Friday, april 29, 2016

Salary crisis: FG to bail out states again Rotimi Fadeyi ABUJA

P Buhari

Vol. 6 N0. 1359

Killings

resident Muhammadu Buhari yesterday said the Federal Government would make more funds available to states to enable them pay workers’ salary.

The money will come in

form of refunds due to the states for the maintenance of federal roads and other expenses incurred on behalf of the Federal Government.

The president, speaking at a meeting with members of the Nigeria Governor Forum, NGF, at the Presidential Villa, ex-

Reps probe status of recovered loots from 1999

pressed concern that nearly two-thirds of the states were still having difficulties with salary payments despite the bailout funds provided to them.

Buhari said he was very disturbed by the hardship which state government CONTINUED ON PAGE 4>>

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Dogara

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Fulani herdsmen are criminals, says ACF •Enugu massacre a genocide –MASSOB •Death toll in Taraba attack rises to 19

George Oji, Chris Njoku, A za Msue, Justin Tyopuusu and Emmanuel Ezeh

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rewa Consultative Forum, ACF, yesterday called on security agenCONTINUED ON PAGE 4>>

Buhari approves N60bn for Reps’ constituency projects P.7

Security personnel destroying illegal refinery in Bregede community, Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State, yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

CCT chairman refuses to P.6 disqualify self from Saraki’s trial

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Fulani herdsmen criminals, says ACF CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

cies to thoroughly investigate the involvement of Fulani herdsmen in the recent bloody attacks in some parts of the country.

ACF, in a statement by its spokesman, Muhammad Ibrahim, while condemning Monday’s attacks on the Ukpabi Nimbo Community in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State, said criminals hiding under the guise of Fulani herdsmen to attack innocent people must be brought to book.

ACF further warned that, Nigeria cannot afford to graduate from Boko Haram insurgency to an unwarranted attack by unknown gunmen alleged to be Fulani herdsmen.

ACF said: “Criminals hiding under whatever guise and committing heinous crimes against innocent people and the state should be treated as such and in accordance with the law.

“Nigeria cannot afford to graduate from Boko Haram insurgency to an unwarranted attack by unknown gunmen alleged to be Fulani herdsmen.

“The traditional Fulani nomads have coexisted peacefully with their host communities and have been grazing their cattle for decades all over Nigeria without any such attacks.

“ACF is therefore disturbed and seriously concern with this recent development.

“It therefore calls upon the security agencies to do a thorough investigation into the identities of the suspected gunmen in order to stop this dangerous generalisation of labeling certain tribe or people of certain faith responsible for these attacks.

“This will cause mistrust and likely incite people of different tribes and faith, who have lived together peacefully for decades to suddenly become enemies of each other.”

Reacting to Monday’s attack, Movement for the Actualisation for Sovereign State of Biafra, MOSSOB, yesterday in Owerri

warned governors in the south east zone to protect their people as the chief security officers of their respective states.

The organisation said it may no longer watch the genocide against Ndigbo to continue.

MOSSOB leader, Chief Uchenna Madu told our correspondent in Owerri, the Imo State capital, that the time has now come for Igbo leaders to convene a crucial meeting over the senseless massacre of their sons and daughters.

“We no longer depend on much talking, many people have condemned it, we want kind of action, but we want our Igbo leaders to understand that we are talking about the future of our people, we must do everything possible to make sure we protect our people. “We advise our political leaders to convene a meeting. The issue here is not about Nigeria interest, the issue is about the Igbo. We in MOSSOB can no longer condole things like this. Even though, we are non violent, we must protect our people with any means at our disposal,” he stated.

He described the invasion of by the Fulani herdsmen and killings of the people as genocide, saying it was a reminiscence of what happened during the civil war.

“This is exactly what happened before the war; this was how it started before the war. They started killing our people, they are creating fear and jittery on our people so that by the time they will launch a full war, nobody will resist them. This is exactly what they are doing now,” he added.

Asked if MOSSOB would launch a reprisal, he said: “We are not armed neither are we violence, we are not running a reprisal, but we are issuing a warning that we are no longer going to fold our hands and watch this kind of thing to happen again.”

The senate devoted its entire plenary session yesterday deliberating on the killings in Enugu State.

The senators resolved to set up a six-member ad

L-R: Admiral Jean Casabianca; French Ambassador to Nigeria, Denys Guaer; Minister of Defence Jean-Yves Le Drian and President Muhammadu Buhari, during the courtesy visit of French Republic Minister of Defence at the Presidential Villa, yesterday.

hoc committee to investigate the incident.

The committee, which has a representative from each of the six geo political zones, is also to proffer solutions to avert any such future occurrence.

Membership of the committee, which is headed by Senate Leader, Ali Ndoma include; Senators Ben MurrayBruce (South south), Mao Ohuabunwa (South east), Abdullahi Adamu (North central), Shehu Sani (North west) and Isiaka Adeleke (South west).

The senators also summoned the Inspector General of Police and Chief of Defence Staff to appear before them to shed more lights on the incident.

The resolutions of the senate followed a motion sponsored by Senator Chukwuka Utazi (Enugu East) in whose senatorial deistic the killings took place.

Also yesterday, South East Senate Caucus warned of imminent danger and possible attack on the unity of Nigeria if the Federal Government fails to urgently address the Enugu massacres.

Rising from an emergency meeting in Abuja, the senators not only condemned the attack, but also called for a summit of South East and South South governors, members of National and state Houses of Assembly, socio-cultural associations, traditional rulers

and major stakeholders immediately.

The emergency summit, according to the lawmakers is to review and evaluate the very scary situation and proffer a coordinated response that would ensure the security of lives and properties of their people.

The summit, the caucus said, has become urgently necessary against the background of the ominous silence and apparent indifference of the presidency over the killings in Enugu, some areas in Delta State and many other zones in recent time even when there were obvious intelligence reports.

“We can no longer sit and watch while our peo-

ple are daily slaughtered like fowls without even attracting the cursory routine condemnation by the Presidency.

“We are even more appalled that despite the alarm raised by the Uzo Uwani communities of an imminent attack by the Fulani herdsmen and the associated vague assurances by the chairman of Fulani community in Enugu that such attack will not happen, yet the security agencies failed to prevent the attack that happened two days after the alarm.

“It is disheartening what is happening and somebody has to take responsibility. That somebody has to be the instituCONTINUED ON PAGE 5>>

Salary crisis: FG to bail out states again CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

workers across the country and their families were facing due to the non-payment of salaries.

The president also said he would establish an inter-ministerial committee to study a Fiscal Restructuring Plan for the Federation, which was presented to him by the governors.

The president said the committee would review the plan to improve the finances of state governments and make recommendations on how proposals in the plan should be dealt with by the Presidency, the Federal Executive Council and the National Assembly through legislation.

He, however, urged the

governors to understand that while he was ready to do all within his powers to help them overcome their current financial challenges, the Federal Government also had funding problems of its own to contend with.

“You all know the problems we have found ourselves in. You have to bear with us,” he told them.

Chairman of NGF, Governor Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara State and Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State, who chaired the committee that worked on the Fiscal Restructuring Plan, asked the Federal Government to do more to help the states financially.

The governors told

the president that while they had resolved to take other measures to boost their Internally Generated Revenue, IGR, the implementation of the Fiscal Restructuring Plan would help to deal with their funding problems on short, medium and longterm bases.

They said that if the plan was adopted and implemented, states of the federation would become more financially empowered to fulfill their constitutional responsibilities.

The governors also demanded 18 months moratorium on repayment of loans in order to cope with the dwindling allocation from the Federation Account.

Speaking with State House Correspondents after their meeting with President Buhari, Yari said the moratorium period would enable the states to strategise towards increasing revenue generation.

He explained that it would be difficult for states to develop IGR overnight, saying that it was a long term programme that needed proper planning.

Yari stated that states were under heavy burden to provide services to the people, adding that cutting salaries and wages could not be an option to reduce the financial burden.

“Loan restructuring, bailout and Excess Crude CONTINUED ON PAGE 5>>

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Friday, April 29, 2016

Reps probe status of recovered loots from 1999 Ubong Ukpong and George Opara

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ouse of Representatives yesterday resolved to probe the status of all recovered public funds from 1999 till date.

The lawmakers also asked the Federal Government to state in clear terms, how it intended to spend the loots recovered so far.

Consequently, the House asked its Committee on Public Accounts to carry out a comprehensive investigation of such public funds and assets recovered, particularly, but not limited to the uses to which such funds had been put.

The committee was mandated to report to the House within three months, the status of the funds.

It also urged government to set out clear rules on how recovered funds should be utilised and ensure strict accountability in its disbursement in line with extant laws and national priorities.

The move by the lawmakers was sequel to a motion on the need to ascertain the status of recovered public funds, brought by Hon. Segun Adekola.

While moving the motion, Adekola noted with concern recent statement by the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, had so far recovered more than $2trn (over N400trn at the current rate) looted from the national treasury, in its twelve years of existence.

He noted that further recoveries had also been made by Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission, ICPC, National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP, National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, and Department of State Services, DSS. These, he added, were in addition to the huge amounts of money returned by those who, at various times, entered

into plea-bargain with EFCC. Adekola further noted Federal Government’s assertion that some former officials of the Goodluck Jonathan administration had been returning unspecified sums to the treasury.

He stated that for many years now, successive governments had continued to take possession of billions of dollars of looted public funds returned from various parts of the world, with Switzerland returning a higher percentage of the amounts.

The legislator expressed concern about the persistent confusion as to the exact amount that had been recovered, and what happened to it.

He noted that successive governments had not been transparent regarding management or utilisation of recovered public assets, giving vent to the allegations that some of the funds might have been spent, mismanaged or simply disappeared.

The House overwhelmingly adopted the motion with all the prayers.

It also mandated the Committee on Financial Crimes to investigate whether any crimes might have been committed in the course of the management and disbursement of the recovered funds in the last 12 years.

L-R: Governors Abdul’aziz Abubakar Yari, Zamfara State; Aminu Masari, Katsina State; Rochas Okorocha, Imo State; Abdulfatah Ahmed, Kwara State and Kashim Shettima, Borno State, after a meeting between Nigerian Governors Forum and President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, yesterday.

Fulani herdsmen criminals, says ACF CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4

tion of the Presidency of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,”the caucus said.

In a related development, Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, PFN, Enugu State chapter, rose from an emergency meeting yesterday describing as “barbaric, wicked and inhuman, the attack on the people of Nimbo.

In a communiqué issued after the meeting, which was signed by PFN Chairman, Rev. Dr. Goddy Madu and head of security, Apostle Dr. Joseph

Ajujungwa, the group said the incessant attack by the herdsmen had become unbearable.

PFN slammed the role of security operatives in the whole episode.

It said: “The attack of 25th April 2016 has shown us that the Nigerian police is not dependable and can never be trusted.

“The Fulani herdsmen invaded the community with over 500 armed men, who were drawn from both Nassarawa and Kogi states, killing over 50 peo-

Salary crisis: FG to bail out states again CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4

Account, ECA, we are asking for 18 months moratorium before we can start paying, so that we would be able to strategise.

“To develop IGR is not overnight, it is a long term programme that one has to plan for. Our services have exploded and there is nothing we can do about it because people are getting their daily bread from there and we cannot say we are going to cut salaries and wages.

“We have to find a solution otherwise we would keep going back and forth because you had plans for $100 per barrel and now oil is selling for $28 and $31, you will not achieve anything,” he said.

Yari said the support that state governors had received from the Feder-

al Government in terms of bailout, restructured debts as well as 15 per cent from ECA were temporary measures.

He said each state had short, medium and long term programmes, which were presented and had been accepted by the president.

It is expected that a committee would soon be put in place to look at proposals, starting with the short term.

Yari explained that Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo and Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola would be on the committee to be set up by the president.

According to him, Fashola had headed a similar committee on revenue formula at the Nigeria Governors Forum in

2012/2013.

He said a committee earlier set up to look at the expenditure of state governments on Federal Government projects like roads and airports should hasten up to complete its assignment so that states could get relief.

The governor explained that part of the medium term programme would include looking at the revenue mobilisation formula in ensuring that whatever was due to states for the past ten years would be made available to them after approval by the National Assembly.

According to him, the long term programme of states would be investment and development of agriculture and mining sectors to increase revenue.

ple in their homes and destroyed some churches and buildings.

“This is not the first and the Nigerian police did nothing, rather they filled all the Enugu urban with vehicles that cannot respond to distress calls, but busy collecting N20 and N50 from the keke and motorists.”

The body “declared three days of mourning, with prayer and fasting starting from today to run through Sunday, 1st May, for the blood of the innocent citizens wasted at Uzo Uwani and other places in the east and south.”

Meanwhile, death toll in the recent attacks by suspected Fulani herdsmen on some communities in Bali and Donga local government areas of Taraba State has risen to 19, local residents told our reporter when he visited the area yesterday.

This was even as the number of Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, in Suntai, Sabon-Gida Suntai in Donga and DanAnacha in Gassol local government areas have risen to 7,000 from 1,781.

Our correspondent reports that 20 villages in Donga Local Government were razed by the herdsmen, while eight were destroyed in Bali Local Government, with the injured receiving treatment at the Donga

Cottage hospital, General Hospital, Bali and Santa Maria Catholic hospital Bali.

Village head of Bornon Kurku, one of the villages affected in the attack, Zaki Oragbai said six corpses were recovered by the villagers three days after the attack, bringing the death toll to 19.

He said the attackers injured dozens of people, who are receiving treatment in various hospitals, destroyed food items and set their houses ablaze in the pre dawn attack.

Camp leader of Nongosho Primary School in Dan-Anacha, Mr. Torkula Dooior lamenting the challenges facing the people said they have not received any relief material from government and appealed to relevant agencies of government to come to their aid.

He noted that the main challenge facing the people was food and water, adding that many women and children were the most affected as the men go out in search of what to eat.

“Though government has deployed security, they are complaining of fuel to patrol the area, which has further compounded the problem as the attackers are laying siege on our displaced homes and farmland,” he said.

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Friday, April 29, 2016

Member of the defunct Jackson 5 Group, Jermaine Jackson (left) and APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, during a courtesy visit to Asiwaju in Lagos, yesterday.

L-R: Representative of Rivers Governor, Mr Kenneth Kubani; representative of Vice President, Mrs Jumoke Odewale and President, South East-South-South Professionals of Nigeria, Mr Emeka Ugwu-Oju, at the 2nd South-East South-South Development Forum in Port Harcourt yesterday.

PHOTO:NAN

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

L-R: Chairman, Leventis Foundation of Nigeria, Mr. Ahmed Mantey; Vice Chancellor, University of Jos, Prof. Hayward Mafuyai and Guest Speaker, from Oxford University, London, Prof. Christopher Perrins at the 5th Annual A.P. Leventis Lecture in Jos, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

L-R: Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investments, Mr Aminu Bisala; Minister, of Trade and Investments, Dr. Okechukwu Enelamah and National Officer, UNIDO Regional Office, Nigeria, Mr. Chuma Ezedinma, during Presentation of National Quality Policy Document to the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: ROTIMI OSASONA

National News

CCT chairman refuses to disqualify self from Saraki’s trial Doosuur Iwambe ABUJA

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hairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, Danladi Umar, yesterday refused to disqualify himself from presiding over the trial of the Senate president, Senator Bukola Saraki, who is standing trial over alleged anticipatory declaration of assets.

This was just as Saraki pleaded not guilty to the 16 amended charges filed by the prosecution.

Umar, in a short ruling on the application to disqualify himself from presiding over the trial, held that since no case was found against him, his trial could not have been ordered by the Attorney General of the Federation, AGF. He said the application was lacking in merit and dismissed it.

Saraki had filed an application seeking the tribunal chairman to disqualify himself on ground that he (Umar) is under the investi-

gation of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, over alleged N10 million bribe; hence there is likelihood of bias which could invariably affect the justice of the matter.

Meanwhile, chairman of the Elders Council of Arewa Consultative Forum, Senator Joseph Waku, speaking shortly after the ruling, alleged that from all indications, the tribunal chairman is being teleguided to deliver a predetermined judgement that would not be in the interest of justice.

Waku further stated that “by Saraki’s trial, democracy is on trial, the judiciary is on trial and even the nation is on trial and only God knows where we are heading to with this kind of bias trial.

“Much as we are against corruption, let the legal process take its due cognizance; it is the last hope of the ordinary and common

man.”

However, Saraki has appealed against the refusal of the tribunal chairman to disqualify himself from further presiding over his trial, having been accused of bias in the conduct of the trial.

In the Notice of Appeal filed by Rapheal Oluyede, Saraki claimed that the CCT chairman erred in law when he arrived at a conclusion that the application seeking his disqualification lacks absolute merit.

Part of the grounds of appeal was that the tribunal chairman, by his action, has turned himself into a judge in his own case, leading to a ruling that was essentially a tirade against the office of the Attorney General of the Federation.

On the second ground of the appeal, Saraki submitted that the CCT erred in law when it decided that the application lacks absolute merit merely because Umar is of the opinion that the AGF has no constitutional right to investigate

and that the AGF lacks authority to give instruction to the EFCC to prosecute him.

He therefore asked the court of appeal to set aside the ruling of the tribunal and disqualify Umar from sitting on the panel trying him on charges that were investigated and being prosecuted by the EFCC. Also, Dr. Saraki yesterday pleaded not guilty to the amended 16 counts preferred against him by the Federal Government before the CCT. The amendment to the original 13 counts added fresh counts including his failure to declare his interest in a foreign credit card account to which he allegedly transferred huge sums of money while being governor of Kwara State.

Originally, the Federal Government preferred against Saraki, 13 counts, including charges of false and anticipatory asset declaration as well as operation of foreign accounts, which he allegedly committed while

being governor of Kwara State between 2003 and 2011.

Saraki was re-arraigned before the tribunal yesterday because of the amendment to the charges which added three fresh counts to the original 13 counts.

There have been two amendments of the original 13 counts which now bring the counts against the Senate president to 16.

The first amendment which brought in additional two counts was made on April 18, 2016 while the latest made on April 27, 2016, added one fresh count.

The charges dated April 18 were withdrawn yesterday.

The latest amendment was introduced by the prosecution and accepted by the tribunal chairman after overruling the defence led by Mr. Paul Usoro (SAN).

Umar ruled yesterday that contrary to Usoro’s contention, the prosecution, under Section 216(1) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, argued that the prosecution was not required to file a

motion to give reasons for the amendment before it could be accepted by the tribunal.

The additional charges are contained in Counts 14 to 16.

In Count 14, the prosecution alleged that Saraki committed another infraction in his asset declaration form which he made to the Code of Conduct Bureau on June 3, 2011 at the end of his second tenure as governor of Kwara State.

In the said Count 14, Saraki was said to have failed to declare his interest in “an American Express Service Card with No: 374588216836009 wherein you (Saraki) transferred huge sums of money in dollars from your Guaranty Trust Bank domiciliary account No441441953210 in Nigeria to the American Express Service, Europe, whilst you were the executive governor of Kwara State.”

Based on the amended charge, the tribunal however adjourned till May 10 for continuation of trial.

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Friday, April 29, 2016

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FG declares Monday, May 2 public holiday Adeola Tukuru Abuja

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Traffic at Ojota following the downpour in Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO:NAN

Buhari approves N60bn for Reps’ constituency projects Ubong Ukpong and George Opara

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ouse of Representatives yesterday confirmed it has been allocated N60billion by President Muhammadu Buhari for constituency projects in the controversial 2016 budget.

This was confirmed

through House Committee on Media and Publicity at a press briefing in Abuja.

Chairman of the committee, Abdulrazak Namdas, who briefed journalists, however said the money was not to be given in cash to the representatives.

He said the money was domiciled in the Ministries, Departments and Agencies,

MDAs, in form of projects to the constituencies.

He said the sum would be zoned according to states and the various constituencies would benefit from the projects.

“The President approved N60 billion for constituency projects to the House. The amount is not cash but to each constituency as project. This

was not initiated by us. It is an executive thing. This is practiced worldwide,” Namdas stated.

He assured that work was seriously going on over the budget review and that all the grey areas would be sorted out.

Namdas further assured that the budget would be signed into law by next week.

Bailout diversion: TUC wants errant governors probed Olufemi Adeosun Abuja

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rade Union Congress of Nigeria on Thursday called on the anti-graft agencies to speed up investigations into the spending of the bailout funds by some state governments.

President Muhammadu Buhari had, last year in the wake of the cash crunch that incapacitated some state governments from paying salaries and pensions, given out bailout to enable the governors meet these obligations.

However, the Independent and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Related Offences Commission, ICPC, last week alleged that most of the 23 states that benefitted from the funds from the federal government diverted same to other purposes.

The TUC, in a statement signed by its president, Comrade Bobboi Kaigama and made available to journalists in Abuja yesterday, maintained that it was criminal to play politics with workers’ welfare.

Describing explanations by some governors

regarding how the monies were spent as porous and infertile, Kaigama deplored the unrestrained penchant for material accumulation which had driven them to feeding on the sweat of the hapless workers.

He said, “As a labour centre, we get first-hand information from our members in all the states of the federation. We therefore know that some state governments are being economical with the truth when they made statements purporting to have settled all their indebtedness to their workers.

“Even where a particular state government pays some of the outstanding entitlements, does that automatically translate to a liquidation of the entire debt? Indeed officers of ICPC and EFCC should beware of this mischievous posturing in relevant bank transfer documents presented by the state governments.

“It is simply inexcusable for any governor to neglect payment of workers and divert the funds.

Weighing such actions

against the backdrop of the recent happenings in the Senate evokes serious concern about the integrity of our current crop of politicians.”

According to him, ICPC and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, were on the right track and must not allow themselves to be cowed by any individual or group in their fight against corruption.

“We know that corrupt politicians are wont to employ all antics to oppose the work of both commissions. Corruption fights back, but all stolen wealth must be recovered.

And any state that fails to make prompt payment of salaries and pensions will definitely face the wrath of Nigerian workers,” he added.

While condemning the upsurge in corruption across the nation, the TUC expressed the determination and the unwavering stand of the Nigerian workers to expose and fight the cankerworms before it becomes festering gangrene.

He added, “As a labour centre, the fight against

corruption and its effects on the growth and development of our nation is of very special interest to us, as indeed it is to all other patriotic Nigerians. The success of that crusade is the insurance that most of us have to decent living, and the only guarantee that our nation will stand strong and take its place among leading nations of the world.

“The surge in corruption across Nigeria in recent times is particularly disturbing. Indeed statistics reveal that Nigeria is 163rd out of 172 countries in Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index, with its annual corruption level in recent years averaging $5 billion.

“It has done unquantifiable damage to the national life. For instance, the menace of corruption leads to slow movement of files in offices, fuels police extortion, accentuates traffic jams, port congestion, queues at passport offices and petrol stations, ghost-workers syndrome, election irregularities, inflation of budgets and contract fees.”

he Federal Government has declared Monday, May 2, 2016 as public holiday to commemorate the 2016 Workers’ Day celebration.

The Minister of Interior, Leutnant-General Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau (Rtd), who made the declaration on behalf of the Federal Government in Abuja yesterday, congratulated Nigerian workers for their resilience, hard work and commitment to the change mantra of President Mu-

hammadu Buhari, despite current challenges.

He enjoined them to continue to support the president in his desire to fight corruption, ensure security of lives and property and stabilise the economy through creation of jobs and diversification of the economy.

Dambazau further urged Nigerian workers to re-dedicate themselves to the service of the nation and remain productive for the growth and development of the country.

The minister wishes all Nigerian workers a joyful and peaceful celebration.

Airlines pledge to pay outstanding N4bn debts Olusegun Koiki

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ndigenous airlines under the auspices of the Airline Operators of Nigeria, AON, have promised to ensure that all outstanding debts owed the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, are paid soon as agreed.

The AON gave the assurance during a meeting between the management of the regulatory authority led by its Director-General, Captain Muhtar Usman, and the airline operators at the NCAA Conference Room at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, MMA, Lagos during the week.

A statement by the General Manager, Public Affairs, NCAA, Mr. Sam Adurogboye said the Chairman of AON, Captain Noggie Meggison, gave the assurance during the meeting.

According to him, Meggison remarked that it is incontrovertible that operators are heavily indebted, but promised that all unremitted funds would be fully paid.

A source close to the agency confided in our correspondent that the airlines and other companies in the industry owed the agency at least N4 billion from various services rendered to them.

The airlines owe the agency and other sister agencies in aviation close to N1billion in unremitted Passenger Service Charge, PSC, Ticket Sales Charges, TSC, and other taxes.

Meggison the statement hinted, commended Usman for holding series of meetings with operators, a move he said was long expected.

Meggison therefore re-

quested for similar fora where the authority’s vision would be properly articulated from time to time to enable the operators, key into it.

He, however, called for a retreat where stakeholders would meet to brainstorm on some knotty challenges, which operators and the entire industry was confronted with.

Responding, Usman enjoined the airlines to comply as agreed because the issue of Ticket and Cargo Sales Charges was sacrosanct.

According to him, this was to enable the authority and other benefitting agencies effectively carry out its regulatory and statutory responsibilities.

Usman and the NCAA management emphasised the need for automation by operators, which would offer real-time and transparent transaction.

He directed that all reconciliations must be done within the 60 days window provided and advised the operators to forward all required documentations to verify conflicting claims.

Usman admonished the operators to be alive to their responsibilities and challenges.

He added that operators should take advantage of various Bilateral Air Services Agreements, BASA, entered into by the Federal Government to compete with their foreign counterparts thereby generating the much needed foreign exchange.

Over 20 airlines chief executives and their representatives attended the meeting. These included Arik Air, Med-View, FirstNation, Chanchangi, Kings Airlines, Overland among others.

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Friday, April 29, 2016

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Aisha Buhari tasks medical workers on healthcare Kemi Olaitan IBADAN

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ife of the President, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, has tasked stakeholders responsible for providing health care services in the country on the need to ensure availability and accessibility of their ser-

vices in a way to promote good health among the populace.

She gave the charge yesterday in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, at the South-West free health screening programme for women, under her pet project, Future Assured Initiative.

She described women’s

Braithwaite’s legacy inspired my work for masses –Ambode Francis Suberu Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, yesterday eulogised the life and times of the late activist and foremost lawyer, Dr. Tunji Braithwaite, saying he had always been fascinated about his disposition towards the masses and the people of Nigeria.

Ambode, who spoke at the burial service, held in honour of late Braithwaite at Reverend Braithwaite Memorial Anglican Church, Epe, said he was a beneficiary of the kindness of the Braithwaite family, saying the late nationalist fought for good causes and for Nigerians throughout his lifetime.

He said apart from the fact that Braithwaite was consistent and persistent in the fight to enthrone better society for all Nigerians; he was also a deeply religious man who contributed positively and immensely to the body of Christ.

Ambode recalled how the late activist started the campaign for positive

change and egalitarian society long before the advent of the current administration which is known for its change mantra.

In his sermon, Bishop of Lagos Anglican Diocese, Most Reverend (Dr) Adebola Ademowo, said from the testimonies of people about late Braithwaite, he is sure that he led an impactful life and queried the congregation about what people would say as well concerning them.

Drawing his lessons from the book of Matthew 25: 14-21, Romans 12: 6 and 1Peter 4:10, Ademowo said Braithwaite never buried his talent, but used it to fight against corruption, injustice and a system promoting mediocrity and criminal wealth.

The clergyman said Nigeria is a complex country with myriads of bad users of talents, and said that the national rebirth of the country must start with all through inculcation of virtues of selflessness, honesty, integrity, among others.

Ekiti approves automatic employment for late doctors’ wives Abiodun Nejo ADO EKITI

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he bodies of three medical doctors from Ekiti State and their driver who died on Sunday along Abuja-Kaduna Expressway on their way to the Annual Delegates Meeting of the Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, in Sokoto were buried yesterday.

They were the late Dr Atolani Adeniyi, Senior Health Officer with the Hospitals Management Board; the late Dr J.B. Ogunseye, who served as Senior Dental Officer at General Hospital, Ifaki; the late Dr Olayiwola Ola-

jide, who until his death was President of the Association of Resident Doctors, ARD, Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, EKSUTH, branch and the driver of the NMA President, Mr Olowookere Ajibola.

Ogunseye and Olajide were buried at the premises of the Doctors’ House along Ado - Iyin Road, while the remains of Adeniyi and Olowookere were conveyed to their communities for interment.

They were buried after a commendation/funeral service held in their honour at the state NMA Secretariat, otherwise known as Doctors’ House.

health as not only a gender issue, but a major developmental one, stating that the programme is aimed at promoting health and well-being of women and children.

Present at the event where 2,500 women across the 33 local government areas of the state were screened for hypertension, diabetes, cervical cancer and breast cancer

are; wives of governors of Osun, Lagos, Ogun and Edo, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, Mrs Paullen Tallen, Mrs. Bisi Fayemi and Senator Monsurat Sunmonu.

According to the First Lady, the initiative was part of her efforts in complementing government’s efforts in providing health care services to the citizens.

She said: “I called on stakeholders responsible for providing health care services to ensure availability and accessibility of these services. Let me at this point called on the entire citizens of this country to be proactive in seeking medical attention by visiting our health facilities.

“The health of women is not just a gender issue;

rather it is a major developmental issue.”

Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, said the initiative of the president’s wife would further propel his administration’s efforts in doing more for the people.

He said the gesture would not only benefit the beneficiaries, but millions of the people in the state.

L-R: Children of the late Dr Tunji Braitwaite: Mrs Olaolu Ranko-Ross and Mrs Ebunolu Adeosun; widow, Dr Grace Braitwaite; son, Olumide Braitwaite and other members of the family , at the funeral service held at Revd’ Braitwaite Memorial Church, Papa-Epe in Lagos State, yesterday.

Man arraigned for raping deaf, dumb Boladale Bamigbola OSOGBO

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sun state Police Command has charged a 40-yearold man, Kamoru Shittu, to court for allegedly having a carnal knowledge a 21-yearold deaf and dumb girl.

The incident, according to the charge sheet, took place within premises of the victim’s school in Osogbo.

The accused was

charged before an Osogbo Chief Magistrate Court on a two-count-charge of rape and unlawful assault of the victim (name withheld).

Details of the charge against the accused read: “That you Kamoru Shittu, aged 40, on the 7th of March, 2016 at about 10:00pm at Osun State Secondary School for persons with Special Needs, Osogbo did have unlawful carnal knowledge of

one female, Olorunifise Deborah, aged 21, a deaf and dumb student of the school.”

“That you on same date and place did unlawfully and indecently assault one Olorunifise Deborah.”

The charge further explained that Shittu by his acts, had committed offence contrary to Section 357 and punishable under Sections 358 and 360 of the criminal code, cap 34,

vol. II, laws of Osun State of Nigeria, 2003.

The accused however, pleaded not guilty to the charges, while his counsel Bola Ige, applied for his bail.

The presiding Magistrate, Mrs. A. A. Olowolagba, after listening to the accused, admitted him to bail in the sum of N500, 000 with two sureties in the same amount.

The case was adjourned till May 19 for mention.

SON seals 33 shops in Ekiti, confiscates substandard goods Abiodun Nejo ADO EKITI

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tandards Organisation of Nigeria, SON, yesterday sealed off no fewer than 33 shops in different parts of Ekiti State.

State SON Director, Mrs Toyin Idowu, said in a statement in Ado Ekiti, that items worth over N2.5million suspected to be

substandard were seized from sellers in the process.

Items seized during the raid include substandard cables, tyres, electronics and gas cylinders.

Idowu said that apart from confiscating the items, owners of the substandard products would be made to pay fines, including paying for the cost of transporting and destruction of the seized

items.

The punitive measures, she said, were designed to discourage others from selling fake or sub-standard products to members of the public.

According to her, SON will not renege on the war against substandard products so as to ensure that the country is rid of distribution, purchase and use of substandard

products in view of the attendant loss of lives and properties.

Idowu added that the raid was carried out simultaneously in Ado-Ekiti, Omuo-Ekiti, Ifaki-Ekiti, Oye-Ekiti, Ode- Ekiti and Ikole Ekiti.

The exercise is billed to continue in other towns in the state next week under its “zero tolerance to substandard products”.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

South West

Friday, April 29, 2016

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PDP governors storm Ekiti for projects inauguration Abiodun Nejo ADO EKITI

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leven Peoples Democratic Party, PDP governors are expected in Ekiti State today for the inauguration of projects executed by the present PDP administration in the state.

State information commissioner, Lanre Ogunsuyi, said the four legacy projects to be inaugurated by the governors included De-Head (Bawa Estate) on Adetiloye road, Awedele-Secretariat dualised road, the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti Palace Gallery, and the Adunni Olayinka Women Development Centre.

Ogunsuyi told journalists in Ado Ekiti yesterday that the Women Development Centre named after a former deputy governor, late Mrs. Adunni Olayinka, of a rival political party, was devoid of vengeful politics that now characterises the landscape.

He said the projects listed for inauguration are only a fraction of the projects executed 100 per cent by the administration, adding that about

nine township roads have been completed while the construction of seven other roads is ongoing.

The commissioner also listed the Erekesan market and the fly-over at Fajuyi road as ongoing mega projects of the present administration in the state.

The governors expected are Dr. Olusegun Mimiko (Ondo), Nyesom Wike (Rivers), Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), Alhaji Ibrahim Dankwabo (Gombe), David Umahi (Ebonyi), and Dr. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu).

Others include Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta), Arc. Darius Ishaku (Taraba), Senator Ben Ayade (Cross River), Udom Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom) and Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa).

The commissioner debunked a rumour that the Women Development Centre was financed through TETFUND, disclosing that it was state-government financed.

Ogunsuyi said though the state government was confronted by paucity of fund to actualise the project, the governor approached a number of corporate organisations to support the project.

Igbos laud Olubadan for ending 20-year-old crisis Kemi Olaitan IBADAN

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he umbrella body of Ndi-Igbo in Oyo State, the Igbo General Assembly, IGA, yesterday lauded the decision of the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji, in putting an end to the 20-year-old leadership crisis among the Igbo in the state.

