Monday, april 27, 2015 (new) by GLOBAL MEDIA MIRROR LIMITED

NCC to sanction ISPs for spam mails, cyber crimes ISAIAH ERHIAWARIEN

Johnson

Vol. 5 N0. 1099

n its determination to put an end to the embarrassment being caused

the country through cyber crimes, the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, is set to hold Internet Service Providers, ISPs, accountable for every spam mail traceable to their net-

works. The ISPs are the last channels for accessing the Internet, particularly for sending and receiving emails and making phone

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I'll revisit NNPC’s $20bn missing fund –Buhari

…says there are information of refund to the treasury OBIORA IFOH ABUJA

resident-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), yesterday stated that his government would revisit the issue of alleged $20 billion missing from the coffers of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). The allegation of missing fund was raised by former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi. The controversial allegation was investigated by CONTINUED ON PAGE 5>>

Xenophobia:

S'Africa angry as Nigeria recalls envoy P.6 ADVERT HOTLINES

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L-R: Adamawa State Governor-elect, Senator Muhammed Bindow Jubrilla; President Elect General Muhammadu Buhari, and Mr. Bose Mustapha, during a visit of the state's delegation to Buhari in Abuja, yesterday.

Polls rerun: Ihedioha, Alhassan reject Imo, Taraba results ...as Okorocha, Ikpeazu, Ishaku win

P.2

Boko Haram attacks Nigerien army base for arms, ammunition P.6

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Monday, April 27, 2015

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Ihedioha, Alhassan reject Imo, Taraba guber results CHRIS NJOKU, DENNIS AGBO, GEORGE OPARA AND JUSTIN TYOPUUSU

eputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Chief Emeka Ihedioha, of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and Sen. Aisha Jummai Alhassan, of the All Progressives Congress, APC, yesterday rejected results of the governorship elections in Imo and Taraba states. While Ihedioha lost to Governor Rochas Okorocha of All Progressives Congress, APC, Alhassan was defeated by Mr. Darius Ishaku of the PDP. This is even as supporters of APC in Imo State, trooped to major streets and roads within Owerri in jubilation of the victory of Governor Okorocha. The action, which paralysed vehicular movement within the city and its environs forced some residents, especially those attending church services to trek long distances before getting to their destinations. It would be recalled that the gubernatorial poll was declared inconclusive on April 12 by the Returning Officer, Prof. Ibidapo Obe, following alleged electoral violence and malpractices in 259 polling units in 23 of the 27 local government areas of the state. Prof. Ibidapo Obe had declared the result of the governorship election inconclusive because the total number of valid votes in the affected councils was 144,715 as against the margin of winning by APC which was 79,529, which he said was capable of affecting the whole result if it goes either way. However, the Electoral Commission on Sunday, after the supplementary election declared Governor Okorocha as the winner of the poll, having scored 416, 996 to beat his closest rival, Chief Ihedioha of the PDP who pulled 320,705 votes. Declaring Okorocha winner Prof. Obe stated that “the governor certified the requirements of the law and having scored the highest number of votes cast is hereby declared the winner and returned elected.” Reacting to his victory, Governor Okorocha after a special thanksgiving service at the Government

House Chapel offered an olive branch to all his opponents, saying that he would carry everybody along in the scheme of things. He also promised to leave a legacy upon which future governors of the state would build on. The governor said that he had expected his main opponent in the contest, Chief

Ihedioha to have emulated President Goodluck Jonathan to concede defeat after the April 11 governorship election, but regretted that his opponent instead subjected the state to a re-run election. He added that despite this, he would maintain an open door policy to accommodate all in other to build

a greater Imo State. He described the President-elect Gen. Muhammadu Buhari as a seasoned leader who has all it takes to move the nation forward even as he pledged to tackle poverty, ignorance, improved job creation, qualitative education, and establishment of industries and tourism centres in the next

four years. While expressing gratitude to the people of the state for the fresh mandate given to him to govern for the next four years, he assured that the Presidentelect would fight corruption, poor power supply, and insurgency in the country assuring them that the Federal Government would not

marginalise the South East in the distribution of national resources. He also stressed the need for the Ndigbo to extend their hand of followership to all tribes in the country irrespective of religious inclination, advising the people of the zone to come together and build a stronger CONTINUED ON PAGE 5>>

L-R: Group Managing Director/CEO, United Bank for Africa Plc, Mr. Phillips Oduoza; Chairman, Mr. Tony O. Elumelu, CON; Company Secretary, Mr. Bili Odum; and CEO, UBA Africa, Mr. Kennedy Uzoka, during the 53rd Annual General Meeting held in Lagos, at the weekend.

NCC to sanction ISPs for spam mails, cyber crimes CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

calls through the Internet. A document obtained by National Mirror from the NCC directed all ISPs to notify the Commission or law enforcement agents of activities relating to unlawful communication by any user and to also suspend or terminate the users account. The NCC therefore instructed that ISPs must maintain an up-to-date list of their subscribers, particularly commercial subscribers such as cybercafés or other resellers to which they provide service. According to the directive, ISPs must cooperate with all law enforcement and regulatory agencies investigating cyber crimes or other illegal activities, stating that beyond that, they must ensure that users are informed of any statements of cyber crime prevention or acceptable Internet use published by the Commission or any other authority. The NCC warned that failure to comply with these acceptable use requirements, including unlawful access or

fraudulent use of a computer, identity theft, impersonation or unauthorised disclosure of access codes, unlawful interception, or any form of system interference, violation of intellectual property rights and terrorism, promoting racial, religious or other hatred or any unlawful sexual purposes, may lead to criminal prosecution. The document titled: ‘Guidelines for the Provision of Internet Services’ urged ISPs to cooperate with enforcement agencies investigating cybercrime or other illegal activity. The ISPs were also directed to provide any service-related information requested by the Commission or other legal authority, including information regarding particular users and the contents of their communications, subject to any other applicable laws of Nigeria. The Commission also required that contact details for the ISP representatives responsible for addressing cybercrime issues must be provided as well as means of contacting the identified

individual outside of normal business hours. The NCC stated that in the event any ISPs become aware of any complaint or activity indicating Internet use for the commission of an offence, such service provider must contact the Commission, pointing out that ISPs must take reasonable steps to ensure that Internet service accounts are not provided to minors without the consent of a parent or guardian. It explained that service providers must ensure that a prominent notice is displayed on marketing materials for the service stating that, prior to using the service, minors must obtain the consent of a parent or guardian stressing that suitable filters must be provided for parents or guardians who wish to control access to certain types of content. The directive warned that ISPs must not fail to disable account of minors if notified in writing by a parent or guardian that a minor does not have adult consent for maintaining the account. The regulator however

stated that it would not hold the service providers liable for the contents of any Internet service transmission by a user of the service or for providing access to such content by other users if the ISP has not initiated the transmission, selected the recipient of the transmission, selected or modified the content contained in the transmission. It also clarified that the ISPs shall not be liable for the transmission in a communication system of automatic, intermediate and temporarily stored information provided by a user of the service if the ISP does not modify the information, interfere with any conditions of access applicable to the information, complies with any rules regarding the updating of the information and interfere with the lawful use of technology to obtain data on the use of the information. The ISPs have also been mandated to have in place a procedure for receiving and promptly responding to content related complaints, including any notice to withdraw or

disable access to identified content issued by the Commission or other legal authority. The ISPs are also requested to maintain appropriate restrictions on inbound and outbound connections for any service they manage that allows email forwarding on behalf of third parties. Also persons transmitting unsolicited commercial communications must take account of any written request from recipients to be removed from mailing lists, in which people who wish to avoid unsolicited commercial communications are identified while maintaining appropriate restrictions on inbound and outbound connections for any service they manage that allows email forwarding on behalf of third parties. It would be recalled that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, recently arraigned one Stephen Omaidu before Justice M. A Nasir of Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Jabi, Abuja on a two count charge, bordering on theft to the tune of about N68.028 billion.

FRANKA OSAKWE

f your child or spouse keeps behaving aggressively and getting easily angry, then it’s time to consider a diet change. According to a new study, people who get excessively angry maybe influenced by the kind of food they eat. The study by researchers from Oxford University U.K revealed that processed junk food consumption can lead to aggression, irritability, and even violent tendencies. According to Dr. Drew Ramsey, who led the study, nutrient deficiency is a major cause of behavioral abnormalities. Without proper nutrients, he says, the body cannot produce the appropriate chemicals and hormones required for clear thinking and healthy mood, which in turn can lead to irrational and even dangerous behaviors. To back up these claims, Dr. Ramsey decided to study how diet affects mood and behavior in a group of prison inmates. Dr. Ramsey gave certain vitamin supplements to some of the prison inmates, and compared their behaviors and thinking patterns to those of prison inmates eating typical junk foods. Upon analysis, it was determined that those inmates who took the vitamin supplements were far less aggressive and angry than those eating primarily processed junk food. According to Dr. Ramsey, the findings indicate that nutrient deficiency, which is becoming increasingly common in the modern world, is directly correlated with erratic and violent behavior. A similar study recently put out by researchers at Penn State came to similar conclusions, having found that individuals already prone to moodiness are even more likely to be in a bad state of mind if they eat junk food. According to that study, negative moods are amplified considerably following junk food consumption. “Cutting back on high-sugar foods such as chocolate, sweets and sugary drinks can help prevent mood swings. These foods should be replaced with foods that have low glycemic index (GI). They digest slowly, preventing big changes in blood sugar levels that accompany high-sugar food”, says Amanda Ursell, a nutritionist. According to Michael Pollan, an author, food influences the formation of mood elevating brain chemicals like serotonin.

“Serotonin deficiencies cause depression, anxiety, anger problems and eating disorders. Neurons (brain cells) require food nutrients to make the chemical messengers that

Too many vitamin pills may increase cancer, heart disease risk

Good Health Consumption of junk food leads to violent behaviour

DID YOU KNOW?

oo many vitamin pills can increase the risk of cancer and heart disease, say scientists. Millions take over the- counter diet supplements to help prevent a host of diseases.

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Monday, April 27, 2015

But a 10-year study has revealed that some cause serious harm in high doses. Experts now believe the supplements are unnecessary for most people, who would be better off eating a nutritious meal. Dr Tim Byers, of the University of Colorado Cancer Centre, led research involving thousands of people. He said: “The evidence shows people who take more dietary supplements than needed tend to have a higher risk of developing cancer. “We are not sure why this is happening.” Beta-carotene, a Vitamin A precursor, was found to raise the risk of lung cancer and heart disease by 20 per cent when taken at above the recommended dose.

influence every system of the body. “Your emotions can instantly change depending on what you eat. If you grab fast food, boxed, packaged, or processed food, you

get a stimulating high from sugar, salt and fat. Unfortunately a crash follows as your brain is starved of serotonin enhancing nutrients. The crash causes food cravings that can lead to overeating, weight gain and irritability”, said Pollan. He further explained that anger floods the body with stress hormones that over time can prove harmful to heart health and other organ of the body. “When you start raging at the driver of the BMW that nearly ran you off the road, your heart races, digestion slows, blood rushes to your extremities and sugar floods your bloodstream. Anger places demands on your body and brain, draining it of energy and resources. When you don’t replenish with real food, the subsequent deficits affects your mood. This makes you more prone to anger, creating a chronic cycle of irritability and stress”, he added. Nicolette Pace, a nutritionist, explained that carbohydrates are often blamed for contributing to feelings of anger. “They don’t give your body what you need to cope with day-to-day stresses, furthermore, “Deficiencies in nutrients such as magnesium or manganese, vitamin C, or some B vitamins may make a person hyperactive towards a stressor, a short fuse so to speak”, she said. She found that, compared to individuals who eat healthy foods like fruits, leafy greens and beans, those who consume packaged or processed foods are irritated more easily. She said unbalanced diets filled with processed food and many nutrient deficiencies have been connected with having more violent and aggressive tendencies. According to her, several foods help keep anger at bay. “For example, kiwis have high vitamin C content, an antioxidant known to fight stress, as do leafy greens. Leafy greens also contain magnesium, a nutrient responsible for relaxing muscles and reducing anxiety.

Mosquitoes are lured by body odour genes

new study has shown that mosquitoes are in fact lured by body odour genes. According to the study published in Plos One, the likelihood of being bitten by mosquitoes could be down to genes that control our body odour. The research tested 18 pairs of identical and 19 non-identical twins to see how attractive they were to mosquitoes. Identical twins were more likely to have similar levels of attractiveness, suggesting shared genetic factors were at play. Experts say the results must now be assessed in larger trials. In a series of experiments each twin placed one hand at an end of a Y-shaped wind tunnel as air was pumped through, carrying odour with it. Swarms of mosquitoes were then

released and moved towards or away from each twin’s hand. In the case of identical twins, who share much of their genetic material, there was an even distribution of mosquitoes in both sections suggesting the insects did not prefer the odour of one hand more than the other. But results for the non identical twins, who share fewer genes, were more varied. Based on this, researchers suggest attractiveness to mosquitoes could be caused by inherited body odour genes. The next step then is to uncover which specific genes may be involved.

Photo News

Monday, April 27, 2015

L-R: Oyo State Deputy Governor Otunba Moses Alake Adeyemo; Managing Director/CEO Bank of Industry, Mr Rasheed Olaoluwa; Special Adviser Bureau for Investment Promotion, Mrs Folakemi Akinyele; a beneficiary, Financial Secretary of Nigerian Association Small and Medium Enterprises, Oyo State Chapter, Mrs Motunde Ayankoya, and Executive Director, SMEs,BoI, Mr Waheed Olagunju, during the presentation of cheques to BOI SME FUNDS beneficiaries in Ibadan at the weekend.

L-R; Company Secretary, FCMB Group, Mrs. Olufunmilayo Adedibu; Chairman, Mr Jonathan Long; Founder Otunba Michael Balogun; Managing Director/CEO, Mr Ladi Balogun, and,Managing Director, Mr. Peter Obaseki at the bank’s Annual General Meeting in Lagos recently.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

L-R:, Winner in the Mixed Monohull Category, Sam Coomben; National Commercial Director, Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC) Limited Mathieu Seguin; Director, Human Resources, NBC, Grace Omo-Lamai, and Winner in the Mixed Monohull Category, Dan Wottonn, during the NBC 2015 Coca-Cola Cup at the Lagos Yacht Club.

.L-R: Director of Training and Administration, Institute for Government Research Leadership Technology, Dr. Hassan idris; Chief Executive Officer, Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited, Mr. Christophe Penninck; CEO of the institute, Ambassador Moses Essien and Chairman of Council of the institute, Dame Priscilla Kuye during the conferment of the Fellowship of the institute on Penninck, in Abuja, at the weekend.

National News

APC warns against hurried recruitment, privatisation Olajide Omojolomoju

ll Progressives Congress, APC, has decried the reported alleged last-minute looting of the nation’s resources, hurried recruitment into the public service and rushed privatisation of key financial institutions by the Goodluck Jonathan administration, warning that such actions will have serious consequences. In a statement issued in Lagos yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, APC said apart from the instances of such cases that have been reported by the media, it has been inundated with calls and messages by concerned Nigerians, alerting it to the unscrupulous actions of some present administration officials. Saying that while the Jonathan administration remains in office till midnight of May 28 and governance in the country will not stop because a new pres-

ident has been elected, APC added that it is incumbent upon the outgoing administration not to create more problems for the incoming government than it had already done, or to tie the new government’s hands through some suspicious actions. Mohammed said that while the incoming Muhammadu Buhari administration will not get itself bogged down by endless probe of the activities of the Jonathan administration, all actions taken since the result of the March 28 presidential election was announced may come under the searchlight. He said: “For example, the National Council on Privatisation, NCP, which is headed by the Vice President, has just approved the financial bid opening for transaction advisers for the privatisation of the Bank of Agriculture, Bank of Industry and Nigeria Commodity Exchange. The question is: What is the rationale for rushing this exercise with

just weeks left for this administration? “Also, there have been reports, yet unrefuted, of a planned hurried recruitment into the Nigeria Immigration Service, after a previous attempt ended in a national tragedy and the fleecing of innocent job seekers by mindless Federal Government officials. Apart from the fact that this last-minute recruitment is suspect, it is irregular. “The Civil Defense, Fire, Immigration and Prisons Services Board, CDFIPSB, is only empowered to recruit, promote and discipline only senior officers (levels 8 and above). The power to recruit, promote and discipline junior officers is vested in the different services, in this case the Nigeria Immigration Service. “Therefore, the recruitment exercise now being conducted by the Federal Civil Service under the auspices of the Presidential Committee to Assist on Immigration Recruit-

ment, usurps the functions of the board as it relates to recruitment of senior officers (level 08) and that of the Immigration Service as it relates to junior officers (levels 07 and below).” APC also called attention to a published report that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Senator Bala Mohammed, plans to use the Federal Capital Development Authority, FCDA, to carry out a secret employment of no fewer than 500 workers

before the end of April. Mohammed said: “We do not know if these reports, as well as others, are true. But if indeed these rushed privatisations and hurried recruitment exercises - in the twilight of the Jonathan administration are true, they raise serious questions concerning the reasons behind such actions. We are therefore compelled to call on President Jonathan to call his administration officials to order, lest they engage in

actions that can later embarrass his administration “This is against the backdrop of the precarious situation into which the Jonathan administration has plunged the nation’s economy, no thanks to years of ceaseless and unprecedented profligacy by the outgoing administration, as well as mind-boggling acts of corruption and looting of the public treasury by some administration officials and their collaborators.”

Collapsed pedestrian bridge kills 7 in Kano

o fewer than seven people were killed in Kano yesterday when a pedestrian bridge at Dorayi quarters, collapsed, the state Police Command said. The command’s Public Relations Officer, ASP Magaji Majiya, confirmed the incident in an interview with journalists. Majiya said the incident happened around

4:45 p.m. when the bridge, which was still under construction, caved in and collapsed on a car, passing underneath it at that particular time. “Workers at the site had warned motorists not to pass because they were working on the bridge, but the driver of the taxi allegedly ignored the warning. “So, the moment he moved; before he could

pass, the bridge caved in and collapsed on the vehicle, which led to the death of seven persons,” he said. According to him, the vehicle had since been evacuated from the scene, while the corpses have been deposited at a hospital morgue. Majiya said the police had also commenced investigation into the cause of the incident.

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Monday, April 27, 2015

I'll revisit NNPC’s $20bn missing fund –Buhari CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

the National Assembly. The Federal Government also later decided on a forensic audit, which was carried out by PriceWaterCooper House (PcW). The audit firm had long submitted its report, clearing the management of the NNPC of misappropriating the $20 billion. But the Federal Government is yet to publish the audit report. Addressing the issue

again, Buhari stated that the way the issue was handled was not the best standard practice as government only resorted to sacking the whistle blower. Buhari, who spoke at his presidential campaign organisation headquarters, Abuja, when a delegation of the Adamawa State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), paid him a courtesy call, also stated that he had got information

that looted funds were being returned to the treasury. Speaking in Hausa language, Buhari said: “I heard that some people have started returning money; I will not believe it until I see things for myself. “Imagine a situation where the former CBN governor who by God‘s grace would later become the Emir of Kano raised an issue of missing billions of money, not in naira but in

dollars - $20 billion. “What happened? Instead of investigating to know whether it was true that the money was missing or not, they simply found a reason to remove him. This issue would be revisited for us to know what happened.” He said that the best way to reposition Nigeria is to fight corruption, insecurity and unemployment. He added that if these issues were tackled, the na-

Retired Nigerian Army Senior Officers and their wives, during Pulled-out ceremony in Abuja, at the weekend.

PHOTO: NAN

Ihedioha, Alhassan reject Imo, Taraba guber results CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

APC since regional politics was no longer fashionable. But Ihedioha yesterday dismissed the results of the election as a sham and a mockery of democratic principles. In a message to the people of the state, Chief Ihedioha flanked by some chieftains of the party, regretted that in spite of obvious instances of identified electoral malpractices, INEC still went ahead to declare results in favour of APC. The PDP standard bearer also cited several arrests of fully armed men who impersonated police officers, recorded inducement of INEC staff at the Government House, Owerri on the eve of the election and captured in photographs, audio and video records by local and international observers as among other irregularities that marred the exercise. He also drew attention to widespread incidents of swapping of PDP votes in favour of APC which eroded the validity and

credibility of the exercise lamenting that the above notwithstanding, INEC still declared Okorocha as the winner. However, as democrat and a law-abiding citizen, Chief Ihedioha said that he had acknowledged the results but assured that the PDP in the state would study the details meticulously and make its position known in the near future. He urged the indigenes of the state to maintain the peace and to keep the dream of rebuilding the state together alive. In Taraba, Sen. Alhassan, rejected the results of the poll, which announced Ishaku as the winner. Addressing a press conference in Jalingo shortly after the announcement of the results, Alhassan described the entire elections process as a “daylight robbery” and said the party would challenge the results at the elections petitions tribunal. “The combined governorship elections in Taraba were characterised by vio-

lence, massive rigging, ballot snatching and abuse of the card readers in substantial parts of the state by the PDP and their allies,” she said. She contended that results ascribed to Wukari, Donga, Takum, Sardauna, Zing, Yorro, Kurmi and some parts of Ussa, KarimLamido, Bali, Ardo-Kola and Lau local government areas were not acceptable as they did not reflect the true results of the election in Taraba. Alhassan said all the complaints on the irregularities and abuse of the election guidelines were promptly reported to INEC, but that no action was taken. Also, the party’s agent in the election, Alhaji Umar Abubakar Gambo, who refused to sign the result, said his party would challenge the election result at the tribunal. “We have already written petitions to INEC over irregularities in Yorro, Zing, Wukari, Lau, Bali, Takum and Kurmi among others. “We will challenge the election at the tribunal and

if we lost, we will continue up to Supreme Court,” he said. Gambo called on APC supporters to remain calm, adding that the struggle for change that would liberate the state has just begun. But on his part, PDP agent, Rebo Usman dedicated the victory to the people of the state, saying the electorates have spoken and urged all Tarabans to join hands with the new governor to move the state forward. In Abia, where Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu of the PDP was yesterday declared the winner by INEC with 264, 713 votes, the agent of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Chief Ahamdi Nweke, also yesterday questioned the authenticity of the result from Obingwa Local Government Area. APGA candidate, Dr. Alex polled 180,882 votes to come second in the election. Raising objections to the results of Saturday’s rerun election in nine LGAs, Nweke said that the Obingwa result sheet bore the stamp of Umuahia LGA.

tion’s economy would be strong. Bemoaning the bad administration of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Buhari stated that the high number of unemployed youths is dangerous to the nation. He said: “It is a great danger for a nation with such a teeming youth without jobs.” Commenting on Boko Haram, Buhari said he prays that God gives him the strength to fight terrorism. He assured that he would fix the infrastructural decay in schools, roads and hospitals once he mounts the saddle, adding that the people of Adamawa State that an enabling environment would be put in place for them to exploit the natural resources that abound in the state. Buhari said: “From what he (leader of delegation) has said, this problem of Boko Haram, we thank God it is now evident that this is not a religious problem; it is purely terrorism. “I said it earlier that all the religions we practice - both Islam and Christianity - do not support terrorism. So, to go and kill people either in the mosque or in a church, market, motor park or to go and slaughter children in school, anyone who commits such a crime either does not know what Allahuakbar (God is great) means or does not believe in it. This is terrorism. It is our hope that God gives us the power to end this. “On the issue of unemployment that you talked about, I went to 35 out of the 36 states of the federation. I went to some states about six times. I went for town hall meetings in Kano, Lagos and here in Abuja. I met with religious leaders in churches of all denominations - everybody is involved. “From the airports to the streets, we saw youths running after our vehicles sweating; some walking the whole distance to wherever we were driving to whether they went to school or did not go to school. They don’t have jobs. “This is the biggest problem we have in Nigeria today. Apart from se-

curity challenges, the next thing is to find jobs for our youths. Our youths form 60 per cent of the population in Nigeria. Without jobs, these people who are still bubbling with energy will constitute danger for this nation. “If our youths don’t get jobs, we will not enjoy our stay in this nation. But one of the things we can do to fight poverty in Adamawa is the abundance of arable land that you have. “Where I come from (Katsina State), the Sahara (desert) has eaten into the land and our people who were not opportune to get formal education became private guards because there is no more land to farm. But for you in Adamawa, you are blessed with land and water for agriculture. “The three things we in the APC will give priority to are security, the economy and the war against corruption. These are things that affect all the states in Nigeria. “We hope that, like I have been hearing over the radio, we have regained most of the territories captured by Boko Haram. We thank God. But among the worst atrocities committed against Nigeria by the PDP is what it has done to our military. “It is our military that went to Burma; it was the same army that when I was commissioned second lieutenant, I did not spend three weeks before I found myself in Kinshasha (in Congo). Then, the civil war in Nigeria and Sierra Leone came up. And now, to say that Nigerian soldiers failed to retake 14 local government areas out of 774 - for me who served in the military - I find it incomprehensible until I go there to find out what is the reason for this. “The kind of leadership brought upon us by the PDP - whether it is documented or not - can never be forgotten in our history.” Adamawa State governor-elect, Senator Jibrilla Bindow, who led the delegation, while congratulating Buhari, urged him to help redress the problem of infrastructure, insecurity and youth unemployment plaguing the people of the state.

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Monday, April 27, 2015

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Xenophobia: South Africa angry as Nigeria recalls envoy

outh Africa has condemned Nigeria’s decision to recall its ambassador over the spate of attacks on foreigners in the country. It called the step “unfortunate and regrettable” and said it “would be curious for a sisterly country to want to exploit such a painful episode.” At least seven people have died over a month of attacks on foreigners and foreign-owned property in South Africa. Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini has been blamed for sparking the attacks with comments about foreign workers.

Soldiers were deployed to flashpoints last week to prevent more violence. Some blamed the attacks - which centred on Durban and Johannesburg - on unemployment and poor political leadership. Thousands were displaced, with many Zimbabweans, Mozambicans, Malawians and others returning home and others taking refuge in temporary government-operated shelters. Some governments complained that South Africa was failing to do enough to protect foreign nationals, though it now

insists it has quelled the violence. Nigeria has summoned Acting High Commissioner Martin Cobham along with Deputy High Commissioner Uche Ajulu-Okeke “for consultation” over the “ongoing xenophobia”, Minister of Foreign Affairs Aminu Wali said in a statement carried by media on Saturday. The statement acknowledges that South

African president, Jacob Zuma, has condemned the attacks. In its response, South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation said that “a government resorts to such an extraordinary diplomatic step to express outrage at actions or behaviour of another government.” The statement said South Africa had not blamed Nigeria “for the

and order has been restored.” On Friday, President Zuma met over 50 leaders of organisations representing foreign nationals in South Africa for talks about how to avert a repeat of the attacks. Next week, the South African parliament is to be suspended to allow deputies to press the anti-xenophobia message in their home constituencies.

deaths and more than nine months delay in the repatriation of the bodies of our fallen compatriots” in attacks by Boko Haram militants. The statement insists that the South African government and citizens have been “decisive and unequivocal in condemning and rejecting the attacks on foreign nationals” and insists that “through our interventions, relative calm

Ogogoro caused Ondo mystery deaths –Commissioner OJO OYEWAMIDE AKURE

oxicology reports have confirmed that the mysterious deaths at Ode Irele in Irele Local Government Area of Ondo State were not caused by viral infection but by ethanol poison. Commissioner for Health, Dayo Adeyanju, disclosed this yesterday while briefing journalists in Akure. Adeyanju said: “Our clinical analysis reveals that there were no known viruses, while toxicology reports have confirmed our prime suspicion of methanol poisoning.” The commissioner further disclosed that heavy concentration of ethanol of about 16.3 per cent was found in the system of the affected victims. Adeyanju, who said the death toll had risen to 23, added that 10 survivors were recorded and that two of the victims had regained their sights. To prevent such deaths, he announced the state government’s decision to ban production, sale and consumption of locally brewed gin known as “ogogoro” in the state. He warned that the particular batch of ethanol had been circulated across the state, promising however that his ministry with other stakeholders and associations would work together to stop the production, sale and consumption of the locallybrew gin in the state.

According to him, the ministry has embarked on sensitisation programme through jingles on radio and television and billboards to dissuade people from drinking ogogoro. Adeyanju disclosed that treatment plan had been put in place for people suffering from ethanol poisoning and urged the general public to report promptly any case of such to the nearest hospital. He said: “We have reviewed our strategies and embarked on sensitisation to let people know that locally-made gin is prohibited. We will also embark on searches because this batch of ethanol-containing gin must have gone round the local government area and neighbouring towns. “We will start with the entire South Senatorial District, then move to the Central Senatorial District. We appeal to the general public to desist from drinking the gin until we are able to identify the source of contamination or find out how the ethanol got into the drinks.” The commissioner disclosed that the state government was working closely with the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, and the National Orientation Agency, NOA, to sensitise members of the public on the danger in consuming locally brewed gin.

L-R: President, Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), Mr. Femi Adesina; Vice President-elect, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo and representative of Lagos State Governor, Mr. Lateef Ibirogba, during the 2015 Biennial Convention of NGE in Lagos on Saturday.

Boko Haram attacks Nigerien army base U BONG U KPONG ABUJA

iger Republic, one of Nigeria’s allies in the ongoing war against Boko Haram in the North East, yesterday suffered a devastating attack as Boko Haram insurgents attacked its Army base. Niger’s defense ministry was said to have confirmed the attack which sources said the

army may have suffered “heavy losses” in the attack on Karamga Island. However, casualty figures were not provided in the confirmation by the Nigerien defence ministry. A similar attack on Karamga Island in February killed seven Niger soldiers, and 14 Boko Haram fighters were also killed, military officials said at the time. In the latest attack,

the assailants were said to have approached at dawn in about 10 motorised canoes. Niger had joined in the offensive earlier this year and has been very supportive in the reclaim of large swaths of territory in Nigeria from Boko Haram. Sources at Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters, DHQ, said Boko Haram insurgents were facing hard times in Nigeria

and were attempting to see if they could operate from elsewhere. The source further said the insurgents were currently starved of ar ms and ammunitions following the ongoing victory against them by Nigerian troops and would do anything including attacking the military base of Niger Republic to steal ar ms and ammunitions.

Thugs invade Oyo community, 3 injured KEMI OLAITAN IBADAN

andemonium gripped Aba-Teacher community within Omi Adio in Ido local government area of Oyo State at the weekend as armed thugs descended on residents, injuring no fewer than three persons. According to an eyewit-

ness, the attackers were said to be working for one Chief Lanlokun Odejobi who is claiming ownership of a vast acres of land spanning Omi-Adio, Ibadan to Abeokuta, an act that sparked controversy between Ekerin Olubadan of Ibadanland, High Chief Edward Oyewole, Chief Odejobi and prominent Ibadan indigenes.

The wounded persons, after the attack, were taken to Apata Police Station where the matter was reported. It was learnt that Odejobi and his men had allegedly been terrorising the residents of about 28 communities since the past two months over the ownership of the land, claiming his forefather fought wars with the Egba and reclaimed the

land in question. But the Ekerin Olubadan of Ibadanland, who is the head of Foko family, Oyewole, has kicked against Odejobi’s claim. Through his lawyer, Adeniyi Akintola, Oyewole petitioned Governor Abiola Ajimobi to call Odejobi and his army of thugs to order, to avoid breach of the peace.

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Monday, April 27, 2015

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Monday, April 27, 2015

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Halt xenophobic attacks now, S’Africa told SAIDAT ALAUSA

i c e - C h a n c e l l o r, University of Lagos, Akoka, Prof. Rahamon Bello, has called on South Africa government to do the needful in order to end the xenophobic attacks that has resulted in the indiscriminate killings and injury to foreigners in the country. He stated this at a press

conference to announce programmes for the institution’s 2013/2014 ceremonies at the weekend. According to him, if this is not curbed immediately it will deter the growth of the continent educationally and technologically as no one would want to visit or live in such country. He, however, urged other African countries, especially Nigeria, to take the advantage to improve the

country’s economy so that citizens would not have to leave in search of greener pastures in other nations. The Vice Chancellor therefore urged the incoming administration to take education funding more seriously in order to improve the standard in the country and reduce students’ population leaving the country to study in nearby countries. Highlighting the pro-

grammes for the convocation, Bello said the event which is for four days will begin today with a convocation lecture titled, ‘Taking Advantage of a Depressing Nigeria Economy to Accelerate SocioEconomic Development’ to be delivered by the former Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission, Prof. Peter Okebukola. The congregation for

the award of first degree, diploma, certificate to 10,600 graduating students which cuts across the 13 faculties and Distance Learning Institute, holds on April 28 and 29. The climax of the ceremonies will hold on Thursday, April 30 with the award of higher degrees and diplomas as well as conferment of honorary degrees and emeritus professorship of the univer-

sity on six eminent Nigerians in recognition of their immense contributions to education and quality of life in the country. They include Gen. Theophilus Danjuma (retd), Deacon Gamaliel Onasode and the General Overseer, the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye. A total of 125 students will graduate with first class at the ceremony.

Police personnel trained on ICAO security audits OLUSEGUN KOIKI

L-R: Archbishop Emeritus of the Metropolitan See of Lagos, His Eminence Anthony Cardinal Okogie; Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, Archbishop Adewale Martins; Mass Servers, Ms. Odemenam Laurita and Group Chairman/Regional Consultant, STBMcCann, Lagos, Sir. Steve Omojafor, during the 70th Pontifical High Mass, tree planting, opening of the new hostel and annual awards of Holy Child College in Lagos at the weekend. PHOTO: SAMUEL ADETIMEHIN

Three die in Ogun auto crash FEMI OYEWESO AND OJO OYEWAMIDE

hree persons were roasted to death at the weekend in a lone auto crash along Abeokuta-Kobape-Siun expressway. The accident, which happened at Adedero village in Obafemi-Owode local government area of Ogun State around 9: 30pm on Saturday evening, involved a Honda car with registration number (LAGOS) AGX 930 BL, bearing the three occupants who were all roasted beyond recognition. The Public Relations Officer, PRO, of the state

Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency, TRACE, Babatunde Akinbiyi, who confirmed the auto crash to journalists in Abeokuta, the state capital, explained that one of the tyres of the car in which the victims were travelling burst “on top speed,” making the vehicle to skid off the road and hit a tree before catching fire. “It was gathered that the car had a burst tyre and since it was moving at high speed, the driver lost control. The car skidded off the road, moved for almost 150 metres before hitting a tree and burst into flames. All the three occupants in the car were burnt beyond recogni-

tion.” Akinbiyi stated that the remains of the victims had been removed by the TRACE rescue team and deposited at the morgue of the General Hospital, Ijaiye, Abeokuta. In Ondo State, about 10 people on Saturday evening nearly lost their lives in an auto crash in OkaAkoko in Akoko South West Local Government Area of the state. They, however, sustained varying degrees of injuries in the accident, which an eyewitness said was caused by a truck. The accident, which occurred along Lagos-Abuja express road in Oka-Akoko, was said to have been the second one to happen

within one week. The truck reportedly ran into a commercial bus, causing the 10 passengers in the bus to sustain severe injuries. Promptly response to residents’ distress call by officials of the Federal Roads Safety Corps, FRSC, saved the day, as they rushed the accident victims to a government hospital in the town. The truck was also said to have been impounded by the commission and the driver handed over to the police for further investigation. It was learnt that two of the victims were on danger list in the hospital, while others were responding to treatment.

n an effort to ensure compliance to civil aviation regulations and operating standards during the forthcoming International Civil Aviation Organisation’s, ICAO’s security audits of the nation’s airports, the Nigeria Police, Airport Command, over the weekend organised a sensitisation seminar for its personnel. The two-day workshop with the theme, ‘Improving the Aviation industry through optimum development of her security personnel,’ was meant to boost the competence of policemen attached to the aviation sector in carrying out their duties within the sector. The ICAO is expected to carry out security audit of some major airports in the country in June. The seminar was also attended by personnel from other security agencies attached to the industry. The Commissioner of Police, Airport Command, Mrs. Dorothy Gimba, at the event described the seminar as encompassing, as it touched on issues concerning airport policing. Gimba told participants that the seminar was meant to scale up their competence in carrying out their duties within the aviation sector whilst bearing in mind too, the need to prepare for retirement days. She explained that retirement plan was incorporated into the seminar because of its prospect in enhancing performance. She added, “The primary aim of this seminar is to scale up the participants

competences in carrying out their duties within the aviation sector. To further embellish this workshop, the issue of pre-retirement preparations is also of critical importance because of its prospects in enhancing performance. “Aviation is not only a highly specialised sector, but one that is multifaceted. The sector is a multi-agency environment, which demands collaboration and cooperation in order to form a synergy that would ensure seamless operational environment for optimum performance.” Gimba said it was on this basis that the police thought it needful to sensitise and update the skills of security personnel in the airport environment, through the workshop, to be able to meet up with their mandate especially as the nation prepares to face the ICAO audits. She told participants that the seminar was meant to aid exchange of experiences, seek solutions and to remind all of the emergency plans contiguous to the aviation industry so that each agency is aware of what is expected of it during normal operations and emergencies. Chief Security Officer, CSO, Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, Col. Carl Onalo (retd), who commended the police commissioner for organising the seminar, called for full cooperation between the police and other security agencies in the sector. As part of the efforts to boost the morale of the men and officers of the airport police command, the CSO promised to assist it in the provision of accommodation which has been a major challenge.

