cashless society campaign that the country has undertaken over recent years, and with

PICK-POCKETING AND HIGHWAY ROBBERY ARE BUT TWO EXAMPLES OF THE OLD ORDER THAT MAY MAKE A COMEBACK huge success too! I worry that with the N50 charges, those on the lower ebb of the earning ladder would revert to the old way of keeping physical cash under their mattresses! I do not intend to reproduce here the benefits to micro-businesses of a cashless society, but suffice to highlight the added security and efficiency that it provides the consumers and how vulnerable they shall be rendered (once again!) in its absence. Pickpocketing and highway robbery are but two examples of the old order that may make a comeback. Sir, there is also the issue of the newly introduced current account maintenance charges (a directive from the CBN to all commercial banks), to deduct N1 from EVERY N1000 transaction. This policy will significantly affect the low paid, who draw monies from their current account in low figures because that is all they can afford. Policies like this will make people keep more cash at home, a move that could increase armed robbery across the nation as robbers will believe more cash will be available in the homes. Government itself is at the losing end too. A time when efforts should be intensified to create a robust formal economy is the worse time in Nigeria’s developmental trajectory to discourage some segments of consum-

ers from fully having all transactions pass through electronic payment systems or the financial institutions. Cash payments actually give a boost to the informal economy and this is exactly one of the unanticipated fallouts of the N50 tax. And I am sure that is not what you want. Permit me the luxury of proposing a mutually beneficial banking transaction charge for micro-entrepreneurs and low income earners. All consumers are charged the flat rate of N50 as originally proposed. Or better still the threshold for charging is raised to a higher level. Banks should also be obliged to “know your customer” and are expected to ensure abuse is mitigated. If this is done then the suggestions below will not be necessary. The paid charges to Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) and financial institutions are held in an account which could be designated as Transactions Charges Suspense Account, similar to the NIPOST Stamp Duties Account as initially conceived. The difference, however, is that rather than transfer monthly the collected duties those collected from the eligible consumers are held back at the DMBs. Eligibility criteria will obviously be established beforehand and may include individuals on minimum wage, unemployed, micro-entrepreneurs with turn-over not exceeding an amount to be determined in line with existing norms, et cetera. Nweke, Banjoko and Iyaniwura are members of London-based Nigerian Leadership Forum

Lagos and the ‘Lagoon’ challenge RAHEEM OLUWAFUNMINIYI Continued from penultimate Wednesday Azikiwe had quite a reasonable number of followership among his kinsmen in Lagos and also a large followership among the natives. This would continue well into the First Republic, albeit with setbacks but unfortunately, things would take a dramatic turn. By the time the civil war started, the Igbo mostly left for the East and would return after the war ended. This would dim any hope of rekindling the fragments of political power they held in Lagos at independence. Following their return, the Igbo, wounded, deprived and feeling battered, abandoned all forms of political alignments and pursued economic power instead. In actual fact, politics in Lagos for the Igbo was consigned to holding political posts in towns and market unions or associations. Lagos politics from this period was left for the Yoruba elements in the state not until the return of democracy in Nigeria. By this time, the Igbo population in Lagos had soared and was made up of about 30 per cent of the state’s population. The influence of the Igbo in Lagos economically was widening such that the Lagos state governor at the time, appreciating this number and influence, picked an Igbo commissioner

in his cabinet who it was said became one of the most powerful men in that government. This would no doubt boost the morale of the Igbo and in no time, they began to up the ante. This could be seen in the last legislative election in the state where non-indigenes won legislative seats in about three districts. Watchers felt this was an anomaly for obvious reasons. Could such seats have been won by nonindigenes or the Igbo in states like Delta, Rivers or even Anambra respectively, they asked? While watchers grumbled behind, the Oba of Lagos threw caution to the wind, making the infamous Lagoon statement that almost led to an ethnic crisis in the state. In actual fact, there is the argument that if the APC had not won the Lagos gubernatorial election, the state would have fallen apart. What happened during the gubernatorial election Lagos should be a lesson for us all. However, it only brings to the fore the contentious issue of indigenes and settlers in the state. While we have closed our eyes to it, it is an issue we have to address and confront head on. To call Lagos “no man’s land” is not only highly offensive and an insult but also calamitous to good neighbourliness and as such must be checkmated. Yet, the disturbing trend where a considerable number of settlers in some states exist, what should be done to address such before it becomes a mon-

TO CALL LAGOS “NO MAN’S LAND” IS NOT ONLY HIGHLY OFFENSIVE AND AN INSULT BUT ALSO CALAMITOUS TO GOOD NEIGHBOURLINESS…

ster, especially during political periods? Lagos have witnessed over the years a large number of non-indigenes who have not only settled among natives but also become prominent, using their influence to develop areas like Oshodi, Ojo, Ajeromi Ifelodun etc. under this scenario, one cannot therefore, keep exclusing them from power. There are implications if those who are for or against this idea do not meet half way to find a common ground. Like Professor Abolade Adeniji argued some time ago, Rwanda was raped by the Hutu and Tutsi in just four weeks because of the inability of these two groups to “find a common ground on their existence”. If the settler/native question in Lagos is overlooked or waved aside until elections come up again in 2019, we may have a whole lot on our hands to contend with. Natives must begin to sound a note to settlers or nonindigenes that Lagos is somebody’s land while settlers must be made to understand how to live within the limits set by

the owners of Lagos. While this is done, natives should begin to embrace and accommodate its settlers in the area of political positions despite the fact that this does not reflect elsewhere. By setting an example, others are likely to follow sooner or later. The cosmopolitan nature of Lagos readily defies its nativism and as such, natives should warm themselves to others with the understanding that these ‘others’ would show mutual respect and carry on as good neighbours. When these recommendations are taken holistically, the acrimony that came along with the Oba’s statement in the last election would readily not occur and nobody would show apprehension over nonYoruba groups trying to lord itself over the owners of the land. The year 2019 is around the corner, and in the light of the recent declaration by Ohaneze Youth Council that Lagos state governor, Akinwunmi Ambode is the “number one enemy” of Ndigbo, Lagos must get its settler/native issue right once and for all. Oluwafunminiyi wrote from Abuja via creativitysells@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 clearly marked as such.

Editorial

Tuesday, February 9, 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

Before rebuilding North East Nigeria

pparently encouraged by its perceived technical defeat of the violent Islamist Boko Haram sect, the Federal Government now visibly threshes about the rebuilding of the North East states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe, the beleaguered hotbeds of intense insurgency and devastation since 2009. The setting up, late last year, of the Lieutenant General Theophilus Danjuma-led Presidential Committee on Northeast Initiative was one of the clear indications of FG’s “short-term strategy to alleviate hardship as well as a long-term plan to build the infrastructure that most closely affected the economic life of the most vulnerable citizens”. Not helped by the preponderance of porous borders in the three aforementioned contiguous states, which encourages the influx of illegal immigrants/ insurgents into the axis almost on daily basis, half-hearted approach to taming the monster by the immediate past federal administration, alleged greed, religious intolerance, political biases, ethnicity, ideological differences and mutual distrust and fear of domination ravaging the bond of northern unity, the insurgency had festered almost without control until lately. A lot in the negative has also transpired in the process of Boko Haram’s execution of its infantile bloody campaign that is not

premised on any lawful or noble vision and mission, such that between 2009 to the present day, the sect has violently eliminated over 20,000 Nigerians and still counting; maimed a lot more, sacked countless communities and left well over 2.5 million as internally displaced persons (IDPs) grinding in pains in makeshift camps scattered across the country. Infrastructural facilities in the North East, schools and hospitals; that zones economy; the safety of life and property and daily survival, etc, are still distressed despite the all-out efforts of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration since May 29 last year to free the areas from the grip of the insurgents. About this time two years ago, reports said access to food was a luxury because farming activities, the main source of sustenance for the zone, dropped drastically to less than 20 percent, with over 90 percent farmers staying away from their farms because of grave insecurity. It is easier to destroy than to build. Creation or construction, let alone recreation or reconstruction, consumes time and get built to the brim over a longer period. Building flows from serious planning, huge resources, painful and sacrificial commitment, as well as grace. It is patterned and follows a sequence. But destruction and ruin cares not a hoot. All that is required is a split second of mad-

February 9, 1555 The Anglican Bishop of Gloucester, John Hooper (1495 - 1555), an English churchman, was burned at the stake. He was killed during the Marian Persecutions. The Marian persecutions were carried out against Protestant religious reformers for their faith during the reign of Mary I of England (1553-1558). The excesses of this period were recorded in “Martyrs”. Protestants in England and Wales were executed under pro-Catholic legislation.

BUILDING FLOWS FROM SERIOUS

PLANNING, HUGE

RESOURCES, PAINFUL AND SACRIFICIAL

COMMITMENT, AS WELL AS GRACE ness. Therefore, that the rebuilding of the North East, according to Danjuma most recently, would in the short term cost roughly N2 trillion - the equivalence of two years federal budget in good times – is no surprise. “Conservative estimates put the cost of the short-term intervention of the reconstruction of the region at over two trillion naira… Rebuilding the Northeast is one of the biggest and most complex challenges that Nigeria is facing today…The task would involve massive reconstruction of physical infrastructure, much of which have been totally destroyed and, of course, the more challenging one, which is the rebuilding of peace and social cohesion”, Danjuma was quoted as saying in Abuja at the opening of a two-day security seminar organised by the Alumni Association of the National Defence College, last Wednesday. But how auspicious the time is for the commencement of even short-term reconstruction work in the North East seems a greater

ON THIS DAY February 9, 1965 Vietnam War: The first United States’ combat troops were sent to South Vietnam. The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from November 1, 1955 to the fall of Saigon on April 30, 1975. The war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of South Vietnam, supported by the US and others.

challenge. What with reports that security in most communities in the zone is still under choking threat, despite the fact that the Nigerian military, in collaboration with the Multinational Joint Task Force, had driven the terrorist group away from Nigerian territory into what President Buhari, early last month, described as ‘a fall-back position’. The Senator representing Borno Central Senatorial Zone, Baba Kaka Garbai, said last weekend, for instance, that the terror group still maintained threatening presence in about 50 percent of Borno State, it foundational base. The lawmaker said the Nigerian government, through its military and police, was maintaining law and order mainly in Maiduguri metropolis, Bayo and Kwaya Kusar local government areas. “Mobbar, Abadam and Kala Balge (LGAs) are 100 percent occupied by the insurgents. There are some LGAs that are partially occupied by the insurgents, especially as the LG secretariats have been liberated, but their hinterlands are still controlled by the insurgents”, Garbai said. This seems the immediate challenge for the nation before any meaningful reconstruction exercise, short or long term, can effectively commence in the North East, to avert the thief from coming yet again to steal, kill and destroy.

February 9, 1991 Voters in Lithuania voted for independence. Officially the Republic of Lithuania, the country is in Northern Europe and the largest of the three Baltic States. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea; and is bounded to the west by Sweden and Denmark. It borders Latvia to the north, Belarus to the east and south, Poland to the south and a Russian exclave (Kaliningrad Oblast) to the southwest.

Business

Tuesday, February 9, 2016

FG should ban logging to raise forest cover level –Asiodu

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Appraising FG’s N5trn pension savings target for housing devt 24

Lassa Fever: NESREA urges good sanitation 26

Assessing oil, tobacco firms’ roles in climate change risks to economies Globally, the effects of oil, tobacco and other extractive companies’ activities on the environment and national economies have continued to elicit serious stakeholders’ concern in the face of the mounting threats to lives and the fauna. Despite the companies’ remedial initiatives to mitigate the risks of their operations to the environment, lives and national economies, analysts are wont to believe they are not doing enough in their Corporate Social Responsibility, CSR, programmes. In this report, SYLVA EMEKA-OKEREKE analyses latest reports on the corporate entities’ moves to do more, focusing on the Nigerian economy, amongst other issues.

rior to now, most oil prospecting and tobacco manufacturing companies had been accused of contributing to the negative impacts of climate change as well as global warming due to their commercial activities. Though, the companies have denied involvement, claiming that those environmental challenges were not man-made but natural problems. However, a global assessment report had indicted them, disclosing that those challenges were not natural, but man-made. In a global study, which examined more than 11,000 climate change papers, it was revealed that 97 percent of scientists agreed that climate change is caused by man-made pollution. Not quite long ago, Greenpeace, a global environment assessment firm

in its report, accused oil and tobacco manufacturing firms of funding campaigns to discredit scientific reports, which confirmed that climate change as well as global warming, were being caused by the growing activities of such companies. While noting that the devastating floods, hurricanes, tsunamis, excessive heat as well as shrinking food supply had been due to the impacts of climate change, the report also revealed that those companies were funding campaigns to discredit reports indicting them. It further stated that they were sponsoring such campaigns to downplay their involvements, due to the fact that, if the state or federal governments should increase regulations on environmental issues, both the oil and tobacco firms would be negatively affected, considering such

Not quite long ago, Greenpeace, a global environment assessment firm in its report, accused oil and tobacco manufacturing firms of funding campaigns to discredit scientific reports, which

confirmed that climate change as well as global warming, were being caused by the growing activities of such companies

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 impacts on global environment. In Nigeria, the British American Tobacco has taken it upon itself to address some of the challenges surrounding the conservation and management of biodiversity within agricultural landscapes and the ecosystems on which they depend. Its mission, according to the Head of Leaf, British American Tobacco, Iseyin Agronomy, BATIA, Mr. Thomas Omofoye was to act as a catalyst, bringing together the knowledge, skills and resources of the partners to leverage positive change to advance understanding and behaviours among stakeholders. The company is working with three non-governmental organizations like the Earth watch Institute, Fauna and Flora International and the Tropical Biology Association in the BATN biodiversity partnership. Already, the BATN has promised to donate one million pounds annually to its first five years. In 2010, it agreed to support the scope of work for the next five years of the partnership with another financial commitments. Omofoye said the partnership has helped the company

to generate greater awareness of biodiversity management within the group while developing its biodiversity tools. Experts have warned of the negative impacts of the global challenge through clearance of natural habitats, soil degradation, water use as well as environmental pollution, saying if urgent attentions were not taken, the impacts would be very disastrous. A Professor of Forest Economics, Prof. Labode Popoola of University of Ibadan in his paper titled Valuing Nigeria’s Forests: Issues and Context, delivered recently at the 14th Chief S.L Edu Memorial lecture in Lagos, posited that transformational of world’s fossil fuel-driven economy is necessary to arrest the global warming. He said contemporary global development have altered the environment, noting that the last twenty five years has witnessed phenomenal growth in wealth of nations and technological advancement, yet such externalities have left the environment in danger. Experts say some oil and tobacco firms are working round the clock to avoid government’s CONTINUED ON PAGE 20

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

Business News

Tuesday, February 9, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Assessing oil, tobacco firms’ roles in climate change risks to economies

Smoker Mohammed CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19 sledge hammer, hence possible smoking bans could negatively affect sales of tobacco products. While some tobacco industries are not commonly associated with dispelling the existence of climate change, others have been funding organizations that attempt to cast doubts on the validity of climate change studies. Environmental and political activist, George Monbiot in his book, “Death Denial’’, said corporate funding of lobby groups, denying man-made climate change was not only initiated by ExxonMobil or any other firm involved in fossil fuel industry, but was started by tobacco companies. According to his statement, ‘’sensing that the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA report might lead to increased regulation on tobacco industries, the Senior Vice President, Corporate Affairs of Philip Morris, world’s biggest tobacco firm, Ellen Merlo made a daft move to prevent governments from passing smoking bans. The report also noted that a big oil company like ExxonMobil has been working with well-known websites, lobby groups as well as think tanks to allay fears that climate change is spreading. Organizations such as Media Matters, a left-leaning non-profit, which monitors, analyzes and corrects “conservative misinformation in the U.S. media,” released a report last November that called attention to how industries that have a financial interest in blocking legislation to address climate change are using conservative mainstream media outlets to distort scientific research and fuel confusion. For instance, in US, a former tobacco industry consultant, Barrister Steve Milloy was hired by American Petroleum Institute to develop a public relations strategy to minimize the threat of climate change, where he consistently noted that government does not need to address climate and air pollutions, calling those concerned about climate change as “whacked out, intellectually and

morally bankrupt”. He also runs a website, JunkScience. com, where he misrepresented the risks of pesticides, ozone depletion, breast implants, asbestos, and second-hand smoke in addition to global warming. According to Media Matters, the website was initially sponsored by The Advancement of Sound Science Coalition, TASSC, which was a PR group funded by Philip Morris to downplay the danger of cigarette smoke. Other clients for TASSC included Chevron, ExxonMobil, Dow Chemical and Occidental Petroleum. The site is currently run by the Citizens for the Integrity of Science, which does not share any information about its donors. Obviously, tobacco growing is shifting from developed countries to developing countries. Global tobacco production was forecast to continue to increase and expected to grow demands for tobacco products in the developing world as population and income increase. For farmer, tobacco growing presents an alternative crop to food while bringing higher income. At the government level, tobacco growing may also be regarded being favourable due to the financial benefits it brings through trade and taxation. Since late 1970s, concerns have been registered by a number of environmental agencies regarding the impact of tobacco growing. The tobacco crop itself requires a high

degree of maintenance, including pest and disease control, a regular water supply and fertilizers to optimize output. Although some tobacco leaf is air or sun-dried, the majority of varieties grown, particularly in the developing world, require curing with generated heat, usually fuelled by wood, coal or gas. Beyond the primary industry, cigarette companies run manufacturing operations to turn leaf into various tobacco products ready for distribution, marketing and sale to end users. Tobacco manufacturing industry generates a number of chemical by-products, considered hazardous, including ammonia, nicotine and nicotine by-products, hydrochloric acid and toluene. In developed countries, appropriate disposal of these chemicals is strictly regulated, the same may not be true in developing countries, where tobacco manufacturing is becoming more concentrated. The environmental impact of tobacco production has been taken up by the major tobacco companies as part of their portfolio for corporate social responsibility. The major tobacco companies display their environmental credentials by describing on their websites their adoption of sustainable and low-impact practices from farm to factory. But no matter how clean or green tobacco production can be, ameliorating environmental concerns ignores the most obvious environmental impact of tobacco production.

The major tobacco companies display their environmental credentials by describing on their websites their adoption of sustainable and low-

impact practices from farm to factory. But no matter how clean or green tobacco production can be,

ameliorating environmental concerns ignores the most obvious environmental impact of tobacco production

In some countries like Nigeria, tobacco growing has lead to extensive land clearance and deforestation to make room for new crops and to provide timber to fuel the heaters used to dry the tobacco leaf, following harvest. Experts say half of the wood consumed for tobacco farming was gathered from common land and native forests, rather than from sustainable sources, and in some countries usage of wood from unmanaged sources was much higher. International Tobacco Growers’ Association, an affiliate of tobacco growers, claims that preservation of natural resources as sustainability is encouraged in most countries, where tobacco farmers use wood for fuel. The International Tobacco Growers’ Association states that tobacco growers have contributed to the doubling of natural woodland in regions of southern Brazil. Commercial tobacco growing involves the use of a range of herbicides, fungicides and insecticides to maximize crop production. In recognition of consumer concern about chemicals present in tobacco as well as the environmental squeeze of inappropriate use of agrichemicals, some tobacco companies have reassured of leaf quality on their websites. For instance, Imperial Tobacco states that it provides ‘training on the safe and correct use of pesticides and fertilisers, and techniques to help farmers reduce such needs’. Climate change or global warming is caused by the increased concentration of certain gases trapped within the earth’s atmosphere. These gases, which include carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and manufactured substances such as chlorofluorocarbons, are heated by and retain warmth from the sun, leading to rises in average temperatures. These ‘greenhouse gases’ are present in greater quantities due to a range of human activities, including burning fossil fuels, clearing land, some aspects of farming including using fertilizers and some industrial processes.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Business News

Tuesday, February 9, 2016

Telecoms sector contributes 7.7% of Nigeria’s GDP in Q3, 2015 Isaiah Erhiawarien

he telecommunications sector has continued to impact positively on the nation’s economy with the sector’s contributions to the Gross Domestic Product, GDP, totally N 1,385.85 billion (about N1.39 trillion) in the third quarter of 2015. The latest report on the sector’s performance during the period published at the weekend by the National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, indicated that telecoms sector’s percentage contribution of 7.71 per cent was slightly higher than the 7.57 per cent recorded in the corresponding period of the preceding year. However, the Q3, 2015 performance was lower than the sector’s contribution of 9.57 per cent recorded in the second quarter. The Bureau attributed the decrease to different seasonal patterns of the telecommunications sector and whole economy, saying that the annual growth rates recorded in the second and third quarters of 2015 were 4.66 per cent and 4.69 per cent respectively, lower than the 6.15 per cent and 6.25 per cent recorded

in the same quarters of 2014. The NBS reported a fluctuation over the year of the share of telecommunications in real GDP occasioned by different seasonal patterns. The Bureau disclosed further that annual averages had declined every year between 2010 and 2014 but that 2015 was different as telecommunications recorded stronger growth than the whole economy for each of the first three quarters. The statistics on the subscribers’ base showed that the total number of subscribers had increased rapidly and steadily over the previous decade. For instance, between September 2014 and September 2015 in the final month of third quarter, the number had increased by 16.15 million, which 12.01 per cent and higher than the annual growth rate between 2014 and 2013. The NBS disclosed that there was room for large expansion despite the fact that the market is already highly developed. According to the report, GSM is the most popular subscription type, and that only a small fraction of subscriptions are for wireless or wired lines.

FG seeks donor partners’ support on water devt Regina Otokpa

he Federal Government has called on international donor partners in the water sector to synergize their activities to a national scheme in order to achieve a coordinated and sustainable development in the sector. Minister of Water Resources, Engr. Suleiman Adamu, made the call during a meeting with the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Development Partners Group (WASH DPG) in Abuja. Commending the existing synergy between the international development partners and agencies in their efforts to develop the nation’s water sector, he noted the need to prioritise and scale up their activities in the sector. Adamu further advised the international bodies to support the sector in strategic planning; monitoring and evaluation of their investment in WASH services in the country. He said: “I am very happy that the group has such a platform. Hitherto, so many activities go on without appropriate coordination. This synergy we are developing today is a good one in the right direction as it will motivate a holistic development and we would be able

to avoid overlaps and fill the gaps in our activities.” On the water bill currently under review, the minister maintained it was in the ministry’s front burner and would soon be passed into law as discussions were on with the appropriate authorities He also urged the development partners to key into the ministry’s road map which he said would soon be developed even as he stressed that the road map would aid the partners achieve maximum success.. Presenting his paper on WASH activities in Nigeria, the leader of the delegation and Country Director French Development Agency (AFD) Olivier Delefosse, said adequate provision of WASH services had continued to remain a major challenge in Nigeria. The Country Director disclosed that Nigeria was still grappling with a poor statistics of acceptable living standards, saying “39% of the population do not have access to improved drinking water supply, 66% do not have access to improved sanitation facilities and an estimated 50 million people defecate in the open”.

The agency attributed the increase in number of subscribers to the GSM subscriptions, and that the yearly increase between September 2015 and September 2014 was 12.52 per cent, which was slightly higher than the growth in the overall number of subscriptions.

In terms of market domination, the report revealed that the GSM with 98.52 per cent of the total, followed by CDMA with 1.36 per cent of the total, whist fixed wired and wireless make up 0.08 per cent and 0.04 per cent respectively.

Also the dominance of GSM users has increased since September 2014, with 98.07 per cent of subscribers using this technology type resulting in the share of all other technology types falling over this period.

L-R: Head, Brand Management and Communication Strategy, Sterling Bank Plc, Mr. Chima Nwankama; Executive Director, Mr. Abubakar Suleiman; Chief Consultant, HT Limited, Mrs. Feyikemi Odunuga and one of the previous winner, Mr. Michael Onobote, during a press conference on the launch of the second season of the “Meet the Executive Programme” in Lagos

BoI to assist Taraba State revive ailing firms Olufemi Adeosun, Abuja

he Managing Director, Bank of Industry,(BoI), Mr. Rasheed Olaoluwa, has promised to provide funding support to Taraba State Government to enable it revive some of its moribund industries which have the capacity to stimulate economic activities in the state. Olaoluwa gave the hint in Jalingo during the flag-off of the disbursement of cheques to beneficiaries of Taraba State Government and BoI’s N700 million Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Development Fund The BoI’s Managing Director said that the development finance institution would help the state to effectively harness some of its agricultural and minerals potentials to stimulate the state’s economy In demonstration of the bank’s commitment to assist the state, he urged the management of the state-owned Cassava Processing Plant to update all the documents relating to the plant with a view to having the opportunity to access funding from the bank. He noted:”I really didn’t appreciate how much potential Taraba has until I came for this visit. With the interactions I have had with the governor, the engrorenurers and other stakeholders in the last two days, it is clear

to me that Taraba is one of the most blessed states in Nigeria. “Apart from flagging off the partnership arrangement with the state, we went on a visit to inspect the Taraba Cassava processing plant which is a 2.1 per hour modern facility with the capacity to produce high quality cassava. “And there are potential off-takers like Nestle, Nigeria flour mill, Honeywell. All that is required is some slight modification. We have agreed that the company will update with the documentation

required to possibly access funding from BoI.” Olaoluwa also stated that the bank had identified key clusters that represent viable opportunities for Small and Medium Enterprises to do business in the state. According to him, apart from the N700million matching fund, of which some beneficiaries were presented with cheques, the BoI had invested over N90.6m fund in support of genuine businesses in the states in pursuance of its core mandate of boosting economic activities and curtailing unemployment.

Distributed gas power ‘vital’ for clean energy future –Expert

erators, not least lower operating cost in many scenarios. “Our gas power plants have a cost per kW of $500, approximately, depending on the scope of supply. We only use ICE technology, which is much cheaper than turbines and has a higher electricity efficiency,” Aguilera explained. Growth areas for Himoinsa’s gas-powered generator business have been identified as: wellhead gas applications, rental companies, ports and industrial sector. While each of these sectors are very different, customers the demands in most cases are very similar: a source of power that is reliable, can be rapidly deployed, easily moved between locations, and has low operating cost and small footprint.