It will be recalled that the crisis which has been on since 1996 was settled by the Olubadan of Ibadanland penultimate Friday.

President general of IGA, Nze Emeka Enweronye, in a statement made available to journalists in Ibadan, said the Igbo will be eternally grateful to the traditional ruler for brokering peace, stating that they have great joy for what God has used the Olubadan to do.

He said the decision of Oba Adetunji to resolve the dispute by accepting the resolution of the South

East Council of Traditional Rulers in 2008 that the title ‘Eze Ndi-Igbo in Diaspora’ has been abolished, inviting the principal actors - Chief A.O. Obi and Dr. Alex Anozie as well as confirming that ‘Eze Ndi-Igbo in Ibadanland’ has ceased to exist, was a good omen for the progress of the Igbo and the state in general.

While pledging unalloyed support and cooperation of the Igbo with the royal father and tradition of Ibadanland, he said the confirmation of Chief Alloy Obi, as the authentic ‘Onyendu Ndigbo’ (Igbo Traditional Leader) in Ibadanland and Oyo State, was a good decision that clarifies who the authentic leader of the Igbo is.

Enweronye called on all Igbo in the state to come together under the IGA which remains the recognised and authentic Ohanaeze body in the state, assuring that he would give everyone the honour he or she deserves.

Women going through the Free Health Screening Programme organised for women by the Future Assured Initiative, a pet project of the wife of the President, Mrs Aisha Buhari, in Ibadan, yesterday. PHOTO:NAN

Ambode approves payment of lump sum leave allowance Francis Suberu

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n line with his commitment to improve the welfare of the state workforce, Lagos State governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, has approved the payment of leave allowance to all staff in the state’s mainstream civil service, local governments and the State Universal Basic Education Board, SUBEB, with effect from May, 2016.

The state’s head of ser-

vice, Mrs. Olabowale Ademola, in a circular she issued yesterday in Alausa, Ikeja, explained that the approval was sequel to agreements reached during a meeting with the Lagos State Public Service Joint Negotiating Council.

She said: “Consequently, leave allowance which is 10 per cent of annual basic salary would henceforth be payable once annually and no longer on a monthly basis. The payments would be in batch-

es.”

Ademola said officers between Grade Levels 1 and 8 would be paid in May; those between Grade Levels 9 and 12 would be paid in July; those between Grade Levels 13 and 14 would be paid in September; while those between Grade Levels 15 and 17 would get their annual leave allowance in October.

She said the gesture was in furtherance of the state government’s commitment to the welfare

of its workforce, just as she tasked the staff to reciprocate government’s gesture by renewing their dedication and commitment to duty through improved service delivery to the citizenry.

“The above listed government functionaries are hereby enjoined to take note of this approval. I implore you to eschew disloyalty, indiscipline, nonchalant attitude and low productivity.” Mrs. Ademola said.

Again, Customs official batters FAAN staff at Lagos Airport Olusegun Koiki

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ell was let loose again yesterday at the Monument Gate of the Murtala Muhammmed Airport, MMA, Lagos, as a staff of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, was rushed to the Air Force Hospital after a vicious assault on him by a staff of the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, attached to the same airport.

Trouble started when the Customs staff simply identified as H. Daboh, who was in mufti attempted to access the Monument Gate through the exit, thereby leading to gridlock on the road.

The battered FAAN staff, Mr. Taiwo Adeyanju, who was in the company of some of his colleagues was actually

on his way out through the Monument Gate at about 9.40am when he was attacked with teargas severally in the eyes

by Daboh for daring to challenge his wrong driving.

Eyewitness account stated that it took the intervention of some workers at the complex and the personnel of the Nigeria police attached to the airport before Adeyanju could be successfully rescued from Daboh who rained several blows on him.

However, when Daboh realised the magnitude of his offence, he attempted to run away and drove directly to the office of the Customs at the airport, but he was given a hot chase by some workers at the airport.

Daboh was later arrested and taken to the police station at the air-

port where his senior officers intervened and ensured his release.

Our correspondent further gathered that Adeyanju was immediately rushed to the FAAN’s clinic at the airport from where he was referred to the Air Force Hospital for better treatment as a result of the massive beating he received and teargas he suffered from Daboh.

Duringan interview with our correspondent at the Air Force Hospital, Adeyanju said the intention of the Customs officer was to blind him totally if not for the intervention of others.

At the Air Force Hospital, our correspondent observed that Adeyanju’s car, a Volkswagen Gulf with the registration number Lagos: EPE 136 BK was partly damaged by the officer.

He said: “The Customs officer was in mufti when the incident happened this morning (yesterday). I was driving out of the Hajj and Cargo Terminal through the exit point when I saw a vehicle driving in through the exit point. I actually challenged him, but I was still inside the car and all of a sudden, the man I later gathered was a Customs officer came out and rained blows on me.

“As I made attempt to come out of the car, he held me by the neck and brought out a teargas and sprayed it directly into my eyes. It took the intervention of passersby before I could be rescued from his grip. Later, he attempted to run away, but he was chased by some of my colleagues right into the Customs complex.”

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South East

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Friday April 29, 2016

Anambra to fast-track Amosun, AIG Hassan lead search establishment of for abducted ex-Minister Appeal court division A O News

FEMI OYEWESO, ABEOKUTA

nambra government has promised to facilitate the establishment of the Court of Appeal in the state to aid the process and reduce cost of litigation.

Chatting with newsmen in Awka yesterday, the Commissioner for Justice and AttorneyGeneral of the state, Mr Anali Chude, said the process for the establishment of the court division in Anambra had commenced.

He described the recent four-day Court of Appeal sitting in the state as historic, being the first in three decades.

He attributed the success of the sitting to good planning and excellent logistics accorded the judges, the ancillary

staff and litigants by the Anambra judiciary.

The commissioner said the court successfully brought justice to the door steps of litigants who could not afford to go to Enugu where their matters were being tried.

He said some the reforms the ministry had introduced included fast-tracked process for the dispensation of justice, training of staff in specialised areas and setting the stage for a more robust justice system.

“The sitting of the Court of Appeal here was a successful outing in the sense that it conforms to one of the goals of Chief Willie Obiano’s administration to break new grounds in every sector.

“The ministry of justice has been repositioned and re-engineered to ensure that justice is accessible and administered expeditiously because what has been bugging the system is the delay in releasing and vetting case files.

“More than 80 per cent of the cases in Enugu Division of the Court of Appeal emanated from the state and the process is already on to create a permanent division here before the end of this administration to reduce the cost and risk to lawyers and litigants,” he said.

No fewer than 175 cases were treated by the Court of Appeal during the sitting between April 18 and 21.

gun State governor, Ibikunle Amosun, yesterday joined the combined team of security agencies which included the military, police as well as the state’s Special Security outfit, ‘OP MESA’ to search for the whereabouts of the former Education minister and a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the state, Senator Iyabo Anisulowo, who was abducted late Wednesday evening by unknown gunmen.

Amosun in the company of the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone II, AIG Bala Hassan, Commandant of the 35 Artillery Brigade, Alamala, Abeokuta as well as other top security chiefs in the state, left Abeokuta

L-R: Acting Managing Director of Nigeria Railways Corporation (NRC), Mr Fidet Okiriah; Director of Finance, Mr Felix Njoku and Regional District Manager, Eastern District, Mr Ola Adeeyinwo, during the visit of the Managing Director to NRC Eastern District in Enugu yesterday. PHOTO:NAN

UNN Mass Comm Dept eulogises former lecturer, Mgbemena

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epartment of Mass Com muni c at i o n in University of Nigeria, Nsukka has described the death of Dr Nwabu Mgbemena, its former lecturer, as a great loss to the media industry.

Head of the department, Mr Greg Ezea, told the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Nsukka yesterday that the death of Mgbemena had left a big vacuum in the media that would take time to fill.

Ezea said the former lecturer, who was also the Managing Director of NAN, was a fine journalist who adhered to the ethics of the profession.

“His death has robbed the media industry of a genius, an icon and a rare gem.

“I received the news of his death with shock and sadness,” he said.

Ezea said Mgbemena was a celebrated lecturer and made UNN Department of Mass Communication proud as the managing director of NAN through his professional conduct and achievements in the agency.

“He achieved much for NAN as he moved the agency to the next level.

“He is one of those that made NAN a household name in the country be-

cause of his patriotism and hard work.

“Majority of the editors in NAN today learnt much from him, having been a humble and focused leader,’’ he said.

He urged upcoming journalists and lecturers to emulate Mgbemena who made honesty, dedication to duty and good professional conduct his hallmark.

“I urge upcoming journalists in the media and lecturers in the department of mass communication to emulate his footsteps.

“As a lecturer and jour-

nalist, his performance was commendable; as MD of NAN, he moved the agency to the next level,’’ he said.

The head of department urged his family members, the media industry and country to take solace in the fact that Mgbemena led a worthy and fulfilled life as he impacted positively on many people and contributed his quota to national development.

Ezea prayed God to grant his soul eternal rest.

Mgbemena died of cancer-related illness on April 22 in New Jersey, U.S. at the age of 71.

for Anisulowo’s farm at Sawonjo in Yewa South local government area of the state to meet with the local vigilante, farmers and hunters in search of the senator.

Anisulowo was on Wednesday evening taken away by suspected kidnappers from her farm.

At the farm in Sawonjo, Amosun assured journalists that the kidnapped federal lawmaker would soon be rescued, as all the security officials had already been directed to ensure her speedy retrieval.

“The government is already interfacing with security officials and I can assure you that everyone here is involved, including the local farmers, hunters and vigilante service.

“We will rescue her alive and bring her back safely and I believe that in a matter of hours, we will have cause to thank God over this incident.

“We are ready for the abductors and they will regret what they have done.

“Ogun State will never be a comfort zone for criminals,” he said.

Describing Anisulowo as enterprising and industrious, Amosun said she was so passionate about farming, adding that she also had another farm in Ibadan, Oyo State.

In his comment, AIG

Bala Hassan described the development as “unfortunate”, assuring that Anisulowo’s kidnappers would suffer the same fate as those kidnappers of school children at Ikorodu in Lagos State.

The victim’s husband, Mr Aderemi Anisulowo, who condemned the incident, however expressed satisfaction at “the timely response” of the state government over the incident.

Anisulowo’s driver, Wasiu Afonja, who earlier narrated the kidnap experience to Amosun, said the kidnappers had laid siege for them in the bush as they were returning from the farm.

He said the kidnappers, who were four in number, attacked the jeep in which he, Anisulowo and two other occupants were traveling.

Afonja explained that the kidnappers pulled him and the two other occupants out of the car and beat them, then drove Anisulowo away.

Commandant of the vigilante Service in charge of Yewa-South council area, Zachaeus Oluyemi, however, expressed belief that the kidnappers were still within the community.

He also assured that the victim would be rescued and the kidnappers arrested.

Oil theft: Multinational taskforce to patrol Gulf of Guinea Rotimi Fadeyi

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resident Muhammadu Buhari yesterday said a multinational taskforce will soon be established to patrol the waters of the Gulf of Guinea.

A statement issued by Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, said Buhari spoke at an audience with the French Minister of Defence, Mr. JeanYves Le Drian.

Buhari said patrols by the multinational taskforce would augment and boost ongoing efforts to improve security in the Gulf and curb crude oil theft and piracy.

Buhari and Le Drian also discussed ongoing French support for the Federal Government’s efforts to end the Boko Haram insurgency.

The President expressed his government’s appreciation of the assistance and support of France and other G7 countries, which he said, has helped Nigeria achieve significant successes against Boko Haram.

“When we got into office in May, last year, Boko Haram was effectively controlling at least 14 local government areas. But now, it is no longer so, and they have resorted to attacking soft targets with Improvised explosive devices.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

South South

Friday April 29, 2016

11

BEDC officials escape lynching in Delta Nosa Akenzua Asaba

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ome officials of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company, BEDC yesterday escaped being lynched by angry consumers in Warri, Delta State.

The officials had been on routine call, disconnecting consumers in the area, including the NUJ Warri Secretariat, said to have been owing.

However, angry residents, who bemoaned incessant tariffs without the resulting and proportionate electricity by the man-

agement of BEDC, warned they were fed up with the power situation in the area.

They particularly decried the overbearing attitude of BEDC staff who disconnected power supply to the NUJ Warri Secretariat, under the guise that they were doing their job.

Officials of the electricity company, National Mirror gathered, had cut and carted away the electric cables of the NUJ secretariat despite explanations by the union’s chairman, an attitude that angered members of the public.

Other electricity consumers, who were also not

happy with the posture of BEDC officials who did not care to listen to consumers, trooped out in their numbers looking for the officials who managed to scamper away before the electricity consumers’ arrival.

Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ Warri Correspondents chapel, Michael Ikeogwu, in a statement condemned the posture of BEDC officials for disconnecting residents of the area who have lived more than a month without power supply.

Ikeogwu noted that the union, like other electric-

ity consumers, had enjoyed poor services from BEDC despite the huge amount it pays as light bill.

Ikeogwu said out of 24 hours in a day, BEDC only supplied light to the secretariat for just one hour.

“Sometimes, we don’t have light in a week and we still pay the bills. Sometimes BEDC officials come here to harass us.

“We said we don’t even see the light, let alone use it. We are peaceful but the attitude of the BEDC people should be addressed,” he stressed.

Ikeogwu claimed the union had few weeks back

Representative of Amnesty boss, Elder Regent Youmor (left) with others during the celebration of Depraiye Alamieyeseigha in Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

paid N20,000 out of N40,000 it owed BEDC, with an assurance of paying the balance before the officials came to harass him and other members of the union.

The BEDC’s Public Re-

lations Officer in Effurun, Uvwie Local Government Area, Mrs. Helen Ogagaworie, told our correspondent via mobile phone that BEDC had decided to place defaulters in perpetual darkness.

Troops destroy illegal oil bunker near Shell facility

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joint security operation, comprising Navy, Army, police and Department of State Security, DSS, yesterday destroyed an oil bunker, containing 60,000 litres of illegally refined diesel in Bonny, Rivers State.

The bunker was located few metres from the Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC, in Bonny.

Shortly before the destruction of the bunker, the unit spokesperson, Navy Capt. Semiu Adepegba, said the illegally refined diesel was stored in 51 drums, four Geepee tanks and three metallic tanks.

Adepegba, accompanied

by Lt.-Col. Yahaya Ibrahim, the Commanding Officer of 146 Battalion, Bonny, said two suspects were arrested on the scene and had given useful information.

According to him, the discovery followed renewed strategy to widen in areas deemed less suspicious by onlookers.

“Following this development, we discovered a storage site in Park com-

munity, very close to Shell compound where nobody would expect such illegalities could take place.

“During the raid, we found 51 drums fully loaded with 22,000 litres of illegally refined diesel and three metallic tanks loaded with 30,000 litres of diesel.

“Also, four Geepee rubber tanks had 8,000 litres of diesel, making it a total of about 60,000 litres of diesel,’’ he said.

Adepegba also conducted newsmen round an illegal refinery in Bregede creek, popularly known as ‘One Man Country’ where operatives set ablaze the site containing about 500,000 litres of diesel.

He said the site also contained illegally refined kerosene and crude oil, suspected to have been stolen from pipelines and wellheads in the area.

The commanding officer said more raids would be conducted on other areas in the coming weeks until illegal bunkering of petroleum products was checked.

Health professionals’ attitude, scaring pregnant women from hospitals–Commissioner WHO urges Rivers to Julius Onwuma Uyo

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kwa Ibom State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Dominic Ukpong, has attributed poor attitude of health professionals for pregnant women’s low patronage of hospitals.

The commissioner stated this during the presentation of certificates and licenses yesterday to trained Traditional Birth Attendants, TBAs, at the main auditorium of the e-Library along IBB Way, Uyo. He said the unsympathetic attitude of health workers has driven pregnant women into the hands of the traditional birth attendants who are

known for good attitude.

“One of the reasons patients are running away from the hospitals is because of the attitude of some of us who are in the medical profession. A patient who goes to the hospital is looking for help, for compassion.

“When they cannot get that, their next step is to go to anybody that can help or claims to be able to help, and adds sympathy.

“Whenever you go to them (traditional birth attendants), they are prepared to receive you because they have culture.

Many of them are mothers who know what it is to give birth,” Ukpong noted.

He maintained that the training of the TBAs was aimed improving Mater-

nal and Neonatal Child Health and increasing uptake of Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission, PMTCT, of HIV. In her welcome address, the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Health, Dr Comfort Archibong, further stressed the need for training.

Deputy Director of Leadership Management and Governance Project, LMG, Funmi Esan, during the presentation of the overview of the TBA engagement programme, said the 98 TBAs were drawn and trained in the three pilot local governments of Etinan, Eket and Ikot Ekpene.

Esan stressed that their training were carried out in two phases; basic train-

ing carried out by Akwa Ibom Ministry of Health, and internship that was organised by the State Hospital Management Board.

She said the trainings were carried out within six weeks and that the trainers were drawn from government health institutions in the state, comprising matrons.

While congratulating the TBAs for their commitment towards the training programme, the health commissioner urged them to upgrade their birth delivery facilities in accordance to set standards and criteria in the policy guidelines.

He also implored them to always ensure that record of births and deaths during deliveries.

fortify PHCs

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orld Health Organisation, WHO, has urged Rivers government to strengthen primary healthcare services in the state to ensure qualitative services.

The WHO’s Country Representative in Nigeria, Dr Rui Gama Vas, made the call in Rivers capital city, Port Harcourt during a visit to the governor, Nyeson Wike.

He said that enlivening primary healthcare service centres across the state would ensure swift reaction to health emergencies.

The WHO representative expressed readiness of the world body to provide

necessary technical assistance to the state in critical areas of public health administration.

He also appealed to the state government to sustain all ongoing immunisation programmes aimed at tackling child-killer diseases.

In his speech, Wike said his administration has a robust healthcare programme that would reposition healthcare delivery system in the state.

He added that his administration would soon commence the re-equipping and reorganisation of primary healthcare facilities to ensure more robust services in the state.

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Friday, April 29, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Friday, April 29, 2016

Buhari will fix Nigeria’s economy — Ekpo

Obiora Ifoh Abuja

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head of the National Convention of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, scheduled to hold on May 21, the party has zoned the National Chairmanship to the North -East, thereby clearing the ground for the emergence of Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff, to retain the position in substantive capacity.

Some party leaders in the South-West led by former Deputy National Chairman , Chief Bode George, had opposed the zoning of the position to the North-East and threatened to defect if the position is not zoned to the South West .

However the zoning committee led by Akwa Ibom State Governor, Emmanuel Udom also zoned the deputy national chairman to SouthSouth, just as the South West still retains the position of national secretary and national publicity secretary.

Sources at the meeting also told National Mirror that there are moves to establish a second deputy national chairman position which has been zoned to the North-Central geo-political zone.

The national organizing secretary and national youth leader were zoned to the South East. The position of national woman leader was zoned to the North West.

Some of the resolutions at the 70th meeting of the National Executive Com-

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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Politics

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National Convention: PDP clears ground for Sheriff’s emergence

mittee, NEC of the party include the commendation of the rally in Jigawa State while thanking the former Governor, Alh. Sule Lamido and his team for the overwhelming crowd that welcomed the leadership of the Party in the State.

NEC also received the Report of the Zoning Committee Presented by its Chairman, Chief Udom Emmanuel, the Executive Governor of Akwa Ibom State.

But speaking after their meeting yesterday, Sheriff, confirmed that the contentious position of the national chairmanship was zoned to the North-East.

He added: “We have successfully finished the meeting. We adopted all the resolutions without any dissenting voice. We have also agreed that the body will meet again on May 11 to do constitution review.

“We have received report from convention committee who said they are ready for the convention. Therefore, everything we have said to you before is on course.

“We will adjourn for our congresses which will come up tomorrow.”

However when asked whether he will re-contest.

He said: “I have not decided. When I make up my

The proposed zoning arrangements: i. National Chairman North-East ii. Deputy National Chairman - South-South iii. National Secretary South-West iv. Deputy National Secretary - North-Central v. National Legal Adviser North-West vi. Deputy National Legal Adviser - South-South vii. National Treasurer South-South viii. Deputy National Treasurer - North-West ix. National Financial Secretary - North-Central x. Deputy National Financial Sec. - South-East xi. National Woman Leader North-West xii. Deputy National Woman Leader - South-South xiii. National Auditor South-West xiv. Deputy National Auditor North-East xv. National Publicity Secretary South-West xvi. Deputy National Publicity Sec. - North-Central xvii. National Organizing Secretary South-East xviii. Dep National Organizing Sec .- North-Central xix. National Youth Leader South- East xix. Deputy National Youth Leader - North-West.

mind, I will let you know.”

Speaking on the outcome of the party’s recent rally in Jigawa State, the National Chairman said, “What they saw in Jigawa State is just the beginning. We will go to all the states and capture them back.

“We have put our house in order and we are ready

for the challenges ahead.

We are ready to give good governance that all Nigerians need.”

Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekwerenmadu said “let me congratulate our party members in Jigawa on the rally which is a good sign that the party is bouncing back. I also

want to use this opportunity to ask other states to organise similar rallies for Nigerians to see that PDP is not only live but is kicking well. As we approval our national convention it is expected that there will be disagreements.

“The important thing is that when we have these

disagreements, we will quickly resolve them and move ahead that is the resilience that PDP is known for. So I like to appeal to our party men and women that if there are issues where we have differences, we must find a way of resolving these differences in the best interest of our party.

Deputy Governor of Bayelsa, Mr Gborbiogha Jonah (left), receiving report of Local Government Civil Service Verification, from former Sen. Baregha Amangi, at the Government House in Yenagoa, yesterday,

PHOTO: NAN

IFES trains LASIEC’s electoral officers on voter education

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n a bid to assist the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission to enhance its capacity in effectively and efficiently conduct free, fair and credible elections into the 57 Local Government Councils of the State, the International Foundation for Electoral Systems, IFES has organized a two -day voter education training programme for the Electoral Officers of the Commission.

Speaking during the opening ceremony of the training programme, the Chairman of the Commission, Hon. Justice Afolabi Abdul Fatai Adeyinka commended

IFES and its sponsors - the USAID and UKAID - for the invaluable support the international organization had given the Commission in terms of capacity building of the Commission’s personnel within the short period the two bodies entered into partnership.

The Chairman noted with satisfaction that the voter education training programme organized for the Electoral Officers had come at an auspicious time when the Commission is getting set for the conduct of the next elections into the 57 Local Governments/ Local Council Development

Areas of the State. Hon. Justice Adeyinka stressed further that voter education could make or mar an election depending on how it is handled, adding that many of the challenges often encountered during elections were as a result of ignorance of the proper election procedures on the part of the electorate and even the personnel engaged for the conduct of elections.

He, therefore, charged Electoral Officers participating in the training programme to pay attention to the resource persons and actively participate at the workshop with a view to

building their capacity for improved delivery of service and enhancement of the electoral process at the Local Government level of Lagos State.

The Chairman pledged the commitment of the Commission to further empower the Electoral Officers and other staff of the Commission to be able to perform whatever roles that might be assigned to them before and during election so as to enable the Commission fulfill its objective of successfully conducting free, fair and credible elections into the Local Government Councils of the state.

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Politics

Friday, April 29, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Buhari will fix Nigeria’s economy —Ekpo Eyo Nsa Ekpo is Chairman of Cross River South Progressive Forum, CRISPROF, an association of staunch supporters of the All Progressive Congress, APC. In this interview with RICHARD NDOMA, he speaks on issues as they affect the nation and Cross River State. Excerpts: Many are complaining that President Muhammadu Buhari has lost grip on the economy . What is your reaction to this?

Well those who are blaming the president maybe doing so, out of either ignorance or unwillingness to see the truth of the situation as it is now. The problem with Nigerians is that it looks as if we are all suffering from collective amnesia or maybe because our past have been so torrid and horrible, we deliberately want to forget the past. Now before coming into power as president, the nation was in the hands of reactionary avaricious class who believe more in building structures for themselves, in looting our commonwealth to build structures for themselves instead of building legacies for the nation. Now this president has to clear the rubbles or Augean stable of past destruction before he can lay a foundation for future administration. Nigerians should give this president a little time to perform. I am very certain that Buhari will not fail Nigerians.

There is this rumor making the rounds that the APC is not in support of Hon. Justice Walter Onnnoghen as the next Chief Justice of Nigeria. What is your take on this issue?

Well I have not heard it from any quarters except that I have just heard it from you. I know that the APC, is a very responsible political party. I know that the APC couldn’t go out of its way to vilify a man who had shown by his conduct on the higher bench that he is a man of proven integrity and courage. Hon. Justice Walter Onnoghen from his days on the higher bench in Cross River State Judiciary to the Court of Appeal, and even to the Supreme Court has demonstrated fairness, vision and courage of a quintessential jurist. It will be wrong if this has happened. His judgment from the High court, Court of Appeal and at the Supreme Court can withstand the minutest scrutiny of any sound legal mind and he would never be found wanting.

He is one of the three justices of the Supreme Court who challenged the status quo when they wrote a dissenting judgement in 2007 Presidential Election Petition which ended at the Supreme Court. No one in his right frame of mind can vilify such a judge.

Only of recent, the NNPC boss, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu made utterances which almost set the country on fire on the issue of scarcity of fuel when he said that he is not a magician . Given the fact that he was appointed based on the fact that he is a technocrat, don’t you think that his utterance has instilled fear on helpless Nigerians?

Dr. Ibe Kachikwu is a man of very high intellect. Those who know him say he is an A1 brain. His academic performance stands him out from the crowd but unfortunately such ut-

Ekpo terance may not be good for the party. This is the dawn of a new era and we are no longer in an era where government officials behave as if they are doing the people a favour. We are in an era where an elected official or those appointed by government must behave as servants of the people which truly they are. As progressives, we are here to serve the masses.

We are not here to lord over them. That is the difference between the conservatives and the progressives.

Just as our National Vice Chairman rightly pointed out, Dr. Kachikwu is still suffering from the hangover of his days in PDP. He needs to buckle up. If at any point he is beginning to feel tired with the responsibility given him by Nigerians he should resign.

And of course people keep asking the questions and begging the answers if Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is right in chastising Dr. Kachukwu and my answer to that is simple.

The Asiwaju is the reservoir of the progressive ideals in the APC. He is the leader. He has the right to chastise anybody. In fact he has a duty to right anyone veering into the wrong path under this dispensation.

It is his duty because in him resides the progressive ideologies of the APC. He is our leader and we must follow the leader. That is the truth of the matter.

Buhari administration had come under serious criticism for failing to rescue Chibok Girls, put an end to hunger, wipe out Boko Haram insurgency. There is also increase in the rate of exchange of naira to dollars. Do you think the government is doing enough to satisfy the aspiration of Nigerians?

Let us start with the free fall of the naira.

Nigeria is a mono-export economy. The Only

export product we have is crude oil and that is what backs up the Nigeria currency. We are not a manufacturing economy. In the Sixteen years of the PDP all the manufacturing concerns like Dunlop and several other companies which were propelling the economy almost all of them closed down or relocated to neighboring countries due to lack of power supply and several other infrastructural problems. And the collapsed of price of oil in international market.

That alone denied strength to the naira so when things happen like that what will you do and who do you blame?

Buhari did not cause the fall of oil in the international market it is unfortunate. So on that score you just cannot blame the president.

Couldn’t he had set up a vibrant committee with people who have the expertise to solve the problem?

I think all he just needs is time, all these problems will be fix.

So what about the Chibok Girls. It is more than one year now yet no positive result after all the bragging that the girls will be rescued immediately Buhari comes to power ?

The trailing of the Chibok girls is still very hot even though we are still persecuting him. What about President Goodluck Jonathan’s supporters who to some extent doubted whether Chibok Girls were actually Kidnapped .

Jonathan’s wife even said so. Buhari only came to inherit the problems and he is doing his utmost to solve them.

in the last ten months or so?

Nothing new had happened. We have an absentee governor who is hardly seen in Cross River State. He is never in Cross River State. I doubt if Prof. Ben Ayade ever toured the entire State before becoming a governor and even after becoming a governor he had never moved around to know what the people’s problems are. Take for instance the road from Akapabuyo to Calabar is impassable. In spite of the fact that Unicem pays millions of naira to this state government as haulage fees for every bag of cement conveyed, yet the road is hardly maintained, a situation which had spark up blockage of road by angry youths from host communities.

Let me tell you that since Prof. Ayade came on board it has been motion without movement. We don’t even know what is happening.

I don’t know if Cross River State has a Budget because I had gone to look for it and I didn’t see it. Because we should have had the budget, the appropriation law published for us to read and also look at it. We don’t know. We have heard of the construction of the super highway, we are yet to know the bidding process to know the cost of the road. We don’t know how much money that is going to be committed into that project. What about the garment factory that was promised that it was going to be commission within the first hundred days in office.

What has happened to it now. Is it not more than hundred days now? The governor is never in Cross River State. And he would not have the grace to get the House of Assembly to do the needful to get the deputy governor to act on his stead.

That is why refuse littered all over the streets of Calabar due to the governors absence. We will soon have an outbreak of epidemic in this town .But the deputy governor has been trying his best to ensure that that vacuum is filled even without power being transferred to him by the House of Assembly.

You said Ayade doesn’t know the people’s problems but he is empowering the youths with numerous appointments.

Forget about the illegal and amorphorous appointments of un-existing enterprises, into boards and commissions that were yet to get the backings of the House of Assembly. All Ayade need is to sit down and tackle the nitty gritty of governance.

As a legal practitioner what is the implication of a governor travelling out of the state for up to a month without writing to Houseof Assembly to transfer power to the deputy governor.

This government is full of illegality. I have said so it is a government build on a foundation of illegality.

His refusal to hand over to the deputy governor, when he decides to go on his worldwide junkets makes the state to remain in a vacuum. The governor needs to sit down, firm up to govern the state.

Are you saying that the appointments cannot be legalized since the appointments as you claimed did not pass through the House of Assembly?

If you want to erect a house, won’t you build a foundation before you put on your structure.

There must be the sub-structure before the infrastructure come in. You cannot build a house in the air and then start building a foundation How will you assess Governor Ayade on the ground.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Ojudu mourns Ekiti doctors Robert Awokuse

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s more reactions continued to trail the death of the six Ekiti State doctors, the Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Senator Babafemi Ojudu has commiserated with the state government and the health community.

The six doctors and their driver died following a fatal accident, while embarking on professional journey to represent the state at this year’s National Medical Association Annual General Meeting held in Sokoto State.

His reaction was contained in a personal letter issued and signed by him.

Ojudu, who is a native of Ekiti State, expressed sadness over the incident, describing it as tragedy.

He said the state has lost some of its best hands, who were committed to their du-

Politics

Friday, April 29, 2016

ties in delivering good medical services to the people.

“I received with great sadness and heavy heart the news of the tragic death of our illustrious sons in Ekiti who were committed medical doctors and your professional colleagues.

“Generally, my personal contact with some of these doctors in Ekiti revealed them as hard-working, committed and selfless, despite working under excruciating conditions.

“Seven Nigerians dying on our road is calamitous enough. To now think that six of our best in the field of medicine in Ekiti were consumed on the highway, is a tragedy beyond comprehension. It is indeed a big loss!

Certainly, Ekiti, my state of origin, has lost fantastic and patriotic men,” he stressed.

He however sympathized with members of their families, praying that God should grant them the fortitude to bear the loss.

15

Lawmaker renders financial support to Ondo youths Olubunmi Omoogun

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n continuation of his efforts to empower the youths of his Constituency, the House of Representatives member representing Akoko South East/ Akoko South West Federal Constituency of Ondo state in the National Assembly, Hon. Kolawole Babatunde has partnered with the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity to increase the skill acquisition of his constituents in livestock production.

At a three-day training held in Oka- Akoko in Akoko South West Local Government Area of the state where youths received chicken feed, vaccines, stoves, automated cages and Chickens (both broilers and Cockerels), the Honourable said,over 40 people from Akoko South East/ Akoko South West Federal Constituency received financial supports and necessary materials to start up poultry business.

Babatunde said “We have made a promise to members of our constitu-

ency that we will not just be in Abuja but we will always return home to give whatever we can give to improve the living standard of our people”.

He noted that his effort to encourage the youths in production of live stock is in line with the Federal Government policy to promote agriculture, saying that “The All Progressives Congress, APC government led by President Buhari has taken agriculture as one of the cardinal projects of his administration and he is already doing everything hu-

manly possible to achieve this”.

“We as lawmakers shouldn’t fold our arms. We should support the President’s agenda. The President means well for the nation. He wants to diversify the economy and our youths must be empowered and encouraged to embrace agriculture”.

Teachers were also engaged to train and treat past WAEC questions with 400 students from the constituency in a bid to make them achieve good grades in the coming examinations.

Rights group denies attacking Aregbesola during rally amigbola Osogbo

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ommittee for the Defence of Human Right in Nigeria, CDHR, yesterday denied attacking the convoy of Governor Rauf Aregbesola, during a rally the group organised recently in Osogbo.

The group while reacting to the publication that suggested that the convoy of Governor Aregbesola was stopped during the rally held on Thursday,14th April, explained that such an incident never happened and stressed that the orderly procession of the rights activists that day never stopped the governor’s convoy.

The CDHR, in a statement issued by its Publicity Secretary, Raji Ropo Rasheed, copies of which

Aregbesola

were made available to newsmen in Osogbo, explained that when the leadership of the group arrived the state, it first embarked on fact finding mission on some projects.

“It was after this that we proceed to the Governor’s Office, in which he left other official assignments to receive us and accepted our letter to the Head of State. Our mission was misrepresented and misconstrued with the ways and manner in which a newspaper reported it.

“We consider this position as reactionary, mendacious and disparaging to the image of the CDRH, the government and the person of Mr. Governor of the state, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.

“In the light of this, if any newspaper have axe to grind with the governor, it should look elsewhere, because our organisation both at the state and national level have nothing against him.