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South West

Monday, April 27, 2015

Drivers claim ignorance of Speed Limit Device

ome commercial bus operators in Lagos State on Sunday claimed to be ignorant of the newly introduced Speed Limit Device by the Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC. The drivers, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Lagos, said they were hearing about the device for the first time. It would be recalled that the FRSC had since 2014 announced that from June 1, 2015, enforcement of the device would commence. Mr Kamilu Salaudeen, who plied Idumota-Oshodi route, said he had never heard of any such device or its enforcement by the FRSC. “I am hearing of the speed limit device from you for the first time; how can FRSC start enforcement in June when the people involved are not aware of the device,” Salaudeen asked. Another commercial bus driver, Mr Collins

Chuka, who plies Ojuelegba-Lawanson route, said the device may not be for intra-state commercial bus operators, as nobody had called their attention to it. “I am not sure this device you have just brought to my notice is for drivers like us, who ply our vehicle within the state, maybe it is only for inter-state buses,” Chuka said. An inter-state commercial driver, who simply identified himself as Biodun and plies Ijora to Ibadan, also claimed ignorance of the device. Mr Hyginus Omeje, FRSC Lagos Sector Commander, told NAN that the transport unions had been adequately informed about the Speed Limit Device, its importance and the enforcement. “On this Thursday hopefully, there would be a mega rally here in Lagos with the Corps Marshal, Mr Boboye Oyeyemi, on the enforcement campaign,’’ Omeje said.

Crack in Oyo PDP

…Splinter group launches ‘Reformed party’ Kemi Olaitan IBADAN

n its determination to form a formidable opposition and eventual take-over of mantle of leadership in Oyo State come 2019, a group within the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday at a meeting in the residence of one of the party’s stalwarts, Alhaji Adebisi Olopoenia, in Ibadan, launched what it called ‘Reformed PDP’. According to the convener, Olopoenia, the man behind the move, is to reform the party and also make it a force to be reckoned with in the world of politics. One of those present at the meeting, Professor Soji Adejumo, while speaking with journalists, said “I am fully a part of the whole process. This rebranded PDP will do away with politics of selfish, moribund, unintelligent interest by some party leaders who struggled to take control of the party”.

Also, a party stalwart from Atisbo Local Government area of the state, Mr. Azeez Salawudeen, pledged his support and that of other members of the party in the local government for the reformed PDP, adding that the party can not afford not to return to its number one position it is known for. Another party member from Ibadan North Local Government who was also at the meeting, Mr. Ismaila Osuolale Ashipa, in his remarks, said there is the need for the PDP to be rebranded; stressing that it is only the PDP that can tackle the All Progressives Congress, APC, only if it is reformed. Not less than 13 local government areas were represented at the meeting of the new PDP with members from Oyo East, Atiba, Ibadan South-East, Ibadan North, Afjio, Olorunsogo, Itesiwaju, Ibadan North West, Ibadan North East, Atisbo, Saki-East, Kajola and Saki-West.

L-R: Acting Executive Secretary, Office of Natural and Mineral Resources, Mr. Kayode Lanlehin; representative of Osun State Governor/ former Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Natural Mineral Resources, Prince Tunde Ajilore; member, House of Assembly, Hon. Laide Awolola and Managing Director, Wolid International Services Ltd, Engr. Ayanbamiji Oluwole Idowu, during official commissioning of Wolid Quarry Complex at Iwoye in Osun State, at the weekend.

Ondo deputy gov may be impeached this week Ojo Oyewamide AKURE

ndications emerged at the weekend that embattled deputy governor of Ondo State, Alhaji Ali Olanusi, may be impeached before end of this week. It was gathered that the seven-man investigative panel set up to look into allegations of gross misconduct levelled against the deputy governor would present its report to the House of Assembly any time from now. Sources said the Assembly is most likely to approve the report of the panel, which is expected to indict Olanusi immediately after its submission. It was also learnt that not less than four persons, including a top civil servant from Supare Akoko, where the deputy governor hails from, had been pencilled down to replace him. However, Chairman of the panel, Olatunji Adeniyan, has assured all parties involved in the matter that he would ensure fairness in line with the law that set up the panel. He gave the assurance at the end of the committee’s sitting, after counsel

to the deputy governor, Benson Enikuomehin, and that of the House of Assembly, Dayo Akinlaja (SAN), had argued their case. Enikuomehin, who cited Section 36 subsection 1, 2, 3, said Olanusi was not properly served to appear before the panel, arguing that the panel could not continue sitting. Saying initially it was Olanusi’s son who instructed him to appear for his father since the deputy governor was out of the country on a routine medical check-up, Enikuomehin later said he got the notice on his WhatsApp, demanding that Olanusi be properly served by the assembly. But Akinlaja argued that the fact that Enikuomehin appeared for Olanusi was evidence that his client was well served. To prove that the deputy governor was in the country, Akinlaja presented a copy of the letter signed by him informing the governor of his intention to travel next Monday, praying the panel to discountenance Enikuomehin’s claims. He stressed that the numerous evidence on ground attested to the fact

that Olanusi was in the country and was well and properly served the summons as well as the notice of impeachment. Chairman of the panel, after considering arguments from the two parties, ruled that sufficient evidence on ground showed that Olanusi was properly served the summon. It was at this point that Enikuomehin told members of the panel that he would not be able to continue with them on the ground that he had nothing else to work on and walked out on them. Akinlaja then led Chief of Staff to the Governor, Kola Ademujimi, and the Permanent Secretary, Deputy Governor’s office, Kehinde Temikotan, in evidence as witnesses on all the seven allegations levelled against Olanusi. Ademujimi and Temikotan provided both oral and documentary evidence to substantiate allegations that the deputy governor abused his office by condoning his younger brother and Special Assistant to commit forgery. They also provided evidence that Olanusi collected about N40million for medical check-up and of-

fered no evidence that the medical bills were paid as no receipt was retired. Evidence was also led to the fact that Olanusi was involved in absenteeism, truancy, breach of peace among cabinet members and the state at large. Akinlaja said in his final address that the oral and documentary evidence on ground supported the claims that Olanusi was guilty of all the seven allegations. Chairman of the panel, who said since there were no longer any representation and presentations, declared the sitting had come to an end, adding that the panel would communicate its resolutions to the House of Assembly. Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Ondo State has urged the general public to prevail on Governor Mimiko and the State House of Assembly to stop the impeachment process against Olanusi. A

statement

issued

yesterday by its publicity secretary, Abayomi Adesanya, said removing Olanusi without following due process as enshrined in the country’s constitution could ignite crisis.

South West

Monday, April 27, 2015

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Incoming Ekiti Assembly won’t be rubber stamp –Senator-elect Abiodun Nejo ADO EKITI

lthough, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, won all 26 seats in Ekiti State House of Assembly in the just concluded election, a senator-elect from the state, Duro Faseyi, has said the incoming legislature will not be a rubberstamp of the executive. Faseyi, a chieftain of PDP and former House of Representatives member, said as long as the legislators were partners in progress with Governor Ayodele Fayose’s executive for the development of the state, they would thoroughly debate and scrutinise all bills and policies by the executive to ensure the people derive maximum democracy dividends. The senator-elect spoke at his Iludun Ekiti country home at the weekend, just as the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, declared Mrs Cecilia Dada of PDP winner of the supplementary House of Assembly election for Ilejemeje Constituency in the state. According to INEC Re-

turning Officer, Mrs Chiyelu Agwu, Dada polled 3,449 votes as against the candidate of All Progressives Congress, APC, and incumbent lawmaker in the constituency, Segun Erinle, who got 2,715 votes while Labour Party, Unity Party of Nigeria, UPN and ACPN polled 48, 7 and 2, respectively. The PDP had earlier on April 11 won the remaining 25 seats, while that of Ilejemeje constituency was declared inconclusive by INEC following cases of ballot-snatching, and was rescheduled for April 25. The senator-elect, who frowned at the spate of defections from PDP to APC following Muhammadu Buhari’s victory in the March 28 presidential election, expressed confidence that the nine National Assembly members-elect and the 26 House of Assembly members-elect from Ekiti would remain in PDP and team up with Fayose to fight for what belongs to Ekiti from APC’s incoming Federal Government. Faseyi also said that they would join hands with the governor to form

Poll: Witch doctors fooled Ladoja –APC Kemi Olaitan IBADAN

yo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, yesterday berated defeated candidate of Accord Party, AP, in the last gubernatorial election in the state, Senator Rasheed Ladoja, saying his witch doctors, who fooled him to contest the election, made him not to respect the wishes of the people. The party in a statement issued by its Director of Publicity and Strategy, Olawale Sadare, also described the former governor as an avowed anti-democrat whose penchant for placing personal interest above that of the society was unrivalled. It would be recalled that Ladoja garnered 254,520 votes to place second behind Governor Abiola Aji-

mobi of APC, who polled 327,310 votes in the justconcluded governorship election. But the former governor has, however, refused to accept the final results as collated and announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, citing irregularities. He promised to prove this before the Election Petition Tribunal set up for the 2015 general elections. Also, Ladoja in an interview published at the weekend by a national newspaper, said people of the state were sad over Ajimobi’s announcement as winner of the election. Sadare said it was disturbing to note that the former governor would not accept the result of an election described as one of the fairest in the history of elections in the state.

a formidable opposition to the incoming APC Federal Government. He described the defectors as “fair weather politicians who are only

interested in their pockets”, adding: “It is unfortunate that people are moving, It is not healthy for our democracy; those doing so are commercial

politicians seeking what to eat. “I have remained a faithful party member since I joined politics and will remain so. So I see no reason people should

dump PDP because APC won at the centre. Those people are supposed to have come together to form a formidable opposition.”

L-R: Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Hon. Remi Ibirogba; Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Engr Taofiq Tijani; Chairman, Epe Ibeju-Lekki Sand Miners Assciation, Asiwaju Dele Ogunbowale, and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Mrs Iyabo Obasa, shortly after ministerial briefing at Alausa-Ikeja.

‘PDP lawmakers won’t split Osun Assembly’ Boladale Bamigbola OSOGBO

ember representing Orolu/Irepodun state constituency in Osun State House of Assembly, Kamil Oyedele, has allayed fears about rancour in the next legislative House, despite election of new members on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. When the next Assembly is convened, the All Progressives Congress, APC-dominated house

will welcome two new members from PDP, raising concerns of possible friction. But Oyedele, who is returning to the House for a third term in the next Assembly, told National Mirror in an exclusive chat in Osogbo that since lawmaking remains a collective responsibility, there would not be rancour despite the presence of opposition lawmakers. Debunking insinuations that the present Assembly was a rubberstamp of the executive

for comprising mainly lawmakers from the same party platform, Oyedele said because there were no reported disagreements with the executive does not make the lawmakers stooges of the governor. “Why should we fight the governor when he is implementing manifestos of our party? We need roads, he is building roads, education is being revamped, youths are being gainfully employed, so why should we pick quarrel with such governor? “People are saying we

are not vibrant like the Assembly during Oyinlola era when both PDP and ACN have members in the house. The reported quarrels at the time were caused by disagreements occasioned by differences in the manifestoes of the parties that had members in the House. “Now that we have all lawmakers coming from the same party with the governor, who is implementing life-changing programmes for the state, there should be no quarrel,” Oyedele said.

Aregbesola tasks media on enthronement of democracy …hails NGE president’s re-election

overnor of Osun State, Rauf Aregbesola, has reminded the media of its crucial role in building and sustaining a virile democratic culture in the country. Aregbesola, while reacting to the re-election of Nigeria Guild of Editors, NGE President, Femi Adesina, said the guild has the task of ensuring that journalists were alive to their responsibilities in the society. The Osun governor, in a statement by the Director,

Bureau of Communication and Strategy, Semiu Okanlawon, said the re-election of Adesina was a clear testimony of his astute leadership trait and ability to manage people. While commending Adesina for his all-inclusive running of the guild’s affairs, Aregbesola tasked him on ensuring that the media does not detract from its role as watchdog of the society. The governor noted that the guild should work as-

siduously in making sure that the media collaborates with the government in building, sustaining and protecting the nation’s democracy. According to him, the “Fourth Estate of the Realm must uphold the principle of fair hearing, engage in investigative and in-depth reportage of events and ensure an egalitarian society where all shades of interests and opinions are given opportunities to air their views.”

The statement added: “Your re-election as president of Nigeria Guild of Editors has come to us in Osun as another landmark achievement. “This is so not only because you are one of the best hands in your profession, which has earned you a return to this exalted position but also for the fact that you have done us proud as a true ambassador of Osun. “Your re-election must certainly be hinged on your leadership qualities and successes recorded as a thoroughbred professional.

South South

Amori wins Delta Central re-run poll

eoples Democratic Party, PDP, candidate for Delta Central Senatorial District, Mr Ighoyota Amori, has been declared winner of Delta Central Senatorial re-run election. Announcing the results, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Returning Officer, Professor Prekeyi TawariFideyin, said Amori polled 116,723 votes to defeat two other contestants. They are Ovie OmoAgege of the Labour Party, LP, and Halims Agoda of the All Progressives Congress, APC. According to the returning officer, OmoAgege scored 76,635 votes, while Agoda polled 15, 491 votes. Following announcement of the result, residents in Mosogar, hometown of Amori in Ethiope West Local Government

Area, took to the streets in jubilation. In his reaction, Mr Martins Aruviere, Media Director, Omo-Agege Campaign Organisation, commended the electorates for their disposition and support for LP. Aruviere who spoke on behalf of Omo-Agege, however, said INEC was not truly independent as it claimed to be. ‘’Results from LP strongholds were unanimously cancelled, especially in Ethiope East, Uvwie and Udu Local Government areas. ‘’This is just the beginning, election is just the first phase, the tribunal is there to scrutinise and question the process,’’ he said. Agoda could not be reached on phone for comment and did not reply to the text messages sent to his cell phone.

Osahon Julius

to use his exalted position to unite and foster more enduring cordial relationships between Bayelsa, Niger Delta and the rest of the country. Bayelsa State governor also congratulated the first visitor to the NDU, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, and Chief O. B. Lulu-Briggs, who were also awarded honorary doctorate degrees at the ceremony, describing them as true patriots, who had always given their all to the service of the people of the Niger Delta and beyond.

YENAGOA

hehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Ibn Umar Garba elKanemi; former governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha; elder-statesman and frontline philanthropist, Chief O.B. Lulu-Brigs, on Saturday bagged honorary doctorate degrees from Bayelsa State-owned Niger Delta University, NDU, at its fourth convocation ceremony of the institution. Congratulating the awardees, Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, noted with satisfaction the long and impressive academic, moral and political profile of the Borno monarch, which he said has positioned him strategically as an inspiration and bridge builder among various sections of the country. While calling on other highly placed Nigerians to emulate the amiable disposition of Alhaji Garbai elKanemi, the governor described the honour as well deserving and urged him to continue

ome residents of Warri, commercial city of Delta State, on Sunday said that persistent power outage in the area had become unbearable. The residents, who live in Willie and Etuwewe areas of the city, told the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Warri that the prolonged blackout had crippled their businesses. Mrs Rukevwe Amoma, a hairstylist, described the persistent power outage as “a very big obstacle’’ to her means of livelihood. Amoma said: “The con-

Monday, April 27, 2015

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Confab advocates merit in judicial appointment Sebastine Ebhuomhan BENIN

igeria’s law and judicial sector is backing the National Judicial Council, NJC, revised guidelines for appointment of judicial officers. While the Federal Government is to implement guidelines approved in November 2014, as National Mirror reliably gathered, revision of the guidelines followed a conference organised by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, UNODC, under a multi-year European Union, EU-funded project to reform the justice sector in Nigeria. In July 2014, UNODC in collaboration with the NJC, Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Access to Justice, AJ, and Open Society Initiatives for West Africa, OSIWA, organised a Judicial Reforms

Conference with the theme, “Putting Our Best Foot Forward: The Judiciary and the Challenge of Satisfying Justice Needs of the 21st Century.” The conference, which was attended by top national and international legal experts, including Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court of South Africa and former Chief Justices of Nigeria, reviewed extensively the appointment, performance evaluation and discipline of judicial officers at both the federal and state levels. A major outcome of the conference was the revision of previous guidelines for the appointment of judicial officers, which was perceived to be weak, nontransparent and vulnerable to abuse by political office holders and was not in line with international best

practices. “Judicial appointments are a gateway to the exercise of enormous judicial powers and authority. Where procedures of appointments are weak, flawed or vulnerable, the outcomes of the process will likely reproduce those frailties and flaws,” said Joseph Otteh, Executive Director of the nongovernmental organisation, Access to Justice. “The new guidelines will contribute to making Nigeria’s judiciary stronger and more respectable, and strengthen its role as the defender of constitutional democracy,” Otteh added. Careful, consistent and unbiased implementation of the new guidelines will contribute to improve good governance and compliance with the rule of law in Nigeria and help improve access to justice especially for the

under-privileged Nigerians who are often left out in justice administration. Support to the justice sector in Nigeria is a 42-month project funded by the European Union with about 26 million Euros and implemented by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, UNODC, to improve the effectiveness, accessibility, accountability, transparency, and fairness of the justice system in Nigeria. The project is being implemented at the federal level as well as in nine states: Anambra, Bayelsa, Benue, Cross River, Imo, Katsina, Lagos, Osun and Yobe, and the Federal Capital Territory to support key initiatives of the Federal Ministry of Justice to drive a coordinated, unified and integrated reform across the justice sector.

Mothers after their conferment of Mothers of Faith (Ezinne Okwukwe) by the Catholic Women Organisation at St. Joseph Pro- Cathedral Catholic Church in Asaba, Delta State, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

Warri residents decry power outage tinuous power failure is affecting my daily income and I do not find the situation funny. “I now spend so much to fuel my generating set in order to do my business and retain my customers. I spend between N1,200 and N1,500 daily on fuel.’’ A welder, Mr Mike Tony, said the situation had affected his trade, resulting in loss of customers. “My job is welding and some of my customers have retrieved the jobs they gave

me because there is no light to do the work. “Sometimes I take some of the work to my friends’ workshops in Ekpan and it costs me money to do that. I don’t have a generator and there is no electricity. “I don’t know what to do now other than to beg the Benin Electricity Distribution Company, WEDC, to restore electricity supply to this area because the blackout is affecting my job and family,’’ he said. Another resident, Mr

Simeon Asowota, said the problem started in 2014, but became worse last month. Asowata noted: “Of course we all know that the power situation in the country is bad, but our experience in this area is more worrisome. “Since March this year, we have been in total darkness and there is no hope of getting out of the mess in the nearest future. “The BEDC officials shut us out and we don’t even know what is happening as

I speak to you.’’ Mrs Morenike Adebayo, a new tenant in Etuwewe said that she regretted moving into the area. Contacted, Mr Edmond Gbinwi, the Public Relations Officer of BEDC, Warri South Business Unit, said the transformer serving the area was faulty. Gbinwi told NAN that the transformer had been taken away by the company for repairs, but added that he did not know when the repairs would be completed.

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Cleric tasks Buhari on unity, economy, Boko Haram Femi Oyeweso ABEOKUTA

s preparations for inauguration of the President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, are in top gear, clerics from the Christian faith over the weekend called on the incoming government to direct all efforts towards prioritising unity of the country on assumption of office by May this year. The president-elect has also been charged to tighten the nation’s security by ensuring that the Boko Haram insurgency ravaging parts of the country was finally crushed. Founder and General Overseer of Deliverance Gospel Church International, Reverend Noah Akanbi Sogunro, gave the charge while speaking with journalists during the annual convention of the Founder’s Day thanksgiving service of the church held in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital, yesterday. The cleric emphasised that a lot of Nigerians were currently looking up to General Buhari whom they believed has enough experience to effect positive

Dennis Naku

PORT HARCOURT

olice in Rivers State said it has intensified hunt to rescue a medical doctor, Samuel Amaechi, who was abducted by yet-to-be identified gunmen on Thursday in Port Harcourt. Amaechi is attached to Nobsams Clinic in Rivers State capital. State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Ahmad Mohammad, who stated this in Port Harcourt on Sunday said the police were not resting on their oars to ensure the medical doctor was rescued, as well as to apprehend the hoodlums. Mohammad said: “The hunt to rescue Amaechi safely is still ongoing. “Our men are on the lookout for where he is being kept and I can assure you that we anticipate a breakthrough,” the police image maker said. Amaechi was kidnapped

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Monday, April 27, 2015

changes in all sectors of the nation. Sogunro, however, stressed that the healing process to the plethora of challenges bedevilling Nigeria as a nation should begin immediately Buhari assumes office on May 29 this year. “Now that the Lord had made General Muhammadu Buhari to win the election, we hope, particularly myself, that he will unite us together religiously without any differences of ethnic groups. We are praying about that and we believe that should be done and I pray God should help him to do that.” Sogunro also advised the president-elect to consider injecting enough funds particular into the nation’s education and power sector to jump-start the areas which according to him need urgent attention. The cleric used the occasion to counsel Christians to be steadfast in their faith, saying only the worship of God through Jesus Christ can lead to salvation. He condemned the rush for prosperity by modern day pastors, stressing that only blessing that comes from God can last.

at gunpoint at Mile 4 area of Port Harcourt at 7:40pm on that day while returning from work. A family source said that Amaechi who is also the Traditional Ruler of his Etche community in Etche Local Government Area of the state was close to his house when the gunmen accosted him. His driver cooperated with the hoodlums for fear of endangering his boss’s life, even as the gunmen opened the car and dragged Amaechi out of the car, shot sporadically into the air and whisked him off to an unknown destination It would be recalled that attempts by his mobile police orderly to give them a chase failed as the gunmen who were about four in number shot the man dead on the spot. Doctors in the state have become targets of kidnappers in recent times, even as some have either been killed or maimed by their assailants.

Ghana Aviation Authority lauds Nigeria’s radar coverage

hana Civil Aviation Authority has commended the capacity and performance of Total Radar Coverage of Nigeria, TRACON, an equipment guaranteeing safety of air navigation in the country. This is contained in a statement by Mrs Olajumoke Adetona, Acting General Manager, Public Affairs, Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, NAMA, on Sunday in Abuja. The statement said the visiting top-level technical team of Ghana CAA led by its Director-General, Mr Abdullahi Alhassan, gave the commendation during a facility tour of NAMA’s installations in Lagos. It said some of the installations visited included TRACON site and Control Tower at the Murtala Muhammed Interna-

tional Airport. The statement quoted Alhassan as saying, “we are highly impressed with what we have seen here, both in terms of technical infrastructure and human capacity to effectively man these facilities and guarantee safety of air travel in the country. “The GCAA DG told officials of NAMA that their mission to Nigeria was to seek the nation’s support in co-management of Accra airspace, which includes Togo and Benin. “It is a matter the three bodies (ASECNA, GCAA and NAMA) should discuss on a roundtable because of its regional safety and security implications and the position of Ghana is that we co-manage the airspace rather than sectorise it,” GCAA’s DG said. According to the statement, Managing Direc-

tor of NAMA, Mr Ibrahim Abdulsalam, said as neighbours, Nigeria is in the middle of the whole issue, which makes it imperative for a quick resolution to be sought. It said Abdulsalam assured that Nigeria was disposed to a peaceful and amicable resolution of the issues. “He stressed that NAMA was committed to co-operating with both Ghana and ASECNA in its determination to ensure safety of the African sky. “Abdulsalam also promised to open line of communication with ASECNA on the possibility of the three organisations meeting at the WACAF office in Dakar and amicably resolving the issues,” it said. The statement added that NAMA had successfully rounded off the calibration of navigational

aids across the country. It said the operation which lasted for ten days was handled by a technical team from ASECNA in collaboration with NAMA engineers. According to the statement, leader of the ASECNA calibration team, Mr Nganan Jorim, expressed delight over what he referred to as “the most successful calibration exercise in recent time.’’ “He recalled that his team had no challenges whatsoever in the entire operation because of the preparedness of the NAMA team prior to their arrival from Senegal. On the status of the navigational aids calibrated, Jorim remarked that “the report of the calibration indicated that the navigational aids are in a very perfect condition for safe flight operations”.

Ebonyi State Governor Martin Elechi (2nd left) and others during a reconciliation meeting at the Government House in Abakaliki, recently.

Africare spends $150,000 on malaria annually in A’Ibom —Director

fricare, an international non-governmental Organisation, NGO, working in Eket and Ibeno areas of Akwa Ibom State, says it spends $150, 000 yearly on malaria control programmes in the state. Dr Patrick Adah, Africare’s Director of Malaria Programme disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, at Ibeno, headquarters of Ibeno Local Govern-

ment Area. Adah said the organisation started operations two years ago in the two benefiting communities during which over 3,000 persons benefitted from its services. “We have mobilised two Civil Society Organisations, CSOs, with N300,000 each in the benefiting communities to assist in mosquito net hanging campaign. “The CSOs, each of which is made up of at

least 15 persons, move from house to house to demonstrate how to hang long-lasting insecticidal nets. “They also encourage people to go to clinics for malaria test so as to receive proper treatment if infected,” Adah said. Adah said that Africare had assisted the communities with new treated nets and replacement of old ones. “We have also reached the communities with over 150, 000 health messages de-

livered at health events and through the media,” he said. The director added that apart from malaria programme, Africare was also involved in HIV/AIDS control projects as well as providing care to orphans and the vulnerable people. He explained that under its programme for orphans and vulnerable people, the organisation had helped to enrol the beneficiaries in schools and offered skills training to others.

Monday, April 27, 2015

As the race for speakership of the House of Representatives hots-up across different zones of the country, EZEKIEL TITUS, x-rays the reactions of newly-elected lawmakers from the North-West and Bauchi-South senatorial district as well as North-East Coalition Forum, in support of Hon Yakubu Dogara, and why he deserve the exalted seat.

Politics

Speakership: Newly-elected Reps, N’East root for Doghara

ith the successful completion of the general election, what has become national discourse in recent times is who occupies what office in the National Assembly. The offices to be contested for at the inaugural of the 8th National Assembly, expected to take off from the very first week of June include that of the Senate President, Deputy Senate President, Senate Leader, Senate Whip, Senate Minority Leader and Minority Whip; while from the House of Representatives, the Speaker, Deputy Speaker, House Leader, House Whip, House Minority Leader and Minority Whip are up for grabs. As the handing over date of May 29 beckons, the jostle for all of these positions among elected legislators on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, which not only won the seat of government at the centre, but also dominated the two chambers of the National Assembly has become intense, with various aspirants employing different tactics and strategies to outwit others contenders for the leadership of the National Assembly. It is a well known fact that there are credible and staunch aspirants to replace the current Speaker of the House of Representatives, Right Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, a lawyer from Sokoto state who is now the governor-elect of the state. Among those jostling for the speakership is Femi Gbajamiamila, the Minority Leader of the outgoing House, who is from the South-West, which has already produce the Vice President-elect and going by this, one may conclude that he is not qualified for the post in spite of his background as a legal luminary armed with legislative experience since 2003. Another is Abdulmumin Jibrin, the outgoing chairman, House Committee on Finance, who may make history as the youngest Speaker of the House, should he emerge. Also in the fray is another lawyer, Hon. Mohammed Tahir Monguno, who is also said to posses the credentials to clinches the speakership and have been in the House since 2007, but currently he is said to have lost support of the North-East in favour of Hon Yakubu Dogara, who several political groups and even his colleagues now drum support for, as one they see to have acquired the prerequisite experience to lead the House in the next dispensation. Also not left out in the race is Pally Iriase, who hails from Edo State and is one of the only three Reps from Edo State. An accountant by profession, Iriase lacks the prerequisite experience to lead the House as its Speaker. Others like Engr Famurewa from Osun State got elected in 2011 into the House, is also hoping to succeed Tambuwal alongside Jagaba Adams Jagaba, who it was learnt is dreaming for the first time to contest for the speakership, but hails from Kaduna State in the North-West zone where the President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari hails from. For Hon Dogara, he was elected into the House in 2007 under the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, but was among the first set of House members who later defected to the APC. Now serving his third term in the House, Doghara is a lawyer with over 20 years experience and he is seen by many, including his old colleagues and newly-elected members to possess the qualities of a Speaker of the House of

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Doghara

ELECTING DOGARA AS THE NEXT SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE WILL GO A LONG WAY IN UNITING THE NORTHERN ETHNIC GROUPS AND RELIGIONS Representatives. Highly respected amongst his colleagues, Doghara has also delivered qualitative democracy dividends to his constituents at Bogoro/Dass/Tafawa-Balewa federal constituency of Bauchi State. The current chairman of the House Services and Welfare Committee is believed to enjoy massive support from the newly elected members of the House of Representatives from across the country. There is no gain saying the fact that a forum of lawmakers from the North-West zone, which has already produce President-elect Buhari have declared support for Dogara to succeed Tambuwal as Speaker of the House of Representatives. A statement to this effect from Nasiru Baballe Ila, APCKano, said majority of newly elected lawmakers from the zone are strongly behind Dogara’s candidature. Ila said the lawmakers’ stand was premised on the ground that Dogara is the most qualified, and is therefore fit for the position of the speakership because of his humility, intelligence, calmness and high integrity. Ila said: “Electing Dogara as the next Speaker of the

House will go a long way in uniting the Northern ethnic groups and religions.” In the same vein, Bauchi South senatorial district APC, led by its chairman, Alhaji Adamu Musa Lar, while briefing newsmen in Bauchi said, Dogara’s speakership remains indisputable, urging the party engine room to give the North-East region the chance to produce the Speaker, following its massive support to vote the party in the just concluded general election. Enjoining APC to remain strict in its decision of ensuring fairness and justice and learn how the PDP finally crashed, Lar urged APC to accept the endorsement of Dogara to succeed Tambuwal, explaining that his election as Speaker would surely cater for other ethnic groups in the North-East in consolidating the gains of democracy and good representative. Again, a coalition of about six fora in the North-East has also endorsed the candidature of Hon Dogara to succeed Tambuwal as Speaker of the House of Representatives to further consolidate on the performance of the 8th Assembly. Briefing newsmen in Bauchi at the weekend, the coalition said the election of Dogara as Speaker will further unite Nigerians, especially the Muslims and Christian communities in the entire Northern region. They also harped on his experience in the House and as lawyer who operates within the ambit of the laws. Chairman of the coalition, Comrade Auwal Pali, said the coalition’s decision to endorse Dogara for the House speakership was in view of the need for the North-East to produce the next Speaker in the spirit of justice, fairness and equity and to stimulate effective development in government business as promised by the President-elect, General Buhari. The coalition therefore urges APC Board of Trustees, BoT, and National Executive Council, NEC, to eschew their differences and endorse the candidature of Dogara with the careful assessment of the contenders for the office of the speaker, saying that Dogara’s credibility is not comparable to those in the race. While admonishing the APC not to allow itself to be given the PDP treatment of 2011, when Tambuwal emerged Speaker against the wish of the party then, Pali warned that any attempt to deny the North-East and by extension, Dogara, the slot is tantamount to a coup against the nation’s nascent democracy, adding that APC should respect its slogan of change, justice and fairness. He also advised that president-elect Buhari should not allow himself to be derailed by sycophants, who are only out to satidfy their whims and caprices. The agitation for speakership in the North-East is also coming at a time when the APC North Central caucus has expressed gratitude to the party’s national leadership for zoning the Senate President to the geo-political zone. Kwara state APC Publicity secretary, Suleiman Buhari, had conveyed the appreciation after a meeting of the caucus, saying the “North-Central wishes to express its satisfaction with the official decision of our great party by zoning the Senate President to the central geo-political zone. It appears the silence of the APC caucus to finally reach a final conclusion on the zoning arrangement, may have bred a cold war in the party, following vested interests, but whatever happens and unless care is taken, the political permutation that that gave Tambuwal a sweeping victory to emerge as Speaker in 2011, in spite of PDP zoning arrangements may repeat self, if APC is not careful, but time shall tell who the cap fits.

Politics

OLAJIDE OMOJOLOMOJU

gba and Yewa indigenes in Canada have congratulated Ogun State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, on his victory in the last April 11 gubernatorial election. Amosun, who contested on the platform of the All Progressive Congress, APC, defeated his main challenger, Prince Nasir Gboyega Isiaka, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, candidate.

Monday, April 27, 2015

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2015 polls: Ogun indigenes in Diaspora congratulate Amosun Amosun, it would be recalled, defeated Isiaka, who was a candidate of Peoples Party of Nigeria, PPN, in 2011 to become the fourth civilian governor of the Gateway State. The indigenes, under the umbrella of Olumo Progressive Association Canada Inc, OPACI, also congratulated Ogun people for reelecting Amosun,

saying they were not surprised by the decision of the electorate to return the governor for another term. In a release signed by OPACIO’s president and secretary, Chief Femi Shodunke and Mr Lukmon Afolabi Bakare respectively, it said: “We congratulate you, Mr. Governor on your victory. With the giant strides you have re-

corded in our state since your assumption of office, particularly in the areas of roads, industrial development, education and infrastructural development, amongst others, you deserved another term in office.” OPACI submitted that Amosun’s reelection was in the overall best interest of the state, particularly

as his government would operate under a Federal Government of the same party. They said: “No doubt, as our state and the Federal Government are under the same political party, APC, we urge your Excellency to collaborate and synergise with the new government of General Muhammadu Buhari, to tap the manpower, natural resources, economic and industrial vantage positions which Ogun State occupies in the country.” Emphasising that the votes, which confirmed the residents of the state’s profound belief in Amosun, despite the political shenanigans against his administration, had justified the decision of Egba National Association, ENA, to give the governor the group’s first ‘Award of Excellence,’ OPACI said:

“Definitely, the decision of ENA, US and Canada, to give you its maiden ‘Award of Excellence’ has been justified by the victory you recorded in the last gubernatorial election. We are happy we took the right decision and we are proud of this initiative.” They however pleaded with Amosun to take the ample advantage of his second term to consolidate on his programmes, strive harder and complete ongoing projects on time, particularly the massive road constructions in parts of the state, adding that doing this would erase the negative belief in some quarters that second term governors doesn’t record further development, but a licence to amass wealth at the detriment of the people and the state in general.

N’East coalition endorses Doghara for House Speaker L-R: INEC General Secretary, Chinwe Iduka; acting IG, Mr Solomon Arase; INEC chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega and Force Public Relations Officer, CP Emmanuel Ojukwu during IG’s first visit to INEC headquarters in Abuja, at the weekend. PHOTO:NAN

Nigeria has demonstrated political maturity –BCAN president KEMI OLAITAN IBADAN

s Nigerians await the inauguration of the Presidentelect, General Muhammadu Buhari, in the next few weeks, President of Bus Conductors’ Association of Nigeria, BCAN, Comrade Israel Ade Adeshola, has lauded Nigerians for maturity and the peaceful conduct displayed during the last elections. Speaking with journal-

ists in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, at the weekend, Adeshola said Nigeria has indeed demonstrated her leadership role in Africa through the peaceful conduct of the March 28 and April 11 general elections. He said the elections have further lend credence to the claim that Nigeria is indeed the giant of Africa and that democracy has been entrenched in the country.. He said: “We have once again proved to the whole

world that we are a peace loving nation, and that we value and cherish our democracy and the rule of law.” He stated further that the peaceful manner the elections were conducted was eloquent demonstration of the country’s political maturity and determination to uphold democracy despite numerous challenges. He added: “I therefore congratulate all Nigerians. I congratulate the President-elect General Buhari

and the All Progressives Congress, APC, for their resilience and dogged determination. The victory of the party is nothing but the design of Almighty God.” Patron of Ilaje/Ikale Apoi Community, Alimosho Zone, also congratulated Lagos State governor-elect, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, describing him as a perfect gift to Lagosians, while urging all Lagosians to join hands with him to make Lagos a home for all.

2015 polls: Tricyclists’ commended for good conduct OLAJIDE OMOJOLOMOJU

hairman, Lagos State council of Tricycle Owners and Operators Association of Nigeria, TOOAN, Comrade Joseph Olumiyiwa Odusanya, has commended over 30,000 members in the state for their good conducts during the just concluded general elections. Addressing TOOAN members at its secretariat in Abule – Egba, the ami-

able and dynamic boss of tricycle operators said he set up a monitoring committee to monitor the conducts of members in their various local governments across the state before, during and after the elections. He said: “I am happy you all turned – out enmass to exercise your franchise and I am happy to hear that you all conducted yourselves in very decent manner by adhering to my advice before the election that none of you

should be named in any political crisis. “As you know, since the inception of my administration, we have always harped on discipline, peace, harmony and unity at the unit, branch and state levels, and this must be maintained.” Comrade Odusanya urged TOOAN executive members at all levels to ensure that the corporate standard set at the top for the total transformation of the association into a peculiar

class of its own is achieved. He implored them to be law abiding and ensure the update of their particulars of operation in the state.

Odusanya

EZEKIEL TITUS

s the race for the speakership of the House of Representatives gathers momentum, a coalition of groups and association in the NorthEast geo-political zone have endorsed the candidature of Hon. Yakubu Dogara, the member representing Bogoro/Dass/Tafawa-Balewa federal constituency of Bauchi State for the speakership. The endorsement according to the coalition, followed their belief in Doghara’s credibility, compared to those seeking for the speakership from the North-East region and the demonstration of his commitment in the 6th and 7th Assemblies towards nation building in general. Chairman of the coalition and chairman of Northern Youth Forum, NYF, Comrade Auwal Pali, while briefing newsmen in Bauchi said Doghara’s endorsement was in view of the need for institute justice, equity and fair play in the conduct of government business as promised by President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari. Pali said: “Doghara’s en-

dorsement is in conformity with his proven quality, and uncommon integrity, hard work and dedication to duties manifested over the last eight years in the lower chamber of the National Assembly.” The coalition reiterated that Doghara’s choice as Speaker will further unite Nigerians, especially the Muslims and Christian communities in the North and also consolidate on the relative peace currently being enjoyed. Pali urged leadership of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and all elected lawmakers of the House to put aside their differences and personal interest and make careful assessment of contenders for the house speakership. He said: “Dogara’s has received commendations from all and sundry, he is no doubt, a great son of the soil, courageous, intelligent, and selfless with requisite willpower and vision to better humanity. Pali, therefore, urged elected lawmakers not to derail in their efforts to elect Dogara as the next Speaker of the 8th Assembly to restore the dignity ofdemocracy in the country.