Business News

Tuesday, February 9, 2016

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Nigeria, safe for investments –Minister Distributed gas power ‘vital’ for Tola Akinmutimi

he Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Hajiya Zainab Ahmed, has said that Nigeria currently remained one of the safe havens for foreign investments in terms of policy support and investors’ capacity to repatriate their profits, amongst other returns. A statement by the ministry’s Assistant Director, Information, Salisu Haiba, quoted the Minister as making the disclosure when a delegation of foreign investors led by Dr Shamsuddeen Usman, a former National Planning Minister, visited the ministry in Abuja. While explaining Nigeria’s present favourable business environment, she said: “Our N6,08 trillion budget is designed to stimulate and reflate our economy, we are making conscious efforts at reducing barriers of doing business in Nigeria. Our

government is heavily fighting corruption and insecurity challenges is almost successfully tackled’’ The Minister also explained that the zero-based 2016 budget was designed to reflate the economy for job creation and boost the productive sectors of the economy, adding that the budget will be monitored closely through the robust Monitoring & Evaluation mechanism put in place by her ministry to ensure funds are released based on result performance To achieve this, she further disclosed that the Federal Government was building an economy that will not suffer oil prices shocks as well as disclosed that efforts are put in place to prevent leakages in the system which is targeted at boosting investor’s confidence. On the observations raised by some analysts on the unrealistic non-oil revenue projections in the 2016 budget since Nigeri-

ans do not like paying taxes, the Minister pointed out that “since the bulk of revenue we require to run the budget will be from non- oil sector, we have gaps in the area of tax collection, but our revenue collecting agencies have a revenue target. “There are efforts to register large number of Nigerians especially the informal businesses not registered in to our tax base. Efforts will also be put to prevent leakages”, Ahmed added In his remarks on behalf of the group, the former National Planning Minister, Dr. Shamsuddeen Usman, commended the closer link between planning and budget which is now the case in the ministry. The delegation of the Foreign Investors are fom United States, United Kingdom, Middle East, China, France, South Africa etc under the auspices of Renaissance Capital Investments.

clean energy future –Expert

lexible gas power is vital for a decentralized and increasingly renewable-driven energy future, according to Manuel Aguilera, gas product manager at Himoinsa. “If we consider all the technology available, not only engines, but turbines, fuel cells, etc. – all of them will become key players in the distributed energy mix,” he told Gas to Power Journal. “Gas power plants are becoming more and more popular thanks to a low priced fuel and high availability in many developing countries,” he said. Himoinsa manufactures a wide range of gas generator sets and ancillary equipment based around internal combustion engine (ICE) technology. As a mature technology ICE affords a number of benefits for operators, not least lower operating cost in many scenarios. “Our gas power plants have a cost per kW of $500, approximately, depending on the scope of supply. We only use ICE technology, which is much cheaper than turbines and has a higher electricity efficiency,” Aguilera explained. Growth areas for Himoinsa’s gas-powered generator business have been identified as: wellhead gas applications, rental companies, ports and industrial sector. While each of these sectors are very different, customers the demands in most cases are very similar: a source of power that is reliable, can be rapidly deployed,

easily moved between locations, and has low operating cost and small footprint. As such, Himoinsa has seen some of the strongest demand from developing nations and areas with limited access to grid electricity. Asian and African countries in particular have shown huge growth in distributed power systems over the last decade and the Spanish OEM expects this trend to continue. “[Distributed gas power] is still a young market, so there are not many competitors on the field. This figure will probably change in the midterm as Chinese companies are improving quality a and they will probably became a real competitor in this market,” Looking to the future the firm expects the low cost of gas installations to drive further innovation and improve efficiency still further. “Talking about generating equipment with ICE technology, efficiency and price will be a major driver. Cogeneration should be considered as the most efficient application for gas engines and hopefully it will become more popular worldwide,” Aguilera concluded. Headquartered in Murcia, Himoinsa manufactures gas generators with outputs ranging from 8 kW to 1,500 kW. The firm operates via a network of 10 subsidiaries, 9 productive centres and more than 100 distributors worldwide (Source- gastopowerjournal.com)

No need to separate auditing from tax services –Study

L-R: Zonal Head, Kano West of First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Mr. Abdullahi Mainasara; President of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), Otunba (Mrs.) Debola Osibogun; the Registrar/CEO of the Institute, Mr. Seye Awojobi; the Acting Branch Controller of the Central Bank of Nigeria in Kano, Alhaji Abdullahi Bawa and others, during the commissioning of the North-west Zonal Office of the CIBN in Kano state last Tuesday.

Berger Paints outsources depots for operational efficiency Abolaji Adebayo

erger Paints Nigeria Plc, a quoted company and leading paints and allied products manufacturer has concluded the plan to outsource its 17 depots nationwide in a renewed effort to reduce huge cost of operations and boost shareholder value, .

The strategic move aimed at enhancing accessibility, visibility and availability of the company’s products, is expected to boost earnings and strengthen its competitive edge. As a corporate citizen, Berger Paints has redeployed some of the affected staff while some new hands had been recruited in order to put the company on sustained platform of

profitability. Commenting on the development, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mr Peter Folikwe, explained that the strategic move was designed to improve the company’s operational efficiency and ensure strong and sustainable growth of both the top and bottom line. He clarified: “These steps taken by the Board and Management will enhance proximity of our products to our customers and ensure the availability of genuine Berger Paints products all over the country” According to him, this aggressive expansion scheme by the company has seen the deployment of existing and

newly recruited employees to cover its front and back end operations. The industrialist noted that by the completion of the first phase of the outsourcing scheme, the second phase has also commenced. Under the second phase, Franchisees would be appointed in other locations of the country where Berger Paints has minimal presence and visibility. Folikwe advised existing and aspiring entrepreneurs to key into this scheme which promises to be a rewarding one as testified to by those who have become Berger Paints outsourced depot operators, distributors and dealers.

ompanies whose tax returns are also prepared by their auditors claim around 30 percent less in “aggressive tax benefits,” according to research published in The Accounting Review. The study, published in the American Accounting Association’s journal, was produced by Petro Lisowsky of the University of Illinois, Kenneth J. Klassen of the University of Waterloo, and Devan Mescall of the University of Saskatchewan. It points out that, “under EU rules to go into effect later this year, and likely being monitored closely by regulators across the Atlantic, auditors of corporate financial statements will be prohibited from providing a whole variety of tax-related services to their clients, including the preparation of company tax returns.” However, based on data from firms in the S&P 1500, the research suggests that tax returns prepared by companies’ external auditors claimed about 34 per-

cent less in aggressive tax benefits than those that relied on outside accountants, and about 28 percent less than those prepared by the firms’ own tax officers. The co-authors believe that the cause of this difference is that “with the joint provision of audit and tax services, auditor preparers bear greater costs, relative to other preparer parties, if a position is overturned due to a tax audit and court action.” The study also explains that “there are at least two types of risk that are absent in other preparer types: financial reporting restatement risk due to an audit failure related to the tax accounts; and reputation risk, in that the auditor-preparer’s work is more visible and sensitive to the firm’s leadership. … The board of directors, as well as managers, may bear additional costs if negative tax outcomes result from joint provisioning relative to the case if the tax work was conducted separately from the audit.”

Tuesday, February 9, 2016

Jobs & Career

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Electricity Tariff: Labour minister moves to avert industrial unrest Olufemi Adeosun Abuja

inister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige, has begun moves to douse the looming industrial unrest that may emanate from recent increase in electricity tariff. Already, the organised labour is already posed for war with the Federal Government over what it termed,’45 per cent increment in electricity tariff worked out without due consultation’ and clear disregard to the plight of electricity consumers. However, Ngige began frantic effort last week Friday to get the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Trade Union Congress and its various affiliates to a negotiating table and the process will run to this week. The minister gave the hint in Abuja while defending the Ministry’s budget before the Senate Committee on Employment Labour and Productivity. According to him, “we have gotten

their letter and have invited them for discussions, including Electricity Distributions Companies and Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission”. Justifying the Ministry’s 2016 budget proposal, Ngige stated that the ministry is poised towards tackling the challenges of unemployment, using well thought out programs, cardinal amongst which are the Graduate Teachers Conversion, Skills Acquisition Programs and Conditional Cash Transfer to mention but a few. In his words, “The programs of the present administration of President Muhammadu Buhari are focused towards employment generation. To this end there is a change in our 2016 budget from what it used to be in the past because this year, we want to tackle unemployment and we will tackle it from all facets using programs such as graduate conversion scheme and vocational skills acquisition programme among others, to ensure that our young ones are empowered for

self-sustenance”. In his remarks, the Chairman Senate Committee on Employment Labour and Productivity, Sen. Suleiman Nazif assured the Ministry that the committee would take a holistic look at the proposed budget mindful of the critical responsibilities of the ministry in the fight against unemployment. According to him “We will go back and study your budget proposal. You can be assured that Nigerians will be proud of the outcome. I want to state that with Ngige at the helm of affairs in the ministry, we are sure that there are better days ahead”. Speaking further, Sen. Nazif stated that the Ministry of Labour and Employment requires a lot of money being one of the major drivers of the cardinal programmes of the present administration, adding that his committee would take oversight functions seriously after the passage of the budget to ensure effective utilization of funds appropriated.

Ngige

Similarly a member of the committee, Senator Oluremi Tinubu affirmed that given the enormous responsibilities before the ministry, it had become imperative to adequately fund its activities, saying the present budget proposal appeared to be inadequate for employment generation.

General launches Global Youth Initiative Health Week: FCMB harps on benefits of ILO’smidDirector With more than twenty Minis- for Coordination, comprised of the the global youth employment crisis – character- ters of Youth and over 500 youth 29 Heads of all UN entities, have healthy lifestyle to employees Tola Akinmutimi

irst City Monument Bank (FCMB) Limited, one of Nigeria’s leading banks, has assured its employees of its readiness to continue to encourage and execute programmes that would promote healthy living for them and their families. The bank made the commitment at this year’s Employee Health Week organised for the staff which was concluded at the weekend. FCMB explained that during the week, its employees participated in various initiatives, in an effort to generate sustainability for a healthy lifestyle and initiate healthy activities on an ongoing basis. Among the activities of the programme was the setting-up of medical screening centres in 32 branches of the Bank across the country to check staff blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol and Body Mass Index (BMI). In addition, the programme also featured a free mammogram tests for

FCMB MD, Ladi Balogun

all interested female staff of the bank and the spouses of male colleagues carried out by a team of highly experienced medical personnel. Similarly, the Bank through the services of a professional nutritionist, has produced a healthy eating cookbook containing details of how to prepare healthy versions of popular Nigerian dishes. The high point of this year’s Health Week was a family fitness day event for employees, their spouses and children held in Onikan Stadium, Lagos last Saturday. The event involved various sporting and other fun-filled fitness activities Commenting on the significance of the Health Week, the Divisional Head, Human Resources and Strategy, Felicia Obozuwa, said: ‘’Employee Health is a key priority for us. The Health Week is one of our initiatives that have been instituted to promote a healthy lifestyle for our employees and their family members to ensure a healthy society’. “We recognize the enormous efforts and contributions of our employees in the growth and achievements recorded over the years by the Bank. We are determined to build an organization that is impactful in the lives of our employees and other stakeholders to reinforce our core values of professionalism, sustainability, customer focus and excellence. “Hence, we will continue to carry out programmes that will ensure that our employees get the best information, to ensure the best state health, which is in line with our ‘great place to work mission’’, Obozuma added.

ized by unprecedented levels of unemployment, poor quality and low paying jobs – the UN system is launching an ambitious initiative to generate decent jobs for youth and to assist in their transition from schoolto-work. The Global Initiative on Decent Jobs for Youth was launched at UN headquarters last Monday by Guy Ryder, the Director-General of the International Labour Organization (ILO), at the opening of the UN’s annual Youth Forum. In describing the Initiative, Ryder stated that it is a unique partnership with governments, the UN system, businesses, academic institutions, youth organizations and other groups to scale-up action to create new opportunities and avenues for quality employment in the global economy and “assist young people in developing the skills needed to compete in today’s job market”.

ritish American Tobacco (BAT) Fresh Job Recruitment 2016 British American Tobacco (www.bat.com) is a market leading, global organisation with a long, established history and a bright and dynamic future. Thanks to our people we have continued to deliver growth and exceed expectations in an increasingly complex and challenging marketplace. Our aim is to become the leading tobacco company in each of our markets by providing excellent products with confidence and

delegates in attendance, Ryder encouraged youth to become “fully engaged” and be active agents of change. “Your voices reflect the aspirations of young people everywhere. Your voices must be heard and acted upon if we are to shape inclusive and sustainable societies, challenging injustices and inequalities and opening pathways to peace, progress and prosperity for all.” But the sobering reality could not be ignored. “Today, two out of every five young persons of working age are either unemployed or working jobs that don’t pay enough to escape poverty. The trap of working poverty affects as many as 169 million youth. In low-income countries, the situation is even worse where nine in ten young workers remain in informal employment which is sporadic, poorly paid and falls outside the protection of law,” said Ryder. The UN’s Chief Executives Board

endorsed this initiative as a key priority. Additionally, the challenge of youth employment was included as a central goal in the UN’s ambitious new development vision as outlined in the recently adopted 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. In consultation with governments, the initiative will coordinate employment and economic policies for job growth and social inclusion and protect labour rights to ensure that young people receive equal treatment. The Initiative will make full use of the expertise of participating UN entities and other partners by focusing on “green jobs” for youth, quality apprenticeships, digital skills and the building of “tech-hubs”, support young people in the rural economy, facilitate transition from the informal to the formal economy and promote youth entrepreneurship.

Job vacancies responsibility expected of global consumer brands. If you have the talent and motivation to help us succeed you’ll find we are equally committed to helping you reach your full potential too. We are recruiting to fill the following vacant positions below: 1.) Process Leader Deadline: 9th February, 2016. 2.) Customer Service Coordinator Deadline: 14th February, 2016. ExxonMobil Nigeria Fresh Graduate and Mid-level Job

Recruitment 2016 ExxonMobil Corporation is the world’s leading publicly-owned energy company. ExxonMobil’s business in Nigeria is conducted through individual operating companies. We are recruiting to fill the following positions below: 1.) ExxonMobil Global Geoscience Student Placement 2016 2.) ExxonMobil Global Geoscience Campus 2016 Application Closing Date Not Specified.

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Tuesday, February 9, 2016

Real Estate & Environment

Appraising FG’s N5trn pension savings target for housing devt Stakeholders in the housing sector have backed recent suggestion by the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola that the N5 trillion pension funds be invested to provide critical infrastructure, such as housing. With the failure of most of the intervention agencies of government such as Federal Housing Authority (FHA) and Federal Mortgage Bank (FMBN), they contend that, rather than allow the funds to lay idle, investing it in housing sector will help in bridging the lingering housing deficit in the country, put at 17million units, Olufemi Adeosun reports.

hile Nigerians, particularly those in the lowest rung of the society ladder, have had to contend with the housing challenge, the recent fall in petroleum price with its attendant dip in revenues that accrue to the government at all levels, have recently compounded their woes. According to analysts, while homelessness is vast assuming a frightening dimension, a lot more who are unable to service their rents are at the verge of being thrown out of their homes. It is therefore, not a surprise that there are more voices now charging those in housing provision sector to think out of the box instead of relying on the agencies of government, which they said,” have failed in the discharge of their statutory responsibilities. It is against the background that the recent suggestion by the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola that the N5 trillion pension fund be re-invested in the critical sectors of the economy, has received raved reviews by stakeholders and analysts in the housing sector. Speaking while making a presentation during a pension industry strategy roadmap meeting organised by the National Pension Fund, NPC, the former Lagos

Weak currency may attract foreign property investors –Expert 27

State governor had stated unambiguously that instead of investing the 5 trillion pension fund in bonds and other money market instruments, the pension industry could get huge returns from investing it in critical areas such as road, power, housing refineries, petrochemicals, steel production sea ports, hospitals, school hostels, prisons amongst others. He noted: “The can be invested on roads that can be tolled, construction of houses, the 4th Mainland Bridge, the coastal road linking several coastal areas from Lagos to Bayelsa; the new sea port in Lekki and Badagry, the refinery by

Dangote, Ajaokuta Steel a petrochemical plant in the Niger Delta. The time for it, is now. This is the biggest opportunity to act towards diversification rather sloganise about it. “This is the time to show that our nation our nation and our national economy are bigger that the challenges posed by the dwindling oil prices. This is the time to diversify and change the face of our economy once and for all.” He stated that across Africa, there were visible infrastructure deficit inhibiting progress and growth, noting that it was lamentable that there was no coun-

The minister is right to have canvassed for the use of the fund to develop critical infrastructure. He, however, needs to take it to the next level. This would involve rallying together all critical stakeholders with a view to designing a template that will ensure

the money is not frittered away, but be made available to meet the pressing needs of the Nigerian workers, particularly to fulfil their housing need

try with a workable rail service. The former Lagos governor emphasised that most of the ECOWAS highways that connect most countries were currently in deplorable condition. He added that these were facilities that could easily be built and tolled to earn income, secure the return of pension funds invested and add value to contributor’s lives as well as grow the country and regional economies. At a separate forum in Abuja, the Executive Director, Policy and Corporate Strategy, Nigeria Mortgage Refinance Company, NMRC, Mrs. Chika Akporji advocated common pool of funds for housing development. While expressing preference for the coalescing of the funds into a pull for housing development, she stated that the whole idea of pension fund was not just for the workers to keep contributing. “The whole idea of Pension Fund is not just to keep contributing as workers are supposed to make returns on the investment because they are investing funds and they need to enjoy some returns on it and see the linkages between the National Housing Fund and pension fund,” she noted. Reacting, the National President, Real CONTINUED ON PAGE 26

‘Paris Agreement ‘decisive turning point’ on climate change’ 26

NCIB, UCT conduct research on Africa’s real estate 27

Real Estate & Environment

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Tuesday, February 9, 2016

Appraising FG’s N5trn pension savings target for housing devt

Buhari CONTINUED FROM 25 Estate Developers Association of Nigeria (REDAN), Rev. Ugochuckwu Chime, said the minister’s stand on the pension fund was commendable. While explaining that the diversification of the fund was what stakeholders had been canvassing for a long time, he expressed optimism that now that it was coming from a minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, it would be serious consideration. “We have always advocated a linkage and synergy between the NHF and Pensions Fund to ensure that the trillions of naira in the Pension Fund are brought to bear on the welfare of the worker at a time that welfare will make meaning to them now not on retirement when the purchasing power of that money would have depreciated very alarmingly.” he added. The REDAN boss who stated that it was a shame the masses of the people were being treated with disdain through their own contribution, however called on Fashola to call a meeting of all stakeholders with a view to designing the template for the effective utilisation of the fund. “It is really a tragedy for our nation that the masses are being treated with disdain. The pension fund was meant to serve as a source of succour, (it is their money), money meant to be given to them at the end of service. “The money they are getting at the end of the service will be less by 30 per cent in terms of the purchasing power of the amount contributed. The only way they can feel the impact of their contributions is to ensure that the money is used to provide services for them while still in service. This may come through having access to housing loans. “The minister is right to have canvassed for the use of the fund to develop critical infrastructure. He, however, needs to take it to the next level. This would involve rallying together all critical stakeholders with a view to designing

Kumo

Fashola a template that will ensure the money is not frittered away, but be made available to meet the pressing needs of the Nigerian workers, particularly to fulfil their housing need when they are still in active service,” he noted. Apart from satisfying critical human need, Chime explained that housing has multiplier effects not only on the nation’s economic activities, but its quest to create employment opportunities and building its GDP. He added, “The truth is that, apart from food and clothing, the other pressing need of human beings is housing. If, we as a nation, however, fail to address the issue of housing deficit in the country, it means we are not ready to deal with the issues of employment and economic inclusiveness. “Apart from the urgent need for the recapitalisation of FMBN to enable it effectively deliver on its mandate, all other relevant government institutions must be involved in perfecting strategies to addressing the acute home shortages in Nigeria. Housing has a very huge effect on our GDP and the sustainability of our socio-economic activities as a country.” Also responding, an Abuja based Property Consultant, Mr. Tunde Ayoola, averred that the failure of the Federal Housing Authority, FHA, and the inef-

ficiency of Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria,FMBN, should be enough reason for any serious government to begin to explore other means to meet the housing demand of the people. He described as ‘lamentable’, a situation where an agency set up to meet the housing demand of the low income earners, would only produce 37,000 housing units in its over 40 years of existence. According to him, any continued reliance on such a platform would not only spell doom for the nation’s economy, but will also lead to the widening of the housing debit gap, currently put at 17million units. Ayoola noted,”The Federal Housing Authority was established in 1973 with the responsibility of preparing and executing the National Housing Programme approved by the Federal Government. At the heart of the authority, is the mandate for the provision of mass housing for the people. Unfortunately, the organisation has not only failed in its responsibility to the people, but has also incurred so much debt for the government. “For instance, in over 40 years of its creation, FHA has only managed to produce 37,000 units of housing, accounting for an average of less than 1,000 housing

While the Pension Reform Act enables the contributors to the National Housing Fund(NHF) draw certain percentage of their RSA, the conditions attached to it are too stringent. The cumbersome process has not only made it impossible for the contributors to get their percentage stake to qualify for mortgage loan, it has been the bane of housing problem in

Nigeria

units per annum. While I see the consideration for the pulling of the N5 trillion pension fund into the housing sector to stimulate construction activities as a welcome development, such must be attained with a well structured programme of action to avoid the pitfalls of the past.” Expressing his views on the proposal, the immediate past REDAN President, Chief Olabode Afolayan, stated that although the provision for the utilization of the fund is already contained in the Pension Reform Act, the criteria attached to it are too cumbersome. “While the Pension Reform Act enables the contributors to the National Housing Fund(NHF) draw certain percentage of their RSA, the conditions attached to it are too stringent. The cumbersome process has not only made it impossible for the contributors to get their percentage stake to qualify for mortgage loan, it has been the bane of housing problem in Nigeria.” Afolayan who also charged the Federal Government to provide the enabling environment for a private sector participation in the housing delivery sector, lamented the negative impact of fall in petroleum prices on the economy and housing in particular. He added,”The recent fall in oil prices is having a damaging effect on the nation’s economy. And housing being sector seems to be the worse hit because of its multiplier effects on other sectors of the economy. Apart from the fact that, spending has been reduce, government investment in the housing and road sectors has also been reduced. It is, therefore, necessary for the new administration to begin to see housing as a responsibility. In doing that, a lot of employment be created. Apart from that, it will help to stimulate other sectors, particularly manufacturing, because patronage of construction related materials will be high.

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Tuesday, February 9, 2016

Lassa Fever: NESREA urges good sanitation

MORTGAGE NOTES with Adenike Fasanya-Osilaja

Olufemi Adeosun

Email: Nike@MVPSolutionsinc.com https://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=35277333

Mortgage Practitioners; please raise your hands…

ello all. This week I would like to return to some of the basics of the mortgage industry, in an effort to discuss some of the reasons for the challenges in the mortgage industry as verbalized to me by industry professionals and stake holders. As I stated in my last article, I was able to attend the recent NMRC awareness workshop recently held in Lagos. It is always very interesting to be on the outside looking in, and I took full advantage of this position in trying to understand the challenges faced by the professionals who actually operate in this field on a daily basis. I was really rather shell shocked to realize that the industry is as uninterested as I found it to be. It seemed that no two entities actually maintain relationships with each other. In fact, there almost seemed to be an air of uncertainty between company representatives, about how to interact. The danger with this situation in my opinion is that it leaves room for unscrupulous borrowers to misrepresent their situations from one bank to the other. It must be understood that there is a time to be competitors and a time to be collaborators. The industry owes it to its operators as well as the general public, to learn how to come together and speak with one voice for the good of the industry and/or its clients. One of the most disturbing trends I seemed to decipher is the appearance that, as a result of the industry’s seeming inability to address new developments in a timely manner and as a single unit, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), seems to be doing the work of developing products, guides and reforms and then simply presenting it to the industry as a finished product, to be implemented without question. One of the most glaring examples of this is the debt ratio section of the NMRC guidelines. In an environment where level 15 civil servants cannot afford the monthly payments on a 20 million naira home with their full monthly salary, it is a mystery to me that the NMRC guidelines limit a borrow-

er to maximum payments of less than 40% of their salary on a mortgage. I am not sure if this happened due to the guidelines not being subject to industry comments prior to issue, or if the industry players just never bothered to fight it. The problem is of course that if a guideline is not debated while it is still a proposal, it becomes much more difficult to reform it once it has taken effect. I was also concerned about what some of the attendees admitted to as a ‘lack of ingenuity’ in the industry. According to this attendee, the mortgage practitioners almost seem lacklustre in the performance of their duties. As a result, there is not much excitement about seeking out new markets, establishing new territories, or attracting new clients with exciting and innovative products. One of the questions I asked the attendees was where their main target markets were. The overwhelming majority of the answers pointed to the dangerous trend for all (or most) companies to all be in the habit of marketing the same market – oil companies and big banks etc. I was met with almost a stare of incomprehension when I asked why no one was exploring any of the less visible markets in the business system (e. g Teachers Unions etc), and someone explained that there were no products available for them. I instantly asked the person why she, as the Head of the Department, had not worked on creating new products to tap into the market, and I got a very blank stare from her too. I encourage the mortgage industry players to join hands together as colleagues, carefully review the NMRC guidelines, and probably set up a

Real Estate & Environment

group to identify problem areas, and submit them to the CBN as feedback. Since the NMRC program, is still relatively new, I believe that there is room for discourse and slight adjustments to make the guidelines to encourage its widespread use by the members of the industry. I would dare to go as far as to suggest a quarterly review of the guidelines as feedback from the industry to the regulators, with visible efforts to employ as many of the guideline clauses as possible in day to day activities. The industry must not allow itself to be spoon-fed by its regulators, but must be a present, active and vibrant participant in the whole process. One of my favourite sayings is that when an eligible person is passive throughout a voting period, they cannot turn around and complain if they get the wrong person elected. So it is with politics, so it should be with the mortgage industry. I also encourage the Marketing Department of each mortgage entity to get into the habit of new product development and special pricing opportunities from time to time, to attract new customers, and to open up new markets. Marketing staff must be incentivized, not just by monetary target bonuses, but also for ingenuity and creativity in the development of new products to serve their public. As usual, your questions and comments on this piece are very welcome, and I hope to hear from as many of your readers as possible. I will continue my conference observations next time, and until then, I hope you will choose to make it a great week. Sincerely,

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

he National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) has called on all Nigerians to ensure good sanitation to wade off Lassa Fever infection, which it claimed is caused by bad sanitary system. The called was made in Abuja by NESREA Director General, Dr. Lawrence Anukam during the agency’s awareness campaign on the evolvement of good sanitary system in Nigeria. While stressing the need for good sanitation practices in markets, motor parks, schools, residential areas, churches, the DG promised to scale up its compliance monitoring of residential areas, markets, offices, e.t.c to ensure proper sanitation across the country. He said,”It is no longer news that country is presently experiencing an outbreak of Lassa Fever. The disease has spread to 17 States of the Federation and this calls for urgent action from everyone. “Prevention of Lassa Fever infection is key. Rats, the carriers of the virus, are found in dirty and littered environment. Therefore, combating the recent outbreak of Lassa Fever

requires the efforts of all tiers of government as well as the citizenry. “The National Environmental (Sanitation and Wastes Control) Regulations, 2009 S. I. No 28 requires the public to desist from littering, regularly clean up drainages and walkways, and also ensure that public places like markets are kept clean and litter free. “As individuals, we must begin to take keen interest in our environment. Most diseases are caused by dirty environment and this makes it compulsory for us to ensure that the environment we live in is safe and healthy by cleaning up our premises, whether at home, in schools, churches, markets, e.t.c. Efforts should be made to seal up holes through which rats and other pests could gain entrance into homes.” Speaking further, Anukam also urged the people to always take proper care of their foods and ensure that they are properly covered, cooked or uncooked to prevent contacts with rodents. “There is also the need to imbibe the culture of hand washing. It is necessary to fumigate homes, offices and markets with approved rodenticides to eliminate rodents and other pests.