“The national leadership of our organisation has however resolved that the newspaper should retract the story within seven days from now and tender an unreserved apology to our noble organisation”, the organisation said.

L-R: Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi; wife of the President, Mrs Aisha Buhari and Governor’s wife, Mrs. Florence Ajimobi, during a Free Health Screening Programme, under the Future Assured Initiative of the President’s wife, in Ibadan, yesterday.

Ogun LP commends Buhari on anti-corruption crusade Femi O yeweso Abeokuta

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gun state chapter of Labour Party, LP yesterday called on citizens, particularly stakeholders in policy formulation in Nigeria to join hands with President Muhammadu Buhari towards ensuring that the on-going anti - corruption crusade of his administration achieve tangible success.

The State’s Acting Chairman of the party, Comrade Abayomi Arabambi made the call while speaking with journalists in Abeokuta, the state capital over efforts being put in place by his party towards conducting a successful party congress for wards, local and state executive

committees.

He emphasised that his party believed that the on-going anti - corruption war of the present administration would sanitise the “Nigeria system” which has bastardized the country’s norms and value systems.

Arabambi, who noted that corruption has eaten deep into the nation’s fabrics, stressed that President Buhari as a man of integrity, has demonstrated genuine passions to reposition the country amidst comity of nations going by the commitments of his administration at fighting corruption in recent times and as such, worth commendation.

“Why we are saying this is because we have come to realise that Mr.

President needs the supports of all and sundry in his efforts at fighting corruption in our country. This time around, we all need to forget about whichever political party we may belong: whether you’re APC, LP or PDP. The president needs our supports to be able to fix all the dilapidated infrastructure as well as our near comatose norms and values”.

LP also called on the National Assembly to give the Buhari - led federal government the needed legislative backing by removing all the bottlenecks and strengthening the weak areas in the anti - corruption laws of the country which has oftentimes, provided a soft landing for corrupt individuals in the soci-

ety.

Commenting on the lingering fuel scarcity being witnessed across the country, Arabambi maintained that the scarcity was not caused by President Buhari but the “Nigerian system” which he said needs to be sanitized.

“For us in Ogun LP, we believe that Mr. President is doing the right thing. Both ICPC and EFCC too should wake up and realise that this President has the zeal to change the system and we must not miss it now.

Once we miss it, we may not be able to get it right again”.

“We are of the opinion that the president is doing the right thing and no one should blame him for that”, LP said.

16

Editorial

Friday, April 29, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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

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

ABUJA BUREAU CHIEF

Twist in corruption trial of ex-Interior Minister

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dramatic twist was witnessed last Wednesday at the Federal High Court, Abuja, where former Minister of Interior, Abba Moro and others are standing trial for corrupt selfenrichment when the presiding judge, Justice Anwuli Chikere, abruptly withdrew from handling the matter. “I am sending the file back to the Chief Judge for reassignment for personal reasons”, the judge was quoted as saying.

Counsel for the prosecution, Aliyu Yusuf, had reportedly intimated the court when it resumed sitting on the said Wednesday of his client’s decision to amend the charges against Mr. Moro, before Justice Chikere unveiled her surprise package, leading to the suspension of the amendment until whenever the case is reassigned.

In a country where the successful prosecution of corrupt suspects is more or less a thug of war; where such suspects gleefully accuse judges handling their cases of being corrupt or biased; and where intense pressure and heat, including mortal and other threats, are brought to bear on trial judges, the sudden decision taken by Justice Chikere to hands-off Moro’s case may not be sincerely described as strange.

In a very recent Editorial we volunteered on the trial, however, we did submit that Moro and the other suspects with whom he is stand-

ing trial remain innocent of any crime in the eyes of the law, until the contrary is proven beyond any reasonable doubt. We, in addition, implored the relevant authorities to ensure the prosecution of the matter is diligently carried out in such a manner that will ensure the triumph of justice in the end, considering the circumstances that necessitated the trial and the cumulative negative effects the shoddy handling of the case portends for the country’s criminal justice system and public confidence in the judiciary. Our fervent hope is that the setback occasioned

by Justice Chikere’s stepping aside is a temporary hiccup that will do no grave harm to the trial.

Moro; an ex-Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Interior, Mrs. Anatasia Daniel-Nwobia, one Mr. F.O. Alayebami, as well as Mr. Mahmood Ahmadu and Drexel Tech Global Nigeria Limited are standing trial over the alleged diversion of monies realised from job seekers involved in the tragic recruitment exercise conducted nationwide by the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) on Saturday, March 15, 2014. Each applicant was compelled to cough up N1,000 as recruitment fee; and made to purchase an NIS vest for N500, in addition. At the end of the dubious recruitment outing, however, reports indicated that about 19 applicants lost their lives in stam-

This fresh hope of justice, though belated, should not for any reason be dashed pedes at interview venues because of the poor preparations made by the organizers of the event.

Not long ago, however, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) docked Moro and the others in an 11-count charge over the alleged disappearance of the N676.6 million the NIS allegedly extorted from the job seekers during the fatal recruitment exercise. In other words, Moro and his group are facing trial for Advance Fee Fraud (popularly known in local parlance as 419). In 2015, when the House of Representatives conducted a public hearing on protests by family members of the deceased job seekers that the Federal Government promised automatic jobs under former President Goodluck Jonathan – both the Permanent Secretary in the Interior Ministry, Abubakar Magaji; and Deputy Comptroller of Immigration, Henry Malgwi, who represented the Comptroller-General at the hearing, denied knowledge of the whereabouts of the money.

Reports credited to the EFCC, however, alleged that N202,500,000

ON THIS DAY April 29, 2004 Oldsmobile built its final car, ending 107 years of production. Oldsmobile was a brand of American automobile produced for most of its existence by General Motors. It was founded by Ransom E. Olds in 1897. In its 107-year history, it produced 35.2 million cars, including at least 14 million built at its Lansing, Michigan factory.

When it was phased out in 2004, Oldsmobile was the oldest surviving American automobile marque.

Letters tothe theEditor Editor Letters to

April 29, 2005 Syria withdrew from Lebanon after 29 years of occupation. The Syrian occupation of Lebanon began in 1976 as a result of civil war. Her withdrawal was in response to domestic and international pressure after the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister, Rafik Hariri. In January 1976, a Syrian proposal to restore the limits to the Palestinian guerrilla presence in Lebanon was partly welcomed and partly opposed.

of the amount was spent on buying No. 1, Lahn Crescent, Maitama, Abuja; and another N120, 100,000 spent on the upgrade of No. 2, Sigure Close, Off Monrovia Street, Wuse II, also in Abuja. The Commission said Drexel Tech Nigeria Limited, the firm contracted for the recruitment exercise; and one Mahmood Ahmadu, allegedly converted N101, 200,000 to United States’ dollars for personal use. Drexel which handled the online enlistment and recruitment services’ contract was not a registered company; the contract was not advertised; and was awarded without Needs Assessment and Procurement Plan, contrary to the prescriptions of relevant laws, EFCC said.

We recall that the deaths occasioned by the suspicious recruitment exercise sparked widespread public outrage, with many calling for Moro’s removal from office as minister, a demand Jonathan and his government treated with ignominy. Nor were any steps taken to punish or censure the culprits responsible for the scandalous recruitment gamble. This will help explain the sigh of relief many heaved recently when the trial of Moro and his colleagues commenced. This fresh hope of justice, though belated, should not for any reason be dashed. The Chief Judge of the Federal High Court should quickly reassign the case to another judge.

x April 29, 2011 The wedding of Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge; and Catherine Middleton, took place at the Westminster Abbey in London. The groom, Prince William, is the eldest son of Charles, the Prince of Wales and second in the line of succession to the British Throne; while the bride, Catherine Middleton is the eldest of three children of Michael and Carole Middleton of Bucklebury, Berkshire.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Views

Friday, April 29, 2016

17

Of democracy and Boko Haram containment Counter-terrorism Tips With

Ethelbert Oney ethelbertoney@zissltd.com, 08029929121 (sms only)

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emocratic countries like Nigeria face acute dilemmas when confronted with acts of violence like the current Boko Haram-induced insurgency. Under reaction and overreaction can alienate a populace, and as a matter of fact, both of them substantially contributed to damage Nigeria’s sovereignty more than the actions of BH from the onset. At the same time, if the Federal Government and its security workforce proved incapable of upholding law and order and the protection of the lives and property of the citizens, their authority and legitimacy were directly undermined.

Concerted acts of violence like we have faced over the past seven years are challenges that require steady and painstaking responses.

Instead, our past administrations compromised their very legitimacy through the measures they applied; and the resultant effect was public loss of confidence in them. The activities of Boko Haram since 2009 significantly raised the threshold of the prevention of international terrorism.

Many countries apply democracy in different shapes and in varying degrees of maturity and performance. However, leaders face some critical junctures in reconciling with both national and international legitimacy that is integral to democratic realities of economic

and political power. In particular, a militarized regional security framework in the wake of BH attacks threatened to marginalise democratic approaches to conflict management.

Moreover, some measures meant as responses have already undermined or compromised our democracy in key areas of development.

Our challenges may be categorised into two key areas. First, the FG and every Nigeria citizen must manage incidents arising from terrorism - response and prevention - in such a way that upholds democratic principles of accountability, checks and balances, as well as the rule of law. Second, democratic promotion must be delinked from the byproducts of security needs or fear. Democracy is neither a banner under which to fight designated targets nor a commodity that can be exported or imposed. It is most viable when shaped and rooted in context, matching specific relevance and needs with genuine local ownership. There is need for critical review on the impact of the regional war on BH in terms of developmental assistance and specific national democratisation processes.

Whether emanating from a movement, a loose network, or a mobilising idea among varied affinity groupings, the new violence illustrates that BH and conventional military power are incommensurable because conventional wars and weapons alone cannot completely defeat terrorism no matter how you want to paint it. As demonstrated in the Northern Ireland (IRA) case and the aftermath of pre-emptive wars on Iraq, we know that allegiance, hatred, grievance and belief multiplied in unpredicted ways to the extent that innocent lives were lost and the future of many shattered.

The activities of Boko Haram since 2009 significantly raised the threshold of the prevention of international terrorism Indeed, some current policies may be counterproductive to democratic promotion and development. For example, the detention of individuals suspected of terrorism without trial.

In other parts of the world too, this practice makes it difficult to argue qualitative advantages for democratic governance.

International response mechanisms were complex and never came when we needed them due to international politics. The agents range from global actors such as the UN, USA, the UK and international financial institutions.

Through a multiplicity of regional and sub-regional frameworks, other interstate, trans-state and non-state actors have so far been expected to come to our possible rescue. This can mean cooperation in intelligence gathering or police operations, security measures at airports, borders, the monitoring of telecommunications in airspace, financial oversight of bank transfers and financial exchanges.

Proactive international measures to eliminate BH, poverty and assist in appropriate human development must be renewed in ways

that are determined by the merit and validity of rights and needs, not as reactive measures linked directly to a military security agenda. A disconnect between words and actions, rhetoric and reality, will undermine advocates of democratic promotion.

To effectively undercut the basis of support for BH activities, any liberal democratic response must rest on one overriding principle: a commitment to uphold and maintain constitutional systems of legal authority. In instances where the state fails to abide by this fundamental dictum, counter-terrorist responses run the very grave risk of posing even more of a danger to underlying liberal and democratic norms and institutions than extremist political violence itself.

Victimized countries that are members of the global donor community should call for a review of the impact of conditional assistance packages, re-examining the interaction between securitisation, specific development and democratisation processes. Democratisation can be impeded by the conditions related to a claimed liberation, differing perceptions of the occupier on the part of the occupied, unresolved grievances by the sect and severe basic needs. It cannot be gifted or imposed, but depends on the aspirations and goals of a given people, many of whom historically have struggled for their independence.

Support must be given to the long-term and difficult bottom–up processes of change to reinforce moderate and proportional measures, rather than to bolster overly repressive ones.

Many countries have used mass movements, education, peaceful process and political means for ideological change.

Fallacies and fiction in “Oshiomhole, Anenih end political feud” Peter Okhiria,

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ur attention has been drawn to a write-up published in the Politics Column of your newspaper, National Mirror of Tuesday, 26 April 2016, at Page 13 with headline “Oshiomhole, Anenih end political feud”.

We have read through the said article written by one Dickson Oarhe, and note that it is filled with inaccuracies and outright falsehood to satisfy the interest of some persons in the state.

The reporter wrote: “National Mirror gathered that Gov Oshiomhole had on a previous day sent emissaries to go before him to meet Chief Anenih “When the spies were satisfied that the NIGERIA POLITICAL STRONGMAN (emphasis mine) was soft at heart to let go all wrongs done him by the All Progressives Congress Governor, Oshiomhole, we were told jumped for joy right inside the Government House in Benin City.”

The above-quoted were simply a figment of the wild imagination of the writer who showed his card in his own game too early by referring to Chief Anenih as NIGERIA POLITICAL STRONGMAN. Dickson Oarhe, like a raging bull in a China shop then went berserk and wrote that “Comrade Oshiomhole rendered his apology to Anenih at his homeland, Uromi in the presence of over a thousand witnesses.

He even outdid himself when he manu-

To put the records straight, Governor Adams Oshiomhole did not apologise factured imaginary quotes which he said was part of the Governor’s speech at Uromi.

He wrote: “Oshiomhole to Anenih, he said: ‘my leader and My father, at different times, I know that I have offended you as a result of our political differences…”

It is quite unclear the motive behind this fiction, however, we wish to clear some of the fallacies he gleefully wrote in the said article.

First, at no time did the Governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole send spies or emissaries to Chief Anenih to find the intent of his heart. We challenge the writer to mention the names of the spies or emissaries. It is sheer intellectual laziness for this supposed ‘journalist’ to sit in his bedroom and concoct fiction when the facts are there and can be easily obtained from the right sources.

Second, Dickson Oarhe mentioned a close family member of Governor Oshiomhole as a source. It is, however, sad that his “reliable source and close family member of Gov. Oshiomhole” could not even tell him the correct spelling of the name of the Governor’s wife, which he spelt as ‘Lara’ instead of ‘Iara’.

An attempt to bring in Mrs. Iara Oshiomhole into a matter that has nothing to do with her marital life or the welfare and wellbeing of her family is a cheap shot by the reporter to drag the Governor’s wife into a matter which has no bearing to her in any way.

Third, we challenge the reporter to produce his audio recording of the Uromi event where he got the quotations which he attributed to the Governor.

We admit that Dickson Oarhe has achieved his aim and that of his paymasters by succeeding in publishing his fiction in the newspaper.

To put the records straight, Governor Adams Oshiomhole did not apologise to Chief Anthony Anenih at the 10th Anniversary of the St Anthony Catholic Cathedral, Uromi where the Governor was given an award for his services to the Church and humanity.

The fact is that Governor Adams Oshiomhole used the occasion of the Award ceremony to heap praises on the Catholic Church for bringing people of different political persuasions together under the umbrella of the Church.

The exact words of the Governor: “Yesterday, I found myself sitting in the front row, and then I realized that most of those drivers and shakers of politics and ‘politricking’ in Edo State, are all Catholics. That, for me, is revealing.

“For me, the church has caused all of us to reunite in the State. So, I reunite with my daddy Chief Tony Anenih and several other

PDP leaders and APC leaders. And the Catholic Church brought together the national Chairman of APC sitting side-by-side with the national leader of PDP. “May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ continue to moderate our actions and remind us of our oneness, of our commonality and of our shared commitment to work together to uplift our state and our great nation.”

We are therefore at a loss how use of the word,‘re-unite’, by the Governor translates to an apology. It is baffling and somewhat amusing how the reporter presented the report in a misleading manner to suit his vain imagination and twisted fantasies.

As a matter of fact, it was Chief Tony Anenih who used the occasion to say “Adams, without you saying it, I have forgiven you. As you said when you were in labour, as President, you were my son and you know it.”

Only Dickson Oarhe knows the interest he seeks to serve with the quackery displayed in his article.

Peter Okhiria, Chief Press Secretary to Edo State Governor.

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.

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Mail Mirror

18

Friday, April 29, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

No to discriminatory sale of petrol

I Legislating from Panama

T

he gamut of legislative enterprise like any other vocational endeavour resonates with the biblical wisecrack that says “Where your treasure is, there will your heart be”.

Nigeria’s chequered legislative history has been anything but reflective of the watchdog portraiture it is instituted to depict.

We can begin to dissect the minds of our legislators from the Panama Paper muckraking. The fact that the National Assembly has not deemed it fit to issue any statement on the purported involvement of the Senate President Bukola Saraki is unfortunate. This throws up a distraught public reaction to the executive.

The directive issued by the Senate barring members from issuing public statements except through committee chairmen may further cast a slur on the transparency quotient of the National Assembly as an assembly that thrives on translucent pedigree by holding the legislature and the judiciary accountable through legislative and judicial surveillance.

Bukola Ajisola, Victoria Island, Lagos State.

As the world marks Earth Day

L

ast Friday April 22 was World Earth Day. This year’s has as its theme: “Trees for the Earth. Let’s get planting”. Over the next five years, Earth Day celebration will move closer to its 50th anniversary. The USA-based Earth Day Network, one of the most active non-state actors pushing for a better Earth, has called on all and sundry to help them achieve one of their most ambitious goals: planting 7.8 billion new trees throughout the world.

We call on the UN, AU, ASEAN and all the peoples of the world to vigorously convert the global dream and concerns to save the Planet Earth from rising sea levels, etc precipitated by climate change into a pragmatic reality.

God bless Planet Earth.

Chief Bobson Gbinije , Founder, Mandate Against Poverty, Warri, Delta State.

Letters to the Editor

needed to do a quick paper work to beat a deadline, so I went to my usual business centre in Lagos. On getting there, I found the owner sitting and wearing a long face. There was no light in his office. That to me was not strange. I can’t remember getting there and finding light. The usual thing was for him to switch on his generator. But not this time! He told me he could not operate because he could not get fuel to power his generator, as the fuel stations that managed to sell refused selling to those carrying kegs and jerrycans. I told him to accept my sympathy.

I can’t remember any time

Kids trading on the street of Lagos.

like this in the history of fuel scarcity in Nigeria. Nigerians are suffering hardship for a commodity that nature has given them as a gift. Amidst the scarcity and hardship, filling stations, especially the major marketers, have refused to sell to those carrying kegs and jerrycans because they say these people buy the product and then resell at the black market. And that government is also trying to prevent fuel diversion. A black marketer carrying five-liter fuel keg is part of fuel diversion! Tell me something else!

One way or the other, everyone is being affected by the

policy, because though I may be able to buy into my car, I can’t fuel the generators in my home. The cars of today, while you can siphon fuel into them, you can’t siphon out, unless a mechanic goes under the car. A fellow nearly lost his car when it partially caught fire because the mechanic after going under the car to release fuel failed to tighten the fuel outlet.

Besides, we all know that petrol is what moves our economy. Small business owners use it to run their business.

We have those running barbing and hairdressing salons, apart from business centres.

Even banks, schools, factories

PHOTO: SAMUEL ADETIMEHIN

The deadly foe called malaria

I

f you have to pick a disease that is very fatal beside the Ebola virus disease (EVD) in West Africa, it must be malaria.

It certainly does not get the high profile attention HIV/AIDS and EVD grab, but yet portrays a serious threat to West African societies. Malaria wreaks fatalities on human beings. Every two hours, the diseases kills 225 children; and about one million children under the age of five die as a result of the disease every year, making it a single largest killer disease in Africa.

In the same vein, every year, between 350 million and 500 million people get sick as a result of malaria; and of the reported 300 million attacks worldwide, Africa accounts for about 225 million.

In Nigeria, the picture is not less horrifying, as about 60 million Nigerians suffer malaria attacks twice a year, while about 80 percent of the population is exposed to the disease. Malaria accounts

for about 60 percent of hospital out-patients in the country and is also responsible for 30 percent and 11 percent of mortality in children under the age of five and pregnant women respectively.

AIDS kills about 100 people every two hours.

In fact, Nigeria has one of the highest rates of malaria attacks in the world, and spends about N132 billion on treating victims of the disease .This is truly an ugly and worrying picture, more so that the majority of the victims are children. There is no doubt malaria knows how to pick its prey, striking at the heart of society, and leaving it deprived of its future vitality.

Malaria is also a great drag on economic development, another of its ruinous side. It does this by severely reducing the productivity of the millions of the infected persons. Until the disease is effectively tackled, macro-economic policies will continue to fail in

addressing Africa’s development crisis. Malaria is major barrier to social and economic development in Africa; clearly this deadly disease is posing a major challenge to Africa and indeed the whole world.

The pertinent question, however is, can this challenge be faced squarely? Malaria is preventable, treatable and curable with collective, sustained efforts but for this effort to yield results, they have to be practical and truly sustained on a continuous basis. In short, it is largely a question of funds and commitment. The health budgets needed to be increase from the present figures. Bigger budgetary allocations, if judiciously used, should help in providing better facilities, both for preventive and curative purposes.

Let us save our country; let us save our future.

Okwazi Jeremiah, Department of Mass communication, Taraba State University.

and hospitals. On whose head will be the blood of those who died needing surgical intervention but denied surgery as the theatre could not function, because the hospitals were not given fuel when their employee came with jerrycans to buy fuel? I say this because it has already happened!

Nigerians also need to power their generators as power supply seems to have worsened in recent months. Even those who detach the fuel tank in their generators are still denied access to fuel. Who should be blamed for the existence of fuel black market? No one would patronise the black market where the price of fuel is higher when they can get fuel at the normal price in a fuel station. Even if there are black markets, it is to Nigerians the product is sold.

Yet, if you ask me, it’s better to let the few black marketers operate than suffer the majority of Nigerians. The black marketers fill the large distribution gap left by government.

The existence of black market itself is a symptom of another problem: unemployment. No gainfully employed person will leave their duty post to stand in the sun hawking fuel.

The discrimination against Nigerians who buy fuel in jerrycans is elitist and is not agreeable with the tenets of this present government. Unless it is telling Nigerians otherwise. The Muhammadu Buhari-led government must be seen to be sensitive to the plight of the people. I mean all the people! Fuel is not greater than the people. The people are greater than fuel. A majority of Nigerians are poor and don’t own cars. They are the ones being punished more by this policy.

While all efforts are made to find a lasting solution to the perennial fuel scarcity, President Buhari must order that fuel should be sold to all Nigerians. Nigerians have suffered enough as it is.

Their problems should not be compounded.

It should be mandatory that all fuel outlets have a dedicated line for those who buy in kegs and jerrycans, while the lines for vehicles stand on their own. Anything short of that is unintelligent, callous and wicked!

Dr. Cosmas Odoemena is a medical practitioner based in Lagos.

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Flavour

Friday , April 29, 2016

Lagos sizzles as Jazz festival berths

Darey

Yinka Davies

Some of the artistes billed to perform at the concert are: Dare Art-Alade, Yinka Davies, Lekan Babalola (two-time co-Grammy winner) with the Eko Brass Band, Herbert Kunle Ajayi, Bright Gain, Adeh and the Spectacle Band – Afrojazz guitar Supremo Earlier, leader of the delegation and Chief Executive Director of Inspiro Productions, Mr. Ayoola Shadare, said Jazz had gone beyond just music, but a veritable instrument that can be used to grow the economy if properly managed.

He said for instance, the South African government generated over a billion rand from the Cape Town Jazz Festival, and that Lagos could do far much better if properly managed.

He, however, appreciated Governor Ambode for showing genuine interest in the Jazz Festival, especially with the massive concert billed to take place at the Lagos House on April 30.

Similarly, the State’s Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde has declared readiness of the State Government to successfully organize the concert.

Ayorinde, while addressing a press briefing on the festival, recalled the success recorded by the State Government on the One Lagos Fiesta, a countdown music and entertainment show used to usher in the New Year 2016 which was held simultaneously in five locations across the state for the first time, and said the Jazz Festival was equally designed to give a quantum leap to the tourism potentials of the state.

The Commissioner said: “On Saturday April 30, the Governor is hosting An Evening

of Jazz at the State House in Ikeja.

It will be an exclusive but colourful evening to identify with UNESCO initiative, welcome an array of Nigerian Jazz musicians to perform at the State House and to share the warm hospitality of Lagos State with the Jazz community.”

He said the concert being put together by the State Government was in sync with a similar concert being put together by the United States President, Barrack Obama at the White House on April 29, adding that the hash tag of the day would be #LagosAmboJazz.

Some of the artistes billed to perform at the concert, according to Ayorinde, are Dare Art-Alade, Yinka Davies, Lekan Babalola (two-time co-Grammy winner) with the Eko Brass Band, Herbert Kunle Ajayi, Bright Gain, Adeh and the Spectacle Band – Afrojazz guitar Supremo, Ubong Ntia, Sam and the Jazz Apostles, featuring Dera, Dotun Bankole Band, Victor Ademofe Band, Omolara, Dapo Fasuyi, and Organic Jazz.

Inside FCT

Kunle Ajayi

P. 22. 27

L

agos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode has expressed optimism that the activities lined up for the forthcoming Lagos International Jazz Day will go a long way to showcase the tourism potentials of the State to the World.

Governor Ambode, who spoke at the Lagos House, Ikeja when he played host to some of the groups collaborating with the State Government on the forthcoming star-studded concert to commemorate the 2016 International Jazz Day, said apart from being the financial and commercial hub of Nigeria, his administration will work hard to equally transform Lagos to the tourism hub of Africa.

He restated his administration’s strong commitment to use tourism, hospitality, sports, entertainment and arts to grow the economy of the state, just as he assured that nothing would be spared in transforming Lagos to the tourism hub of Africa.

He said: “We want to emulate and even surpass the International Jazz Festival in Cape Town, South Africa, and then be on the world stage and that is the significance of this collaboration that we have decided to go into.

“During the electioneering campaign, we did promise that we will use entertainment and arts, tourism and sports to propel Lagos to the next level and this is one of the ways through which we hope to achieve that. We want to use entertainment to grow our economy, create jobs for the people and create that global picture of what Lagos is and what Lagos is not.

“Like you are all aware, Lagos is the financial and commercial hub of Nigeria and we want to be the tourism hub of Africa and we are going to use the Jazz family to start that journey and that is why we are hosting the concert here at the Lagos House,” Governor Ambode said.

The groups on the courtesy visit include Lagos International Jazz Festival Group, Runway Jazz and Satchmo Jazz.

P.28. 29

Arty News

Francis Suberu

p. 26. 31

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

Critics

VOL. 4 No. 827

19

WEEKEND STARTERS

Symposium on Cinema History

L

Tycon Concert’s ‘Night of Fame’

gramme curated by Nsibidi Institute and the Royal African Society.

This event holds on 29th April, 2016 at Old Film Unit, Nigerian Film Corporation, Ikoyi, Lagos at 10AM.

P.20. 21

T

ycon Concert is set with the “Night of Fame”, a competitive performance show that will unveil talents in genres of arts like dance, comedy and music. The main aim of Night of Fame is to develop talents on the streets and bring them to limelight. The main event comes up tomorrow, April 30, 2016, with a red carpet session at AMGAF Lounge in Folagoro, Shomolu, Lagos.

Art Man

agos Film Society is organising a symposium entitled Reclaiming History, Unveiling Memory. The event is a tour of history and memory via sharing of archival experiences, panel discussions, screenings and workshops. As part of this tour, there will be a keynote address on the film archive experience by Indonesia-based Lab Labalaba; a screening of Rithy Panh’s The Missing Picture; panel discussions on Memories, History, and Cinema; screenings and an interactive session with Dr. Ola Balogun; a book presentation by the Filmkollektiv Frankfurt, and a special pro-

Night of Fame

20

Art Man

Friday, April 29, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Writing stories for TV gives Victor Sanchez Aghahowa is a multitalented film maker. He is a screen writer, director and a producer. Victor is one of Tinsel’s directors and currently, the director and head of Creative Writers’ School of the Africa Magic Telenovella, Hush. He is popular for his web series ‘Why She Left My Brother’. In this interview with ISIGUZO DESTINY, he reveals why he dropped out of school and what he cherishes most in filmmaking. Excerpts:

Let’s start on a personal note. You once told an inspiring story of how you were frustrated at the beginning of your career as a film maker. Can you give me more insight into that experience?

I don’t know if the experience is unique, I just think the fact I chose to write about it openly is what is interesting about it. But I think every creative person goes through that. At a point you feel like “what have I done?” “Why have I chosen this part?” When the money gets tight, jobs are not coming the way you expected, when your mates are getting g married and buying cars before you.

Everyone has their own version of the story.

The story does not have particularly anything unique about it. Everybody gets there, everyone who have gone past through that stage knows that everyone gets there. Everyone who is yet to get to that stage knows he/she will get there and then you say, “It has happened to everybody and I know I will get past this”.

In one of your social media posts, you wrote “I remember the days I prayed for the things I have now”, what are these things?

I mean... Again like a lot of people I respect and has worked with, some of us came up the hard way. Emmmm, I dropped out of school and came to Lagos with a dream, but I got

Rehearsing with his cast to a point where I don’t have anything. The times I slept on the floor, the times you have to stretch your money and sometimes there are more months than the money you have, and when you run out of money what happens?

Things that I’ve always prayed for... for everybody it’s different. Now I am married, I have kids and a career. The things that at a point in my life I didn’t think I will get. Everyone wants different things out of life. When you have and make money from the business or job you love, it’s a feat. Some people hate their jobs even though they make money out of it.

It’s different when you genuinely love what you do and you can make a living out of it.

For more than 10 years now, I make a living from writing stories and when I meet people and tell them I’m a writer, they say okay, but ask “what is your real job?” Well, that’s how I pay my rent. If we have a chance we thank God. You said film making is like story telling in one of your interviews, what kind of stories do you tell?

Film making is story telling. I started with

music business which I also consider as storytelling. People may differ but I am interested in all forms of storytelling. Talking about my kind of story, people have said I make films for certain demographic set of people. I don’t know about that I just tell stories from experiences of things that I lived or know people that lived it. But I’m interested in telling contemporary Nigerian stories. I don’t like cut and ride like: here is the good guy and there is the bad guy. I like fairy tells but I also like to tell it as it is.

Does that mean you are just after a style, or what would you say you go after when writing your scripts or directing, to impress or to be pragmatic?

People learning from entertainment are not pragmatic as far as I’m concerned. It is being preachy. I’m of the school of thought you must tell a story that has point. There must be a reason why you want to tell the story. Every religion in the world is proliferated by big time stories. The bible is a collection of stories. Everything we do is story telling but you must ask the question: “why telling the story?” I am not a huge fan of aesthetics, thank God I’ve never deceived or called myself a cinematographer. I am more interested in the power of the story, to move people’s mind. You don’t do that by preaching stories or preaching messages because so long as you don’t care about

I’m interested in telling stories that generate conversations as opposed to stories that preach them Victor directing Dowry, another TV series

in messages

the story you are telling, you’ve lost it. For me, every story has a point but I am not going to tell you that “oh corruption is bad”. I am more interested in an investigative divide. If you don’t investigate that divide, it comes out clumsy. Yes what we do is bad but we do it. I will give you an example with stories that just reads “it’s bad, you don’t have to do it” but if you keep saying that and every one watching or making the film does it, what is the point?

I am only interested in opening the discourse, for instance, is bribing part of our national psyche? If it is, how do we get past it? So I’m interested in telling stories that generates conversations as opposed to stories that preach them in messages.

You are almost the important things in film making...?

No, no. I am not.

You are a script writer, a director and film producer; what else is remaining?

I write, direct and produce. I am not a cinematographer or visual effect artist etc.

But apart from acting, writing the script, directing and producing is for me the most important aspect of film making, do you have a different opinion and how come you are all these things?

Essentially in television you can put them in one title the “show runner”. It’s a skill set and I have the skill set of a show runner. I write, I direct and I produce but I’m not alone in this industry. In fact the way the industry is, you have to be able to do multiple jobs. There are lots of people who are my contemporaries and I also respect in the game. One thing I want you to note is that I don’t make films. I’m in television. I’ve never made a feature film. I used to say I won’t but I have never tried my hands on films. I’m just a TV guy.

Is it because you don’t have what it takes to compete or make and write scripts for films because you know there is limited time and space for expression?

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Friday, April 29, 2016

Art Man

me joy —Victor Sanchez

21

It takes a village to

make a film but for some reasons

I don’t know,

people like competition.

Collaboration is rare, everybody wants to compete.

One of my

mentors told me that when a candle lights another candle, the

first candle mustn’t go out.

I don’t believe in competitions. I don’t compete. I believe competition is a limitation. Competition is being choosy, wake up and choose what somebody else is doing. Each of us has a lane so why would you compete. Well, my answer is no, there is a difference between television and film but some people say they are the same thing. They are not. Television interests me more. Film set entails telling stories in 2 hours. I like long story telling, I love my audience to take their time and I like to drop a story on Friday and you discuss it through Saturday and Sunday and then we pick it up on Monday. Television requires a skill set which I respect and only now beginning to develop.

TV requires serial story telling that is devoid in films. I am a serial story teller.

Are you saying categorically that you don’t have what it takes to make a film?

No it’s not. I chose not to.

When you are talking about a serial story teller, it comes with a lot of skill in creating suspense, is that one of your set skill?

I guess. It is the nature of the business. It is a prerequisite.

You need to create something that will make the audience keep coming back. Writing stories for TV is one of the happiest things I do and writing in a creative writers’ room is one of my best moments because we are just a bunch of people who

On the set of his TV show write stories to make a living.

Do you think about your audience when you write your stories?

There’s no way you will write a story without thinking about the audience because you are telling the story to the audience. I mean the whole point of storytelling is to deliver the experience to the audience. So the entire time you are deciding what to do, you will be like “what point do I want to get across, what point will I want to argue about etc. The job is essentially to direct, direct the camera man, actors and of course the audience.

Is it true that what drives you is your phobia for poverty?