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Evolution of our perversion Mirror of the moment ABDUL-WAREES A SOLANKE korewarith@yahoo.com, 08090585723 (SMS only)

here is a general concern in the land about moral depravity, intellectual fraud and mindless pursuit of fame and fortune that have perverted our values so much that we are now crying for a new beginning. Sometimes in 1976 as a pupil at Abadina School, University of Ibadan, I remember my mother excoriating me for bringing home a football, which a colleague left in my care. I wept for her use of harsh words. Her standpoint I jealously observe till now. Today, many parents care not how their daughters come about the necklace and fanciful earrings they adorn, nor the designers wears with which they paint the town red. I wonder where we now consign aphorisms like ‘the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom’, ‘honesty is the best policy’ or ‘only the patient milks a lion’. Many people have no sense of discretion in deciding between ‘halaal’ and ‘haram’ (the lawful and the unlawful in Islamic law and ethics). Carelessly, you hear some people justifying their moral hollowness thus: If you choose to close your

eyes to ‘haram’, you won’t know when ‘halaal’ will escape you, or you say, want to wait for ‘halaal’ when others have finished even the ‘haram’? In fact, they would tell you, he who misses out on the sharing loot calls it unlawful. Many parents hardly remind their wards to ‘remember the son of whom you are’, nor would they advise them when leaving home with sayings like ‘good name is more precious than gold or silver’. Smartness has become the euphemism for corruption in our system. Indeed, some glibly declare, we are all thieves; it is the one that is caught in the act that becomes a criminal. In giving up on fidelity, some will say, ‘if you can’t beat them, you join them.’ Whoever exhibits some modicum of trustworthiness is branded the stupid. In defence of the unbridled quest for cutting corners, sometimes requiring aggression and assault on perceived opponents, you hear some of us uttering statements like, ‘the coward covers his weakness with excuse of this is not my father’s property’, or ‘what you cannot win, you waste it’. Hard and conscientious work is hardly applauded by colleagues. Rather, the one who works according to rule is derisively and derogatorily labeled ‘effico’ or Mr. Clean’, with an injection, ‘the office outlives the conscientious worker.’ This is an era in which public treasury looters and armed robbers openly give testimonies of success, doing thanksgiving before bishops, general overseers,

THIS IS AN ERA IN WHICH PUBLIC TREASURY LOOTERS AND ARMED ROBBERS OPENLY GIVE

TESTIMONIES OF SUCCESS, DOING THANKSGIVING BEFORE BISHOPS,

GENERAL OVERSEERS, SHEIKHS sheikhs and large congregations for more ’grace’. It is an age of drug pushers and money launderers seeking spiritual fortification from ‘prophets’, ‘shepherds’ and ‘oluso’, who are supposed to cater to the spiritual and moral health of the flock. Don’t be surprised that 419 kingpins pay tithes and ‘zakats’ in big ways; because mostly, the archbishop or the chief imam to whom they pay hardly probe their source of wealth. What becomes of our nation when ‘area fathers’ are the godfathers of public office seekers? It is a pathetic situation of people who spell leaders as lidas taking on mantle of leadership in our land, people averse to Christ-like conduct presenting themselves as ‘messiahs’ and ‘jeun saya’ (mindlessly corrupt politicians emerging as ‘honorable councilors and senators’). Have we not been witnesses to chiefs being guardians and protectors of thieves? Have we not heard

stories of village heads being patrons of armed robberies? There have also being instances military men brazenly collaborating with pipeline vandals and oil bunkerers, when they should be protecting oil facilities? The corruption and perversion in our system can be located in the lack of trust and consciousness in God and faith and commitment to the continued existence of the nation by those who assumed leadership of the country just for fame and fortune. Rather than work for her peace and progress, they busied themselves with perpetuating themselves in power through the ‘settlement syndrome’ and creation of bands of hero worshippers and praise singers. They blurred the thin line between ‘haram’ and ‘halal’, redefined corruption and set new criteria for public office, criteria that compromise integrity and merit. Truly, we are urgently in need of a new beginning, a beginning that will reflect our national credo of unity and faith, peace and progress. But the pace will have to be dictated by leaderships at various levels of our national life. We cannot embark on the journey to a better Nigeria if public office holders or seekers cannot dance nakedly in our market place so we know who they are and where they come from. Happily, recent developments in the country suggest that we have gone a whole cycle and are indeed prepared for the journey. The good news is that Nigerians are now challenging miscarriage of justice.

Managing and avoiding extreme perfectionist SANDRA AKUOMA

et me go straight and give you’re the necessary tips. First is surrender. When we surrender to the moment, to change, or imperfection, we allow the seeds of excellence to grow. Excellence is that drive toward raising ourselves up to our own highest good thereby allowing our unique gifts and personalities to benefit the highest good of all. Excellence, unlike perfectionism, is about lovingly pushing ourselves to act, think, relate, and create from the highest part of ourselves. But perfection is about controlling the outcome in order to receive love and acceptance. It’s all about fear. Surrender is about accepting where we are at in any moment, knowing that we are a work in progress. Second, we must recognize that ideals are directions, not absolutes. Neurotic perfectionists tend to beat themselves up incessantly over little setbacks. They tend to see themselves as “failures”. In their minds, they think: “If I don’t achieve my goal or vision that means I’ve failed. There is no point in doing any of this anymore.” As a perfectionist, you should recognize that your ideals are directions to work towards and not absolutes which you need to achieve. It is not your ideals that are the problems here; it’s your attachment towards them which need correction. Ideals are very good. They are meant as to inspire, guide, and bring the best

FORGET ABOUT MISTAKES THAT WERE MADE IN THE PAST WHICH YOU CANNOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT out of you, not to make you feel bad about yourself. Whatever ideals you have, continue to hold them, they drive you in your growth. Commit yourself to said ideals and goals. At the same time, don’t attach yourself to them. If you ever feel bad about not achieving a certain ideal or goal, review your attachment to it, and let go of this attachment. Third, respect and love yourself. Are you beating yourself over something that could have been better? Let go of all these negative thoughts in your mind. You did what you could within that particular context. Recognize you are an individual with your own rights and integrity. Treat yourself with the respect you deserve. Fourth, focus on the big picture. Overcoming perfectionism requires you to start seeing the forest for the trees. Use prioritization techniques such as Time Management to aid you in identifying tasks which you should do and tasks which you should abandon altogether. For the tasks which you need to be involved in, use the 80-20 principle to help you gauge when to stop. Whenever a particular task is taking too much of your time, it is good

to ask yourself ‘Does this matter in the bigger scheme of things?’ Fifth, focus on what can be done. Forget about mistakes that were made in the past which you cannot do anything about. Learn from them and move on; obsessing over them does not change anything at all. Realize that the time you spend thinking about your mistakes actually takes you away from time which you could have spent on more productive things instead! Sixth, delegate and let go. Have faith in other people’s abilities and delegate tasks to them. If they do not seem to be doing a particular task right, teach and help them instead of taking over entirely. Teach a man how to fish, so there is more fish for everyone, rather than doing all the fishing yourself and limiting the total output. Seventh, enjoy the entire process. The process is the longest part of achievement – enjoy it! Find ways to lighten it up – learn to laugh at yourself, take things positively, rest, eat, sleep and play when it is time to, take part in enriching recreational activities. Eight, celebrate the victories and progress made. Give yourself a pat in the back for everything that you do, regardless of the outcome. Reward yourself or other people if a good job is done. Give credit where credit is due. Finally, constantly remind yourself that buying into myths of perfection will hurt you and your life. By watching too many movies, listening to too many songs and just taking in what the world is telling

you, it is very easy to be lulled into dreams of perfection. It sounds so good and wonderful and you want it. But in real life it clashes with reality and tends to cause much suffering and stress within you and in the people around you. It can harm or possibly lead you to end relationships, jobs, projects etc. just because your expectations are out of this world. It’s helpful to remind yourself of this simple fact. Whenever you get lost in a perfectionist headspace you remind yourself that it will cause you and your world harm. And so, it becomes easier to switch your focus and thought patterns because you want to avoid making unhelpful choices; and avoid causing yourself and others unnecessary pain. Food for thought Imperfection gives us room to grow and become better people. There is beauty in the cracks in the wall, there is beauty in imperfection. Ms Akuoma wrote from Lagos via sanlifepointers@hotmail.com and can be reached through 08165583876 (SMS only)

Send your views by mail or sms to PMB 10001, Ikoyi, or our Email: mail@ nationalmirroronline.net mirrorlagos@ yahoo.com or 08164966858 (SMS only). The Editor reserves the right to edit and reject views or photographs. Pseudonyms may be used but must be clearly marked as such.

Editorial

Monday, April 27, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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

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

2015 polls: Jonathan, defeat, statesmanship and honour

hen men and women of goodwill reason with Nigeria’s outgoing President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, and perhaps tell him there could be no honour in success, but that much of it might be extracted from defeat, he might feel being teased or mocked. But that was the true life experience of Thomas Edward Lawrence, the archaeologist and British Army officer renowned for his liaison role during the Sinai and Palestine Campaign, and the Arab Revolt against Ottoman Turkish rule of 1916 – 1918. Wilma Rudolph, an Olympic champion considered the fastest woman in the universe in the 1960s, many years ago, realised that winning and losing are like siblings that work together for greater attainments. “Winning is great… but if you are really going to ‘do something in life’, the secret is learning how to lose”, she once told her admirers. Millions have acclaimed it that charitable and gracious acceptance of defeat by African leaders and politicians during elections is not a popular tradition. It has never happened in Nigeria until the Jonathan example, for instance. Violent and bit-

ter poll contests; rejection of election results by losers; and protracted court battles that often linger until the tenure of the winner is exhausted, are what trend the most. General Muhammadu Buhari, the man to whom Jonathan conceded defeat, is very much familiar with this portion of the nation’s sad political history. But despite the high stakes placed on the March 28 presidential election especially (which was the first conducted) by both the ruling PDP and opposition APC, President Jonathan decided to play the John McCains of this world in Nigeria. Jonathan telephoned Buhari to congratulate him even before the final result of the presidential poll was formally announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The leaked phone discussion indicated that the President used the word ‘congratulations’ twice; and requested that Buhari should “find time to come one of these days so that we can sort out how to plan the transition period”. Those were no mean statements, coming from a leader surrounded by political hawks and wolves. Shortly after the presidential poll result was announced,

THE LESSONS OF DEFEAT JONATHAN HAS TAUGHT TOWER FAR ABOVE ALL OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS CREDITED TO HIS ADMINISTRATION

Jonathan went public with a formal speech of not just accepting defeat, but affirming that his political ambition was not worth the blood of any Nigerian. “…I urge those who may feel aggrieved to follow due process, based on our Constitution and our electoral laws, in seeking redress…The unity, stability and progress of our dear country are more important than anything else”, he stated. After his personal phone call to President Barack Obama following the outcome of the 2008 American presidential poll, McCain came up with a speech quite similar to Jonathan’s. He described Obama as “the man who was my former opponent, who will now be my president”; adding, “Whatever our differences, we are fellow Americans; and please believe me when I say no association has meant more to me than that…It is natural tonight to

ON THIS DAY April 27, 1994 The first democratic general election was held in South Africa, in which black citizens voted. Dr. Nelson Mandela of the African National Congress won the presidential poll with 12 237 655 popular votes (62.65%) of total votes cast. The poll was the first held with universal adult suffrage. Conducted under the direction of the South Africa Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), it marked the end of apartheid in the country.

Letters tothe theEditor Editor Letters to

April 27, 2006 Construction began on the Freedom Tower for the new World Trade Center in New York City, United States. The construction was part of an effort to memorialize and rebuild after the original World Trade Center complex destroyed during the terrorists’ attacks of September 11, 2001. Freedom Tower is the lead building of the new World Trade Center complex in Lower Manhattan of New York City.

feel some disappointment; but tomorrow, we must move beyond it”. Jonathan, from his handling of his electoral defeat, has joined the list of few decent African leaders that left office gracefully when the game was up. Not even Buhari’s opposition APC believed Jonathan of the ruling PDP would accept defeat so willfully. Mallam Garba Shehu, spokesman of the APC Presidential Campaign Organisation, was quoted as saying: “I can say that the President acted with grace. He surprised us because we never expected that they would accept defeat. In fact, the sense everyone had was that they probably had plan A, B, C or D. And in any case, with the kind of thing that Mr. Orubebe did at the collation centre, you knew that even when the President had grace, given the chance with the community of people around him, they could have threatened this democracy”. Jonathan says, however, that he made his choice to avert a collective tragedy. “You need to have a nation before you can have an ambition. It should always be the nation first. You don’t have to scuttle national progress for personal ambition.

x April 27, 2014 Popes John XXIII and John Paul II were declared saints in the first papal canonization since 1954. Pope John XXIII (1881 – 1963) and Pope John Paul II (1920 – 2005) reigned as popes of the Roman Catholic Church and the sovereigns of Vatican City (respectively from 1958 to 1963 and 1978 to 2005). About 500,000 people attended the mass, including 19 heads of state and 24 heads of government. Popes John XXIII and John

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Business Courage

Monday, April 27, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Cover

National Carrier:

Stakeholders chart roadmap to viable options Sustained efforts to re-establish a national carrier for Nigeria by successive governments have not achieved the desired result due to a combination of extenuating factors. Even then, Olusegun Koiki writes that stakeholders and professionals believe that Nigeria can brace the odds through innovative strategies and re-enact her old glorious days in the global aviation industry.

he need to have a national carrier befitting Nigeria’s status as the largest economy in Sub-Saharan Africa and one of the biggest markets for businesses globally has been a recurring issue in aviation industry’s discourses without abating intensity since the liquidation of the former carrier, Nigeria Airways in 2004 by President Olusegun Obasanjo’s government. Successive governments since then and supervising ministers in the sector had tried vigorously to re-establish a national airline for Nigeria with nothing to show for such. Analysts identified some of the hurdles to the national dream as lack of interested technical and airline partners, inadequate equipment, improper framework and the inability of the government to reveal the identities of the investors, amongst other constraints.

Chidoka

Just recently too, the incumbent Minister, Chief Osita Chidoka, disclosed that the government was currently in talks with private investors on the possibility of re-establishing a national carrier for the country. Chidoka said that reestablishing a national carrier for Nigeria became necessary in order to ensure growth of technical person-

nel in the sector, adding that the new national carrier would be commercially operated and handled by proven professionals. He said, “Conversations are on across many possible private sector organisations, both local airlines in Nigeria and then some international airlines. We are totally changing the face of four key airports. Nigeria is studying the possibility of attracting private capital to do that.” He decried that while countries like Ethiopia and Kenya have emerged as global players in aviation industry, Nigeria was yet to have a national carrier after the death of Nigeria Airways about a decade ago. Chidoka admitted that the absence of a national carrier for the nation had allowed fast-expanding Gulf operators such as Dubai-based Emirates to join older European players in grabbing the most lucrative long-haul traffic in Nigeria. Expectedly too, majority of stakeholders and professionals in the sector agreed that Nigeria indeed required a national carrier for its potentials to be maximised and to curb the high volume of capital flights out UDO ONYEKA, CO-ORDINATOR BUSINESS COURAGE

Nigeria Airways aircraft : one of the abandoned aircraft at Lagos Airport

udonyeka@gmail.com c

Global Media Mirror Limited

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mands that, its citizens must be treated fairly and equitably, according to international best practices.” But then, in spite of these accusations and counter-accusations, the maltreatment of Nigerian air travellers by the foreign carriers has not abated but rather has assumed a more worrisome dimension in recent years. However, for Nigerian travellers to be treated according to international best practices and for unemployed, but qualified youths to be fully engaged, analysts in the sector said in unison that re-establishment of a national carrier for the country was necessary, but the model it would follow had been a case of discord among many. Analysts pointed out that establishing a national carrier would among other things; create jobs for qualified Nigerians, enhance Nigeria’s technological capacity in aeronautical industry based on the projected booming activities from the avionic workshop and the hangar, check capital flight

Bankole

of the country through the operations of more than 22 foreign airlines. Indeed, most of them also argued that absence of a national carrier in a country of 170 million people with over 14 million passengers yearly had encouraged the charging of high fares by foreign airlines to Countries with National Carriers -

South African Airways

Kenya Airways

Emirates

Etihad Airways

Air Namibia

Air Royal Morroc

Egypt Air

Air Tanzania

Ethiopian Airlines

Business Courage

Monday, April 27, 2015

the detriment of Nigerians travelling outside the country and the nation’s economy in particular. The recent expose by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, on malpractices by British Airways, Lufthansa Airlines and Virgin Atlantic speak volume on this yearning for a national carrier. The regulatory agency had accused most of the foreign carriers of “ripping off Nigerian passengers through fake promotions” and some other sharp practices. NCAA had accused the airlines of embarking on promotions that did not exist and advertising fares that could never be secured by passengers.

It clarified: “These surcharges have absolutely no basis or justifiable reasons to be imposed, maintained or increased. Surcharges are also a way of cheating the Federal Government and local businesses in Nigeria, since they are nontaxable, but are being used to load up the cost of travel outside the basic fares.” The former DirectorGeneral of the regulatory agency, Dr. Harold Demuren had said that the Nigerian market remained open for exploration, but would be permanently closed to exploitation, adding that “in exchange for the continuing profitable business environment and hospitality it provides for the airlines ,Nigeria de-

and by implication, translate to huge socio-economic gains for the country. Also, they said that making of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, MMIA, Lagos a hub could only be possible with a national carrier while its livery in national colours would be of national pride to Nigerians outside the country, adding that through a national carrier, the price mechanism could be self-regulated. Aviation analyst, Mr. Chris Okupe told Business Courage that new national carrier if properly established would be a money spinning venture for the country. Okupe said even though the FG may not totally from the ownership the composition of the ownership could be in form of technical partner with a world class foreign airline with a strong brand appeal and maintenance base, 27 per cent; Nigerian Corporate Partners, 35 per cent, Federal Government; 18 per cent, staff of the proposed airlines; 15 per cent, Nigerian Tourism Development

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Corporation, NTDC, with 5 per cent input. Further he said the private carriers could be designated on some routes as flag carriers. For instance, he noted that British Airways, though a public quoted company is the national carrier of United Kingdom while Virgin Atlantic Airways is a flag carrier from same country. He insisted that it would be very difficult for a privately owned company in Nigeria to compete with the mega carriers from Europe and Middle East, adding that the carriers could be advised to get technical partners to operate effectively and get a global brand. Okupe recalled that Kenya Airways with Nigeria Airways’ experience of failures was privatised by the government of that country with KLM being the technical partner with 27 per cent share among other partners including the workers, stressing that today, Kenya Airways is one of the most profitable carriers in Africa operating with modern fleet of aircraft. Continued on pg A4

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Business Courage

Monday, April 27, 2015

Continued from pg A3 He added, “Nigerian market has been widely opened to these foreign airlines and the government can take a cue from National carriers like, South African Airways, Kenya Airways, Emirates, Etihad, Air Namibia, Air Royal Morroc, Egypt Air, Air Tanzania and Ethiopian Airlines that are solely owned by their respective governments and they are posting profits. “From Far East comes Emirates Airlines, Nigeria Airways opened the Dubai route in 1998, but after its liquidation, Emirates came in with twice weekly flights and now because of lucrative Nigerian market, the airline operates three daily flights; Lagos and Abuja in addition to Cargo flights. The Managing Director, MedView Airline, Alhaji Muneer Bankole said that for the Nigerian aviation industry to attain its desired goals, the Federal Government should re-create a national carrier for the country. Bankole insisted that the liquidation of the former national carrier, Nigeria Airways was a wrong decision by the government and stressed that for a country as large as Nigeria to reach its potentials, it was necessary for it to have a national carrier that would project its image in the international community. He mentioned some of the countries with national airlines to include South Africa Airways, Ethiopian Airlines, Kenya Airways, Air Maroc, Etihad and Emirates among many others, maintaining that Nigeria required a national carrier with strong management. Besides, the former image maker of Nigeria Airways, Oba Femi Ogunleye insisted the country needed a new national carrier. He explained that a national carrier is of a great value to a country as it manages the nation’s image outside the country and wondered why the former national carrier was liquidated. “How can you wake up one day and say you killed that kind of an airline? Some technical people now say in this current world, they no longer talk of a national carrier. Personally, I know we need a national carrier in this country to manage our image. “Why people will say they don’t need a national carrier is because the foreign airlines are benefiting from the shortcoming of Nigeria for not having a national airline. Ideally, under a Bilateral Air Services Agreement, BASA, a national airline of a country should be

Mahonwu

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

News High Freight Rate: Stakeholders canvass improved vessel turnaround time By Francis Ezem

Demuren

the equal beneficiary of the interest on that service. “If British Airways for instance, comes to Nigeria five times, Nigeria Airways should equally go to London the same number of times. If British airways lands in two places in Nigeria, Nigeria Airways should also land in two places in England. So, those are the values of a bilateral agreement, but now that we don’t have a national airline any longer, there is nothing to bargain with. You can imagine the capital flight in Nigeria now; the routes that the Nigeria Airways spent money and time to build; Lagos-Middle East, LagosEurope, Lagos-America and others, foreign carriers now come overnight and are enjoying those routes. Our flight twice to America per week, we knew how much we were making from it.” For the proposed carrier to operate profitably and professionally, Ogunleye suggested that the Federal Government should have no interest in the airline. Rather, he said government should provide the infrastructure for an effective airline business for private investors to invest and manage it. Besides, the past Director of Engineering and Managing Director, Amecon Maintenance Organisation, Engr. Godwin Jibodu for the government to be successful in the formation of a new national carrier, it should embrace the specialists within the country, organise a forum and allow them to input their ideas on how the carrier would function. Without this, he predicted the effort would be in futility just like in the past. Also, the Deputy General Secretary, National Union of Air Transport Employees, NUATE, Comrade Olayinka Abioye insisted that the former national carrier was “irregularly and illegally” liquidated by the government in 2003. He emphasised that the improper liquidation of the carrier had left a big gap in aviation developments in the country while the government was still indebted to the former staff of the carrier to the tune of N52bn as parts of their gratuities and severance benefits. He assured that with the correction of the anomalies, the government would successfully

bestow on the nation a viable national carrier that would operate profitably. He said national carrier was a must for Nigeria if the country was to compete with her counterparts in the continent and beyond. “It will sound funny that Ethiopia with a small population runs a very functional national airline and it is adjudged the best in Africa and it is a shame that we can’t do anything or get near where Ethiopia is. The Ethiopia Civil Authority is 100 per cent owned by the government of Ethiopia. What then is the problem with Nigeria that we cannot sit down together and put something down for once?” he queried. The former Chairman, Airline operators of Nigeria, AON Dr. Steve Mahonwu wanted the government to re-establish a national carrier for the country in a bid to improve job generation, professionalism among Nigerians and the economy. Mahonwu told our correspondent that whatever model to be adopted by the country should be government oriented, stressing that multiple oppositions, criticisms and formulations have severally killed the dream of reestablishing a national carrier for the country after the demise of the former, Nigeria Airways. He recalled that international carriers like KLM, American Airlines and Lufthansa once showed interest in helping to privatise Nigeria Airways, but lamented that they had to abandon the plan due to criticism and protocol overture from the National Assembly. However, the Director, Zenith Travels, Mr. Olumide Ohunayo severely kicked against the re-establishment of a national carrier for the country, but expressed support for flag carriers, which he said should develop from regulatory consolidated process. He argued that airlines are the weakest link in the transformation agenda, saying a national carrier with accompanying exclusivity and protection would increase the present malaise in the sector. He said, “We need an airline that is owned by Nigeria even in management. What we have in the country now are weak airlines owned by a dominant individual and cosmetic board for passing regulatory process.” BC

takeholders in Nigeria’s supply chain have said that the prevailing high freight rates to and from seaports in Africa when compared to those in Europe and America were due to the high level of inefficiency in the ports and the attendant high vessel turnaround time. The ship turnaround time in Nigeria is estimated at five days, which is however an improvement when compared to the former 14 days and above during the pre-port reform era, which also attracted special freight charges to make up for the days wasted at the berths. Multinational shipping lines operating in Nigeria had over the years imposed high freight tariffs on cargoes meant for the Nigerian seaports in addition to their refusal to berth at some ports such as the Calabar Ports due to alleged insecurity, shallow channels and high port inefficiency, which makes them stay longer on the berths more than necessary. The stakeholder, who spoke in a communiqué issued after a one day roundtable held in Lagos, observed that the high level of inefficiency at most seaports in the African continent was responsible for the high freight rates to and from the seaports in the continent compared to those in Europe, America and Asia. The stakeholders observed that the only panacea to this is for all concerned service providers to take urgent steps to reduce these delays and deliver quality services in order to engender efficiency in the continent’s port system. According to the stakeholders, the various port authorities should improve on the provision of more tug boats with a view to saving time by reducing ship turnaround time, which would lead to eventual reduction of costs at the ports. They also believe that one other way of reducing cost of operation at the ports by making them user-friendly is by introducing an efficient Single Window System, which will provide a harmonized platform for categories of operators, to make for efficiency and save cost. They also called on the governments of states in the continent to encourage the development of regional investment strategy in the maritime industry with a view to attracting more private investments into the industry that would enhance their growth and development. On the worsening cases of

cargo loss, the stakeholders called for improvement in cargo stowage in the best interest of all parties in the supply chain. The stakeholders had also observed that the increasing cases of cargo loss was inimical to the growth and development of the Nigerian economy and therefore called on the Marine Cargo Surveyors and insurance companies to assist shippers to mitigate the rate of losses.

Seplat asures shareholders on dividend payment

eplat Petroleum Development Company has assured shareholders that its dividend payment must be compliant with the country’s existing laws and regulations. This is contained in a statement in Lagos by the company’s General Counsel, Dr Mirian Kene Kachikwu. The statement said that the company irrespective of its diverse shareholder base would pay dividends to diverse shareholders in compliance with the applicable Nigerian laws and regulations. It said the company’s final dividend for the year ended Dec. 31, 2014 to be approved by the shareholders on June 2 would be paid in Naira as applicable to the Nigerian shareholders on June 10. The statement said the company, listed on both Nigerian and London Stock Exchanges, would publish its annual report to be denominated in both naira and dollars. ``As a company listed on two exchanges in Lagos and London, we prepare our annual accounts in two currencies, the Nigerian Naira and the U.S. Dollar,’’ said the statement. According to the statement, the accounts were the same as the Dollar denominated version, submitted to the London Stock Exchange, LSE, having used the ruling exchange rate of the Naira/Dollar to convert the accounts to Naira. “The slight confusion must have arisen when we paid our interim dividend in November 2014. “We had given relevant ‘Ni-

Kachikwu

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

gerian’ shareholders who have domiciliary accounts the option of receiving their dividends in dollars,’’ it said. The company said that the act of magnanimity applauded by a number of shareholders, also drew sharp criticism from others. News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, reports that the company was reacting to a NAN story on “shareholders decry payment of dividend in foreign currencies by cross border listed companies’’. The shareholders recently told NAN in Lagos that companies listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange ,NSE, and other exchanges should not insist on the payment of dividend in foreign currencies. They said that payment of dividend in foreign currencies and insistence on domiciliary accounts by Seplat would increase the spate of unclaimed dividend in the market. Alhaji Gbadebo Olatokunbo, founding member, Nigeria Shareholders Solidarity Association, said that companies were under obligation to pay dividend in Naira whether foreign or cross border.

Institute calls on FG to formulate policies on cyber security data

he African Institute of Information Security, AIIS, has called on the Federal Government to formulate policies, laws and regulations that would ensure citizens’ data were secured. Mr Kayode Eyinade, a Cyber Security Analyst, said this on the sidelines of a two-day workshop on Friday in Abuja. The workshop on Information Security and Ethical Hacking was organised by the institute to create awareness to the public. Eyinade, who was one of the facilitators, urged the government to enact laws that would make it possible for fraudsters to be tracked and punished. ``Government needs to create the policy, laws and regulation that will be able to make everybody safe and secured. ``If people commit crime, how do we track them down, how do we punish them to effect deterrent from others who want to do it? ``Those are the necessary steps and you know they say security is a shared responsibility, all of us have particular roles to play. ``We the professionals, the users, the government agencies and corporate organisations have a role to play,’’ Eyinade said. He said that the workshop was organised as a result of numerous complaints by indi-

Business Courage

Monday, April 27, 2015

newsmen, rated the nation below 25 per cent in logistics and transport system. “If we are to rate our transport and logistics on a scale of 100, we are somewhere between 20 and 25 and the reason for this is very obvious. “First is the state of our infrastructure, particularly the lack of inter-modality of movement of goods and services. “Nigeria is still absolutely dominated by road, which should not be and across the world it has not always been. “The second problem is the extent of professionalism. “There is no council of registration of those who can practice transport in Nigeria, there is no bill that has actually been approved that can foster the growth and development of the profession,’’ Oyesiku said. He said that the 7th National Assembly had not passed the bill that was sponsored by the institute.

ACE Launch

viduals of fraudsters hacking into their accounts and defrauding them.

NIS to check activities of job scammers

he Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS, has said it would take stringent measures to check the activities of scammers that were swindling unsuspecting job seekers of large sums of money. Special Assistant to the Comptroller-General of the service, Mr David Parradang, Mr Gboyega Fola-Kayode, said this during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN in Abuja. Fola-Kayode, who spoke for the comptroller-general, was reacting to a case of job scam reported by one of the 2015 recruitment applicants. He said Parradang condemned the incident, saying that a lot of Nigerians had been swindled of large sums of money by scammers with promise of fake employment into various agencies and parastatals of government. “We are fully aware that job scammers are everywhere waiting for an opportunity to swindle unsuspecting, naïve

and desperate job seekers. “This is why we clearly stated when we advertised various openings for job placement into the service that no applicant seeking employment should offer money to anyone. “We clearly stated that the employment process is free and applicants should endeavour to abide by the rules and follow due process,” Parradang said. NAN reports that shortlisted applicants were required to sit for a five-day Computer-Based Test , CBT, at various computer centres across the country. The test which commenced on April 20, ended on April 24. They were asked to answer 20 questions in English Language; 10 questions in current affairs; 10 questions in mathematics and 10 questions in logical reasoning. Each applicant was also expected to use only one hour to answer all the questions. Successful applicants would undergo physical examinations and interview, and those who pass will be given provisional offer of employment into the service.

Institute tasks Buhari on National Transport Policy

Parradang

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he Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport, CILT, has urged the Presidentelect, Muhammadu Buhari to ensure that a robust national transport policy is put in place in the country. Retired Maj.-Gen. Umar Usman, the National President of CILT, Nigeria made this plea during the institute’s Fellows and Corporate Members’ Forum in Ikoyi, Lagos. Usman said that a robust transport policy would promote

Cisco urges young females on positive mind set toward ICT

T Usman

growth in the industry and enhance economic development. “We have a problem; in a situation where a country has no national transport policy, this is a challenge. “We urge the incoming administration to ensure that first and foremost, Nigeria has a robust national transport policy. “The moment the nation has a transport policy, all the problems associated with transport infrastructure will be addressed. “Unfortunately, today in the country, roads are carrying far beyond their capacity and that is why we have dilapidated roads all over. “The rail that is supposed to carry the weight off the roads is still epileptic because what we have is a narrow gauge. “What this country needs today is a wide gauge that can be able to carry more and travel a longer distance. “And of course issues that have to do with integration should be looked into. We do not have an integrated system. We need an integrated transport system,’’ he said. Usman urged the new government to have right people in the right places to perform maximally. Prof. Kayode Oyesiku, the Deputy National President of CILT, in an interview with

he General Manager, English West Africa, Cisco Systems Nigeria Ltd, Mr Dare Ogunlade, has urged young females to have positive mind set towards embracing Information and Communications Technology, ICT. Ogunlade told the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Lagos that the biggest limitation for young females not being interested in taking up Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, STEM, subjects was their mind set. He said that the students believed that the subjects were difficult and not meant for females but males. According to him, Cisco is encouraging girls to consider ICT as a valuable career option, and ensuring a gender balanced workforce. “Despite the obvious benefits of ICT, many girls never ever consider a career in ICT. There is a lack of awareness among students, teachers and parents as to what a career in ICT could offer. “We understand the value of diversity in the workforce and it is our aspiration to build a gender balanced workforce. “To this end, Cisco hosted its Global Mentorship Initiative called ‘’Girl Power Tech’’ to encourage girls and young women in more than 50 countries and 80 Cisco office to discover the opportunities opened by careers in technology,’’ he said. Ogunlade said that the initiative was held on April 23 to commemorate the global ‘Girls in ICT Day, which was initiated by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). BC

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Companies & Markets

Fidelity Bank constructs water treatment plant ...donates computers to Nigerian Navy By Udo Onyeka

taff of Fidelity Bank Plc. under the aegis of the Fidelity Helping Hands Programme, FHHP, a special vehicle for the Bank’s Corporate Social Responsibility, CSR, have constructed a water treatment plant and donated computers and other office equipment to the Nigerian Naval Medical Centre, Naval Dockyard in Lagos. Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Fidelity Bank Plc. Nnamdi Okonkwo said that the Bank, as a socially responsible institution, takes pride in

its humble accomplishment in entrenching the culture of true and responsible citizenship among staff members through regular training programmes and integration exercises in the Bank’s various business offices. “It is this passion for our country and our people that has motivated the staff driven initiative which we fondly call the Fidelity Helping Hands Programme”. While commending the staff of the Human Resources Division of the Bank, who in their little corners, contributed their widow’s mite to construct the

water treatment plant and provide office equipment for the Naval Medical Centre, Okonkwo noted that Fidelity Bank is the only bank in the country where staff members contribute their salaries to embark on projects that impact on the lives of their host communities. “Fidelity Bank strives to reinforce strong, healthy Community Relations by identifying with communities in activities that are most relevant to them. We play a leading role in identifying with and seeking solutions to the problems of our host communities”. He explained that

in CSR, the community is like a farmland where everyman chooses the acreage to till and urged other corporate institutions to emulate Fidelity bank in its drive to make the world a better place for humanity. Though, the Fidelity Bank CSR philosophy rests on a tripod - the Environment, Education and Health/Social Welfare, the Bank through the allinclusive bottom-top CSR approach, Fidelity Helping Hand Programme, FHHP, has impacted positively on the lives of its host communities across the country. BC

Okonkwo

StarTimes offers exclusive channels, partners iROKO

Bolaji

By David Audu

ndigenous digital television service provider, StarTimes said it has achieved a laudable feat by enriching its content, expanding the scope of its viewership and bridging the gap between Nigerians and the digital television migration. The Milestone was achieved as the Pay TV operator signed an exclusive deal with iROKO in France recently. Public Relations Manager, StarTimes, NTA Star-TV Network, Mr. Israel Bolaji,describes the milestone as a significant advance in the DTV Company’s quest to become the home of premier African film and television content. H said StarTimes formed a formidable partnership with the online movie platform to offer its 4.6 million+ subscribers two new sought-after channels, which are iROKO PLAY and iROKO PLUS, on the leading African Pay TV platform in 14 countries across the globe. The deal signals a considerable investment in Nollywood entertainment by StarTimes. “With this development, subscribers have the choice of viewing entertaining channels on iROKO PLAY, which is available on the StarTimes Basic Bouquet, with classic Nollywood

movies from 2007 onwards, with a brand new exclusive movie added to the schedule each month, starting with Royal Fathers in May; or iROKO PLUS, that is on the StarTimes Unique Bouquet offering Nollywood movies from 2011 onwards, with the addition of an exclusive brand new movie every week. As part of the 24/7 programming schedule, aside from the movies, both channels also feature behind-the-scenes interviews with the stars and magazine shows. “Throughout the global African Diaspora, the brand of the

new channels is synonymous with high-quality, cutting-edge Nollywood-filmed entertainment with an extensive catalogue of prime-time Nollywood movies that resonates well with the vision of StarTimes, which is to provide every African family access to high-quality digital entertainment. “Our exclusive partnership with iROKO allows us to nurture an ‘axis of content excellence’, as well as more clearly differentiate our value proposition which in turn gives us the means to deliver the very best Nollywood movies and series to our subscriber-base,” he

stated. Bolaji disclosed that blockbusters like Alvina, Nkuli, Could This Be Love and Mother’s Error are outlined for the launch of iROKO PLUS, and classics like Desperate To Survive, The Beast and Classic Love will show on iROKO PLAY, alongside one blockbuster every month. “Our efforts are also geared towards closing the huge gap between the people and the Digital TV switch campaign, by creating a robust and improved digital television experience that is constantly refreshed. Increasingly, more Nigerians can also

gain access to an impactful and explosive digital television experience,” he added. CEO of iROKO, Jason Njoku, disclosed that the launching of iROKO PLAY and iROKO PLUS on the leading DTV company is an exciting milestone for the company. He says: “We’re known primarily for leading OTT content delivery across Africa throughiROKOtv.com, but with digital migration spreading rapidly throughout the continent, now is the right time for us to diversify our distribution model and expand into the Linear TV market.” BC

Konga excites customers with ‘Found on Konga’ campaign

n a bid to satisfy the needs of customers across Nigeria as well as ease their online shopping experience, Konga, Nigeria’s largest online mall, recently launched a new campaign called #FoundOnKonga to flaunt the over one hundred and fifty thousand products in its stock and demonstrate its claim of having the largest pool of products in the online mall segment in Nigeria. The ‘Found on Konga’ cam-

Gab-Umoden

paign enriches the lifestyle of shoppers and makes their dreams of finding any item they need on the site come through, irrespective of the uncommonness of the item. Gabriel Gab-Umoden, Konga’sVice-President, Marketing, informed that the campaign is to show young aspirational Nigerians that everything they need to live their dream lifestyle could be ‘Found on Konga’, no matter how uncommon the item is. According to him: “The objective of the campaign is to get the fans of Konga and the general public to embrace the ease that comes with shopping on a platform that gives them access to everything they need to achieve their dreams and live their dream lifestyle.” Gab-Umoden informed that a lot of Konga’s customers are already identifying with the campaign as Don Jazzy and Tiwa Savage, two of Nigeria’s biggest artistes recently signed by Konga as ambassadors for the online mall, are at the forefront of the campaign and will

appear in all the ‘Found on Konga’ communication materials scheduled to be launched soon. As part of the campaign, the celebrity ambassadors, Don Jazzy and Tiwa Savage have already started generating some social media buzz, with tweets

and posts about the interesting and amazing things they have ‘Found on Konga’, and recruiting their fans into the fun movement. Just a few days into the campaign, #FoundonKonga has been a number one twitter trend in Nigeria. BC