‘Paris Agreement ‘decisive turning point’ on climate change’

ess than two months after 196 parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change adopted the Paris Agreement, the global community is already seeing signs of it being a decisive turning point, according to a senior UN official dealing with climate issues. A month and a half since 196 parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) adopted the Paris Agreement, the global community is already seeing signs of it being a decisive turning point, according to a senior UN official dealing with climate issues. “Much has been happening since Paris – the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) confirmed that 2015 was the hottest year on record, not just by a little but by a lot,” Janos Pasztor, who was today appointed as Senior Adviser to the SecretaryGeneral on Climate Change, told reporters at a briefing in New York. For the past year, Mr. Pasztor had been leading the UN’s climate change efforts as Assistant Secretary-General on Climate

Change, working towards last December’s 21st United Nations climate change conference (COP21). Recalling that UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon has invited world leaders to a signing ceremony on 22 April – which coincides with International Mother Earth Day – the climate advisor noted that it will be the first day the Agreement is open for formal signatures. He said Mr. Ban is urging countries to quickly ratify the agreement so it can enter into force as soon as possible, adding that the event will also be an opportunity to discuss efforts to implement national climate plans, known as INDCs, and to generally “maintain the momentum of the action agenda.” Meanwhile, he underlined the Secretary-General’s recent call for a doubling of investments in clean energy by 2020, which he said was greeted “very positively” by many investors. “The Paris Agreement sent a clear message to markets and investors that it’s time to get serious about climate change. We’re now seeing evidence that the signal has been received loud and clear,” Mr. Pasztor stressed.

Real Estate & Environment

Tuesday, February 9, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

FG should ban logging to raise forest cover level –Asiodu SYLVA EMEKA-OKEREKE

xperts have projected that for Nigeria to achieve 25 percent forest cover as envisaged by the Nigerian Conservation Foundation, NCF, the Federal Government must ban logging of woods in the country.

The NCF has concluded plans to initiate actions targeted at increasing the country’s vegetation to 25 per cent cover. To achieve this, the Foundation said it had been working on a fiveyear strategic plan to engage all stakeholders on environmental issues in the country to ensure that

the 25 percent forest cover for the country. However, some experts have raised concerns over the growing deforestation in the country, disclosing that unless logging of woods was banned in the country, the policy might not be achieved. A former Minister and Chief

L-R: Country Director, PLAN International, Dr. Hussaini Abdu; Corporate Affairs Director, Unilever Nigeria, Soromidayo George;Vice President,

Economic Adviser to the Federal Government, Chief Phillip Asiodu, recalled that Nigeria achieved 35 percent forest cover in 1960, but less than four percent after Independence, disclosing that such scenario is not good for the nation’s environment. He raised serious concerns over deforestation in the country and pointed out that 90 percent of rural population depended on timber products for survival. The elder statesman however urged the Federal Government to ban logging of woods until the country is able to achieve the desired forest cover, even as he was very sceptical over the possibility of achieving the result, considering the fact that diversification of the federal government due to fallen oil prices might affect the forest. While noting that diversification of the nation’s economy is ideal, considering the growing

NCIB, UCT conduct research on Africa’s real estate

Weak currency may attract foreign C property investors –Expert

n Economist and Chief Executive Officer of Re/Max, Adrian Goslett said that although the growing weak currency may be a sign of downturn in some countries but that its benefits cannot be overemphasised. Goslett explanied that while weak currencies make imported items and overseas travel more expensive for people, such exchange rates might be very attractive to foreign investors, provided the foreign sentiment towards another country remains positive. A South African, Goslett noted, for instance, that property in his country may become more affordable for buyers with currencies like dollars or pounds. ‘’This could mean that we may see higher numbers of foreign investors purchasing homes in 2016, bringing both capital and skills into the country’’, he stated. According to him, the allure of the weaker rand could be underpinned by other economic concerns that foreigners may have about South Africa, saying there could only be an increase in foreign property investment, if buyers perceive the country to be a feasible investment option.

He added that foreigners, who buy property in South Africa, will do so based on the fact that they have fallen in love with the country and intend to use their asset on a regular basis, rather than based their decision on the fact that property is relatively affordable. Goslett noted that another benefit of a weaker rand is that it may address the current trade deficit and see companies looking to local suppliers rather than importing items. At the moment South Africa imports more goods than it exports, which means many local

businesses have suffered. A weakened rand makes international imports more expensive while simultaneously making South African exports more competitive in the global market. “The weakening rand will more than likely quell the demand for international goods, with many refocusing on local industry to substitute foreign investments. The higher demand for locally developed items will increase the need for workers and help to address the current high unemployment rate’’ Goslett added.

ommercial real estate sector in Africa has been described as ‘’poised for lift-off ’’ by analysts. However, they noted that the continent should capitalise on this sector to ensure that property markets foster economic growth and development. To address these challenges, the Department of Construction Economics and Management at University of Cape Town, UCT, has partnered with Nedbank Corporate and Investment Banking, NCIB, to form the UCT-Nedbank Urban Real Estate Research Unit under the directorship of Associate Professor, Francois Viruly. The primary source of funding for the Unit is NCIB’s Property Finance business, which has committed R1m per year to the unit for the next four years.

Obama seeks to double US funds for clean energy research

S President Barack Obama on Saturday (Feb 6) proposed doubling US funding over the next five years for clean energy research and development, as part of his ongoing effort to tackle climate change. In his weekly media address, Mr Obama announced that he will send a budget to Congress on Tuesday which hits twice the current spending levels for clean energy research and development by 2020, declaring that “rather than subsidise the past, we should invest in the future.” The president next week

sends to Congress the final spending blueprint of his presidency - a guidepost to his policy priorities - including proposals in the coming fiscal year to raise taxes and boost spending. “One of the greatest challenges of our time is climate change,” the US leader said. “Over the last seven years, we’ve made historic investments in clean energy that helped private sector companies create tens of thousands of good jobs. And today, clean power from the wind or the sun is actually cheaper in many communities than dirtier, con-

economic concerns, he however warned against its negative effects on the nation’s forest reserve. Also, the Chairman of the NCF, Chief Ede Dafinone, said the value of forest was totally ignored in economic accounting of the country, urging the. Federal government to factor the values of the sector as part of its revenue generation. He however expressed serious concern that climate change was also affecting the lives of the people, calling for collective action against climate change as well as deforestation in the country. Logging is the cutting, skidding and on-site processing of trees for domestic purposes. In forestry, the term logging is sometimes used in a narrow sense, concerning the logistics of moving wood from the stump to somewhere outside the forest, usually a sawmill or a lumber yard.

ventional power.” The increased spending, Mr Obama said, “will include new investments to help the private sector create more jobs faster, lower the cost of clean energy faster, and help clean, renewable power outcompete dirty fuels in every state.” Mr Obama’s call for greater investment in clean energy echoes one he made in last month’s annual State of the Union address, and dovetails with the ambitious global climate change accord concluded last year in Paris. (Source - straitstimes.com)

With this generous funding, the unit will develop an interdisciplinary research platform to identify issues within and solutions to urban real estate investment, finance, economics and management problems in Africa. “The success and long-term sustainability of African cities is a function of vibrant property markets,” explains Viruly. “It should be founded on an understanding of how these markets function and what they can be expected to deliver.” The unit aims to develop a unique research alliance between UCT, industry and society at large to collaborate with public and private sector partners, thereby ensuring a community and industry aligned agenda. “This engaged research aims to ensure that the property sector is able to play its role in fostering the needs of investors and other stakeholders”, Viruly stated. “There is a growing understanding that the performance of the built environment is not merely the outcome of economic growth, but has a critical role to play in creating the physical and social environment from which economies are able to prosper.” The risk of letting the African real estate sector boom take place without the accompanying research and understanding of the impacts of property development is huge. “A great example of this was the 2008 global financial crisis which clearly demonstrated the social risks of an unmanaged property boom,” he says.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Tuesday, February 9, 2016

Aviation

Experts urge NCAA on maintenance survey of Bristow Helicopters, laud pilot

Last week’s crash of Bristow Helicopters chopper once again brought to the fore adherence to safe practices by the company and the entire Nigerian aviation industry. OLUSEGUN KOIKI writes.

takeholders in the Nigerian aviation industry have described the last week control-ditching of a chopper with the registration number 5N BJQ by Bristow Helicopters pilot into the Atlantic Ocean as a professional way of handling emergency. The chopper, a S76 C++helicopter with 11 souls onboard including two crew had departed ERHA Platform in Port Harcourt enroute Lagos before it landed into the Atlantic Ocean 95 nautical miles to destination at about 10:20am. All the 11 people on board were rescued alive from the crash. Control-ditching is an action a pilot takes to safeguard lives of passengers onboard when he discovers a problem with an airborne aircraft. This procedure is encouraged in civil aviation and pilots are trained to undertake the action when they find themselves in difficult flight situations. A member of the Aviation Round Table, ART, and a former engineer with the defunct national carrier, Nigeria Airways, Engr. Sheri Kyari, said the ditching of the aircraft into the Atlantic Ocean indicated that the pilot was well-trained to handle emergency. He explained that most of the simulator routine trainings done every six months by pilots, basically focus on emergency issues like what happened with the Bristow chopper. He however declined to comment on the probable cause of the accident, saying that it would be wrong for anyone to comment on this until the Accident Investigator Bureau, AIB, comes out with its report on the accident. But, he noted that three factors are primarily responsible for air crashes anywhere in the world. The factors according to him are weather, maintenance of aircraft and frame of mind of the pilot in command, but he noted that stakeholders and professionals in the industry are no longer comfortable with the spate of accidents involving Bristow Helicopters in recent time. He said, “The society is beginning to get worry of the spate of crashes involving the helicopter company in recent time. Not too long ago, one of its helicopters crashed into the lagoon in Lagos with fatalities. “As it is now, one cannot easily zero in on maintenance of the aircraft until AIB commences and ends its investigation. The quickest blame usual goes to the maintenance, but after the investigation, the cause of the crash would be revealed. “Also, we expect that the AIB recommendations should be incorporated into all the helicopter companies flying that

Bristow Helicopter wreckage of August 2015

These nine accidents involved 10 aircraft from one operator. How would NCAA explain these to the public when safety recommendations were made for each accident report where there are no considerations to conduct surveys

instead of audits on the operator?

These

incessant accidents need special surveys

on the operations, maintenance and crew licensing of the operator and not audit particular type of chopper. If we can do that, it will go a long way t improve safety. Accident investigators do bring out the reports of accidents, but I’ve not seen a forum where stakeholders are called to analyse jointly such report so that recurrence can be prevented.” On his own part, the former Airport Manager under the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, NAMA, Mr. Sam Akerele declared that the country’s airspace was safe for flight operations. Akerele insisted that air crashes were preventable inasmuch all the components of the aircraft are in-line with the manufacturers’ recommendations and the technical staff are consistently trained by the management. He however urged the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, to check critically the maintenance record of all helicopters operating in the country. “It’s not enough to say helicopter had a ditch and all the people survived. You have to go deep and deeper, especially now that it is becoming regular with a particular company. NCAA should look inward and critically into the maintenance department of that company,” he said.

Besides, the former Airport Commandant, Grp. Capt. John Ojikutu observed that Bristow Helicopters had involved in 10 air crashes in the since August 2007, a record he said was not good enough. The previous accidents according to him are 5N-BIQ, which occurred in August 2007; 5N-BKJ of November 2009; 5NBGS and 5N-BDD collision of December 2009. Others are 5N-BFU, which occurred on April 2010; 5N-BMM in July 2011; 5N-BOA that occurred in February 2013; 5N-BDG in August 2015 and the latest, 5N BJQ, which occurred on February 3, 2016 from Port Harcourt enroute to Lagos. He blamed the NCAA for not ensuring that all the safety recommendations made by AIB were complied with and called for special surveys of the Bristow Helicopters operations and not audit as stated by the regulatory authority. He queried: “These nine accidents involved 10 aircraft from one operator. How would NCAA explain these to the public when safety recommendations were made for each accident report where there are no considerations to conduct surveys instead of audits on the operator? These

incessant accidents need special surveys on the operations, maintenance and crew licensing of the operator and not audit. “To these, Bristow operations may have to be shut down otherwise, NCAA and the operator will have a lot of explanations to make when other stakeholders and the public get to know about this. NCAA should have shut their operations in 2009, when two of the operator’s aircraft collided in the air. I’m sure those I shared my thoughts with in Abuja must have been on NCAA neck. Moreover, the tide now is stronger to put any pundits off the road.” Also, an aviation consultant, Mr. Charles Innocent said that the pilot, took the right decision in landing the aircraft into water. He said that in such situation, a pilot must not try to keep the plane airborne, adding that if a pilot landed the aircraft too slowly, he would equally drop out of the sky. He added that the crew would have configured the chopper before ditching to make sure that water would not come rushing in, but noted that nothing the pilots encountered in training would have prepared them for the multitude of problems they dealt with. Innocent emphasized further that the pilot had to land the chopper perfectly straight - otherwise it would have broken up on impact. He said, “It is quite clear that he got everything absolutely right. For now, no one should speculate about the cause of the accident because the Accident Investigation Bureau, AIB, I’m sure has begun investigation into the accident, but, what I can say is that if an aircraft only had a very small percentage of power or even no power at all it is still possible to ditch it, providing you can stick the nose down. Water is always the safest option to land on if you are forced to crash land a plane. “If you are choosing between forest, a city and water then water is safer every time, so that you can float on the surface, especially if there is land nearby and the passengers can make a safe exit.” It would be recall that on January 15, 2009, a US Airways’ Airbus 320, Flight 1549, piloted by Captain Chesley Sullenberger and First Officer Jeffrey Skiles, made unpowered emergency water landing in the Hudson River after multiple bird strikes caused both jet engines to fail barely four minutes after take-off. The pilot had avoided landing on New York City. All 155 occupants, the passengers and crew, were successfully evacuated from the partially submerged air frame as it sank into the river; they were rescued by nearby watercraft, but, several occupants suffered minor injuries.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Tuesday, February 9, 2016

Air Cote D’Ivoire commences Abidjan – Abuja flight Stories: Olusegun Koiki

L-R: Ag. The General Manager, Communications, Skyway Aviation Handling Company Ltd, SAHCOL, Mr. Basil Agboarumi, Ag. Managing Director, SAHCOL, Mr. Rizwan Kadri, Chairman, League of Airport and Aviation Correspondent, LAAC, Mr. Chuks Iwelunmo and the General Secretary, LAAC, Mr. Ewos Iroro during the courtesy visit by the latter to the new SAHCOL’s boss at the corporate headquarters of the ground handling company at the Lagos Airport.

at 7:25pm on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays to arrive in Abuja at 11:15pm. This is coming on the heels of its recent launch last month of the delivery of yet another brand new Dash 8-Q400 aircraft. The recently acquired airliner is one of three new aircraft expected to join the carrier’s young fleet this year. Commenting on the commencement of the new route, the Country Manager, Nigeria of the airline, Mr. Moustapha Fofana commended its guests for encouraging it on the Nigerian route especially Lagos, which it started about a year

ago. He noted that connecting the city of Abuja through direct flights to Abidjan would not only open the region to seamless connectivity in the spirit of the Yamoussoukro Decision, but would also “go a long way to foster closer relations between Nigeria and Cote D’Ivoire, offer greater choice to customers, and significantly reduce travel time for passengers,” he added. Air Cote d’Ivoire is the national carrier of Cote d’Ivoire with a workforce of over 482 employees including more than 63 Pilots, 137 Cabin Crew and 282 Ground Staff operating a young fleet of seven aircraft comprising three A319s, one A320 and three Dash 8-Q400s.

Air freight growth slowed to 2.2% in 2015 – IATA

he International Air Transport Association, IATA, has released figures for global air freight markets showing cargo volumes measured in freight tonne kilometers, FTKs, expanded 2.2 per cent in 2015 compared to 2014. This was a slower pace of growth than the 5 per cent growth recorded in 2014. The association said weakness reflects sluggish trade growth in Europe and AsiaPacific. IATA said after a strong start, air freight volumes began a decline that continued through most of 2015, until some improvements to world trade drove a modest pickup late in the year. Cargo in Asia-Pacific, account-

Tyler

shegzzy4live2000@yahoo.co.uk 08186007273

Bristow Helicopters and control-ditch

ir Cote D’Ivoire has unveiled plans to commence direct flight from its base in Abidjan to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, NAIA, Abuja. The airline said the direct flight operations between the two cities would commence next week, February 15, 2016. Statement issued in Lagos by the media consultant to the airline hinted that the hoped to further expand its rapidly growing network and quickly establish itself as the leading carrier in the West and Central African Sub Region with the commencement of the flight operations. At present, Air Cote D’Ivoire operates five frequencies weekly from its base in Abidjan to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Lagos. The airline stated that a total of three weekly flights would be operated between both destinations in a two class configuration of 7 seat in Business Class and 60 seats in Economy class. The flights would depart from Abuja on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays at 09:20am and arrive in Abidjan at 11: 05am while it would depart Abidjan

Airside

ed for around 39 per cent of freight traffic, expanded by a moderate 2.3 per cent. The key markets of Europe and North America, which between them comprise around 43 per cent of total cargo traffic, were basically flat in 2015. Latin America suffered a steep decline (-6 per cent) while the Middle East grew strongly, up 11.3 per cent. Africa also saw modest growth of 1.2 per cent. The freight load factor, FLF, was at times the lowest for some years, falling to an average 44.1 per cent compared to 45.7 per cent in 2014, driven down by weak demand and capacity expansion. “2015 was another very difficult year for air cargo. Growth has slowed and revenue is falling. In 2011 air cargo revenue peaked at $67 billion. In 2016 we are not expecting revenue to exceed $51 billion. Efficiency gains are critical as the sector adjusts to shortening global supply chains and evermore competitive market conditions. “We have to adjust to the ‘new normal’ of cargo growing in line with general rates of economic expansion. The industry is moving forward with an e-freight transformation that will modernize pro-

cesses and improve the value proposition. The faster the industry can make that happen, the better,” said Director-General, Dr. Tony Tyler.

arely six months after one of its helicopters crashed into the lagoon at the Oworonshoki Area of Lagos on the Third Mainland Bridge, another chopper from the fleet of the company with the registration number 5N BJQ ditched into Atlantic Ocean last week on its way to Lagos. Though, expectedly the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, 24 hours later, announced immediate suspension of all Sikorsky 76 aircraft brand in the fleet of Bristow Helicopters till further notice following incessant accidents involving the brand. It was the same helicopter type that crashed into lagoon

last August killing six of the 12 occupants while others sustained serious injuries. Airside says persistent crashes in recent time involving the company required real investigation into the maintenance department of the airline. In the past nine years, 10 helicopters from the company have involved in major incidents and accidents with tens of casualties. Airside insists for the public to have confidence in the oversight functions of NCAA, the regulatory body should critically review activities of Bristow Helicopters unless if safety has taken a flight in the industry. NCAA should do more than auditing in Bristow.

AMCON’s takeover of Aero Contractors

ast week the Asset Management Company of Nigeria, AMCON, finally took over the management of the troubled carrier, Aero Contractors. AMCON, apart from taking over the airline, also immediately dissolved its Board of Director and appointed a manager to oversee the affairs of the airline. AMCON further said that it would engage a reputable accounting firm to undertake a forensic audit of the airline’s accounts in the past five years to know its financial status and why it ran into murky water. Airside says it is a shame for

the once vibrant airline with history in the Nigerian aviation industry to go under just like that primarily due to poor management thinking and alleged diversion of funds meant to grow the airline by its new owners. Airside will appreciate it if AMCON is able to critically investigate the running of the airline in the last five years as it promised because some people somewhere due to their selfish gains, ran the airline aground and invested in other climes. Time for fiscal impunity to stop in the Nigerian aviation industry is now.

Delta Air Lines CEO retires in May

elta Air Lines said that its Chief Executive Officer, CEO, Richard Anderson has volunteered to retire from the company effective from May 2, 2016. President of Delta, Ed Bastian would be appointed CEO effective May 2, 2016 while Glen Hauenstein, Executive Vice President, would be appointed President of Delta, also from the date. The company in a statement hinted that Anderson would be elevated to Executive Chairman, Board of Directors of the airline. The Chairman of the Board, Mr. Dan Carp in the statement described Anderson as an outstanding leader and CEO, saying that his unique combination of strategic and operating skills, plus his commitment to employees, corporate culture, customers and shareholders had redefined Delta and led to

an entirely new and better way of flying around the world. He added, “Under Richard’s leadership, Delta has become the most profitable and best run airline that consistently delivers excellent customer service. The entire Board of Directors extends hearty thanks for his service, his leadership and his thoughtful succession planning process. This succession plan has been several years in the making and will keep Delta on top of the global industry.” Gil West is promoted immediately to Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. “Ed has been a critical part of Delta’s success. He is an exceptional leader and has been an invaluable partner in leading the remarkable transformation of Delta over the last decade. Likewise, Glen and Gil are extraordinary leaders who have led the transformation of

Delta’s network, product and operations. “I hold Ed, Glen and Gil in the highest esteem, both personally and professionally, and have every confidence that they will lead Delta to even higher levels of performance.” said Richard Anderson. “Ed Bastian will lead the best management team in the global industry. Delta’s succession planning and executive development has produced the top performing executive team in the global airline industry,” said Dan Carp, Chairman of the Delta Board of Directors. Effective immediately, the Board of Directors also appoints Steve Sear, President International and Executive Vice President Global Sales. Steve will lead the Atlantic, Asia-Pacific, and Latin America organizations in addition to global sales.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Tuesday, February 9, 2016

Insurance

ARIAN rues exclusion from Insurance Bill Review Committee saying that the committee can be considered to be incomplete without the inclusion of agents as members. He said the importance of the association in the retail business of insurance products was very crucial and that ARIAN has a lot to contribute towards the enhancement of retail business in the insurance sector. The insurer said that agents should be allowed to participate in the committee and contribute to the review of the bill in the interest of the industry. It would be recalled that the Minister of Finance last month disclosed

Stories: Isaac Asabor

he Association of Registered Insurance Agents of Nigeria (ARIAN) has strongly detested its exclusion from the proposed Committee on the Review of the Insurance (Consolidated) Bill by the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, and the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM). In demonstration of its grouse over the issue, the group has forwarded a letter to the Minister and NAICOM’s leadership, demanding that the association be absorbed into the committee. The association President, Mr. Olamerun Gbadebo, during his interaction with the media had expressed

Gbadebo

the group’s objection to what he called lopsided constitution of the committee,

NCRIB engages members on policy implementation

equel to the withdrawal of the operating licences of some brokers by the regulator, the National Insurance Commission, NAICOM, the Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB) has intensified awareness drive for its members, especially on industry policy implementation. Ostensibly in its response to the appeal made to NAICOM by the president of NCRIB, Emmanuel Okunoren, to reconsider its stringent requirements, the regulator after due consideration rescinded its earlier position by giving the affected brokers the opportunity to commence business transactions. Okunoren, thanked the commission and pledged the association’s partnership with the regulatory body, adding that NCRIB would ensure that its members followed the guidelines of NAICOM for improved performance. He said: “We have engaged most of them and commenced the process of re-educating them on the need to follow guidelines in a regulatory environment. And we believe that progress and improvements will be seen going forward.” On the issue of pending renewals of NCRIB members and the reactions by under-

writers on the need to be cautious in dealing with brokers, Okunoren said it had been taken care of by NAICOM. He noted that NCRIB had detailed the particulars required to the extent of which they were fatal to renewal process. In the bid to forestall future infractions by the brokers, and in ensuring that the issue is amicably resolved, the commissioner, Mohammed Kari, has agreed for a six-member committee, consisting of three members from NCRIB and three from NAICOM to be set up. The committee will look into the items on the requirements necessary for obtaining a renewal licence with a view to ensuring that no one item prevents a licence from being issued”. NAICOM just reconsidered its earlier position to give opportunity to brokers whose licences have expired to enable them to re-register with their old names. Kari explained that the consideration would enable the brokers retain their customers. He said “If a licence does not exist, there is nothing to renew and having lost a licence, ideally what you should do is to apply for a new name and market your client all over. But we are giving them the benefit to maintain their client if they have them.”

that the review committee had been constituted and that members of the committee were drawn from both the public and private sectors. She said that the outcome of the review would, upon completion, be submitted to the National Assembly within three months. The committee, which was inaugurated last week in Abuja, is primarily responsible to participate in the review which is expected to form the basis for a new draft bill that would consequently be sent to the National Assembly for due legislative consideration.