Yes, what used to drive me was my phobia for poverty if you ask me two years ago. I think it is still there at an intrinsic level deep down there. In fact now I am largely insulted for saying I don’t like working for money. It just simply means I am not working on the project because of money. It is not how much you pay me but my interest in a project. I am no longer probably driven by my phobia for poverty. I’m now driven by a need to turn on my TV and see a whole lot of shows. People are either running from something or towards something, at this point I am running towards something.

have worked on numerous big projects, like it’s over 5 years of directing on Tinsel. I am working currently on Hush, a Tele Novella showing on Africa Magic every Monday and it has drained me. I also consult for them in terms of creative and script writing and I am also the head of the school of writers for Hush. I am equally the head of the directing crew.

What is your greatest challenge in the TV industry?

Everybody is a CEO, you don’t get people coming together to collaborate because they want sole credit to the film. It takes a village to make a film but for some reasons I don’t know, people like competition. Collaboration is rare, everybody wants to compete. One of my mentors told me that when a candle lights another candle, the first candle mustn’t go out. Nobody is blocking anybody especially in this industry that is so superficial.

What is your advice for upcoming artiste who may be expecting a yet to come breakthrough?

Make stuffs and stop talking about making stuffs. There are just too many people talking about works. A lot of people talk and don’t do. And even then, do, learn, then talk. You don’t need permissions to make stuffs. The tools are there. These days, people are shooting even with their phones. So just keep makings stuffs.

You dropped out of school, do you think it’s advisable for anyone to drop out of school in pursuit of a career or dream?

This is quite controversial for me. But yes, if you are in the wrong course of study for the wrong reasons. Then you are wasting your time. You drop out of school and reapply for the right course and contribute something meaningful to your life. But again, you must be generally objective. I dropped out of school because school was boring. There is no school that offers script writing as a course so what’s the point. There is no school that offers close to what I wanted to do as a scriptwriter and a writer is what you are if you are one. Formal training is just a format and I am a huge fan of self-taught. I’m a fan of doing it anyway you can.

Victor Sanchez Aghahowa

Let’s talk about some of your works like Letters to a Stranger, Hush, James Town, Hotel Majestic, Tinsel, Why she left my Brother, and Retreat. Which one is your best?

Not all of them are my children. Some of them I worked on, and others Icreated them. Every show I do is an experience that needs to be applied to the next one. If I have to pick any of them, I will pick my web series Why she Left my Brother.

It was the first time I did something big and interesting. I

Victor-Sanchez-Aghahowa

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Friday, April 29, 2016

Art Man

me joy —Victor Sanchez

21

It takes a village to

make a film but for some reasons

I don’t know,

people like competition.

Collaboration is rare, everybody wants to compete.

One of my

mentors told me that when a candle lights another candle, the

first candle mustn’t go out.

I don’t believe in competitions. I don’t compete. I believe competition is a limitation. Competition is being choosy, wake up and choose what somebody else is doing. Each of us has a lane so why would you compete. Well, my answer is no, there is a difference between television and film but some people say they are the same thing. They are not. Television interests me more. Film set entails telling stories in 2 hours. I like long story telling, I love my audience to take their time and I like to drop a story on Friday and you discuss it through Saturday and Sunday and then we pick it up on Monday. Television requires a skill set which I respect and only now beginning to develop.

TV requires serial story telling that is devoid in films. I am a serial story teller.

Are you saying categorically that you don’t have what it takes to make a film?

No it’s not. I chose not to.

When you are talking about a serial story teller, it comes with a lot of skill in creating suspense, is that one of your set skill?

I guess. It is the nature of the business. It is a prerequisite.

You need to create something that will make the audience keep coming back. Writing stories for TV is one of the happiest things I do and writing in a creative writers’ room is one of my best moments because we are just a bunch of people who

On the set of his TV show write stories to make a living.

Do you think about your audience when you write your stories?

There’s no way you will write a story without thinking about the audience because you are telling the story to the audience. I mean the whole point of storytelling is to deliver the experience to the audience. So the entire time you are deciding what to do, you will be like “what point do I want to get across, what point will I want to argue about etc. The job is essentially to direct, direct the camera man, actors and of course the audience.

Is it true that what drives you is your phobia for poverty?

Yes, what used to drive me was my phobia for poverty if you ask me two years ago. I think it is still there at an intrinsic level deep down there. In fact now I am largely insulted for saying I don’t like working for money. It just simply means I am not working on the project because of money. It is not how much you pay me but my interest in a project. I am no longer probably driven by my phobia for poverty. I’m now driven by a need to turn on my TV and see a whole lot of shows. People are either running from something or towards something, at this point I am running towards something.

have worked on numerous big projects, like it’s over 5 years of directing on Tinsel. I am working currently on Hush, a Tele Novella showing on Africa Magic every Monday and it has drained me. I also consult for them in terms of creative and script writing and I am also the head of the school of writers for Hush. I am equally the head of the directing crew.

What is your greatest challenge in the TV industry?

Everybody is a CEO, you don’t get people coming together to collaborate because they want sole credit to the film. It takes a village to make a film but for some reasons I don’t know, people like competition. Collaboration is rare, everybody wants to compete. One of my mentors told me that when a candle lights another candle, the first candle mustn’t go out. Nobody is blocking anybody especially in this industry that is so superficial.

What is your advice for upcoming artiste who may be expecting a yet to come breakthrough?

Make stuffs and stop talking about making stuffs. There are just too many people talking about works. A lot of people talk and don’t do. And even then, do, learn, then talk. You don’t need permissions to make stuffs. The tools are there. These days, people are shooting even with their phones. So just keep makings stuffs.

You dropped out of school, do you think it’s advisable for anyone to drop out of school in pursuit of a career or dream?

This is quite controversial for me. But yes, if you are in the wrong course of study for the wrong reasons. Then you are wasting your time. You drop out of school and reapply for the right course and contribute something meaningful to your life. But again, you must be generally objective. I dropped out of school because school was boring. There is no school that offers script writing as a course so what’s the point. There is no school that offers close to what I wanted to do as a scriptwriter and a writer is what you are if you are one. Formal training is just a format and I am a huge fan of self-taught. I’m a fan of doing it anyway you can.

Victor Sanchez Aghahowa

Let’s talk about some of your works like Letters to a Stranger, Hush, James Town, Hotel Majestic, Tinsel, Why she left my Brother, and Retreat. Which one is your best?

Not all of them are my children. Some of them I worked on, and others Icreated them. Every show I do is an experience that needs to be applied to the next one. If I have to pick any of them, I will pick my web series Why she Left my Brother.

It was the first time I did something big and interesting. I

Victor-Sanchez-Aghahowa

FILM

22

Critics

Friday, April 29, 2016

Dark side of Rukky Sanda

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

It is appalling when people fail to identify their forte. This is the case in Dark, a movie by Rukky Sanda.

Amara Iwuala

T

MUSIC

racy (Rukky Sanda) becomes bitter, following the death of her daughter and metes out her frustration on the world around her.

The movie is dull and uninteresting due to the fact that very little critical thinking went into the development of the screenplay. There is no school in the league of the Lekki City International College that will allow a small child to be out of the school gate alone. The question is: Was he sent away each day after school or did he choose to be there? Even if he chooses to be there, the school authorities will not allow that. A member of staff, the watchman inclusive, must have seen him and taken appropriate action before that fateful day. More importantly, it beats anyone’s imagination how a young boy who is less than seven is enrolled in a college!

The security man says it was Delphine (Monalisa Chinda) that picked her son; really? Do Chinda and Sanda share any form of resemblance or was that the watchman’s first day at work? How won’t he remark a parent notorious for being the last person to pick her son on a daily basis? Tracy’s body language glaringly shows she knows about Carl’s disappearance, so there was no suspense in the story contrary to the belief of the producers that the viewers are in for some surprise. Else, how can someone ask what the problem is when that person is supposed to be in the dark, regarding a certain development?

The 82-minute films is built on an unreasonable premise because if the demands of one’s job makes it impossible to do school run, there is nothing wrong in seeking appropriate support. The same goes for the subplot of a woman who becomes paranoid and embittered, following her daughter’s death. The inter-relationships fail to gel, no thanks to a watery story/screenplay. However, if more attention had been paid to the development of the story, the producers may have ended up with the fabulous account of a woman who became mentally unstable after the death of her only child, leading her into serial murder.

The portrayal of the security man as a fence-climbing retard is infu-

riating because the fact that people are poorly educated or even illiterate does not necessarily tamper with their commonsense.

Does the security man not know that missing persons are reported to the police for investigation? Worse still, he consents to wine and dine in the same house, unafraid that what happened to Akpan could befall him as well.

There are innumerable errors in Dark, which make

Frank Edwards’ ‘Frankincense’

Gospel artiste, Frank Edwards, has a new album, Frankincense; Here is what makes it tick?

Ugochukwu Favour-Mayor

F

Dark (Film)

rankincense is a white resin or gum. It is obtained from a tree by making incisions in the bark and allowing the gum to flow out. It is highly fragrant when burned and was therefore used in worship, where it was burned as a pleasant offering to God. Frankincense is a symbol of holiness and righteousness. The gift of frankincense to the Christ child was symbolic of His willingness to become a sacrifice, wholly giving Himself up, analogous to a burnt offering.

Now we can see how meaningful was this gift of frankin¬cense to the little child in Bethlehem. Not only is He destined to be the great King, but also our eternal High Priest. The incense confesses that He alone can convey our prayers, and indeed our very souls to God. And truly, He alone can.

Presently here on earth, Frankincense is diversified. We have a different meaning and will to it from Frank Edwards’ point of view.

One of the Africa’s most celebrated Gospel recording artiste, Frank Edwards just made a release of his new album – “Frankincense”.

This album explores the artiste’s creativity in various genres such as; Reggae, Ballad, Afroballad and other collection of praise and worship songs.

Before the release of this talent-filled album, popular Gospel musician, writer and performer, Mark-T had called my attention to Frank’s three minutes and few seconds

it a half-baked flick. The inspector’s skills are poor; he does not even know how to monitor a suspect without drawing attention to himself and raising suspicion.

How can Tracy’s story be told from Delphine’s point-of view?

In film, the suspension of disbelief comes with the application of sound logic by film-makers, an element that is conspicuously lacking in Dark. If there is anything that Sanda can do, screenwriting is definitely not one of them.

This album explores the

artiste’s creativity in various genres video, where he captivated the heart of every listener/viewer, as he journeys us into his musical world, instruments played and his motivation as a Gospel artiste, with a difference.

Emotionally, he shared that his “Frankincense” is more than an album, as he added, “it’s an offering to God, it’s an offering to God.” And surely, it ended up being an offering to the Master of all universes, the talent giver. On realizing God’s role in the massiveness and success of his career, Frank Edwards felt it was time to package a basket of appreciation to Him. Take a look at the ratings. He is realistically one of the best gospel acts coming out of Africa as a continent. He is a Nigerian,

but as a brand, he belongs to Africans. As the saying goes, “thank the giver, he will give you more.” The best of Frank is yet to be heard. His latest EP with music wizardry, Don Moen is yet to hit the world’s centerstage; and you and I are yet to feel the news of such elevation coming to the world.

Looking at how Frank started, and to the record his career had recorded, I see grace unspeakable. From Omemma to ‘Nye Ya Ekele’, I see glory. Yet, he is counting. Anything he touches ends up being gold. Take a look at the very hot single, Chukwu Obioma where Mark-T featured him, you will observe a rendition of hope and deliverance. *Ugochukwu Favour-Mayor writes through his twitter handle @Ugochuk

Friday, April 29, 2016

22 Rajab, 1437A.H

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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Call to Worship

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

RELATED BY BUKHARI AND MUSLIM

Be partakers of Ramadan blessings

M

ay Allah SWT lengthen our lives, increase us in Iman, Taqwa, Rizq and good health to be among those that will witness another set of 30-days full of Rahma, with a night equivalent to 83 years of worship.

As usual, your darling National Mirror Newspaper will be on ground to dish out daily spiritual diets to our teeming darling readers.

May we be among the partakers of the glorious month, Aamin.

For advertisements and corporate sponsorships, contact: 0805 510 2994 or email: sakinah207@yahoo.com.

Let the information keep flowing to all daddies, mummies, brothers and sisters in Islam. May Allah (SWT) reward you abundantly as you create this needed awareness, Aamin!

LEMU holds Imams’ Conference

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For our young minds!

•Our beloved Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sal’lam went on a miraculous night journey to Masjid al-Aqsa and to the Heavens.

What is this journey called?

•What is the name of the horse-like animal which he rode on this blessed journey?

•When he reached Masjid-al-Aqsa who did he lead in prayers there?

•What gift did he bring back from Allah from the miraculous night journey to the heavens?

How many are the fundamental principles of Islam?

•What is the first fundamental principle of Islam?

•What is the second fundamental

(16:90) Surely Allah enjoins justice, kindness and the doing of good to kith and kin, and forbids all that is shameful, evil and oppressive. He exhorts you so that you may be mindful.

We cannot remain docile 24

Stop blaming Buhari –TMC’s Amir

26

principle of Islam?

•What is the third fundamental principle of Islam?

•What is the fourth fundamental principle of Islam?

•What is the fifth fundamental principle of Islam?

•What is prayer?

•How many times a day do we need to perform obligatory prayers?

•What is Adhan?

•Can you tell the name of First Muezzin of Islam?

•In which language Adhan is recited?

•Can somebody recite Adhan in any other langugage?

•What is WUDU (ablution)?

•Do you require WUDU before offering your prayer?

•Do you need water for performing WUDU? •If the water is not available then how to cleanse the body to prepare for prayers?

•What should we recite when starting a good deed?

he maiden edition of Lekki Muslim Ummah, LEMU’s annual Imams Conference will be held on May 2nd, 2016.

According to LEMU’s President, Dr. Waliu Braimo, all the Imams in EtiOsa, Lagos Island and Lagos Mainland have been invited to the event. “In all, over one hundred and fifty Imams and Islamic preachers are expected to attend the one-day capacity-building conference which will be held at the Admiral Jubrila Ayinla Multipurpose Hall in the Lekki Central Mosque Complex, at the above stated address, between 9a.m. and 5p.m.”

The main objective of the conference is to provide an opportunity for our Imams and scholars to rub minds together, exchange notes and chart the way forward for Islam in Lagos State, nay Nigeria. The conference was instituted as part of our efforts to enhance the capacity of Imams and other Muslim preachers in Lagos State, with a view to reforming our society.

The theme of the conference is “Sound Imam, Sound Jamaah” believing that if our religious leaders are sound, the society will be sound as religious leaders have a great role to play in arresting the growing decay in our society, hence the need for them to constantly review and renew their knowledge and Da’wah methodology.

The Executive Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode who has been invited as the Special Guest of Honour, will declare the conference open at 9.30 a.m., while the Commissioner for Home Affairs, Honourable AbdulHakeem AbduLateef, who is the Guest of Honour, will deliver a keynote address.

The Chief Imam of Lagos, His Eminence, Shaykh Garuba Akinola, OON will be the Father of The Day at the conference, while the Baba Adini of Lagos, Shaykh AbdulAfeez Abou will also be a Guest of Honour.

The main speakers at the conference include Shaykh Imran Eleha, Dr. AbdulGany AbdulHameed Akorede Agbarigidoma, and Shaykh Abdullahi Shuaib, while other discussants will be Dr. Sirajudeen Bilal Al-Asrau and Shaykh AbdulGany Jumah.

Allah has not made cure for you in what He has prohibited –Sheikh Shafii

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Call to Worship

Friday, April 29, 2016

22 Rajab, 1437A.H

We cannot remain docile

I

f truly our democracy will work, all Nigerian citizens and media professionals especially must really do our job without fear or favour.

Where is actually the change if our lawmakers and other political office holders are still taking crazy money as salary and emoluments at the expense of Nigerian citizens?

Our lawmakers have spent months without much to show for it except controversies. Despite the nation’s economy downturn, they see nothing bad in

milking the nation dry through the purchase of cars they do not really need.

If indeed they each earned between N21 and N25million monthly, then Nigerians are too docile. We must begin a mass movement for a drastic reduction in their salary, make it a part-time or scrap the Senate entirely..

Our lawmakers seem less bothered about the sufferings in the land and it is very laughable the urgency with which they were treating bills concerning

them.

Honestly, as part of our change mantra, lawmakers should be paid based on the number of seating per month. It is indeed very annoying when Senators were saying that buying a SUV Toyota Landcruiser Jeep for over N35m each is no big deal at this critical period.

As citizens of this great country, we have a duty to make things work by ensuring that we do not keep silent and let our politicians feel that it will be business as usual. Those seen to be hold-

Lagos Deputy-Governor, Dr. Idiat Oluranti Adebule, (R) being received by Mrs. Mosunmola Jafojo, during a condolence visit to the residence of late Alhaji Rafiu Jafojo in Ikeja-Lagos.

Healthy Corner with

Dr. Yahaya

Facts to note about recurrent early pregnancy loss (4) Epidemiology of Pregnancy

E

arly pregnancy loss is a common occurrence. Almost all genetically (chromosomal) abnormal pregnancy abort before ten weeks gestation and more than 90% of the pregnancy with normal genetic materials (karyotype) continue.

Miscarriage is thus seen as natural selective process, acting as quality control. Knowing that miscarriage is common, normal and inevitable does not heal emotional wounds left by earlier losses or help the anxiety of the affected couples when planning for subsequent pregnancy. I strongly believe that having accurate mental view is vital and helpful. 12 to 15% of clinically recognised pregnancy (diagnosed by Ultrasound scan) end in miscarriage between four to twenty weeks gestation. True Early Pregnancy loss( clinically recognised and occult early pregnancy losses are

2 to 4 times higher depending on age. Between 30 to 60% of pregnancy abort within 12 weeks gestation, at least half of all losses go without being noticed. Reproductive loss that occurred before first missed menses is enormous.

Most pregnancy loss occurs before 8 weeks and few occur after 12weeks gestation.

The Risks Of Spontaneous Miscarriage And Obstetric History A woman with first pregnancy, or with plan termination of previous pregnancy or with successful last pregnancy has reduced risk of spontaneous miscarriage ( 4 to 6 %) A woman with only or last pregnancy ending in loss has higher risk of miscarriages (19 to 24%).

Meaning that a single loss unless It is followed by successfully subsequent pregnancy increases the risk of another spontaneous

miscarriage. Risks of spontaneous miscarriage is less than 40% after 4 previous losses and not higher than 50% after 6 or more losses. Modestly increased risk is found in women with recurrent miscarriages without previous live born children. Irrespective of bad obstetric history the risk of spontaneous miscarriage increases with age.

Risk of spontaneous miscarriages of 7 to 15% in women less than 30 yrs of age, 8 to 21% risk between 30 and 34yrs, 17 to 28% risk in women between 35yrs and 39 yrs of age, 34 to 52% risk in women of 40 yrs and older. If both occult and clinically recognised pregnancy losses are taken into account, the risk of pregnancy loss in women above 40 yrs of age will approach or exceed 75%.

It must be stressed that Trans vaginal ultrasound scan, when done by well trained clinicians has good prognostic value in observation and monitoring of pregnancy, if all the important parameters are well noted and measured as they appear. The risk of pregnancy loss decreases as the pregnancy duration increases.

Concluded •Dr. G. L. Yahaya is a Reproductive Physician and Medical Director of Continental Specialist Clinic. Phone Number 08075004277, 07081312295.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

THE PLATFORM with

Sekinah Lawal t: 08055102994 e: sakinah207@yahoo.com

If there is truly no police presence in some parts of the

country as of today, then now is time for state police for proper monitoring.

ing us backward and don’t allow us the needed change must be shown the way out through the use of voters’ power of recall.

We’ve been too docile and we cannot develop as a nation if we continue that way.

Rather than for all to condemn the corrupt ones, some will say it is a witch hunt, a retaliation or against opposition. Even if there are other thieves, we must start from somewhere. …On Fulani herdsmen May be we should let state police be. When Nigerians are thanking God for taking control of the senseless BokoHaram insurgence, then it is “Fulani Herdsmen” we are to face. When we were young, herdsmen unlike in the past, the herdsmen were using sticks, machetes with bow arrows and suddenly they now carry sophisticated weapons.

Where are they getting these weapons from, who are those training them for you cannot use AK Riffle without training. Then, we must all think out of box to know that this is more than meets the eyes, that they were

being sponsored by some people.

The incessant attack by “suspected” Fulani herdsmen which has claimed hundreds of life should be seriously dealt with. If there is truly no police presence in some parts of the country as of today, then now is time for state police for proper monitoring.

Scores of persons have been reportedly killed in the Fulani herdsmen invasion of Ukpabi,Nimbo in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State and many other areas without any arrest. For God’s sake, are these suspected herdsmen ghosts? If with a combined team of police and Army, there is no arrest, then, we must be serious with issues of lives by nipping the activities of the notorious Fulani herdsmen in the bud now.

All hands must be on deck with governors too on their part redoubling their efforts in terms of intelligence gathering and also in policing. There should be presence of police in all remote areas with government tracking down those sponsoring the crisis.

A stitch in time saves nine.

In this coming month of Shaban

S

haban is the 8th month in the Islamic calendar and is considered one of the meritorious months for which we find particular instructions in the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad. It is reported that Prophet Muhammad, used to fast most of the month in Shaban except the last few days of the month.

These fasts are supererogatory (nafl). Shaban is the month immediately preceding the month of Ramadan. The Prophet mentioned in a hadith, “Rajab is the month of Allah, Shaban is my month and Ramadan is the month of the Nation”.

1. The blessed companion Usama ibn Zaid , reports that he asked Prophet Muhammad : “Messenger of Allah, I have seen you fasting in the month of Shaban so frequently that I have never seen you fasting in any other month.” Prophet Muhammad , replied: “That (Shaban) is a month between Rajab and Ramadan which is neglected by many people. And it is a month in which an account of the deeds (of human beings) is presented before the Lord of the universe, so, I wish that my deeds be presented at a time when I am in a

state of fasting.”

2. Ummul Mu’mineen ‘Aishah (r), says, “Prophet Muhammad , used to fast for most of Shaban. I said to him, ‘Messenger of Allah, is Shaban your favorite month for fasting?’ He said, ‘In this month Allah prescribes the list of the persons dying this year.

Therefore, I like that my death comes when I am in a state of fasting.’”

These reports indicate that fasting in the month of Shaban, though not obligatory but is very deserving and that Prophet Muhammad did not like to miss it.

The Night of nisf (mid) Shaban Various Islamic scholars have recommended special worshiping during the night of 15th of Shaban. This is based on the saying (Hadith) of prophet Muhammad, the meaning of which is that during the night of 15th of Shaban, Allah will say “is there any person repenting so that I forgive him, and any person seeking provision so that I provide for him, and any person with distress so that I relieve him, and so on until dawn.” reported by Ibn Majah.

This is the night occurring between 14th and 15th day of

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Friday, April 29, 2016

IN HIS LIGHT

with

USTAZ

A. ZAFARAN e-mail: zafabumuneeb@yahoo.com

Beyond Ramadan, be a rabaaniy

I

slaam is unique in its way of molding and remodeling man.

Its structures are firmly rooted. It has ever been the best way of life through which man can understand the true essence of existence and thus live it to achieve its goals. This it does through its five pillars. It makes man know that there is an intelligent brain and might behind this universe. It goes further to teach that there are other worlds beside ours. It makes it clear that Allah (SWT) is the Creator of all that exist. His powers are beyond human estimation.

He is a loving Lord Who wants the best for His servants. For men to be properly guided in understanding how to live a goal-oriented life, He commissions some special envoys known as Messengers to tell them about God and their duties towards Him, to teach moral principles with which every man will relate with his fellow man, to constantly remind them that there is afterlife where every man will account for his service to Allah (SWT) and his relations with fellow men. The last in the chain of this Guide was Prophet Muhammad (SAW).

Islaam sees the first pillar as the greatest concept in life. It is it that defines all relationships. It is it that establishes equality of all men. It liberates man from all oppressions, bondages, materialism and corruption. It makes man constantly remember that he is responsible to God before man; it makes him realize that it is part of his duty to God to treat all men hu-

It makes man constantly remember that he is responsible to God before man; it makes him realize that it is part of his

duty to God to treat all men humanly and nicely.

It makes him law abiding. This does not allow

any man to legislate for other men; all men must follow the laws of God

and this brings peace and proper compliance.

Call to Worship

22 Rajab, 1437A.H

manly and nicely. It makes him law abiding. This does not allow any man to legislate for other men; all men must follow the laws of God and this brings peace and proper compliance.

Springing from that concept is the second pillar; it makes all men subservient to one Lord. They rise and stand before Him in worship.

They establish spiritual and social brotherhood. They demonstrate practical equality where everyone does the same thing at the same time regardless of rank, colour or language. This second pillar teaches humility, time-consciousness, alertness, practical leadership, followership, fellowship, teamwork, etc. Everybody focuses on God and wants to please Him alone. Thereafter, Islaam institutionalizes Zakaat as the third pillar. This is the powerful welfare institution. It makes it obligatory on the rich to spend on the poor and communal projects. It punishes non-conformers. This roots out extreme wealth in few hands; it makes it circulate and bridges the gap between the ranks and files in the society. It alleviates poverty and to a large extent reduces unemployment.

This brings us to our main concern here; that is fasting in the month of Ramadan. Islaam makes it compulsory on all matured Muslims but exempts few due to health or age. This dimension makes our fasting in Islaam unique. In other religions, people decide whether they will fast or not. Bearing in mind the great role of fasting, nobody should be left out from partaking in the fight against our human propensity towards lust and love for this world. This fast aims at creating a disciplined individual, who will even abstain from his lawful food, drink and spouse.

Why then should some people be exempted when a training that has overall benefit for the society. Only Islaam has the credit of universally making all its adherents observe it. In other folds, it is optional.

Beyond this, fasting in Islam is total abstinence and its rules are comprehensively and clearly documented and known by all. In other religions, there are divergent approaches to fasting; some do not only eat flesh, some only drink water, etc. The essence of fast in Islaam is to make a Muslim Rabaaniy, that is, Godly at all times and in all places; and not a Ramadaaniy, one who only becomes conscious of his being a Muslim in Ramadaan and becomes something else after it or returns to his sinful life afterwards. If you are the former, then you must start to live as if you are already in Ramadaan and you must not stop even when it is over.

Salat is it (2)

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here can be difficulty in offering day time Salat due to being at work. God alone is the Provider and Salat should be offered on time. Zuhr and Asr can sometimes be combined.

God knew that people would be weak therefore He gave this flexibility but this flexibility cannot be used in combing three Salat services. (Paraphrased from Malfuzat, Vol. I, p. 6) The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) said that Salat is a special form of supplication but people take it as if it is like a levy charged by the government.

They are foolish and do not realise that God is not in need of man to glorify Him and to declare that there is none worthy of worship save Him. These matters are for man’s own good and advantage. The Promised Messiah expressed sadness that people are not drawn to worship of God and righteousness and love of religion anymore. This is owing to the pernicious effect of cultural rituals which have cooled off love of God. People do not derive the kind of pleasure in worship of God as they should. There is nothing in life in which God has not placed an element of pleasure and delight. Just as an ailing person does not enjoy fine foods and finds them bitter or insipid, people who do not experience delight in worship of God should be concerned about their spiritual ailment. God has created man to worship Him, so how could it be that there would be no element of delight and pleasure in His worship!

Indeed there is pleasure in it if only there were people to delight in this. God has stated: ‘And I have not created the Jinn and the men but that they may worship Me.’.

Since man was created to worship God it was essential that worship of God had delight and pleasure in it. This can be understood very well by everyday experiences.

Food has been created for man and it gives pleasure and delight. And for this man has been given the sense of taste. Likewise, man derives pleasure by watching beauty in nature, animals etc. and by listening to melodious, pleasant sounds. What more could be needed to prove that there is delight in worship of God! God states that He has created man and woman as a couple and has placed delight in their relationship. If procreation was the only objective here, the purpose would not have been fulfilled. God has placed delight for men and women in it. God willed to create human beings and for this He made a connection between man and woman and made it pleasurable, although this became the sole purpose for some fool-

25

Every Friday with

Khalifatul Ahmadiyya Thus one should pray most soulfully to God that just as He has given us the delights and pleasures of foods and other things ish. It should be understood in the same vein that there is no burden and levy in worship of God. It is also pleasurable and delightful and this delight and pleasure is higher than all worldly delights and pleasures. And just as an ailing person is deprived of enjoying fine foods likewise unfortunate is the person who cannot find pleasure in worship of God. (Paraphrased from Malfuzat, Vol. I, pp.

159-160) The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) said people are negligent about Salat because they are not aware of the pleasure and delight that God has placed in it. He said question arises why are people not aware of this and why have they not experienced this delight! He said people are occupied in their tasks when the call for Prayer is made and people do not want to know. There are shopkeepers with shops adjacent to mosques but they do not attend. Thus one should pray most soulfully to God that just as He has given us the delights and pleasures of foods and other things, may He also grant us the delight in His worship. Those who do not offer Salat consider it as a burden which entails getting up in the morning and doing ablutions in the cold, leaving blissful sleep and other comforts. Such people are weary and do not know of the delight and pleasure that is found in Salat. An alcoholic does not give up drinking because he cannot get drunk but goes on drinking till he begins to feel the effect and delight that he desires in liquor. A wise person can learn from this and continue offering Salat until such time that he experiences delight in it. Just as an alcohol drinker seeks to find delight in alcohol and it is his objective, similarly one should be inclined with complete focus to attain delight in Salat. And then supplicate with resolve and earnestness in the manner of the anxiety and anguish of the drinker to attain the delight.

To be continued

IWF holds roundtable on Shari’ah

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he Islamic Welfare Foundation (IWF) will on May 1st, hold a Roundtable on the theme “Sha-

riah in the Multi-Door Courthouse in Nigeria”.

In a statement by Prof. Wahab Egbewole, IWF Coordinator said the objective was to seek means to further entrench the Shariah in Nigeria’s legal and judicial system and give more Muslims greater access to the Shariah. The event will hold at the Auditorium of Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Victoria Is-

land, Lagos.

Papers to be presented include; “ The Concept of Multi-Door Courthouse in Islamic Jurisprudence’’ by Dr Nurain Taiwo Hassan Dindi, and “Integrating Sharia in the Contemporary Multi-Door Courthouse System in Nigeria by Hon Justice Sulaiman Akanbi of High Court of Justice, Ilorin. The third paper will be delivered

by Dr Muiz Banire, (SAN) on “Implementation of Shariah in Multi-Door Courthouse in Nigeria’s South-East and South-South Geo-Political Zones.

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Call to Worship

Friday, April 29, 2016

22 Rajab, 1437A.H

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Stop blaming Buhari –TMC’s Amir

H

ow will you rate people’s expectation of the current administration?

People thought that it is very easy for change to come.

The masses, and to a large extent the enlightened elites, perceived change to be as easy as switching on a bulb or lighting a match stick by striking it on the match box. Change is a phenomenon which requires sacrifices, sustained value reorientation, lots of patience, determination to build strong institutions and, of course, fervent prayers to the Almighty!

Some people are beginning to call the government a failure. But nobody should be blamed since we are on a learning curve. The time has come for us as a people with great optimism to know that change is nothing more than strategic planning which also requires systematic implementation. What the people were thinking was that change is something that government officials put in place without any hassle. They have forgotten that the people constitute a critical element in governance without which success will be a mirage.

Government needs to do a lot of work in ensuring that the change process is successfully managed and communicated. This change needs to have distinct phases, indicators and deadlines. The pertinent questions during phase implementation of the change agenda are: What is the direction of government’s policies?

Where is the future? When are we getting there? What do we get while we wait for the big picture? Where are the lowhanging fruits and how can we get them?

Any mistake by this government?

The biggest failure of the government in the change process is lack of prompt communication on the state of affairs. The government needs to let the people know the present state of things. What is the situation of things at the moment? Why are things not working well for now? What is the extent of the rot in the system? In what state is our economic structures/institutions, behaviours, technologies, political structure and cultural/ value system which all combine to define who we are?

The government needs to enlighten the people that the present woes are temporary and surmountable. This is because complicated problems do not necessarily subject themselves

Amir of The Muslim Congress and chairman, TMC’s Committee on Social Mobility, the Economy & Politics Committee, Dr. Luqman AbdurRaheem speaks on the state of the nation in this interview with SEKINAH LAWAL. Excerpts;

Dr. AbdurRaheem

to easy solutions. The government must realise that people are emotionally charged on account of daily miseries caused by rising exchange rate, inflation, fuel scarcity and failed power supply. The emotions could range from despair to anxiety, and from anger to fear.

It is the duty of the government to properly manage these emotions so that the change process is not unduly more problematic. The people have to know that declining productivity is a predictable hallmark of the transition period because of the necessary tinkering with policies that must take place. The government must painstakingly point out that this period requires that the people accept new perspectives and learn new ways of thinking and behaving while still keeping up with our dayto-day efforts in improving the

society. There must be assurance that the future will not be more worrisome than the present and that the change will match our personal desires and preferences.

Change, the government must understand, has to be properly communicated and painstakingly explained every step of the way. It is when people understand what is being done, why they are being done and what is required of them, that they can be expected to commit themselves to the process. And this is where the big problem lies.

Given the resources at the disposal of government in terms of its reach in disseminating information to the people in every nook and cranny of the nation, it is indeed amazing that the government’s communication is poor and ineffective. Spokespersons

relevant government agencies need to collaborate

with the religious communities in getting its policies across to the people.

have become reactionary in their approach rather than being proactive in dealing with the public. With television and radio networks, the National Orientation Agency, and many other agencies of government, the people are still far from being sufficiently informed about what the government is doing.

Where are the innovative cartoon messages that the APC used during the electioneering process? Why can’t the APC deploy the same innovative communications strategies that it used while campaigning even now that the government has better resources to achieve same? When people of means and enlightenment are finding it difficult to know and understand what government is saying, what then happens to the mass of the people who do not have access to sophisticated means of communication? The need to spend money in communicating with the people and getting the right people who can do the job cannot be over-emphasized. A stitch in time, they say, saves nine.