Sunlight wraps up Alarambara with Owambe Party our consumers work hard and

he culturally-rich and historically significant city of Ibadan comes alive in May with an Owambe party, courtesy of Sunlight 2-in-1 detergent, sponsor of Yoruba drama, Alarambara. According to the Category Manager, Sunlight, DoyinAbanishe, the party aims to appreciate loyal consumers, especially in the South-west of Nigeria, who not only use Sunlight, but have also followed the Alarambara radio drama series since it started airing on select radio stations across the region earlier in the year. Abanishe said, “We know

enjoy coming together to catch up with friends in a relaxed atmosphere with good food, drinks and good music. This is why our Owambe has been tailored to attend to these specific attributes in a bid to reward them.’’ She added that, ‘’The Sunlight brand will continue to bring smiles to the faces and homes of its consumers and we are proud to have them as partners. We promise to sustain the quality of our brand, which is dedicated to delivering cleaning and freshening benefits and making laundry more enjoyable.’’ BC

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Business Courage

Monday, April 27, 2015

Companies & Markets

Transcorp agribusiness arm to begin farming in Benue State By Johnson Okanlawon

ransnational Corporation of Nigeria has announced that agribusiness subsidiary, Teragro Commodities Limited, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding, MOU, with the Benue State government to lease land to establish citrus farms in Ushongo, Benue. The Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Mr. Donald Gbugho signed on behalf of the government alongside Permanent Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture Dr. Neeyum Tsavnum. A statement on Friday said the MOU represents an expansion of Teragro’s current operations in Benue State, which have previously been focused in Makurdi. It explained that Teragro has been functioning as an industrial operation processing oranges and mangoes into concentrates for local consumption. Over time, it added, Teragro has grown and expanded its footprint and now produces concentrate that meets the most rigorous global standards

for purchase by multinational corporations, including a leading international beverage manufacturer. The statement quoted Gbugho, as saying that Teragro has contributed immensely to growth in Benue State. “They first addressed community and youth unemployment by creating jobs and now, the company is taking a step forward by beginning proper farming, through expert agricultural investors who are standing by with improved varieties of oranges, which the Ushongo people and Benue State at-large can benefit from. “This is truly a significant step in the development of agriculture in Benue and in Nigeria,” he said. The Managing Director, Teragro, Mrs. Dupe Olusola thanked the commissioner for his support, which has enabled the company to contribute to the growth of a diversified economy. She said, “The untapped opportunities in agriculture are huge and we are committed to ensuring that Nigeria can once again generate high revenues from agriculture as it did before

the discovery of oil. The new farming land will ensure we can do our part to bring those untapped opportunities to fruition.” The Group President of Transcorp, Mr. Emmanuel N. Nnorom said, “We are grateful to the Governor, Dr. Gabriel Suswam, for his assistance in ensuring synergy between Teragro and the local community within which we operate and we hope this will continue.” He added that the company is committed to the work it’s doing in Benue and look forward to a continually harmonious working relationship. BC

Olusola

Ecobank Rapid Money Transfer to support Okpekpe Race By Udo Onyeka

cobank Rapid Transfer has been named the official money transfer service for the 3rd Okpekpe 10km road race scheduled for May 16th in Okpekpe town, in Edo State. The Okpekpe Race, now an International Association of Athletics Federation, IAAF, Bronze Label Race will attract over 3000 local and international professional athletes. Also sports enthusiasts from across the world are being expected. Announcing the bank’s premium partnership in Lagos, Ecobank’s Deputy Managing Director, Tony Okpanachi, said the Ecobank Rapid Transfer is best suited for the competition that has grown to have global recognition. According to Mr. Okpanachi, the Ecobank Rapid Transfer is an innovative money transfer services available within Nigeria and countries in Africa where Ecobank is present. “The service was conceived out of the need to provide quick, convenient, accessible, and reliable money transfer services for customers and non-customers of

the bank”. Okpanachi is optimistic that the Ecobank Rapid Transfer will provide the much-needed ease of financial transactions during and after the competition, and urged all the participants to avail themselves of the opportunities provided by the bank. In his words: “This is an Ecobank proprietary send and receive money transfer product available in all Ecobank branches in Nigeria. The product allows you to send and receive money where Ecobank has its footprint within Nigeria and in over 36 countries in Africa. It is our way of supporting this international

Okpanachi

race to ease the burden of fund transfer.” The Rapid Transfer he reiterated is very suitable for sports men and women, schools/students, travelers, parents, foreign nationals residing in Nigeria. The Okpekpe Race which holds on May 16 has received endorsements from local and international athletes as well as governments across the continents of the world. The 2015 edition which is the 3rd will have over 3000 runners participating. The Okpekpe 10km road race is organised by Pamodzi Sports Marketing, a leader in sports marketing, sponsorship, hospitality and Rights Acquisition business in Nigeria in conjunction with the Athletics Federation of Nigeria ,AFN and the Edo State government. The previous editions of the race were dominated by East Africans, with Kenya’s Moses Masai winning the maiden edition while Ethiopia’s Teshome Asafan won the men’s title at the second edition and his country woman, Wuday Ayalew winning the women’s title. BC

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Reckitt Benckiser partners Lagos on anti-malaria campaign By Adejuwon Osunnuyi

s latest report by Roll Back Malaria ,RBM, ahead of the commemoration of the 2015 World Malaria Day revealed that Africa loses about N2.4trn in productivity to malaria annually, Reckitt Benckiser,RB, through its leading anti-malaria power brand, Mortein insecticide has joined forces with the Lagos State Government and other stakeholders to upscale action for the elimination of malaria in Nigeria through community engagement. As part of activities marking the year’s World Malaria Day, specifically, the community engagement, which held at Palm Avenue, Lagos, saw officials from the state Ministry of Health and Reckitt Benckiser carrying out the clearing of wastes and drainages in the area. They also went round the community to sensitise and educate residents on the immense benefits of maintaining clean environment as one of the most cost effective ways to reduce mosquitoes, which are the major carriers of malaria parasite. Speaking at the event, Category Manager, Pest care, Health care, Air care, RB West Africa, Qaiser Rashid, said the community engagement was part of numerous corporate social responsibility initiatives by Reckitt Benckiser to stem the prevalence of malaria scourge in Nigeria and Africa as a whole. She said the partnership with the Lagos State Government, which has been

Rashid

on-going for years, also demonstrates the company’s commitment to the anti-malaria fight in the state. “We have come out again today on the occasion of the 2015 World Malaria Day to demonstrate our commitment to making Nigerians live healthier and happier life. The community engagement is another innovative ways we have chosen to educate residents of Mushin on the importance of hygiene, and how simple habit of maintaining clean surroundings and drainages can significantly help to reduce malaria. ‘‘Mosquitoes are carriers of malaria parasite and they breed in dirty environment. Keeping the environment clean means that mosquitoes have no breeding place, if we can stop the life circle of the insect through constant cleaning of our environment and application of the insecticide that have the ability to kill mosquitoes 100 percent, that means we have succeeded in killing the disease,” he said. BC

UBA’s Shareholders approve 10 kobo dividend By Johnson Okanlawon

hareholders of United Bank for Africa has approved the bank’s recommendation of 10 kobo dividend per share, which allows the bank to retain much of its earnings for the benefit of growing its business in the years ahead. Speaking at the bank’s Annual General Meeting in Lagos on Friday, they expressed optimism over the ability of the bank to deliver sustainably high returns to them over the medium to long term. A shareholder, Alhaji Kabiru Tambari commended the management for focusing on both the short and long term growth of the bank, saying that shareholders are not only interested in the profit the bank makes this year but also in the ability of the bank to sustain its leadership position over the long term. Another shareholder, Mukhtar Mukhtar, said, “I commend the appointment of Tony Elumelu as the Chairman. He has proven business leader. I am also happy with the bank’s performance, I have no doubt that it will continue to improve with Elumelu as Chairman.

Elumelu expressed his appreciation for the support of all shareholders and reiterated the commitment of the bank in sustaining the leadership and dominant position on the continent. While affirming the bank’s commitment to strict adherence to the best practice in corporate governance, he explained the bank’s dividend policy in the current financial year was guided by the need to be prudent. “Though UBA is adequately capitalized with capital adequacy ratios in excess of regulatory requirement, we proactively raised additional capital during the year to further boost our capital base and it would not have been prudent to pay so much dividend after raising capital from the market. Shareholders should however expect higher dividend in future” he said. Speaking on the bank’s financial performance, Elumelu said, “We recorded gross earnings of N290 billion in the year, an appreciable growth of 10 per cent over our performance in 2013. This improved performance was buoyed by the increased volume of transaction across all our service channels and growing share of our customers’ wallet. BC

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Business Courage

Monday, April 27, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Global News

Fitschen

Deutsche Bank in record $2.5bn fine over interest rate manipulation

eutsche Bank has been fined $2.5bn ,£1.66bn, by US and UK regulators for trying to manipulate interest rates. The German bank has been fined $2.1bn by US regulators, and £227m by the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority. The fine relates to manipulation of the Libor and Euribor inter-bank rates. It is a record penalty for such misconduct because Deutsche tried to mislead regulators and could have hampered investigators. The bank said it “deeply regrets” the matter. Deutsche said in a statement that it had “disciplined or dismissed individuals” involved and tightened governance controls. However, US regulators have demanded the dismissal of a further seven senior individuals still employed. FCA’s acting director of enforcement and market oversight, Georgina Philippou, said in a statement: “This case stands out for the seriousness and duration of the breaches by Deutsche Bank - something reflected in the size of today’s fine. “One division at Deutsche Bank had a culture of generating profits without proper regard to the integrity of the market. This wasn’t limited to a few individuals but, on certain desks, it appeared deeply ingrained.” “Deutsche Bank’s failings were compounded by them repeatedly misleading us. The bank took far too long to produce vital documents and it moved far too slowly to fix relevant systems and controls,” she said. The FCA said that in one instance, Deutsche in error destroyed 482 tapes of telephone calls that should have been kept. “Deutsche Bank also provided inaccurate information to the regulator about whether other records existed,” the FCA said. The misconduct involved at least 29 Deutsche Bank individuals, including managers

and traders, mainly based in London but also in Frankfurt, Tokyo and New York. It took place between 2005 and 2009. Libor and Euribor are benchmark interest rates, influencing the setting of other rates. They are used as a barometer to measure the health of the banking system and as a gauge of market expectation for future central bank interest rates. The FCA said they “are fundamental to the operation of both UK and international financial markets”. To set Libor, for example, leading banks submit the rate at which they would lend to each other, with the average rate published each day. But traders colluded to set these benchmark rates, hoping to improve their trading positions. The regulators released email exchanges between traders and submitters - the people who provide the information on which rate Libor and Euribor is set each day. In another exchange about how the rates are set, one banker said: “people just randomly make those numbers up”. The New York Department of Financial Services said that Deutsche still employs some people who were involved, and has demanded their dismissal. About 10 individuals have already had their employment ended, the DFS said, but it added: “However, certain employees involved in the wrongful conduct remain employed at the Bank. “The Department orders the Bank to take all steps necessary to terminate seven employees, who played a role in the misconduct but who remain employed by the Bank: one London-based Managing Director, four London-based Directors, one London-based Vice President, and one Frankfurt-based Vice President.” Deutsche Bank did not comment in its statement on the demand for further dismissals. In joint remarks, Jürgen Fitschen and Anshu Jain, co-chief executives, said: “We deeply regret this matter but are pleased to have resolved it. The Bank accepts the findings of the regulators.

Pichette

Google profits buoyed by ad revenue

S technology giant Google reported a 4 per cent increase in profits to $3.59bn ,£2.38bn, as strong advertising sales helped boost the firm’s bottom line. Google said advertising sales for the first three months of 2015 were $15.5bn, an 11 per cent increase from the same period a year earlier. Total revenue also increased by 12 per cent to $17.3bn, but like other US firms, the company was hurt by the strong dollar. Shares in the firm rose more than 3 per cent in trading after markets had closed. There had been fears on Wall Street that profits would be weaker due to investment in new businesses and weaker advertising revenue as more people access Google via mobile devices, where advertising rates are lower. But the fears turned out to be unfounded - a fall in the average price of an advert was offset by an increase in the number of adverts. “The concern was that the first quarter results could have been much worse,” Colin Gillis from BGC Financial said. “There’s a certain degree of relief rally happening.” In a statement accompanying the results, chief financial officer Patrick Pichette said the company continued “to see great momentum in our mobile advertising business and opportunities with brand advertisers”. However, Google did suffer from the stronger dollar. Taking out the impact of currency movements, Mr Pichette said revenue grew by 17 per cent in the quarter compared with a year earlier.

Comcast abandons $45bn Time Warner Cable merger

Jain

omcast Corp, CMCSA.O, abandoned its $45bn offer for Time Warner Cable Inc ,TWC.N, on Friday after U.S.

regulator raised concerns that the deal would give Comcast an unfair advantage in the cable TV and Internet-based services market. The proposed deal had faced criticism from some politicians, media company executives and consumer and industry groups, who had worried it would create a monolith with too much control over what Americans do online and watch on TV. “The companies’ decision to abandon this deal is the best outcome for American consumers,” U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder said in a statement. Comcast had argued that the deal would not be anti-competitive because the companies had no real geographic overlap. The company had also agreed to divest some assets to help smooth the deal through the regulatory process. Federal Communications Commission Chairman Tom Wheeler said on Friday that the merger would have posed an “unacceptable risk to competition and innovation.” The collapse of the deal is

Roberts

a setback for Comcast Chief Executive Brian Roberts. “Today, we move on,” he said in a statement. The abandoned deal leaves open the possibility of an offer for Time Warner Cable by John Malone-backed Charter Communications Inc, CHTR.O, which bid for the company last year. Charter Communications was also involved in the Comcast-Time Warner Cable deal, having agreed to take on some subscribers divested by the merged company. Malone, a cable pioneer known as the “cable cowboy”, was asked in November whether he would pursue Time Warner Cable if the Comcast deal fell through. “Hell yes,” he responded. “We believe that TWC will get a bid from Charter in the next three months, which we expect to be lower than the market expects,” Needham analysts said in a note. The U.S. cable industry has been rapidly consolidating as it grapples with the rising popularity of satellite TV and Webbased entrants such as Netflix Inc, NFLX.O.

Tesco £6.4bn loss worst in its corporate history By David Audu with Agency Report

esco has reported a £6.4bn pre-tax annual loss - its biggest in its corporate history - for the year to the end of February, but chief executive Dave Lewis has insisted that colleagues should focus on the improvements of Q4 and “be confident about the future”. The figure compares starkly to the £2.26bn pre-tax profit that Tesco made last year – itself, the third annual decline in profits in Tesco’s corporate history – when group trading profit was £3.3bn. Group trading profit for this year fell 60 per cent to £1.4bn. In an ostensibly open management style that is becoming increasingly characteristic of Lewis, he and chief financial officer, Alan Stewart, talk about the retailer’s dire performance in a YouTube video, in which they are interviewed by store manager Mark Kanaris. In the video, Lewis admitted: “They’re not numbers that we’re happy with… First and foremost what these numbers represent is the crystallisation of the relatively poor trading position of the business. “There is one thing that I would ask colleagues to do. In that detail, in everything we say… focus on the business improvement that we are seeing in our fourth quarter. And what’s happened since October, where we’ve steadily improved our underlying performance of the business. That’s what we need to focus on and be confident about the future.” Kanaris asked Lewis: “When you started six months ago, was the plan then the same as the plan now?” Lewis replied: “We’ve found some challenges in the business that you wouldn’t have known about before and we’ve obviously had to adjust because of that.” Lewis was in part referring to the revelation that Tesco had overstated its half-year profit forecast last August by £263m, which is under investigation by the Serious Fraud Office. BC

Lewis

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Business Courage

Monday, April 27, 2015

A9 25

Brand Watch

Herbal Drinks: ACE Root, Orijin redefine market When Nigerian Breweries Plc. recently launched its new herbal product, ACE Roots in the ready to drink category of the alcoholic beverage market, it advertently draws a battle line between it and others, especially the Guinness brand, Orijin. David Audu examines the market and responses of consumers

espite making a rather late entry behind its competitors, such as Orijin, Nigerian Breweries Plc.’s newest product, ACE Roots debuts with a determined aggression. The product which was launched into the relatively new herbal drinks category of the crowded alcoholic beverage market recently seem prepared to wrestle market leaders in the fierce battle for consumers’ purse. Market research reveals that the ready to drink, RTD, herbal drinks is enjoying robust patronage from Nigerians. The market hitherto dominated by mainly garage and street corner local sellers was jolted when Guinness Nigeria launched its Orijin brand and now followed by ACE Roots. Before then, products sucn as Alomo Bitters, Kerewa, Ogidiga, Ibile, Baby Oku, Yoyo Sappiro Lemon Ginseng Liquor, Kogbebe, Koboko, Osomo, Dadubule, Durosoke, Pasa Bitters, Action Bitters, and many others ruled the market. All these products entered the Nigerian market using ‘sex energy boost’ as selling point. After all, ‘sex sells’, it took them little time to overrun the Nigerian alcoholic beverage market with spurious claims of efficacy to cure and prevent all diseases. Contrary to claims, these products have been alleged to contain high dosage of ethanol, caffeine and hemp. Instead of ‘herbal extracts’, the bitter taste of many of

the products is actually from ‘muru’, a substance used in treating pile in the northern part of the country, some have alleged. Orijin, it must be admitted, enjoyed instant success with the consumers. It was this success, and what researchers described as unprecedented and soaring patronage of the RTD that spurred NB to to quickly move into its laboratory to find an answer to the soaring sales of Origin. NB, said if it must come out with any herbal drinks, it must be a drink with a difference, and with substantial health benefits and values. ACE Roots, a new and innovative alcoholic herbal cocktail drink was their response. Unlike other products in the same category, that are mainly flavor of the contents, ACE, the brewer said is a mixture of fruits, natural herb extracts from agelong African herbal roots, trees,

Oluwalusi

leaves, several spices blended with low calorie sweeteners and mixed with moderate alcohol. It also contain extracts from tree barks, leaves, nuts, spices and several other medicinal sources native to Africa including kolanut, ginger roots, chilli pepper, sweet orange, bitter orange, ginseng roots, cocoa bean, plus seven other fruits, spices and herbs. According to NB, the beverage is sweetened with Aspertemen, a low calorie sweeteners that are internationally tested and accepted as healthier replacement for sugar. Aside gaining considerable edge over its closes competitor in the area of pricing, Ace Roots is discovered to be very low in sugar, one cube, compared to its main rival that contains about five cubes of sugar per 60 cl bottle. Aptly dubbed ‘The Game Changer’, analysts say ACE Roots has come to change consumers’ orientation and patronage of herbal drinks. For Managing Director, Vantage Point Enterprises, Mr. Olaoye Sunday, Ace Roots is a unique product that has come to redefine the alcoholic beverage landscape in Nigeria. “People love to taste new things. People like to experience new things. That is one of the things that will stand ACE Roots out in the market. The product is fast growing in popularity. We are even facing challenges meeting up with the demand for the products in the some parts of

the country. “I think that with the level of patronage ACE Roots has enjoyed so far, the product no doubt will attain market leadership sooner than many may have expected,” he said. A fast moving consumer (packaged) goods, FMCG, market researcher and analyst Tina Aluko, said that “the herbal mixture category of the market will never be the same again According to proprietor of Iya Somis Entertainment Spot in Sebiotimo area in Agege, Lagos, Mrs. Iyabo Somide, “customers demand for Ace Roots nowadays because the drink contains very low sugar and it gives the real herbal taste they are looking for in drinks like that,” she said. Another beer parlour operator, Mrs. NgoziAnazia who operates her shop in Pedro, Gbagada Phase I area of Lagos corroborated saying, “the demand for Ace Roots is higher than the supply we are getting now because the company just introduced the product. Customers say they love the taste of the drink and that it is easy to drink and do not give them hangover after drinking. Some of them said they just love the real ‘agbo’ (herbs) taste and the bitterness it leaves in the mouth while drinking,” she disclosed. The reporter met a consumer drinking Ace Roots while eating in Onyekuru’s shop and decided to ask why? The consumer who deals in the sale of used, tokunbo, airconditioners and

refrigerators gave his name simply as Samuel says “Ace Roots is not like those ogogoro (local gin) mix that others are giving us in the name of drinks. This is like drinking correct ‘agbo’. Since I started drinking Ace Roots, I normally take it with my food and it has had no effect on me since. Rather, I can say it goes well with meals,” he said. The above findings explain why it took the manufacturers of the product this long before launching into the market. It will be recalled that the company reasons for the relatively late entry of Ace Roots into herbal drinks/mixtures category of the Nigerian alcoholic beverage market. According to the company, it carried out what the company said was ‘a thorough research and consultations’ with critical stakeholders in order to give the consumer the best. “Ace Roots is our response to consumers yearnings and demands, our answer to the feedback we got from you our trade partners during consultations with you critical stakeholders,” Opeyemi Oluwalusi, the company’s Zonal Business Manager – West explained while introducing the new product to the company’s trade partners in Ibadan. With what Ace Roots has to offer in contents and character, rivals in the market should beware that after all the game may have changed for life. Marketing, however, is all about competition. BC

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Monday, April 27, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Energy Review

Subsidy Payment: Marketers threaten products importation suspension over arrears Stories by Gbenga Odogun

nless the Federal Government intervenes fast, Nigerians may soon go through another round of harrowing experience of fuel shortage as major oil marketers have threatened to stop importation of petroleum products over government’s alleged failure to pay their outstanding subsidy claims. Quite expectedly, the marketers have continued to lament over the unpaid subsidy claims due them on imported products, calling on the government to effect the payment failure of which could force them out of business. Already, the Major Oil Markers Association of Nigeria MOMAN has begun sensitization of its member to prepare for withdrawal of their importation services if their demand for the arrears of their subsidy claims were not paid by this week. The MOMAN’s Executive

Olawore

Secretary, Thomas Olawore, said that marketers were experiencing operational hardship due to cash flow challenges resulting from the delay in the payments of the subsidy arrears and compounded by the devaluation of the Naira, higher inflation and increase in the lending rates. He pointed out that unless the issues surrounding the unpaid claims were addressed, major importers would be forced to scale down products importation as well

Venkatapathy

as streamline overheads and workforce costs in the very immediate future. In similar remarks, the Managing Director of Nigerian Independent petroleum company, NIPCO, Mr. Venkataraman Venkatapathy, explained that the issue of subsidy payment to marketers had remained the major challenge of the downstream sector. “The outstanding payments with regards to premium motor spirit PMS, importations by marketers are

Okonjo-Iweala

seriously eroding into the operating results of the companies in the sector:” he said. Venkatapathy pointed out that the Petroleum industry which remained the mainstay of the nation’s economy and the highest contributor to national revenue had had its fortunes marred by a plethora of challenges of which subsidy payments and the recent devaluation of the naira remain paramount. “It is hard to operate within the framework of the prices

of petroleum products pricing regulations Agency PPRA which put the landing cost at N87 leaving little or no margin for operations by investors”, an operator, who pleaded not to be identified in print, said. Daily price survey in Lagos for last week indicates that the landing cost for PMS to most marketers was 87 naira less other hidden costs! It is also alleged that,most filling stations visited had their pump tampered with. This is in spite of N460bn subsidy payment for Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, and N160bn for Dual Purpose Kerosene DPK, in the 2015 budget. The payments have, once again, brought to fore once again the question of transparency in the handling of the vexed issue of subsidy in the sector. Industry watchers believe government has to address the controversy surrounding the issue of subsidy once and for all, using the leverage provided by the dwindling oil prices in the international oil market. BC

NERC called for review of gas supply to generation plants

he Chairman of Nigeria Electricity Regulation Commission, NERC, Dr. Sam Amadi, has called for the separation of gas supply to power generation plants from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, to guarantee regular power supply. Amadi, told journalists through an email last week that the poor power supply being experienced at the moment could be attributed to shortage of gas supply the most vital feedstock from the NNPC. Other problems identified by the NERC boss as being responsible for the poor electricity supply apart from gas are vandalism, commercialisation, policy intervention by the government and lack of proper enforcement of domestic supply obligations. He said that placing the responsibility of gas supply on the shoulder of NNPC did not allow for enforceable contracts making the power sector less competitive “In other jurisdictions like in the United Kingdom and the United States, where we bor-

rowed our model, the regulator of electricity regulates gas transportation and supply to power plants. This makes for coordination and efficiency in the various pricing points. The new government has to review that situation,” he said. Amadi called for more incentives for gas suppliers to dedicate more of the product to power plants or build gas infrastructure to cope with the growth in electricity demand. But with the commencement

of the Transitional Electricity Market, he said the value chain of electricity supply would be based on bankable contracts, adding that gas suppliers would now enter into gas supply contracts that would expose them to liability if they did not provide the contracted quantities of gas to the power plants.. The NERC boss noted that ordinarily, Nigeria should not have a problem of gas supply for power generation because it was a gas country.

Amadi

Amadi said, “But the truth is that having abundance of gas does not translate to gas supply to power plants. The first fact is that gas supply to power is outside the direct control of the regulator of electricity. So, we can’t predict accurately how much gas will be available. He said that the power generation target was being missed due to non completion of the National Integrated Power Project which he blamed on problem of project management BC

Nigeria may loose $10bn to falling crude price

evenue from the Nation’s oil and gas will drop by as much as $10bn in 2015 if crude price continue to average $53 per barrel, the Managing Director Total Upstream, Elizabeth Proust has warned. Proust told audience at a lecture last Thursday in Abuja that the low oil price witnessed globally was having adverse effect on the revenue of both producers and host government including Nigeria.

“We estimated that that if crude oil price average $53 per barrel compared to $77.5 in 2014, Nigeria’s oil and Gas revenue will decline by $10bn this year” She said The Managing Director said that the dwindling revenue was already showing in the amount of allocation due to states from d Federation account dropping by 15percent to N620bn compared to 2013. “This is resulting in the slow-

ing or cancelling of many infrastructure projects that Nigeria desperately needs,” Proust said. She, however, said that in response to this challenge, businesses were adding more rigor to cost optimization programmed to boost the bottom line. She said most of the cost drivers in the industry were relatively inelastic in the short term of one to two years due to existing commitments. “This means that there is a

time lag between movements in crude oil prices and costs. Thus, we cannot expect near-term costs relief. “Additionally in Nigeria, long contract approval times and other bureaucracy further slow any gains from cost adjustments to low crude oil prices,” she said. Proust said low crude oil prices had significantly reduced the level of investable funds, at a time when competition for investments is sharpening. BC

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Business Courage

Monday, April 27, 2015

A11 27

Twitter dangles new tool at soccer loving Nigerians By Isaiah Erhiawarien

he rave by social media channels to increase the volume of their users has taken a different dimension following the launch of Premier League follower map by Twitter. Realising the huge followership foreign league by football loving fans across the world, and particularly for Nigeria where the foreign leagues have more followers than those of the Nigeria leagues, Twitter may have finally warmed its way into the heart of its users in the country. This is the first time that football fans will be able to see a detailed global breakdown of the Twitter followers of all 20 clubs, all over the world. The map was created by looking at the official Twitter accounts for each team, using their followers as an indicator of allegiance so that with a glance, one can discover which teams dominate each country around the world. According to graphic details of the new product, which was made available to Business Courage by a Twitter representative in Lagos, fans can toggle the map to view specifically their own club’s support worldwide. The map allows the user to see the most popular clubs overall; and even compare their club with a rival, and simply by using the ‘Zoom to’ function you can pinpoint any country around the world instantly. If you think you know where fans are located, you may be. The new Premier League Twitter fan map, which shows a detailed global breakdown of the followers of all 20 clubs offering richer details than just knowing the where to find @ PremierLeague. The map, which was built by the data visualisation scientist team of Twitter, is an interactive map that enables soccer lovers in across the strength of their team. For instance, it will enable football lovers to discover which teams dominate each country, and where loyalties lay at a district-level in Nigeria. The map was created by looking at the official Twitter

accounts for each team, using their followers as an indicator of allegiance (as opposed to, say, instances in which people mention a team while watching an interesting matchup or talking about a team’s rival). According to Twitter, although the primary view shows at a glance which teams dominate each country around the world, but there are other interesting ways within this to explore the map in greater depth. The Twitter document revealed that one of such is the function that allows the user to discover its own club adding that it helps to discover how your club fares in each country using the ‘Zoom to’ function in the right-hand corner of the map to instantly explore your club’s presence in any given country. Soccer fans can also do comparing of the clubs to find out where they have the biggest density of followers such as comparing local rivals such as @Arsenal and@ChelseaFC. Using the dropdown menu function, of the Premier League follower map it is also possible to determine who the most popular clubs are in an area of your choice.

The Premier League follower map is the only view where you can zoom right in, region-byregion, to discover a breakdown of where loyalties lie at a local UK level. Twitter revealed that it employed a technique called hexagonal binning, which divides the map into equally-sized hexagons, like a honeycomb, so the user can see random by region instead of treating each country as one big region saying that that was possible because each country divides municipalities differently. There are according to Twit-

ter, Gunners for Life need to have a glance at the Nigeria map to see that Arsenal (@Arsenal) in yellow dominates. There are pockets of blue (Chelsea – @ ChelseaFC) and red (Manchester United – @ManUtd), but Arsenal’s reach is by far the most widespread, with fans all over the country. And in the UK, Gunners take London where there are six Premier League teams in London, but one stands apart from the rest in terms of Twitter followers: @Arsenal. Not only do the Gunners have more followers in their own locale of Highbury and

Jack Dorsey & Evan Williams, Twitter co founders

Islington, but they also edge out arch-rivals Tottenham (@SpursOfficial) and @ChelseaFC in their backyards. Crystal Palace (@CPFC) also see their home turned Arsenal yellow, while West Ham (@WHUFC_official) and Queens Park Rangers (@ QPRFC) are shaded out by Liverpool green. The Premier League follower map is one of the latest tools from Twitter, which has attracted social media savvy to it. For instance, the Followerwonk is a free Twitter analytics tool that helps you find, analyse and optimise your account for social growth. The tool has five features: search Twitter bios, compare users, analyse followers, track followers and sort followers. The Tweriod is a Twitter tool that determines the best time of day to tweet. After signing in with your Twitter account, the toll will sample up to 1,000 of your followers and generate a report. When your report is ready, Tweriod notifies you via email or direct message. The more followers you have, the longer it may take to generate the report. BC

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Business Courage

Monday, April 27, 2015

MTN Business backs emerging ICT entrepreneurs M

TN Business has embarked on a long-term supplier development programme that will empower young, black entrepreneurs to take their place at the forefront of South Africa’s evolution to a knowledge-based economy. “For MTN Business, local supplier development is more than a box-ticking exercise,” said Chief Enterprise Officer at MTN Business, Alpheus Mangale. A press statement from MTN said its enterprise and supplier development has taken on a new significance in the revised BBBEE codes, but we’re looking beyond these metrics to make a more tangible impact on the economy. Mangale said: “Our programme is aligned with the National Development Plan’s goals of addressing poverty alleviation and real empowerment by creating a new class of young, black entrepreneurs. As a leader in the technology sector, we’re in a prime position to leverage our technical expertise and national footprint to develop skills and small enterprises that have the potential to grow into larger, sustainable businesses.” MTN Business has partnered with New Generation Mindset (NGM), a training and skills development provider that spe-

cialises in SME development and mentorship in the ICT sector. The supplier development programme has been designed as a three-year intervention that will see 60 small ICT businesses developed through a six-stage programme, which will take them from the start-up phase to fully self-sufficient status. “Our long-term objective is to develop these entrepreneurs into providers of ICT services of the highest order. Whether they’re serving the consumer market or SME sector, they will in effect be helping to differentiate MTN through the delivery of key technology solutions. “We expect the biggest impact to be from them enabling SMEs in rural and township areas to access services that contribute to their competitiveness. Many of these businesses fall outside of the fold of traditional ICT service providers and we believe that this new generation of ICT entrepreneurs will find a ready market to grow their businesses,” Mangale said. The development programme is open to black youth-owned enterprises in the ICT services sector, ideally but not restricted to those who have been in business for between 12 and 24 months. Some level of post-school training and qualification will be re-

quired to qualify. The successful applicants will then undertake the threeyear programme at NGM’s incubators located around the country. Entrepreneurs who already have their own premises will continue to operate out of their facilities, but will be required to attend training sessions at NGM centres. NGM will provide basic business support services to incubated companies while simultaneously developing the entrepreneurs’ business management skills in all aspects of operating a business. For its part, MTN Business will draw on its technical training partner to pass on these skills. BC

elecoms equipment provider Huawei Technologies said it is the number one long term evolution (LTE)/ 4G network provider in six regions around the world. Speaking during a media roundtable in Shenzhen, China vice president of Huawei’s TDD Networks, Qui Heng said Huawei has the highest number of LTE commercial licence networks in regions like China, Africa and Middle East and Asia-Pacific. According to Heng the Chinese company has 189 out 393 global LTE commercialisations saying that in Africa and the Middle East Huawei has 35 in total, the most by any vendor deploying LTE in that region.

“We combine the Africa area and Middle East area together and for the commercialised networks in this region there are 35 from Huawei, 13 from another vendor, 10 from another and 14 from remaining vendors,” he

Heng

ocial media platform Facebook has announced it will be launching its Internet.org app in Nigeria in May. Speaking at the Mobile West Africa conference in Lagos, Nigeria, Head of Public Policy, Africa. Ebele Okobi, at Facebook said recommendations for locally relevant apps are being accepted in order to provide Nigerians with apps they can use for various purposes. Okobi said Nigeria’s Internet.

org app will include Facebook and locally relevant apps for education, sports, gossip and others. The Internet.org app has been launched in Zambia, Kenya, Ghana and several other countries across the world. When it is launched in Nigeria, Okobi said subscribers of the partnering network will have access to a set of websites and services for free. Although Okobi did not re-

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Tips to increase online sales

ne of the core values of most companies is “test everything; assume nothing!” That’s because you can’t just figure out what strategy or angle is going to work best for you until you test it. This applies even to your star-performing strategies because there’s always room for improvement. The bottom line is, testing is the only way to discover what works and what doesn’t on your website, and it’s the best way to start increasing your sales exponentially. However here are few tips to help increase online sales:

1: Feature different benefits in your headline. Your headline has a huge impact on your sales. It’s often the first thing visitors to your site see so it must grab their attention and compel them to read your sales letter. A successful headline should highlight a problem your target audience faces and stress the main benefit of your product or service in solving this problem

Mangale

stated. He added, “This is for commercial licence networks and for commercial contracts Huawei has more.” Heng was delivering a keynote address on the next level LTE, which is LTE Advanced (LTE-A), a higher speed of 4G. He explained that LTE-A provides better user experience and has lower cost framework than 3G. “People want to use highspeed networks but they don’t want to pay more,” he said. With LTE-A operators would also benefit as they generate more revenue as the networks become more cost effective, he noted. BC

FaceBook to launch app in Nigeria

with Esther Ozue

2: Establish a problem in your copy and show how you can solve it. In the first few paragraphs that appear on your home page, you need to go into more detail about the problem you introduced in your headline showing your audience that you relate to them. (Only when your audience feels you understand their problem will they feel confident that you can solve it.) Once the problem is established, you can then begin introducing your product or service as the solution to this problem by emphasizing exactly how your product or service will solve your reader’s problem, you’re guaranteed to see a boost in sales.