AIO launches recognition award for members

he African Insurance Organization, AIO, has launched an annual Recognition Award for its meritorious members. According to a statement issued by the organization, the aim is to recognize individuals and companies for their outstanding contributions towards the growth of the African insurance industry. The meritorious individuals and companies will be rewarded during a special gala organized at the close of the AIO Conference and Annual General Assembly. It adds that the winner in the individual category will be nominated for the Insurance Hall of Fame which is organized by the International Insurance Society (IIS). However, for nominees to be recognized with the award, they must be adjudged to have made an encompassing and lasting contribution to the insurance industry in its broad sense (insurance, broking, reinsurance and regulatory) and thereby exerting a substantial influence on the ability of the insurance industry to serve society. They must also be seen to have earned the recognition of their peers, without question as having been dominant and successful leaders, innovators and visionaries. The African Insurance Organization (AIO), which was established in 1972, is a non-governmental organization recognized by many African governments. In its ongoing strategic goals, it aims to improve the relevance of the organization in mem-

ber countries, restructure the secretariat to competently support the growth of the organization and improves organization brand and communication. The organization, in setting its priority areas for the future, has focused its attention on consolidating and strengthening the existing pools and associations it has overtime set up, partnering with other organizations, notably the World Bank, UNCTAD, ILO and Access to Insurance Initiative in various capacity building programmes, encourage the development of Micro-insurance, promoting African Regulatory Capacity Building and promoting the capacity building of African Training Institutes. The AIO also aims to promote the management of Life and Pension funds for development, promote the African Centre for Catastrophe Risks, create a Pool for Catastrophe Risks as well as encourage scholarly research. The organization has called upon insurance organizations to nominate individuals and institutions that have made significant contributions to their home markets and by extension, the insurance sector in Africa. It added that the nominations must be supported with the name of the nominee (individual, company or international organization), name of the company of the nominee, if the nominee is an individual and reasons for nominating the person/institution as to their contribution to insurance in their local market, sub-region or in the continent.

Tuesday, February 9, 2016

Money

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Banks renew commitment to boost MSMEs through trainings Globally, Micro, Small And Medium Enterprises, MSMEs, are seen as engines of economic growth and major contributors to employment generation, wealth creation, and poverty alleviation, among others. In this analysis, Udo Onyeka, appraises how Nigerian banks are trying to boost the MSMEs’ performance through trainings.

ccording to reports, recent data provided by the National MSMEs collaborative survey 2010, put the number of MSMEs in Nigeria at 17,284,671 with total employment of 32,414,884. Notwithstanding the role of micro, small and medium scale enterprises in fostering economic growth and development, they have continued to face a variety of constraints. Some of the challenges they face are inadequate infrastructure facilities, shortage of skilled manpower, high rate of enterprise mortality, low level of entrepreneurial skills, lack of enabling operating environment, restricted market access and cumbersome regulatory requirements. Experts have at various fora agreed that deliberate efforts must be put in place to grow these numbers if Nigeria must achieve its national vision of being among the 20 most industrialised nations by the year 2020. According to them, to achieve this all the challenges confronting MSMEs must be addressed especially low level of entrepreneurial skills which also leads to shortage of skilled manpower and high rate of enterprise mortality, Many experts have stressed the need for training in order to effectively manage small businesses. This is important as analysts believe it would go a long way in curbing the problem of youth unemployment. According to former Managing Director of First Bank, Bisi Onasanya a central challenge that must be met “if our current democratic experiment is to succeed is the one where private sector participants contribute to the elaboration of solutions to problems across sectors. He said it was important for the country to encourage youth to acquire skills that would enable them create jobs for themselves and others. It was in the light of the above that many banks operating in the country have increased their support for Small and Medium Enterprises, SMEs. An important area in which financial institutions have supported SMEs is in capacity building. For instance towards the end last Diamond Bank organised a seminar for operators in the small and medium scale enterprises ,SMEs in the country, as part of its capacity building programme. Head, Retail Banking, Diamond Bank, Ms. Aishah Ahmad said her bank are always use every opportunity to improve what businesses are do-

Ecobank Executive, Business Banking, Ecobank Nigeria, Kingsley Umadia

Diamond Bank MD,

Many experts have stressed the need for training in order to effectively manage small businesses.

This is important as

analysts believe it would go a long way in curbing the problem of youth unemployment ing “which are the operational, legal governance are very critical to us and that is what drives some of the topics we discus in our lectures. “For us at Diamond Bank, we are very committed to small businesses. Every day we do something to that improve what they do. Asides from this, we also have an online portal were people can get information. We also do smaller clinics across different branches to ensure that all businesses around benefit from this,” she said. According to her, since its inception, Diamond Bank has been training about 15,000 people yearly and has done so for five years. In terms of financing SMEs, she said: “It is well known that Diamond Bank is an MSMEs bank and for us it is not only in financing. It is about making those businesses viable to be able to approach financing. Many operators have said that the apart from finance SMEs need information, technical knowhow so that their businesses could be sustained. “I am very committed to trying to help business see that we can build the kind of companies we admire in other countries small and medium doesn’t mean you can’t become large. I’m also trying to preach especially that we can do it by doing the right things. “We should think big, think synergy, think

impact and think excellence because we can transform this country.” An analyst Mrs Audrey Joe-Ezigbo had said. Also stressing the importance of training Executive Director, Sterling Bank, Abubakar Suleiman, said the process for transforming SMEs to become bigger players and part of national growth does not start and end with finance. Suleiman, who said this at the capacity building training seminar for SMEs organised by the bank recently, noted that the programme was aimed at enhancing the managerial and entrepreneurial qualities of SME operators with a view to building sustainable business, in view of the critical roles they play in the development of an economy. Explaining the rationale for organising the forum, Suleiman said: “It is our view that for us to be able to support SMEs, the standard for reporting and the day-to-day management of the organisation needs to improve. “We are focused on people we have done business with for a while and we want to assist them to take their businesses to another level.” He is also of the opinion that the type of education provided for SMEs needs to be improved. “Nigeria still has a lot to do and a long way to go when it

comes to our legal environment, the process of securing approvals and setting up businesses,” he said. Ecobank Nigeria in partnership with the Enterprise Development Centre ,EDC, of the Pan-Atlantic University has trained and extended grants worth millions of naira to five budding SME operators. The programme, tagged “Ecobank New Venture Initiative, ENVI, is an innovative business training and education scheme, in collaboration with Ecobank SME Club and Pan Atlantic University’s enterprise centre. The five selected SME entrepreneurs, known as ENVI Fellows are Olufemi Adenekan of Daily Fresh Farms; James Onyebuchi of Ojames Footwears; Winifred Obazeh of Asa Organics; Ifeoluwa Olatayo of Soupah Kitchen Limited; and Adegboyega Adesida of Charms Horizon International Farms Limited. The beneficiaries were enrolled for a one year training and mentorship with EDC, leading to the award of the highly sought Certificate in Entrepreneurial Management at EDC, the premier SME focused training centre of the Pan- Atlantic University. The grant was awarded midway into the training so as to monitor a real life growth in their businesses over the one year mentorship with EDC. The Business Executive, Business Banking, Ecobank Nigeria, Kingsley Umadia, while speaking at the presentation of grants in Lagos, said the massive support for small businesses by the bank is in line with its philosophy that recognizes the SME sub-sector as the engine room of the nation’s economic growth. The Head of SME/Value Chain, Ecobank Nigeria, Sunkami Olowo, explained that the programme is geared towards developing the capacity of entrepreneurs, thereby creating sustainability in their business and also growing their bottom line. Also to support SMEs, First Bank of Nigeria Limited has commenced the sponsorship of an SME Radio programme, The Economy & You! The programme, is a joint initiative of Enterprise Development Centre, a School of Pan Atlantic University, Lagos and First Bank of Nigeria Limited. The sponsorship objective is to educate, inform and build capacity for small business owners by providing them with the resources needed to grow their businesses.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Tuesday, February 9, 2016

Capital Market

Nigerian equities market sustains bearish trend Tola Akinmutimi

he Nigerian equities market ended bearishly last week, reflecting capital markets trends globally during the week. Except for the three basic points (bps) appreciation recorded last Tuesday largely due to Dangote Cement late rally in the day, the benchmark index closed in the negative on all other trading days of the week. According to statistics on the daily trading on the bourse, the market’s performance was characterized by profit taking. For instance, the week-on-week (Wo-W) returns on equities dipped 1.7 per cent just as year-to-date (YTD) loss worsened to 17.9 per cent as the All Shares Index (ASI) closed at 23,501.87 points on Friday. Similarly, due to increased sell sentiment in the market during the week under review, activity level strengthened as average volume and value traded appreciated 327.9 per cent W-o-W and 32.9 per cent W-o-W to 969.3 million units and N2.5 billion respectively. A cursory appraisal of cross sectoral performance of stocks in the market showed mixed performances. For instance, the Oil & Gas index inched up 4.0 per cent W-o-W, with price appreciation in SEPLAT shares at +25.1 per cent; Mobil 5.1 per cent. Relatedly, the Insurance Index improved 0.9 per cent week-on-week comparison occasioned by +5.3 percent gains recorded by Contisure and NEM Insur-

Nigerian Stock Exchange

ance stocks’ +4.4 per cent. However, data on the trading trend reflected that sell offs in Nestle Plc leading

to -5.0 per cent depreciation of the company’s stocks value as well as those of and Nigerian Breweries, which dipped

the firm’s stock price by -4.0 price dragged the Consumer Goods index down by 3.2 per cent during the week under review when compared with the previous week stocks’ performance. Also, the Industrial Goods and Banking indices did not fare better as they fell 2.1 per cent and 0.7 per cent week-onweek on account of losses -3.6 per cent by Dangote Cement and -4.8 per cent by Guaranty trust Bank. An appraisal of the market showed further that market sentiment also worsened during the week under review as market breadth when measured by advancers/decliners ratio settled at 0.7x (against previous of 1.2x) as 28 stocks gained while 40 stocks recorded losses. Amongst the best stocks during the week were, International Breweries, which recorded +27.8 per cent price increase, Seplat, +25.1 per cent; and Aglevent at +8.7 per cent while Glaxosmith with -14.2 per cent loss, Unilever, -13.9 per cent and UnityBank at-12.0 per cent were among the most declined stocks. Analysts have projected that given the lingering erosion of investors’ confidence in the market, the bearish outlook of the market may be sustained, at least in the short term even as prospect for bullish hold would depend on how investors’ react to corporate earnings releases in the interim. Experts have identified the lingering oil price weakness in the international market as well as policy opacity amongst the key factors responsible for the bearish run of the market in recent weeks.

Gulf stocks retreat from highest level in over three weeks Investors cheer Argentina’s

tocks across the Gulf fell, following a drop in global markets, as traders cashed in on gains after a gauge of the region’s biggest companies climbed to a three-week high. The Bloomberg GCC 200 Index, which tracks some of the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council’s largest companies, slipped 0.8 per cent from the highest level since Jan. 11. The Tadawul All Share Index was the region’s biggest decliner as it retreated 1.3 per cent, followed by ADX General Index with a 0.9 per cent drop. The MSCI World Index lost 1.6 per cent on Friday. “Markets have had a good run, now we’re seeing a bit of profit taking,” said Wafic Nsouli, the managing director and head of equities at Dubai-based investment bank Arqaam Capital Ltd. Stocks in the GCC have whipsawed this year as oil

prices fluctuated and investors fretted about slowing economic growth in China, a major trading partner for the region. Brent crude, which accounts for most government income in the GCC, dropped a second day on Friday as growing U.S. crude stockpiles signaled a persisting global glut that’s proving a hurdle for any sustained rally. The Gulf is home to about 30 per cent of the world’s proven oil reserves. Saudi Arabia’s benchmark index posted its first slide in three days. Jabal Omar Development Co. and Saudi Basic Industries Corp. led the drop, falling 2.3 per cent and 1.2 per cent, respectively. Banque Saudi Fransi declined the most since Jan. 20 after the company said board member Thierry Simon resigned. The kingdom would be willing to contribute ground

troops as part of a wider campaign against Islamic State in Syria, Al-Arabiya television reported on Friday, citing Ahmed Asseri, the spokesman for the Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen. “Sending ground troops to Syria is a concern given the cost to fund these military excursions,” said Nayal Khan, the Riyadh-based head of institutional equities sales trading at Saudi Fransi Capital. “It signals an escalating geopolitical risk in the region. Any protracted military response is likely to deepen negative sentiment in the market and add pressure on the budget.” Dubai’s DFM General Index decreased 0.7 per cent, the first decline in three days, as trading volumes slid to about two-thirds of the 12-month daily average. Emaar Properties PJSC was one of just five stocks to gain

in the sheikhdom. The developer, whose skyscraper design was approved by Dubai’s ruler on Saturday, added 0.9 per cent to the highest level since Jan. 5. The new project is “a sign of commitment of Dubai in terms of expanding construction and continuing its real estate infrastructure,” said Tariq Qaqish, the head of asset management at Dubai-based Al Mal Capital PSC. In neighboring Abu Dhabi, First Gulf Bank PJSC fell 1.7 per cent to 11.50 dirhams. The United Arab Emirates’s third-biggest lender was one of the biggest contributors to the gauge’s 5.9 percent increase last week, the strongest advance since May 2014. “Abu Dhabi is being dragged down by FGB after its recent run up to almost 12 dirhams a share,” Arqaam’s Nsouli said. (Source – Bloomberg.com)

swift offer to holdouts

nvestors on Saturday praised the speed with which new Argentine President Mauricio Macri made a cash offer to holders of defaulted bonds aimed at ending a long and bitter dispute that has strangled government finances. A financial markets pariah since defaulting on a record $100 billion in 2002, Argentina proposed on Friday a $6.5 billion payment to settle the legal battle and said two of the leading six “holdouts” in the case had already accepted the discounted terms. “We’re very encouraged by the pace with which Argentina is finally resolving the outstanding disputes with all of its holdouts,” said Shahriar Shahida, co-chief investment officer at New York-based Constellation Capital Management, which holds Argentine securities.

“We’re hopeful this government will have a much more conciliatory relationship with all of its creditors,” Shahida said. As Macri sought to woo multinational chief executives gathered at the World Economic Forum in Davos last month, the center-right leader told Reuters he wanted a “fair agreement” with the bondholders early this year. Finance Minister Alfonso Prat-Gay said negotiations were continuing with creditors still pushing for an improved deal. They include billionaire Paul Singer’s Elliott Management and Aurelius Capital Management. “There might be a chance that in the next few days they come on board,” Prat-Gay told Radio Mitre. “They’re looking at the offer. They’ve been getting closer to our position.” (Source – reuters.com)

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Tuesday, February 9, 2016

Suspected cult members blow up Agip pipeline in Rivers

…as Army warns sponsors of armed gangs Dennis Naku, Port Harcourt

uspected cult members have destroyed a gas pipeline belonging to the Nigeria Agip Oil Company, NAOC in Oshie community, Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers State. This is as the Nigeria Army has said it was monitoring sponsors of criminal gangs in the Niger Delta, warning those behind such acts to desist in their own interest. The attack on the oil facility which took place on Sunday disrupted production activities of the oil firm, even as they threaten to carry out further attacks on oil and gas installations if their demands were not met. Spokesperson of the Army, 2 Brigade, Bori. Camp Port Harcourt, Eli Lazarus who disclosed this in a statement issued on Monday said the attackers were members of the Icelanders cult group. Lazarus further said they suspected cultist were demanding for the release of one of its members identified as Emmanuel Odum. The statement reads, “In the early hours of Sunday 7 February 2016, pipeline vandals destroyed a gas facility in Akala Olu Village in Oshie community, Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers State thereby disrupting the production activities of Nigeria Agip Oil Company. “The vandals threatened to carry out further acts of vandalism unless their demands are met. The vandals are suspected members of Icelander cult group. “The group demanded the release of a detained suspect - one Mr. Emmanuel Odum, currently undergoing interrogation in connection with pipeline vandalism and cult related activities,” it said. It stated that the Army would not be cowed to do the bidding of any criminal group, saying, “For the avoidance of doubt, anyone caught vandalizing such critical national asset will be severely dealt with in accordance with the law.”

General Manager, Eastern Port, Mr. Joshua Asanga (4th left), with other officials inspecting facilities at Calabar Port.

The statement added, “It is now known that some politicians are arming these groups and encouraging them with inciting comments to breach public peace. “No one should be in doubt of the capacity of the military to deal decisively with such persons. If anyone

is caught breaching public peace particularly during the forthcoming elections, such person/persons should have themselves to blame. “Already, some suspected patrons and sponsors of these criminals groups are being closely monitored by security agencies. “Parents and guardians

are therefore strongly advised to warn their children/ wards against any form of association with such criminal groups/sponsors otherwise the full wrath of the law would be meted to them. “The public is hereby assured that no effort will be spared in arresting and prosecuting oil pipelines vandals

and criminals. Any relevant information that can assist the Brigade in arresting such criminals could be passed using the following numbers: 09056042841, 07039037833 and 07013469203. “All information received would be treated with utmost confidentiality,” the 2 Brigade said.

weeks, including the kidnapping of two paramount rulers. The monarch of UbuluUku, Akaeze Ofulue III, was abducted and subsequently died in January. Also, the King of Olomoro Kingdom in Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta, Josiah Umukoro Aghaza I, Odiologbo, was kidnapped on January 29. The paramount ruler, however, regained freedom on February 1 after he was held in hostage for four days. Daura urged the officers to synergise with relevant stake-

holders to effectively curtail crime in the area. ``Our meeting is to sensitise you on issues bordering on the increased crime rate in Delta. ``Crime fighting is dynamic, just as the society is dynamic. ``I urge you to synergise with the relevant stakeholders to get useful, intelligent and vital information that is key to fighting crime in the society. ``You should also liaise with hoteliers and check their manifest because most of the criminals lodge in the hotels.

``All the outlets, both in and out of Warri, must be properly blocked to check crimes. ``Raid all the criminal hideouts and confiscate the illegal arms; our mandate is to ensure that people sleep with their two eyes closed,’’ he said. The police boss warned the officers and men against extra-judicial killing, noting that whoever is caught would be made to face the full weight of the law. ``Avoid attacking innocent people, be firm and fair in the discharge of your duty,’’ he said.

AIG decries increased crime rate in Delta

r. Musa Daura, the Assistant InspectorGeneral of Police (AIG), Zone 5, Benin City, on Monday decried the increased crime rate in Delta, attributing it to proliferation of firearms. Daura spoke during his visit to Warri Area Command of the Nigeria Police, under the command of Assistant Commissioner of Police Muhammed Mu’azu. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Delta has witnessed an upsurge of kidnapping and other criminal activities in the last five

PHOTO: NAN

Capital Market

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Daily Summary as of 08/02/2016 Printed 08/02/2016 14:37:05.005

Tuesday, February 9, 2016

Daily Summary as of 08/02/2016

Stock exchange daily equities summary Printed 08/02/2016 14:37:05.005

Daily Summary (Equities)

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Daily Summary (Bonds)

HEALTHCARE Healthcare Providers Healthcare Providers Totals

Activity Summary on Board DEBT Federal

Bond Name 15.54% FGN FEB 2020 Federal Totals

Symbol FG122020S1

State and Local Bond Name 17.00% CRS MAY 2022 State and Local Totals

Symbol CRS2022S1

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 111.01

Quantity Traded 840 840

Value Traded 996,647.53 996,647.53

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 108.74

Quantity Traded 38,000 38000

Value Traded 42,652,167.96 42,652,167.96

38,840

43,648,815.49

38840

43,648,815.49

Equities as at February 8, 2016

DEBT Board Totals Bond Activity Totals

1st Tier Securities Sector

Company name

No Of Deals Quotation(N) Daily Summary (Equities)

Quantity Traded

Value of Shares(N)

Activity Summary on Board EQTY AGRICULTURE Crop Production Daily Summary as of 08/02/2016 FTN COCOA PROCESSORS PLC OKOMU OIL PALM PLC. Printed 08/02/2016 14:37:05.005 PRESCO PLC Crop Production Totals Livestock/Animal Specialties LIVESTOCK FEEDS PLC. Livestock/Animal Totals Activity Summary onSpecialties Board EQTY

Symbol FTNCOCOA OKOMUOIL PRESCO

No. of Deals 1 30 8 39

Current Price 0.50 27.99 34.00

Quantity Traded 1,000 684,731 154,760 840,491

Value Traded 500.00 19,118,665.53 5,237,198.00 24,356,363.53

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

Quantity Traded 714,503 714,503

Value Traded 900,483.30 900,483.30

LIVESTOCK

5 5

AGRICULTURE Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © AGRICULTURE Totals CONGLOMERATES Diversified Industries JOHN HOLT PLC. S C O A NIG. PLC. TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATION OF NIGERIA PLC U A C N PLC. Diversified Industries Totals

No. of Deals 1 1 60 10 72

CONGLOMERATES Totals CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Infrastructure/Heavy Construction JULIUS BERGER NIG. PLC. Infrastructure/Heavy Construction Totals

Daily Summary as of 08/02/2016

Real Estate Development Printed 08/02/2016 14:37:05.005 UACN PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT CO. LIMITED Real Estate Development Totals CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Totals CONSUMER GOODS Activity Summary on Parts Board EQTY Automobiles/Auto DN TYRE & RUBBER PLC CONSUMER GOODS Automobiles/Auto Parts Automobiles/Auto Parts Totals© Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange

1.26

Page 1,554,994

Symbol JOHNHOLT SCOA TRANSCORP UACN

Current Price 0.88 3.96 1.15 20.89

1 of 13 25,256,846.83

Quantity Traded 300 2,000 4,323,852 62,079 4,388,231

Value Traded 264.00 7,920.00 5,012,102.04 1,287,627.46 6,307,913.50

4,388,231

6,307,913.50

Quantity Traded 9,000 9,000

Value Traded 373,050.00 373,050.00

Quantity Traded 96,958 96,958

Value Traded 535,238.48 535,238.48

105,958

908,288.48

Symbol UAC-PROP

No. of Deals 3 3

Current Price 41.50

No. of Deals 9 9

Current Price 5.46

Daily Summary (Equities)

Symbol DUNLOP

No. of Deals 3

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 151,868

Value Traded 75,934.00

Symbol

No. of Deals 3

Current Price

Quantity Traded 151,868 Page

Value Traded 75,934.00 13 of

Symbol CHAMPION GUINNESS INTBREW NB

No. of Deals 2 42 5 168 217

Current Price 3.15 119.50 20.45 95.20

Quantity Traded 29,575 138,176 37,200 1,439,289 1,644,240

Value Traded 88,725.00 16,444,068.67 759,094.00 137,279,304.42 154,571,192.09

Beverages--Non-Alcoholic 7-UP BOTTLING COMP. PLC. Beverages--Non-Alcoholic Totals

Symbol 7UP

No. of Deals 26 26

Current Price 176.70

Quantity Traded 37,259 37,259

Value Traded 6,107,447.40 6,107,447.40

Food Products DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY PLC

Symbol DANGSUGAR FLOURMILL HONYFLOUR NASCON NNFM TIGERBRANDS

No. of Deals 19 55 12 16 1 17 120 (Equities)

Current Price 5.86 19.03 1.47 7.00 7.35 1.19

Quantity Traded 432,975 484,175 156,950 885,374 2,350 810,754 2,772,578

Value Traded 2,533,100.96 9,275,240.59 233,972.50 6,195,670.00 16,426.50 966,726.26 19,221,136.81

Symbol CADBURY NESTLE

No. of Deals 35 83

Current Price 17.80 705.02

Quantity Traded 381,618 147,138

Value Traded 6,809,581.47 104,003,715.01

Symbol

No. of Deals 118

Current Price

Quantity Traded Page 528,756

Value Traded 3 of 13 110,813,296.48

Household Durables VITAFOAM NIG PLC. Household Durables Totals

Symbol VITAFOAM

No. of Deals 6 6

Current Price 4.56

Quantity Traded 4,350 4,350

Value Traded 19,693.30 19,693.30

Personal/Household Products P Z CUSSONS NIGERIA PLC. UNILEVER NIGERIA PLC. Personal/Household Products Totals

Symbol PZ UNILEVER

No. of Deals 21 26 47

Current Price 21.90 31.84

Quantity Traded 411,927 284,159 696,086

Value Traded 8,989,628.56 8,905,203.87 17,894,832.43

5,835,137

308,703,532.51

Value Traded 12,196,995.96 3,578,488.68 824,251.00 651,327.75 64,597,856.60 13,252,067.94 1,060,312.00 43,370,602.82 554,361.90 2,344,545.33

HONEYWELL FLOUR MILL PLC Printed 08/02/2016 14:37:05.005 NASCON ALLIED INDUSTRIES PLC N NIG. FLOUR MILLS PLC. TIGER BRANDED CONSUMER GOODS PLC Food Products Totals Food Products--Diversified

Activity Summary on Board CADBURY NIGERIA PLC.EQTY NESTLE NIGERIA PLC. CONSUMER GOODS Food Products--Diversified Published by TheProducts--Diversified Nigerian Stock Exchange © Food Totals

Daily Summary

CONSUMER GOODS Totals FINANCIAL SERVICES Banking ACCESS BANK PLC. Daily Summary as of 08/02/2016 DIAMOND BANK PLC Printed 08/02/2016 14:37:05.005 ECOBANK TRANSNATIONAL INCORPORATED FIDELITY BANK PLC GUARANTY TRUST BANK PLC. SKYE BANK PLC STERLING BANK PLC. UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA PLC Daily Summary as ofBANK 08/02/2016 Activity Summary on Board EQTY UNION NIG.PLC. Printed 08/02/2016 UNITY14:37:05.005 BANK PLC FINANCIAL SERVICES Banking Published by The Nigerian WEMA BANKStock PLC.Exchange © Banking Totals Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services

Activity Summary on Board EQTY AIICO INSURANCE PLC.

CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE PLC FINANCIAL SERVICES Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services INTERNATIONAL ENERGY INSURANCE COMPANY PLC LASACO ASSURANCE PLC. AXAMANSARD INSURANCE PLC MUTUAL BENEFITS ASSURANCE PLC. N.E.M INSURANCE CO (NIG) PLC. WAPIC INSURANCE PLC Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services Totals

Micro-Finance Banks NPF MICROFINANCE BANK PLC Micro-Finance Banks Totals Other Financial Institutions AFRICA PRUDENTIAL REGISTRARS PLC CUSTODIAN AND ALLIED PLC Daily Summary as of 08/02/2016 FCMB GROUP PLC. Printed 08/02/2016 14:37:05.005 STANBIC IBTC HOLDINGS PLC UNITED CAPITAL PLC Other Financial Institutions Totals Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © FINANCIAL SERVICES Totals HEALTHCARE Healthcare Providers UNION DIAGNOSTIC & CLINICAL SERVICES PLC HEALTHCARE

Activity Summary on Board EQTY Healthcare Providers

537

Symbol ACCESS DIAMONDBNK ETI FIDELITYBK GUARANTY SKYEBANK Daily Summary STERLNBANK UBA UBN UNITYBNK

No. of Deals 71 35 10 17 168 69 (Equities) 7 166 24 16

Current Price 4.08 1.73 15.70 1.26 16.24 1.13 1.71 2.80 5.22 0.68

Quantity Traded 2,971,570 2,050,898 54,892 513,913 4,027,146 11,506,004 619,006 15,431,105 111,249 3,436,512

No. of Deals 7 (Equities) 590

Current Price 1.00

Quantity Traded Page 85,291 40,807,586

Symbol AIICO CONTINSURE

No. of Deals 3 1

Current Price 0.85 0.98

Quantity Traded 23,082 50,000

Symbol INTENEGINS LASACO MANSARD MBENEFIT NEM WAPIC

No. of Deals 1 2 5 1 8 13 34

Current Price 0.50 0.50 2.26 0.50 0.68 0.50

Quantity Traded 112 141,000 78,750 50 631,000 403,500 1,327,494

Value Traded 56.00 70,500.00 178,257.50 25.00 430,230.00 201,750.00 949,478.20

Symbol NPFMCRFBK

No. of Deals 22 22

Current Price 1.00

Quantity Traded 5,302,457 5,302,457

Value Traded 5,095,160.05 5,095,160.05

Symbol AFRIPRUD CUSTODYINS FCMB STANBIC UCAP

No. of Deals 31 24 201 24 38 318

Current Price 2.45 3.98 0.89 14.00 1.39

Quantity Traded 711,018 584,050 38,525,228 21,214,868 2,860,849 63,896,013 Page

Symbol WEMABANK

Daily Summary

Daily Summary (Equities)

111,333,550

Value Traded 19,659.70 49,000.00

Value Traded 1,757,868.70 2,288,467.99 34,222,578.73 297,009,053.40 3,970,827.72 339,248,796.54 13 5 of 487,807,657.04

No. of Deals 1

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 515,992

Value Traded 257,996.00

Symbol

No. of Deals 1

Current Price

Quantity Traded Page 515,992

Value Traded 13 6 257,996.00 of

Symbol GLAXOSMITH MAYBAKER NEIMETH PHARMDEKO

No. of Deals 12 15 3 1 31

Current Price 23.16 0.88 0.82 2.14

Quantity Traded 34,910 369,942 139,000 200,000 743,852

Value Traded 769,113.00 332,832.64 113,980.00 428,000.00 1,643,925.64

1,259,844

1,901,921.64

Quantity Traded 35,082 35,082

Value Traded 56,482.02 56,482.02

35,082

56,482.02

Quantity Traded 129,174 21,856 13,350 42,500 20,000

Value Traded 3,294,833.50 195,597.52 485,152.50 368,100.00 68,800.00

Symbol TRIPPLEG

ICT Totals INDUSTRIAL GOODS Building Materials ASHAKA CEM PLC BERGER PAINTS PLC CAP PLC CEMENT CO. OF NORTH.NIG. PLC PORTLAND PAINTS & PRODUCTS NIGERIA PLC

964

Value Traded 13 4 of 83,412.27 142,514,222.25

Symbol UNIONDAC

HEALTHCARE Totals ICT IT Services TRIPPLE GEE AND COMPANY PLC. IT Services Totals

Current Price

Quantity Traded 515,992

Value Traded 257,996.00

Symbol GLAXOSMITH MAYBAKER NEIMETH PHARMDEKO

No. of Deals 12 15 3 1 31

Current Price 23.16 0.88 0.82 2.14

Quantity Traded 34,910 369,942 139,000 200,000 743,852

Value Traded 769,113.00 332,832.64 113,980.00 428,000.00 1,643,925.64

1,259,844

1,901,921.64

No. of Deals 2

Current Price Quantity Traded Quantity Traded 1.69 35,082 35,082

35,082

56,482.02

HEALTHCARE Totals

1st Tier Securities

ICT IT Services Sector Company name TRIPPLE GEE AND COMPANY PLC. IT Services Totals Daily Summary as of 08/02/2016 ICT Totals 14:37:05.005 Printed 08/02/2016 INDUSTRIAL GOODS Building Materials ASHAKA CEM PLC BERGER PAINTS PLC CAP PLC Activity Summary on Board EQTY CEMENT CO. OF NORTH.NIG. PLC PORTLAND PAINTS & PRODUCTS NIGERIA PLC INDUSTRIAL GOODS

Symbol No Of TRIPPLEG

Deals

No. of Deals 2 2

Current Price 1.69

Symbol ASHAKACEM BERGER CAP CCNN PORTPAINT

No. of Deals 16 2 8 7 1

Current Price 25.00 9.30 37.20 9.11 3.61

Value Traded

Value of 56,482.02 Shares(N) 56,482.02

No. of Deals 16 2 8 7 1

Current Price 25.00 9.30 37.20 9.11 3.61

Quantity Traded 129,174 21,856 13,350 42,500 20,000

Value Traded 3,294,833.50 195,597.52 485,152.50 368,100.00 68,800.00

Symbol WAPCO

No. of Deals 15 49

Current Price 80.00

Quantity Traded 693,319 Page 920,199

Value Traded 755,469,997.67 of 13 59,882,481.19

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

Symbol CUTIX

No. of Deals 3 3

Current Price 1.44

Quantity Traded 75,000 75,000

Value Traded 107,850.00 107,850.00

Packaging/Containers BETA GLASS CO PLC. Packaging/Containers Totals

Symbol BETAGLAS

No. of Deals 4 4

Current Price 50.00

Quantity Traded 8,868 8,868

Value Traded 436,904.36 436,904.36

Symbol NIGROPES

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 7.46

Quantity Traded 100 100

Value Traded 709.00 709.00

1,004,167

60,427,944.55

Quantity Traded 600 600

Value Traded 5,610.00 5,610.00

Building Materials LAFARGE AFRICA PLC. Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Building Materials Totals

Tools and Machinery NIGERIAN ROPES PLC Daily Summary as of 08/02/2016 Tools and Machinery Totals Printed 08/02/2016 14:37:05.005

Symbol

Quotation(N) 2

ASHAKACEM Daily Summary (Equities) BERGER CAP CCNN PORTPAINT

NATURAL RESOURCES Metals ALUMINIUM EXTRUSION IND. PLC. Metals Totals

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

1 1

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

NATURAL RESOURCES Totals OIL AND GAS Energy Equipment and Services JAPAUL OIL & MARITIME SERVICES PLC Energy Equipment and Services Totals Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Integrated Oil and Gas Services OANDO PLC Integrated Oil and Gas Services Totals Daily Summary as of 08/02/2016 Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors Printed 08/02/2016 14:37:05.005 CONOIL PLC ETERNA PLC. FORTE OIL PLC. MOBIL OIL NIG PLC. MRS OIL NIGERIA PLC. TOTAL NIGERIA PLC. Activity Summary Board EQTY Petroleum and on Petroleum Products Distributors Totals OIL AND GAS and Production Exploration Energy Equipment and Services SEPLAT PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LTD JAPAUL OIL & MARITIME PLC Exploration and ProductionSERVICES Totals Energy Equipment and Services Totals OIL AND GAS Totals Integrated Oil and Gas Services SERVICES OANDO PLC Automobile/Auto PartServices RetailersTotals Integrated Oil and Gas R T BRISCOE PLC. Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors CONOIL PLC Published byETERNA The Nigerian PLC.Stock Exchange © FORTE OIL PLC. MOBIL OIL NIG PLC. MRS OIL NIGERIA PLC. TOTAL NIGERIA PLC. Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors Totals Daily Summary as of 08/02/2016 Printed 08/02/2016 14:37:05.005 Exploration and Production SEPLAT PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LTD Exploration and Production Totals OIL AND GAS Totals SERVICES Activity Summary on Board EQTY Daily Summary as of 08/02/2016 Automobile/Auto Part Retailers Printed 08/02/2016 14:37:05.005 R T BRISCOE PLC. SERVICES Automobile/Auto Part Retailers Part Retailers Published byAutomobile/Auto The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Totals Courier/Freight/Delivery RED STAR EXPRESS PLC TRANS-NATIONWIDE EXPRESS Activity Summary on Board EQTY PLC. Courier/Freight/Delivery Totals SERVICES Hotels/Lodging IKEJA HOTEL PLC TRANSCORP HOTELS PLC Hotels/Lodging Totals Printing/Publishing LEARN AFRICA PLC Printing/Publishing Totals Transport-Related Services Daily Summary as of 08/02/2016 AIRLINE SERVICES AND LOGISTICS PLC Printed 08/02/2016 14:37:05.005 NIGERIAN AVIATION HANDLING COMPANY PLC Transport-Related Services Totals Daily Summary as of 08/02/2016 Support14:37:05.005 and Logistics Printed 08/02/2016 CAVERTON OFFSHORE SUPPORT GRP PLC C & I LEASING PLC. Activity Summary on Board PREMIUM Support and Logistics Totals FINANCIAL SERVICES SERVICES Totals Published byBanking The Nigerian Stock Exchange © ActivityZENITH Summary on Board PREMIUM INTERNATIONAL BANK PLC EQTY Board Totals Banking Totals FINANCIAL SERVICES Banking Other Financial Institutions ZENITH INTERNATIONAL BANK PLC FBN HOLDINGS PLC Banking Totals Institutions Totals Other Financial Other Financial Institutions PublishedFINANCIAL by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © SERVICES Totals FBN HOLDINGS PLC INDUSTRIAL GOODS Other Financial Institutions Totals Building Materials FINANCIAL SERVICES Totals DANGOTE CEMENT PLC Building Materials Totals INDUSTRIAL GOODS Building Materials INDUSTRIAL GOODS Totals DANGOTE CEMENT PLC Building Materials Totals

1 No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 0.50

Symbol OANDO

No. of Deals 145 145

Current Price 3.88

No. of Deals 24 9 75 19 (Equities) 1 7 135

Current Price 20.25 1.76 300.00 145.01 49.66 140.00

Symbol CONOIL ETERNA FO MOBIL Daily Summary MRS TOTAL

Symbol Symbol SEPLAT JAPAULOIL

Symbol OANDO Symbol RTBRISCOE Symbol CONOIL ETERNA FO MOBIL MRS TOTAL

Symbol SEPLAT

Symbol

Name LOTUS HALAL EQUITY ETF

Name NEWGOLD EXCHANGE TRADED FUND (ETF) LOTUS HALAL EQUITY VETIVA BANKING ETF ETF VETIVA CONSUMER GOODS ETF Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © VETIVA GRIFFIN 30 ETF VETIVA INDUSTRIAL ETF Exchange Traded Fund Totals

8 of 13 Value Traded 36,723,431.20 36,723,431.20

Quantity Traded 101,073 25,556 112,782 28,545 3,624 14,753 286,333

Value Traded 2,043,108.41 43,046.58 32,837,074.50 4,170,138.20 170,980.32 2,030,323.98 41,294,671.99

Quantity Traded 86,201 86,201

Value Traded 21,118,153.20 21,118,153.20

10,007,844

99,136,756.39

Quantity Traded 386,702

Value Traded 193,351.00

Current Price 245.00

312

No. of Deals 2 No. of Deals 2

Current Price 0.50 Current Price

Quantity Traded 386,702 Page

Value Traded 193,351.00 13 of

Quantity Traded 1,913 1,500 3,413

Value Traded 7,498.96 1,815.00 9,313.96

Current Price 2.88 5.51

Quantity Traded 91,000 1,000 92,000

Value Traded 249,980.00 5,240.00 255,220.00

No. of Deals 4 4

Current Price 0.86

Quantity Traded 478,681 478,681

Value Traded 411,665.66 411,665.66

Symbol AIRSERVICE NAHCO

No. of Deals 3 23 26

Current Price 2.09 3.68

Quantity Traded 25,000 934,965 959,965

Value Traded 50,838.89 3,452,238.25 3,503,077.14

Symbol CAVERTON CILEASING

No. of Deals 2 2 4

Current Price 1.77 0.50

Quantity Traded 5,000 53,000 58,000

Value Traded 8,450.00 26,500.00 34,950.00

REDSTAREX TRANSEXPR

1 1 2

3.80 1.21

Symbol IKEJAHOTEL TRANSCOHOT

No. of Deals 6 1 7

Symbol LEARNAFRCA

Daily Summary (Equities)

Daily Summary (Equities) Symbol ZENITHBANK

45 No. of Deals 252 2,078 252

1,978,761 Page Quantity Traded 29,326,451 137,504,168 29,326,451

Current Price 12.73

4,407,577.76 10Valueof Traded13 371,244,798.79

994,920,530.72 371,244,798.79

Symbol Symbol ZENITHBANK FBNH

No. No.ofofDeals Deals Current CurrentPrice Price Quantity QuantityTraded Traded 252 12.73 29,326,451 273 3.92 21,680,186 252 29,326,451 273 21,680,186

Value ValueTraded Traded 371,244,798.79 85,203,095.03 371,244,798.79 85,203,095.03

Symbol FBNH

Page No. of Deals Traded 525 Current Price Quantity 51,006,637 273 3.92 21,680,186 273 21,680,186 No. of Deals Current Price Quantity Traded 525 51,006,637 145 134.00 1,883,900 145 1,883,900

13 11 of Value Traded 456,447,893.82 85,203,095.03 85,203,095.03 Value Traded 456,447,893.82 241,333,217.67 241,333,217.67

No. of Deals 145 Current Price 145 134.00 145

Value Traded 241,333,217.67 241,333,217.67 241,333,217.67

Symbol DANGCEM Symbol DANGCEM

670

Quantity1,883,900 Traded 1,883,900 1,883,900

145

Daily Summary (ETP)

Exchange Traded Fund

Exchange Traded Fund Published by The Nigerian StockFund Exchange © Exchange Traded Name

Page Quantity Traded 9,634,310 9,634,310

No. of Deals 31 31

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

PREMIUM Board Totals

Equity Activity Totals

5,610.00 Value Traded 500.00 500.00

Value Traded Value Traded 21,118,153.20 500.00 21,118,153.20 500.00 99,136,756.39 Value Traded 36,723,431.20 Value Traded 36,723,431.20 193,351.00 Value Traded 2,043,108.41 9 of 13 43,046.58 32,837,074.50 4,170,138.20 170,980.32 2,030,323.98 41,294,671.99

Daily Summary (Equities) Symbol RTBRISCOE

600 Quantity Traded 1,000 1,000

No. of Deals Current Price Quantity Traded No. of Deals Price Quantity Traded 31 Current 245.00 86,201 1 0.50 1,000 31 86,201 1 1,000 312 10,007,844 No. of Deals Current Price Quantity Traded 145 3.88 9,634,310 No. of Deals Current Price Quantity Traded 145 9,634,310 2 0.50 386,702 No. of Deals Current Price Quantity Traded 24 20.25 101,073 Page 9 1.76 25,556 75 300.00 112,782 19 145.01 28,545 1 49.66 3,624 7 140.00 14,753 135 286,333

Equity Activity Totals

Daily Summary as of 08/02/2016 Totals PrintedPREMIUM 08/02/2016 Board 14:37:05.005

9.84

Symbol JAPAULOIL

INDUSTRIAL GOODS Totals

Healthcare Providers Totals © Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange Pharmaceuticals GLAXO SMITHKLINE CONSUMER NIG. PLC. MAY & BAKER NIGERIA PLC. NEIMETH INTERNATIONAL PHARMACEUTICALS PLC PHARMA-DEKO PLC. Pharmaceuticals Totals

No. of Deals 1

INDUSTRIAL GOODS Totals Symbol JBERGER

Beverages--Brewers/Distillers CHAMPION BREW. PLC. GUINNESS NIG PLC INTERNATIONAL BREWERIES PLC. NIGERIAN BREW. PLC. Beverages--Brewers/Distillers Totals

FLOUR MILLS NIG. PLC. Daily Summary as of 08/02/2016

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

Symbol

Daily Summary (ETP) DailyLOTUSHAL15 Summary (ETP) Symbol Symbol NEWGOLD LOTUSHAL15 VETBANK VETGOODS VETGRIF30 VETINDETF

52,890,537

697,781,111.49

1,883,900

241,333,217.67

2,748

190,394,705

670

52,890,537

697,781,111.49

2,748

190,394,705

1,692,701,642.21

No. of Deals 1

Current Price 7.78

No. of Deals No. of Deals 1 11

Current Price Current Price 2,218.00 7.78 2.38

1 3 1 8

6.01 10.74 17.00

1,692,701,642.21

Quantity Traded 5 Page Quantity Traded Quantity Traded 10 15,0005 5 Page 455 5 15,480

Value Traded 38.90 13 12 of Value Traded Value Traded 22,180.00 38.90 35,700.00 12

of30.05 13 4,958.70 85.00 62,992.65

ETF Board Totals

15,480

62,992.65

ETP Activity Totals

15,480

62,992.65

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Politics

Tuesday, February 9, 2016

Beko memorial anniversary holds tomorrow

he Beko Rights Klub, BRK has lined up activities to commemorate the 10 year anniversary of the passage of its’ mentor, Dr. Bekololari Ransome Kuti who passed on, on February 10, 2005. Activities lined up for the commemoration of the memorial will include the laying of Wreaths at the Graveside of the late Hero of the masses; a rally at Anthony Village (Anthony Oke) in Lagos, where the Beko Ransome Kuti Garden is located and a Motorcade rally to the Lagos state House of Assembly (LAHA) and the Governor’s Office where letters of plea will be handed to the Speaker and the Governor for onward transmission to the National Assembly and Presidency. The BRK will call on the Honourable members and the Lagos government to lend their voices to the passionate plea of the Klub to the Federal government and President Muhammed Buhari for a national pardon for the son of Dr. Kuti, Brigadier General Enitan Ransome Kuti. Convenor of the Beko Rights Klub, Mr. Debo Adeniran said ‘’the Klub is utilising the occasion of the commemoration of Beko’s passage to call on the Nigerian government to grant Brigadier General Enitan Ransome Kuti, son of our late Hero, National Pardon with regard to the case of ‘mutiny’ against him following the decision of the

Military to Court martial him after the Baga massacre carried out by Boko Haram Insurgents in January 2015. BrigadierGeneral Enitan remains in imprisonment till date, even though history has absolved him.’’ ‘’We are strongly convinced that the revelations reeled out from the arms procurement scandal and the DasukiGate confirm his innocence and patriotism. In fact, we believe with those expositions, the actions of Brigadier General Enitan and others are justiciable, reasonable and dialectical.’’ Mr. Adeniran added.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar (centre), being presented with his National Identity Card by representative of DG NIMC, Abdulhamid Umar with other NIMC staff, Ms Leh-Togi, and Mr. Franc Ebiluye, at his Asokoro Residence, Abuja, yesterday.

DPC expresses dismay over fiscal policies’ worsening economy Democratic People’s Congress, DPC has expressed worry over naira been officially fixed at N200.00 for a dollar and sold at over N300.00 at parallel market saying the Central Bank of Nigeria led by Godwin Emefiele engages in endless fiscal policies somersault that has worsen economic activities in the country. In a press statement signed by the National Chairman of the party, Olusegun Peters, the party said for the first time in Nigerian history, the CBN had to sell dollars to the ubiquitous bureaux de change operators with the fallacious assumption that it would stabilize the

naira. According to him,it boomeranged as the operators had a windfall at the expense of the naira and the economy before the embattled CBN governor reversed it. “It is common knowledge that the Nigerian economy is in comatose as the naira continues to depreciate against major foreign currencies particularly the United States of America’s dollar. “The CBN directive to banks not to accept dollar deposits, banks suspension of naira debit or credit cards outside the country and suspension of domiciliary accounts were fire-brigade policies of the

apex bank which it reversed only to issue more ill thought-out measures to save the naira and the economy. “The insensitivity of the nation’s fiscal policy makers was expressed in the new stamp duty policy where the Federal Government has commenced the implementation of the N50 stamp duty deduction on receipt of cash of N1000 and above from bank transactions. “The CBN has dedicated an account known as the CBN NIPOST Stamp Duty Account into which all collections accruing from the new duty would be paid to shore up dwindling revenue and gener-

ate funds to finance the 2016 budget”, the party said. The party further said that, “ It is inconceivable that this measure would be implemented without adequate public enlightenment when banks also charge various fees for cash transfers from point of sale, Automated Teller Machines (ATM) and mobile banking transactions. “The recently concluded CBN Bank Verification Number (BVN) scheme showed that the nation has 52 million bank accounts verified so far while the stamp duty policy is expected to generate N2.5 billion daily for government. Although the

Stamp Duty Act (2004) is legal, its implementation at this period of national cash crunch is unfair, unjust, inappropriate and insensitive to the plights of the masses’. DPC said it opposed “ this draconian economic measure and urge the CBN and the Buhari administration to consider the wellbeing of the longsuffering populace who voted for change in their standards of living not suffering and carnage. “We urge the CBN governor to sit up and formulate sound fiscal policies that will save the naira and the economy. The panicky fire-brigade approach should be jetti-

We must build strong institutions to fight corruption —Lebo CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13

before the Public Bureau of investigations, you appear before them. Where you have to answer questions on how many houses you have before and after leaving office and you will be investigated, if you are found wanting, you forfeit it to government and you are given a clean bill before you return back. Now if we are able to deal with that, then corruption , we can achieve it. The second aspect we will have to deal with while trying to build a strong institutional memory to fight corruption is that we need to ensure that the institution itself has the capacity to fight corruption. What you are finding today is the incompetence of the institutions to fight corruption. A typical example is that you get arrested by the EFCC and they published in papers that you are corrupt, that you have

stolen one trillion and they go to court with twenty- five to thirty six count charges after seven years, they can’t prove one of the charges the case ends up . Once the person who is fighting leaves public office, that is the end. Are you saying our anti-corruption agencies are weak? There is a selective strategy to handpick one or two persons whether they are PDP or they are from the opposition party .Right from the era of the PDP the same thing was done. There is nothing that Buhari is doing that is strange except that he is focus for me on corruption as if he is the only president that can fight it, that is wrong. The president is out looking for those who had stolen money, that is wrong.

What do you want him to do , folding his hands and look at the suspects wrecking the economy of the country? That is not his responsibility. What is the purpose of having EFCC Chairman? Why do you have anti -corruption agency . Why can’t you replicate anti -corruption agency in all of the states of the federation ? Why can’t the State Houses of Assemblies pass laws on anti- corruption. Why can’t the permanent secretaries or commissioner who retires from service move straight to anti corruption agency to declare what he has . Why can’t he be investigated or either tried or released? It is just like what the code of conduct is doing, when you leave office, Code of Conduct Bureau investigates you to find out what you had acquired . For me Code of Conduct is more efficient

in fighting corruption than any other body . You cannot tell me for instance, if you say corruption is in the state the only person you hold responsible is the governor, or the chief of staff or the former deputy governor and his commissioners. In the whole state, you handpick about three persons and that is enough, that you have fought corruption, it is political. This is political. As far as I am concerned if Buhari leaves office today, most people who had been appearing with him for corruption will abandon the political party for another one. They will abandon the charges . What we have done now is that we have created a boundary that corruption is such a political game that if PDP is in power, they will fight APC members and chase them around.