What can religious bodies, civil society groups do?

It is very important that this administration gets every support it can from all and sundry. The relevant government agencies need to collaborate with the religious communities in getting its policies across to the people. Religious bodies can help build trust, social networks and social health that will in turn encourage economic and social opportunities for our communities.

Mosque and church can help government increase economic growth and improve government performance. The power of prayer is a potent force that cannot be underrated in re-directing our society towards the path of rectitude and growth.

The Civil Society Organisations have a lot of work to do in holding government to account for their commitments and encouraging the government in insisting that its activities will no longer be treated as “business as usual.”

Why early budget passage and assent?

It is indeed unfortunate that the passage into law of the 2016 Budget was unnecessarily delayed due to avoidable errors. The president has done the right thing by withholding his assent since he needs

to scrutinize the entire budget to be sure that it is a document that he can use to actualise his promises to the teeming masses that voted him into power.

The danger for the president in not seeing the details of the budget before assenting to it is that whatever he finds thereafter must be executed to the details since it is an impeachable offence in our statutes for the president to spend money contrary to the provisions of the budget as appropriated.

Having gone through this tortuous journey, time is now of essence to ensure that the budget is speedily scrutinized and assented to so that the improvement we all desire in the economy can begin to take place. The lesson to be learnt moving forward is that preparations should begin in earnest to present the 2017 budget at the end of October this year so that within November and December we have a budget that has already being passed and assented to. Government should know that the mistakes of today will never again be tenable tomorrow.

We do need to drum up the fact that the buck stops at the president’s table. Therefore, effective institutional framework would have to be developed in order to bring about the required changes that we need.

Of electricity supply, petrol supply, security and economy?

Probably the four most important indices at the moment by which this administration is constantly being judged are electricity supply, petrol supply, security provision and the economy. This is because these are four critical areas that immediately affect the overall well-being of the populace and without which a meaningful life is not possible.

The Ministry of Power, Housing and Works would have to do so much more to ensure uninterrupted gas supply to power stations by fixing the security gap in the electricity supply chain. Security needs to be beefed up around electricity infrastructure, especially the gas pipelines, which are being destroyed by conscienceless and unpatriotic Nigerians.

There are also labour issues that have to be resolved in order that the desire to light up Nigeria will materialize. The transmission arm of the electricity supply chain also has to be strengthened since it is being touted that the transmission lines cannot accommoCONTINUED ON PAGE 27>>

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Friday, April 29, 2016

Call to Worship

22 Rajab, 1437A.H

Allah has not made cure for you in what He has prohibited –Sheikh Shafii

Sheikh Dhikrullah Shafii speaks on major sins, prohibition of alcohol and other intoxicants; excerpts:

O

you who have believed, indeed, intoxicants, gambling, [sacrificing on] stone alters [to other than Allah], and divining arrows are but defilement from the work of Satan, so avoid it that you may be successful. Satan only wants to cause between you animosity and hatred through intoxicants and gambling and to avert you from the remembrance of Allah and from prayer.

So will you not desist?

Muslims must fear Allah in accordance with the verse: O you who have believed, fear Allah and speak words of appropriate justice. He will [then] amend for you your deeds and forgive you your sins.

And whoever obeys Allah and His Messenger has certainly attained a great attainment. (4: 131).

On the sixth major sin, which is drinking alcohol?

Allah, Most High says, {O ye who believe! Intoxicants and gambling, sacrificing to stones and (divination by) arrows, is an abomination, of Satan’s handiwork: Eschew such (abomination) that ye may prosper. Satan’s plan is (but) to excite enmity and hatred between you, with intoxicants and gambling, and hinder you from the remembrance of Allah, and from Prayer: will ye not then abstain?} (Al-Ma’idah: 90-91) Thus, Allah the Exalted forbids wine and warns us of approaching it. The Prophet (pbuh) said, “Avoid wine, it is the mother of abomination. Therefore, if anyone does not avoid it, he then disobeys Allah and His Messenger and thus entails punishment. Allah the Almighty says, {But those who disobey Allah and His Messenger and transgress His limits will be admitted to a fire, to abide therein: and they shall have a humiliating punishment.} (An-Nisa’i: 14) Ibn ‘Abbas related that, “When the wine was forbidden, the companions (of the Prophet) met each other and said, The wine was forbidden and became equal to polytheism (Shirk).” (AIHakim in AI-Mustadrak and it is an authentic hadith) ‘Abdullah Ibn ‘Amr held

Sheikh Shafii

that, “Wine is the worst of the major sins. (AI-Hakim in AI-Mustadrak and it is an authentic hadith) Undoubtedly, wine is the core of abominations.

Moreover, he who drinks it was cursed in various hadiths.

“Every intoxicant is wine and every wine is unlawful. Whoever drinks it in the world and dies addictive to it without repentance, he will not drink it in the Hereafter.” (Muslim) “He who shows disrespect to his parents and the drunkard will not enter Paradise.

“Three people, Allah will deprive them of Paradise; the drunkard, the one who shows disrespect to parents and the pimp who admits what his family do of abomination.

Further, Allah does not accept the good deeds of a drunkard. Jabir Ibn ‘ Abdullah relates that the Prophet (pbuh) said, “There are Three people from whom Allah does not

accept their Prayer nor do their good deeds rise up to heaven: the fleeing slave until he returns to his masters and surrender to them, the woman who annoys her husband until he is pleased with her, and the drunkard until he becomes conscious.

“Whoever drinks wine Allah never accepts what he does: Whoever is intoxicated by drinking it will not have his Prayers accepted for forty morning (days).

If he repents but drinks again, Allah will make him drink from the molten brass of the Hell-fire.

“Whoever drinks wine without being intoxicated, Allah rejects him for forty nights. If he dies during this period, he dies as an idol worshiper.

It is said, do you think that the drunkard is the one who drinks it constantly? He answered, “But he drinks it whenever he finds it even after years.

(Ai-Harth mantioned it in AI-Matalb AI-’alih)

The scent of Paradise is smelt five hundred years away but is not sensed by whomever shows disrespect to his parents, he who reminds of his charity to them, a drunkard or an idol worshiper.

Whoever drinks wine is not considered a believer at the time of drinking.

Abu Hurayrah related that the Prophet (pbuh) said, “A thief is not a believer at the time of committing a theft. A fornicator is not a believer at the time of committing fornication, and a drunkard also is not a believer at the time of drinking as long as they have the opportunity to repent “The scent of Paradise is smelt five hundred years away but is not sensed by whomever shows disrespect to his parents, he who reminds of his charity to them, a drunkard or an idol worshiper.”

Imam Ahmad reported on the authority of Abu Musa Al-Ash’ari that the Prophet said, “A drunkard, a believer in sorcery or he who severs his family ties will not enter Paradise.

Wine is forbidden as a medicine.

Umm Salamah (may Allah be pleased with her) related, “Once, one of my daughters was ill, so I made wine in a container for her.

Then, the Prophet entered while it was boiling. He asked, “What is this, Umm Salamah?” She replied, “It is just a medicine for my daughter.” The Prophet, then, said, “Allah has not made a cure for you in what He has prohibited to you.”

27

Stop blaming Buhari –TMC’s Amir CONTINUED FROM PAGE 26

date more than 5,000MW of electricity. Once these are done, we are likely to enjoy better electricity supply. At the moment, the electricity supply is poor.

The courage and tenacity with which the government has implemented the Treasury Single Account (TSA) for most of government MDAs has greatly reduced the issue of corruption and non-remittance of funds to the appropriate quarters.

We commend the government for charting a new direction for the economy.

On gathering momentum of anti-corruption war?

The trial of the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, has become the litmus test for the efficacy or otherwise of the anti-corruption war of this administration.

It is good that the case has entered the trial phase after the ruling of the Supreme Court that the CCT has the jurisdiction to hear the case. It is only the court that can pronounce him guilty or vindicate him.

This is perhaps the only anti-graft case that has entered the trial phase months after the swearing-in of this administration that has anti-corruption war as one of its key agenda. What is important in all of these is for every accused person to have his or her day in court irrespective of affluence, ethnic background, religious affiliation or political leaning.

The country must aspire to a situation where everyone is equal before the law and that the law would always take its course no matter how long an accused person tries to evade justice. All well-meaning Nigerians have the responsibility to continue to support and encourage the government in its fight against corruption.

On Hijab palaver?

The discrimination against Muslim girls and women wearing Hijab seems to be an issue that we will have to con-

tinuously contend with until the court makes a clear pronouncement on the matter in line with the provisions of the Nigerian constitution.

We call on the Joint Admissions and Matriculations Board (JAMB) to call its agents at some of the centres that administer the CBT to order.

It will not be enough for JAMB authorities to say that it did not give any order restraining Hijabwearing students from sitting for the CBT. It must go a step further by openly condemning this unwarranted assault on Muslim students, and to order them never to repeat this unwholesome attitude. JAMB must ensure that it gives strict guidelines to its agents regarding the conduct of the CBT and also publish same in newspapers before the next CBT. This will allow Nigerians to know those who harbour malice against Muslim students so that we can use the long arm of the law to deal with them.

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) must know that the constitution which guarantees the religious freedom of Muslim women is superior to the rules and guidelines of the accounting body. It is therefore surprising that the ICAN requests candidates for its exams to submit passport photographs that show the ears uncovered. This is a condition that cannot be met by Hijab-wearing Muslim women because the ears cannot be uncovered. We urge ICAN to review this particular guideline and to allow Hijab-wearing women use photographs that show the full face without exposing the ears. It must be noted that ICAN being a prestigious national body must make rules and guidelines that conform with the diversity of the citizens of a multi-religious and multi-cultural society that Nigeria is. We are indeed certain that this anomaly will be corrected without further delay.

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Call to Worship

Friday, April 29, 2016

22 Rajab, 1437A.H

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

AMC condemns terrorism … holds centenary conference in December

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ational Director of Public Affairs for the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, AMC, United States of America (USA), and lawyer, Amjad Mahmood Khan, has condemned the activities of terrorists groups across the world, using the name of Islam to perpetrate their acts.

Addressing guests at UC Irvine, in the United States of America, as part of its nationwide True Islam campaign, Khan said extremist groups such as the Islamic State, have distorted the true teachings of Islam to further their agenda.

“Prophet Muhammad has specifically said, ‘Do not strike terror in the hearts of people,’” Khan said.

“And that is exactly what ISIS is doing, contrary to his teachings.”

AMC launched its True Islam campaign days after the attack in San Bernardino in which 14 people were killed and 22 seriously injured.

The event was part of the group’s effort to bring that campaign to Orange County, especially to college campuses. The group already has an information booth every Saturday at Cypress College, where it hands out similar information, and plans to hold more events in Orange County in the coming months.

Khan also focused his talk on the Prophet his life and teachings. He said Muhammad “was strongly in favour of a pluralistic society, He sought peace among non-Muslims.

He had a special place in his heart for the poor and the marginalized.

He wanted equality for women.”

Khan referenced two historic documents, which he said clarified Muhammad’s intent to uphold the ideals of peace and tolerance. One was the Charter of Medina, a constitution, drafted by Muhammad, which formed the basis of a multireligious Islamic state in the city of Medina.

The second document was a letter written and sent by Mu-

hammad to the monks of St. Catherine’s Monastery offering Christians his respect and protection. A reproduction of the letter is still displayed at the monastery at the foot of Mount Sinai in Egypt, Khan said.

Why, then, do extremist groups such as ISIS quote passages from the Quran encouraging the killing of non-Muslims? Khan said the passage from the Quran ISIS and other extremist groups print on fliers and distribute for recruitment purposes is taken out of context.

“They deliberately leave out the passages that come before and after, which clearly and emphatically state that war is an option only when your ability to practice your faith is under attack,” he said.

“True jihad, or holy war, is not waged by the sword.”

After the talk, Orange Coast College students reacted. Nicole Rost said she learned a lot about the history of Islam and about Muhammad. “I did not know that he emphasized so much on respecting all religions,” she said. “I was surprised to hear that.”

Rachelle Reiff, a Sophomore at UC Irvine, said she was particularly intrigued that Muhammad wrote a letter to the monks of St. Catherine’s Monastery and his respect for Christians.“As a Catholic, I was really impressed by that fact,” she said. “I do believe that Islam is a peaceful religion. Now, I feel like I have more facts when I talk to people who don’t.”

Meanwhile, the National Executive Committee of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat Nigeria will hold its annual conference in Ilaro, Southwest Nigeria in December 16th to 18th.

Rising from its executive meeting at the weekend, the Amir, Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat Nigeria, Dr. Mashuud Adenrele Fasola said this event will be the climax of the 100 years celebration of the Islamic organisation in Nigeria

Support anti-corruption war –MUSWEN

T

he Muslim Ummah Of Southwest Nigeria, MUSWEN, has called on Nigerians to give the needed support to the ongoing fight against corruption by the Buhariled administration.

This advice was contained in a communique issued at the end of the second general assembly of MUSWEN and signed by Prof. Daud Noibi and Alhaji S.O Babalola, which took place at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan under the Chairmanship of MUS-

WEN’s President, Alhaji Sakariyau Olayiwola Babalola.

MUSWEN urged all Nigerians, irrespective of their ethnic and religious backgrounds, to rally round the present government in solving the multifarious problems in the country.

It was also resolved that MUSWEN’s Zakat Committee should be strengthened so as to assist more indigent Muslims and solve some social-economic problems confronting the Muslims.

L-R: Missionary-in-Charge of Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at Nigeria, Maulvi AbdulKhalique Nayyar; Olubadan of Ibadan Land, Oba Saliu Akanmu Adetunji and Amir of Ahmadiyya Nigeria, Dr. Masshud Aderenle Fashola, during a courtesy visit to Olubadan in Ibadan, Oyo State.

L-R: Circuit President of Oluyole OnaAra Ibadan, Alhaji Abdul Ganiyyi Adeyemi; Oyo State Circuit President, Alhaji Bayewunmi; General Secretary, Alhaji Abbas Iromini and Naib Amir, Special Duties, Engr. Ahmed Al-hassan, during the visit.

L-R: National Secretary, Tabliq of Majlis of Ansarullah Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at Nigeria, Alhaji Abdul Fatah Apoyin; National Secretary, Taribiya, Alhaji Abdul Ganiyyi Ahmad; a staunch member of Ibadan Jama’at, Alhaji Ibrahim Atiba and Alhaji Abdul Wasiyi Ahmad, during the visit.

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Zakat Is 2.5% Of Your Total Wealth, Known As Nisab. After Having Fulfilled All obligations, pay your zakat

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Arty News

Friday, April 29, 2016

29

Calabar Carnival Richard Ndoma

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he Cross River Carnival Commission in an interactive forum with the executive members of the Cross River state council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists solicited for stronger ties with journalists in the state.

Speaking at the courtesy visit, Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer CEO of the commission Mr. Austine Cobham, emphasised on the importance of communication in showcasing the carnival and the tourism potential of the state.

“We came to seek synergy; we come to

C’River CarnivalCommission pledges ties with media seek partnership; we come to seek collaboration with the NUJ. Calabar carnival is a brand and with the media behind us we can confidently go to sleep with the understanding that we have a reliable ally.

Reacting to the speech, the state Chairman of NUJ, Mr Victor Odu charged the car-

nival commission to at all times count on the support of the media for the success of the carnival.

The NUJ chairman in Cross River State however, lamented the practice of using journalists outside the state in preference to the local ones during the carnival and urged

As DKD emerges ‘Best Male Actor’

Meet Most Beautiful Model in Imo Regina Otokpa

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ivian Nnebedum has defeated 14 girls in Owerri, the capital of Imo state to emerge the Most Beautiful Model in Imo during a contest held at Lobic Meridian Hotel.

Speaking shortly after her enthronement, the queen disclosed she had lost hope of winning during the dinner category of the contest after seeing how wonderful her most outstanding contender dazzled the

judges and guests with her looks and outfit.

She however said “I gained my courage back when she and almost all of the remaining contestants could not answer the top five question correctly’.”

Also to emerge queens were Noradence Obiefuna the first runner up as MBMI Fashion 2016 and Judith Orisaekeziem the 2nd runner up as MBMI Diaspora.

Speaking in seperate interviews, the three queens of model revealed that they would officially unveil their pet projects after their victory parties.

Regina Otokpa

P Most Beautiful Model in Imo, Vivian Nnebedum

Nigerian designers set for Amsterdam Fashion Fair Regina Otokpa

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ashion designers, caterers, accessory makers and the tourism sector have begun to gear up for the 2016 Fashion Fair in Amsterdam and Wedding Expo scheduled to hold in Malta days apart later in the year.

In an activation conference organised by Simpli International in Abuja with the theme ‘Connect and Earn through Regional Africa and Global Market’ the Executive Director Eke Bruno, stressed that the annual fair and expo was to help expose the creativity of African fashion designers, provide global visibility of African brands while helping them to make more money with their talents.

Commending the level of creativity depos-

the commission to rely on local journalists for service delivery. “We have local Journalists here, well trained that can do the work and deliver perfectly.”

The MD/CEO of carnival commission expressed appreciation to journalists in the state for the role they have been playing since the advent of the carnival in 2005.

ositive reactions and continuous celebration has continued to trail the emergence of Abuja boy and Nollywood rave of the moment Daniel K. Daniel as Best Male Actor in drama category at the just concluded 2016 AMVCA by numerous movie fans .

Known for his unique acting style, versatility and ability to interpret diverse roles which appears to be some of his strengths, it was no wonder Daniel’s delivery of the Boss Man role(a rebel leader) in the award winning film ‘A Soldier’s Story’ earned him the AMVCA award ahead of Nollywood’s finest; Mike Ezuruonye, Majid Michel, Van Vicker, Segun Arinze and Blossom Chukwujekwu.

At Amsterdam Fashion Fair it in the northern part of the country, Bruno noted that Simpli International was out to ensure that every talent within and outside Lagos was captured and showcased on the platform.

He further noted that participants in previous editions have benefitted gainfully financially and in terms of connectivity “The bottom line is making money in their sales. Now we have someone making

bags for sell in Europe, we have someone who plan weddings for Africans in the Diaspora especially Nigerians who want to come and do their weddings at home and we also have fashion designers that export their latest designs to different countries in Europe and they have different partners abroad that help to resell their design so they make money from the international community this is what we want, foreign exchange.

Daniel K Daniel

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Capital Market

Friday, April 29, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Stock exchange daily equities summary DAILY STOCK MARKET REPORT. Equities as at April 28, 2016 1st Tier Securities

1st Tier Securities Sector

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No Of Deals

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Quantity Traded

Value of Shares(N)

Sector

Company name

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National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Inside FCT

Friday, April 29, 2016

31

Hot weather: Kunu consumption soars Regina Otokpa

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local drink commonly called kunu, is gradually becoming the business of the day in the Federal Capital Territory. There is hardly a street within the metropolis and the numerous suburbs where one cannot find a kiosk, a house or a tree where kunu can be obtained from. Known for its nutritional benefits, Kunu could also be found in corporate organizations, hospitals, schools, motor parks, eateries and even at media houses.

The drink comes in various forms; it could be made from red guinea corn, millet or tiger nut popularly known as aya by majority of Nigerians. Formerly sold in nylons, the drink has assumed more value as it presently comes in neat bottles and packaged to attract both the rich and the poor at affordable rates usually N50 per bottle.

Speaking to a cross section of residents in the FCT, quite a number of them noted that the drink was best to none especially when taken chilled. Interestingly, InsideFCT checks revealed that in the metropolis the men happen to consume the drink more than women while the reverse is the case in the suburbs.

According to Darlington Opalana, a consultant working within the Central Business District, besides alcohol, he prefers kunu to any other drink. Asked why this was the case he noted that “Kunu is a highly nutritional drink, when I take just one bottle most times I don’t feel like taking anything else.

“I heard from my colleague who introduced me to the drink that there are different types, to be sincere I actually don’t know the type I take all I know is I have a particular woman I buy my kunu and it has this sweet cool taste I enjoy so much. A lady sells it on my street so when am home most weekends, I get some for my family.

“Since the day I introduced my wife to the drink, she takes it almost every day. There was a time she went on google to get preparatory tips, she tried it but it wasn’t so good like the ones we buy so for now we are still patronising those who sell,” he added.

Onyinye Nwankwo told INSIDE FCT that she likes the drink but find it difficult to purchase it from vendors “I like Kunu a lot, it is sweet especially when it is very chilled. when I was living in Maraba, I had a neighbour an Idoma woman who usually makes it for sale.

“She introduced me to the drink then I was a spinster but shortly before I got married I pleaded with her to put me through on how to prepare it. She didn’t only teach me how to make kunu but bow to make it with millet and guinea corn.

“After I left I started making it myself because I actually have an issue buying it from strange people, I always feel they might not be neat enough well work seems to have taken up my time I hardly make it but when am really down for it, I take a trip to Maraba but not before I alert her and send money down for about five litres at least. I freeze it and it can take us about a week depending on how hot the weather is”, Nwankwo said.

Joshua Okokon believed that the harsh weather and financial conditions are contributing factors to the sudden rise of kunu business in the FCT.

Drinking kunu “This period in Abuja is very hot, you see boys hawking pure water every where, the same is almost going for kunu. Formerly it used to be the Fulani drink called Nunu but Kunu is gradually taking its place. Another thing is that it is affordable and when you take it, it suddenly just reduces the rate of hunger”, he said.

Blessing Oriloye just moved to a new apartment, according to her she was working towards selling kunu at her new place of residence to supplement her income but unfortunately there are about two women already rooted in the business on her new street.

Determined to stick to her plan, she said “it doesn’t really matter how many women are into the business on this street, I am going to make mine special. They all make kunu aya, I am still going to make the same kunu aya but no sugar that is the first difference.

“It is not by selling coloured water as kunu for N50, packaging and quality is what matters in any business so I will use some very special ingredients which I won’t disclose, make it very thick and I assure you even at the rate of N100 which I intend to sell it, a lot of people will come rushing for it because they will be getting real value for their money.

“My younger sister who stays at Nyanya makes it and each time I bring some to Kubwa, anyone who tastes it requests for more including my husband who before now doesn’t like it so much so why not,” she added.

Parked every day with a car filled with coolers of kunu at the popular Banex Junction is a young man who has ventured into the business to make ends meet. Declining to have his name mentioned in print, he

The drink comes in various forms; it could be made from red guinea

corn, millet or tiger nut popularly known as aya by majority of said it was a good business for anyone to venture into.

Chatting with one of his customers who gave her name as Christy Oruruo, she disclosed that she takes kunu a lot but only patronise neat vendors.

She explained that “ if you go to some locations where this kunu is made you will never want to take it no matter how sweet it tastes, some people are naturally dirty but I patronise him because he is neat and to an extent, the kunu is thick, not the watery kunu most vendors parade on the streets and in offices.”

Commenting on which variety of Kunu she prefers, she said “I actually prefer the one made with red guinea corn, it is more nutritious and for me that is the best the only issue is that type of kunu is peculiar to the Idoma people of Benue State so you might not get that here easily except you go to places where the Idoma’s are predominant like Nyanya, Maraba and maybe Karu.

“People don’t know much about that kunu or the one made from millet, the one called kunu aya is the one most people know about; its milky and actually very sweet I am not

Nigerians.

saying these two are not also nutritional but for those who know the real deal, red guinea corn is.”, Oruruo said.

Maria Onyilo, an Idoma woman based in P.W area of Kubwa says because of Kunu she makes sure she attends her township meetings whenever they have them.

“Like so many other women from my place, I don’t miss my township meeting because of Kunu. My children will even be the first to ask if I have carried an extra container to bring some home.

“It is a tradition in my place during our general meeting or women meeting whether in the village, in Benue or even in Abuja to make Kunu. It doesn’t matter whether there are million crates of soft drinks or cartons of alcohol, there must at least be a jerry can of kunu standby for those who might be interested.

“Kunu aya is good, people are making money from the business that is equally good we even patronise it too but for us the Idoma people, the fact remains that our own kunu where we add germinated rice, dried potatoes and some other special spices will always be best to known”, Onyilo said.

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Friday, April 29, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

FRSC partners ICPC on driver’s licence issuance ...as FG extends expiration date to 5 years

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L-R: FRSC ‘s Head media, Mr Bisi Kazeem, Zonal Commanding Officer RS9 Enugu, Mr Samuel Obayemi, Corps Marshal, Mr Boboye Oyeyemi, Chairman Peace Mass Transit (PMT), Mr Sam Onyishi and Vice Chairman, Lolo Ify Onyishi during the commissioning of peace mass transit 300 newly acquired buses fitted with speed limiting device in Enugu.

prices and marketing since the speed limiting device campaign started. We’re not involved in that. Ours is the enforcement of the device. We’re only concerned about what can bring down road crashes,” he said.

He expressed satisfaction with the success so far recorded with the speed limiting device and commended various transport groups and firms that had bought into the idea.

For instances, he said a number of transport companies had purchased vehicles affixed with the speed limiting device now being deployed in long distance routes.

According to him, following the directive by the National Automotive Design and Development Council to motoring firms to start fixing the speed limiter device in all the vehicles being produced in the country, many of them have started complying.

Meanwhile, in its determination to restore sanity in the issuance of the National Driver’s Licence and make the operation corrupt-free, the FRSC has announced its readiness to partner the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, (ICPC).

The FRSC Corps Marshal made this known when he paid a visit to the ICPC Headquarters Abuja.

The Chairman of ICPC, Ekpo Nta described FRSC as an

exemplary organisation whose activities have impacted positively on the image of the country, stating that if there was any organisation in the country that he would recommend for international accolade for what is good in Nigeria, it would be the FRSC. Nta commended the Corps for its efforts in mobilising members of the public for road safety campaign through its Special Marshal initiative and enjoined all patriotic Nigerians to join in the task of making the nation’s roads safer.

On the restoration of sanity in the issuance of the driver’s licence, the ICPC Chairman gave kudos to the FRSC for its initiative in reforming the licensing system of the country, pointing out that with its reciprocity status, it would be an embarrassment to the country if the driver’s licences issued in the country and presented to foreign countries are found to be fake.

This, he said, makes it imperative that relevant stake-

‘

holders should work together to ensure that the integrity of the system is protected and those that engage in parallel production or tout in the documents are identified and punished accordingly.

“Nigerian Driver’s licence has reciprocal status with other foreign countries. It will therefore, embarrass the country, if fake licences are allowed to be presented to reciprocal countries as the genuine licences produced in the country,” he stated.

“The Driver’s licence is also an identity document that many people rely on to transact business. We would therefore, work with the FRSC to ensure that those that engage in parallel production or tout in the documents are identified and punished,” he further stated.

In his remarks, the Corps Marshal thanked the Chairman of the ICPC for his interest in matters of road safety as demonstrated by his long standing association with the FRSC as a member of the Special Marshal.

While calling on the ICPC to

collaborate with the FRSC in sanitising the system by detecting the fraudsters and bringing them to book, Oyeyemi also solicited the support of the commission in monitoring the operations of his men on patrol

‘

n order to ease the problems being encountered by Nigerian motorists in the process of renewing their driving license every three years, the Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps, Mr. Boboye Oyeyemi said the Federal Government has approved the production of another National Driver’s Licence that will have a five-year expiry period.

Speaking with motoring journalists in Lagos, Oyeyemi said the decision to have the five-year driving licence was taken by the Joint Tax Board at its 134th meeting held recently in Kano, which was presided over by the Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service, Babatunde Fowler.

Before now, the driving licence had a three-year terminal date after which motorists were expected to renew the document.

Oyeyemi, however, said the three-year driving licence would not be jettisoned, adding that it would exist side by side with the new one.

He said, with the new fiveyear driving licence, motorists would have the option of going for that or the three-year licence.

Quoting from a communiqué issued by the JTB after the meeting, the corps marshal said, “The board has approved an optional validity period for driving licence of three and five years at different costs to provide more efficient an effective service delivery to its customers.”

According to him, while the three-year licence will cost N6,000, motorists are to pay N10,000 for the five-year document, stressing that the cost has not been increased.

The FRSC boss stressed that any new applicant for any of the two driving licences would have to go to an approved driving school for training to qualify for a licence to drive.

Another decision, he said, taken at the JTB meeting was the production period for vehicle number plate, which the FRSC would henceforth complete in five working days.

Oyeyemi also cleared the air on the recent court pronouncement on the speed limiter, noting that it only declared that the corps should not fix the gadget’s price or market it but it could enforce the use of device in commercial vehicles.

“I’ve never spoken about

He further stated that he decided to visit the ICPC in order to share ideas of road safety with the Management of the Commission and to solicit the support of the Commission in ensuring the restoration of sanity in the issuance of the licensing system of the country.

The Corps Marshal pointed out that he is determined to leave a legacy of corrupt-free organisation for the Corps and would work hard to sustain its positive image through various policies and programmes including the inauguration of the FRSC Antic-Corruption Committee.

Oyeyemi expressed dismay at the practice of some people who continue to patronise touts or rely on third party to obtain fake licences at ridiculously high prices against the N6,350 that has been set by the Joint Tax Board (JTB) for the acquisition of the licences.

While calling on the ICPC to collaborate with the FRSC in sanitising the system by detecting the fraudsters and bringing them to book, Oyeyemi also solicited the support of the commission in monitoring the operations of his men on patrol.

According to him, as an organisation that is built on integrity, FRSC does not condone any form of corrupt practice and any of his men found to be engaged in act of corruption would not be given cover.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Friday, April 29, 2015

33

Mercedes Benz raises C-Class standard with intelligence drive systems M

ercedes Benz may have raised the stake in the luxury segment of the automobile business with the introduction of a new C-Class that has enhanced intelligent drive systems.

A report on the vehicle prepared by Weststar Associates, representative of the auto brand in Nigeria, says these intelligent drive systems actively support the driver and noticeably relieve the driver’s workload.

“They help to analyse and monitor the vehicle’s environment in order to warn and identify potential dangers.”

It lists the vehicle’s other

safety functions as the attention assist, adaptive brake control system and the blind spot assist to mention a few. “All C-class models use the company’s tried and true seven-speed automatic transmission,” it adds.

According to the auto firm, the car’s fuel consumption is greatly minimised due to the Blue-efficiency function. This is said to be responsible for shutting

C-Class-interior

Mercedes Benz new C-Class

down the engine while the vehicle is stationary or in a red traffic light situation.

“Its powerful four cylinder engine also assures environmental compactibility and diligence as regards fuel consumption. The new C-class has more legroom (due to the longer wheel base) unlike the slightly cramped feelings of rear seat passengers in the past as well as bigger boot space (with a capacity of 480 litres).” other available features in the C-Class, according to Weststar, are leather upholstery, ventilated front seats, Audio-20-CD with touch-pad, a Burmester audio system, Mercedes’ command infotainment system, navigation, a rearview camera, parallel parking assist, front and rear parking sensors, a head-up display, a Wi-Fi hot spot (requires subscription to Mercedes’ mbrace telematics service), pedestrian and cross traffic detection.

Others include panoramic sunroof, adaptive cruise control, rear wheel drive, active lane keep assist, blind spot monitoring and a hands-free power trunk lid.

All-wheel drive (4Matic) is available in both sedan and coupe models, said Weststar.

Toyota showcases locally assembled bus at Lagos fair

T

he first Toyota vehicle just assembled in Nigeria, Hiace, will be one of the major highlights at this year’s edition of the Lagos motor fair, which begins next week.

This indication emerged from the Toyota Nigeria Limited, the assembler of the bus just as the organisers of the annual motor show, BKG Exhibitions Nigeria, said a good number of leading brands in the automobiles, spare parts, accessories, lubricants, additives, financials and security gadgets had confirmed they would showcase different modern and innovative models, brands and services at the event.

The Managing Director, Toyota Nigeria, Mr. Kunle Ade-Ojo, had said the new Hiace was assembled in the company’s plant in Lagos.

In developing the new Hiace, the term ‘BEST’ was said to have been used to indicate – Beneficial, Efficient/Economical, Safety and Tough Transport.

The Hiace Chief Engineer, Hideyuki Iwata, was quoted as saying, “Increased passive safety was one of our most important targets.”

The TNL is expected to reveal the detailed features of the locally assembled bus at the fair.

Apart from Toyota Nigeria,

BKG Exhibition, in a statement, named other firms that recently confirmed their participation as Globe Motors, Briscoe Ford, Dana Motors and Leventis Motors.

“While Toyota Nigeria Limited, BriscoeFord, Dana Motors will be staging a national debuts of the 2016 models cars in their stables, Leventis is set to lead the truck segment with Volkswagen and Foton trucks,” it stated.

According to the organising committee, Lagos motor fair remains the unparalleled gathering of established brands as well as new entrants, ranging from passenger buses to cars, trucks, spare parts, accessories, lubricants, financials and many more.

First made-in-Nigeria Toyota Hiace bus

The Managing Director, BKG Exhibition, Mr. Ifeanyi Agwu, said, “As part of our efforts in promoting investment in the automotive sector, all strategies have been deployed in ensuring that the fair more than ever before receives the needed attention from participants, institutional, trade, professional and individual buyers as well as visitors.”

“In our untiring efforts at making the Nigerian auto part market the hub of production, distribution and sale of auto parts in West, Central and East Africa with a view to covering the entire continent, we have, using the good office of Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, extended invitations to trade and professional groups in the sub-sector from different countries and cities within the West and Central Africa regions to visit the autoparts expo. So far, the interests we are receiving are encouraging.”

He said with the cooperation of the firm’s partners in Turkey, United Arab Emirates, China and India, over 70 Original Equipment Manufacturers and dealers in auto parts and accessories would take part in this year’s event.

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Ford gives Nigerians tips on rainy season safe driving

N

igeria is known for its hot climate. If there is one thing you can count on, it is knowing that temperatures rarely drop below 20 degrees and the forecast will generally be bright.

However, during the rainy season these high temperatures result in heavy rainfall, making driving conditions difficult.

Getting to your destination thus becomes a challenge during Nigeria’s wet months. That is why Ford Motor Company wants to make sure that drivers are alert and safe by offering some essential tips for wet weather driving.