Huawei claims leadership in LTE in Africa

Technotalk

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veal any partnering telecoms network for Nigeria, she said Internet.org is encouraging telecoms companies to look at the long-term benefits and not immediate gains. “Operators bear the cost. They are introducing internet to a lot of people. And based on agreement, they can introduce pricing following the expiration of the agreement,” she said. “We are asking them to give up short term profit for long-term benefits.” BC

3: Add credibility to your copy and enhance your visitors’ trust in you. It’s vital that your sales copy establishes your credibility: It’s through this process that your visitors come to trust you and feel comfortable enough to buy from you. You can build credibility by including customer testimonials in your sales letter and by adding a section to your copy that outlines your credentials, experience and any background information that makes you qualified to solve your target audience’s problem. Your aim should be to effectively convince readers that you are the best person to offer them a solution to their problem. 4: Focus on your site visitors not yourself. The most successful sales copy focuses on the reader. Too often, business owners neglect this simple golden rule. Look carefully at your sales copy. Is it filled with references to “I,” “me” and “we”? Instead of using sentences like “I designed my time-management software with the busy homeowner in mind,” try “Your new timemanagement software will free up hours of time for you to spend with your family.” So try searching for “I,” “me” and “our” in your sales copy and replace them with “you” and “your.” 5: Instill urgency in your copy and convince readers they need to buy now! It’s very important that your sales copy instill a sense of urgency in your visitors, compelling them to buy now. The best place to do this is toward the end of your sales letter, near the call to action (when you ask for the sale). You can achieve this by offering a limited-time price discount where visitors must buy before a certain date in order to qualify for the discount and offer additional bonuses for free if visitors buy within a certain time frame. Finally, following up with existing customers is very important because it helps you develop profitable, longterm relationships with them and allows you to offer “backend” products relating to their original purchase. BC

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Business Courage

Monday, April 27, 2015

A13 29

Bala Zakariya’u:

The underwriting guru By Adejuwon Osunnuyi

ith over 30 years working experience, cutting across both the underwriting and brokerage sectors of the industry, Bala Zakariyau’s credentials as one of the seasoned and frontline insurance practitioners in the country are quite intimidating. Quite frankly, Zakariya’u, Chairman of Niger Insurance Plc remains one of the few corporate titans who have given visibility and vibrancy to the insurance sub-sector in Nigeria. Born in December 1952, Zakariya ‘u attended the Government Secondary School Yola, now Adamawa State, where he obtained his West African School certificate in 1971. From there, the young Bala gained admission into Ahmadu Bello University Zaria where he obtained a diploma in insurance in 1976. Thereafter, Bala proceeded to the Caledonian University Glasgow between 1979 and 1982 where he passed the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) professional exams. Through private studies, he passed the Associateship examination in 1988 and four years later, he obtained a master’s degree in business administration from the Bayero University Kano. In 1995, Bala Zakariya’u attended the Advance Management Programme Course 4 of the Lagos Business School, the same year he was elected as a Chartered Insurer by the Chartered Insurance Institute of London. Zakariya ‘u began his professional career in 1972 as an Accounts Assistant (insurance) at the Broadcasting Company of Northern Nigeria and later moved to the Ahmadu Bello University Zaria as executive officer [Insurance]. Later, he joined the defunct Nigeria Airways in 1976 where he served in various senior and management positions. His job experience in core insurance is dated back to his years in Kapital Insurance where he worked as claims manager and later at CIB Insurance Brokers as promoter/chief executive officer. He later moved on to AIICO Insurance Plc, where he worked as a branch manager before joining the services of Nicon Insurance as senior manager [Kano Zone] From Nicon Insurance, Bala joined Niger Insurance as General Manager, Technology and by 1993, he became the company’s

His entire career life has been to the service of the insurance sector. Today, after more than 30 years of active and dedicated service to the industry, he still remains a strong voice in the business of underwriting and investment. This is the story of Bala Zakariya’u, an investment guru and chairman of Niger Insurance Plc

Zakariya’u

executive director [Technical]. Four years after, he rose to become the managing director and chief executive officer in 1997 and twelve years after, he retired as the chief executive to become the board chairman of the insurance company. As at that time, Niger Insurance was more or less a subsidiary of Nicon Insurance, the situation which many industry players attributed to his meteoric rise. Bala Zakariya’u’s stay as the managing director/chief executive officer of Niger Insurance was no doubt very productive. All through his tenure, Zakariya’u elevated Niger Insurance from the shack-

les of inefficiency and civil service minded establishment to a real technologically driven enterprise and by the time he left in 2006, after nine years as chief executive, Niger Insurance had become not only a strong force to reckon with in the insurance industry but also one of the reference points in the underwriting business. Today, Niger Insurance is among the top bracket of insurance firms in Nigeria which place high premium on its human resource base, In an industry with bad reputation, one of the legacies of Zakariya’u in Niger Insurance remains the premium it places on

higher ethical standard and integrity of its work force. Established as Yorshire Insurance Company in 1962, it started off as a specialist in Life Insurance and assumed its present status of a publicly quoted composite insurance company as a result of the indigenisation Decree of 1976. Today, the underwriting firm ranks among the leading providers of a wide range of insurance and related financial services in Nigeria with total assets in excess of N2.8 billion. Niger Insurance currently has three subsidiaries including NIC Properties Limited; NIC Securities & Trust Limited;

River Plaza and Shopping Mall Limited.. Niger Insurance is today one of the major players in the nation’s capital market whose activities have contributed to shaping the activities of the market. It has consistently achieved superior returns on shareholders equity, relative to competition since its listing on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange and it is one of the first companies to meet the new capital requirements of the Insurance Decree of 1997. Over the years, the company has consistently delighted its shareholders with good returns on their investment. Based on the company’s audited financial report for the year ended December 31, 2011, the gross premium income of Niger Insurance rose from N7.04 billion in 2010 to N7.8 billion in 2011. While the composite insurance firm achieved an underwriting profit of N1.54 billion during the last operating year, its profit from deposit administration increased significantly from N120 million in 2010 to N1.53 billion in 2011. The profit after tax of Niger Insurance grew tremendously from a loss of N123 million in 2010 to N1.22 billion in 2011. During the same period under review, the company’s shareholders fund increased fromN4.2 billion in 2010 to N5.3 billion in 2011, while its total assets stood at N21.2 billion at the end of December 2011. The management team of the company is made up of trained, experienced and competent professionals with extensive management and technical skill and has in place, sound reinsurance treaties with local and foreign first class Reinsurance Companies led by Swiss Re. These comprehensive securities ensure financial stability and exude confidence in its service to both present and prospective customers. Niger Insurance has remained afloat over the years, carving a niche for itself in its area of business and it has been waxing stronger day by day. As a socially responsible corporate citizen, the company has consistently been contributing towards the improvement of quality of life in the society, just as it is providing comprehensive risk management services, free of charge to clients. However, the story of Bala Zakariya’u is not restricted to Niger Insurance alone. In fact, given the peculiarity of insurance

Continued on pg A14

Business Courage

as an investment haven of sort, Zakariya’u has also shown his dexterity in corporate practice. As an unassuming boardroom guru and with investment in key sectors of the economy, the astute insurer sits on the board of many companies across all sectors. He is a director of Ekocorp Plc, the parent company of Eko Hospitals, the foremost tertiary health services provider established in 1978 as a joint Medical Practice reflecting the style of a Teaching Hospital, by the founding joint Chief Medical Directors. EKO Hospital has experienced the kind of phenomenal growth that has earned it the position of Nigeria’s foremost private Hospital and it is affiliated to Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State, as a training centre for Clinical Students of the Obafemi Awolowo College of Health Sciences. The Hospital is intent on developing the medical content of the nation, which is also demonstrated in its acceptance of usage of its facilities by graduate and post-graduate trainees, house officers and interns accredited by the Nigerian Post-Graduate Medical College, Nigerian Medical and Dental Council and the Pharmacy, Physiotherapy, Radiotherapy and Medical Laboratory Science Councils of Nigeria. It prides itself with first-class equipment in the various fields of Medicine – Paediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Internal Medicine, Surgery, Dentistry, Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT), Ophthalmology, Electro Encephalography (EEG), Endoscopy, CT-Scanning, Radiodiagnosis, Radiotherapy and Effective Investigative Laboratory. It also provides other services such as a Diabetes/Endocrinology Centre, Comprehensive Health Screening, Fertility and Pain Management and Rehabilitation Centre. Zakariya’u is also on the board of Excel Professional Services (EPS), a firm established to provide world-class management consulting support to business enterprises that seek to develop their capacities in the three critical areas of strategy, leadership and governance. EPS is built around the concept that no business can excel in its chosen field, except it gets its strategy, leadership and governance right. The central objective of EPS engagements is to assist clients improve their competitiveness and excel in their lines of business, while remaining compliant and socially responsible. EPS corporate objectives includes rendition of consulting assistance to its clients in developing their strategies, leadership and governance, thereby helping to improve their organizational capacity to compete in their lines of business. It also provides project and organizational change management assistance to its clients that are implementing specific measures designed to improve their policies, systems and processes. Besides, EPS assists clients develop appropriate framework for promoting high ethical standards and sound corporate governance

practices in their businesses; acquire, store and distribute cutting-edge knowledge in the area of strategy, leadership and governance for the benefits of our clients. It also conducts research and publishes monographs, journals, books and other materials that help advance the knowledge and practice of leadership and corporate governance. He was at a time, chairman of Express Discount Limited (EDL), a specialised financial institution licensed by the Central Bank of Nigeria in July 1993 as a discount house. EDL is owned by a group of financial institutions including Bank of Industry, Keystone Bank, the old Finbank, OMIS Investment Limited, Nicon Insurance, Niger Insurance, Skye Bank and Enterprise Bank. He served as the company’s chairman in 2004 at the expiration of the tenure of the then chairman, Akin Kekere-Ekun, who at that time was the managing director of Habib Bank. Prior to his appointment, Bala Zakariya’u was the longest serving director of the company after Kekere-Ekun, having been appointed to the Board in August, 1997. He also served on the board of the defunct Afribank Nigeria Plc from May 2005 till 2011 when he resigned his appointment over issues bothering on the Central Bank’s handling of the recapitalisation of the bank which was at that time faced with serious challenges. Elected as a council member of the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria in 1994, Zakariya’u lectured at the Insurance Institute of Nigeria, Kano and the Nigeria institute of Management also in Kano in 1996 and served as a member of the insurance law review committee. Reputed for his uprightness and industry zealousness, Zakariya’u is aptly described as one of the pillars of modern insurance practice in Nigeria. Zakariya’u believes that since insurance is all do as a risk business is to pay compensation; underwriting firms have no choice than to ensure that they are financially strong. Given this background, it was, therefore, not surprising, when in 2008, Bala Zakariya’u was appointed chairman of a committee set-up to review the recapitalisation of the insurance industry. The event that led to his appointment was rather dramatic. The exercise, which would have drastically changed the outlook of the industry, went well as some operators embarked on efforts to

Monday, April 27, 2015

Zakariya’u

tidy up their accounts until some operators began to raise dust, alleging that the then Commissioner for Insurance, Okechukwu Chukwulozie unduly favoured some companies in the recapitalisation exercise. In all, 71 operators were recertified by the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) and certificates issued, but this sparked off protests by some aggrieved operators who complained of unfairness and claimed as well that licenses were issued to companies which did not meet the requirements. Allegations of favouritism were made against the government over an alleged N463 million waiver granted NICON Insurance by the Federal Government. Unknown to those making the false claim, however, the alleged sum, contrary to widely held opinion, was the amount which was supposed to have been settled by NICON Insurance under government control prior to its privatisation. Interestingly, it was that controversy which the recapitalisation exercise generated that further threw Zakariyau further into public limelight. He was appointed by the then minister of state for finance, Nenadi Usman to chair the panel to review the exercise. As a key stakeholder and sitting chief executive officer of one of the insurance companies whose committee was to appraise, the Zakariya’u panel ab initio was faced with the challenges of integrity. Those opposed to his chairmanship of the panel alleged, justifiably so that the panel may be used to victimise other rival opera-

‘

Reputed for his uprightness and industry zealousness, Zakariya’u is aptly described as one of the pillars of modern insurance practice in Nigeria. Zakariya’u believes that since insurance is all do as a risk business is to pay compensation; underwriting firms have no choice than to ensure that they are financially strong

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A14 30

tors. Expectedly, when the panel submitted its report, it among other things, reported that the “conduct of the recapitalization/ consolidation exercise was grossly mismanaged because there were no evidence of confirmation of due compliance of the status of most companies with the increase in paid-up share capital, financial backing and payments into escrow accounts with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).” As if that was not enough, the minister, upon the receipt of that report, set up another technical Committee to undertake post verification exercise of the 71 companies recertified. Among other things, the Committee’s terms of reference include: to review all submissions of certified insurance companies vis-à-vis the recapitalization guidelines, recommend appropriate sanctions where it is established that a company obtained approval without due compliance. The panel was also to recommend the ones that qualify for issuance of licenses and reappraise all institutional matters of NAICOM and recommend best practices and optimal staff levels. They were also to implement all technical issues arising from the approved recommendations of the NAICOM panel and any other matter considered necessary. Expectedly, this sparked off another controversy. The technical committee was again chaired by Bala Zakariya’u whose earlier panel reviewed the NAICOM recapitalization exercise. As such, those that had crossed the hurdle of recapitalisation claimed that the review panel headed by Zakariya’u was unfair to them in its report and had looked forward to another independent committee to address their issues. They questioned the rationale behind the appointment of the same man whose committee earlier reviewed the exercise and who has vested interest in the industry to chair the technical committee to, in effect, revisit his earlier recommendation. Some of the aggrieved operators took their case to the court asking it to decide on the correctness or otherwise of the decision by the Ministry of Finance to ask the same set of people who reviewed the recapitalization exercise and made recommendations to go back and review their recommendations. Whatever the motive behind the exercise then, most industry watchers who spoke with Business Courage agreed that that action remained one of the sore points in the chequered history of the astute insurance practitioner. This is even more so, when the action was done in outright breach of the Insurance Act then. Niger Insurance has one of the largest integrated branch networks in the industry but still has its eyes at reaching and serving all the nooks and crannies of Nigeria. The premium income being generated by the underwriting firm has been on a steady increase since it commenced operations. Zakariya ‘u believes that his company has survived the travails

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that afflicted the insurance market in Nigeria but not one known to rest on his oars, Zakariya ‘u is still roaring to move ahead. While he was the CEO, he inculcated in his team, the culture of internal control and aggressive marketing in order to have an edge over their competitors. From a small office on Lagos Island, the company can now boast of assets including magnificent buildings and office complexes spread all over the country. Besides, the company has successfully deployed electronic platforms and facilities (Tonquest Software and other IT infrastructure) to its regional offices and branches nationwide for quick and reliable service delivery. Being a firm believer in the Insurance industry despite its low level of acceptance in Nigeria, Zakariya’u, believes operators need to offer products that would be acceptable and give excellent after sales services in order to improve on the fortunes of the Nigerian insurance industry. Recently, while pointing out that Nigeria is ranked the fifth insurance market on the African continent and 66 in the world (Sigma Report 2010) with gross premium written of $2 billion or N300 billion, he maintained that insurance penetration per capita was lower in the country even by African standards. “The official data available indicates in the last five years, Nigeria GDP growth has been at a rate of five to seven per cent per annum. Even after adjusting for inflation rate fluctuating between 10-15 per cent, this is still a remarkable growth in comparative terms to other economies of the world, most of which are in recession,” he said. Putting the nation’s insurance industry in the context of the national economy, he affirmed that the prognosis for the future looked very good for growth based on the assumption that the industry and its operators would improve the market facing attributes that reduced the penetration gap. “We can improve the future of the industry if we offer products that would be acceptable and to have the capacity to give excellent after sales services. With a large young urban based population, mass appeal products or the retail market type products would do well,” Zakariya’u submitted. Recognizing the tremendous efforts of the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) over the last five years through the implementation of pragmatic supervision and the introduction of key initiatives with the sole aim of expanding the penetration of insurance services, Zakariya’u believes that by all these efforts, it is envisaged that by 2020, written premium income of the industry would pass the trillion Naira mark. “By and large, it is safe to predict that the insurance industry in Nigeria is on the way to sustainable growth in the personal lines (retail), commercial lines and oil and gas insurance. We must however as an industry be more creative in product development and operate with integrity.” BC

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Business Courage

Monday, April 27, 2015

A15 31

ThebuddingEntrepreneurs

Improve business with system development

BUSINESS KLINIC

With Mamora Victor Mamora is a system thinker and advisor whose belief and activator leadership strengths are directed towards improving workers perspective for city and enterprise development.

e-mail: olusegunmamora@gmail.com

System development and work departments To build an enduring system, you need to establish a clear purpose, structure around it, employ people, empower the people, and measure performance to bottom line. In the non-profit enterprise, the bottom line is changed lives. How to build inanimate System The first responsibility is to define the Purpose: Why are you going into this business? This is purpose. What would be the outcome? This is the vision. The target market experience is the Focus. For example, let’s look at Charis Flavours Venture. The business purpose is “quality process and packaged food.” The business vision is to “sell qualitative chips in every

street, community, state, nation, and continent.” The business assignment or mission is “building a good and motivated workforce, producing to the highest safety and environment (HSE) standard with a state of art equipment and thereby be the most sought after chips.” The second responsibility is to structure around the purpose: Structure starts by listing core business functions. What are the daily responsibilities that must be taken to fulfill the business assignment, vision and purpose? Still talking about Charis flavours, the business has a purpose of processing plantain into chips with splendid spies and packaged neatly. A look at the daily functions of Charis Flavours plantain chips production include the following: Sales, purchase, logistics, plantain washing, plantain peeling, plantain frying, plantain packaging, waste disposal, facility cleaning, customer relation, office and factory management, stock keeping, accounting, staff recruiting, business process administration, product research and development, product delivery, and marketing.

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Usually, people who are not enjoying their work fall sick quickly and often than those who enjoy what they do. Emotional stress makes people who don’t enjoy their employment sick from soul to body

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ntrepreneurs need good system thinking attitude to develop business in phases. System thinking is engaging network of people’s perspective to fulfill a purpose. If you have good and supportive mental model people, you will create great products. System is a group or parts effectively and efficiently interacting to produce a common result. System comprises of organs or departments and units. In enterprises, there are two fundamental systems categorised as inanimate system and animate system. Inanimate system comprises of departments in your business processes that are effectively and efficiently networked and communicated to produce a common result and expected bottom line. A structured system stays even when people leave your organisation. Animate system comprises of people with diverse background, professional training, talent, experiences and personal vision who are integrated to fulfill a shared vision over a period of time within inanimate system.

The next is to draw your position chart Draw your position chart and it can be expanded as business grows. Position chart should be structured in such a way that you will release some responsibilities outside your personal core competences and allow other people to provide support for your weakness. For example, Charis Flavour CEO, Miss Maureen is a passionate entrepreneur who understands quality chips production processes and

alumnus of both Ambros Ali University and of Lagos Business School, Nigeria. To develop her business, expand, and improve service to more clients, she had to provide room for other professionals by creating needed departments within the Charis Flavours business system. Arrangement of the functions into position charts The next responsibility is to create layers of department where related job function can be listed to form work unit and recruit a leader who takes responsibility for business function within that unit. Below is the example from Charis Flavours venture: Production unit: plantain washing, plantain peeling, plantain frying, plantain packaging, waste disposal, facility cleaning, Managing Director: Talent development, hire employee, share great ideas, and allocate resources Marketing unit: Advertisement, client support, campaigns, public relations, research, sales Admin/Account unit: record, invoices, receipts, wages, compensation, customer relationship management. Logistics units: purchase, stock keeping, facility man-

Motivational Business Quotes

o think is easy. To act is difficult. To act as one thinks is the most difficult. – Johann Wolfgang Von Goeth I like thinking big. If you’re going to be thinking anything, you might as well think big. – Donald Trump Nobody talks about entrepreneurship as survival, but that’s exactly what it is and what nurtures creative thinking. Running that first shop taught me business is not financial science; it’s about trading: buying and selling. – Anita Roddick To waken interest and kindle enthusiasm is the sure way to teach easily and successfully. – Tryon Edwards Your most unhappy customers are your

greatest source of learning. – Bill Gates Success is often achieved by those who don’t know that failure is inevitable. – Coco Chanel The competitor to be feared is one who never bothers about you at all, but goes on making his own business better all the time. – Henry Ford The good or ill of a man lies within his own will. – Epictetus I have known not a few men who, after reaching the summits of business success, found themselves miserable on attaining retirement age. They were so exclusively engrossed in their day to day affairs that they had no time for friend making. – B.C. Forbes BC

agement, and company automobile servicing You can then compress the layers to make it simple and orderly. Describe the position of each work department talents for effective service delivery from every worker. The benefit of position description is to understand the competencies required for each position. Recruitment Recruitment comes as result of need for support in achieving business goals within the system. You can only maximise the competence of people when there is position description and its relevance to business function. Benefits of system • Orderliness is established • It allows for development and expansion • It prevent entrepreneur break down due to stress • It help focuses the resources of the organisation • It produces consistencies in quality services and predictable for quality • You grow wealth • Enhances creativity and innovation Dear entrepreneur, there cannot be a substitute for system development as a way to service improvement. System makes entrepreneur and workers to enjoy their work and creatively serve. System development as said earlier reduces constant sickness of team members and entrepreneur due to stress. Usually, people who are not enjoying their work fall sick quickly and often than those who enjoy what they do. Emotional stress makes people who don’t enjoy their employment sick from soul to body. It is true that a worker fulfilling purpose through potential in a system will rarely be disease in her body. Incessant complaint from employee on assignment is majorly a symptom of disease body. Be courageous to build system and creatively engage yourself and team member for excellent services. BC

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ThebuddingEntrepreneurs

Edochie: A daring pioneer in unexplored In a country where sexual issues are seen as morally anathemic as even discussing problems associated with it largely regarded as taboo, obviously, going into such a business, for a young man, could be said to be daring and obviously suicidal. But not minding its conservative nature, exuding rare courage, passion and determination to help educate people on sexuality and by so doing, help them make smart sexual choices that can be lifesaving, Uche Edochie, about a decade ago decided to choose a career in sexual solutions and adult products business. Today, Zee Virtual Media Ltd, where he calls the shots as the Managing Director, has blossomed into flourishing enterprise with so much for the owners’ efforts in terms of investment returns, efficient services to customers.

By Adejuwon Osunnuyi

che Edochie is someone many would describe as a man who walks where even angels fear to tread. Born about 39 years ago in Lagos, against all odds, he has built a thriving career as a sexual solution expert firmly establishing his feet in the ever dynamic field of business and entrepreneurship. For Uche, the third child of the popular veteran actor, Pete Edochie, while his educational background is in the art, he is a man of many parts. He is a painter, interior designer, photographer, writer, relationship counsellor and a dynamic business man. At a very tender of 19 years old, he entered into the world of entrepreneurship as an artist and interior designer. However, his line of business took a dramatic change about ten years ago, as he became a sex education columnist and adult business owner. How did he come to the idea of going into the sex business? Like most successful business owners would admit that identifying needs of people of and the ability to provide prompt solutions go a long way in determining the success of the business, as a result of pains taking researches, Uche also found a vacuum and decided to fill it with live saving solutions. He believes that basically, rather than engage in immoral acts in seeking for sexual satisfaction with multi-partners, which could lead to sexual diseases, a man or woman could safely engage in the use of adult toys. According to him, for many years, having watched how black Africa was portrayed on main stream news as the face of HIV

and AIDS, he discovered that while he felt so bad about the situation, the very first person that we all know that died of AIDS was a homosexual American Actor named Rock Hudson. He wondered why the mainstream news managed to turn the whole thing around and pinned the origin of AIDS to Africa. “I always wished that I could do something about it but I wasn’t sure how.” Uche told Business Courage in an interview. However, while he was still worried about the AIDS misconception about Africans issue, one day, he was brainstorming with a friend who needed a business idea and the adult business popped into his head. “At that very moment, I knew that I had finally found a voice to help make the kind of contribution I desired. I started researching the idea and decided on an online business model for privacy and greater access to the public. Like I said, rather than sit on the chair and complain about how the West always portrays us negatively, I was determined to help rewrite our history by starting a business that helps educate people about human sexuality to help them make smart sexual choices that can be life-saving.” He explained. While Uche was feeling fulfilled with the idea of going into what he called the adult business, expectedly, family members as well as friends tried all they could to discourage him because they saw the business as a no go area. “I remember friends telling me in the beginning that the business will not succeed because Nigerians ‘weren’t into that sort of thing’.” However, due to his exuding rare courage, passion and determination to help educate

Edochie

people about human sexuality that would help them make smart sexual choices that can be life-saving, Uche went ahead with the business and today, his Zee Virtual Media Ltd, where he calls the shot as the MD/CEO, has blossomed into multi-million naira enterprise. “Yes, it has been rewarding. Whatever it is you do, if it is done well, you will succeed.” He told Business Courage. Basically, Zee Virtual Media’s

clients cut across the strata. “Everybody buys from us. People who have more money spend more but everybody buys from us.” He said. Uche said he believes basically, human beings are the same everywhere and Nigerians are just as interested in sex as people from other countries. According to him, “Most adults are sexually active and want to have better sex and gain sexual knowledge even if they

don’t admit it publicly. So I always knew that the interest was there, but first, I had to earn the trust of the people at all levels. Admitting the challenges he has had to cope with over the years, Uche noted, “What scares people most when it comes to businesses like mine is the issue of boundaries. Overseas for instance, big adult shops don’t just retail novelties only. A lot of them also own strip clubs, organize sex parties and have call girl services. So people in Nigeria weren’t quite sure of my intentions at first. But by the time they started reading my column, they gradually understood that Zee Virtual Media is about sex education and giving adults access to products that can solve their sex and romance problems. That’s all. We don’t own strip clubs, we don’t throw sex parties and we don’t run call girl services. I have no interest in those things. So gradually, we earned the people’s trust and now everybody writes and calls us for help with their numerous problems.” To the Zee Virtual Media boss, “Nigeria is a conservative country. Amongst other things, this just means that a lot of the acceptance we get both people and the government is unofficial. My clients will never publicly endorse our business as such because it is sex related. I understand it. Sex embarrasses people but it shouldn’t. The same goes for the authorities. But privately, people (both citizens and government officials) call us to thank us and ask for help and advice with

Management Principles

How to avoid entrepreneur overload

s an entrepreneur, you’re probably slightly frazzled, mildly frayed or full-on exhausted. Researchers agree that frequent long hours can increase stress and touch off a host of health hazards, including insomnia and high blood pressure. Poor decision-making starts to creep in. And unlike your laptop, your system doesn’t have an internal fan to cool it down. A 2006 study at the University of California, Irvine found that chronic workweeks of more than 51 hours can triple the risk of hypertension. And, after looking over the data from a British study of civil servants, Marianna Virtanen of the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health found that workdays of 11 or 12 hours increase the risk of coronary events by 56 per cent. Stress is the culprit, triggering the release of hormones that help contribute to plaque build-up inside arteries. Long days were also linked to sleep problems and depression. Constant work can lead to what the Japanese call karoshi--death by overwork. Researchers in Japan have found a link between long hours, high blood pressure, heart disease and an unhealthy lifestyle--no exercise, sleeplessness, poor eating habits, fewer medical visits and increased anxiety and strain. If you don’t take care of yourself, you can’t take care of your business. But that bit of common sense usually gets trampled by overload and its partner, stress. Stop for a second? Not possible. Delegate? It would take too long to explain the how-tos to a staffer. Take a break to refuel? Too much to do. Shut off the BlackBerry at night? Might miss a sale. Entrepreneurs are, of course, an action-oriented bunch by definition. That’s usually a good thing. But a bias toward action can get in the way of the thinking needed to set limits and work smart. Too many

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business landscape

all manner of problems. Now, this is fine with me because when you have everybody patronizing you and recommending you to their friends, it means that you are doing something right.” However, Uche is of the opinion that despite the numerous advantages of having more adult business, until Nigerians publicly recognize the adult industry, it might not be able to grow beyond a certain level. “What we hope for (stakeholders in the industry) is that the Nigerian government can come out publicly to recognize our efforts, embrace our industry and even make common sense laws that can help guide the industry better.” He said. According to him, “For instance, in South Africa and different countries around the world, the adult industry is well recognized and approved by their different governments. Absolutely, these governments benefit too through the taxes they collect and the job creation that

the adult businesses help provide amongst other things. “So everybody wins and nothing is done in hiding. I have been to adult shops in Cape Town, Paris and America. All I needed was an ID that showed I am of legal age. In these countries, if you are eighteen years and above, you can buy an adult product, sell an adult product and participate in the making of adult products. But here, because everything is unofficial, we cannot grow beyond a certain level. “Adult shop owners here are reluctant to open shops publicly and do more for fear of being harassed by the police even though they all buy and use what we sell. Do you get my point? We are not children. We need to rise above this level. This country cannot survive on oil alone. Trade is vital too. When you recognize businesses like ours and issue licenses and guidelines to practitioners, the industry can

entrepreneurs default to reactive behaviour, reflexively jumping to the chime of a new e-mail, the pressure of a ticking clock and other external pressures and interruptions. They let technology and time manage them. The reality is that no matter how driven you may be, your body wasn’t built to take on a 24/7 world. Endless work hours don’t lead to increased productivity or innovation. That comes from a rested, refreshed and energized brain. You can get more done in less time when you know when to say when. Time Out As the old management-world adage says, work expands to fill the available time. Unless you set boundaries, all of your time becomes available time. Productivity plummets after eight hours, and stress increases. The only person you really can depend on to keep yourself from trying to get by on the mental faculties of a zombie? That would be you. The antidote to the overwork treadmill is boundaries. When you set rules for the way you spend your time, you gain control, shed stress and become more satisfied with your work and your life. The skill you need to break the overwork habit is the same one you use to fuel the achievement track: self-discipline. Deploy your inner disciplinarian to create a work-life perimeter. That line protects your time for your non-work life, family and friends, and allows you to recharge. Burnout depletes your emotional, physical and mental resources. Time off to refuel builds them back up. You have to recharge (just like a cell phone or iPod). A wealth of research shows that exercise and recreational activities reduce stress, increase positive mood and build social support and vitality, the lifeblood of enterprise. Performance and reaction times increase after vacations and breaks. BC

function better and grow. “There is tax money to be made, jobs to be created, people to be guided to make better sexual choices and lives to be saved. In other countries, stakeholders in the adult industry are able to have huge expos and debut new products and ideas from manufacturers. And they get visitors from all over the world, which facilitates tourism. That is how development happens. “But we pretend a lot in this country and try to hide behind religion even though everybody has sex and uses these products. Sex is not a crime. We shouldn’t be ashamed of our sexuality. So I hope that one day, we can be invited by the government to be part of a panel that can work towards establishing guidelines for recognizing and guiding the adult industry. We all want the same thing. “I want safe sex for everyone. I want our children protected from sex related matters until they are of legal age. I am a parent. Of course, we all want a better Nigeria but we must have the courage to discuss these things publicly not in secret.” To the Zee Virtual Media boss, “I want the world to respect black people and not portray us as the face of AIDs, Ebola, fraud and terrorism. These problems are everywhere. I want the world to look at countries like Nigeria and concede that we are decent people who practice safe sex and make smart sexual choices. For this to happen, sex education is vital because when people know better, they do better.” Zee Virtual Media is virtually a one stop shop for all adult novelties. It sells lingerie, costumes, books, magazines, props, adult toys, games, films, lubricants, pheromones, cushions and supplements. Aside selling adult products, Uche also counsels many people with common complaints of erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation, vaginal dryness, low libido, lack of romance, lack of sexual enjoyment and sexual knowledge through his sex educational columns in five newspapers including the National Mirror every week. “There are many problems that people have that cannot be solved with products. So often, we find ourselves dishing out advice rather than recommending products but we are happy to help either way.” Uche, who is also running the business along with his wife, Nkechi, stated. The Zee Virtual’s advice to young aspiring entrepreneurs is that; “Business is hard especially in today’s economy. Life is in cycles. Sometimes you make big money and sometimes the profit is small. At other times, you run at a loss. But you must not give up and always aim to please your clients.” BC

Personal Finance Employee incentive ideas

our workforce is your most important asset and thus needs to be kept productive. Traditionally, bonuses and paid holidays have been used to motivate employee. Recent studies have shown that “soft” incentives are just as effective in motivating employees. Flextime In most companies, the normal working hours are from 8am – 5 pm. Flextime simply means that you allow employees to come in and leave outside the traditional hours. In some cases, you can allow them to work from home. Though flextime may not work for all business, it is a great way to motivate workers where applicable. Corporate memberships Part of motivating workers is bringing them together. Corporate membership or access to events, gyms, clubs, or sports arenas can enhance teamwork and keep your workers entertained. However, you must as a matter of fact consult your employees before deciding on the best corporate membership programme. Be involved in what matters to your employees Your workers have other activities besides work that you can get involved in. From weddings to burials, your employees will feel honoured to have you around. Work swap Having worked for you for some time, your workers have come to learn to do other jobs besides what they do every day. Allowing them to swap tasks helps them to break the monotony of daily work and thus keep them motivated. Employees-can-wear-anything day Employees really do not like wearing their uniforms or suits every day. Therefore, it would be great to allow them to wear anything they want if only for a day. Actually, there are some companies that allow their employees to dress casually on certain day of the week, like Fridays. The idea is fast becoming a corporate policy Recognize Performance Most companies are good at rewarding major milestones but small achievements are not. For instance, an employee who went out of their way for another worker needs to be recognized and rewarded. When a worker stays late to finish a project, reward them. If a worker is really smartly dressed, point this out and give them a small gift. There are so many small achievements that go on daily that are never noticed. As a manager, your job is to find out about them and recognize the person involved. Food You can offer free lunch for all your employees – once in a while. When applied daily, it can improve productivity by saving on time spent going out for lunch. If an employee performs really well, honour them with one-on-one lunch/dinner with the boss. Party In most seasons, it can be difficult to come up with a reason for a party. As the boss, come up with a random reason and organize a party. Organize award ceremonies Your workers really know each other better that you do. Therefore, you can allow them to write down something good about each of the other employees and reward the best comment. The magic words The magic words are “Thank You”. They work best anywhere and at any time. BC

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Behind d Wheels This page is open to sponsorship

By Adejuwon Osunnuyi

ith Sonata returning to the Aussie showrooms with more space and better value than ever before, definitely, the mid-size sedan market might not be the same again. It is reassuring to see a number of new arrivals offering a comprehensively safe, wellequipped and well-priced entrant in the segment – just like Hyundai has with its all-new Sonata. Starting from $29,990 (plus on-road costs), and arriving with a choice of petrol and turbo-petrol power, the Sonata range brings understated style and generous amenity levels for a very reasonable fee. Add a market-leading warranty and after-sales support package into the deal, and it is plain to see the Sonata is well placed to take on the segment’s biggest names. Sampled here in base model Active grade, the LF-series Sonata arrives with the ‘lesser’ 2.4-litre direct-injected Theta II engine, with higher-spec (Elite and Premium) variants offering an optional 2.0-litre turbocharged unit. For the Active, the four-cylinder unit produces a flexible 138kW at 6000rpm and 241Nm at 4000rpm. Mated to a six-speed automatic the drive is best described as linear and predictable, without necessarily being brisk.

But it isn’t what you’d call slow either. Even with four passengers on board, the Sonata Active manages reasonable acceleration from standstill (0100km/h in 9.3 sec, as tested) and has sufficient remaining for safe overtaking. The driveline is refined, with little in the way of vibration or harshness, delivering smooth gear shifts and appropriately matched response through three mapping modes: Eco, Normal and Sport. These change transmission and steering reaction, though not to any significant degree, and for most users are best thought of as ‘highway’, ‘urban’ and ‘slightlymore-eager’. Like nearly all it competes against, the Sonata is frontwheel driven. It copes well with hard starts and heavy throttle applications with virtually no torque steer to speak of. To be fair, the relative lack of torque could have a lot to do with that, but in relation to its rivals the Sonata’s torque output is competitive, beating the Holden Malibu (225Nm), Subaru Liberty (235Nm) and top-selling Toyota Camry (231Nm). New from the ground up, the Sonata – which essentially replaces the i45 in Hyundai’s line-up – returns a nameplate familiar Down Under (the Sonata was last sold here in 2009), and does so at a good price point and with a healthy list of equipment. The Sonata Active brings

six airbags, cruise control, the usual infotainment items (including Bluetooth and USB connectivity) accessed via a small 4.3-inch touchscreen, a reversing camera and parking sensors, auto headlights, dualzone climate control (with rearseat ventilation outlets), LED daytime running lights and 17inch alloy wheels. However, it is worthy to note that the entry-spec Sonata Active omits the electric park brake found on higher-grade models in favour of a clumsy foot-operated set-up as it is also found out that the passenger-side mirror doesn’t self-dip when reverse-parking. Also, the Sonata misses out on some of the electronic driver assist technologies found (optionally) in some new rivals – such as blind-spot assist, lane-departure warning and autonomous braking. In reality the list, and its minor shortcomings, are expected of most cars in the price bracket. But in terms of user-friendliness and refinement all offer a standard usually reserved for more expensive European or Japanese marques (excluding that clunky park brake, of course). We also found the driving position easy to set and vision excellent through all but the high-set rear window. Night-time vision is equally impressive with a good spread and range of light from the halogen headlights. Cabin illumi-

nation is also uniform and appropriately dimmable, with the infotainment screen capable of being switched off entirely while

remaining in use. This may sound like a small detail in the scheme of things, but anyone familiar with extended duration

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Behind d Wheels This page is open to sponsorship

Autocare Keep your car’s air conditioning system trouble-free (2) Air Conditioning System check our car’s air conditioning is the one system that probably doesn’t require a lot of regular maintenance. In general, if the system’s working, it’s OK. If not, it needs to be checked and repaired. Below are a few simple checks you can perform to keep the A/C working properly, or determine whether it needs to be serviced: Check the Condenser — that’s the large heat exchanger in the front of your car, just forward of the radiator, look at it and make sure there’s no dirt or debris blocking air flow through it. Remove any litter that’s attached itself to the condenser and use a garden hose to wash away any dirt or bugs. Check the Belt — with the engine off, check the compressor belt for wear and make sure it’s tight. If it’s too loose or damaged, have it tightened or replaced before the summer gets into full swing. Check the Operation — Start the engine and try the A/C on the first warm day. Do you hear any strange noises? If your car has an electric cooling fan, does it start when you turn on the A/C? (It should on most cars.) Is cold air coming out of the vents? Try the controls: Does the air come out of the correct vents? If everything seems OK, your air conditioning probably will work fine or the season. But if you notice a problem during any of these checks, take your car in to have the system checked and repaired. Finally, check the air filter. Some of today’s cars have an air filter to filter the air coming into the passenger compartment. It may be called a pollen filter, a particulate filter or a micron filter. Whatever it’s called, if your car has one, you should check it and replace it if it’s dirty. If you re not sure if your car has an A/C system air filter, check your owner’s manual. It’ll tell you whether it has one, where to find it and how to check it. Don’t wait until summer to get you’re A/C fixed…do it now while it’s still cool enough!

country driving at night will understand the significance the combination of good headlights and a dim cabin plays in benefiting one’s night vision. Cabin space is generous – especially where rear-seat legroom is concerned – however, the rakish roof of the rear could limit headroom for the taller amongst us; a good thing then the seats are well cushioned and amply supportive. The level of fit and finish is up there with the best in the segment; however, I personally found the decor drab and quite monotone. In the back, the Sonata offers a liberal 510 litres of cargo space, expandable of course via a 60:40 split-fold rear bench.