Mail Mirror

Politics

Tuesday, February 9, 2016

THE HOUSE OF REPS with

Ubong UKPONG

08036017966, email: ubongpong@yahoo.com

udget defence began in earnest last week in the House of Representatives like I told you in the last edition. It actually came with serious revelations, some of which are making the Reps very angry with the breakdowns of the President Muhammadu Buhari’s 2016 appropriation bill. During the defence by some ministries and agencies at the committees, it was noticed that there were several areas in the proposal that the Members believed, did not reflect the true position of change as canvassed by the Buhari’s administration. As expected of them, in most cases, they made bold to speak out and demanded convincing explanations on some items, but one is actually praying that the ‘anger ‘ goes beyond mere verbal scrutiny in the hall, to really cutting to size the proposals on such items, to help this administration save the nation of squandermania. Why do I say so, it is because of the ‘rub my back, I rub your back’ syndrone, as the same ministries and agencies would surely wait for the committees during oversight functions, where hostility may displace hospitality. The Representatives discovered a lot of hide and seek around the budget figures as some allocations appeared very unconvincing and showed frivolous spending by some agencies. Among the early comers was the Ministry of Interior and its agencies, Nigeria Prisons Service, NPS, Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC and the Federal Fire Service, FFS. Emerging from an executive session last Tuesday morning, members of the House Committee on Interior, and by the provision of the House rules, a sub-committee on appropriation, received the officials of this Ministry and Services. Although the Minister, Lt-Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau, rtd, was absent, the Permanent Secretary, Bassey Akpanyum, who led the team from the ministry and who represented the minister made an elaborate presentation, but could not escape with the allocation of N6.2billion for research and development in the 2016 budget to the ministry, which the committee fumed at. For the Jagaba Adams Jagaba-led committee, it could not comprehend the provision of such huge amount to the ministry for research and development, and the simple question asked was, what are you researching in Ministry of Interior? This question could not be confidently discharged by the Permanent Secretary, who struggled unconvincingly to provide answer. The Reps are becoming curious because it appears that there are suspicious allocations to certain items and sector for corrupt tendencies. How much was the amount apportioned to Ministry of Interior previously for Research and Development, and what was the budget performance in this regard? Is there any research that had been successfully conducted by the ministry and what was the outcome? This I believe the committee would be interested in before approving any amount

Dogara at all for the purpose, if truly the interests of their constituents are theirs. From their body languages and questions, it was clear that the lawmakers did not understand the kind of research the ministry was planning to deserve the huge amount and certainly, do not believe that approving it would be justified. They also queried the allocation of N545million to computer and software purchases in the ministry. This is an irony that this huge amount would be given to a ministry that could not be said to have been carrying out its operations manually all these years, but the Permanent Secretary said that it is true, they need the money to digitalise the ministry. Well, he said that his ministry is under pressure to digitalise its operations in line with Buhari’s administration policy, and it needs the money to acquire computers and software to be able to link the ministry and its agencies. But like the Permanent Secretary claimed, is it true that there are no computers in the ministry so as to justify the high cost of purchase? If this administration was interested in cutting costs and managing resources, it is a majority view that all computers in the ministry ought to be harnessed and requests made for the additional numbers, as the claims by the Permanent Secretary that there are no computers in the ministry can never fly. He told the committee that it looks very large but has to be done in line with the reforms of this administration, but one is worried that people should not hide behind the reforms of this administration to siphone the meager resources of the country . These were his words: “We need to connect all agencies and Services. We need to rely on IT solutions for this, to link the Services and ministry, and share information.” Equally, the Nigerian Prisons Service, NPS, defending its own budget, said it did not participate in drawing its recurrent expenditure which to it is meagre. The Controller General of Prisons, CGP, Peter Ekpendu, said that the Service needed over N10million in its budget to feed inmates

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Reps’ ‘annoyance’ with Buhari’s budget

at N450 per day, but was given a far less amount. But the issue was, the Prisons keep requesting and getting huge money every year for its farms but cannot feed its inmates from the proceeds from the farms. From the Committee’s reactions, it looks like the Prisons is penny wise pounds foolish as one cannot figure out who eats the yam,

cassava, plantain, goats, fishes, cows chickens, eggs amongst others, that are likely produced by Prisons farms, funded by government, if government still has to buy food for inmates. It would therefore not be wrong for one to recommend that this administration by reason of these revelations must have a rethink and even order investigations into the prisons farms and industries, to know what is going on before committing tax payers’ funds into it. Also defending their budgets were the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, Federal Fire Service, FFS and the Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS, whose CG, Martins Kure Abeshi disclosed that it was set to deport the six Britons arrested last Saturday for violating Nigerian Immigration Laws. The House Committee on Tertiary Education also met with the schools over their budgets, but declined to look into the 2016 budget proposal of the University of Ilorin over the perceived frivolous spending without adequate details on the 2015 budget performance. The Committee, Chaired by Hon. Aminu Suleiman (Kano-APC), on Thursday, frowned at the action of the Vice Chancellor of the school, Prof. Abdulganiyu Ambali for spending the sum of N42million for hotel accommodation.

REP’S SCORE CARD

Dogara’s works speak for him

hen I said in the last week’s edition that the bench-warmers’ race was on already in the Green Chamber, I meant it, but there is one man, who could never be linked to this. He is the Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara, House of Representatives’ Speaker, whose works speak for him. As it is said that we will only be remembered by what we have done. Certainly, this number one Rep member and Number four citizen of Nigeria is gradually building up unbeatable legacies, both for himself and the 8th House of Reps. Before I am mistaken for a praise singer, this assessment can be seen as a statement of fact considering available records of his performances, which gave him the impetus to become Speaker. Born around 1967, Dogara destined by God, became Speaker of the 8th House of Representatives on June 9, 2015, under very controversial circumstances. When the lawmaker aspired to become Speaker of the Federal House, he really must have counted the costs and perhaps in view of his determination and sincerity to serve the Nigerian people, God ensured his victory against all odds. The early days of his emergence witnessed ups and downs in the House as his rival, now Majority Leader, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila and his group, gave him a good fight to test his leadership qualities and capability, but he emerged refined and stronger. Afterwards, judging from the Speaker we see on daily basis, he has put all past behind

him and moving on with all his colleagues in steering the ship of state through the National Assembly. Dogara, who is representing Bogoro/ Dass/Tafawa-Balewa Federal Constituency of Bauchi State as an All Progressives Congress, APC member, may have done a good job as a politician by knowing almost all the 360 members by their names and addresses them accordingly whenever he wants to recognize them on the floor of the chamber. This appears to have endeared him to all members, as he had successfully attempted to unite the House, except for a very few in his party, APC, who have chosen to remain in opposition against the leadership for sheer parochial interests. His good works, peacemaking efforts, father-figure and tactical leadership styles, now put him at a position of advantage above the few that oppose him, as members often unanimously chant: Dogara! Dogara!! Dogara!!!, to register their satisfaction with his rulings, especially on controversial motions and bills in the Chamber. The Speaker is close to all lawmakers and there have not arisen yet, claims of segregation among members. Even when some attempted to complain during committees’ allocation, it became clear to them that the man is not unjust as they thought him to be. His is seen to have enthroned a leadership style that ensures respect and responsibilities for, and among members. His passion for service is demonstrated by the legislative agenda, which has given the House a good focus for maximum impact as a parliament.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

When Osinbajo became Acting President S imilar to what happened during the administration of late former President Umaru Yar’Adua when the then Vice President, Goodluck Jonathan became the Acting President, last Friday, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo became the Acting President following the announcement that President Muhammadu Buhari would be on vacation for six days. In compliance with section 145(1) of the Constitution, Buhari dispatched a formal notice of his vacation to the two chambers of the National Assembly that he would be on vacation from February 5-10 and that Osinbajo would perform the functions of President during his absence The announcement that Osinbajo would perform the functions of the office of President during the vacation of Buhari made it the second time a Vice President would assume the position of Acting President. However, this was unlike what was witnessed during the administration of Yar’Adua who could not transmit a letter to inform the lawmakers about his absence based on health ground and the lawmakers had to adopt the doctrine of necessity to make Jonathan the Acting President Specifically, section 145 (1) of the constitution states that: “whenever the President transmits to the President of the Senate and the Speaker House of Representatives, a written declaration that he is proceeding on vacation or that he is otherwise unable to discharge the functions of his office, un-

til he transmits to them a written declaration to the contrary such function shall be discharged by the Vice President as Acting President” Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina announced that Buhari would be on vacation in a threeparagraph statement as at the time the President was still out of the country. He was in London, the British capital where he joined other world leaders at the Supporting Syria and The Region Conference which opened last week Thursday. He used the opportunity of his participation in the conference co-hosted by Britain, Germany, Norway, Kuwait and the United Nations to continue his push for more global understanding, collaboration and support for Nigeria and other countries in the frontlines of the war against terrorism who are striving to overcome its very adverse effects on affected populations. Likewise, as at the time of the announcement, Osinbajo was not in his office in the Presidential Villa, he was in Lagos to attend the monthly Holy Ghost Night programme of The Redeemed Christian Church of God, which holds every first Friday of the month. He has been a Pastor in the church before he became the Vice President and still finds time despite the busy schedule of his office as the nation’s number two citizen to participate in the activities of the church. Osinbajo would be Acting President till tomorrow, Wednesday as Buhari is expected back to his seat on Thursday.

The forces, pressure against Buhari’s anti-corruption war hen he assumed office eight months ago, President Muhammadu Buhari made security, war against corruption and unemployment as the priority issues which his administration must tackle to ensure the progress and development of the country. Eight months into the life of the administration, the war against corruption has caught up with top government officials and prominent people in the society, particularly those who served in the government of former President Goodluck Jonathan Now that the heat of the anti-corruption war is coming on strong, there are pressures from some Nigerian elites to slow down the ongoing fight against graft But Vice President Yemi Osinbajo last week said that such pressures would not deter the Buhari presidency from ridding the country of the problem of corruption, “We get regular messages from some Nigerian elites saying cool down,” the Vice President disclosed regarding pressures on the presidency to relent in the anti-corrup-

Building Nigeria’s economy without oil

ASO ROCK FILE with Rotimi FADEYI

Politics

Tuesday, February 9, 2016

tion fight,. “It is a very strange morality that some of those people have, very complicated but cutting across all tribes and religious differences,” he noted. However he observed encouragingly that the masses of the Nigerian people on the contrary have a clearer understanding of right and wrong. According to him, “the masses don’t have that problem.” Although some elites are saying “it is not a big deal,” and that government should merely ask the looters of the commonwealth of the nation to return the money and go, Osinbajo expressed gladness that “a new tribe of Nigerians who would not compromise their values but would maintain a sense of right and wrong is now emerging”. “The man on the street is very clear, so whatever some of these elites say, we shall keep our focus on the masses who voted for us,” the Vice President declared. He said it is simply unacceptable that in the last 16 years there is not a single federal government completed road project, not to even talk of rail.

or so long, Nigeria has depended on oil as its main source of revenue to build its economy and fund developmental projects for the benefit of the people and the progress of the nation. However, in recent time, the price of oil has fallen and continues to fall in the international market, a situation which has negatively affected the revenue accruing to the nation. The situation has forced the country under the present administration of President Muhammadu Buhari to look inwards for ways of generating funds to meet the increasing responsibility of meeting the demand to provide for the welfare of the people In line with the decision of government to explore the non-oil sector of the economy, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo said Nigeria has everything it needs to build and sustain a vibrant economy in spite of the drop in oil prices “This country has practically what it takes to run a solid economy that is not dependent on oil, but on business and commerce,” the Vice President said during a meeting with a group of international investors looking to invest in the country in the light of the new administration. According to Osinbajo, the President has already given the mandate to ensure that a

conducive environment was created for business investments in the country, adding that work has already started with government looking at the different aspects involved. In furtherance of the focus of government on investment, Osinbajo and Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Okechukwu Enelamah, also held a meeting with the World Bank Ease of Doing Business Ranking Team, where issues were laid out and specific lines of action identified on how to improve the business climate in the country. The Vice President explained that working with the State governments, the Buhari presidency would ensure that issues such as pre-investment approvals, and land titles would be reformed to attain the ease of doing business aspirations of the administration. He said where necessary government would rationalize agencies involved in granting approvals and thereby create space for businesses to thrive. Regarding the critical role of stable supply of power in creating a conducive business environment, the Vice President stated that while the federal government would be making further investments in the sector, the entire power value chain would have to be well compensated in order to produce the needed results.

Chief Executive Officer, Nigeria Renaissance, Mr. Temi Popoola; Former Minister of National Planning and Chairman, Susman and Associates, Samsudeen Usman and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo during a courtesy visit by a team of foreign investors, trade and International Investment Forum.

In London, Buhari pleads support for nations facing crises

resident Muhammadu Buhari last week in London called on the global community to give greater support to countries whose populace are suffering humanitarian crises caused by terrorism and civil strife. He spoke at the Supporting Syria and the Region conference in the British capital, President Buhari said that without collective support and assistance from all well-meaning countries, companies and organisations, the humanitarian catastrophe affecting millions of people in countries like Nigeria and Syria cannot be successfully addressed. The President noted that the increasingly complex and inter-connected security challenges faced by the global community necessitate increased international cooperation in pursuit of effective solutions. Buhari strongly condemned the continuing violence by terrorists against innocent civilians, abuse of human rights and destruction of public and private assets and

cultural heritages in Nigeria, Syria and other countries of the world. He told the gathering that having experienced civil war and terrorist insurgency, Nigeria understands the pains inflicted on the people of Syria and the hardship that innocent civilians suffer in the hands of misguided elements.

Last week Presidential Villa’s visitors 1. Former Minister of Industry, Chief Nike Akande 2. Former Minister of National Planning, Samsudeen Usman 3. Moslem Congress of Nigeria leader, Imam Abdulahi Shuaib 4. President, Nigeria Society of Engineers, Otis Anyaeji 5. Deputy President, Nigeria Society of Engineers, Mr. Kunle Mokunolu 6. Former President, Nigeria Society of Engineers, Kalil Inuwa 7. Chief Executive Officer, Nigeria Renaissance Capital, Mr. Temi Popoola 8. Head, Investment Banking, Renaissance Capital, Mr. James Frel 9. Catholic Bishop of Sokoto, Bishop Matthew Kukah

Features

Tuesday, February 9, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Buhari’s anti-corruption war and matters arising Sani Adamu

nited State Secretary of State, John Kerry, recently lauded President Muhammadu Buhari’s determination to rid Nigeria of corruption. In his speech at the 2016 World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, he expressed concern about the role of some government officials who allegedly diverted funds meant for the procurement of arms to prosecute the war against Boko Haram insurgents. He also commended the determination of the administration to prosecute all those suspected of looting public funds in Nigeria. He said: `Ìt has been reported that over 50 people, including government officials, allegedly, stole over nine billion dollars in Nigeria. ``When Buhari took office, he inherited a military that was under-paid, underfed and unable to protect the Nigerian people from Boko Haram. `Òne reason is that military budget was finding its way into the pockets of the generals; and just this week, we saw reports that more than 50 people in Nigeria, including former government officials, stole nine billion dollars from the treasury. ``Today, corruption has grown at an alarming pace which threatens global growth, global stability and indeed the global future; obviously, corruption is not a new problem. `Èvery nation has faced it in one time or another in its development. America’s own founding fathers knew the threat of corruption all too well, warning of the dangers that it posed to democratic governance. ``But today, corruption has grown at an alarming pace and threatens global growth, global stability and indeed global future,’’ Kerry told the world leaders and other participants in Davos. Observers note that Kerry’s endorsement of Buhari’s anticorruption efforts is fundamental considering the 2012 ranking of Nigeria as the 35th most corrupt country in the world by the global corruption watchdog Transparency International. They note that although it is

EFCC officials at work difficult to estimate how much Nigeria has lost to corruption since independence in 1960, the Economist of London reveals that Nigeria loses close to 400 billion dollars to corruption between 1966 and 1999 alone. Commending Kerry, the Minister Information and Culture Minister, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, noted that the support received from world leaders on the government’s anti-corruption programme could not have come at a better time. ``The Federal Government is delighted that the anti-corruption war being led by Buhari has been acknowledged and applauded on a global stage. ``It is particularly gratifying that in that speech, Mr. Kerry made the link between corruption and terrorism,’’ he said. Mohammed also disclosed recently that about 55 public officials allegedly stole over N1.3 trillion in eight years. The minister, however, said there were plans to inaugurate series of town hall meetings across the country to take campaign on security and anti-corruption directly to Nigerians. He pointed out that the town hall meetings would be in addition to using the National Orientation Agency and the relevant units of the Ministry of Information and Culture to reach every part of the country. ``We know that those who stole us dry are powerful. They have

We know that those who stole us dry are powerful. They have newspapers, radio and television stations and an army of supporters to continuously deride the government’s war against corruption.

But we are undaunted and will not relent until corruption is also decimated.

PDP Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, accused of corruption newspapers, radio and television stations and an army of supporters to continuously deride the government’s war against corruption. ``But we are undaunted and will not relent until corruption is also decimated,’’ he said. Mohammed insisted that corruption was responsible for the endemic poverty in the country today. Explaining that whereas Nigeria’s national budget had increased from just over N900 billion in 1999 to over N6 trillion in 2016, poverty had also increased almost by the same proportion. ``The reason is not far-fetched: Appropriated funds have mostly ended up in the pockets of a few looters. ``When the money meant to construct roads is looted, the end result is that the roads are not built and the people suffer and even die in avoidable road accidents.

``When the money meant to provide electricity is looted, we all are perpetually sentenced to darkness. ``When the money meant for healthcare is pocketed by a few, we are unable to reduce maternal and infant mortality. These are the costs of corruption. ``The implication is that the amount received by 21 individuals and companies is more than the 2015 Zonal Intervention Project budget by N2.829 billion. ``Furthermore, the value of what the beneficiaries of Dasukigate contributed to development is zero compared to how the lives of Nigerians would have been transformed, poverty reduced and livelihoods improved, by the Zonal Intervention Projects,’’ Mohammed said. Throwing more light on the efforts of the government to fight corruption, the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, who represented Buhari at the World Eco-

nomic Forum, noted that the administration was working hard to reduce cost of government in view of the decline in oil revenue. Speaking at a discussion panel on the sidelines of the forum, he said that the declining oil revenue had also compelled the government to look inwards. ``With adequate governance around budget management and around expenditure management, we can do quite a bit. ``If we are able to do those things, we might be able to come away with under 30 dollars per barrel. ``Low oil prices have freed up 15 billion dollars in subsidy costs for Nigeria. This is a plus for us,’’ he insisted. He said that the digitisation of the Nigerian government had also helped to save costs and had created room for better decision making. Stressing the need for effective monitoring of government spending, the vice-president said that with transparency and good governance, Nigeria would get out of its current financial difficulties. According to him, corruption is a product of non-transparent systems; an issue that the Buhari administration is working hard to address. Osinbajo, in an interview on the sidelines of the forum, insisted that Nigerians had confidence in Buhari’s capacity to fight corruption. ``We spent something in the order of N1 trillion on subsidy last year and we are not going to have to spend any of that this year, so that’s a substantial savings. ``The president is known for his stand against corruption for years; every Nigerian trusts him and every Nigerian knows here’s a man that would stand by his word. ``I think the country is ready for a change, I think everyone is saying this is the time to fight corruption; this is the time to get some discipline in governance,’’ he noted. Osinbajo observed that the Nigerian Army had dealt with the threat that Boko Haram posed and degraded the insurgents. He insisted that the military was still implementing strategies to deal with incidents of suicide bombings across the country. By and large, observers pleaded with the Federal Government to make the Nigeria’s participation at the World Economic Forum meaningful by making it to impact positively on the lives of Nigerians. •Culled from News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Features

Tuesday, February 9, 2016

Addressing problems of street children in Nigeria Obike Ukoh

igerian Forum on Rehabilitation of Street Children, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), recently claimed that no fewer than 13 million children across the country live and survive on the streets. The organisation called on policy makers, other non-governmental organisations and other stakeholders, to urgently formulate a national policy on street children. In the same vein, concerned citizens express concern about the rising number of street children and its implications, observing that Nigeria is one of the countries with large number of street children. Street children are the children who experience homelessness and, therefore, live on the streets of a city, town or village. Sociologists opine that children rove the streets for a number of reasons including family instability and poverty. Worried about the rising number of street children in the country, stakeholders at a recent conference in Abuja, therefore, proffered solutions on how to solve the challenge. According to them, since street children are not the cause of their problems, the government ought to address the problem. They observed that the conference with its theme as: ``The Plights of Street Children in Nigeria’’, presented a platform for effective collaboration with states on the need to address the problem. In the light of this, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, said that the House Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development would address the problems through appropriate intervention. Represented by Hon. Stella Ngwu, the Chairman, House Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development, he assured the stakeholders that the house would provide legislative framework that would discourage activities that result in having street children. She said that her committee would soon engage chairmen of women affairs and social development committees in the houses of assembly across the country to work out modalities for domestication of the Child Rights Act. Ngwu said that her committee was partnering a gender-based NGO - Women’s Aid Collective - to drive the implementation of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act and the Child Rights Act. Also, Hajia Aisha Alhassan, the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, said her ministry would collaborate with relevant stakeholders to reduce the number of street children. According to her, the ministry would also work towards eliminating destitute and child abandonment by strengthening child justice administration and make child care issues a priority of government. Represented by Mrs. Georgette Azuogu, Director, Child Development Department in the ministry, she explained that the ministry would provide policy direction and ensure adequate implementation of the existing policies such as the Child Rights Act, National Priority Agenda and the National Response on Violence Against Children.

Street children In his view, Senator Magnus Abe opined that the issue should be taken beyond the domestication of the Act to proper action, insisting that without a law, Nigerians knew what was good for the children. ``The focus on which states have passed and which states have not domesticated the Child Rights Act is important, but not the most important issue in dealing with rights of children in this country. ``I think the first thing is for the nationals where the law has been passed and states that have domesticated the law to begin proper implementation of the law so that it begins to have positive effects on the lives of the children. ``Currently, there is no real difference in the lives of children in the states that have passed the law and those that have not passed it,’’ he observed. Chief Ikechukwu Nwonu, the National Coordinator of Iykon Global Foundation, organisers of the programme, said the aim of the conference was to sensitise governments, care givers and stakeholders on the need to evolve a national policy on reclaiming and rehabilitating street children. He said the foundation would partner state governments to establish reclamation centre for street children across the country. He pointed out that the foundation would soon ascertain the number of street children state by state through a nationwide survey. ``We are targeting two categories of street children; those who are on the street but might have very poor parents and go home after their vending for the day and those children who don’t have parents and even where to go after vending. ``So, we intend to reclaim them, cater

Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajia Aisha Alhassan and rehabilitate them. But you know as NGO we have our limitations; ours is to facilitate and drive the process. We expect state governments to get well involved. ``We are also working out how to get the reclaimed children properly engaged in agricultural activities,’’ he said. In his paper entitled: ``The vulnerability of street children and its effects on national development’’, Prof. Franklin Nwagbara, stressed the need to address the problems of street children. ``The human race, especially Nigerians, should see that street children did not choose to live and fend for themselves on the streets, rather circumstances have handed them this inhumane life experience. ``Children living and/or working in the streets cannot be considered as a social problem, but instead as human beings with full potential to contribute to society and as positive agents for change. ``Every child is entitled to a meaningful childhood. Sadly, many children do not

Every child is entitled to a meaningful childhood. Sadly, many children do not have that opportunity.

have that opportunity. ``On the streets, children lose their rights to emotional, physical and social development; they lack quality healthcare, sound education and positive uplifting recreation. ``Without the security and comfort of a home, they are exposed to cruelty, abuse and exploitation,’’ he said. Nwagbara said that Nigeria needed to do something urgently to tackle the challenges of street children, including those in Internally Displaced Persons camps due to insurgency in the north eastern part of the country. He said the problem of street children could be addressed through correctional model, rehabilitation model, outreach strategy and preventive approach. According to him, correctional model is primarily used by governments and the police, rehabilitation model supported by churches and NGOs, while outreach strategy is supported by street teachers, faithbased organisations and NGOs. ``They see street children as oppressed individuals and aim to empower them by providing outreach education and training to support the children. ``Preventive approach supported by NGOs, focuses on the problems that cause street children by targeting parents’ unemployment and campaign for children’s rights. ``The combination of the models and strategies will go a long way to reduce the high number of street children in the country,’’ he said. By and large, participants at the conference observe that street children are not nuisance after all but victims of poverty, family instability and insurgency, among others. They insist that the society owes it as a duty to provide and care for them to complement efforts of other stakeholders at addressing the problem of street children. •Culled from News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

Capital Market

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Tuesday, February 9, 2016

SEC revs up e- dividend registration awareness campaign

…takes road show to Lagos Johnson Okanlawon

he Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, as part of its efforts towards enlightening the investing public with a special focus on retail investors took on the streets of Lagos yesterday with another round of sensitization on e-dividend registration which is currently on-going in the country. The awareness road show which was laced with side attractions that started at the commission zonal office in Lagos to other part of the state, the commission said the campaign is part of efforts aimed

at implementing the ten year capital market master plan. According to the commission, the e-dividend is targeted to eradicate the difficulty encountered by investors, with hereto had been through the issuance of dividend warrants. Speaking during the programme at Ajah Market, the Head of Department, Market Development of SEC, Mr Henry Rowlands speaks on the need for investors to key into the programme the e-dividend registration is one of the key initiative being enchored by SEC to ensure dynamic and transparent market capable of responding to

the socio-economic aspiration of the nation. He said that the electronic payment regime will bring about timely receipt of dividend by investor as well as give clear understanding of how well the companies are performing. Market women and men have shown great enthusiasm on the programme and lauded the commission new engagement scheme of engaging the common man on the street. A trader at Oyingbo Market in Lagos, Mr Adeniyi Bello, expressed delight on the commission interface saying, “this is a welcoming strategy because we have all give up on our dividends long time ago but this information by

SEC has given us hope, one have to run to his bank” As part of the 4 –day event a Town Hall enlightenment forum on the e-dividend registration will on Thursday the 11th of February 2016 will hold at the Muson Centre, Onikan Lagos. In addition to creating awareness of the e-dividend initiative this forum also aimed at addressing all questions that investors may have on the registration exercise. The forum is expected to be attended by all stakeholders including regulators both in the capital and money markets, market operators and the general public.

Market capitalization up N164bn, as low prices tickle investors Johnson Okanlawon

rading in equities continued on a positive note on the Nigerian Stock Exchange yesterday, as more investors took position on stocks, taking advantages of low prices. Specifically, the All Share Index appreciated 2.06 per cent to close at 23,977.10 points, compared to the decline of 0.06 per cent to close at 23,501.87 points.

Market capitalisation gained N164 billion to close at N8.246 trillion, in contrast to the drop of N6 billion recorded on Friday to close at N80.82 trillion. Dangote Cement Plc led the gainers’ tablw ith N9.70 or 7.80 per cent to close at N134.00 per share, after plans to expand operations. The company said its new plants will help it cut the cost of production and lower product prices in the market.

Other gainers include Unilever, which was up 4.94 percent and PZ Cussons, which rose 4.78 percent. PZ Cussons Plc added N1.00 or 4.78 per cent to close at N21.90 per share, while United apital Plc gained six kobo or 4.51 per cent to close at N1.39 per share. Cutix Plc appreciated six kobo or 4.51 per cent to close at N1.44 per share. Conversely, Con Oil Plc shed N2.09 or 9.36 per cent to close at N20.25 per

share, while Pharma Deko Plc dropped 11 kobo or 4.69 per cent to close at N2.14 per share. Tiger Brands Plc shed six kobo or 4.80 per cent to close at N1.19 per share, while Neimeth International depreciated four kobo or 4.65 per cent to close at 82 kobo per share. A total of 137.5 million shares valued at N994.9 billion were traded in 2,078 deals.