According to Ford, during heavy rainfall, Nigerian motorists must observe the following: Slow Down: The first thing you should do is slow down when roads are wet. This will give you more control and more time to react. You will need both, because when it’s raining, the road becomes slippery and visibility is limited.

The Start of the Storm Can Be Dangerous: When the first rains of the season fall moisture mixes with the oil build up on the road and makes surfaces slippery and dangerous. Heavy rains will eventually wash the oil away—but that’s when you have to worry about hydroplaning. That happens when your car loses contact with the road and skids on the layers of water and almost feels as though it’s floating.

Hydroplaning? If you find yourself hydroplaning, keep calm. Avoid going into an uncontrolled skid by slowing down, turning off cruise control and avoiding sudden braking and turns. You are more likely to hydroplane on nongrooved asphalt roads than ribbed concrete - particularly if there are tyre ruts worn into the asphalt. Also, avoid any ar-

eas on the road where deeper water collects.

Rolling in the Deep: Do not drive in areas that are flooded or have moving water. Deep water can wreak havoc on your electrical system and engine.

As little as a foot of water can cause some vehicles to float, and two feet of rushing water can sweep vehicles away, including SUVs and pick-ups.

Turn on Your Headlights: With heavy rain come dark skies, so turn on your headlights. But don’t use your high beams, the extra light can refract against the droplets and distract drivers.

Flip on Defrosters and Set AC to Fresh Air: Switch on your defrosters to reduce fog, and set your air conditioner or heater to the fresh-air setting instead of recirculating the air in the car.

Keep Your Distance: The spray from trucks or large vehicles can obscure your vision, so keep your distance or try to pass them if you have a safe opportunity.

Head for Higher Ground: Look for higher paths to drive on. And if it gets too harsh out there, don’t take risks: Find a safe place to pull over on higher ground - away from tall, isolated trees and poles in case there’s lightning — and wait for the rain to pass.

Be Prepared: Make sure you are ready for rainy conditions before the season starts.

Check that your headlamps, wiper blades, brakes and tyres are always properly maintained and in working order.

By keeping these tips in mind, drivers can make sure they are well prepared to handle rainy conditions and ensure that the added risks that wet weather brings are minimised.

Ford wishes all drivers many safe miles on the road this rainy season.

34

People In The Mirror

L-R: Group Managing Director/CEO, Access Bank Plc, Herbert Wigwe; Chairman, Mosun BelloOlusoga and Company Secretary, Sunday Ekwochi, during the 27th Annual General Meeting of Access Bank Plc, in Lagos. SAMUEL ADETIMEHIN

L-R Uti Nwachukwu, Dayo Benjamins-Laniyi, Jeremiah Gyang, Wale Rubber, all judges at the Season 6 edition of God’s Children Great Talent, a gospel talent show, at the regional finals, recently

L-R: Chairman Benue State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Dr. Philip Tachin; Executive Secretary, Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Dr.Suleiman Dikko and Director office of the Executive Secretary UBEC, Alh. Aliyu Kardi, during the UBEC management inspection of Federal Government Intervention project of Junior Girls Model Secondary School at Gbatse, Ushongo LGA of Benue State.

L-R: Chairman Nigerian Insurers Association, Mr Godwin Wiggle; Commissioner for Insurance, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Alhaji Mohammed Kari, Founding Father, West African Insurance Companies Association (WAICA), Prof. Joe Irukwu; representative of Finance Minster, Mrs Patience Oniha and President, WAICA, Mr Ivan Avereyireh at the WAICA, 38th Annual General Meeting and Education Conference in Lagos.

Friday, April 29, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

L-R: Minister of Information and Culture, Alh Lai Mohammed; Deputy President of the Senate/ Author of the Book ‘’WHO WILL LOVE MY COUNTRY, Sen Ike Ekweremadu and Former Head of State, Gen Yakubu Gowon, during the Public Presentation of the Book, ‘’WHO WILL LOVE MY COUNTRY’’ by Sen Ike Ekweremadu, in Abuja. PHOTO ROTIMI OSASONA

L-R: Kwara State Director of Admin and Finance (G.H), Alhaji Yusuf Garba Manjo; Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Quadir Wahab Oba; Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed and Principal Private Secretary to the Governor, Abdulfatai Adeyemi Ustaz during the flag-off of the 1st Edition of Maigida Closed Tennis Competition among officers in Government House at Government House Tennis Court.

L-R: Director, Performance Management Office of Head of Service (HOS), Mr Ayodele Folayan; HOS, Mrs Winifred Oyo-Ita; Permanent Secretary, Mr Innocent Ogbonaya and Secretary, Technical Committee on Enterprise Culture and Commercial Orientation, Mr Ajayi Olajide, during the Committee’s Submission of

L-R: G.O.C., 1 Div., Nigerian Army, Maj.-Gen. Adeniyi Oyebade; representative of the Governor of Kaduna State, Mr Chris Umaru; Guest Speaker, Mr Joseph Hayab and representative of the DirectorGeneral of NEMA, Mr Musa Zekeri, at the NUJ Correspondent Chapel’s Conference on Religious Harmony and National Development, in Kaduna.

Friday, April 29, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Business Maritime

35

Driving new National Carrier project through private sector expertise, funding MT Breakthrough, an indigenous tanker vessel

Federal Government’s plan to refloat a new National Carrier is seen by economic analysts as a right step in the right direction given the likely positive impact of the proposed venture on indigenous participation in shipping business, job creation and training of Nigerian cadets, amongst other benefits. In this analysis by FRANCIS EZEM, industry stakeholders have however warned that adequate measures must be taken to ensure that over-bearing government control of the enterprise does not destroy its socio-economic development objectives.

T

he Minister of Transport, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi on his appointment late last year left no one in doubt about his desire to restructure the nation’s shipping industry with a view to correcting the mistakes of the past and also reposition it for growth and development.

One of the cardinal policies of this restructuring programme is the proposed refloating of a national carrier, especially given the vacuum created by the demise of the Nigerian National Shipping Line NNSL. The Minister had earlier hinted that he was going to deploy the proceeds of the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund CVFF to float the new National Carrier.

“After due consultations, it has been agreed that a new National Carrier should be established with proceeds from the CVFF”, the Minister had said emphatically.

The Minister, who also admitted that he was aware that the de-

funct NNSL went under as a result of poor management, also said he initially did not support the idea of floating a new carrier, adding that he had to accept the idea after due consultation.

As part of measures to actualise this dream, the Minister has already constituted a committee within the Federal Ministry of Transport, which is expected to liaise with some private investors that would be engaged to begin the process of re-floating the new carrier.

“Some friends of mine have also

met with me last year and advised that there is a need for national carrier to increase the cargo output of Nigerians. Initially I did not support it because of what happened to the NNSL” Amaechi had also said.

It was further gathered that the Minister after discussions with some stakeholders, had resolved to utilise the CVFF and some funds private investors in setting the new national shipping company.

However, in response to criticisms trailing the proposed use of the CVFF for the project, the Minister rescinded this decision.

While speaking during a Maritime Technical Summit organised by the Association of Marine Engineers and Surveyors AMES in Lagos recently, the Minister said that the Federal Government is more than ever before committed to floating a new National Carrier as part of measures to develop the shipping industry.

He therefore assured that he will not tamper with the fund in the process of refloating the new national shipping firm.

But while stakeholders have commended the Minister for giving a listening ear in terms of not using the CVFF other than the pur-

The Nigerian Government also contributed substantially to the decay as it frequently engaged the fleet in unprofitable ventures.

Such was the case during the civil war when NNSL vessels were used to transport troops and equipment to the war front without any payments made

pose it was meant for, they have insisted that the government should come clear on the mode of share ownership structure of the new shipping line to avoid mistakes of the past.

For instance, the Nigerian Association of Master Mariners NAMM, umbrella association for all retired ship captains, Chief Engineers and Engineers, said that the decision of the Federal Government to fully indigenize the NNSL and subsequent total takeover of its management in 1960 after political independence marked the beginning of the demise of the former national carrier.

Historically, NNSL was established in 1959 towards the end of the Imperial Government in Nigeria with 51 per cent of its equity belonging to Nigerian government while Elder Dempster Line and Palm Line, both British companies, held the remaining 49 per cent, which was reversed after independence to pave way for its full indigenisation.

NNSL had between 1961 and 1978 grew in leaps and bounds, as more shipping routes were opened even as it was participating in most of the conference lines and in 1977 with the ordering of 19 new vessels, bringing to a total of 24 ocean going vessels on its fleet by 1979.

The paper said: “A new management, made of Nigerians then took over and all the progress attained by the company started dwindling.

Ineptitude got enthroned thereby giving room for fraud in cargo placement. Ships were chartered for free by well connected individuals, freights were not being paid for nor efforts made for collection” “The Nigerian Government

also contributed substantially to the decay as it frequently engaged the fleet in unprofitable ventures.

Such was the case during the civil war when NNSL vessels were used to transport troops and equipment to the war front without any payments made. The same process was regularly engaged for various peace missions in which Nigeria participated”.

Former president of the NAMM, captains, chief engineers and engineers Captain Adewale Ishola, who spoke in an interview on the issue, said whatever problem the country is encountering now is as a result of the demise of the NNSL, which could have been averted.

While recounting the circumstances that led to the demise of the company, the master mariner noted that the over-bearing interference of the government contributed significantly to the demise of the company.

It was probably in reaction to these circumstances that led to the demise of the NNSL that many stakeholders have canvassed the adoption of the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas NLNG. Available records show that the NLNG is joint venture partnership between the Nigerian government as represented by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation NNPC, which holds 49 per cent equity while a consortium led by Shell comprising Total Nigeria Limited and Eni International hold the remaining 41 per cent equity.

Chairman of Shipowners Association of Nigeria SOSAN, Mr. Greg Ogbeifun, who is a Marine Engineer, is one of the stakeholders that believe that government should adopt the NLNG scheme for the new shipping line According to Obgeifun, who is also the CEO Starzs Investments Company Limited, an indigenous shipping firm and Chairman/CEO of Starzs Marine and Engineering Limited, the only privately owned indigenous ship repair yard in the country, experience has shown that government is not good at managing businesses, especially in the Nigerian environment.

“What the government should do for the proposed National Carrier is to provide the enabling environment in terms of legal and institutional frameworks, especially in terms of cargo, incentives and tax holidays and allow private investors to run it as a business venture not as a government agency”, Ogbeifun said.

36

Business Maritime

Friday, April 29, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Forex restriction: Over 5,000 import documents unprocessed by CBN –Shippers Stories by Francis Ezem

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trong indications emerged that no fewer than 5,000 import documents and Form M are currently lying unprocessed by the Central Bank of Nigeria CBN, in what stakeholders described as an extension of 41 items of import not qualified to source foreign

exchange through the official market.

The apex bank had last year restricted a total of 41 items of import including some raw materials from accessing foreign exchange at the regulated official market where the exchange rate is N197 to the dollar while it exchanges at N320 per dollar in the parallel market.

An official of the Shippers Association of Lagos, Mr. Philip Irobosi, who spoke at a one-day stakeholders’ forum organised by the Apapa Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, said that many applications for Form M are currently lying unprocessed at the CBN and Federal Ministry of Finance.

Irobosi, who spoke against

Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok Ete-Ibas and Dr. Dakuku Peterside, Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency NIMASA during a visit of a delegation of NIMASA management to the Naval headquarters, Abuja recently.

NIMASA advocates military option to curb maritime insecurity

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he Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, has called for a full military option towards the increasing cases of piracy and armed robbery on the Gulf of Guinea.

Filipino seafarers operating in Nigeria had following the rising spate of piracy attacks within Nigeria’s maritime domain declared her waters unsafe and therefore requested for a special insecurity allowance to make up for the high security risk many of them have been exposed to in sailing to Nigerian waters.

Director General of the agency, Dr. Dakuku Peterside who spoke when he led some members of the management team of the agency on a working visit to the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok Ete-Ibas and the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukur Buratai at the Defence head quarters in Abuja recently. reiterated his desire for a military led patrol of the Nigeria’s maritime domain to curb the rising incidences of piracy in the Gulf of Guinea.

According to him, the rising cases of piracy have affected the economic fortunes of the country.

The DG, who spoke in separate meetings with the military chiefs, called on them to initiate a joint patrol of the maritime domain with a view to decisively curbing this trend.

Peterside, who also acknowledged the gallantry of officers

and men of the Nigerian Armed Forces in the fight against insurgency, said such gallantry could be replicated in the war against piracy and sea robbery.

“Maritime security is a national and international obligation of all stakeholders and so the Nigerian Navy should continue with the good job of fighting piracy which it has been doing”, he said.

The NIMASA boss however assured the CNS of the agency’s resolve to strengthen the existing Memorandum of Understanding MoU between NIMASA and the Nigerian the Navy with a view to curtailing the increasing piracy and other criminal activities on

Nigeria’s territorial waters.

Meanwhile, Vice Admiral EteIbas, who welcome the NIMASA team, congratulated the DG on his recent appointment, pledged the support of the Nigeria Navy to continue to partner the agency in maintaining safety and security on Nigeria’s waters.

The CNS stated that as a strategy to nip the rising cases of piracy, the Nigerian Navy has deployed boat houses at the entry points of the creeks and is in the process of inaugurating a surveillance system being developed by the Office of the National Security Adviser to increase its domain awareness

the background of appeals to stakeholders by the Customs Area Controller for Apapa Command, Comptroller Willy Egbudin to assist the command in its resolve to boost revenue, noted that Federal Government’s foreign exchange policies do not promote trade and revenue generation. According to him, scores of applications for Form M made by members of the association and other importers for goods that fall among the 41 items not excluded from sourcing foreign exchange through the official market have yet to be processed by the CBN. He disclosed that the prospective importers of these goods have provided all information requested by the apex bank including the sources of the foreign exchange for the imports and amounts of money in the domiciliary accounts, yet the apex bank has refused to process the documents.

“Sometimes, we do not know what to believe. The CBN should tell us that it has banned the importation of these affected items

Nigeria loses $1.5bn monthly to piracy, maritime crimes –Report

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trong indications emerged that Nigeria may be losing in excess of $ 1.5billion per month due to piracy, armed robbery at sea, smuggling, and fuel supply fraud as piracy and armed robbery in the Gulf of Guinea increase at an alarming rate, the UN Security Council was told at a debate..

Since the start of the year at least 32 attacks off the coast of Nigeria were recorded, affecting many member states, including the United States, Ambassador Michele J. Sison, a U.S. Deputy Representative to the United Nations said while speaking at an Open Debate on Peace Consolidation in West Africa titled “Piracy

Panama Canal to select first vessel to transit 26 June

T

he Panama Canal Authority (ACP) will hold a draw on Friday, 29 April, to select the first vessel which will transit through the expanded Canal when the third lane is inaugurated Sunday, 26 June.

The draw will take place at the Panama Canal administration building and a Notary Public to serve as witness.

The ACP has invited its top 15 customers to participate in the draw for the inaugural transit.

Of the invited customers, those interested in participating were required to indicate the neo-panamax vessel’s name, type and dimensions that it plans to deploy on the inauguration day of the ex-

panded Canal. The ACP executive vice presidency for operations will verify that each vessel complies with the Panama Canal’s requirements.

The proposed vessel is required not to surpass a maximum beam of 49 m and a maximum overall length of 366 m. In addition, the maximum draught or point of immersion for the inaugural transit will be 12.5 m. For security purposes, gas carriers will not be considered for the inaugural transit.

The draw will be carried out with ballots labeled with the name of each participant. A child will select the first ballot and hand it to the Public Notary who will announce the winner of the

so that we do not continue to fill Form M that it is not willing to process”, Irobosi said.

He also said: “The issues of facilitating trade and boosting revenue lie with the Federal Government, especially in terms of its fiscal policies and so we cannot be expecting increased revenue generation when government’s fiscal policies suggest the opposite”.

Comptroller Egbudin, who had told the stakeholders that the service lost over N230billion in the last quarter of 2015, solicited the support and cooperation of all stakeholders to halt this ugly trend.

He had argued that there was need for importers and agents to do honest and transparent declaration of their import value so as to make the 48-hour cargo clearance possible and also boost revenue.

He urged importers and agents to report all cases of delays and extortion by any officer to him, having made honest and transparent declaration of their imports.

draw. Afterwards, the same child will pick a second ballot for the shipping line that will be able to deploy a vessel for the inaugural transit in the event that the winner informs the ACP by 10 May that it will not be able to deploy an approved vessel for the inauguration.

In the event that an invited customer declines participation, the ACP may send an invitation to the next customer on the ranking list, up to the customer with a weighted ranking value of less than 16, according to the customer ranking used for bookings as of April 2016 published in https://www. pancanal.com/eng/maritime/ transit/index.html

and Armed Robbery at Sea in the Gulf of Guinea.“ According to Sison, the root causes of piracy in the region are ineffective governance structures, weak rule of law, precarious legal frameworks and inadequate naval, coast guard, and maritime law enforcement.

“The absence of an effective maritime governance system, in particular, hampers freedom of movement in the region, disrupts trade and economic growth, and facilitates environmental crimes,” she stressed.

Sison said that the solution to these root causes lies in greater African stewardship of maritime safety and security at the continental, regional, and member state level. In addition, there is a need for strong political will from African governments and leaders to pursue and prosecute crimes at all levels within criminal enterprises.

“Absent African ownership and action from national and local governments to tackle maritime security challenges, there is little reason to believe that attacks in the Gulf of Guinea will decline. International cooperation and integration among regional countries, international organizations, industry, and other entities that have a stake in maritime security are also critical to ensure the full range of lawful and timely actions to combat piracy and other maritime crime in the Gulf of Guinea,” she added.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Business News

Friday, April 29, 2016

37

No plan to ban mobile adverts, says NCC Isaiah Erhiawarien

T

he Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, has said that it had no plan to ban mobile advertisements which are send as Value Added Services to subscribers through the network of mobile telephone operators.

The Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta, who made this known at a Consultative Forum on the Draft Regulatory Framework for the provision of

Value Added Services, VAS, in the country, said also that the NCC did not intend to cripple the businesses of the VAS providers even as the Commission was concerned about subscribers’ complaints over unsolicited text messages from the operators.

He said that the decision to regulate the VAS providers borders on the need to consolidate the gains of the telecoms sector, and that the VAS segment is overdue for regulation as envisaged in the eight-point agenda

of the Commission, particularly on the need to promote ICT innovation and investment opportunities.

“Except we determined to develop and encourage quality local contents in Nigeria by rewarding content developers who as the major players in the VAS segment of the industry, our vision will be obstructed”, he said.

According to him, the NCC stands at the threshold of history as the regulatory authority of telecommunications in

Nigeria to create a level playing field for all stakeholders and to ensure that each stakeholders gets commensurate value for the roles they play in the industry.

He pointed out that the task of regulating the industry remained a collective one, which is a moral duty of stakeholders stressing that value addition in the sector is essentially on the shoulders of the small and medium scales enterprises, SMEs. Danbatta pointed out that it was the SMEs’ with innovative ideas that had the potential to create jobs and contribute to the economic growth and development of the country saying that the draft regulatory framework is a product of multiply effort and reflections.

He explained that the document’s principal focus was to

encourage critical players participate in the VAS subsector by defining the roles and responsibilities of each player in a manner that is transparent, healthy and jointly beneficial.

Chairman of the Association License Telecommunications Companies of Nigerian, ALTON, Engr. Gbenga Adebayo, said that the association was mindful of the concern of the raised by the NCC concerning the complains of subscribers saying that operators in the industry they have also received personal complains.

He noted that ALTON was aware that whatever affects the subscriber also affects the operators noting that trust if lost will never be regain, and that as such the Commission should count on the support of the association.

IATA releases global air travels’ safety report Olusegun Koiki

L-R: Oyo State Governor, Senator AbiolaAjimobi, in a warm handshake with Mrs. Mary Akpobome, Heritage Bank’s Executive Director, Lagos, South West and Corporate Banking; at the launching of Oyo State Agricultural Initiative, OYSAI, supported by the Bank, at Paago Village on Tuesday. At the background is Shuaibu Bello, CEO, Inter Products Link Limited, an agro-allied investor.

Security expert urges FG on airports’ security Olusegun Koiki

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he Chief Executive Officer, CEO, Centurion Securities, Group Capt. John Ojikutu (rtd), has advised the various security agencies in the country to coordinate intelligence and security efforts by adequately sharing information across the aviation industry value-chains.

Ojikutu said that this was necessary to avert the ensure security of the airports and forestall attacks as the recent Brussels Airport terrorism attacks in the country.

He explained that the lessons from Brussels Airport went beyond airport security and called for a national aviation security policy, which would emphasise the role of intelligence in the gamut.

“The lesson from the Brussels terrorists attack is beyond airport security alone. It is more about national aviation security and the role of intelligence in the aviation security defence layers.

“It is about having names of valuable targets among the homegrown terrorists (BH) listed on watch list or no fly list. Remember, it took us about eight years before we could start putting faces on those within the domestic terrorist cell before the military

started putting those faces and names on the watch list.

“The question we must be asking the responsible authorities is; are those on the military watch list on the watch list for aviation security or have the list been shared with responsible authorities at d airports on need to know?

“It is about intelligence or security agencies sharing names on the watch list with airlines and airports operators; it is about the immigration services sharing passengers names records with other countries on principle of reciprocity as it is between done between US and European countries; it is about airlines having a system for advance passengers information services at the departure airport and sharing the information with destination airport. These are intelligence networks,” he said.

He stressed that the airport passenger terminal hall is a public area and therefore a soft target, the industry required screening machines at all access gates into the terminal halls with capability for detecting improvised explosive vapour.

He also warned against insider’s threats and urged the government to regularly conduct background checks on all staff working in the airport security

controlled areas, noting that these intelligence work were not necessarily the job for sniffer dogs.

He maintained that the Closed Circuit Television, CCTV, cameras are good complement to airport security only if they could pre-empt the act of terror attack and not after the attack.

On the recent figures estimated by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, which said that the Federal Government would need to invest at least N25 billion to construct perimeter and operational fences across all the 22 government-operated airports, he said it may be reasonable if it was spent where applicable and not a means of siphoning funds elsewhere.

T

he International Air Transport Association, IATA, has put the 2015 global jet accident rate measured in hull losses per one million flights to 0.32.

In a statement signed by its Director-General, Mr. Tony Tyler, the association indicated that the figure was the equivalent of one major accident for every 3.1 million flights.

It however pointed out that the figure was not as good as that of 2014, which stood at 0.27, but it was a 30 per cent improvement compared to the previous five-year rate (2010-2014) of 0.46 hull loss accidents per million jet flights.

There were four accidents resulting in passenger fatalities in 2015, all of which involved turboprop aircraft, with 136 fatalities.

This compares with an average of 17.6 fatal accidents and 504 fatalities per year in the previous fiveyear period (2010-2014).

The 2015 jet hull loss rate for members of IATA was 0.22 (one ac-

cident for every 4.5 million flights), which outperformed the global rate by 31 per cent and, which was in line with the five-year rate (2010-2014) of 0.21 per million flights but above the 0.12 hull loss rate achieved in 2014.

The IATA data did not include the loss of Germanwings 9525 (pilot suicide) and Metrojet 9268 (suspected terrorism) that resulted in the deaths of 374 passengers and crew.

“Last year was another year of contrasts when it comes to aviation’s safety performance. In terms of the number of fatal accidents, it was an extraordinarily safe year.

And the long-term trend data show us that flying is getting even safer.

“Yet we were all shocked and horrified by two deliberate acts the destruction of Germanwings 9525 and Metrojet 9268. While there are no easy solutions to the mental health and security issues that were exposed in these tragedies, aviation continues to work to minimise the risk that such events will happen again,” said Tyler.

More than 3.5 billion people flew safely on 37.6 million flights (31.4 million by jet, 6.2 million by turboprop) last year according to IATA.

Transactions under investigation duly reported –Fidelity

T

he management of Fidelity Bank Plc yesterday confirmed that the transactions now being investigations by the Economic & Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC), were duly reported to regulatory authorities as required by law.

This is even as it confirmed that the bank was collaborating with the authorities to clear all grey areas involving the affected transactions.

In a statement made available

to National Mirror, the management indicated that it was aware of reports in the media on investigations into transactions undertaken by the Bank in the normal course of business in 2015.

“We can confirm that the transactions were duly reported as required by the regulators and the Bank is cooperating fully with the authorities on the investigation.

“We assure our numerous stakeholders, including our customers that we are working assid-

uously towards a quick resolution of the issues”, it stated.

It was reportedly widely by various media yesterday that the Bank’s Managing Director, Mr. Nnamdi Okonkwo and the Head of Operations, Mr. Martins Izuogbe, were detained by the EFCC over ongoing probe of former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, on her alleged involvement in a $115 million 2015 election bribery scandal.

38

Business News

Friday, April 29, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Exposure to Chinese biz-model beneficial to BoI customers –Olagunju

T

he Acting Managing Director, Bank of Industry, Mr. Waheed Olagunju has underscored the significance of Nigeria’s trade relation with China, stressing that most of the bank’s successful customers were those leveraging on Chinese business model and technology.

Olagunju, who spoke in Abuja during China-Africa Trade, In-

vestment Summit, restated the commitment of the bank towards provision of adequate funding for all genuine industrialists, including small and medium enterprises.

In his paper titled, ‘ChinaNigeria: Leverage for National Growth’, the banking chief listed some of the bank’s customers adopting Chinese model and tech-

nology in their business operations, to include, Innoson Motors Nigeria Limited and Kam Industry, an integrated iron and steel company.

Others are, Mojec International Limited, a metering producing company and Secure ID, manufacturer of smart cards.

While underscoring the imper-

L-R, Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Brig Gen Paul Boroh rtd, Acting Managing Director, Bank of Industry, BOI Mr Waheed Olagunju and Divisional Head, Large Enterprise BOI Mr Joseph Babatunde during a Strategic Partnership meeting with BOI in Abuja at the weekend Photo ROTIMI OSASONA

South West most vulnerable to food insecurity –Expert

Kemi Olaitan, Ibadan

A

n agricultural expert, Prof. Akinwumi Omotayo, has raised an alarm that the South West geo-political zone is increasingly becoming the most food insecure zone of the country.

Omotayo who is the Director, Institute of Food Security, Environmental Resources and Agricultural Research (IFSERAR), at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, disclosed this yesterday in a keynote address at the 29th South West Zonal Workshop on ResearchExtension-Farmers Input Linkage System (REFILS), held at the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training (IAR&T), Moor Plantation, Ibadan.

In the address titled, “Repositioning Agricultural Extension for Sustainable Food Security in Nigeria”, he expressed grave concern over South West’s continued dependence on imported food items and food from other regions of the country.

While noting that a comprehensive analysis of the state of food insecurity and dependency in South Western Nigeria “portrays an extremely gloomy picture”, he gave a vivid illustration of the estimated dependency levels with some major food commodities.

According to him, South West dependency level of beef on the North presently is 99.9 per cent; onion 99 per cent; cowpea 99 per cent; soybean 90 per cent; tomato 75 per cent; pepper 70 per cent; yam 60 per

cent; and maize 80 per cent; among others.

He said: “Consequently, the South West is increasingly becoming more vulnerable to food insecurity than other parts of Nigeria. In the South Western part of Nigeria in particular, indigenous farmers are gradually disappearing, food production is declining rapidly, those once classified as migrant labourers are taking over farms and becoming landlords, wetlands are being taken over and farmed for huge profits by migrants particularly from Northern Nigeria.

“Young people are becoming increasingly apathetic and demonstrating complete lack of interest in farming.

“The South Western part of Nigeria continues to depend increasingly on imported food items and

food from other regions of Nigeria. Consequently, the South West is increasingly becoming more vulnerable to food insecurity than other parts of Nigeria”, Omotayo cautioned.

While shedding light on other factors inhibiting agricultural development in the South West, he noted that forests were being converted to non-food production systems, while water resources had become morescarce as climate change plus shrinking biodiversity continued to threaten the viability of farming communities.

The Director of IAR&T, Prof.

James Adediran, noted that proven technologies from the Institute and other collaborating centres had been transferred to the extension of Agricultural Development Programmes (ADPs) in the various

ative of Nigeria business relation with China, Olagunju said a sizable number of the bank’s clients imported raw materials and machinery from the country.

He said further that the inclusion of BoI and some of its customers among the entourage of President Buhari when he visited China last week helped in enhancing the bank’s strategic alliances in the country, as significant percentage of the bank’s clients import raw materials and machinery from the country.

In order to address the trade imbalance between the two countries, Olagunju stressed the need to add value to some of the Nigeria’s manufactured products.

While expressing the commitment of the development finance institution to continue to support the nation’s industrialisation process, he urged Nigerians to begin to look inward rather than blaming other countries for Nigeria’s economic woes.

The President, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Dr. Frank Jacobs, said that as desirable as Nigeria business relation with China appeared, efforts must be made by the present administration to come up with policies that would protect local industries.

He said the present status of

CICAN flaws NASS on car purchase deal Abolaji Adebayo

T

he Commerce and Industry Correspondents Association of Nigerian CICAN, has described the purchase of 108 Toyota Land Cruiser jeeps at N35.1million each by the Nigerian Senates as act of economic sabotage , corruption and crime against Nigerians.

The Association further described the lawmakers as the saboteurs of the economy and being insensitive to the plight of the citizens.

Diamond Bank reports 300% growth in customer base Johnson Okanlawon

D

iamond Bank has recorded improvement in its customer base by over 300 per cent, acquiring a total of 5,920,190 new retail customers in 2015.

The bank attributed the increase to successful implementation of technology-led retail strategy for enhanced service delivery.

According to a statement by the management, the bank, which earlier issued profit guidance after prudent provisioning of N55.2 billion impairment charges, indicated it would de-

liver improved earnings and lower operating costs in the future.

It explained that the Central Bank of Nigeria’s regulation especially the change in Cash Reserve Ratio, CRR, to 31 per cent and later 25 per cent as well as implementation of the Treasury Single Account continued affected the bank.

“These partly caused a decline in customer deposits by 17 per cent and consequently led to a drop in total assets to N1.7 trillion from N1.9 trillion yearon-year,” the bank stated.

The Chief Executive Officer of the bank, Mr. Uzoma Dozie,

trade relation now skewed in favour of China should be addressed if Nigerians must derive maximum benefits from it.

According to him, the first step in that direction is to provide an enabling environment that would make goods manufactured in Nigeria compete favourably with those coming from China.

Jacobs said: “The extent to which Nigeria can benefit from Chinese investment potential would depend on the mindset of government and this includes its political will to mobilise and deplore resources toward the provision of a positive and friendly investment climate.

“Appropriate infrastructure must be in place to attract and encourage investment in key sectors of the economy, such as manufacturing, agriculture, solid minerals and technology development.

Appropriate fiscal and monetary policies, such as attractive industrial incentives, adequate funding mechanisms, reasonable cost of funding should formulated and faithfully implemented.”

It would be recalled that President Mohammadu Buhari had last week struck an investment deal of $6bn into the key sectors of the Nigerian economy during his diplomatic visit to China.

explained that in a move to build a healthier balance sheet that will assure sustainable value to shareholders, the bank had in the current business year, embarked on organizational restructuring to improve operations and services.

He stressed that the bank is transforming through innovation, technology and lifestyle that will drive banking in the future.

Dozie expressed optimism about the growth and value to shareholders and restated his commitment to overseeing full implementation of the bank’s digital-led retail strategy.

In a statement jointly signed by its National President, Toba Agboola and the Secretary, Charles Onwuatogwu, the association considered it appalling, insensitive and greedy the decision of the Senate to acquire 108 Toyota Land Cruiser jeeps (one for each member less the Senate President) after collecting car “loans” in August last year for the same purpose.

It stated that the inflation of the unit cost of the cars by over a 100 percent, was a grievous criminal act, as each car supposedly cost N35.1m instead of N17m.

It added that the multiple acts of criminality, ranging from acquiring these cars after previously taking loans for the same purpose; spending money without appropriation and over inflating costs constituted not just corruption but a crime against the Nigerian people whom they claim to represent, saying this is not a change Nigerians deserve.

CICAN also described the errors in the 2016 national budget as national embarrassment, which could have been avoided with proper planning.

According to the statement, since Buhari presented the 2016 appropriation bill to the National Assembly on December 22, 2015, all hell has been let loose.

Friday, April 29, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

39

Experts task farmers on revitalizing North East’s agric sector Stories: Abolaji Adebayo

F

armers and agro- allied stakeholders in the country have been urged to halt the dwindling fortunes of agriculture, especially in the north eastern part of the country.

This call was made in Zaria by a Professor of Agricultural Extension, Professor Emmanuel Ikani while delivering talks to an audience of farmers and research experts at the launching of the North-West branch of AgroNigeria in Kaduna State.

In his remarks as the special guest, Ikani lamented that the long duration of violence and terrorism in agricultural vibrant states has had its toll on the total output of crops in circulation around the country. He therefore tasked farmers, and researchers to adopt an integration of ideas towards restoring the fortunes of the north east of Nigeria through agriculture.

He said:”We have watched helplessly as farms turn battlefields, farmers chased away and produce destroyed. This is due to the terror acts then prevalent in the north.

Thankfully, the military has recorded commendable progress in terms of addressing this scourge. As stakeholders, we cannot fold our hands and wait until everything is done for us by the government. We need to rise and strive to start all over again. “ The government is ready to support farmers with loans and incentives to go into production of crops and rearing of animals. Researchers here present, i urge you to please join hands with farmers in introducing new and profit oriented ideas that would help the sector grow”, the university don added.

He pointed out that progress in this regard could only be guaranteed through the harmonisation of all the fields of agroexpertise towards achieving major feats in

research and adoption.

Ikani explained that farmers at the occasion represented the national farm community and that whatever they collectively come up with in research with a feedback from the farmers would help the sector to grow.

He declared that the presence of AgroNigeria in Zaria would bridge the information gap while bringing interpretation of policies to the tables of the farmers even as he urged farmers and other stakeholders to partner AgroNigeria as a veritable media platform to preach the agriculture story.