It’s a figure that pegs the Sonata above the Mazda 6 (483 litres), Subaru Liberty (493 litres) but below the Toyota Camry (515 litres) and ginormous Skoda Octavia (568 litres) – yet still manages to do so while including a full-size spare wheel. Considering the Sonata’s 1587kg kerb weight ranks it in the ‘Goldilocks’ range. Relatively speaking it feels lighter on its feet than some competitors, thanks primarily to its localised suspension tune. Hyundai Australia worked closely with David Potter and his team in tweaking the Sonata to ride and handle appropriately on Australia’s myriad road surfaces. A tall ask, perhaps, but one that endows the Sonata with a refined and capable ride quite unlike any direct competitor we care to recall – even when loaded with four adults. The steering too feels well metered with assistance and

feedback appropriate to the car’s application. ‘Sport’ mode adds a mildly unnecessary level of resistance, though when viewed against its segment peers feels sharper and more consistent overall. It seems, then, that not quite the same level of attention has been issued to the brake pedal. While initially progressive, the pedal softens considerably in its middle reaches, requiring more input as you near the final few metres of your stop. There’s ample stopping power, mind you, but the action of the pedal does take a little time to become accustom to. Like all new Hyundai passenger vehicles, the Sonata is backed by a five-year / unlimited kilometre warranty, ten-year roadside assistance scheme and a lifetime cappedprice servicing schedule known in Hyundai parlance as iCare. Service intervals are set annually (or at 15,000km, whichever comes first) and are priced at $259 apiece for the first three years. Models equipped with sat-nav also receive three years of free software updates. The Sonata runs happily on regular (91 RON) unleaded petrol and is said to consume 8.3L/100km on the ADR Combined cycle. In a week covering a mix of city and freeway driving (roughly a 40:60 split), the medium sedan achieved 8.1. Hyundai does not offer the Sonata with fuel saving technology such as idle stop-start, but it’s reassuring to see the model can undercut its claim without it. BC

Tips for Maintaining a Car Air Conditioner Running the air conditioner once a week for 10 minutes will maintain the gas pressure. This prevents hardening of the hoses and compressor seals failure. Turn the air conditioner to its coolest setting and highest fan speed. Run the ‘defrost’ mode for five to ten minutes to clean out accumulated moisture. This prevents mildew and prevents that dirty wet cloth odour in the system. Remember your air conditioning system does not only cool your vehicle but in addition one of its primary functions is to remove the humidity from the cabin. So it is good practice to use your air conditioner in winter to keep your windscreen free of fog which impairs your visibility. By allowing all car windows to remain closed, even on the hottest days, the aerodynamics of the car remain at optimum, keeping fuel consumption low and exterior noise to a minimum, increasing safety to the driver and passengers. You may not be aware that over 10 per cent of air-con gas permeates from the air-con system every year, which means that it may not work as well as it should. This is why car manufacturers recommend your Air-Con system is recharged with gas and lubricant every two years. It is good practice to get a full air conditioning service at least every two years. Try and do this before the hotter month’s start, as this will ensure that you are not caught out by a sudden heat wave at the start of the season. This will enable you to keep ahead of any system faults or potential compressor failure. A poorly maintained system operating on a low amount of oil and gas will reduce your compressors capacity to run efficiently costing you extra in fuel. BC

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REGULATORS

Nigeria’s Code of Corporate Governance to boost tax collection By Udo Onyeka

t is obvious that Nigeria needs to broaden its tax base to enable it finance the much desired infrastructure development that is lacking in the country. According to Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer, Financial Reporting Council, FRC, Mr. Jim Obazee, the Nigeria’s Code of Corporate Governance which will become operational in a month’s time is capable of strengthening tax collection in the non-oil sector. Speaking at a press conference in Lagos, Obazee informed that the steering committee constituted by the Federal Government to develop a National Code of Corporate Governance , NCCG, for the country has completed work on the draft document, adding that stakeholders have 30 days to comment on the document. He said that one of the hallmarks of the NCCG was full and accurate disclosure which would capture all taxable firms and individuals at the three segments: private, public and not for profit organisations.

Obazee noted that the government can use tax revenue to diversify the economy and stimulate economic growth rather than relying solely on proceeds from oil revenue or increasingly issuing new debt, which is unsustainable in the long term. He said that many developed countries today depend on tax as major source of revenue, adding that when the NCCG comes on stream tax collection would greatly improved. Nigeria has been having challenges in its tax regime. For instance the country’s tax revenue as a percentage of GDP fell to 12 percent after the rebasing exercise, which is one of the lowest in Africa as well as for a country of its economic size. The Federal Government’s revenue as a percentage of GDP also fell to 4.6 percent from 8.7 percent previously. This compares with Kenya and South Africa where total government revenues as a percentage of GDP were equivalent to 26 percent and 28.3 percent respectively for yearend 2012, according to IMF data. The FG gets 70 percent of its budget from oil earnings, and only about 30 percent from non-

oil taxes. In 2013 non-oil revenue collections amounted to a low 3.6 percent of GDP. FIRS reported a shortfall in collections from the non-oil sector in the first quarter of 2014, where it collected a total of N418bn against a target of N558bn. Obazee said the deadline for receiving comments on the draft NCCG is May 14th 2015, while a public hearing on the subject would be held on May 19th. The NCCG is in three parts: private sector, public sector and notfor-profit. The FRC boss pointed out that the federal government is aware that the issuance of a national code of corporate governance is a very important deliverable that can be used to enhance the country’s national competitiveness and socio-economic issues including corruption and lack of corporate independence. According to him, the proposed code is also an opportunity to raise the bar in both public and private institutions and would also make directors personally accountable for their actions and inactions. “As you are well aware, our nation

Obazee

currently boasts of six different persuasive codes issued by six different regulators to meet the need of the entities they regulate. The six different persuasive codes were issued and are currently being applied by the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation, National Insurance Commission, National Pension Commission, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Corporate Affairs Commission and the Nigerian Communications Commission. “However, modern society believes that the era of very weak and persuasive corporate governance codes is long gone due to stiff competing environment for foreign direct invest-

ment; of which binding regulation is a major factor being considered by investors and stakeholders,” he added. Provisions were made for the development and enforcement of a National Code of Corporate Governance in the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria Act No. 6, 2011. Precisely, Section 50 of the FRC Act, 2011 provides inter alia: the objectives of the Directorate of Corporate Governance shall be to— develop principles and practices of corporate governance; promote the highest standards of corporate governance; promote public awareness about corporate governance principles and practices ; on behalf of Council, act as the national coordinating body responsible for all matters pertaining to corporate governance; promote sound financial reporting and accountability based on true and fair financial statements duly audited by competent independent auditors. Others include encouraging sound systems of internal control to safeguard stakeholders’ investment and assets of public interest entities; and ensure that audit committees of public interest entities keep under review the scope of the audit and its cost effectiveness, the independence and objectivity of the auditors. BC

PenCom releases draft regulation on investment of pension fund

he National Pension Commission, PenCom, has sent a Draft Regulation on Investment of Pension Fund Assets to stakeholders as it prepares to allow the fund to be invested in infrastructure development. The draft will guide Pension Fund Administrators, PFAs, and other investors who have been agitating for the use of accumulated pension fund assets to help the country meet its infrastructure need. The fund is now in excess of N4.6trn. The Commission said it expects meaningful input from stakeholders and other interested parties but notwithstanding, it has set the minimum value of individual projects that pension fund assets could be invested in at N5bn. It stated that as much as 15 per cent of the total value of pension fund assets under management could be invested in infrastructure through Infrastructure Bonds and another 5 per cent of the total value of pension fund assets could be invested in infrastructure through Infrastructure Funds, making 20 per cent of the total value of accumulated pension asset. According to the Regulator, pension fund assets could be in-

vested in infrastructure through either Infrastructure Bonds or Infrastructure Funds, saying both outlets must meet the conditions for the investment of pension fund in infrastructure before PFAs could channel pension fund assets into such investments. The Regulator cited section 5.2.3 of the draft “Regulation on Investment of Pension Fund Assets” which provided that pension assets could be invested in infrastructure projects through eligible Bonds, Sukuk subject to two major conditions. “The infrastructure project shall be not less than N5bn in value and awarded to a concessionaire with good track record through an open and transparent bidding process in accordance with the due process requirements set out in the Infrastructure Concession and Regulatory Commission Act, ICRC Act, and any regulation made pursuant thereto and certified by the Infrastructure Concession and Regulatory Commission, ICRC and approved by the Federal Executive Council, FEC,” PenCom said. Other conditions for the investment of pension assets on infrastructure include that the projects, whose business plans

Chinelo Anohu-Amazu, PenCom boss

and financial projections indicate that they are viable as well as economically and financially rewarding for investment by pension funds. The Bonds or Sukuks issued to finance the infrastructure project shall have robust credit enhancements including guarantees by the Federal Government or eligible bank/development finance institution or MDFOs and a maturity date that precedes the expiration of the concession. It should also have a feasible and enforceable redemption procedure in the event of project

suspension, cancellation or, in the case of regulated sectors, when changes in regulatory or policy decisions make the project to differ significantly from its original financial projections. Where infrastructure projects are financed through Infrastructure Funds, the value of the Infrastructure Fund shall not be less than N5 billion and the Infrastructure Fund must have a well defined and publicised investment objectives and strategy as well as disclosures of pricing of underlying assets, including any other necessary information. BC

NCAA lifts suspension on Discovery Air

he Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, Capt. Muhtar Usman has lifted the suspension placed on the operations of Discovery Air. According to a statement from the organisation signed by the Deputy General Manager Sam Adurogboye, the restoration was contained in a letter sent to the management of the airline titled “Notice of Restoration of Air Operators Certificate” which was signed by the Director General of the Author-

ity. He said that the decision to restore the AOC was predicated on the satisfactory conclusion of a Financial Health Audit of the Airline and that in the aftermath of the Audit, the management of the Airline has demonstrated encouraging commitment to offset the outstanding staff salaries by the 30th of April, 2015. In addition, all staff sent on compulsory leave without pay have been recalled. The DG said the Author-

ity is satisfied with the Letters of Credit from their financiers which had provided guarantee for their business in the long term. Therefore in consideration of all the actions taken by the airline to address passenger complaints, the Authority, pursuant to Section 35(6) of the Civil Aviation Act 2006 hereby lifts the suspension of, and restores the Airline’s Air Operators Certificate, AOC, with effect from the date of receipt of this letter, he said. BC

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Business Courage

Monday, April 27, 2015

A21 37

Stock market last week Equities turnover of 2.064 billion shares worth N17.179 billion in 25,577 deals were traded last week by investors on the floor of The Exchange in contrast to a total of 1.919 billion shares valued at N19.402 billion that exchanged hands last week in 23,988 deals. The Financial Services Industry (measured by volume) led the activity chart with 1.605 billion shares valued at N9.900 billion traded in 14,438 deals; thus contributing 77.79 per cent and 57.63 per cent to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively. The Conglomerates Industry followed with a turnover of 214.683 million shares worth N1.580 billion in 1,604 deals. The third place was occupied by the Consumer Goods Industry with 84.940 million shares worth N3.036 billion in 4,313 deals. Trading in the Top Three Equities namely- United Bank for

Africa Plc, Transnational Corporation of Nigeria Plc and Standard Alliance Insurance Plc, (measured by volume) accounted for 670.960 million shares worth N2.308 billion in 3,133 deals, contributing 32.51 per cent and 13.43 per cent to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively. ETPs Also traded during the week were a total of 2.942 million units of Exchange Traded Products (ETPs) valued at N70.679 million executed in 47 deals compared with a total of 408,933 units valued at N7.019 million transacted the previous week in 30 deals. Retail Bonds A total of 9,450 units of Federal Government Bonds valued at N10.824 million were traded in nine deals compared with a total of 10 units of Federal Government Bonds valued at N10,792.74 transacted last

week. Index Movement The NSE All-Share Index and Market Capitalization depreciated by 1.48 per cent respectively to close on Friday at 34,485.72 and N11.751 trillion. Similarly, all the Indices finished lower during the week with the exception of the NSE Insurance and NSE Industrial Goods indices that rose by 2.56 per cent and 0.64 per cent respectively. However, the NSE ASeM Index closed flat. Summary of Price Changes Forty-two equities appreciated in price during the week, lower than 46 equities of the preceding week. Thirty-three 33 equities depreciated in price, higher than 28 equities of the preceding week, while 120 remained unchanged lower than 122 equities of the preceding week. BC

Stanbic IBTC posts N32bn profit in 2014

tanbic IBTC has declared a profit after tax of N32.1bn for the financial year ended December 31, 2014, an increase of 54 per cent when compared to N20.8bn recorded in the same period of 2013. The bank’s profit before tax increased by 63 per cent to N40.1bn in the 2014 financial year, up from N24.6bnrecorded in 2013. According to the result presented to the Nigerian Stock Exchange, gross earnings rose 17 per cent to N130.6bn, from N111.2bn recorded in the corresponding period of 2013. Analysis of the bank’s balance sheet showed total assets of N944.5bn in the review period, a 24 percent increase compared to the N763bn recorded in December 2013. The growth in the balance sheet size was driven by significant increases in loans and advances to customers and other

financial investments. Gross loans and advances rose by 36 per cent to N413.4bn, compared to N303.3bn recorded in December 2013, while customer deposits stood at N494.9bn, from N416.4bn recorded in the corresponding period of 2013, representing an increase of 19 per cent. A statement from the group quoted the Chief Executive Officer, Mrs. Sola David-Borha, as saying that the strong performance, despite the effect of declining crude oil prices on the operating environment, is evidence of the positive outcome of the group’s strategy of growing the client base across target and key market segments while maintaining a principled credit process. She said, “Our financial performance maintained its growth trajectory from our 2013 performance, as operating income and profit after tax increased by 23 per cent and 54 per cent re-

spectively. We managed our loan book and deposit liabilities efficiently leading to higher net interest margins. “Increase in client transaction volumes and product adoption impacted positively on our noninterest revenue, while a disciplined approach to cost saw our cost-to-income ratio improve to 58.6 per cent from 68.0 per cent recorded in 2013.” On the outlook, she said the future holds great promise for all stakeholders as the group continues to seek opportunities in high growth sectors of the Nigerian economy to grow its business, while sticking with its robust business model anchored on the prudent management of resources. “We remain positive in 2015, despite the envisaged volatility in economic conditions, to deliver best-in-class services to our customers and provide value for our shareholders,” she stated. BC

Market Indicators for Week Ended 17-04-15 All-Share Index 34,493.37 points Market Capitalization 11,836,757,406,955.74 Stock Updates GAINERS COMPANY

OPENING PRICE

CLOSING PRICE

CHANGE

R.T. BRISCOE (NIG.) PLC

0.84

1.01

20.24

NEIMETH INTL PLC

0.95

1.13

18.95

NPF MICRO FINANCE BANK PLC

1.17

1.39

18.80

P. Z. INDUSTRIES PLC

27.00

31.23

15.67

PORTLAND NIG. PLC

3.33

3.84

15.32

A. G. LEVENTIS (NIGERIA) PLC

1.42

1.55

9.15

FLOUR MILLS NIGERIA PLC

34.00

36.99

8.79

OANDO PLC

18.16

19.60

7.93

WAPIC INSURANCE PLC

0.51

0.55

7.84

ASSOCIATED BUS COMPANY PLC

0.54

0.58

7.41

LOSERS COMPANY

OPENING PRICE

IKEJA HOTEL PLC

CLOSING PRICE

CHANGE

4.85

3.78

-22.06

COSTAIN (WEST AFRICA) PLC

1.00

0.84

-16.00

TRANS NATIONWIDE EXPRESS PLC

1.35

1.17

-13.33

LIVESTOCK FEEDS PLC

2.60

2.31

-11.15

FIDELITY BANK PLC

2.13

1.90

-10.80

TOTAL NIGERIA PLC

180.00

162.45

-9.75

1.62

1.48

-8.64

43.43

40.00

-7.90

3.13

2.90

-7.35

161.29

151.00

-6.38

UBA CAPITAL PLC UNILEVER NIGERIA PLC ETERNA PLC NIGERIAN BREWERIES PLC

Treasury Bills Maturity date

Bid

Offer

23-Jul-15

10.06

15-Oct-15

12.38

10.32 13.16

07-Apr-16

12.46

14.15

Primary Market Auction TENOR

AMOUNT (N’mn)

91-Day

21538.34

182-Day 364-Day

RATE (%)

DATE

9.95

27-Mar-15

33783.25

10.1

27-Mar-15

59081.14

10.35

10-April15

A22 38

Business Courage

Monday, April 27, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Guinness: Profit slides on operating expenses, other charges By Johnson Okanlawon

uinness Nigeria has recorded another poor financial performance for the half year ended December 31, 2014. The brewing company posted growth in top line but decline of 32 per cent in bottom line, due to high operating expenses and financial charges. Specifically, the company recorded revenue of N55.3bn in 2014, up from N52.7bn recorded in the corresponding period of 2013. Its cost of sale rose from N27.5bn to N29.5bn, leading to a margin increase in gross profit which grew from N25.3bn to N25.8bn. Marketing and distribution expenses also grew from N12.5bn to N13.2bn, while administrative expenses similarly jumped from N4.9bn to N6bn. Operating profit fell 15 per cent, from N8.22bn to N6.97bn. However, finance charges increased 35 per cent to N2.71bn, from N1.95bn, which led to the company ending with a profit after tax of N3.39bn, compared to N4.99bn in 2013. Analyst at FBN Capital, said the second quarter profit after tax fell 41 per cent to N1.9bn. Although sales grew 13 per cent to N34.2bn, a combination of factors including a gross margin contraction of 442 basis points to 44.4 per cent, a 20 per cent rise in operating expenses and a 34 per cent growth in interest expense resulted in profit before tax declining by 41 per cent year-on-year to N2.7bn. “On a sequential basis, while sales increased by 63 per cent quarter-on-quarter, similar factors responsible for the year-on-year decline in earnings (mainly a gross margin contraction of 567 basis points quarter by quarter, a 45 per cent quarter by quarter rise in operating expenses and a 28 per cent quarter by quarter rise in interest expense) resulted in profit before tax and profit after tax growing slower by 37 per cent q/q and 29 per cent q/q respectively. Compared with our estimates, sales beat by seven per cent,”

they said. Business Strategy The company has been reaping the benefits of new products such as Origin Bitters and Origin Ready to Drink, introduced into the market recently with the improvement in revenue. On a quarterly basis, the company’s revenue of N34.2bn in the second quarter to December 2014 is higher than N21.05bn and N30.35bn posted in the first quarter of the review period and second quarter of the previous year respectively by 62.6 per cent and 12.8 per cent. Similarly, the latest quarter’s revenue is higher than the eight quarter average of N28.3bn by 21.1 per cent. “It also exceeded our estimate of N32.1bn by 6.6 per cent. If the improvement in revenue can be replicated in the quarters ahead, there will be positive impact on the full year numbers,” analysts at DLM Securities, an investment firm, said. Operating expenses The company cost of sales increased despite decline in the prices of major inputs. For the review period, the company posted an increase of 7.4 per cent in cost of sales yearon-year to N29.5bn, compared to N27.5bn recorded in the corresponding period of 2013. The higher increase in cost of sales relative to revenue led to an increase in cost of sale/ revenue ratio to 53 per cent relative to 52.1 per cent recorded the preceding

Adetu

year. Contrary to expectation, cost of sales was up in spite of decline in the prices of grains in the global commodity market which are major inputs in brewing both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. For example, barley and corn traded at average prices of $127/ tonne and $174/tonne in the review period. Also, the average prices of wheat and sorghum declined 15 per cent year-on-year and nine per cent year-on-year respectively. Operating profit declined due to increase in running costs. For the review period, the company’s operating expenses of N19.2bn was up 9.8 per cent year-on-year, compared to N17.5bn recorded the preceding year. The higher increase in operating

expenses relative to revenue led to a higher operating expenses/ revenue ratio of 34.7 per cent to 33.1 per cent recorded the preceding period. On the whole, total cost rose to N48.7bn, up 8.3 per cent from N44.9bn recorded in the corresponding period of 2013, while total cost/revenue ratio stood at 88.1 per cent relative to 85.2 per cent in the half year of 2013. Therefore, operating profit was down 15.1 per cent to N6.98bn, compared to N8.22bn posted in the same period of 2013. The operating margin dipped to 12.6 per cent relative to 15.6 per cent recorded in the same period of 2013. First quarter performance The company recorded N1.96bn in profit before tax for its first quarter ended September 30, 2014, an increase of six per cent, from N1.87bn posted in the same period of 2013. Also, the gross profit for the period rose to N10.6bn, from N10.5bn recorded in equivalent period of 2013, while total assets stood at N133.8bn, from N132.3bn it stood in 2013. There was also a slight reduction in the cost of sales with the figure falling to N10.5bn, from N11.9bn recorded in first quarter of 2013. The results also showed a marginal increase in adminis-

trative expenses to N2.53bn, from N2.39bn, largely due to the company’s recent investment in transforming its route to consumer infrastructure. Commenting on the results, Babatunde Savage, Chairman, Guinness Nigeria Plc, said the board is optimistic of sustaining the trend for the remainder of the financial year. He said, “We are pleased to report a year on year increase of six percent in our profit before tax figure. The board is confident that this heralds a return to growth for the company as we begin to reap the dividends from the investments that we have made in areas like our capacity expansion and route to consumer infrastructure.” The Managing Director, Seni Adetu, “We are pleased to announce this turnaround in our financial results. In the period under review, we have remained focused on our strategic imperatives and this has translated into the increase in our profit before tax. “Our cost of sales declined by 12 per cent year-on-year, with gross profit remaining flat in the quarter. We are also reporting a significantly higher tax number as a result of the tax incentives which was reflected in the numbers for the first quarter of the previous year following approval from the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission, NIPC. “This will not recur going forward. Overall, we feel positive that with our core brands and great innovation backed by our strategic investments, we will continue to drive both top and bottom line growth.” Company background Guinness Nigeria was established in 1962 and was the first country to have a Guinness brewery built outside of the British Isles. Nigeria now represents the largest market for Guinness by Net Sales Value in the world. Products from the brewer’s stables include Guinness Foreign Extra Stout, Malta Guinness, Harp Lager beer, SNAPP, Orijin Bitters and ready-to-drink amongst others. BC

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Business Courage

Monday, April 27, 2015

A23 39

STOCKWATCH Stock Exchange weekly equities summary as at Friday, April 24, 2015 SECURITY

PRICE (=N=)

AGRICULTURE/AGRO-ALLIED Crop Production FTN COCOA PROCESSORS PLC 0.50 OKOMU OIL PALM PLC. 27.30 PRESCO PLC 26.00 Fishing/Hunting/Trapping ELLAH LAKES PLC. 4.26 Livestock/Animal Specialties LIVESTOCK FEEDS PLC. 2.31 CONGLOMERATES Diversified Industries A.G. LEVENTIS NIGERIA PLC. 1.56 CHELLARAMS PLC. 3.95 JOHN HOLT PLC. 0.94 SCOA NIG PLC 4.44 TRANSNATIONAL CORP. OF NIG.PLC 3.20 U A C N PLC. 40.00 CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Building Construction ARBICO PLC. 5.30 CAPPA & D’ALBERTO PLC. NT Building Structure/Completion/Other COSTAIN (W A) PLC. 0.84 G CAPPA PLC 14.46 Non--Building/Heavy Construction JULIUS BERGER NIG. PLC. 51.70 ROADS NIG PLC. 6.29 Real Estate Development PINNACLE POINT GROUP PLC NT UACN PROPERTY DEV 11.75 Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) SKYE SHELTER FUND PLC 100.00 UNION HOMES REAL ESTATE INV 45.22 UPDC REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST 10.00 CONSUMER GOODS Automobiles/Auto Parts DN TYRE & RUBBER PLC 0.50 Beverages--Brewers/Distillers CHAMPION BREW. PLC. 7.54 GOLDEN GUINEA BREW. PLC. 0.93 GUINNESS NIG PLC 168.00 INTERNATIONAL BREWERIES PLC. 21.70 JOS INT. BREWERIES PLC. 2.02 NIGERIAN BREW. PLC. 151.00 PREMIER BREWERIES PLC 3.61 Beverages--Non-Alcoholic 7-UP BOTTLING COMP. PLC. 178.00 Food Products BIG TREAT PLC NT DANGOTE FLOUR MILLS PLC 4.85 DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY PLC 7.23 FLOUR MILLS NIG. PLC. 36.99 HONEYWELL FLOUR MILL PLC 3.40 MULTI-TREX INTEGRATED FOODS PLC 0.50 N NIG. FLOUR MILLS PLC. 18.05 NATIONAL SALT CO. NIG. PLC 8.60 P S MANDRIDES & CO PLC. 5.35 U T C NIG. PLC. 0.50 UNION DICON SALT PLC. 11.84 Food Products--Diversified CADBURY NIGERIA PLC. 40.00 NESTLE NIGERIA PLC. 948.00 Household Durables BETA GLASS CO PLC. NT NIGERIAN ENAMELWARE PLC. 31.82 VITAFOAM NIG PLC. 4.40 VONO PRODUCTS PLC. 1.08 Personal/Household Products P Z CUSSONS NIGERIA PLC. 31.23 UNILEVER NIGERIA PLC. 40.00 Textiles/Apparel UNITED NIG. TEXTILES PLC. NT FINANCIAL SERVICES Banking ACCESS BANK PLC. 6.31 DIAMOND BANK PLC 4.69 ECOBANK TRANSNATIONAL INC. 20.50 FIDELITY BANK PLC 1.90 FIRST CITY MONUMENT BANK PLC. NT GUARANTY TRUST BANK PLC. 28.11 INTERCONTINENTAL BANK 13.50 SKYE BANK PLC 2.68 STERLING BANK PLC. 2.36 U B A PLC 5.32 UNION BANK NIG.PLC. 11.02 UNITY BANK PLC 5.00 WEMA BANK PLC. 0.96 ZENITH BANK PLC 22.00 Insurance Carriers, Brokers & Services AFRICAN ALLIANCE INS. COY. PLC 0.50 AIICO INSURANCE PLC. 1.14 CONFIDENCE INSURANCE PLC NT CONSOLIDATED HALLMARK INS. PLC 0.50 CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE PLC 0.88 CORNERSTONE INS. COY. PLC. 0.50 CUSTODIAN AND ALLIED INS. PLC NT EQUITY ASSURANCE PLC. 0.50 GOLDLINK INSURANCE PLC 0.53 GREAT NIGERIAN INSURANCE PLC 0.50 GUINEA INSURANCE PLC. 0.50 INTERCONTINENTAL WAPIC INS. PLC NT INTERNATIONAL ENERGY INS. PLC 0.50 INVESTMENT AND ALLIED ARN. 0.5 LASACO ASSURANCE PLC. 0.50 LAW UNION AND ROCK INS. PLC. 0.50 LINKAGE ASSURANCE PLC 0.50 MANSARD INSURANCE PLC 3.19 MUTUAL BENEFITS ASSURANCE PLC. 0.50 N.E.M INSURANCE CO (NIG) PLC. 0.69 NIGER INSURANCE CO. PLC. 0.50 OASIS INSURANCE PLC NT PRESTIGE ASSURANCE CO. PLC. 0.50 REGENCY ALLIANCE INS. COY PLC 0.50 SOVEREIGN TRUST INSURANCE PLC 0.50 STANDARD TRUSTASSURANCE PLC 0.50 STANDARD ALLIANCE INS. PLC. 0.50 UNIC INSURANCE PLC. 0.50 UNITY KAPITAL ASSURANCE PLC 0.50 UNIVERSAL INS. COMPANY PLC 0.50 WAPIC INSURANCE PLC 0.55 Micro Finance Banks FORTIS MICROFINANCE BANK PLC 5.42 NPF MICROFINANCE BANK PLC 1.39 Mortgage Carriers, Brokers &Services ABBEY MORTGAGE BANK PLC 1.30 ASO SAVINGS AND LOANS PLC 0.50 INFINITY TRUST MORTGAGE BANK PLC 1.42 RESORT SAVINGS & LOANS PLC 0.50 UNION HOMES SAVINGS&LOANS PLC 0.5 Other Financial Institutions AFRICA PRUDENTIAL REGISTRARS 2.74 CUSTODIAN AND ALLIED INS. PLC 3.95 CRUSADER ( NIG) PLC. NT DEAP CAPITAL MGT & TRUST PLC 0.67 FBN HOLDINGS PLC 10.50 FCMB GROUP PLC 3.37 ROYAL EXCHANGE PLC. 0.55 STANBIC IBTC HOLDINGS PLC 28.65 SIM CAPITAL ALLIANCE VALUE FUND 103.24 NIGERIA ENERGY SECTOR FUND 552.20 UBA CAPITAL PLC 1.48 HEALTHCARE Healthcare Providers EKOCORP PLC. 3.72 UNION DIAGNOSTIC &CLINICAL PLC 0.50 Medical Supplies MORISON INDUSTRIES PLC. 1.82 Pharmaceuticals

NOTE NT=Not Traded on 24-04-15

52 WK HIGH

QUANTITY

9,140 261,540 107,996

0.64 107.81 41.14

52 WK LOW

0.50 20.92 8.24

SHARES OUTSTANDING

EPS

2,200,000,000 476,955,000 1,000,000,000

0.10 2.29 7.55

MOV. (%)

N/A 0.22 -0.95

0.50 27.24 26.25

4.26

60,000,000

0.00

N/A

4.26

1,249,104

7.18

0.68

1,199,549,736

0.07

-11.15

2.60

100,150 300 17,558 512 6,693,406 2,658,148

2.08 6.43 5.89

0.71 4.15 1.07

2,191,895,983 963,900,300 389,151,408

0.11 0.16 1.09

9.86 N/A N/A

5.89 71.10

0.50 28.00

821,666,666 1,600,720,323

0.09 4.38

N/A N/A

1.42 3.95 0.94 4.44 3.15 42.31

375 3

26.00 95.49

5.05 95.49

148,500,000 196,876,000

0.33 4.50

N/A N/A

5.30 NT

807,550 217

2.66 14.46

0.72 14.46

920,573,765 125,000,000

0.00 0.00

N/A N/A

1.00 14.46

27,437 1,832

83.75 10.60

19.86 6.61

1,200,000,000 20,000,000

6.74 1.69

0.37 N/A

51.51 6.29

NT 324,368

7.28 20.90

7.28 8.82

1,375,000,000

0.00 2.20

N/A 3.07

NT 11.40

93 100 6,350

100.00 50.00 10.50

100.00 50.00 0.00

20,000,000 250,019,781

5.82 0.19

N/A N/A

100.00 45.22 10.00

5,016

0.50

4,772,528,415

0.00

N/A

0.50

54,992 8,132 28,374 172,515 50,000 1,808,302 513,550

19.48 0.68 297.41 30.00 9.09 179.40 0.97

3.13 0.68 209.10 5.34 0.81 91.10 0.93

900,000,000 272,160,000 1,474,925,519 2,112,914,681 562,000,000 7,562,562,340 126,000,000

0.00 0.00 8.66 0.63 0.00 5.03 0.00

N/A N/A -1.18 N/A N/A -6.38 N/A

7.85 0.89 170.00 20.71 2.02 161.29 3.61

24,150

75.90

38.12

640,590,362

4.46

N/A

170.01

NT 224,970 1,588,435 187,271 952,850 53,816 159,011 2,835,920 2.08 124,000 50 100

0.50 10.68 12.85 109.24 4.11 1.21 29.70 14.00 5.94 0.93 13.31

0.50 3.85 3.26 50.00 1.83 0.50 17.51 3.65 5.35 0.50 4.22

2,000,000,000 5,000,000,000 12,000,000,000 1,879,210,666 7,930,197,658 3,722,493,620 178,200,000 40,000,000 1,233,375,004 360,000,000

0.00 0.00 0.81 3.38 0.34 0.00 0.00 1.05 0.08 1.13 0.00

N/A 4.30 0.14 8.79 -2.58 N/A N/A 1.30 N/A 0.00 N/A

NT 4.65 7.22 34.00 3.49 0.50 18.05 8.49 5.35 0.50 11.84

5,725 390,319

64.53 1250.00

8.33 400.00

3,129,188,160 792,656,250

1.57 28.34

-2.46 0.85

41.01 940.00

25,333 100 187,845 15,000

15.58 36.19 5.54 2.88

10.03 32.27 2.91 0.57

63,360,000 819,000,000 300,000,001

3.90 13.92 0.71 0.00

N/A N/A 4.76 N/A

NT 31.82 4.20 1.01

156,973 119,119

56.00 76.00

21.02 27.60

3,176,381,636 3,783,296,250

1.34 1.42

14.82 -7.90

27.20 43.43

0.97

0.57

843,284,027

0.00

N/A

20,610,779 1,358,484 5,746,153 4,669,271 NT 11,491,149

12.39 7.85 17.51 3.47 8.30 29.99

4.70 1.92 9.90 1.13 3.04 13.02

17,888,251,479 14,475,243,105 9,873,614,567 28,974,797,023 16,271,192,202 29,146,482,209

1.61 1.71 3.67 0.68 0.60 3.08

-4.97 2.40 0.00 -10.80 #VALUE! -2.56

5,074,965 2,601,379 11,173,106 1,469,943 359,359 1,128,531 9,778,427

7.05 3.05 9.60 15.30 1.16 1.88 27.40

2.65 0.80 1.64 2.34 0.50 0.50 11.96

13,219,334,676 12,563,091,545 32,334,693,693 13,509,726,273 33,675,576,085 12,821,249,880 31,396,493,790

0.97 0.63 1.70 0.44 0.18 0.00 3.30

4.69 3.96 6.61 0.18 0.00 -2.04 -4.35

200 1,627,718 NT 9,140 1,882,960 62,000 9,054,578 4,754 NT 42,003 165,731 NT 698,304 NT 14,710 100 220 23,600 1,319,465 10,579,013 52,100 1,654,611 27,973 5,028 100 1,650 161,547,689 25,000 200 518,140 1,368,084

0.50 1.42 0.64 0.52 1.45 0.72 2.44 0.50 0.69 0.60 0.50 2.50 2.50 0.50 0.50 0.61 0.50 2.87 0.63 1.01 1.11 0.50 1.24 0.53 0.59

0.50 0.50 0.61 0.50 0.58 0.50 1.08 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 1.06 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50

20,585,000,000 7,809,391,256 211,626,000 6,000,000,000 10,372,624,157 8,820,010,363 5,100,846,808 8,847,298,420 4,549,947,000 3,827,485,380 720,000,000 5,061,804,000 6,420,427,449 28,000,000,000 7,323,313,227 3,437,330,500 4,083,713,569 10,000,000,000 7,998,705,336 5,332,830,881 5,649,693,923 5,003,506,791 2,508,315,436 6,668,750,000 5,203,757,266

0.00 0.19 0.00 0.05 0.15 0.02 0.24 0.01 0.00 0.03 0.01 0.00 0.00 0.02 0.00 0.00 0.02 0.25 0.00 0.37 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.04 0.09

N/A 0.00 N/A N/A 0.00 0.00 0.00 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 0.00 N/A N/A N/A 0.00 4.93 N/A 1.47 N/A N/A 0.00 N/A 0.00

0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 1.55

0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50

8,493,173,450 2,581,733,505 13,000,000,000 16,000,000,000

0.00 0.00 0.02 0.00 0.07

N/A N/A N/A N/A

10,000,000 584,766

6.60 1.22

0.00 0.72

500 500 500 220,000 4,570

1.65 0.50

1.37 0.50

4,200,000,000 8,679,148,676

0.03 0.02

N/A N/A

0.50 0.99

0.50 0.50

13,175,732,404 7,812,500,000

0.30 0.00

N/A N/A

313,164 369,250 500 5,000 8,812,914 27045923 1,050,953 3,807,836 465 100 1,926,013

2.1

0.5

0.61 2.02 21.50 5.70 1.33 20.72 103.24

0.50 2.02 8.57 2.90 0.50 10.64 98.33

1.70

0.00

1.18 0.19

3,608,657,661 18,750,000,000

0.00 0.15 2.45 1.23 0.13 1.53

0.50 1.09 NT 0.50 0.87 0.50 NT 0.50 0.53 0.50 0.50 NT 0.50 0.5 0.50 0.50 0.50 3.04 0.50 0.68 0.50 NT 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.51 5.42 1.17

0.63 3,778,005,975 1,333,333,333 32,632,084,358

6.64 4.58 20.50 2.13 NT 28.85 13.50 2.56 2.27 4.99 11.00 0.50 0.98 23.00

N/A N/A 6.71 N/A -1.21

0.29

1.30 0.50 1.42 0.50 0.5 2.9 4.05 NT 0.67 9.84 3.45 0.52 29.00 103.24 552.20 1.62

170 40,000

5.05 0.50

4.32 0.50

498,600,908 3,553,138,528

0.13 0.00

N/A N/A

3.72 0.50

100

10.54

7.39

152,178,750

0.00

N/A

1.82

N/A=Not Avialable @

SECURITY

PRICE (=N=)