European stocks tumble as Greek shares fall to lowest since 1990

he rout fueled by concern over the strength of the economic recovery took European stocks to their lowest levels in more than a year, with Greek shares again suffering the most. The Stoxx Europe 600 Index slid 3.5 percent to 314.36 at the close of trading and Greece’s ASE Index plunged to its lowest level since 1990. No industry or market in western Europe was spared. While Greek lenders extended a record low, banks in the region dropped to their lowest levels since 2012. With a 7.9 percent plunge today, Greece’s ASE Index has once again

become the year’s worst performer of 93 global equity gauges tracked by Bloomberg. While national benchmark gauges of Italy and Spain lost at least 4.4 percent, the slides weren’t limited to so-called peripheral regions. Germany’s DAX Index fell 3.3 percent to its lowest level since 2014. Commerzbank AG plunged 9.5 percent, the most in almost three years, after Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lowered its rating on the stock to the equivalent of a sell. “Investors can’t make up their minds about the global economy, but the risk of recession and de-

flation is rising,” said Francois Savary, the chief investment officer of Prime Partners SA, a Geneva-based investment manager. “It’s not enough that valuations have receded quite significantly and earnings haven’t been too bad -- sentiment is very low and there isn’t much visibility right now. That’s frightening.” Gauges of construction-related companies and banks posted the worst performances of the 19 industry groups on the Stoxx 600. A measure of lenders closed at its lowest since 2012, led by Greece’s Euro-

bank Ergasias SA and Alpha Bank AE. (Source – Bloomberg.com)

Source: NSE

Market indicators All-Share Index 23,977.10points Market capitalisation 8.25trn

Stock Updates GAINERS COMPANY

OPENING

CLOSING

CHANGE

% CHANGE

DANGCEM

124.30

134.00

9.70

7.80

UNILEVER

30.34

31.84

1.50

4.94

20.90

21.90

1.00

4.78

UCAP

1.33

1.39

0.06

4.51

CUTIX

1.38

1.44

0.06

4.35

UNITYBNK

0.66

0.68

0.02

3.03

OANDO

3.79

3.88

0.09

2.37

UAC-PROP

5.35

5.46

0.11

2.06

GUARANTY

15.99

16.24

0.25

1.56

FCMB

0.88

0.89

0.01

1.14

LOSERS COMPANY

OPENING

CONOIL

22.34

8.2

MPR

Crude oil price

$58.96

20.25

CHANGE

% CHANGE

-2.09

-9.36

PHARMDEKO

2.25

2.14

-0.11

-4.89

TIGERBRANDS

1.25

1.19

-0.06

-4.80

NEIMETH

0.86

0.82

-0.04

-4.65

STERLNBANK

1.79

1.71

-0.08

-4.47

LEARNAFRCA

0.90

0.86

-0.04

-4.44

MAYBAKER

0.92

0.88

-0.04

-4.35

NEM

0.71

0.68

-0.03

-4.23

OKOMUOIL

29.00

27.99

-1.01

-3.48

LIVESTOCK

1.30

1.26

-0.04

-3.08

FGN Bonds Offer

Bid Description

Price

Yield

Price

Yield

15.10 27-APR-2017

1.21

104.88

10.67

105.88

9.81

16.00 29-JUN-2019

3.39

113.35

11.15

114.35

10.82

15.54 13-FEB-2020

4.01

110.03

12.30

111.03

11.99

16.39 27-JAN-2022

5.97

116.84

12.32

117.84

12.10

14.20 14-MAR-2024

8.09

109.96

12.22

110.96

12.04

10.00 23-JUL-2030

14.45 84.40

12.34

85.40

12.17

Rate (%) Inflation

CLOSING

Closing Market Prices of February 8, 2016

Treasury Bills Maturity Date

Bid

Offer

05-May-16

4.18

4.23

11-Aug-16

7.43

7.72

02-Feb-17

8.69

9.50

Exchange

Rates (N)

WAUA

270

USD

196.95

EURO

214

CFA

0.32

YEN

1.64

Tenor

Rate (%)

SWISS FRANC

202

O/N

1.0317

8.0061

POUNDS STERLING

293

9.5435

SDR

273

11.2359

NIBOR

CBN Clearing Rates of January 7, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Tuesday, February 9, 2016

World News When you’re making a revolution, you can’t be too careful about the facts. Either you are for me or against me. –FORMER US PRESIDENT, BILL CLINTON

Syrian crisis: Migrants sink off Turkish coast for migrants to try and enter Europe in 2015. In the latest incident, the migrants departed from the Altinoluk area in western Turkey, and their boat capsized two miles into the crossing. News of the deaths comes as Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel is in Turkey to discuss ways of reducing the number of migrants travelling to Europe. Turkish Prime Minister, Ahmet Davutoglu, said after the meeting that Germany and Turkey would seek the use of NATO resources in the Aegean Sea and on the Syrian border to help handle the flow of migrants. Meanwhile the IOM says close to 69, 000 people have already ar-

rived on Greek shores so far this year, despite often stormy conditions, compared to almost 854, 000 in the whole of last year. Nearly half of those who have arrived in Greece this year are from Syria, according to the IOM. But thousands of Syrians seeking to flee a government offensive in Aleppo, backed by Russian air strikes, are being prevented from leaving their homeland. Turkey has so far closed the border to most of the 30, 000 migrants gathering at the Kilis border crossing, despite appeals by EU leaders to let them cross. Syria’s descent into hell is still playing out on Europe’s borders.

Army. But it is not about the Army. It is about Nigeria. “Whereas it is up to the investigation ordered by government to decide if the Army’s response was disproportionate to the reported provocation by IMN, we are all witnesses to the fact Nigerians across various divides had condemned the occurrence. “Even the Christian Association Nigeria (CAN) did not hesitate to carpet the Army. So why is Iran suddenly strident on this matter, making it look like the entire nation is out to kill off Shi’ite? “It is understandable that each nation has the right to pursue a foreign policy that is beneficial to its interests. Iran, no doubts, has its political, economic and even religious interests in taking this hard-line stance on Shi’ite in Nigeria. “By virtue of this same reasoning, it must understand that Nigeria has its own set of interests. One of this is the desire to remain a secular country that, in line with its constitution, has not adopted any religion(s) as state religion. The implication of this is that all Nigerians must respect the right of others not to be burdened or intimidated by the way they chose to practice their own faiths. It implies that institutions of the country are able to enforce the rights of citizens. “It must also be stated that we have a recent bitter history

of extremism that snowballed into the monster called Boko Haram today because it was not nipped in the bud early enough. Perhaps, that experience influenced the dispatch with which authorities dealt with the Ombatse sect and also the separatist Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). So why shouldn’t we also promptly contain IMN, given that it was becoming rapidly militarised? Also, a Coalition of Human Rights and Pro-Democracy Based Civil Society Organizations has urged the Federal Government to report the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations (UN) for trying to undermine Nigeria’s internal security for allegedly backing a group, the Islamic Movement in Nigeria to cause chaos in the country. In a twist to the situation, however, Convener/National President of the Coalition, Comrade Ibrahim Abubakar, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to expel the Iranian Ambassador from Nigeria. Abubakar explained that the comments credited to the ambassador could threaten Nigeria’s internal security “That Iran can continue to undermine Nigeria after President Buhari’s recent visit to that country makes the message obviously clear that cordial relations with Iran will not add value to us,” he added.

AFOLABI GAMBARI

WITH AGENCY REPORT

t least 24 migrants died yesterday off the Turkish coast trying to reach the Greek island of Lesbos, Turkish media said. The victims, including children, drowned when their boat capsized after setting off from Balikesir province. About 400 people have died crossing into Europe in 2016, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM). Most were travelling to Greece on their way to northern Europe. Recent fighting in Syria has sent thousands of people fleeing towards the Turkish border.

A survivor sitting amidst rescued luggage yesterday The sea route from Turkey to

Greece was the most popular way

Poisoned chalice and road to fresh insurgency A DEOLA TUKURU ABUJA

Killings of members of Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMV) popularly known as Shi’ite in Zaria, Kaduna State in a shoot-out between the Nigerian Military in December last year has drawn international condemnation. Countries and organisations that issued statements sequel to the incident suggested that a probe was necessary to understand what went wrong. Such countries and organisations have history of assisting Nigeria in several areas, so their intervention was quite in order. But the Islamic Republic of Iran has been strident in its interference in Nigeria’s internal affairs, using the Shi’ite– Army clashes as pretext to assume the position of an im-

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei

perial overlord. It has through diverse avenues sought to bring Nigeria under pressure to compromise its own sovereignty. Statements calling for investigation into the incident was followed by calm, ostensibly to enable authorities probe the occurrence. Nonetheless, Iran has done everything possible to exacerbate the situation, just falling short of calling on the Shi’ite in Nigeria to attack government institutions, its posture ranging from warning Nigeria to outright threatening descent into chaos over Nigeria’s handling of the matter. Iranian Ambassador to Nigeria, Saeed Koozechi, has been at the forefront of the verbal belligerence, sometimes deploying the local media to push his country’s agenda and comparing the continued detention of the Shi’ite leader, Sheik Ibrahim El-Zakyzaky to pouring fuel of fire; a luxury that no opposition can enjoy in Iran. Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman, Hoseyn JaberiAnsari, also said his country has “used all those channels to warn” Nigeria over the Shi’ite situation while senior government officials statements that put Nigeria in the realm of a vassal state. While sampling opinions of stakeholders, a Nigerian trainee lawyer based in the UK, Phillip Agbese, explained that it is easy to dismiss these

developments as high level international diplomacy at play, as well as indication of Iran’s true intention “These so-called analysts’ only goal is to twist the narrative in a manner that can jeopardise the peace in Nigeria,” Agbese said. He explained that the foregoing is worrisome given Iran’s antecedent in its geopolitical sphere of influence in the Middle East, where its meddlesomeness has acted to blow what started as internal issues for some countries into full scale global crises that currently defy solutions. “This penchant for interference in the internal affairs of other countries is possibly the result of a desire to grow the Shi’ite population worldwide but it should have been reasonable enough to recognise and accept that Nigeria is a different case,” Agbese further said. “Unfortunately, there are some people who tend to misunderstand this intervention as genuine as anything that demonises our Armed Forces or the Army is welcome by such people who have largely been unable to divorce their anger over previous years of military rule from the statutory responsibility to protect the territorial integrity of the nation. “The open castigation and threat to the nation by Iran is thus misconstrued as desirable so long as it is bashing the

National Mirror National Mirror Tuesday,4,February 9, 2016 47 Tuesday, February 2014 www.nationalmirroronline.net www.nationalmirroronline.net

Community Mirror I am calling on all APC members to accept this judgement and join me, so that we can work together for the socio-economic development of our dear state. – Governor of Taraba State, Darius Ishaku

A za Msue, Kaduna

igerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, Kaduna State Command, has arrested a blind suspect, Muntari Idris, for harbouring, and aiding criminal gangs purportedly involved in cattle rustling, kidnapping and other crimes in the state. In a statement by NSCDC state Public Relations Officer, Orndiir Terzungwe, on behalf of State Commandant, Alhaji Modu Bunu, Idris, popularly known as Barrister, was picked up alongside Adamu Mohammed by operatives of the corps at Ungwar-Maigiginya in Igabi Local Government Area of the state after a tip-off. Bunu said investigation revealed that Barrister, who claims to be a businessman in landed property, rather specialises in bailing criminals, who indulge in cattle rustling, kidnapping and other criminal acts plaguing Kaduna State. The statement explained that the suspect, who denied involvement in the crime on interrogation, was however, implicated by his accomplice, Adamu Mohammed, who confessed that he accompanied Barrister many times to secure bail for suspected criminals. According to the statement, Mohammed pointed out that most of the suspects bailed by Barrister were

NSCDC arrests blind man harbouring rustlers, kidnappers

agos lawyer and human rights activist, Chief Gabriel Giwa-Amu, has said the apex court in the land is largely misunderstood by most Nigerians. He was reacting to the plethora of criticisms that trailed the recent judgments it delivered as it affects the governorship elections of Rivers and Akwa Ibom states. Most Nigerians, who were convinced by the reports that

Justin Tyopuusu, Jalingo

Eko Atlantic City, Lagos, under construction.

those detained in connection with cattle rustling, kidnapping, among others. Bunu said, “Mohammed, who pleaded for pardon, explained that he was introduced to Barrister five years ago by his former boss now late, but when he realized his criminal antics, he advised him to desist but his counsel was not considered, resulting in their ordeal.” The suspect confessed, “I wish to duly state that I know

my present boss, Barrister, as fondly called to be a bailer of offenders especially cattle rustlers and kidnappers, particularly last years (2015). “He asked me to accompany him to State CID twice and many times to Rigasa Station and each time we did, I discovered that he would bail offenders who I realized were suspects for cattle rustling,” Muhammed added. On completion of investigation on the matter, State

PHOTO: SAMUEL ADETIMEHIN

Commandant, Alhaji Modu Bunu, handed over the duo to the State Security Services for further investigation and prosecution. The Commandant, however, called on parents and guardians to caution their wards against aligning with criminal gangs, warning that NSCDC and other security agencies were doing everything possible to make the state safe and secure for habitation.

Supreme Court largely misunderstood –Giwa-Amu Dare Akogun

Lawmaker pays NECO fees for 250 students

the elections held in the two states were largely marred by boycotts, rigging, killings, maiming and all manner of electoral malpractices were shocked when the Supreme Court decided to uphold the election of those alleged to have perpetrated acts that are inimical to laid down guidelines. In a statement made available to the press, Amu said the procedure for deferment of reasons in a judgment was allowed in law even as the expectation of the Nigerian people

may not be in tandem with the outcome of these judgments. He further noted that in the Supreme Court, the rationale for most of the judgments and rulings it delivers is “Justice Delivery”, stressing that the supreme court was not interested in the facts or demeanor of witnesses the lower courts had followed the procedure established by law in arriving at the judgment appealed against. “The Supreme Court is often misunderstood as it is often assumed erroneously that

the Supreme Court enjoys the powers and competence of a trial court or a court of first instance and an appellant court at the same time,” Amu said. Rather, he said the Supreme Court ordinarily does not tamper with the facts of a case; it mainly concerns itself with whether justice has been delivered by the lower courts. He stressed that the mere fact that the evidence before the lower courts was not controverted does not automatically mean victory before the Supreme Court.

member representing Jalingo/Yorro/Zing Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Aminu Malle, has paid the National Examination Council (NECO) registration fee of 250 students in his constituency. Malle, while presenting the cheques to the students and their schools yesterday in Jalingo, said the idea was borne out of the desire to assist the less privileged parents to guarantee the future of the children. The lawmaker urged wellmeaning citizens of the state to support the less privileged students so that issues of school drop-out would be reduced across the state. This is the second phase of the exercise of the lawmaker’s educational intervention for students of secondary schools in his constituency. The first was the payment of Joint Admissions and Matriculations Examinations Board (JAMB) registration for 200 students in the three local councils that make up the constituency. “We have put in place strategies to sustain the programme as our way of giving back to the society. But this is the responsibility of state government, our schools are in a very deplorable condition and it’s a miracle that our children do pass external examinations. Government must rise up to this nagging challenge staring us in the face,” he said. Earlier, Coordinator of the Foundation, Malam Mamsur Adamu, said the foundation would continue to support the selected students to make sure their future was guaranteed. “We are making arrangements to commence extra mural classes to ensure they get distinctions and we will pursue admissions for all of them,” he said.

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Tuesday, February 9, 2016

Nasarawa workers protest against labour-ordered strike IGBAWASE UKUMBA LAFIA

undreds of workers under the aegies of Concerned Nasarawa State Civil Servants yesterday took to the streets of Lafia, the state capital, protesting against the ongoing strike embarked on by labour unions in the state. The protest, which

was peaceful, however, caused gridlock on major streets in the city centre thereby forcing motorists to divert to other routes that were free for traffic flow. Leader of the concerned workers, Yahaya Isa Mohammed, while speaking to journalists during the protest, said the group was not in support of the ongoing strike

because government has met the demands tabled before it by the labour unions. His word, “We on our part praise the efforts of our governor, as he was able to yield to the demands of the union, but the union failed to call off the strike.” He said that as concerned civil servants in the state, they acknowl-

edged the efforts of the governor over the ongoing strike; hence a call by concerned workers on their colleagues to resume work became imperative. Meanwhile, the strike which is in its second week has shut down the entire state, as schools, hospitals and secretariats main entrants are under lock and key.

No council area under B’Haram control in Borno –Shettima INUSA NDAHI MAIDUGURI

orno State Governor, Kashim Shettima, yesterday disputed media report credited to Senator Kaka Bashir Garbai, that three local government areas of Abadam, Mobbar and Kala Balge were fully under Boko Haram control, insisting that none of his local government areas is currently occupied by the insurgents. Shettima, however, said the military and other security operatives under ‘Operation Lafiya Dole’ are doing their best in the last six months as the terrorists’ capacity have been degraded with only pockets of them existing in Sambisa Forest. It would be recalled that the Senator representing Borno Central, Senator Kaka Garbai, who visited Dalori, Alomari and other villages around Maiduguri, which were sacked recently by insurgents with the killing of over 100 residents, told journalists that “the military are not doing their best CHANGE OF NAME

to end the war against terrorists, as only Maiduguri, Bayo and Kwaya Kusar council areas were safe and free of insurgents, while 21 other council areas are partially controlled by terrorists with three others fully under Boko Haram control.” But Governor Shettima who just returned from Saudi Arabia where he led some other northern governors for a meeting with officials of Islamic Development Bank and Saudi authorities on rebuilding the North East, said as the Chief Security Officer of the state, all the 27 local government areas of the state have been liberated by the military. “As Chief Security Officer of Borno State, I am telling you authoritatively that our military deserves commendation, because all my local government areas have been liberated, only few insurgents that remain in the Sambisa forest were desperate to launch some pockets of attacks we are now witnessing as a result of the bombardment CHANGE OF NAME

that is going on in their hideouts. “May be, Senator Garbai’s statement to the media were made out of his emotions when he visited the affected areas or he was misquoted. I have been trying to contact him on this unfortunate statement”. Shettima stated. The governor also took time and drove straight to Dalori and other surrounding villages that were attacked by the insurgents last week. He consoled the victims and prayed that Allah should grant Aljanatul Firdaus for those who lost their lives in the unfortunate incidents and wished the injured ones quick recovery. He also told the people of the affected communities that government has already liaised with the military to provide them with adequate security and urged them not to flee as his administraCHANGE OF NAME

FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MISS AUDU REBECCA OMETERE. NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MRS ALBERT REBECCA OMETERE . ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. THE GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD TAKE NOTE.

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CHANGE OF NAME g I, formerly known and addressed as Atinuke Mariam Olaitan, now wish to be known, called and addressed as Atinuke Mariam Obadimeji. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note

CHANGE OF NAME OJE: I, formerly known and addressed as OJE FEMI ADEYEMI, now wish to be known and addressed as SALAKO QUDUS TAIWO. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as DANIEL NDUBUISI NWADIKE, now wishes to be known and addressed as NDUBUISI NWADIKE ONYEGBULE. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

Formerly known and addressed as Adebare Omobolanle Aina, now wish to be known, called and addressed as Abdulazeez Rahmat Omobolanle. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

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AMBROSE:Formerly known and addressed as Miss Ambrose Utomobong Success now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Success Christian Uzoho. All former documents remain valid. General public take note

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FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MISS FATUNMISE ADENIKE ELIZABETH. NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MRS YAKUBU ADENIKE ELIZABETH. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. THE GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD TAKE NOTE.

I, formerly known and addressed as ODEJIMI ADEOLU ADEKUNLE, now wish to be known and addressed as SOLOMON ADEOLU ADEKUNLE. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

Formerly known and addressed as DICKO ZAINAB, now wish to be known and addressed as YUSSUFF ZAINAB. All GRFXPHQWV FHUWL¿FDWHV EHDULQJ my former names remain valid. General public & relevant authorities please take note

CHANGE OF NAME AYANKOYA: Formerly known and addressed as Ms Ayankoya Omowunmi Ololade now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Odetunde Omowunmi Ololade. All former documents remain valid. General public take note

Gov Shettima

I, formerly known and addressed as AYUBA MUHAMMED, now wishes to be known and addressed as AYUBA BEBEJI. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as PERES MOSES, now wishes to be known and addressed as PEREDOUDE EMOTONGHA. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

tion will soon release the sum of N100 million to rebuild their destroyed houses. He immediately set up a committee headed by the Deputy Governor, Usman Mamman Durkwa, to ensure that all the houses destroyed by the insurgents were rebuilt without further delay. He also commended President Muhammad Buhari for his determination towards ending the deadly activities of Boko Haram and other terror acts in the country.

PETER: Formerly known and addressed as Peter Olatunji Oluwaseun now wish to be known and addressed as Peter Olatunji Samuel All former documents remain valid. General public take note

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SOLOMON: I, formerly known and addressed as PATRICIA IMOH SOLOMON, now wish to be known and addressed as IMO EDUIME PATIENCE. That PATRICIA is a typographical error, but wish to be known as PATIENCE and also SOLOMON is my grandfather’s name which i want to remove and maintain IMO as my surname. All former documents remain valid. General public and Authorities Concerned take note.

Researchers discover new diagnostic method for Hepatitis C virus WOLE ADEDE ILORIN

new diagnostic method of identifying Hepatitis C virus in human carriers long before they manifest symptoms of the disease has been discovered by a team of researchers at the University of Ilorin. Dr. Jide Agbede of the Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, University of Ilorin, who leads a multi-disciplinary research team on the study, made this known in an interview in Ilorin at the weekend. Dr. Agbede said: “Hepatitis ‘C’ virus is a very deadly viral disease that has propensity to cause cancer of the liver as carriers advance in age.”

He said the infection was not easily diagnosed because not everyone with the virus expresses the symptoms. The symptoms are Gastro Intestinal Tract, GIT, infections and abdominal discomfort. The medical researcher explained that “it is when people need to donate blood for blood transfusion purposes and the donor’s blood is screened that the virus is often discovered,” adding that “even at that, only those who have passed the ‘window period’ are discovered.” He explained that the ‘window period’ is a time between when the virus gets into human body unnoticed and the time when existing diagnostic technology can fish it out”.

Immigration denies secret recruitment ADEOLA TUKURU ABUJA

igeria Immigration Service, NIS, yesterday called on the general public to disregard recent publication in some national newspapers that the NIS will commence recruitment of 5,000 staff in March 2016. In a press statement signed by Public Relations Officer, Kings Ekpedeme, the purported statement was said to have been made by the Public Relations Office of the Service when clarifying what the newspapers considered as “secret” recruitment into the serCHANGE OF NAME

FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MISS ETUONU RITA NNEKA NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MRS UCHEKA RITA NNEKA. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. THE GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD TAKE NOTE.

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I, formerly known and addressed as Miss OLISEDI FUNMILOLA, now wish to be known and addressed as MISS AKEREDOLU FUNMILOLA . All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

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ATERE: I, formerly known and addressed as ATERE BUNMI MODUPE, now wish to be known, called and addressed as BABALOLA BUNMI MODUPE. All former documents remain valid. General public and Authorities Concerned should please take note.

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FRANK: Formerly known and addressed as FRANK OLU KOLADE now wish to be known and addressed as IBOLO FRANKLIN OLU. All former documents remain valid. General public take note

vice. Kings explained that it has become very important to state the fact to prevent any anxiety among interested persons or provide a window for fraudsters to dupe unemployed Nigerians. “These are facts. The Nigerian military have successfully reclaimed all parts of the North East of Nigeria from the insurgents. “Following these victories and the imperative of moving to other areas and duties, the paramilitary agencies have been directed to have administrative presence in those areas in order to ensure the insurgents stay off. CHANGE OF NAME

KILANSE: I Formerly known and addressed as KILANSE KABIRAT OLABIMPE , now wish to be known and address as KILANSE-ONI KABIRAT OLABIMPE . All former documents remain valid. MDCN & General public to take note.

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BASSEY: I Formerly known and addressed as BASSEY ROSELIN ABENG now wish to be known and address as BASSY EDIM ABENG. All former documents remain valid. General public to take note.

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I, formerly known and addressed as IYAMBA ETIM FRANK, now wish to be known and addressed as ETIM JAMES INYANG. My correct date of birth is 10th day April, 1987. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

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UYOYOU: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Uyoyou Josephine Etuwoma now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Uyoyou Josephine Okulor. All former documents remain valid. General public take note

Tuesday, February 9, 2016

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Iyemifokhai Zenab now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Ubong Zenab..All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

AREE: I, formerly known and addressed as AREE ELIZABETH FUNKE, now wish to be known, called and addressed as AREE ELIZABETH OJUOLAPE. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

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CHANGE OF NAME I formerly Oje Taiwo Evelyn now wish to be known,called and addressed as Omotoso Taiwo Evelyn henceforth.Former documents remain valid.Authorities concern and general public note.

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OKON: Formerly known and addressed as EPONG-IEKONG ROSE OKON now wish to be known and addressed as MARY OKON All former documents remain valid. General public take note

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IBRAHEEM: Formerly known and addressed as Ibraheem Ganiyu Olubamiji now wish to be known and addressed as Arogunyo Ganiyu Olubamiji. All former documents remain valid.All former documents remain valid. General public take note

CHANGE OF NAME UGOKWE: Formerly known and addressed as UGOKWE AFAMEFUNA now wish to be known and addressed as AFAMEFUNA DUMUJE. All former documents remain valid. Keystone Bank and the general public take note.

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Formerly known and addressed as Williams Oluwayemisi Oladipupo, now wish to be known and addressed as Olayinka Oluwayemisi Oladipupo. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as DAUDA UMAR, now wish to be known and addressed as MUHAMMED HAMZA. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

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Formerly known and addressed as Reuben BestLove, now wish to be known and addressed as Ndon Etima Emmanuel. All former documents bearing my names remain valid. General public please take note.

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Formerly known and addressed as Muhammed Lawal Ugbede, now wish to be known and addressed as Momoh Ugbede Lawal. All former documents bearing my names remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Miss FAPOHUNDA CHRISTIANAH, now Mrs. FATUASE CHRISTIANAH. All former documents remain valid. Ekiti State civil service commission and General public take note.

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CHANGE OF NAME I formerly known and addressed as Miss Ikwo Dick lnyang, Now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs lkwo Osobuije Oko. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

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CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly known and addressed as Magaji Abdullahi, now wish to be known, called and addressed as Saidu Abdu. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Aduke Davies, Now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Aduke Osemen Ogedegbe. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. I, formerly known and addressed as Qozeem Oyedapo Olawale, now wish to be known, called and addressed as Kazeem Adufe Olawale. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

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OGUNDARE : I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Olajumoke Ogundare, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Olajumoke Oladepo. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

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I formerly known as SHOFOLAHAN DAMILOLA OLAMILEKAN now wish to be known and addressed as SHOFOLAHAN IBRAHIM. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note

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GBADAMOSI : I, formerly known and addressed as FUNKE GBADAMOSI, now wish to be known and addressed as OLANIYAN OLUFUNKE NIKE. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

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I FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESS AS JAMES YUNANA NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AS DASHANG JAMES YUNANA. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. ECOBANK AND GENERAL PUBLIC TO TAKE NOTE.