Another special guest and crop protection expert, Professor Isa Onu from Institute of Agriculture Research, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria tasked medium not to relent in the pursuit of the growth of the sector while applauding the editorial depth of the magazine and quality of production.

He remarked, “I have held magazines and

We’ll focus on agric exports to boost Nigeria’s earnings – Farmers

flipped through many of them. I can proudly tell you that there are no magazines now on the stands with the quality of AgroNigeria both in print and content.”

In his response, the Chief Executive Officer and Editor-In-Chief, AgroNigeria, Mr. Richard-Mark Mbaram reiterated the dream of the company in ensuring that Nigerian agricultural sector gets the desired media mileage necessary for its continued recovery and viability.

Mbaram noted that if Nigeria is to guarantee enough food for both domestic consumption and export, the terror ravaged north east needs an overhaul.

He said the company would ensure that no effort by anyone in achieving the agricultural dream goes unreported, adding that the Company’s determination to set up an office in the north was based on the resolve to help in rebuilding the economy of the north east of Nigeria by showcasing its agricultural potentials to a broader audience.

F

armers in Lagos State have expressed their readiness for maximum exports to boost the Federal Government foreign exchange through agriculture but were being constrained financially.

The farmers, who spoke with National Mirror at the ongoing maiden edition of the Lagos International Agriculture Fair expressed their determination to take full advantage of the opportunity presented by the declined price of crude oil giving way to serious economic diversification.

According to a Cassava processor, Alhaja Ogunmoye Khaerat, who presently cultivates five hectares of land for cassava, the cultivation could be expanded to about 500 hectares if she could get financial support.

She said: “I want to be making dried pap, dried starch, cassava flour, corn flour that can be used for anything and plantains flour but, I cannot afford the equipment called flash drier, the local fabricator said the machine costs N4.5million. So, if I get the needed support, I am ready to boost government foreign revenue through export of garri and other cassava produce.”

Also, women leader, Lagos State AFAN, Alhaja Afolake Olaide, who is into fish farming and cassava production, said there was no limit to the tonnes she could produce but has been constrained financially as well.

She said women in agriculture were ready to work with government to expand non-oil commodities exportation but they need empowerment in form of loan to boost their capacity.

Olaide stressed the need for government to train women farmers on modern technological innovation in agriculture.

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh (right), receiving an agricultural project document from Mr. San Carlos (left) while Chairman of Wells-San Carlos Agro Farms Limited, Capt. Idahosa Okunbo (rtd) and Minister of State for Agriculture, Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri, watch during the visit of the Wells - San Carlos team to the Minister on Wednesday in Abuja.

AFAN commended on first Lagos Agric Fair …as farmers elect chairmen for LGs

T

he All Farmers Association of Nigeria, AFAN, Lagos State chapter has been commended for organizing the first Lagos Agriculture Fair, which has been described as first of its kind especially in the state.

Giving the commendation during the opening ceremony of the first Lagos Agriculture fair at Surulere, Lagos, the Chairman of the Agriculture Group Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Chief Deola Elliot, described the agriculture exhibition as timely while tasking farmers to showcase the best of their farm produce at the fair This is even as he explained that the fall in the price of crude oil should serve as a new opportunity for agricultural revolution in Nigeria.

Elliot, who was also the Chairman

of the exhibition, disclosed that LCCI was committed to ensure food safety and support farmers in boosting their capacity through collaboration with government, AFAN, and other stakeholders.

According to him, the Chamber has been discussing with an arm of United Nation to assist Nigerian farmers in the areas of preservation and processing.

He urged farmers to think positively and showcase the best of their farm produce at the fair as a means of being part of the current agricultural transformation going on in the country to better their lots.

In his remarks, the Lagos Chairman of AFAN, Otunba Femi Oke said the Fair was the first in the history of AFAN where farmers organised such

platform by themselves to showcase their products in Lagos State.

Oke, who commended Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, for supporting the show, also called on other stakeholders to support farmers in the aspect of knowledge and expertise sharing.

The Farmers Association inaugurated her newly elected chairmen in the Local Governments and Local Council Development Areas in Lagos State.

The Deputy Rector of Yaba College of Technology, YABATECH, Mr. Innocent Akhuemonk urged the newly elected chairmen to serve the association with all their strength.

“You should see your election as call to servicem by doing this, you are expected to serve this association with all your might,” Akhuemonk said.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Capital Market

Friday, April 29, 2016

40

Stakeholders hinge Africa’s market growth on penny stocks Johnson Okanlawon

S

takeholders in the African capital market yesterday said that there is need for stock exchanges in the continent to have preferential treatment to Small and Medium Scales industries.

This, they noted, will ensure more liquidity in the markets and grow retail investors.

Speaking on the theme, “Addressing Liquidity Concerns in African Markets,” at a capacity building seminar on the Nigerian Stock Exchange in Lagos, they said that most of the funds raised by listed companies could be financed by local investors.

The Chief Executive Officer of Renaissance Capital,

Mr. Femi Popoola, pointed out that currently, most exchanges favour institutional investors due to large capital involved in the transaction, which according to him, may not grow retail investors.

He said: “The conversation is always different with foreign investors because there is bigger transaction.

Once they (foreigners) exit the market, the country will feel it.”

The Chief Executive Officer, Compass Securities Limited, Mr. Emeka Maduibike, said that the population of Africans that invest in the continent are very low compared to developed countries.

Also, the Chief Executive Officer of United Capital, Mrs. Toyin Sanni, urged the African stock exchanges to support Collective Investment Scheme to thrive in the market.

“I don’t know why it has not getting support. We need sponsors to succeed, “she added.

Earlier, the President, African Securities Exchanges Association, ASEA, Mr. Oscar Onyema, said the two day training seminar dedicated to fostering collaboration and knowledge enhancement among stakeholders in the African financial market.

Onyema, who said that it is the first time the seminar is being hosted outside of South

Africa, stressed that the seminar is also designed to promote growth in African financial markets.

According to him, despite the challenging operating environment in 2015, many countries in sub-Saharan Africa are expected to see a gradual pickup in growth in 2016.

He said that like integration, technology has become a facilitator of liquidity.

Source: NSE “Historically, the technology foRate cus for exchanges was on execution, Gainers and Exchange Losers Start Date 27/04/2016 through End Date 28/04/2016 however today, the focus has shifted Naira US Dollar Print Date 28/04/2016 to information services, pre trade, $1 N197.00 and post trade dimensions.

Market indicators “Accordingly, informationGainers ser- and Losers Start Date 27/04/2016 through End Date 28/04/2016 Gainers for Equities vices, pre-trade and post-trade are All-Share Index 24,957.08 points Print Date 28/04/2016 2016-04-27 2016-04-28 where the next waves of innova- S/N Symbol Closing Price(N) Closing % Change Market capitalisation 8.58trn Price(N) Gain(N) 140.06 154.19 14.13 10.09 tion for exchanges are expected to 1 TOTAL 0.75 0.79 0.04 5.33 emerge. Emerging technology such 2 WEMABANK 3 FLOURMILL 20.00 for Equities 21.00 1.00 5.00 Gainers as block chain and fintech are gain- 4 NASCON 8.00 8.39 0.39 4.88 2016-04-27 2016-04-28 Symbol Gain(N) % Change Closing Price(N) 5S/N NEIMETH 0.63 Closing Price(N) 0.66 0.03 4.76 ing traction.”

TOTAL 6 1 HONYFLOUR WEMABANK 7 2 AGLEVENT 8 3 NBFLOURMILL

Equities up 0.60% as Lafarge Africa grosses N52bn in Q1 Johnson Okanlawon

T

he upward movement in a number of highly capitalised stocks on the Nigerian Stock Exchange yesterday accounted for the gain in the equity market.

The All Share Index appreciated 0.60 per cent to close at 24,957.08 points, as against a marginal depreciation of 0.06 per cent recorded the preceding day.

The appreciation recorded in the share prices of Dangote Cement, Guaranty Trust Bank, FBN Holdings, Access Bank and Nigerian Breweries were mainly responsible for the gain recorded in the index.

The total value of stocks traded was N2billion, up 48.01 per cent from N1.35billion recorded the preceding day, while the total volume of stocks traded was 338.33million in 3,428 deals.

Meanwhile, Lafarge Africa has reported a revenue of N52 billion in the first quarter of 2016.

The company, which is on the verge of concluding the combination of its businesses and integration process which started in 2014, has granted approval to issue a voluntary tender offer on the balance of AshakaCem Plc shares, which will increase the company’s shareholding in AshakaCem from the current position of 82.46 per

cent.

Regulatory proceedings and the evaluation of the Board of AshakaCem are in progress and the shares acquisition process could be concluded by the end of second quarter.

Commenting on the results, the Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Michel Puchercos said that in spite of the macroeconomic challenges, the company will continue to deliver good performance with significant upsides to come.

He said, “As we conclude on the integration journey to form Lafarge Africa, the new organisation of the Company is much stronger and better positioned to de-

Sterling Bank posts 8% profit in Q1

S

terling Bank rode on the back of improving internal efficiency to reduce funding costs and improve profitability of its core banking operations in the first quarter of 2016.

The bank yesterday reported eight per cent net interest margin, which measures the profitability of a bank’s lending operations, in the first quarter of 2016, from 7.4 per cent recorded in the comparable period of 2015.

According to the result presented to the Nigerian Stock Exchange, the bank tightened grips on costs with cost of funds improving from 5.9 per cent in first quarter 2015 to 5.3 per cent in first quarter 2016.

Major highlights showed steady performance with net interest income increasing

by 24.7 per cent to N11.4 billion in 2016, from N9.2 billion in 2015.

Further analysis showed that the increase was driven by a 14.4 per cent decrease in interest expense resulting in a 940 basis points improvement in net interest margin to 56.9 per cent.

However, profit before tax declined by 30.6 per cent to N2.8 billion in 2016, from N4.0 billion in 2015. But when adjusted for non-recurring items, which would have brought the 2015 figure to N2.7 billion, the 2016 figure represents a three per cent increase on fourth quarter 2015 and 2.4 per cent improvement over the same period last year.

Also, while profit after tax on the face of it, declined by 35 per cent to N2.5 billion,

from N3.9 billion in 2015, adjustment for non-recurring items would bring the 2015 first quarter figure to N2.6 billion. This depicts a marginal decline of 2.6 per cent.

Outlining the bank’s outlook, Managing Director, Sterling Bank Plc, Mr. Yemi Adeola, said the lender adopted a cautious but progressive approach to business due to the challenging macroeconomic conditions.

He noted that subdued crude oil prices, fuel and power supply disruptions, as well as significant foreign exchange shortages have persisted, increasing the cost of doing business and heightening the pressure on household income.

He explained that as the nation’s inflation rate witnessed an uptick from 9.6 per cent in

liver operational excellence and improve value to our shareholders”.

On the company’s outlook, he said, “We expect 2016 to be a vibrant year, driven mostly by the Individual Home Segment and we are confident about the future. Our objective is to deliver innovative and quality building solutions to meet the specific needs of our customers, while also achieving good value creation for our shareholders.

“The Federal Government of Nigeria has shown strong indications to support Infrastructure growth in 2016 and we will be able to leverage on our unique foot-print with all Lafarge Africa entities to benefit from these initiatives.”

140.06 1.49 0.75 0.90

NASCON 9 4 LAWUNION NEIMETH 10 5 ACCESS HONYFLOUR 11 6 FIDELITYBK

ACCESS 1510 DANGCEM FIDELITYBK 1611 AFRIPRUD 12 GUARANTY 17 FBNH 13 SKYEBANK 18 STANBIC 14 FCMB DANGCEM

16

AFRIPRUD

17

FBNH

18 S/N

STANBIC Symbol

1

MAYBAKER

2

FO

3

WAPCO

4 5 6 7 8

S/N 1 2 3

4 9 5 10 6

14.13 0.07 0.04 0.04

10.09 4.70 5.33 4.44

0.66 4.06 1.56 1.20

0.03 0.11 0.07 0.03

4.76 2.78 4.70 2.56

0.50 1.00 3.95 160.99 1.17 2.60

0.52 1.02 4.06 163.40 1.20 2.63

0.02 0.02 0.11 2.41

20.00 106.07 8.00 0.50

21.00 110.38 8.39 0.52

0.90 16.23 106.07 0.96

0.94 16.64 110.38 0.98

0.63 3.95 1.49 1.17

AGLEVENT 12 7 GUARANTY NB 13 8 SKYEBANK LAWUNION 14 9 FCMB

15

154.19 1.56 0.79 0.94

MPR

12

Crude oil price

$42.41

4.44 2.53 4.06 2.08 4.00 2.00

16.64 3.60 0.98 13.85 1.02

160.99

163.40

2.41

1.50

2.60

2.63

0.03

1.15

3.60 2016-04-27 2016-04-28 13.76 13.85 Closing Price(N) Closing Price(N)

0.03

0.84

0.09 Loss(N)

0.65 % Change

16.23 3.57 0.96 13.76 1.00

AIRSERVICE Symbol STERLNBANK MAYBAKER DIAMONDBNK FO FIDSON WAPCO LIVESTOCK AIRSERVICE ACADEMY STERLNBANK UAC-PROP DIAMONDBNK

13 9 NAHCO ACADEMY 1410 OANDO UAC-PROP

Losers for Equities 3.57

0.85

0.80

-0.05

-5.88

237.50

225.63

-11.87

-5.00

Losers for Equities

74.00 70.33 2016-04-27 2016-04-28 1.62 1.54 Closing Price(N) Closing Price(N) 1.48 1.41 0.85 0.80 1.49 1.42 237.50 225.63 2.15 2.05 74.00 70.33 0.88 0.84 1.62 1.54 0.67 0.64 1.48 1.41 4.03 3.85 1.49 1.42 19.00 18.20 2.15 2.05 95.00 91.00 0.88 0.84

1511 UBN UACN 1612 TRANSCORP GUINNESS

FGN Bonds

3.80 0.67 4.75 4.03

3.66 0.64 4.60 3.85

4.75 19.00 1.04 95.00

4.60 18.20 1.01 91.00

-3.67

-4.96

-0.08 Loss(N) -0.07 -0.05 -0.07 -11.87 -0.10 -3.67 -0.04 -0.08 -0.03 -0.07 -0.18 -0.07 -0.80 -0.10

-4.94 % Change -4.73 -5.88 -4.70 -5.00 -4.65 -4.96 -4.55 -4.94 -4.48 -4.73 -4.47 -4.70 -4.21 -4.65

-0.15 -0.18 -0.15 -0.80

-3.16 -4.47 -3.16 -4.21

-4.00 -0.04 -0.14 -0.03

-0.03 -4.00

-4.21 -4.55 -3.68 -4.48

-2.88 -4.21

13

NAHCO

3.80

3.66

-0.14

-3.68

14

OANDO

4.75

4.60

-3.16

4.60

-0.15 -0.15Page

1.01

-0.03

-2.88

Bid

4.75

TRANSCORP

Description Published Exchange © December 2015 to 12.8 per centby The Nigerian 15.10Stock 27-APR-2017 in March 2016, the resultant 16.00 29-JUN-2019 monetary tightening mea15.54 13-FEB-2020 sures could further challenge the operating environment.

16.39 27-JAN-2022

12.77

0.04 0.41 4.31 0.02

2.78 1.50 2.56 1.15 2.53 0.84 2.08 0.65 2.00

11 7 UACN FIDSON 12 8 GUINNESS LIVESTOCK

16

Inflation

5.00 4.06 4.88 4.00

0.03 0.03 0.41 0.03 0.02 0.09 0.02

15 UBN Exchange © Published by The Nigerian Stock

Rate (%)

1.00 4.31 0.39 0.02

1.04

Price

Yield

Offer 1

Price Page

-3.16 of

Yield

1.07

104.64

10.40

104.79

10.26 1

3.24

114.58

10.56

114.88

10.46

3.87

111.95

11.61

112.25

11.51

5.83

120.59

11.44

120.89

11.38

14.20 14-MAR-2024

7.95

109.22

12.34

109.52

12.29

12.50 22-JAN-2026

9.81

100.08

12.48

100.38

12.42

Closing Market Prices of March 31, 2016

Treasury Bills Maturity Date

Bid

Offer

Exchange

Rates (N)

30-Jun-16

8.40

8.58

WAUA

270

USD

197.00

6-Oct-16

8.87

9.30

EURO

214

16-Mar-17

9.42

10.35

CFA

0.32

YEN

1.64

Tenor

Rate (%)

SWISS FRANC

202

O/N

6.9583

POUNDS STERLING

293

1M

9.8519

3M

11.6578

SDR

273

6M

13.0575

4

NIBOR

CBN Clearing Rates of January 7, 2016

of

4

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

41

Friday, April 29, 2016

World News It does not matter whether you support Senator Bernie Sanders or you support me. There is much more that unites us than divides us.

–US DEMOCRATIC PARTY’S PRESIDENTIAL HOPEFUL, HILLARY CLINTON

Mission: Biden ‘sneaks’ into Iraq for talks Afolabi Gambari

WITH AGENCY REPORT

V

ice President Joe Biden arrived in Baghdad, Iraq yesterday on an unannounced mission to meet with political leaders aimed at encouraging Iraqi national unity and continued momentum in the fight against ISIS. “The Vice President will also be discussing steps the international community can take to promote Iraq’s economic stability and further regional cooperation,” a White House statement said, stressing, “He will also have an opportunity to thank US diplomatic and military personnel for their tremendous service.”

Biden has made several visits to Iraq to shore up the important bilateral relationship, particularly in the early years of the Obama administration, but this is his first trip since 2011.

In summer 2014, the terror

US Vice President Joe Biden arriving at an air space in Baghdad yesterday

T

plagued in recent months by protests and opposition from predecessor Nuri al-Maliki, as well as Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr.

It is an issue Biden is keenly aware of as he meets with political leaders.

Earlier this month, Biden

The UK said in a statement that it was now “working closely with other international partners to establish the truth and coordinate an appropriate response”.

The IMF is currently carrying out an analysis to see if Mozambique has a sustainable level of debt, and the World Bank is waiting for its outcome before it approves any more loans.

Mozambique’s Prime Minister Carlos Agostinho do Rosario went to the IMF headquarters in Washington DC last week to explain the government’s position.

The government has ad-

mitted that it acted as guarantor for a $622m loan taken out by state-owned Pro-Indicus, and another loan of $535m by Mozambique Asset Management. Both are involved in the maritime industry.

Mozambique has had one of Africa’s fastest growing economies in recent years with oil and gas discoveries buoying its prospects and attracting a lot of investment.

As the Mozambique government failed to disclose that it guaranteed the two large loans, it has put the IMF loan in jeopardy.

Mozambique’s Prime Minister Carlos Agostinho do Rosario

liceman, who then allegedly shot the driver in the groin.

Egypt has seen a series of allegations of police brutality in recent months.

In a statement, the interior ministry said Nassar had been suspended and referred for prosecution over the incident.

It added that security forces took the injured driver to hospital after the shooting.

The incident is believed to have happened earlier this

week.

Photographs published by Egypt’s Tahrirnews website showed what appeared to be the driver lying on a stretcher in hospital, covered in blood.

In February, there was a protest outside the Cairo security directorate after a policeman reportedly shot dead a driver in a street in an argument over a fare.

There were also riots in Ismailia and the southern city of Luxor after at least three people died in police custody in a single week in November.

Egyptian cop nailed over shooting

A

Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi

spoke with Abadi and President of the Iraqi Kurdistan Region Masoud Barzani, in which they agreed on the importance of the fight against ISIS. According to an official, President Barack Obama instructed his team at the end of the year that his “number one foreign policy priority in 2016 was putting ISIS on the path to defeat.”

“And obviously you can’t do that if you don’t get it right in Iraq,” the official said, noting that Biden has been the point person for Iraq since the beginning of Obama’s first term.

“His visit is really just to reaffirm our partnership with Iraq and how important Iraq is to the Obama administration down the home stretch,” the official further said.

Biden’s visit follows several major announcements in recent weeks regarding America’s role in stepping up the fight against ISIS.

group ISIS swept into the country, taking large swaths of land, including the city of Mosul.

The crisis led to a change in government as well, and while Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi is working to bridge sectarian divides, his government has been

IMF descends on Mozambique he UK government says it has suspended financial aid to Mozambique over an alleged “serious breach of trust” relating to undisclosed debts.

This follows similar action from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank.

The IMF halted funding 10 days ago when it found Mozambique had not declared debts of more than $1bn (£700m).

The government says the liabilities relate to guaranteeing loans taken out by two mostly state-owned companies.

WORLD BULLETIN

n Egyptian police officer, the officer Ahmed Samir Nassar, has been suspended and is under investigation for allegedly shooting and wounding a minibus driver in the capital Cairo.

The Interior Ministry said a heated argument escalated into a fight after the policeman told the driver he was blocking the road.

Other bus drivers joined the fight by attacking the po-

The IMF is now worried that Mozambique will not be able to meet its liability commitments with this extra debt on its books.

Poll: Sanders begins campaign lay-offs Bernie Sanders’ campaign has begun laying off staff following several losses to Hillary Clinton in Democratic primaries in key states.

His spokesman said that with many primaries over “we no longer require many of the loyal and dedicated state and national support staffers”.

After Tuesday’s contests, Sanders lacked a path to the Democratic nomination for president.

He has vowed to continue on until the California primary in June.

“We will continue to have a strong and dedicated staff of more than 300 workers who are going to help us win in California and other contests still to come,” Sanders’ campaign Communications Director, Michael Briggs, said in a statement.

The campaign originally had about 1,000 workers, according to reports.

Criticism trails China’s NGO laws China has passed new laws on foreign non-governmental organisations (NGOs) state media said, amid criticism.

The full text was not immediately available, but previous drafts stated that NGOs would have to submit to police supervision and declare sources of funding.

Critics said the laws amount to a crackdown, but China has argued that such regulation is long overdue.

There are currently more than 7, 000 foreign NGOs operating in China.

The bill has undergone several drafts after international criticism that it was too onerous. The White House has said the bill will “further narrow space for civil society” and constrain US-China exchanges.

India to publish sex offenders’ list India’s government is drawing up plans to publish a register of convicted sex offenders, according to Junior Minister for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju.

Rijiju said guidelines were under preparation in consultation with various ministries.

The move comes amid widespread demands for tougher action on sexual violence, more than three years since the fatal rape of a student in Delhi.

The incident led to protests and the introduction of tough anti-rape laws.

However, brutal sexual attacks against women and children continue to be reported from across the country.

The planned register includes a wide range of details about convicted sex offenders, including names, addresses, telephone numbers and current photographs.

42

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National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

B’Haram stalls completion of N17bn road projects in Borno Inusa Ndahi MAIDUGURI

B

orno State government said the Boko Haram insurgency and terrorism have stalled the completion of N17 billion road and bridge projects in Maiduguri metropolis, including the three-kilometre Lagos street bridge awarded in 2012.

The insurgency, according to government officials yesterday, had targeted road engineers and routes through which building

materials are transported to the various project sites in the state.

The road projects cover a total distance of 48 kilometres, including the Old Maiduguri 7.5 kilometer dual carriage way.

The state’s Commissioner for Works and Transport, Alhaji Adamu Lawan, disclosed this yesterday at the Maiduguri-Bulumkutu and Lagos street project sites, while briefing newsmen over the non-completion of the road projects.

The affected construction firms, according to him, include Eighteenth

Engineering Company, EEC, Grand Scope Company and Kano-based Hajaig Construction Company, handling the Bulumkutu road project which had been stalled by the insurgency.

He however said the Bulumkutu high density community roads complex has reached 98 per cent completion. He explained that what remains are the road markings and painting.

He added that the Lagos street road and bridge projects will also be completed for commissioning on May 29, 2016 by the state gover-

nor, Kashim Shettima.

Managing director of Hajaig, Rilwan Abdulkareem Hajaig, noted that the Boko Haram insurgency in Maiduguri metropolis and the North East has affected and delayed the completion of projects in the metropolis.

He also assured the state government of completing the road projects before May 29, 2016.

The commissioner said the government would complete work on the new drainage network in Maiduguri before the arrival of the rains.

El-Rufai directs hospitals to treat gunshot, accident victims ahead of police report A za Msue KADUNA

K

aduna State governor, Malam Nasir el-Rufai, has directed hospitals in the state to treat persons with gunshot wounds and accident victims before demanding police report.

The governor said the duty to save lives is primary, and must come before formal police report.

El-Rufai’s spokesman, Samuel Aruwan, who disclosed this in a statement shortly after the 15th Kaduna State Security Council meeting held in Sir Kashim Ibrahim House, Kaduna, said there is no reason for an innocent citizen who survived armed robbery and needs treatment for gunshot wounds to be denied medical attention until he produces a police report.

The statement reads in part: “The governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, has directed all hospitals in the state to, with immediate effect, start treating persons with gunshot wounds and accident victims without demanding police report as a basis for attention.

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“Lives must be saved first, before the formalities of demanding police reports from victims. After saving lives, hospitals and other agencies can start making inquiries regarding how the gunshot wounds and other injuries were sustained. We consider it gross abdication of responsibility if any hospital leaves injured patients unattended because of the absence of police reports.

“The hospitals can comply with the reporting re-

quirements of the police after providing the care the patient needs.

“This is the unanimous resolution of the Kaduna State Security Council.

As governor, I have communicated this decision to the Kaduna State Ministry of Health and Human Services and other concerned agencies operating in the state. A moment of trauma is not the time to put paper before life. All our healthcare agencies have been advised that it will amount to

criminal neglect to deny or delay critical care to such patients.”

According to the statement, the meeting of the Kaduna State Security Council which endorsed the resolution was attended by representatives of the Army, Police, Air Force, Navy, Directorate of State Services, Civil Defense, Federal Road Safety Commission, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency and the Nigerian Customs Service.

Williams Attah

omitted nominee from Kwami Local Government Area of the state.

“What actually happened at that time was that the list was brought to the honourable House with no candidate from one of the local government areas; it was because of that, that we advised the governor to take back the list and put one candidate from Kwami Local Government Area,” the speaker explained.

He added: “The governor explained to us that it was not a deliberate plan but that the candidate he had in mind had an accident

and so was bedridden and that was why he kept silent about it. We advised him to still go back and nominate the candidate despite the injuries he sustained in the accident and that the House would know what to do during the screening. So, at the screening today, we resolved to allow the nominee time to recuperate and then come for his screening.”

Why we rejected Dankwambo’s list of commissioner-nominees –Gombe Speaker GOMBE

S

peaker of Gombe State House of Assembly, Hon. Nasiru Abubakar Nono, yesterday explained why the legislative arm rejected the list of commissioner-nominees sent to it about two weeks ago.

The House which concluded the screening yesterday, of another list of 13 out of the 14 names sent to it, stated that after the screening exercise it had to reject the list and advised the governor to do the needful by including the name of the CHANGE OF NAME

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Friday, April 29, 2016

47

Leon Balogun suspended M

Monaco, France); Kingsley Madu (AS Trencin, Slovakia); Kenneth Omeruo (Kasimpasa SK, Turkey); Leon; Gbenga Arokoyo (Gaziantepspor, Turkey); William Troost Ekong (Haugesund FC, Norway);

43

Sport

I am still looking for shoes that will make running on streets seem like running barefoot across the bosoms of maidens – Dave Brosnan

NBBF shifts Zenith Bank League Play-offs date

ainz and Nigeria defender, Leon Balogun, has been suspended for three matches for violent conduct.

The German Football Association disciplinary committee ruled that Balogun deliberately kneed Eintracht Frankfurt’s Carlos Zambrano in the 89th minute of last Sunday’s Bundesliga match.

BBC Sport reports that the 27-year-old has been suspended from all club activities until the three-match ban has been served.

Mainz and Balogun have 24 hours to apply for an appeal hearing.

Match referee Felix Zwayer did not see the infringement but it was caught by the television cameras.

Balogun, who plays for 1. FSV Mainz 05, made his Bundesliga debut on April 19, 2009 for Hannover 96 in a game against Hamburger SV. He is among the 26 players Super Eagles’ interim Head Coach, Salisu Yusuf, called up on Wednesday for the forthcoming international friendlies against Mali and Luxembourg in Europe.

He headlines defenders that include Abdullahi Shehu (Uniao da Madeira, Portugal); Musa Muhammed (Istanbul Basaksehir, Turkey); Elderson Echiejile (AS

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

and Chidozie Awaziem (FC Porto, Portugal).

Meanwhile, Haugesund of Norway captain, Troost-Ekong has expressed his joy and delight at his recall to the Nigeria team

Balogun (left) tackling Bayern Munich’s Alaba in a Bundelisga League match

for friendly matches against Mali and Luxembourg next month.

“Very happy to be called up again for Nigeria. Hard work pays off,” Troost-Ekong tweeted.

The 22-year-old defender, who is on loan at the Norwegian club

from Belgian champions, Gent, has four caps for Nigeria.

He represented the Netherlands at youth level before he decided to change his international allegiance.

Agbonlahor gives up Aston Villa captaincy

G

abriel Agbonlahor has stepped down from his role as Aston Villa club captain and been given a “substantial fine” by the club.

BBC Sport report that the striker, 29, apologised for his “actions in recent weeks” after he was pictured apparently partying immediately after their relegation from the Premier League earlier this month.

His subsequent suspension will be lifted by the club on Monday.

Agbonlahor said he “did not deserve” the captaincy.

“This role was a huge honour to me and it hurts to have lost it,” added the striker, who has been “reminded of his responsibilities”

by Villa.

He had previously been investigated in March, with Villa opting to take no further action, after being pictured on holiday in Dubai appearing to hold a shisha pipe.

“My celebrations and passion, especially in games against local

rivals, shows my loyalty to Aston Villa,” a d d e d Agbonlahor, who has spent 16 years at the club, in a post on Instagram.

“I am asking Aston Villa fans for forgiveness as I’m hurting as well despite reports and photos in the press making out otherwise.

“I agree my performances this season have not been good enough but I will be working hard to make things right! Up The Villa, Villa Till I Die!” Agbonlahor - who had been put on a personal fitness plan before his ban - will miss tomorrow’s Premier League trip to Watford.

Gabriel Agbonlahor

44

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I formerly known and addressed as BERNICE ATSUFUI KWAKUTSEY, Now wish to be known and addressed as BERNICE TAMEKLOR ATSUFUI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as CHIMA UGONNA IWUAMADI, now wish to be known and addressed as CHIMA UGONNA DURU-IWUAMADI. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as MONSURAT AGBAJE, now wish to be known and addressed as MONSURAT OYEGUNLE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Miss Foluwakemi Mary Babalola now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Foluwakemi Mary Bunmi - Oladeinde. All former documents remain valid. Surveyor Council of Nigeria (SURCON), Ogun State Housing Corporation and General public take note xxxxxx CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Tonuewa Isaiah Oluwaseun now wish to be known and addressed as Gabriel Isaiah Oluwaseun. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

OBIAGWULA: I, formerly known and addressed as OBIAGWULA AMARACHI MAUREEN, now wish to be known and addressed as MBADUGHA AMARACHI MAUREEN. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, SODIQ SALIU ELIJAH am the same person as SODIQ SALIU OJO and SADIA ELIJAH. Henceforth , I want to be called and addressed as SODIQ SALIU ELIJAH. All formal documents remain the same. First bank plc and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Miss Salako Ifeoluwa Elizabeth now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Oyewole Ifeoluwa Elizabeth.

All former documents remain valid LAUTECH Teaching Hospital and general public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

That l,OGBONNA BARTHOLOMEW OGBUOKU is the same and one person as OGBONNA BARTHOLOMEW UKWA now wish to be known and addressed as OGBONNA BARTHOLOMEW OGBUOKU. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as MARIA NNEKA CHIJIOKE, now wish to be known and addressed as MARIA NNEKA CHIJIOKE OKORIE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Mrs Adekoya Ronke Adewiat now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Adekoya Adawiat Adekunle.All former documents remain valid.FCMB and genera public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

YUNUSA WAHEED RUFAI SAME PERSON AS DAVIES ABDULWAHEED YUNUSA NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS DAVIES ABDULWAHEED YUNUSA.FORMER documents REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC NOTE. CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly known and addressed as AFFIONG IFE ONUMA, Now wish to be known and addressed as AFFIONG ETTI UDO. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly known and addressed as SONEYE OMOTAYO OLUWAYEMISI, Now wish to be known and addressed as OGUNDINBOLA OMOTAYO OLUWAYEMISI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as ASOGBA MAUTIN, now wish to be known and addressed as MISS. ASOGBA MAUTON OLUWASEYI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as KADRI JAMIU OLUWASHINA, now wish to be known and addressed as ABDULQUADRI JAMIU OLUWASHINA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss ARIYO MOPELOLA OLUWATOYIN, now wish to be called and addressed as Mrs. OLOFIN MOPELOLA OLUWATOYIN. All former documents remain valid General Public Take Note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Mrs. Eyebiokin Adebisi, now to be addressed as Ms. Adelusi Adebisi Foluke. All former documents remain valid, general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as ILESANMI TOYIN IGE, now wish to be known and addressed as TOYIN IGE RASAQ. All former documents remain valid. FCMB and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly known and addressed as ODUFUWA AYOOLA OLUWADOYINSOLA, now wish to be known and addressed as ABDUL AYOOLA OLUWADOYINSOLA. All former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

Kareem Adesolape Olabisi is the same person as Kareem Adesolape Rafat Now wish to be known and addressed as Kareem Adesolape Rafat. All former documents remain valid.FIRST BANK,FCMB and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Former Miss Adelekan Omoyemi Adenike. Now Mrs Oladipo Omoyemi Adenike, all former document remain valid general public take note CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly known and addressed as AYOADE SABITU SAMSON,now wish to be known and addressed as AYOADE SAMSON AJASA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE xOF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as SULYMON ABDULHADI, now wish to be known and addressed as AKINRINOLA SULAIMON TOSIN. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as BIODUN OLUWASEYI RACHAEL, now wish to be known and addressed as SEGBENU OLUWASEUN RACHAEL. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

This is to confirm that am the same bearing GRACE ADEFOLAKE and FAMUREWA GRACE OLUMIDE ADEFOLAKE. All former document remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly AGBOOLA ESTHER OLUWABUKOLA now wish to be called and addressed as OYEDELE ESTHER OLUWABUKOLA. all formal documents remain valid general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

OLUTADE: Formerly known and addressed as MISS OLUTADE OLAWUMI FUNMILOLA now wish to be known and addressed as MRS OLATUNJI OLAWUMI FUNMILOLA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

ODINAKA: I formerly OGBOO EMMANUEL ODINAKA now wished to be known and addressed as OGBOO ODIRI EMMANUEL,all former document remain valid,Fcmb,Access bank and the general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS OYEKAN OLUWADAMOLA ADEBOYE NOW WHICH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS OYEKAN JASON OLUWADAMOLA ADEBOYE.ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID.GENERAL PUBLIC TAKE NOTE. CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Miss Ayanfe Ibukunoluwa Olanike now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Odusina Ibukunoluwa Olanike.All former documents remain valid and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly known and addressed as Akaegbusi Obiageli Catherine, now wish to be known and addressed as Akaegbusi Obiageli Kate. All documents bearing these names to remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly known and addressed as MISS ATSEYINKU, AMAJUORITSE STEPHANIE,now wish to be known and addressed as MRS ONIFADE, AMAJUORITSE STEPHANIE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as AKANNI IDAYAT ADEJUMOKE, now wish to be known and addressed as ADEMOLA ADEJUMOKE BOLA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as OWOLABI IMOLE OMONIYI, now wish to be known and addressed as OWOLABI TEMILOLUWA MORENIKEJI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

This is to confirm that CHIEF AKIBU ISHOLA TIJANI OPELOYERU is the same person as ORESAN AKIBU. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly Known and addressed as Ogali Sunday Okechukwu now wish to be known and addressed as Ogali Sunday Joseph. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

Formerly known and addressed as Hamed Olanrewaju now wish to be known and addressed as Ahmed Garba Olanrewaju. All former documents remain valid.