EVANS MEDICAL PLC. 1.99 FIDSON HEALTHCARE PLC 3.35 GLAXO SMITHKLINE CONSUMER PLC 53.45 MAY & BAKER NIGERIA PLC. 1.80 NEIMETH INT PHARM PLC 1.13 NIGERIA-GERMAN CHEMICALS PLC. 6.32 PHARMA-DEKO PLC. 2.13 ICT Computer Based Systems COURTEVILLE BUSINESS SLN PLC 0.50 Computers and Peripherals OMATEK VENTURES PLC 0.50 Electronic Communications Services MTECH COMMUNICATIONS PLC 0.91 IT Services COMPUTER WAREHOUSE GROUP PLC 4 NCR (NIGERIA) PLC. 12.19 TRIPPLE GEE AND COMPANY PLC. 1.77 Processing Systems CHAMS PLC 0.50 E-TRANZACT INTERNATIONAL PLC 3.39 Telecommunications Services IHS 3.8 HIS NIGERIA PLC 2 2.25 HIS NIGERIA PLC 1 3.08 MTI PLC 0.5 INDUSTRIAL GOODS Building Materials AFRICAN PAINTS (NIGERIA) PLC. 2.72 ASHAKA CEM PLC 20.57 BERGER PAINTS PLC 9.99 CAP PLC 35.66 CEMENT CO. OF NORTH.NIG. PLC 11.59 DANGOTE CEMENT PLC 175.00 DN MEYER PLC. 0.83 FIRST ALUMINIUM NIGERIA PLC 0.50 IPWA PLC 0.50 PREMIER PAINTS 10.93 LAFARGE WAPCO PLC. 93.00 PAINTS & COATINGS MANFACT.PLC 1.40 PORTLAND PAINTS & PRDT NIG. PLC 3.84 Electronic and Electrical Products AUSTIN LAZ & COMPANY PLC 2.09 CUTIX PLC. 1.74 NIGERIAN WIRE AND CABLE PLC. 0.50 Packaging/Containers ABPLAST PRODUCTS PLC. NT AVON CROWNCAPS & CONTAINERS 1.59 BETA GLASS CO PLC. 28.70 GREIF NIGERIA PLC 11.48 NIG. BAGS MANFACT. COY PLC NT POLY PRODUCTS (NIG) PLC. NT W A GLASS IND. PLC. 0.63 Tools and Machinery NIGERIAN ROPES PLC 7.46 NIG SEW MACH. MAN. CO PLC. 0.15 STOKVIS NIG PLC. 0.14 NATURAL RESOURCES Chemicals B.O.C. GASES PLC. 5.21 Metals ALUMACO PLC 7.75 ALUMINIUM EXTRUSION IND. PLC. 10.43 MINING SERVICES MULTIVERSE PLC 0.50 Paper/Forest Products HALLMARK PAPER PRODUCTS PLC. NT THOMAS WYATT NIG. PLC. 0.73 OIL AND GAS Energy Equipment and Services JAPAUL OIL & MARITIME SER. PLC 0.50 Integrated Oil and Gas Services OANDO PLC 19.60 Petroleum &Petroleum Products Distributors BECO PETROLEUM PRODUCT PLC 0.5 CONOIL PLC 36.21 ETERNA PLC. 2.90 FORTE OIL PLC. 197.60 MOBIL OIL NIG PLC. 152.05 MRS OIL NIGERIA PLC. 50.54 TOTAL NIGERIA PLC. 162.45 Exploration and Production SEPLAT PETROLEUM DEVT. CO, LTD. 398.00 SERVICES Advertising AFROMEDIA PLC 0.50 Apparel Retailers LENNARDS (NIG) PLC. 3.15 Automobile/Auto Part Retailers R T BRISCOE PLC. 1.01 Courier/Freight/Delivery RED STAR EXPRESS PLC 3.60 TRANS-NATIONWIDE EXPRESS PLC. 1.17 Employment Solutions C & I LEASING PLC. 0.52 Hospitality TANTALIZERS PLC 0.50 Hotels/Lodging CAPITAL HOTEL 4.28 IKEJA HOTEL PLC 3.78 TOURIST COY NIG PLC 3.51 TRANSCORP HOTELS PLC 9.63 Media/Entertainment DAAR COMMUNICATIONS PLC 0.50 Printing/Publishing ACADEMY PRESS 1.06 LEARN AFRICA PLC 1.50 STUDIO PRESS (NIG) PLC. 2.30 UNIVERSITY PRESS PLC. 4.70 Road Transportation ABC TRANSPORT PLCPLC 0.58 Specialty INTERLINKED TECHNOLOGIES PLC 4.66 SECURE ELECTRONIC TECH.PLC 0.5 Transport-Related Services AIRLINE SERVICES AND LOGISTICS PLC 2.20 NIG. AVIATION HANDLING COY PLC 6.50 SUPPORT AND LOGISTICS CAVERTON OFFSHORE GROUP PLC 3 ASeM CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Property Management SMART PRODUCTS NIGERIA PLC NT CONSUMER GOODS Food Products MCNICHOLS PLC NT OIL AND GAS CAPITAL OIL PLC NT NAVITUS ENERGY PLC NT Personal/Household Products ROKANA INDUSTRIES PLC. NT HEALTHCARE Pharmaceuticals AFRIK PHARMACEUTICALS PLC. NT INDUSTRIAL GOODS Electronic and Electrical Products NT ADSWITCH PLC. NT NATURAL RESOURCES Metals W.A. ALUM. PRODUCTS PLC. NT Food/Drug Retailers and Wholesalers NT JULI PLC. NT ETF’s Sector ETF LOTUS HALAL EQUITY ETF NT NEWGOLD EXCHANGE TRADED FUND NT VETIVA GRIFFIN 30 ETF NT

QUANTITY

52 WK HIGH

52 WK LOW

SHARES OUTSTANDING

EPS

MOV. (%)

74,488 1,444,640 66,411 163,454 251,300 100 572,185

4.80 2.50 69.00 3.38 1.76 8.59 3.50

0.50 0.61 18.97 1.23 0.58 7.36 1.83

486,473,856 1,500,000,000 956,701,192 980,000,000 1,925,717,268 153,786,012 100,000,000

0.58 0.24 3.07 0.09 0.00 0.00 0.00

0.00 0.00 -4.99 -5.76 18.95 N/A N/A

Previous 1.99 3.35 56.26 1.91 0.95 6.32 2.13

37,000

0.96

0.50

2,960,000,000

0.11

0.00

0.50

100

0.50

2,941,789,472

0.00

N/A

0.50

0.91

4,966,666,668

0.00

N/A

0.91

400 100 5,460

18.70 2.94

13.12 2.07

108,000,000 492,825,600

0.00 0.03

N/A N/A

4 12.19 1.77

27,420 1,080

0.50 4.97

0.50 3.13

4,620,600,000 4,200,000,000

0.04 0.04

N/A N/A

0.50 3.39 3.8 2.25 3.08 0.5

100

0.50

4,893,594,400

0.00

N/A

2,000 1,557,197 40,673 20,474 1,514,719 1,167,463 40,890 600 6,000 60 109,667 50,000 72,650

2.86 29.98 12.20 67.50 12.99 210.01 3.54 0.75 1.34

2.86 8.01 6.82 13.78 4.00 102.00 0.50 0.50 0.50

260,000,000 2,239,453,125 217,367,585 560,000,000 1,241,548,285 15,494,019,668 242,908,200 2,109,928,275 513,696,000

0.07 0.80 0.91 1.66 1.12 5.77 0.06 0.00 0.00

N/A 2.75 5.16 0.00 4.04 -2.78 N/A N/A N/A

110.00 2.41 7.22

39.80 0.50 2.27

3,001,600,004 792,914,256 400,000,000

6.83 0.36 0.43

3.33 N/A N/A

2.72 20.02 9.50 35.66 11.14 180.00 0.83 0.50 0.50 10.93 90.00 1.40 3.33

100 220,132 100

2.00 2.39 0.73

2.00 1.20 0.50

510,396,608 2,220,000,000

0.05 0.19 0.00

N/A 0.58 N/A

2.09 1.73 0.50

NT 561 1,361 100 NT NT NT

3.98 5.94 13.18 13.28 3.60 1.86 0.63

3.98 1.71 9.04 12.68 1.60 1.05 0.63

N/A N/A

42,640,000 6,215,000,000 240,000,000 199,066,550

0.00 0.00 3.23 0.90 0.24 0.22 0.00

N/A #VALUE! N/A N/A

NT 1.59 28.70 11.48 NT NT 0.63

100 200 NT

8.69

8.26

265,409,280

0.00

N/A

0.14

2,918,000

0.00

N/A

25,000,000 683,974,528

7.46 0.15 0.14

10,000

9.35

5.68

393,120,000

0.76

0.00

5.21

320 100

7.75 12.39

7.75 10.55

75,600,000 100,000,000

0.00 0.24

N/A N/A

7.75 10.43

100

0.50

4,058,989,226

0.01

N/A

0.50

NT 4,050

3.22 1.38

3.22 0.67

50,000,000 220,000,000

0.04 0.00

N/A N/A

NT 0.73

1,408,720

1.02

0.50

6,262,701,716

0.00

0.50

4,924,248

24.80

9.32

2,262,711,568

1.24

7.93

18.16

10000 2,577,516 2,541,040 412,758 22,164 167,074 43,476

76.00 4.87 115.64 146.00 59.00 190.01

16.96 1.32 7.73 106.00 16.20 118.75

693,952,117 1,249,162,828 1,080,280,628 300,496,051 253,988,672 339,521,837

2.69 0.61 1.43 9.93 1.04 12.91

-4.71 -7.35 -3.26 -4.97 N/A -9.75

0.5 38.00 3.13 204.25 160.00 50.54 180.00

306,355

28,677,671

200

0.72

0.50

100

3.48

209,933

2.45

1.00

2,572,000 3,000

5.10 3.45

2.19 0.73

4,059,547

1.64

1,500

0.75

100 599,750 1,000 2,800

4,035,497,307

398.83

0.00

N/A

0.50 3.15

980,294,400

0.00

20.24

0.84

589,496,310 198,819,763

0.52 0.00

0.00 N/A

3.60 1.35

0.85

865,808,912

0.00

N/A

0.50

3,211,627,907

0.00

N/A

0.50

1.72 3.88 10.00

0.64 3.51 10.00

2,078,796,396

0.00

-22.06

4.28 4.85 3.51 9.63

1,000

0.51

0.50

8,000,000,000

0.43

N/A

0.50

16500 224,498 20 20,800

3.09 2.78 5.77

1.39 2.52 3.00

771,450,000 425,641,111

0.00 0.00 0.61

N/A N/A 5.15

1.06 1.45 2.30 4.47

955,140

1.29

0.50

1,507,000,000

0.21

N/A

0.54

6 40,000,700

5.15 1.88

4.90 0.80

236,699,511 5,631,539,736

0.00 0.00

N/A N/A

4.66 0.5

111,000 246,274

5.90 8.81

1.27 5.08

634,000,000 1,230,468,750

0.50 0.43

N/A -5.25

2.20 6.86

189044

3.14

1.43

1.04

45,000,000

0.12

N/A

100

2.26

1.02

201,885,335

0.00

N/A

100000 1000

NT NT

0.60

30,000,000

0.00

N/A

0.50

24,898,850

0.00

N/A

NT NT

1.88

1.63

125,005,250

0.00

N/A

NT NT

NT NT 1,000

0.50

6,650,000

0.00

N/A

3.05

2.76

194,700,000

0.00

N/A

2,706

2,003

41 10

#VALUE! 49467

NT NT NT

A24 40

Business Courage

Monday, April 27, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Monday, April 27, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Law & Justice nationalmirrorlaw@yahoo.com

The primary duty of the court is to interpret and not to make laws. It is only in rare cases that the modification of language of statute to meet the intention of the lawmakers can be resorted to Justice George Oguntade, Retired Justice of Supreme Court.

Let’s overhaul justice administration in Nigeria –Taiwo 42

Justice Amina Augie, presiding Justice, Court of Appeal, Lagos division.

Bello Adoke, AGF

FG should follow due process in extradition of fugitives –Lawyers Extradition is described as the formal surrender by one country to another of an individual accused or a person convicted of a serious offence committed within the territorial jurisdiction of the latter’s authority. WALE IGBINTADE discusses the extradition proceedings in the country in the light of the present ordeal of a senator-elect for Ogun East Senatorial District, Buruji Kashamu.

Awo’s treason trial, travails 45

EU court dismisses Zimbabwe sanctions appeal 46

he most notable and perhaps, the first extradition proceedings in Nigeria was that of the late elder statesman, Chief Anthony Enahoro in 1962. In September 1962, Enahoro fled Nigeria for UK, and sought political asylum. Nigeria however, requested for his extradition under the 1881 Fugitive Offenders Act, preventing his application for political asylum. Enahoro was arrested in London on November 27, 1962, as a “fugitive offender” and his case otherwise known as “The Enahoro affair” triggered days of debate in the House of Commons in 1963, as he battled against his extradition. Indeed, the Nigerian government mounted pressures on the Labour Party-controlled British Parliament to extradite Enahoro by invoking the enabling Fugitive Offenders’ Act. He was eventually moved to Nigeria on May 16, 1963 to face treason trial, alongside Chief Obafemi Awolowo. It suffices to say that in the 1960s, the extradition proceed-

ings in Nigeria followed the provisions laid down by the British Act of Parliament. Today, extradition proceedings in the country is governed by Cap 125 Laws of Federation LFN, 1990 Act as amended by Cap E.25 LFN 2004. Section 3 of the Act provides that ‘’a fugitive criminal shall not be surrendered if the AttorneyGeneral or a court dealing with the case is satisfied that the offence in which his surrender is sought is an offence of a political character’’. Since ‘the Enahoro Affair’, no other issue of extradition in the country has attracted attention than the most recent case of a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Mr. Buruji Kashamu.

Kashamu, who is now a Senator-elect from Ogun East, recently raised the alarm over what he described as a plan allegedly by a former Nigerian President to instigate local and foreign security agencies to arrest him in Nigeria and extradite him to the United States of America (USA) to answer to some alleged drug-related charges. Kashamu had in a letter entitled ‘’Abduction Plans By United States of America Agents in Collaboration with Law Enforcement Agencies in Nigeria” sent to the National Human Rights Commission, NHRC and signed by his lawyer, Mr Ajibola Oluyede, said the former President’s plan to extradite him to the US is a form of revenge

EXTRADITION PROCEEDINGS’ IN THE COUNTRY IS GOVERNED BY CAP 125 LAWS OF FEDERATION LFN, 1990 ACT AS AMENDED BY CAP E.25 LFN 2004

against him. According to his letter dated April 15, ‘’ there had been moves by US officials within the region to secure the assistance of head of the INTERPOL division in Nigeria, for his arrest and delivery to the US officials. There are clear facts that Kashamu has been in and out of the court to stop his alleged extradition to the USA in recent times. In one of the suit he filed before a Federal High Court, in Lagos, Justice Okechukwu Okeke (rtd) in his judgement restrained the Attorney–General of the Federation from making any order under Section 6(2) of the Extradition Act for the arrest, committal or surrender of Kashamu at the instance of the United States Government in respect of alleged importation of prohibited narcotics into the USA between 1993 and 1995. Dissatisfied, the Attorney-General of the Federation appealed against the judgement of the CONTINUED ON PAGE 44

Law & Justice

Taiwo Obayemi Taiwo, current second VicePresident of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), has about 30 years’ post-call experience. In this interview with WALE IGBINTADE, he speaks on introduction of the Stamp and Seal Policy for Nigerian lawyers, and extradition proceedings in the country, among others. Excerpts:

Monday, April 27, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Let’s overhaul justice

How will you react to the gruesome murder of Chairman of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ughelli branch, Mr. Austin Ichege? It is very worrisome and it’s very sad. He was a very active Bar man and we wonder why somebody could snuff the life out of this young man in a very horrid manner. It portends danger to us as professionals and to the society at large. It also shows that the security situation in the country is something that has to be looked into by the government, whether outgoing on incoming. Just recently, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, asked Magistrates to stop imposing stringent bail conditions on accused persons involved in minor offences. What is your take on this? I align myself with the opinion of CJN on the issue of bail. The issue of bail is becoming alarming and worrisome. What is the purpose of the bail? The bail is to ensure that an accused person comes up at any time his case is called. Bail is not meant to be punitive. There are decided legal authorities on the issue of bail. So, it’s annoying when Magistrates tie granting of bail to land, Certificate of Occupancy, notable people in the community and tax. If you go to the prisons, majority of the people there are those that have been granted bail but cannot perfect the bail because of the stringent conditions attached to them. Very soon, some courts may even ask an accused person to bring a letter from a State governor as a confirmation that he resides in the State. The condition for granting bail has been carried to an alarming dimension and has made a mockery of the whole process and the principles that guide it. What are principles that guide extradition proceedings in the country? The issue of extradition depends on the facts of the case. The fact that a country requested for extradition of a particular person alleged to have committed a crime in their country is not automatic that such request must be granted. There are issues to be considered. So, it is not automatic that once you file the papers, then the country must comply. Every country must protect the liberty and freedom of its citizen. A country must make sure that its citizens are not subjected to arbitrary arrests whether in the disguise of extradition or whatsoever. There are cases where-

Taiwo

in the governments of many nations have refused to extradite their citizens based on several factors. The issue of double jeopardy must be considered. A situation where a country is asked to give up its citizen but the court finds that if the man is extradited he will not have fair hearing such request is usually rejected or refused. Another issue that must be considered is the passage of time. How can you be asking a country to extradite somebody for an offence committed 15 years ago? A country must be able to protect its citizen against oppression and injustice by reason of passage of time. There are procedures to follow and they must be followed to the letter. Extradition is not done by vendetta or because you don’t like the person’s face. Some have alleged that the adoption law in Nigeria is too cumbersome. Do you agree? What I have discovered in this country is that, the process of adopting a child is too cumbersome and there are too many paper works. I believe that when it comes to adoption, it ought to be simplified in the interest of that child, who needs a home and not an orphanage. By the time they are through with the paperwork the child is already seven years old or more. He is now conscious of his surroundings. But,

THE ISSUE OF EXTRADITION DEPENDS ON THE FACTS OF THE CASE. THE FACT THAT A COUNTRY REQUESTED FOR EXTRADITION OF A PARTICULAR PERSON ALLEGED TO HAVE COMMITTED A CRIME IN THEIR COUNTRY IS NOT AUTOMATIC THAT SUCH REQUEST MUST BE GRANTED a situation where procedures for adoption are simplified, these little kids can be adopted at seven to eight months or one year and be with the family that genuinely seek to adopt them. I have heard from orphanages homes what they go through before they can get a child adopted by people who really need them. If there is a law that permits adoption, then we should simplify the process for adoption. The procedure has been bastardised, some government officials even demand for money before they process the papers. They forget that the interests of the children are paramount. Nobody wants to leave in an orphanage; everybody wants to live in the comfort of a home. The constitution and laws of Nigeria supports child adoption in order to give succour to married couples who could not give birth to children.

What is the primary objective of the implementation of stamp and seal for Nigerian lawyers? Precisely, on April 15, 2015 in Abuja and in the presence of the Chief Justice of Nigeria and the President of the Nigerian Bar Association and many senior lawyers, the NBA formally launched the Stamp and Seal programme. The purpose is not far-fetched, it is to professionalise the legal profession and guard against a situation where every Tom, Dick and Harry, who have not been called to the Nigerian Bar would be parading themselves as lawyers. For you to get your Stamp and Seal, you must have been verified by a process called, the Verification Process whereby you produce all your certificates and then you will be given a Supreme Court num-

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Law & Justice

Monday, April 27, 2015

administration in Nigeria –Taiwo ber. The Supreme Court number is what every lawyer will put on each document as well as the Stamp. This number and Stamp and Seal must appear on every document prepared by a lawyer whether in or out of court. How many lawyers have registered so far? I am not sure but lots of lawyers have registered because they know the activities of fake lawyers in the society. These fake lawyers are hurting our noble profession. Recently, I appeared as a witness before a Magistrate’s Court to testify in the trial of a man charged with parading himself as a lawyer. I was one of those that apprehended him at the Lagos High Court before Justice Elfrida William- Dawodu now a Justice of the Court of Appeal. We should not allow charlatans and those who do not have any business being the profession to operate. The 2015 elections have ended, what are your expectations from the election tribunal? I expect that the members of the election tribunal will be up to their oath of office in accordance to with what the CNJ, Justice Mahmud Mohammed said during their swearing-in sometime in January on the dos’ and don’ts. However, members of the tribunal are men of proven integrity. Surely, we will get the best from them without rancour. My only advice is that political gladiators should leave them alone to do their job and whatever judgement they delivered, should be accepted in good faith and anyone who is not satisfied can also appeal. There is a forum for that up to the Supreme Court. What is your view on time frame in which hearing of petition should be concluded? Do you think the period of 180 days is sufficient? The point is that we should learn to manage our time. Lawyers should also learn to do their job thoroughly so that there will be no room for interlocutory injunctions. Some lawyers use interlocutory appeals to delay hearing of substantive matters. Election matters are to be handled speedily and timely, so that you don’t have someone in a position he or she ought not to be for two, three years before he is removed and another comes in to start four years afresh. The law says everything should be taken care of within this period of 180 days, anything short of this, the case should be thrown out. Some of your colleagues have observed that the volume of appeals before the Supreme Court is enormous and that the court is overburdened. Do you share this sentiment? There is no Court in Nigeria that is not overburdened. From the High Court to the apex court, all the courts of record are overburdened. But, I must say that the workload in the Supreme Court is enormous. I believe with time when lawyers are discouraged from filing frivolous applications and interlocutory appeals, I think the workload of my Lords at the

Supreme Court will be reduced. In Nigeria, we are very combatant. Even matters that are supposed to be settled under the roofs or on the conference table, we take them to court. Today we have arbitration centres; besides, Alternative Dispute Resolution, ADR is also available. I think it is better for people to exploit other means of settling disputes. Not all cases should be taken to court. Can you imagine people taking the matters of landlord and tenant to the Supreme Court, starting from the Magistrate Court up to the Supreme Court for 13 years? I think we need to overhaul the administration of Justice in Nigeria. Do we need a constitutional court to deal with certain matters? I believe that we need specialised courts to deal with constitution matters so that other courts can face other matters. For instance, in Egypt and South Africa they have constitutional courts, so the time is ripe for Nigeria to establish a purely specialised Court like we have the National Industrial Court. The Industrial Court has taken the yoke of labour- related matters from the regular courts. What is your view on the judgement of a Federal High Court, which declared unconstitutional the law restricting movement during Environmental sanitation period in Lagos State? Well as I used to tell people, I don’t criticize judgement of Judges. Firstly, I am not a counsel to either of the parties, neither do I canvassed for arguments before the court. I think anybody that is aggrieved should go to the Appeal Court to challenge the decision of the court. For me, I cannot query the decision of the Judge. It is only the Appeal Court that can do things like that. I think that is how the Judge sees it from the constitution and if Lagos State is not satisfied with the judgement, they should appeal against the decision. Will you say there are too many lawyers in Nigeria? Not at all, it is because we are still developing as a country. There are many situations that need to be handled by lawyers. For instance, the issue of prosecution by the police should be handled by the lawyers and even in every police station; there suppose to be a lawyer who will advice the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) and all other policemen on issues of human rights, abuses and others. Young lawyers are still complaining of receiving paltry salaries from their seniors while the seniors are also accusing new wigs of desperation to make money in a hurry. How do you see this? If you are current with issues in national body of the NBA since the inception of the current President, you will agree with me that issue will be taken care of soon. Even in the last National Executive meeting which I attended as the second Vice -President, the matter of remuneration came up and a decision was reached. But you know things like this are not automatic, though we are appealing to our mem-

POLITICAL GLADIATORS SHOULD LEAVE THE ELECTION TRIBUNAL ALONE TO DO THEIR JOB AND WHATEVER JUDGEMENT THEY DELIVERED, SHOULD BE ACCEPTED IN GOOD FAITH bers to comply in time, because we know most remuneration for junior lawyers are outrageous. It is not enticing, that is why most lawyers find their ways into other areas where they feel they can make more money. When I was Chairman of NBA Lagos Branch, we did a lot for young lawyers in terms of incentives, and other assistance to make them appreciate the legal profession. Do you share the view that NBA has lost its voice on issues of national interest? If you follow the activities of the present national executive of NBA, led by Mr. Augustine Alegeh from inception, you will agree with me that NBA has been on top of issues affecting the people. The position of NBA on any issue is not influenced by any party and NBA is always on the side of the people. We have a lot of pro bono services, the NBA is a mouthpiece of the people and we have been supporting people-oriented issues. For instance, before the last election we sensitized Nigerians who are eligible on the need to collect the Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVC), as well as how to vote for candidates of their choice. We have gone on the television, to organise seminars and conferences. Even now there is an election monitoring group within the NBA

saddled with the responsibility of making necessary data and information available to the NBA which will be forwarded to the national president. I think it will be wrong for anybody to say that NBA has lost its voice on issues of national interest. Except they want NBA to toe the line they would not want to. Are you satisfied with the mode of appointing judges? On appointment of judges, NBA has always said they should be carried along, because we know ourselves and it is good to appoint somebody who is practising because if you have not been going to court what is your business on the Bench? Right now we have put forward a proposal that NBA must be part of appointment of judges because we know ourselves. What is your schedule of duty as a VicePresident of NBA? As the second Vice-President, I am in charge of a particular section of the country that is the northern zone. I have been to most parts of this zone and in my capacity as second Vice- President; the President could delegate responsibility to me. I can also represent the president in any function and we report back to him. We all have a schedule of duty.

Law & Justice

Monday, April 27, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

‘There must be reciprocal treaty between two countries’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 41 court. In its judgement, a three-man panel of Justices of the Lagos Division of the Court of Appeal set aside an order of perpetual injunction granted in Kashamu’s favour . In the appeal, which was argued on behalf of the Federal Government by Chief Emeka Ngige (SAN), the FG had complained that Justice Okeke erred in law by relying on hearsay and speculative evidence in granting Kashamu several reliefs including an order of perpetual injunction restraining the Nigerian government from entertaining any request from the US government on issue of drug- related offence in the US. The unanimous decision of the court setting aside the said orders was delivered by Justice Ibrahim Saulawa and was supported by Justices Joseph Ikyegh and Chinwe Iyizoba respectively. Declaring that the appeal was meritorious, Justice Saulawa held that “It is trite, that testimony, either oral or by way of an affidavit, by a witness or party who relates not what he knows personally, but what others have said, is generally unreliable, and inadmissible under the rules of evidence.’’ In a similar suit filed by the AttorneyGeneral of the Federation to extradite one Kingsley Edegbe to the Netherlands to face prosecution for trafficking young girls for prostitution, the trial judge, Justice Ramat Mohammed of a Federal High Court in Abuja, refused the application on the ground that, there was no extradition treaty between Nigeria and the Netherlands upon which the application sought could have been granted. Justice Mohammed stated that reliance on the United Nation’s Convention against Trans-national Organised Crime failed because it was not an extradition treaty Act as envisaged by Section 1 of the Extradition Act of Nigeria. Besides, the court said that although the African Charter was clearly domesticated, Nigeria also has extradition treaty with South Africa which had also been domesticated. National Mirror sought the views of some lawyers on extradition proceedings’ in

Bar

Jokes

A man and the devil

A man died and was taken to his place of eternal torment by the devil. As he passed sulphurous pits and shrieking sinners, he saw a man he recognized as a lawyer snuggling up to a beautiful woman. “That’s unfair!” he cried. “I have to roast for all eternity, and that lawyer gets to spend it with a beautiful woman.” “Shut up”, barked the devil, jabbing the man with his pitchfork. “Who are you to question that woman’s punishment?”

Only two bullets

You find yourself stuck in a hole with a murderer, a rapist, and a lawyer. You’re armed but you only have two bullets left, what do you do?

Generous lawyer

One day a lawyer was riding in his limousine when he saw a guy eating grass. He told the driver to stop. He got out and asked him, “Why are you eating grass?” The man replied, “I’m so poor, I can’t afford anything thing to eat.”

Odinkalu

Amaechina

THE FACT THAT A COUNTRY REQUESTED FOR EXTRADITION OF A PARTICULAR PERSON ALLEGED TO HAVE COMMITTED A CRIME IN THAT COUNTRY IS NOT AUTOMATIC THAT SUCH REQUEST MUST BE GRANTED the country. Speaking on the proper procedure for extradition, Dr. Abiodun Layonu, SAN said ‘’ It is treaty- based; there must be a treaty between the two countries. The AttorneyGeneral has a role in ensuring that a prima facie case is disclosed. The request must not be against public policy. The candidate for extradition must be given an opportunity to contest. ‘’. In his opinion, another Lagos- based lawyer, Mr. Nnaemeka Amaechina argued that a court might refuse an application to extradite a fugitive if it’s not established that there is any extradition treaty between Nigeria and the country making the request. He said ‘‘the process of extraditing a citiSo the lawyer said, “Poor guy, come back to my house.” The guy says, “But I have a wife and three kids.” The lawyer told him to bring them along. When they were all in the car, the poor man said, “Thanks for taking us back to your house; it is so kind of you.” The lawyer replied, “You’re going to love it there... the grass is a foot tall!”

We’re deciding case on merits

Taking his seat in his chambers, the judge faced the opposing lawyers. “So,” he said, “I have been presented, by both of you, with a bribe.” Both lawyers squirmed uncomfortably. “You, attorney Leon, gave me $15,000. And you, attorney Campos, gave me $10,000.” The judge reached into his pocket and pulled out a check. He handed it to Leon. “Now then, I’m returning $5,000, and we’re going to decide this case solely on its merits!”

Where’ll you get a lawyer?

An engineer dies and reports to the pearly gates. St. Peter checks his dossier and says, “Ah, you’re an engineer. You are in the wrong place.” So, the engineer reports to the gates of hell and is let in. Pretty soon, the engineer gets dissatisfied with the level of comfort in hell, and starts designing and building improvements. After a while, they’ve got air conditioning and flush toilets and escalators, and the engineer is a pretty popular guy. Culled from Bar Jokes.com

zen ought not to be done secretly. That would amount to stealing or abducting a citizen. Any foreign country that feels that a Nigerian citizen committed crime in the foreign State should apply to Nigerian Government for extradition and there are principles that govern consideration of such request. These include whether there could be reciprocal treatment. That is, where a citizen of that country commits offence in Nigeria and runs away. Would such country be willing to extradite its citizen to face trial in Nigeria? A foreign nation ought not to abduct a citizen as that is illegal. Buhari military regime tried that against Umaru Dikko. They should apply to Nigerian Government formally and the Attorney- General should

institute proceeding in a court of law for determination of the legitimacy of the request the affected person could file an action in court to challenge such unlawful request’’. In his view, the second Vice- President of the Nigerian Bar Association, (NBA), Taiwo Obayemi Taiwo said ‘’it is a dangerous precedent to abandon an existing law to enable the extradition of the suspect adding that the issue of extradition depends on the facts of the case. According to him, ‘’the fact that a country requested for extradition of a particular person alleged to have committed a crime in their country is not automatic that such request must be granted. There are issues to be considered. ‘’Besides, a fugitive criminal shall not be surrendered if it appears to the AG or a court that the request for his surrender, although purporting to be made in respect of an extradition crime was in fact made for the purpose of prosecuting him on account of his race, religion or was not made in good faith or in the interest of justice. ‘’Every country must protect the liberty and freedom of its citizen. A country must make sure that its citizens are not subjected to arbitrary arrests whether in the disguise of extradition or whatsoever. There are cases wherein the governments of many nations have refused to extradite their citizens based on several factors’’. However, Kashamu has so far maintained that ‘’he is not evading trial for drug- related offences ‘’ insisting that the American authorities only needed to follow due process and not abuse his human rights. “On the U.S case, I wish to state for the umpteenth time that the United States as the bastion of democracy and the Rule of Law would not lend itself to any form of abuse of the fundamental human rights of an innocent soul, especially one that has been arrested, tried and freed by its most trusted ally, the United Kingdom. I am not running from any trial. All I have asked is for the relevant parties to follow due process’’.

LEGAL TIPS

Issues in administration of estate law

testator is a deceased person who left a will in favour of dependants and beneficiaries. When a person dies without leaving a will, he/she is said to die interstate. The probate of a will is granted to the executor(s) named in the will of a testator or to an administrator in the absence of will. A letter of administration is granted to a personal representative to manage the assets of a deceased interstate.

The application for the grant or revocation of probate and letters of administration is made to the probate Registry of the High court having jurisdiction over the deceased’s estate. Once probate has been granted to an executor, the law provides for the continuity of executorship and the administration of the estate of the deceased. Until the letters of administration are granted, the estate of the deceased interstate vests in the Chief Judge of a

State in accordance with administration of estate law of the state. An infant cannot be an executor until he attains age of majority (21) and where an infant is a sole executor, the court can grant letters of administration with the will annexed to his guardian or such person as the court thinks fit. Written by Francis Famoroti, Head, Judiciary. We welcome feedback and reactions from readers via our e-mail: nationalmirrorlaw@yahoo.com

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Law & Justice

Monday, April 27, 2015

Awo’s treason trial, travails Trial of the of late elder statesman, Chief Obafemi Awolowo and some of his followers was one of the most sensational cases in the country’s history in the last 52 years. FRANCIS FAMOROTI, Head, Judiciary reports.

FAMOUS CASES

n criminal charge No LA/68/C/62, Awolowo and 30 others who were arraigned in one of the most treasonable felony trials in the country’s history were eventually found guilty and convicted. Notable among those charged along with the late politician are, Michael Omisade, Oladipo Maja, Samuel Onitiri, Samuel Taiwo Oredein, Lateef Jakande, Josiah Olawoyin, Olabisi Onabanjo, Alfred Rewane, Chike Obi, Joseph Tarka, Anthony Enahoro, Sam Ikoku, Sam Otubanjo, Ayo Adebanjo and James Aluko. Others included; Gabby Sasore, Adeyiga Adesanya, Richard Babalola, Sunbo Jibowu, James Umoren, Ayo Akinsanya, Sunday Ebietoma, and Anomuogharan Okotie-Yesin (alias Morrison Okotie). Others were, Uzodinma Nwaobiala, Ekwejunoir-Etchie, Simeon Oyeshile, Josiah Lawanson, Muri Badmus, Joshua Akamo, and Alex Amuwo. They were accused for planning to overthrow the civilian government of Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa. The prosecuting counsel was late Mr. Basil Adedipe, who later became a judge. The trial lasted about 10 months, 53 witnesses testified for the prosecution while there were 42 defence witnesses. About 378 exhibits were tendered. Trial judge, Justice George Sodeinde Sowemimo in his eight-hour judgment believed to be one of the lengthiest verdicts in the legal history pronounced on September 11, 1963 that Awolowo and some of his co-accused were guilty. In his allocutus, Awolowo said among others, “ I must say, and this may have to be taken up with a higher tribunal, that I do not agree with your lordship’s verdict, and the premises on which it is based. “It is an irony of history that as one of the architects of Nigeria’s independence, I have spent almost half of Nigeria’s three years of independent under one form of confinement or another. I have fought with vigour against feudal system in the Northern Region and for its eradication. I have also fought to prevent the spread of this system to other parts of Nigeria. During the same period, I have strongly advocated the breaking up of the Northern region into more states in order to preserve the peace and unity of the country. I have no doubt and I say this not in any spirit of immodesty that in the process of my political career I have rendered services to this country which historians and those who will live after us will certainly remember. “Naturally, sir, in the course of such

Awolowo

long, turbulent, active political life I have attracted to myself a sizeable crop of detractors as well as political adversaries. Similarly, I have in the course of this fairly long sojourn seen both triumphs and setbacks and I have met them with equal mind. “It was Peter not the Apostle Peter, but Peter the hero of Walpole’s novel entitled “Fortitude “, who said: It isn’t life that matters, but the courage you bring to it.” After life had done terrible things to Peter, he heard a voice that said to him, among other things. “Blessed be your verdict and I say in advance blessed be the sentence which your Lordship may pass upon me.” “At this moment, my only concern is not for myself, but that my imprisonment might do harm to Nigeria for three reasons: “ (1) The invaluable services which I have hitherto rendered will be lost to the country at least for a season. “ (2) There might be a heightening of the present tension in the country which has lasted for 15 months already and has done incalculable injuries to the economy of the country. “(3) For some time to come, the present twilight of democracy, individual freedom and the rule of law will fall into utter darkness. But after darkness and this is a commonplace comes the victorious dawn. It is therefore with a brave heart, with confidence and hope that I go from this twilight into darkness unshaken in my faith in God that a glorious dawn will come tomorrow.” “My adversaries might say who am I

Jakande

Adebanjo

FOR SOME TIME TO COME, THE PRESENT TWILIGHT OF DEMOCRACY, INDIVIDUAL FREEDOM AND THE RULE OF LAW WILL FALL INTO UTTER DARKNESS. BUT AFTER DARKNESS, AND THIS IS A COMMONPLACE, COMES THE VICTORIOUS DAWN to say all these? What if I die? The point, of course, is that I am still alive and will not die in prison. This being so, I am confident that the ideals of justice and individual liberty which I hold dear and which your Lordship I called upon to protect will continue to be protected beyond the prison walls and bars until they are realised in our lifetime. I must say that in the entire Federation of Nigeria, the spirit of new Nigeria is already active and at work. This spirit, working through constitutional means which I have spent the whole of my lifetime to advocate is sure to prevail before very long to the delight, freedom and prosperity of all and sundry.” After this moving allocutus, Justice Sowemimo passed his sentence of 10 years imprisonment against Awolowo. His words “Here we have one of the first Premiers of autonomous regions standing trial. If you were the only one before me, I would have felt that it was enough for you to have undergone the strains of the trial. I would have asked you to go. But I am sorry. I cannot do so now because my hands are tied. Having sentenced those young chaps, whatever happens I have to pass some sort of sentence. If I made up my mind to sentence

the other accused persons who I find were tools n the hands of others, and if my conclusion is right, it is for me to see that a punishment by me in my court is such that others would see that there is no preferential treatment.” The elder statesman was then clamped into the old Broad Street prison , Lagos and thereafter moved to Calabar prison. While in prison custody, he remained resolute in his conviction of a glorious dawn. Against, this backdrop, he wrote the book, “Thoughts on Nigerian Constitution” in his prison Cell D, UP 2, Calabar Prison in June 1966. Awolowo was eventually freed by General Yakubu Gowon when he assumed power in 1967. He was later appointed the Federal Commissioner for Finance. Barely 24 hours after the ban on politics was lifted by the Federal Military Government on September 21, 1978, Awolowo launched the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) and its four cardinal programme. He however lost the presidential election held on August 11, 1979 to Alhaji Shehu Shagari of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN). Awolowo died in March 1987 in Lagos.

Law & Justice

UAE court sentences driver to 3 years for rape UAE

Prime Minister, UAE, Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid Al_Maktoum

Pakistani lured the Filipina waitress to the flat, claiming he wanted to get to some papers from his office. Once inside, he locked the door, then removed his clothes and undressed the Filipina and attempted to rape her. But the Filipina convinced the Pakistani to get her water to drink. Once the Pakistani went to the kitchen to get the water, the halfdressed Filipina jumped from the window.