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NGENE: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS NGENE CHRISTOBEL CHEKWUBE, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS EZENWATA CHRISTOBEL CHEKWUBE. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public should please take note.

OKPARA: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS OKPARA CYNTHIA ONYINYECHI now wish to be known and addressed as MRS UGWUOKO CYNTHIA ONYINYECHI. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public should please take note.

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NWAKOZOR:I, formerly known and addressed as MRS NWAKOZOR BLESSING NGOZI, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS ONYEKWELU BLESSING NGOZI. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public should please take note.

EDE: I, formerly known and addressed as EDE OGBONNA ABRA, now wish to be known and addressed as EDE OGBONNA ABRAHAM. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

PUBLIC NOTICE

SECOND COMING OF CHRIST MINISTRY

The general is hereby notified that the above name Ministry has applied for alteration of her constitution at the Corporation Affairs Commission for a change in the trustees under part C of the companies and Allied Matters Act, 1990. 9. The Old Clauses of the Constitution are : There shall be a Board of trustees of not more than 5 member.

9(b) Such Trustees shall be of Five (5) in numbers and shall be known as ‘‘REGISTERED TRUSTEES OF THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST MINISTRY. 9. The New Clauses of the Constitution are : There shall be a Board of trustees of not more than 3 member.

9(b) Such Trustees shall be of Three (3) in numbers and shall be known as ‘‘REGISTERED TRUSTEES OF THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST MINISTRY. Any objection to the change should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commision, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication. Signed: Ilori E. Folorunsho Esq. (Folorunso Ilori & Co.) (Barrister & Solicitors) 11, Bashir Oweh Street, Ikeja, Lagos. 08023026529 Scanned by CamScanner

Formerly known and addressed as Miss NONYE EMMANUELLA MALU, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. NONYE EMMANUELLA UDEOBA. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as Mohammed Rukayat Olatundun, Now wish to be known and addressed as Dosunmu Rukayat Olatundun. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

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I formerly known as IJEOMA TOCHUKWU AGHADINUNO & IJEOMA ESTHER TOCHUKWUAGHADINUNO now wish to be known and addressed as IJEOMA ESTHER ADINO. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note

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AMUO: I, formerly known and addressed as WAHAB MUHYDEEN AMUO, now wish to be known and addressed as WAHAB MUHYDEEN TUNDE. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

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ANOLUE: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS ANOLUE OBIOMA SYLVIA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS ARINZE OBIOMA SYLVIA. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public should please take note. CHANGE OF NAME

IGBOKWE: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS IGBOKWE JULIET CHIDIMMA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS EJINAKA JULIET CHIDIMMA. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public should please take note.

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ABU: I, formerly known and addressed as ABU EFE EMMANUEL, now wish to be known and addressed as ABU EFEREMORHORO EMMANUEL. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

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UBA-TOMA:I, formerly known and addressed as UBA-TOMA JOY ONYEDIKACHI, now wish to be known and addressed as UBA JOY ONYEDIKACHI. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

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ODO: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS ODO CHINASA AUGUSTINA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS OZIOKO CHINASA AUGUSTINA. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public should take note.

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SHOTOLU: Formerly known and addressed as MR SHOTOLU OLALEKAN now wish to be known and addressed as MR AKANBI ISIAKA MEMUDU. All former documents remain valid. general public take note.

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FORMERLY KNOWN AS MISS. SALAMI HELEN WISH TO BE KNOWN AS MRS. MUHAMMED JAMIU HELEN. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC TAKE NOTE.

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HOUNKPE: Formerly known and addressed as HOUNKPE ASSOU PIERRE now wish to be known and addressed as HOUNKPE ASSOU PETER All former documents remain valid. General public take note

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FORMERLY KNOWN AS DIKKO GARBA NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESS AS DIKKO ANACHI. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. ACCESS BANK AND GENERAL PUBLIC TAKE NOTE.

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OFEROSHI: Formerly known and addressed as Oferoshi Colins Eoshumoru wish to be known and addressed as Esheimoru Collins Ofeoshi All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME F ‎ ormerly known and addressed as JIDONU ADEBAYO now wish to be known and addressed as FELIX ADEBAYO JOSEPH. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note. CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Adeleke Omoshalewa Lateefah, now wish to be known and addressed as Akinyemi Omoshalewa Lateefah. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note. CONFIRMATION OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Sanni Omolade Rukayat, now wish to be known and addressed as Mahmud Omolade Rukayat. All former documents remain valid. NYSC & general public please take note.

I, Formerly known and addressed as ONWUSA FUSTINA ANWULI. now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. IYOHA FUSTINA ANWULI. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

This is to corfirm that I, Rotimi Ade Titus, Timmy Titus, Rotimi Titus Apejoye is the same one person now Rotimi Titus Apejoye. All former documents bearing my names remain valid. General public please take note.

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

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as FATAI JIMOH SHINA, now wish to be known and addressed as JIMOH FATAI ISHOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Esther Sambo Ezekiel Gift, Now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Macaulay Esther Gift. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly known and addressed as Kudirat Toyin Omoorukan, Now wish to be known and addressed as Kudirat Toyin Abubakr. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I formerly known and addressed as Happiness Nene Umoh, Now wish to be known and addressed as Umoh Anthony Happiness. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

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ONI: I, formerly known and addressed as ONI SANYA ISAAC, now wish to be known, called and addressed as AYOMIDE TOLUWANI. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Sikiru Sodiq Abidemi now wish to be known as Lawal Ishaq Abidemi. General public please take note. CHANGE OF NAME

OTIJI: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS OTIJI ROSEMARY ONYINYE, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS ANI ROSEMARY ONYINYE. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

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CHANGE OF NAME

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CHANGE OF NAME

UDEH: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS UDEH CHIZOBA MERCY, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS EZEONU CHIZOBA MERCY. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public should take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

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CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Bajowa Taiwo Tolani now wish to be known as Ojo Bajowa Taiwo. General public please take note. CHANGE OF NAME

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AYENI: I, FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS TITILAYO ADEFOLUKE AYENI, NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN, CALLED AND ADDRESSED AS MRS TITILAYO ADEFOLUKE JIMOH. ALL FORMER DOCUMENT’S REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD PLEASE TAKE NOTE

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CHANGE OF NAME

I FORMERLY KNOWN AS MARY AYOOLA EMMANUEL OR MARY KEHINDE AYOOLA NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AS MARY EMMANUEL. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. UBA, SKYE BANK, DIAMOND BANK AND GENERAL PUBLIC TAKE NOTE.

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NWEKE:I, formerly known and addressed as MISS NWEKE EDITH OGECHI, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS OGABIDIO FAVOUR OGECHI EDITH. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

IFEJIEME: I, formerly now and addressed as IFEJIEME IGNATUS .U., now wish to be known and addressed as IFEJIEME IGNATIUS IFEANYI. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

UDEH: I, formerly known and addressed as UDEH CHUKWUBUIKE LAWRENCE, now wish to be known and addressed as ENWEREONYE CHUKWUBUIKE LAWRENCE. All former documents remain valid. First Bank of Nig Plc and general public should please note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME OBINNA: I, formerly known and addressed as MR IBEH OBINNA, now wish to be known and addressed as OBINNA RAPHEAL . All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

ILOERUNACHI: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS ILOERUNACHI HOPE CHINWE, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS UGWA HOPE CHINWE. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public should take note.

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ENI:I, formerly known and addressed as ENI OKEY, now wish to be known and addressed as ENISON OKEY. All former documents remain valid. Command Secondary School Ohaeia and general public should take note.

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This is to confirm that ANOZIE IGNATUS and ANOZIE EMEKA IGNATUS refer to one and same person, Born on 19th november 1982 now wish to be known and addressed as ANOZIE EMEKA IGNATUS. All documents reflecting any of the Stated names remain valid. general public take note

This is to confirm that OGAGUN AYO SABASOGIE and AYO OGAGUN SABASOGIE refer to one and same person, now wish to be known and addressed as AYO OGAGUN SABASOGIE. All documents reflecting any of the Stated names remain valid. general public take note

Tuesday, February 9, 2016

...may get N180m if sacked with agency report

nconfirmed report yesterday said that Super Eagles Coach, Sunday Oliseh, sent a letter of apology to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) after his recent attacks on the federation as well as his perceived critics. Nigeria failed to reach the knockout stage of 2016 CHAN that ended in Rwanda on Sunday, leading to speculations over the future of Oliseh as Eagles coach. Oliseh in turn fired back, saying his team was not motivated to go farther in the competition, claiming that he even used his personal $4,000 to feed his players during their camping in Pretoria, South Africa, since there allowances have not been paid. He also took timeout to fire salvos at

Sport –Harvey Smith (1967)

Oliseh apologises to NFF “insane” critics, particularly his former international teammates, who he claimed have been most unfair to him with their attacks in the media. But africanfootball.com reported yesterday that a close source to the Eagles coach disclosed: “Oliseh has just sent a letter apologising for his utterances and actions. “He said he is sorry, that he never wanted to attack the NFF or embarrass them, but rather he wanted the whole world to know they have not been given money. “He also said he has been very frustrated after the heavy attack on him and his team after their exit from the CHAN.” Oliseh’s seven months in charge of the Eagles have been marked by controversies. He fell out with former captain, Vincent Enyeama, with striker Emmanu-

Without the use of drugs our athletes are like drivers of a racing car with one gear less than their rivals

IAAF releases list of 4,027 banned Russian athletes

Everest Onyewuchi

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

el Emenike also quitting international football during that time. He has also gone public with the money problems affecting his team at CHAN to the embarrassment of his employers. Meanwhile, broke NFF will have to be ready with a handsome pay-off should they fire Oliseh. Top officials say going by the contract he signed with the NFF last July, the former Nigeria skipper will be entitled to a big pay-off should he now be sacked just seven months into a three-year contract. The pay-off could be as much as his salaries for three years, which could come down to as much as N180million. “Sunday knows they want to sack him, but he will be waiting for them at FIFA. They have to be ready to pay out his contract sum,” the source told africanfootball.com.

Ahead Eagles, Pharaohs’ clash: Kaduna stadium for inspection

he Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) will this week inspect facilities and equipment at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna for next month’s 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier between Nigeria and Egypt. NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, said yesterday that the inspection visit will take place on Thursday, and that facilities to be inspected include the playing pitch of the Ahmadu Bello Stadium, dressing rooms, proposed training pitches, scoreboard, sanitary facilities, spectator stands and media facilities. Sanusi will conduct the inspection alongside the Director of Facilities at the National Sports Commission (NSC), Engr. Shehu Ibrahim. “We will inspect the facilities alongside officials of the Kaduna State Government and the Kaduna State Sports Ministry and Football Association. There is the need to put everything in top shape ahead of this big match. “The NFF will interface with the Kaduna State Government on the areas that need to be improved upon. We will also jointly put in place a flawless medical and security plan for the match,” Sanusi said. Super Eagles take on the Pharaohs in Kaduna on March 23 in one of the Day 3 matches of the Gabon 2017 AFCON qualification series. The return leg will be played in Egypt five days later. Nigeria is currently second on the Group G table with four points from two matches, having beaten Chad 2-0 also in Kaduna in June 2015 and drawn 0-0 with Tanzania in Dar es Salaam in September 2015. Egypt remain top of the log with maximum six points, from beating Tanzania in Egypt and Chad away in N’Djamena.

Sports

Tuesday, February 9, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Rio 2016: U.S. athletes, officials fear Zika

EPL

Pressure now on our rivals –Ranieri

he pressure is now on Leicester City’s title rivals to remove the Foxes from the top of the Premier League table, manager Claudio Ranieri said after last Saturday’s thumping 3-1 league victory over Manchester City. A brace from defender Robert Huth and another strike from winger Riyad Mahrez meant Leicester managed to open up a five-point gap with second-placed Tottenham Hotspur. “The pressure was on us at the beginning because our goal was to maintain our Premier League status, but now the pressure is on the other teams who spent a lot of money to win the Premier League and Champions League,” Italian Ranieri told British media.

Ranieri

“It is important for us to stay concentrated and keep our feet on the ground. That is important because, for the first time in their lives, they are doing something special. It is important not to look behind you.” Ranieri admitted his team could be affected by the pressure of the

title race but urged his players to use their experience of being in the relegation dogfight last campaign to their advantage. “Pressure, it could be a problem, but it is important we stay calm... What they experienced last season may help because it was a big pres-

sure for them,” said the former Chelsea manager. Leicester will look to dampen third-placed Arsenal’s title hopes when they travel to the Emirates Stadium on Sunday, knowing a victory would pull them eight points away from Arsene Wenger’s men.

Leicester fan eyes £25,000 windfall

eicester City fan Leigh Herbert will pocket a cool £25,000 ($36 000) if his team complete their fairytale run and win the Premier League title. Herbert placed a fivepound bet on Claudio Ranieri’s men to lift the trophy at the start of the season at odds of 5000/1. The Foxes are five points clear at the top

with 13 games left following lat Saturday’s 3-1 win at Manchester City and the 39-year-old carpenter feels he is on the verge of a “life-changing” win. Herbert, who placed the bet last August while on a camping holiday, has refused bookmaker William Hill’s £3,200 cash-out offer. “I am going to hang in there, I believe in fairy-

tales,” he said. The bookmaker will have to pay out more than £2 million if Leicester win the title, with the biggest potential windfall of £140,775 going to a customer from Guildford. The victory over Manchester City caused Leicester’s odds to win the league to be cut to 2/1, joint-favourites with third-placed Arsenal.

he United States Olympic Committee (USOC) has told U.S. sports federations that athletes and staff concerned over the Zika virus should consider not going to the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in August. The message was delivered in a conference call involving USOC officials and leaders of U.S. sport federations in late January, according to two people who participated in the call. Federations were told that no one should go to Brazil “if they don’t feel comfortable going. Bottom line,” said Donald Anthony, president and board chairman of USA Fencing. The USOC’s briefing to sport federations is the latest sign that Olympics officials are taking the Zika threat to the Games in Rio de Janeiro seriously. It is an acknowl-

Obama

edgement that at least some athletes and support staff could face a tough decision over whether to attend. The U.S. won most medals at the last Olympics in London in 2012, so any disruption to its presence would be important for the Rio Games. Global health authorities suspect the mosquito-borne Zika virus has caused a spike in Brazil of microcephaly, a birth defect marked by an abnormally small head.

Abuja City strikers gear up for NNL title Joel Ajayi Abuja

ity strikers of Abuja will be taking part in this year’s soccer league after they succeeded in picking one of the slots available in the Nigeria Nation-wide League Division three. Established in 2014, The FCT-based privately managed outfit faced big fight among other clubs that participated in state league competitions last year. City Strikers, a grassroots and community based team aim at gaining promotion to Division 2 next season. At the unveiling ceremony in Abuja last week, chairman of the club, Mr. Akin Adejumo, who remains optimistic of the prospects of his club, assured that no effort would be spared in getting the team to their desired position. With its motto “Momentum on the Field”, Adejumo who was recently honoured with best ‘Grassroots Developer’ award said, “We want

to make some positive impact on FCT football in our own little way. We are contributing to ensure FCT actually has a team in the premiership in the next few years and this can only be achieved if a team like City Strikers can actually fortify themselves, have a good resource base to advance players into some of these bigger teams in FCT that can actually give us that posture in Nigerian football.” On his part, a director of the club, Barr Yinka Owoeye, expressed optimism that the vision and mission of the team would be actualised.

Pinnick

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sports 47

Tuesday, February 9, 2016

Lagos City Marathon fallout: Sharabut makes appeal, Akor optimistic

Mercyjacob_26@yahoo.com Tel: 08063056537

IAAF releases list of 4,027 banned Russian athletes

he International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) yesterday, published on its website list of Russian athletes banned from international competitions for the duration of the suspension of the All-Russia Athletics Federation (ARAF). The list contains a total of 4,027 names of Russian athletes including national team leaders (such as Yelena Isinbayeva, Yekaterina Koneva, Daria Klishina, Anna Chicherova, Sergey Shubenkov) as well as athletes suspended over doping-related issues (Valery Borchin, Sergey Kirdyapkin, Olga Kaniskina, Sergey Bakulin, Vladimir Kanaikin, Lilia Shobukhova, Yevgeniya Zolotova). MThe list was prepared based on information provided by the ARAF. The IAAF, however, also reported yesterday that the current list is not final and can be a subject to changes. WADA’s Independent Commission published last November 9 the results of its probe into the activities of the ARAF, the Moscow antidoping laboratory, the RUSADA and the Russian Sports Ministry. The commission accused certain athletes and sports officials of doping abuse and involvement in

Sharabut

Ifeanyi Eduzor

Coe

other activities related to violations of international regulations on performance enhancing substances. RUSADA and the Moscow antidoping laboratory subsequently suspended their activities, while

World bits…

No quick fix to crisis in IAAF –Coe

orld athletics boss, Sebastian Coe, admitted yesterday that there will be no quick fix as he battles to restore public trust in the crisis-hit sport. But the 59-year-old Briton, on a visit to Japan in his capacity as chairman of the British Olympic Association (BOA), promised to “deliver a clean platform for clean athletes”. “I’m sure that the changes that I have in train will be, in large part, in place by end of this year,” said Coe, whose first five months in charge at the IAAF have been plagued by doping and corruption scandals. “As I’ve said before, the journey back to trust is one of an uncertain length, but we have to make changes,” he added.

WADA’s Board of Founders approved the decision of the agency’s Independent Committee that RUSADA did not comply with the Code of the international anti-doping organisation.

Spain strips Dominguez of athlete status

pain’s Sports Council has stripped runner Marta Dominguez of her status as a Spanish athlete after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) banned her for three years for blood doping and removed her 2009 world steeplechase title. Council president, Miguel Cardenal Carro, said in a statement published yesterday in Spain’s Official State Bulletin that the decision “to exclude” Dominguez from “high-level sports and athletics” was taken because of doping. The CAS had on November 19 upheld appeals by the IAAF and World Anti-Doping Agency that challenged Spain’s athletics federation’s decision to clear Dominguez of irregularities in her biological passport.

Star Quote…

It is better to look ahead and prepare than to look back and regret. –Jackie Joyner-Kersee

he two Nigerians to first cross the finish line of the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon held last weekend, Philip Sharabut and Mary Akor, have expressed their desires to win the event next time. While Sharabut, the first Nigerian male says there is need for the country to pay more attention to the development of distance races to enable Nigerian athletes compete favourably with their counterparts from East Africa, Akor is optimistic of progressing in distance races. Sharabut who won N1million for his efforts at the 42kilometre race noted that without adequate preparation and encouragement, Kenyan and Ethiopian athletes will continue to dominate marathon races in the continent. “I am very happy emerging as the first Nigerian to get to the finish line, but I would have loved to win the star prize in the presence of my countrymen. “It is not that Kenyans and

Ethiopians are unbeatable, but they train for many months while we in Nigeria train only a month before the race, which makes it difficult to catch up with them,” Sharabut said. According to him, there is the need for the government to take the issue of developing athletes in long distance races serious in order to ensure that at least a Nigerian finishes among the first three whenever marathon is organised in the country. Speaking in similar vein, Akor, who disclosed that she trained for two months for the event, said her ultimate ambition is to be among the best distance runners in the world. “My emergence as the best Nigerian female marathoner has given me confidence that with serious training, I can be among the best in the continent and that is what my focus will be now,” she said. “I dedicate my victory to all Nigerians and the organisers for creating the opportunity that enabled me to compete among the best in the world,” she added.

…Dalung commends organisers

Dalung

inister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung, has commended organisers of the Lagos City Marathon for their foresight in hosting a full marathon more than 30 years after the last one was held in the country. Speaking at the closing ceremony of the marathon which was dominated by Kenyan and Ethiopian athletes, the minister noted that perfect logistics put in place by the organisers was an indication that with proper

planning, Nigeria could host any major championship. “I am highly impressed with the organisational abilities of the Local Organising Committee of the race. In order to ensure that the race meets international standard as set by IAAF, they ensured that there were no hitches during and after the marathon and they deserve commendation,” Dalung said. He stated that the successful hosting of the competition has showcased Nigeria to the outside world even as he promised that his ministry will always support any state in its sports development initiatives. “Lagos City Marathon actually showcased Nigeria to the outside world and we at the Ministry of Youth and Sports will continue to partner with any state or corporate organisation that wants to develop the youths through sports,” Dalung added.

WORLD RECORD

Largestdribbling hockey stick Fastest marathon two basketballs The largest hockey stick is 62.48 m (205 ft) long, weighs 28.12 tonnes (62,000 lb) and was commissioned by Canada’s Federal Government for the Canadian Pavilion at the Expo 1986, in Vancouver, Canada.

N150

Vol. 05 No. 1303 Tuesday, February 9, 2016

Neo-Biafranism and the realities of war

aunted by the systematic atrocities of war, the American Civil War hero, General William Sherman, in a speech, shouted, “I am tired and sick of war. Its glory is all moonshine. It is only those who have neither fired a shot nor heard the shrieks and groans of the wounded who cry aloud for blood, more vengeance and more desolation. War is hell.” Yes, war is hell. War is an infernal monster that racks, devours and devastates. Following its final gasp, Biafra died in January 1970. And all over the erstwhile Biafra the pains, sorrow and ravages of war were palpably evident. A proud and resourceful people broken by the horrors

Guest Columnist

Tochukwu Ezukanma

of war tottered out of the last hold-outs of Biafra, with their future hinging precariously on the whims of General Yakubu Gowon. Hundreds of thousands of youthful and able bodied men, the cream and promise of their people, were no more; their skeletal remains strewn around battlefields and makeshift graves. More than one million civilians had died from starvation and other afflictions of war. Many once lusty, ebullient and confident young men were reduced to wobbly and feeble public wards by the crippling and disfiguring injuries of war. The unyielding lament of inconsolable mothers and widows were depressingly earsplitting. Igbo land lay completely exhausted and totally powerless at the feet of a battle-hardened army giddy with victory. Unfortunately, lately, starry-eyed, impressionable and excitable Igbo youths, led by charlatans and cranks, have been agitating for Biafra. The country has already fought a gruesome war against secession, and the Nigerian constitution is unequivocal in its stance against it. And to the generality of Nigerians, it is an anathema and the talk about it a sacrilege. So, secession demands the defiance of the collective will of Nigerians and trampling of the Nigerian constitution. It is unlikely that these can be done peacefully; it must involve war. Although I did not fire a shot or hear the cry of the wounded in battle, I vividly remember the horrors of war. For example, in early 1968, the Nigeria Air Force, with its Soviet-made MIG fighter-bombers, attacked Aba. After their straf-

WAR DECIMATES A PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY, THE YOUTH. IT EVISCERATES A PEOPLE; STRIPS THEM OF VIRILITY, VIGOR AND VITALITY ing of the city, its people erupted into something of a collective wailing because so many people, mostly civilians, laid death. Among the dead was a successful medical doctor, Dr. Onyejiaka. Years later, at Ngwa High School (located outside of Aba), a somewhat withdrawn junior student with a grave demeanor and an aura of innocence caught my attention. He was the son of the late doctor. He must have been about seven years old when the war rendered him fatherless. In my neighborhood at Orlu lived a widow. One day, Biafran soldiers arrived at her house bearing a crude coffin. It contained the remains of her army officer son killed in battle. She stood before the opened casket of her fallen son. Overwhelmed by grief, she ranted hysterically: “My son, my hero, farewell; when you get there, greet your father; when you get there, greet your sister that was killed by a bomb at Aba”; etc. I was bowled over. Unable to repress my emotions, I wept. The soldiers, hardened by the repulsion and revulsion of war, betrayed no emotion. After a perfunctory ceremony that included attentions and salutes and a number of gun shots into the air, they dis-

appeared with the coffin. Such grim scenes and their attendant jolting and irretrievably shattering of the lives of parents were replicated tens of thousands of times in Biafra. The remains of army officers were retrieved and buried, but those of the other ranks were left where they fell. I did not grow up in my village. As such, I have a very limited knowledge of people in my village. But I am still profoundly troubled by the excessive number of the dead from amongst the people I know in my village. So many cousins, uncles and neighbors, sometimes the family’s only son, and sometimes, two sons of the same parents, were snuffed out by the war. War decimates a people, especially, the youth. It eviscerates a people; strips them of virility, vigor and vitality. The leaders of the neo-Biafran movements and their supporters are young men and women, mostly, born after the civil war. They are crying aloud “for blood, more vengeance and more desolation” because they have “neither fired a shot nor heard the shrieks and groans of the wounded”, and also, have neither seen nor lived through the terror and misery of war. Thus, they cannot, by any stretch of the imagination, imagine what war is. Before the start of the civil war, the peoples of Eastern Nigeria, mesmerized by Chukwuemeka Ojukwu’s oratory and histrionics, and completely unable to imagine the specifics of war, romanticized war. Similarly, pro-Biafran activists, in their total incapability to envisage the realities of war, are romanticizing war. This worst of all plagues has afflicted the Igbo once, and as a people, we must forestall another affliction of this plague. Thus far, Igbo leaders have been ambivalent of neo-Biafran activism. They have not demonstrated courage and resolve in addressing the issue. Ezukanma wrote from Lagos via maciln18@yahoo.com

Sport Extra

he man overseeing FIFA’s presidential polls should step aside due to conflict of interest, says the Liberian FA. Domenico Scala, who heads FIFA’s Ad-Hoc Electoral Committee, is SwissItalian - as is Gianni In-

FIFA poll: Liberia FA wants electoral body chair out fantino, one of the five presidential candidates. Scala excused himself from the 2015 elections as he shared nationality with a candidate, Swiss Sepp Blatter.

According to BBC Sport, LFA boss, Musa Bility, says he will go to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) if Scala does not withdraw by Thursday. The battle to replace

long-standing president Blatter takes place in 18 days’ time. “Article 7.4 of the Electoral Regulations is clear that any member of the Ad-Hoc Electoral Com-

mittee who has a conflict of interest … is thereby barred from sitting as a member of the Committee and must be replaced,” Bility wrote in a letter to Scala yesterday.

Bility

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