UBA bank and General public take note

Formerly known and addressed as Adelakun Dare John now wish to be known and addressed as Adelakun Dare Yomi.

All former documents remain valid .

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME & CORRECTION OF BIRTH DATE xxxxxx OJO: I, formerly known and addressed as OJO MATHEW, now wish to be known and addressed as AGNILO MATHEW. Also, that my date of birth is 21st September, 1984 and not 21st September, 1983. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

ADEDEJI: Formerly known and addressed as ADEDEJI FUNMILAYO ELIZABETH now wish to be known and addressed as MRS DELE FUNMILAYO All former documents remain valid. Skye Bank Plc, Sterling Bank Plc and General public take note.

OLUWAKEMI: I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Bilikis Oluwakemi Odukoya, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. BILIKIS ODUKOYA ADEKOLUJO. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

This is to confirm that ADEKOYA TAIWO is the same person as AYODELE TAIWO now wish to be known and addressed as ADEKOYA TAIWO. Banks - Skye Bank Idanre and General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Miss. Lateef Modinat Oluwakemi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Rasheed Modinat Oluwakemi. All former documents remain valid. Kwara State Polytechnic, GTB, First Bank Plc, NYSC and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Miss. Ogboso Uzunma Ngozi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ehanlen Ngozi. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Aribisala Oluwatoyin Damilola, now wish to be Known and addressed as Akinwomoju Oluwatoyin Damilola. All former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Dayil Wagap Peter now wish to be known and addressed as Dayil Wagap Kenneth.All former documents remain valid, general public take note CONFIRMATION OF NAME

45

Friday, April 29, 2016

CORRECTION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Opegbemi Emmanuel Akinwale, now wish to be Known and addressed as Olugbemi Emmanuel Akinwale. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

Formerly known and addressed as AWOYALE ADEBOLA ELIZABETH, now wish to be Known and addressed as OLOLADE ADEBOLA ELIZABETH. All former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

That my name and date of birth was wrongly written in my bank details as Mary Happy,1983,instead of Musa Ramatu,1981.All former documents remain valid, general public take note CHANGE OF NAME

I hereby confirm that Mary Omowunmi Ariyo is the same person as Adelakun Omowunmi. All former documents remain valid, general public take note CHANGE OF NAME

This is to confirm that ENIOLA STEPHEN UGUTE is the same and one person as ENIOLA SUNDAY now wish to be known, called, and addressed as ENIOLA STEPHEN UGUTE. FCMB Bank Plc, Eco Bank Plc and general public take note.

Formerly Micheal Efe Monday now Micheal Mathew Efe. All former documents remain valid ,general public take note.

Formerly Olaniyi Folasade Rofiyat now Olaniyi Sadiat Alimat.

All former documents remain valid ,general public take note

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

This is to confirm that MRS ABOLARIN DUPE JULIANA and MRS ADEBAYO DUPE JULIANA is the same and one person bearing the names. All documents bearing the names remain valid. First Bank Plc and general public take note.

RECONCILIATION OF NAME This is to inform the general public that YUSSUFF BABA, USMAN YUSSUFF and USMAN YUSSUFF BABA belong to one and the same person. That henceforth wish to be known and addressed as USMAN YUSSUFF BABA. All former documents remain valid. Authorities concerned and General public please take note.

I formerly known, called and addressed as MIKO PEMU, now wish to be known, called and addressed as EMIKO PEMU. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

This is to confirm that Agabo Sylvester and Sylvester Agabo Osili refer to one and the same person,. All documents reflecting any of the Stated names remain valid and should be treated as one person. Banks and general public take note.

Formerly known and addressed as Salami Aminu now wish to be known and addressed as Karim Lamidi.

All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Paul Gampyal Mamven now wish to be known and addressed as Paul Gampyal Levong Mamven All former documents remain valid. General public take note

Formerly known and addressed as Miss Henry Emem Peace now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Emem Akaninyene Udoh. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly known and addressed as AGBO SILAS NWANNEDI., now wish to be known and addressed as UGWUSINACHI SILAS NWANNE. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly known and addressed as MISS EDE OGECHUKWU JENNIFER, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS CHUKWUNWENDU OGECHUKWU JENNIFER. All former documents remain valid. Enugu State Civil Service Commission and general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

AMALU: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS AMALU IFEOMA EUNICE, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS AMALU IFEOMA EUNICE. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

ENEMMO: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS ENEMMO GLORIA NGOZI, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS NNOLI GLORIA NGOZI (Nee Enemmo). All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME This is to confirm and certify that I UGWU FRANCISCA, UGWU CYNTHIA NKEIRUKA and UGWU CYNTHIA refers to one and the same person, now wish to be known and addressed as UGWU CYNTHIA NKEIRUKA . All former documents remain valid. Coal City Shuttle Transport Service and general public please take note.

This is to confirm and certify that MADU CHIBUZOR FRANK and MADU CHIBUZOR LEVI refer to one and the same person, now wish to be known and addressed as MADU CHIBUZOR LEVI. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly known and addressed as Omolaja Aminat Ajoke, Now wish to be known and addressed as Yusuf Aminat Ajoke. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

OGUEJIOFOR: Formerly known and addressed as OGUEJIOFOR ANGEL. C now wish to be known and addressed as OGUEJIOFOR BENJAMIN. C All former documents remain valid. FCBN and General public take note.

PUBLIC NOTICE OPTIMUS DENTAL FOUNDATION

The general public is hereby notified that the above named Foundation has Applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja for Registration Under Part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Acts, 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. DR. IROANYA CHUKWUEBUKA IKENNA Chairman 2. RDT. EKERE CHIKA Vice Chairman 3. DT. ABAROH PEACE CHIDERA Gen Secretary 4. DR. MERUO LEONARD NNAMDI Financial Secretary THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1.To promote equity in oral Health and life style.

2.To increase oral health awareness thereby reducing oral health risks.

3.To offer free and accessible dental services to communities.

4.To fully participate in the co-ordination of opinions on local and National Health Issues 5.To encourage worldwide healthy oral lifestyle.

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the RegistrarGeneral, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street Maitama , Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Signed DR. IROANYA CHUKWUEBUKA IKENNA Chairman

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Aja Kamoli Oladimeji now wish to be known and addressed as Ajao Kamoli Oladimeji. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Asiabo Okon Happiness, now wish to be Known and addressed as Okon Ndueso Happiness. All former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Uduebor Austin Oikhena now wish to be known and addressed as Uduehi Austin. All former documents remain valid, general public take note CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly Mr Batimehin Odunayo Gabriel now Mr Akpoviri Onomeh Vincent.

All former documents remain valid ,general public take note CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly known and addressed as ONWE JOHN, now wish to be known and addressed as OMEH SIMON. All former documents remain valid. Banks and General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as HELEN .N.OKPARAOCHA now wish to be known and addressed as NEW,HELEN NKECHINYERE OKPARAOCHA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME/ CORRECTION OF DATE OF BIRTH

Formerly known and addressed as Ukebue Johnson Chigozie, now wish to be Known and addressed as Chinedu Nna. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

Formerly known and addressed as Tijani Wasiu Akanni, now wish to be Known as Tijani Wasiu Olamilekan date of birth 1989 April 16th not April 16th 1987. All former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME This is to confirm that AKINLAMI DAISI and AKINLAMI ADEFEHINTI DAISI is the same and one person bearing the two names now to be known, called and addressed as AKINLAMI ADEFEHINTI DAISI. All documents bearing the two names remain valid. First Bank Plc, and general public take note.

This is to confirm that Olayiwola Isumala Olufemi and Ismail Femi Olayiwola is the same and one person bearing the names. All documents bearing the names remain valid. First Bank Plc and general public take note CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly Toyin Mojisola Akindehin now wish to be known, called and addressed as TOYIN ADERONKE AKINDEHIN. All former documents remain valid. Authorities concerned and general public.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME This is to confirm that AKANBI ISMAILA OLAITAN and AKANBI ISMAIL refer to one and the same person now wish to be known and addressed as AKANBI ISMAILA OLAITAN. All documents reflecting any of the Stated names remain valid and should be treated as one person. Banks and general public take note

I formerly known and addressed as EDIDHU GODWiN, now wish to be known and addressed as EDIDHU GODWIN AFOKE. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Miss Temitope Oluwakemi Mistura Ogunsanya now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Temitope Oluwakemi Mistura Ogunsanya - Aina. . All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Aremu Oluwaseun Abosede now wish to be known and addressed as Nariwoh Oluwaseun Abosede. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

Formerly known and addressed as SULEIMAN TAIBAT now wish to be known and addressed as MRS JOSEPH OHUNENE TAIBAT All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

Formerly known and addressed as OKECHUKWU CASMIR OBINNA now wish to be known and addressed as.OKECHUKWU CASMIR. All former documents remain valid. General public take note

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly known and addressed as MISS OKONWO BLESSING AMARACHI, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS ANIH BLESSING AMARACHI. All former documents remain valid. Enugu State Civil Service Commission, Banks and general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly known and addressed as MISS UDE ANNASTESIA NNENNA NGOZIKA.S, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS EZE ANNASTESIA NNENNA NGOZIKA .S..

All former documents remain valid.

Banks and general public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS ONAH MARTINA IFEOMA now wish to be known and addressed as MRS AMADI MARTINA IFEOMA (Nee onah).

All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

ONUMA: I, formerly known and addressed as ONUMA CHIDIEBERE CHRISTOPHER, now wish to be known and addressed as ONUMA PRINCE CHIDI. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

CONFIRMATIOMN OF NAME

This is to confirm and certify that I MADUKWE IZUCHUKWU FRANKLIN, MADUKWE F. I. ZUMA,MADUKWE FRANKLIN IZUCHUKWU,MADUKWE ZUMA and MADUKWE FRANKLIN IZUCHUKWU ZUMA refers to one and the same person, now wish to be known and addressed as MADUKWE FRANKLIN IZUCHUKWU ZUMA .

All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

MADUMERE: Formerly known and addressed as MADUMERE OLUCHI CAROLINE now wish to be known and addressed as MMADUMERE OLUCHUKWU CAROLINE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

EMMANUEL: Formerly known and addressed as EMMANUEL MUCHINOS BRIGHT now wish to be known and addressed as OKAFOR EMMANUEL MUNACHIMSON. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Miss Olaniyi Adetoun Oluwatosin now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Adedosu Adetoun Oluwatosin.

All former documents remain valid. General public take note CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Fatimo Ibrahim Anuoluwapo, now wish to be known and addressed as Kafilat Ajakaye Abike. All former documents remain valid. Bank and General public take note

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly OGUNSEMORE DURO ADE now wish to be known, called and addressed as OGUNSEMORE BOLORUNDURO. All former documents remain valid. First Bank Plc, Unity Bank Plc and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as BLESSING NKECHI WILLIAMS now wish to be known and addressed as BLESSING NKECHI ADEKAYAOJA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note. .

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly known and addressed ONUOHA OLIVER OKONKWO now wish to be known and addressed as ONUOHA REMIGIUS. All former documents remain valid General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS EZE VERONICA IFEOMA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS UDECHUKWU VERONICA IFEOMA. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

EZEBUILO: I, formerly known and addressed as EZEBUILO ONYEMA LIVINUS, now wish to be known and addressed as NGWU ONYEMA LIVINUS. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

EZE: I, formerly known and addressed as EZE CHUMKWUEMEKA, now wish to be known and addressed as EZE CHUKWUEMEKA HILLARY. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

OKOH: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS OKOH IFEOMA LOVETH, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS MADUMERE IFEOMA LOVETH. All former documents remain valid.

Enugu State Water Corporation and general public should please take note.

ADDITION OF NAME

CORRECTION OF NAME This is to inform the general public that my name NJOKU SYLVERNUS CHIBUIKE, was wrongly written during BVN, but now wish to be corrected and addressed as NJOKU SYLVERNUS CHIGBUNDU. All former documents remain valid. Union Banks and general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Kaffo Raimot Motunrayo, Now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Kassali Raimot Motunrayo. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

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

CHANGE OF NAME

IHESIE: Formerly known and addressed as IHESIE FRANCISCA AKWUCHUKWU now wish to be known and addressed as MRS CHIBUZO FRANCISCA AKWUCHUKWU. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

JIMOH: Formerly known and addressed as JIMOH TIRIMISIYU now wish to be known and addressed as SALAUDEEN DANJUMA T. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Miss Ojedare Oluwakemi Christiana, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Sogunle Christiana Oluwakemi.

All former documents remain valid. General public take note CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Miss Owoeye Titilayo, now wish to be called, addressed and known as Mrs Agbegbe Titilayo.

All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

SULEIMAN: Formerly known and addressed as SULAIMAN ABDULKADIRI ADAM now wish to be known and addressed as SULAIMAN ABDULKADIR ADAM and my correct date of birth is 26th march 1980.

All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CALEB: Formerly known and addressed as CALEB JOSHUA ZABE now wish to be known and addressed as CALEB ALHAMDU JOSHUA All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as miss ajayi sarah, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs araromi asisat. All documents remain valid. General Public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly addressed, called and known as Miss Atobatele Adija Folake, now wish to be addressed, known and called as Mrs Raji Adijat Folake. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME ADAMSON: Formerly known and addressed as ADAMSON ADEMOLA SEUN now wish to be known and addressed as ADAMS SEUN MOHAMMED and my correct date of birth is 28th july 1986 as against 26th july 1988. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

YISSA ALIMI: Formerly known and addressed as WAHEED AREMU ANIMASHAUN, now wish to be known and addressed as WAHEED AREMU ATANDA ANIMASHAUN. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

ADDITION OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Lucky J. C. Okekpe, now wish to be known and addressed as John Chinonye Okekpe. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note ADDITION OF NAME

Formerly addressed and known as Mayadenu Aderibigbe, now wish to be called and addressed as Omotunde Aderibigbe Olurotimi. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

Sports

46

Thursday, 5, 2015 Friday,March April 29, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

FIFA president hails Leicester ‘fairytale’

F

Rio 2016 President, Carlos Nuzman (r) receiving the Olympics torch on Wednesday

R

io 2016 President, Carlos Nuzman, has formally received the Olympic flame on behalf of his city at a colourful Handover Ceremony in Athens.

It was held the very stadium which had seen the Olympic Games revived for the modern era 120 years ago.

“Today we move closer to history being made when the Olym-

‘Olympic flame ignites excitement in Brazil’

pic cauldron is lit in Rio,” said Nuzman as he took delivery of the flame in a specially designed safety lamp.

“For Brazilians it will be a moment of national pride. For South America it will mark history.

“Excitement is building in Brazil and will build even more as the torch relay lights up all parts of the country.

“The best athletes in the world are now putting the finishing

touches to their preparations for the Games and we are doing the same at the venues that will host them and the city that welcomes them.”

Nuzman believes countries that have never hosted the Olympic Games will be inspired by the example of Rio 2016.

At the entrance to the stadium, they had flown the flags of every Olympic host nation from 1896 to the present day.

IFA President, Gianni Infantino, yesterday hailed Leicester City’s “fairytale” rise to the top of the Premier League as an example of football’s ability to delight with “beautiful stories”.

Visiting Thailand, where he met with the kingdom’s new Football Association chief, Infantino said the Foxes’ improbable table-topping feats proves cash is not always Infantino king.

“That’s why we all love football, it’s the magic of football. And fairytales like the fairytale of Leicester are exactly showing us that football is unpredictable,” he told reporters.

“Football brings us every year, everywhere in the world, these kind of beautiful stories,” he said.

He was speaking in the King Power Pullman hotel, part of a downtown complex including a mall owned by Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, the Thai duty-free billionaire backing the once unfashionable midlands’ outfit.

Leicester are one win away from securing the league title, defying 5000-1 odds.

The FIFA boss is on a charm offensive to restore the battered organisation’s reputation after it was engulfed last year by a massive corruption scandal.

He said he was in favour of co-hosted World Cups, opening the door for smaller countries without massive infrastructure to hold the event.

Thai football has been mired in division and controversy after a cascade of scandals linked to deposed Football Association of Thailand chief, Worawi Makudi.

Makudi, who had dominated the game in Thailand for years, is suspended from football activities by a FIFA ethics panel.

His successor is Somyot Poompanmoung, the pugnacious multi-millionaire who led Thailand’s police force until his retirement last September.

Somyot has vowed to clean up the sport, allocate funds fairly, raise refereeing standards and boost the quality of the Thai game – he is also a close friend of Leicester owner, Vichai.

UEFA slams Sakho 30 days provisional suspension

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Ighalo pockets £30,000 a week

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igeria international striker, Odion Ighalo, is one of the top earners at his English Premier League club Watford.

The former Udinese forward gets £30,000 a week, according to daily sports of UK. The highest paid player in Watford, Mario Suarez, gets £45,000, while team captain, Deeney Troy, pockets £35,000 a week.

Ighalo, who has netted 14 goals in the EPL this season, earns double what the team’s goalkeeper, Heurelho Gomez, gets.

Nigeria-born Scotland international, Ikechi Anya, is on £22,000 a week.

Ighalo

iverpool defender, Mamadou Sakho, has been suspended for 30 days by UEFA after it opened disciplinary proceedings against him following a failed drugs test.

BBC Sport reports that the suspension is provisional until a final decision is taken by UEFA’s control, ethics and disciplinary body.

Sakho, 26, tested positive for what is thought to be a type of fat burner after the Europa League win against Manchester United on 17 March.

He chose not to challenge the results.

European football’s governing body added Sakho “did not request the analysis of the B sample”.

The date of a disciplinary hearing will be announced at a later stage.

The France international and his club had already agreed he would remain unavailable while

a UEFA investigation was completed.

Sakho’s Liverpool team-mate Kolo Toure was banned for six months in 2011 while at Manchester City after testing positive for a weight-loss drug contained within “water tablets” recommended to him by his wife.

Should UEFA decide on a similar ban for Sakho, it would rule him out of Euro 2016 in France, which starts on 10 June.

Sakho

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sports

, April4,29, 2016 ThursdayFriday September 2014

MANDATE

THE

Sylvester Ikuejamoye

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

Olympics: No more labour loss, please

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A Deepwater guard (r) checking the move of a Dolphin player in a game

NBBF shifts Zenith Bank League Play-offs date

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ollowing the repair works to be undertaken by the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) at the Indoor Hall of the National Stadium, Lagos, the Zenith Bank Basketball Women Final 8 Play-offs scheduled to hold at the venue will now come up between May 7 and 12, 2016.

According to the Secretary General of the NBBF, Patrick Okeke, the revised schedule will see the teams as well as other officials arriving Lagos on May 5 early enough for the technical meeting which comes up a day after.

Matches of the two groups, A and B, will commence on May 6 and run through May 9 while the semi-finals and placement match-

es will hold on May 10, before the All Star Game on May 11. The final game and third place match will hold on May 12, 2016.

The eight teams that qualified for the play-offs after the first and second phase games which took place in Abuja and Asaba respectively are defending champions, Dolphins, Customs, Delta Force and AHIP in Group A while First Bank, IGP Queens, Benue Princess and Plateau Rocks make up Group B. Meanwhile, the DStv League All Star Game will hold as scheduled in the Indoor Hall of the Abuja National Stadium on Saturday, May 14, 2016.

Injuries deplete Rivers United strikers

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o fewer than four first team players, all attackers, will miss Rivers United’s Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) clash with Enugu Rangers on Sunday.

Yaovi Douhadji, Guy Kuemian, Godbless Asamoah and Wilson Andoh will definitely miss out on the matchday 14 encounter against the Flying Antelopes.

Togolese international defender, Douhadji, is currently indisposed and has not trained since last week.

Rivers United doctor, Chukwuemeka Agi, explained that a diagnosis was yet to be reached on Douhadji’s condition.

The big defender travelled to Jos for last Sunday’s 1-2 loss to Plateau United but indisposition forced

technical manager, Stanley Eguma, to draft in Ayobami Asekunowo as his replacement in the match day squad.

“Douhadji has not trained for almost a week and he will definitely miss out on the game against Rangers.

“He is currently at the Braithwaite Memorial Specialist Hospital (BMSH) and will undergo further medical tests,” Agi said.

Eguma says injury worries represent a big set-back in his plans to topple the league leaders on Sunday.

Rangers are currently top of the NPFL standings with 24 points from 12 matches while Rivers United occupy seventh spot with 19 points from 13 matches.

Search and Groom partners Lagos FA on Coerver Coaching development programme, for the

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earch and Groom, a non-governmental organisation that specialises in youth development has secured the franchise to bring “COERVER® COACHING Training for Trainers” to Nigeria.

The project which is supported

by Lagos State Football Association will hold in Lagos in May 9 -11.

Executive Director of the company, Yomi Kuku told National Mirror that the project is specifically created to incorporate coaches in clubs, communities and schools into a coaching

Toure

purpose of developing football players within professional, semiprofessional, grassroots clubs, communities and school’s system.

Kuku further added that the programme is specifically proposed to support and share globally acknowledged technical ideas with coaches in Nigeria, to enhance coaching expertise and development in Nigeria, which will be of immense contribution to player development at the youth level, community clubs elite and development of players within the same club system.

t may not be easy to delve into areas where one is not an expert but my elementary knowledge of economic theory is clear and unequivocal on the relationship between labour and reward. Economists have argued that ‘any labour without reward cannot be economically defined’. The literary implication of this is that every labour must be economically rewarded. Suffice to say therefore that any labour without reward is nothing but labour loss.

This is what l consider to be the situation with our sports sector for close to a decade now.

The quantum of funds expended on sports adminJistration oel Ajayi and Abuja sporting activities has been b o u t a colossal loss 256 Niwithout any gerian tangible result. golfers and their The irony of colleagues from this is that Nisome West Afrigerians are not can countries are bothered about competing in the this huge sum spent ongoing 2016 IBB Inon sports without reternational Golf and sult. Sports by nature Country Club captain attract attention with littournament. tle or no time to examine the The seven-day tourney, which cost off implication. teed on MondayThe andjoy willderivhole able from merely watching any out on Saturday, is bringing back sporting event of one’s interpast captains, present captain est, automatically the and amateur golfersnullifies across the 36 states of comthought ofthe itsfederation huge costtoimplication.

Most Nigerians may not know that after some few ministries major capital totalwith of 83 teams are spinning projects, the next is slated to enter the pot at sports ministry with no capital the National Draws for project than the men to andexecute women other Federation its statutory role of sports ad-, Cup competitions on Thursday ministration and development.

May 5, 2016.

These but notCup limited Headinclude of Federation unit to discovery and development of the NFF, Emmanuel Adesanya, of sporting as wella toas told thenff.comtalents yesterdaythat tal of 61 teams wouldand be involved preparing athletes officials in while 22 forthe bothmen’s local version, and foreign comteams would be involved in the petitions/championships.

In women’s event. clear term, it is the responsibila total of of sports 18 NPFL ity There of theare ministry to clubs, 19 Nigeria National League prepare athletes and technical clubs, nine Nationwide League officials to represent Nigeria One clubs and 15 non –League in major chamclubs in theinternational men’s draw, while 16 pionships like Olympic Games, Premier League clubs, one Pro Commonwealth AfLeague and five Games, amateurAlldivirica teams Games amongst many sion would take part inoththe women’s competition. ers.

Thethe women are COD In past, teams including the United Ladies, FCtagged Robo (Lagos); last Olympics, – LonCapital City Doves was (FCT); Sure don 2012, Nigeria alleged Babes (Kwara); Nasarawa Ama-

to have incurred over a billion naira into the preparations of athletes and officials up to the participation of Team Nigeria at the 2012 London Olympics.

The outcome of the London Olympics was a woeful disaster for Nigeria without a single medal to her credit. The first time in a long while, that Nigeria could not pick a single medal at such a global championship. This is a clear case of labour loss.

A

A

Dalung

T h e Rio 2016 Olympics may not be different from the last one with all verifiable indices. It is no news to insiders that no sport federation can boast of an athlete with medal prospects. Most Rio Olympics bound sports are yet to commence serious camping for the games. As at today, we have less than 100 days to the commencement of the games.

Funding, as usual is alleged to be hampering preparations for the full camping of athletes.

The usual last minute rush, which has been the bane of our sports development in the past appear to have surfaced again.

The truth is that some people obviously enjoy the last minute rush ‘game’ because it gives room for manipulations. Accountability and transparency are locked up in a cell while hell of impunity reigns. We don’t seem to learn from the past. Or is it that we deliberately refuse to learn for selfish reasons? It is sad that Nigeria could afford Oyinlomo Quadri a labour loss, year in, year out

47

without change of approach and template. It is a super labour loss approach when you fail to prepare for a global sporting competition like the Olympic Games. History is yet to show any one willingly pouring water into a basket for preservation or reservoir. Such effort is nothing but a futile one.

In this era of change, we should learn from the past pitfalls. We cannot afford to be the laughing stock of the international community. We should stop the trend of last minute approach with unenviable records of failure. Our target should not be just to make up the numbers with tax payers’ money with nothing to show for it. We should close the road to labour loss galore and follow the path to labour doctrine of economic value and reward.

Four years gap in-between Olympics game is fair enough for proper and adequate preparations for any serious nation desirous to excel.

Let us stop the LABOUR LOSS. M A N Y THANKS TO HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS The 2016 Odun Oba Festival is ongoing in the ancient town of Igbo-Egunrin in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State under His Royal Majesty, Oba (Dr) Patrick Olatunji Kalejaiye, JP, Odede of Igbo-Egunrin.

Kabiyesi has been source of inspiration to all and sundry.

He has been a father and great reliable friend, though an elderly man but has practically gave clear meaning to the agelong saying that ‘age is of the heart and indeed of the mind’.

Kabiyesi is simply at home with both the young and the old. He is undoubtedly a symbol of unity both within the his kingdom, Ilaje Local Government Area as well as Ondo State and Nigeria as a whole.

May you continue to reign in peace and progress with good health, kabiyesi. Long may you reign, sir. Amen In anycase, dear friends and folks, when next you want to address me, kindly remember to add “Otunba Gbobaro” of Igbo-Egunrin Kingdom.

HARD BUT THE BITTER TRUTH Do your very best with every opportunity you have for history to speak kindly on your behalf. The opposite is the direct consequence. Hard But The Bitter Truth.

WORLD RECORD

Pogo stick jumping - fastest mile

Vol. 06 No. 1359

Friday, April 29, 2016

N150

The fastest mile jumping on a pogo stick is 9 min 56 sec and was achieved

by Fred Grzybowski (USA) in Wooster, Ohio, USA, on 4 November 2014.

Inhuman treatment of Folashade, ND II student

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t was a feast of newspaper headlines last April 14 and 15 when the nation was sobered by the Second Anniversary of the abduction, by the violent Boko Haram Islamist sect, of almost 300 school girls from the Government Girls Secondary School (GGSS) Chibok, in insurgency-torn Borno State.

In ‘The Nation’ newspaper, however, was the one that struck this writer the most. The headline says: ‘My child is dead is better than my child is lost’. It was credited to the Serving Overseer of The Latter Rain Assembly, Lagos, Pastor Tunde Bakare, who doubles as the Convener, Save Nigeria Group (SNG).

Bakare’s position: “A Yoruba proverb says, ‘Omo mi ku san ju omo mi so nu lo’, which may be interpreted: ‘It is better to tell me that my child is dead than to tell me that my child is lost’. There are only three broad possibilities regarding the fate of our daughters: One, that they are all alive; two, that some are alive while some are no more; three, that they are

A

C Milan and Juventus will have an audience with Pope Francis prior to contending the Italian Cup final on May 21, it was announced yesterday.

Teams vying for the Cup usually meet the leader of the Catholic Church prior to

FRIDAY WITH Dozie Okebalama

dozieokeama@yahoo.co.uk 08164966858 (SMS only) all no more. But we believe they are still alive. Till date there is no evidence, not even satellite photography, suggesting that they are in a mass grave. So we believe that our daughters are alive and that they can still be rescued alive”.

He continued: “We have heard varied suggestions as to the fate of our girls. We have heard that some have been married off, that some have been sold as slaves; and that some are being held captive as human shields. We have heard that some have been radicalised; and there have been suggestions that they are now being groomed and deployed as suicide bombers. It was Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the creator of the fictional character, Sherlock Holmes, who once wrote: ‘…when you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth…’ What we expect the government to do is systematically analyze the possibilities with a view to eliminating impossibilities”.

No less striking is Bakare’s optimism that our daughters are alive and can still be rescued alive. That is the kind of hope the parents of the girls and the civil society groups in the vanguard of their release want to be inspired with, especially when such assurances come from the authority at the centre – the Federal Government. That must have also compelled the headline: ‘Your daughters will join you soon, bear with us’, which the Nigerian Tribune attributed to President Muhammadu Buhari as a front page

If money was so easy to come by, why was the Rector that betrayed so much inconsideration for indigent students not gracious enough to offset the

N5,000

surcharge rider in its Friday April 15, 2016 edition.

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, quoted Buhari as having assured the parents of the girls that he frequently reflected on the ordeal of the captives in the hands of Boko Haram terrorists and shared the pain of their continued absence from home. Buhari, according to Shehu, affirmed that as a parent and leader of the country, he understood the torment, frustration and anxiety of the parents and would not spare any effort to ensure the safe return of the girls. “The president continued to believe that with the total commitment of the Federal Government, Nigerian Armed Forces, security agencies and the international community, the girls would be eventually rescued. The president noted that thousands of persons, mostly women and

children, who were kidnapped by Boko Haram, had already been rescued and reunited with their families. He shared the hope of the parents that the Chibok girls would ultimately be rescued and reunited with their families as well”, the tribune report said.

Incidentally, there was something sullen about the presidential assurances, which was captured by the Vanguard in its front page lead story of Friday, April 15, 2016, which says: ‘Chibok Girls: Police deny #BBOG access to Villa’. “Parents of abducted Chibok girls and members of the #BringBackOurGirls BBOG advocacy group left Presidential Villa, Abuja disappointed, yesterday, after policemen prevented them from accessing the place to seek assurances of top officials of the Federal Government on the release of the girls abducted by Boko Haram in 2014”, Vanguard reported. Perhaps, it was a case of Chibok girls fatigue or boredom.

But let the assurances and hope linger, for when there is life, there is hope.

To conclude, however, the headline of New Telegraph on the same Friday, April 15, 2016 which ran thus: “Parents to Chibok girls: Are you alive, dead, pregnant?”, appeared quite instructive. It suggests that even if the girls are eventually rescued alive, they may never be the same fellows they were in April 2014 before they were taken away. The leader of the parents of the abducted girls, Mr. Yakubu Nkeki, was quoted as saying “We cannot fathom your definite location and the condition you are in right now. Are you alive or dead? Are you pregnant, put to bed or empty? Have you eaten the food of your choice or forced to eat something against your will? Have you taken your bath today?

How do you take care of yourself during your menstrual flow? ... ” . It may also be pertinent to add: “Have you been brainwashed as suicide bombers?”

As Pastor Bakare may latter realise, no impossibilities may have been eliminated, and nothing, no matter how improbable, can be said to be the truth in the now about the Chibok girls. What they need is our prayers for as long as they remained incommunicado.

Sport Extra Italian Cup: Pope to meet Juve, Milan teams before final the event in Rome and players from both teams will get the chance to do so on Friday, May 20.

The Cup final takes place at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome on May 21.

“On Friday May 20th, on

the eve of the Cup final, Juventus and Milan will be received by Pope Francis,” said a statement on acmilan.com.

“The players and the managerial staff of both teams, along with a delegation of the Lega Serie A led

by president Maurizio Beretta, will pay a visit to the Pontifex.”

A Juventus victory would see the Turin giants secure a league and Cup double for the second successive season, having clinched their

fifth consecutive league title last weekend.

Victory would see underdogs Milan, the seventime European champions, claim their first piece of silverware since the Italian Super Cup in 2011.

Pope Francis

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