1948 Malayan killings case reaches UK S’Court UNITED KINGDOM

ive judges are considering whether the UK has a duty under human rights laws to investigate the shooting of villagers at Batang Kali. A report by ABC News says that the families, who say the men were “massacred”, had their case rejected by the UK Court of Appeal last year. However, British forces at the time of the killings said the men were insurgents. Lawyers for the families argued that Britain has a responsibility to commission an independent inquiry under the European Convention on Human Rights - even though the convention was signed after the incident took place. Among those attending the Supreme Court proceedings was 78-year-old Madam Lim Ah Yin, who was 11 years old at the time of the killings. She said: “I want to let them [the judges] know the struggle and hardship that my beloved mother suffered after the death of my dad during the massacre.” The families’ solicitor,

British Prime Minister David Cameron

John Halford, said those killed were “British subjects living in a British Protected State”. Last year, the Court of Appeal heard that at least three of the soldiers who were on patrol and at least five villagers who were at Batang Kali were still alive. On December 11 and 12, 1948 when Malaya was still a British colony, 24 villagers were killed by a platoon of Scots Guards during a raid at Batang Kali. The men were Chinese migrant workers suspected by the British of helping rebels during the Malayan Emergency - a conflict between communist guerrillas and British and Commonwealth forces, which lasted 12 years.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

EU court dismisses Zimbabwe sanctions appeal BRUSSELS

United Arab Emirates court has sentenced a Pakistani driver to three years in jail for trying to rape a Filipina waitress last November. Report by AB News says that the Dubai Court of First Instance convicted the Pakistani, 28, of using violence and attempting to have forced sex with the Filipina, 21, Gulf News reported late Sunday. The Filipina had managed to escape by jumping from the window of a firstfloor flat and injuring herself, the report said. Presiding judge Fahd Al Shamsi also ordered the defendant deported once he serves his sentence. Court records showed the

Monday, April 27, 2015

top European Union court has dismissed an appeal by Zimbabwe’s Attorney-General and more than 100 other figures linked to the Harare government to have EU sanctions removed. According to BBC report, the 28-nation bloc began easing visa ban and asset freeze sanctions against Zimbabwe’s ruling elite early last year in the hope of encouraging reforms but left top officials including President Robert Mugabe on the blacklist. Zimbabwe Attorney–General Johannes Tomana, as well as 109 other people including top police and army officers, plus 11 companies, had called

on the General Court of the European Union to annul the sanctions order. The General Court, second only to the European Court of Justice, said however that they were correctly identified as close to Mugabe’s government and its “serious infringement of human rights.” Tomana had been put on the sanctions list because he had “engaged in activities that seriously undermine democracy, respect for human rights and the rule of law,” the Court said in a statement. Zimbabwe President, Robert Mugabe The inclusion of the other individuals and companies were broadly such that it is legitimate to characterise comparable, it said. them as leaders of Zimbabwe or as asThe court said there was an ad- sociates of those leaders and thereby to equate legal basis for the sanctions justify, on that ground alone, their being since the positions they held “are listed.”

New York court issues habeas corpus writ for chimpanzees UNITED STATES

judge in New York has issued a writ of habeas corpus in a case brought by animal rights activists on behalf of two chimpanzees. The order means the university holding the chimpanzees will have to respond to the activists’ petition in court. The activists said the court had “implicitly determined” that the two chimpanzees are legal “persons”. However, other experts say the writ may simply be a way for the court to gather more information at a further hearing. A report by BBC says that the case concerns two chimpanzees, Hercules and Leo, being held at a research facility at Stony Brook University in New York state. The Nonhuman Rights Project originally filed a lawsuit on behalf of the chimpanzees in 2013 with a

view to having them transferred to a sanctuary in Florida, but in that instance the courts refused to issue a writ. However, Judge Barbara Jaffe of New York’s state Supreme Court issued the writ, meaning a hearing will now be held on 6 May in which the university’s lawyers will have to explain the legal basis of the chimpanzees’ detention. Habeas corpus, which is Latin for “you may have the body”, is a writ which traditionally requires a person detained by the authorities to be brought before a court of law so that the legality of the detention may be examined. “The judge may merely want more information to make a decision on the legal personhood claim, and may have ordered a hearing simply as a vehicle for hearing out both parties in more depth,” law professor Richard Cupp told Science magazine. “It would be quite surprising if the judge intended to make a momentous substantive finding that chimpanzees are legal persons if the judge has not

US President, Barack Obama

yet heard the other side’s arguments,” he went on. David Bookstaver, a spokesman for the New York State Courts, also rejected the activists’ claim that the judge had conferred personhood on the chimps.

The Magistrate played on my intelligent –Baiyeshea

he first time I went to court was immediately after my call to Bar. My principal sent me to court in

Ajaokuta. When I got to the Chief Magistrates’ Court the Magistrate saw me and was very hospitable and kind to me or so I thought. I think he played on my intelligent because of what he wanted to do. When I got there he said to me ‘’Oh! Your boss sent you here, no need, you shouldn’t have come”. But I said well, I am now here. He said: “Don’t worry, just

go back, all is well”. I was very naïve. I took his word for it and I left Ajaokuta. As soon as I turned my back and left, he sent the client I came to bail back to prison. I felt very bad and terribly discouraged but my boss encouraged me that I should not worry and that he knew that I had no experience at all. So my boss went himself and sorted John Baiyeshea things out easily.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Law & Justice

Monday, April 27, 2015

EVENT

Lagos State Chief Judge, Justice Funmilayo Atilade and Justice Yetunde Idowu at the Commonwealth Lawyers’ Association (CLA) Annual Conference in Glasgow recently.

Former President, Commonwealth Lawyers’ Association, Mrs. Boma Ozobia and Mallam Yusuf Ali, SAN

Cross-section of participants at the conference.

Mr. Gbenga Soyele of the Law desk, Leadership Newspapers and Law Editor, Independent Newspapers, Mr. Adam Adedimeji.

Lawyer sues NBA over fixed scale of professional fees STORIES: WALE IGBINTADE

legal practitioner, Mr. James Abah has dragged the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA before an Abuja High Court praying it to nullify the scale of approved minimum professional fees/charges for all lawyers practising within the Federal Capital Territory Abuja. Joined as co-defendant is the Abuja branch of the NBA.

Abah contended that the Association has a duty to promote the rule of law and ought to adhere to the dictates of the Legal Practitioners’ Act. He asked the court for a declaration that the scale of approved minimum professional fees/ charges for all lawyers practising within the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja with effect from March 1, 2015 is contrary to the provisions of Section 15 Legal Practitioners’ Act Cap L11 Laws

of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and therefore null and void and with no effect whatsoever. He is also asking for a declaration that the Legal Practitioners’ Remuneration Committee as provided in Section 15 Legal Practitioners’ Act Cap L11 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 is the only committee that has the power to make orders regulating generally the charges of Legal Practitioners in Nigeria. In his statement of claim, Abah

raised four questions for determination for the court namely; *Whether the Legal Practitioners’ Act Cap L11 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 which regulates the legal profession in Nigeria is not an existing law which the 1st Defendant and 2nd Defendant have a legal obligation to obey and to comply with. *Whether it is only the Legal Practitioners’ Remuneration Committee that has the power to make orders regulating generally

the charges of Legal practitioners as provided in Section 15 of the Legal Practitioners’ Act Cap L11 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004. *Whether the 1st and 2nd Defendants can approve and prescribe the minimum professional fees and charges for all lawyers practising within Federal Capital Territory, Abuja without complying with Section 15 of the Legal Practitioners’ Act Cap L11 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

Fire disaster: Lagos NAJUC commiserates with Fagbohungbe

he Lagos branch of the National Association of Judicial Correspondents (NAJUC) has commiserated with a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Chief Felix Fagbohungbe whose law chambers was badly affected in the fire disaster that gutted the Mamman Kontagora House in Lagos last week. Fagbohungbe, who is the pa-

tron of the association, lost valuable items to the inferno which was said to have been caused by a surge from the room where the generator is kept on the third floor of the building. It was gathered that Fagbohungbe lost sets of computers, several files, expensive law books, law reports, Foreign and local, generalinterest books and other valuable

materials to the inferno. The Mamman Kotangora House, which is owned by the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), is on Marina, Lagos Island. The SAN has since relocated to 29A, Adeyemi Lawson Street, off Oyinkan Abayomi, Ikoyi, Lagos. However, NAJUC in a statement jointly signed by Tunde Ope-

seitan and Gbenga Soyele, Chairman and Secretary respectively commiserated with Fagbohungbe and prayed God to grant him the strength to bear the painful loss. “While we thank God that no live was lost to the inferno, we are not oblivious of the fact that the fire disaster must have really cost the learned silk a great fortune because to set up a fully functional

law chambers is really expensive. “We know that law books, case files, exhibits, general books and other valuable items must have been lost by Chief Fagbohungbe to the inferno. “We use this opportunity to call on Nigerians to be more safetyconscious so as to stem the tide of frequent fire disasters and other avoidable disasters.”

Monday, April 27, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Community Mirror We have started the transition and it is ongoing. We are submitting our handover notes to the office of the SGF Minister of Information – Patricia Akwashiki

Ojora title: Court grants request to serve monarch by courier WALE IGBINTADE

Lagos High Court has directed the Adeshiba Ayeloja royal family to serve court process on the Ojora of Lagos, Oba Fatai Aremu Aromire Ojora through courier service. Justice Abdulfattah Molawale Lawal also granted leave to the ap-

plicant to serve the Motion on Notice dated March 30, 2015 on the Ojora of Lagos by substituted means. The family had in a Motion Exparte brought pursuant to Order 7, Rule 5(1) of the High Court of Lagos State (Civil Procedure) Rules, 2012 prayed the court for an order of substituted service of court processes on the monarch by pasting them on the wall or

through currier service. In an 11-pragraph affidavit, deposed to by one Adelokki Olalekan, a Sheriff of the court, he stated that all effort to effect personal service on the 1st, 2nd and 6th defendant proved abortive. The deponent stated that each time he visited the palace of the 1st defendant, (Ojora of Lagos) there was always ‘’strong security’’ around the palace preventing him from

gaining access. The Ayeloja royal family had in their statement of claim prayed the court for an order directing the Lagos State government to confirm the nomination and appointment of the claimant, Shehu Shekoni Adedewe as the Oba elect of Iganmu land. The family through their lawyer, Olusegun Raji is also seeking for an order of perpetual in-

junction restraining the first defendant, (Chief Ojora of Lagos) from parading himself as Oba of Ojora. Other defendants in the suit are; Chief Fatai Abiodun Olumegbon, the Governor of Lagos State, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Lagos State, The Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Lagos State and the Oba of

Lagos , Oba Rilwan Akiolu respectively. The claimant is urging the court to set aside the Lagos State government approval, installation and of the 1st defendant as the traditional ruler of Iganmu land. Besides, the clamant is also seeking for a declaration that the claimant (Adedewe) is entitled to be crowned as the traditional ruler of Olapake Iganmu on their vast area of land. The matter has been adjourned till June 13 for mention.

Bank intern defrauds customers N53.6m DARE AKOGUN

People off-loading watermelon at Muda Lawal Market in Bauchi State, yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

Lagos compensates communities for proposed forensic laboratory FRANCIS SUBERU

he Lagos State Government said it has paid N30.3 million as compensation to communities at Gayingbo for the five hectares of land it secured for the proposed forensic laboratory. Commissioner for Science & Technology Mr. Adebiyi Mabadeje who made the disclosure in Lagos said the money was paid following approval by the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola. He said the master plan for the

project has been submitted and that soil test for the site has also been carried out. The commissioner added that Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is now being done along with perimeter fencing of the location. “The State Government wants to make it a Public Private Partnership (PPP) initiative”, he said adding that discussions are presently ongoing with interested potential vendors. The commissioner said that because it is a very technical area, the state government is taking time to evaluate proposals that have been submitted for the proj-

ect. On Closed Circuit Television (CCTV), he explained that the Lagos State Government is committed to the project and that those that have been deployed are working and that the state government is currently negotiating with NEC Japan, with a view to procure additional 1000 CCTV to beef up what has been deployed with assistant from the Federal Government. He said the state government has established 120 ICT laboratories in schools to enable pupils gain first hand practical experience on science, technology, en-

gineering and mathematics subjects. He said the state government has also promoted creativity and innovation by establishing an Innovation and Research Council Development Council to promote entrepreneurship by evaluating ideas from the public and work on commercialising them in tandem with academia and the private sector. The commissioner said the state has shown commitment through grants of N3 to 12 million to 32 deserving ideas either directly or through tertiary institutions.

agos State Police Command Lion Building Division, have arrested a 31-year old graduate, Kehinde Lateef who served his one year internship with the Sterling Bank Plc, Lagos Island, for allegedly fraudulently withdrawing the sum of N53.6 million naira from the accounts of two customers of the bank. Police alleged that the suspect conspired with three others now at large to hack into the system of the bank a few days after he completed his one year service with the bank and withdrew the sum of N49.1m from one account and N4.5m from another account and escaped. Lateef was arrested after the management of the bank reported the stolen money to the police at Lion Building Division. Following the report, the DPO in charge of Lion Building Division, Lagos directed a team led by Inspector Elegbede Oluranti to fish out all the suspects involved in the scam anywhere they may be found. The police team, after one year of manhunt for the suspected scammers, tracked down Kehinde Lateef at his residence on Ishawo Road, Ikorodu, Lagos, and arrested him, while others escaped. After investigation, Lateef was arraigned before a Tinubu Magistrates’ Court, Lagos on a three-count charge of felony to wit: stealing.

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World News

It’s not because Crimea has a strategic importance in the Black Sea region. It’s because this has elements of historical justice. I believe we did the right thing and I don’t regret anything. –RUSSIAN PRESIDENT, VLADIMIR PUTIN

Another quake hits Nepal, death toll now over 2,500 PAUL ARHEWE

WITH AGENCY REPORTS

owerful aftershocks rocked Nepal yesterday, panicking survivors of a quake that killed more than 2,500 and triggering new avalanches at Everest base camp, as mass cremations were held in the devastated capital Kathmandu. Terrified residents, many forced to camp out in the capital after Saturday’s 7.8-magnitude quake reduced buildings to rubble, were jolted by a 6.7-magnitude aftershock that compounded the worst disaster to hit the impoverished Himalayan nation in more than 80 years. At overstretched hospitals, where medics were also treating patients in hastily erected tents, staff were forced to flee buildings for fear of further collapses. “Electricity has been cut off, communication systems are congested and hospitals are crowded and are running out of room

An elderly injured woman is taken home through earthquake debris after treatment in Bhaktapur near Kathmandu, Nepal, yesterday.

for storing dead bodies,” Oxfam Australia chief executive Helen Szoke told a news agency. Climbers reported that the aftershock caused more avalanches at Mount Everest, just after helicopters airlifted to safety those injured when a wall of snow hit base camp on Saturday, killing at least 18 people. The deadliest disaster in Everest’s history comes almost ex-

actly a year after an avalanche killed 16 sherpa guides, forcing the season to be cancelled, and as around 800 mountaineers were gathered at the start of the new season. A news agency reporter, who was on assignment at base camp, reported that six helicopters had managed to reach the mountain on Sunday after the weather improved.

Benin president denies third term bid as vote proceeds

enin President Thomas Boni Yayi promised yesterday to leave power when his mandate expires next year as crowds across the cotton producer voted in legislative elections. Gains for Boni Yayi’s opponents could complicate his plans to undertake the constitutional reform that his government says is needed to fight graft and guar-

Benin’s President Thomas Yayi Boni

antee the electoral process. Opponents allege a secret bid to scrap term limits so the president can run for a third term from 2016. Neighbouring Burkina Faso’s long-ruling president, Blaise Compaore, attempted to scrap limits last year and was driven out of power by protests. “I will not be a candidate for anything. My name will not fea-

ture on the ballot paper,” said Boni Yayi after casting his vote. One of the biggest issues in the campaign has been ensuring the fair distribution of economic growth, forecast at 5 percent over the next few years. In the economic capital and port city of Cotonou, voters streamed onto the streets early on Sunday to go to polling booths. Around 500 politicians are competing for 83 seats in the national assembly of the country of 10 million people, one of the region’s more stable democracies. But some complained in the coastal town of Abomey-Calavi that a lack of staff and equipment was causing delays to voting. “The people manning the stations are absent. It’s a real shame and I don’t know how we will cope with this,” said Stephane Kougbadi, observer of the Autonomous National Electoral Commission (CENA). Problems with voting cards have also been reported and by Thursday, only 77 percent of them had been collected, CENA said.

A stunning image captured by the agency’s South Asia photo chief Roberto Schmidt showed a massive cloud of snow and debris cascading onto base camp, burying scores of climbers and flattening tents. “People being stretchered out as choppers land -- half a dozen this morning,” Kannampilly said in a text message. “Weather clear, some snowfall.” The official number of dead from Saturday’s Himalayan earthquake has topped 2,500 and may continue to rise as remote areas near the epicenter are searched.

South African monument vandalised Vandals in South Africa have vandalised a monument to Saartjie Baartman, Africa’s “Hottentot Venus” who was paraded in 19th century Europe like a circus freak, police said yesterday. The incident in Hankey, in rural Eastern Cape province, is the latest in a spate of assaults on monuments that had, until now, chiefly targeted colonial symbols. “The plaque was vandalised with white paint,” police spokeswoman Gerda Swart told AFP, adding that a resident who witnessed a group of people lobbing paint at the memorial had reported the incident. An investigation had been launched, Swart said. Sarah “Saartjie” Baartman, a member of the indigenous Khoisan community, was taken from her homeland in 1810 by a British ship’s doctor who told her she could earn a fortune in Europe by allowing foreigners to look at her body.

WORLD BULLETIN Deadly Burundi protests after president seeks third term At least two people have been killed in violent clashes in Burundi, a day after President Pierre Nkurunziza launched his bid for a third term in office. Thousands defied a ban to take to the streets of the capital Bujumbura. Police shot live ammunition in the air to disperse them. President Nkurunziza was nominated to run by his governing CNDD-FDD party. Opponents say it is unconstitutional and threatens a peace deal that ended the 12-year civil war in 2005. Angry protesters on Sunday threw rocks and lit tyres. Police responded with tear gas, water cannon and live ammunition, blocking access to the centre of the capital. The Burundian Red Cross spokesman Alexis Manirakiza told the BBC that at least five protesters were injured in the clashes and that one was in a coma. Many demonstrators have been detained. Police also threatened to shut down a private radio station unless it stopped live broadcasts about the protests. At his nomination by a special party congress, President Nkurunziza said: “I call people to go to the election in peace.

Somali al Shabaab kills three officials in Mogadishu Somalia’s al Shabaab militants killed two city council officials, a former parliamentarian and a senior prison officer in Mogadishu, police and the rebel group said yesterday. The al Qaeda-allied group has stepped up its gun and bomb attacks in the Horn of Africa nation over the past week. Six people were killed in an attack on a vehicle carrying U.N. staff in the semi-autonomous Puntland region on Monday, and a suicide bomber killed 10 in a restaurant in Mogadishu on Tuesday. Gunmen shot dead the former lawmaker and two city council officials on Saturday, and a senior prison officer was killed near the Bakara market in Mogadishu on Sunday, Major Nur Afrah, a police officer, told Reuters. Al Shabaab claimed responsibility for all the killings and vowed to carry out more attacks. “We killed the lawmaker, the two city officials and the prison colonel on Saturday and Sunday. We shall continue killing them,” Sheikh Abdiasis Abu Musab, al Shabaab’s military operations spokesman, told Reuters. The militant group has carried out regular attacks in Somalia and neighbouring countries aimed at imposing its strict interpretation of Islamic law and overthrowing the Somali government, which is backed by Western donors and African peacekeepers.

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Monday, April 27, 2015

Lemu knocks clerics over greed for positions PRISCILLA DENNIS MINNA

ational President of Islamic Education Trust, IET of Nigeria, Shiekh Ahmed Lemu, has described greed and selfish quest for leadership positions as the bane of many clerics in the country. Lemu stated this at a two-day seminar over the weekend in Minna with the theme: ‘Interfaith Relations and political stability in Nigeria: Breaking the cycle of identity politics,’ organised by Development Initiative of West Africa, DIWA, of Nigeria in collaboration with IET. He said their efforts were mostly geared towards satisfying selfish desires rather than meeting the needs of the people. The cleric, who was chairman, Presidential Panel on 2011 Post Election Violence, explained that the aim of the seminar was to provide a platform where issues affecting peaceful coexistence in Nigeria could be discussed to promote mutual understanding among believers of the two main religions. He stressed the need for politicians, clerics, businessmen and stakeholders to do what is right if peaceful coexistence must be achieved, while blaming the youths for allowing themselves to be used to cause crisis without understanding the teachings of their religions. Director of DIWA, Sai-

du Takuma, said the seminar will strengthen the already existing relationship between members of the two religions, and hoped its effect will resonate across the nation and form the basis for more discussions even beyond interfaith lines. Also, Barr Solomon Dalone, who is an activist and member of Northern Elders Forum, NEF, stated that in order to promote social harmony in the society, religion must be seen as personal while politics is collective interest, just as the youths must be enlightened in that direction. He appealed to Nigerians to centre their energy more on what unites them than their diversity, saying: “You cannot cry of being oppressed while perpetuating same in your localities.” The workshop had in attendance prominent religious leaders and lecturers such as Rev. Fr John Okeni of Arch Diocese of Maiduguri, Dr Mohammed Babangida Mohammed of Bayero University Kano, Bashir Mundi and members of Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN.

Insurgency: Address plight of victims, Kwankwaso tells Buhari …advocates Northeast ministry ABDULGAFAR OLADIMEJI KANO

ano State Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, has urged Nigeria’s president-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari (retd), to establish ministry of North East affairs to address the health, education and economic damages caused in that part of the country by activities of insurgents. While appealing for ad-

equate funding for such ministry, Kwankwaso argued that its establishment would not halt carrying out of developmental projects in other parts of the country. He said Northeast states ravaged by activities of insurgents were in need of a master plan to address their economic, health, education, infrastructure and other needs, adding that these sectors have been grounded by insurgents.

The governor lamented that people of the areas affected by insurgency were living in a painful and unpleasant situation, and called on the president-elect to act fast in addressing their plight on assuming office on May 29. The senator-elect also assured that the incoming All Progressives Congress, APC-led senate would ensure early passage of budgets, which would address Nigerians’

pressing needs. He said senators-elect would not relent in ensuring strict implementation of appropriation bills. Kwankwaso further stated that the high wages paid to National Assembly members was not responsible for the sufferings Nigerians were encountering. According to him, those who loot the country’s treasuries were solely responsible for inflicting poverty on the citizenry.

Participants at the Kaduna State Commercial Agriculture Development Project Workshop in Kaduna, at the weekend. PHOTO: NAN

Lawmaker canvasses streamlined NASS

A Shiekh Lemu

new member of the House of Representatives, Mike Etaba, said the 8th National Assembly must facilitate bills and oversight activities that would lead to drastic reduction

in cost of running government. Etaba, who was elected on March 28 to represent Obubra/Etung Federal Constituency of Cross River State, said this yesterday in Abuja.

Malle to run for Reps Speaker

ember representing Jalingo/ Yorro/Zing Federal Constituency in Taraba State, Dr Amino Malle, has declared his intention to contest for the Speakership of the House of Representatives in the 8th Assembly. Malle, who has been reelected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, announced the bid yesterday at a news conference in Jalingo. “I want to use this

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platform to formally announce my intention to run for the speakership of the House of Representatives. “Taraba has never been given a fair share of principal positions at the National Assembly, and I think the time has come to correct the imbalance. “I believe the experience in my first tenure and my previous experience as a senior lecturer will come to bear in the quality of leadership.

“These experiences, I think, will help me bring to Nigerians the needed change,” he said. Malle thanked the people of his constituency for re-electing him, adding that he would redouble his efforts to provide more dividends of democracy to them. The lawmaker urged his colleagues to support him to realise his ambition for a better Nigeria. He expressed confidence that the incoming

administration would tackle the problems of insecurity, corruption, lawlessness and poverty to pave way for rapid development.

He was elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. “The 8th Assembly must, as a matter of priority, facilitate bills and oversight activities that will lead to drastic reduction in the cost of running government.” This, the new lawmaker said, was necessary to enable government have the resources to revamp the education sector and undertake massive infrastructure development across the country.

“The education sector needs to be reviewed to address the current challenges of the 21st century,’’ he said. Etaba also expressed the need for the 8th Assembly to focus on providing legislation that would facilitate national unity, particularly with regards to the issues of state of origin, place of birth and residence. According to him, such clauses, in official forms and documents, do not portray the nation as one indivisible entity.

Kwara PDP moves to reposition

eoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Kwara State has set up five committees to reposition the party after its defeat in the April 11 governorship election. Publicity Secretary of the party, Dr Rex Olawoye,

disclosed this yesterday in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Ilorin. He said the committees were set up after Saturday’s meeting of the party’s State Executive Council, which xrayed PDP’s performance in

the 2015 general elections. The party spokesman listed the committees to include Finance, Research and Strategy, Media and Publicity, Mobilisation and Legal, and said they would be inaugurated before May 29.

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Kogi CJ releases seven more prison inmates WALE IBRAHIM LOKOJA

hief Judge of Kogi State, Justice Nasiru Ajanah, has released additional seven prison inmates and granted bail to one accused person in his renewed effort to decongest prisons in the state. Justice Ajanah gave the order for unconditional release of the seven accused persons after a critical review of their case files at Kabba Federal Prisons over the weekend. While reviewing 28 cases involving criminal conspiracy, armed robbery, culpable homicide, theft and rape, it was discovered that some of the prison inmates had stayed in prison custody for almost two years without proper trial in a court of competent jurisdiction. Those granted unconditional release include Mohammed Lawal, 36, Abubakar Hussein, 29, Abubakar Aliyu, 21, and Mohammed Abubakar, 31, who have been in prison custody since September 2013 without trial. Olubunmi Faleye, who is into madrine tree business and hails from Ekiti State, got relief for being wrongfully charged with criminal breach of trust instead of a civil case, while Christopher David and Moses Jacob were released unconditionally because of their state of health even before arrest. Justice Ajanah, in his ruling, stated that the four accused persons have been in prison custody for

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Monday, April 27, 2015

over 19 months without trial, explaining that their continued stay in detention is repugnant to natural justice. “First, there was no record of information from the prosecution about the progress made on their trial in court. Secondly, they have spent almost two years in detention without trial in a court of competent jurisdiction. The law does not recognise accused persons being detained more than necessary. Therefore I am left with no option than to order the release of the four accused persons unconditionally,” the chief judge ruled. Meanwhile, the remaining 20 awaiting trial inmate cases have been referred to various courts for speedy trials to determine their fate. Justice Ajanah commended the judicial officers for a job well done, saying the zone has been noted for low crime rate. It would be recalled that last Thursday, seven prison inmates regained their freedom, while 11 others were released on bail at the Koton Karfe Federal Prison in Kogi State.

NECO hosts communities’ distance selves from registrar’s rejection PRISCILLA DENNIS MINNA

ost communities of the National Examination Council (NECO) have distanced themselves from alleged rejection of the appointment of Prof. Monday Tommy Joshua as new Registrar/Chief Executive of the council. Spokesperson for Kpakungu community, Alhaji Danladi Maikaza, and Mallam Ahmed Adamu of Gidan Mangoro community, who both led separate delegations of their com-

munities on a solidarity visit to the new registrar, said they were not against the appointment of a nonindigene as chief executive of NECO. According to Alhaji Maikaza, rather than bicker over who heads the organisation, they were more concerned with being given a fair share in appointments, considering the fact that NECO is a national institution. Also, Adamu in his speech pledged Gidan Mangoro community’s total support and cooperation, while soliciting for

assistance in employment opportunities for the unemployed in the area. Responding, Prof. Joshua stated that before assuming office he had been told that indigenes of the state were hospitable, saying that hosting NECO should be seen as a privilege, which the host communities should protect with zeal as part of their responsibilities. While thanking the communities for being good hosts to NECO, he charged them to sustain the existing cordial relationship, as citing head-

quarters of the examination body in the area has no doubt stimulated economic activities. It would be recalled that last week a group of youths under the aegis of Nigerian Youth Congress (NYC), Niger State branch, led by state chairman, Comrade Mustapha Tijani, stormed the council’s headquarters in a peaceful protest against Prof. Joshua’s appointment and appealed to President Goodluck Jonathan to appoint any qualified professor from the state to head the organisation.

Electorate casting his votes during the re-run election for Kwami East State Assembly constituency in Gombe State on Saturday.

Tears as el-Rufai’s campaign coordinator is buried A ZA MSUE KADUNA

Justice Ajanah

ears flowed freely in Jema’a Local Government Area of Kaduna State as

Governor-elect, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai’s slain campaign coordinator, Mr. Markus Ishaya, was buried at the weekend. El-Rufai urged people of the state not to engage

IDPs commend Borno govt on feeding, welfare

nternally displaced persons (IDPs) in Borno State on Sunday commended the state government for its free feeding arrangement for displaced persons in the state. News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that about 100,000 IDPs from 16 of the 27 local government areas of the state are currently in refugee camps in Maiduguri. A cross-section of the IDPs, who spoke with NAN in Maiduguri, expressed satisfaction with feeding arrangements at

the camps. Mallam Modu Farama, an IDP at the Federal Training Centre (FTC) camp, said he was happy with the feeding arrangement at the camp. “We are fed three times daily by the government with good food; some of us cannot afford such back home. “We thought the feeding was to prepare ground for the election; so, we were surprised that it has continued even after the election. “I think the govern-

ment deserves commendation for this; we pray to God to reward officials of the state government abundantly for this,” Farama said. Mallam Bukar Mala, an IDP at the Arabic Teachers College, also commended the state government for the feeding arrangement and provision of health facilities at the camp. “I want to commend the state government for providing clinics at the camps; they have been very helpful. “My wife and daugh-

ter were sick last week; so they visited the clinic, they were given free drugs after being treated free by the officials,’’ Mala said. He commended officials of the camp for providing the inmates with wears. “Sometimes, they provide wrappers for the women in the camp and sometimes guinea brocade is provided for the men,’’ Mala said. Mr. Simon Usman, an IDP at the Wulari Christian Centre, also commended the state government for the gesture.

in acts of revenge, saying they should rather follow the rule of law and press the institutions of law enforcement to do their job. His spokesperson, Samuel Aruwan, said evildoers should not be allowed to derail the civilised values of love and compassion towards all humans. El-Rufai, who was speaking after the funeral of Mr. Ishaya, who was killed last week by gunmen in Jema’a Local Government, appealed for peace and calm. The statement noted that the late Ishaya was el-Rufai’s coordinator in Atuku Ward where he played active role in the success achieved by the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the local government.

Speaking through his deputy governor-elect, Mr. Bala Barnabas Bantex, el-Rufai said: “We received news of Markus’ murder with pain, but we pray that Almighty God will grant him eternal rest. Though, he was cut down in his prime, he exhibited courage, fearlessness and commitment in the struggle for a better Nigeria. He resisted injustice and stood firm even in the heat of the general elections. “Markus did his best to uphold democratic principles. He lived a short life, but wrote his name in gold and died upholding the common good. What happened is evil and a desecration of human life. We will not relent in demanding justice, not minding how long it will take.”

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Tuesday, April 27, 2015

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Japanese PM arrives in US to showcase close ties J apanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s itinerary for his weeklong U.S. visit beginning yesterday will showcase the success of the alliance built from Tokyo’s defeat in World War II, while promoting a political agenda based on still stronger military and economic ties. The visit will take Abe from Boston to the Silicon Valley, with ample time for hobnobbing with high-flying businesspeople like the founders of Facebook and Apple, Japanese scholars and celebrities. With no major trade or economic deals expected, the aim, officials in CHANGE OF NAME

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Tokyo said, is to confirm an upgrading of joint defence guidelines and to advertise the bright side of Japan and its people, including Americans of Japanese ancestry, and possibly sell some bullet train systems. Abe is first among several leaders of Asia, including China and South Korea, visiting the U.S. this year, a sign of Washington’s growing attention to the region. He can point to his brief summit the week before with Chinese President Xi Jinping as a sign of improving relations despite lingering friction over CHANGE OF NAME

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Japan’s wartime history and territorial disputes. Abe still hasn’t met bilaterally with South Korea’s President Park Geun-hye due to a dispute over his stance on the issue of sex slaves — women forced to work in military brothels during the war. But he will acknowledge the wartime past with a visit to the Holocaust Memorial National Museum. Abe will also go to Arlington National Cemetery and pay respects to JapaneseAmerican war dead at the “Go for Broke” memorial. “I plan to deliver a message that Japan and CHANGE OF NAME

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the United States, based on our strong ties, will together build peace and prosperity in the 21st century and open a new era,” Abe told reporters Sunday just before his departure. Abe’s U.S. visit begins in Boston with a dinner at the home of Secretary of State John Kerry, and visits to Harvard and MIT. He will travel on to Washington for talks with President Barack Obama. On Wednesday, he will CHANGE OF NAME

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PUBLIC NOTICE

DOMINION GRACE INTERNATIONAL GOSPEL CHURCH This is to to inform the general public that the above-named mission has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja for registration under Part ‘C’ of the companies and Allied Matters ACT, 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE:

1. Moses Ikhanede Eshemikiwini Garuba 2. Moses Anaela Anurika 3. Ezenwoye Oscar Tochukwu 4. Joyce Agba 5. Tijani Abdukerim

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE:

1. To preach the gospel of our Lord Saviour Jesus Christ to the whole world 2. To minister healing and deliverance to the people.

Any objection to the application shall be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama Abuja Nigeria within 28 Days of this publication.

SIGNED: E.E AKUTUS ESQ. 08035952711

become the first Japanese leader to address a joint session of Congress, and likely will seek to tilt the balance in favour of Obama’s request for “fast-track” rules to negotiate the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a 12-nation, a U.S.led trade initiative. Recent ministerial-level talks between Japan and the United States have made progress, but officials say they don’t expect a major breakthrough during Abe’s CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Miss Nsima Harry Peter, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Eyo Nsima Udeme. All former documents and certificates remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

ONYECHI: I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Onyechi Jaachimma Chioma, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Obidoa Jaachimma Chioma. All former documents remain valid. UNN and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly called and addressed as Miss Agbo Esu Uno, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Adeyemi Esu Uno. All former documents remain valid, general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

ONYEJE: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Onyeje Chisom Veronica, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Okonkwo Chisom Veronica. All former documents remain valid. General public take note

CHANGE OF NAME

OKUM: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Okum Enyidiya Grace, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Nsi Enyidiya Grace. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Miss Nwaogwugwu Gooden Mercy Chikadibia now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Esiaba Mercy Chikadibia. All former documents remain valid. General public take note

CHANGE OF NAME

ODO : Formerly known and addressed as Miss Emmanuella Odo, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Emmanuella Chukwu. All former documents remain valid. Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, NYSC and the general public should please take note.

visit. In his address, Abe is expected to touch on historical issues before highlighting Japan’s contributions to relations with the U.S. since its postwar occupation ended in 1952. Abe said Sunday that he will focus on the future of Japan and the world. “I plan to show my vision about the future of Japan as we work with the United States, and about the world we want to achieve,” he said. CHANGE OF NAME

SALE: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Rhoda Sale Aboki now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Rhoda Aboki Madami. All former documents remain valid. NECO, WAEC, Kaduna Polytechnic and General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

UDEH: I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Udeh Patricia Nwenne, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Nnadi Patricia Nwenne. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Miss Atakere Christabel, now wish to be known and addresse as Mrs Okokhune Christabel. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

EZEIBE: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Ezeibe Ifeoma Ebubechukwu, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Ikeluka Ifeoma Ebubechukwu. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

IKE: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Ike Chinwendu Fidelia, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Ngadiukwu Chinwendu Fidelia. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

OHWOTIYI: I, formerly known and address Miss Takpor Okiemute Mauren and now wish to be address as Miss Favour Okiemute Takpor. All former document. Bearing my former name remain valid. General public take note

LOSS OF DOCUMENTS

This is to inform the general public of Loss C of O.Reg.as.23/23/1129, Power of Attorney Reg.as 72/72/1473, Power of Attorney Reg. as 50/50/1516 of Plot 35 at Royal District L/Out near Ind.L/Out Enugu belonging to Chukwudum N.Emenike.If found contact the Ministry Of Lands and Urban Development Enugu.

PUBLIC NOTICE

COLLEGE OF ST. JOSEPH VOM OLD BOYS ASSOCIATION The public is hereby notified that the above named Association has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part ‘C’ of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, of 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. 3. 5. 7. 9.

Marcellinus Suwa Paul Jatau Stephen Dewan Njin Naansel Paul Raphael Pwol

2. James Biymuk 4. Paulinus Ayatse 6. Cyprian Donglong 8. Paul Clement Nanzing 10. Timothy Datong

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE:

1. To encourage educational progress within the college 2. To deliberate and decide on issues affecting the smooth and efficient running of the association 3. To deliberate and decide on issues affecting the welfare of members of the association Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General Corporate Affairs Commission, plot 420 Tigris Crescent off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication

SIGNED: SECRETARY

Monday, April 27, 2015

I think we are ready to launch ourselves to reckoning once again in Africa after reaching the 2013 feat

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sport

China 2015: Makanjuola, Toriola in good start

–BURKINA FASO FORWARD, ALAIN TRAORE

EPL:

Chelsea stop Gunners, closer to title

helsea took another step towards clinching the Premier League title after a goalless draw at the Emirates Stadium yesterday, against Arsenal ensured they remain 10 points clear at the top of the league. BBC Sport reports that Coach Jose Mourhino’s side will win the trophy if they follow victory at revitalised Leicester City on Wednesday with three points against Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge next Sunday. Arsenal’s fans vented their frustration with chants of “boring boring Chelsea” at the final whistle after the Gunners failed to make the most of their second-half chances, but this was the performance of a side fixing a steely gaze and determination on the title. The criticism fell on deaf ears as Chelsea’s players celebrated earning a vital draw - especially captain John Terry as he gave triumphant clenched fist salutes before taking the acclaim of

the visiting supporters. Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger will have been as frustrated as his team’s fans, having now gone 13 games without a win against his old adversary Mourinho. The Gunners had plenty of possession but could not find the inspiration to alter that grim statistic. Chelsea mounted a defensive rearguard action after the break with Per Mertesacker and substitute Danny Welbeck missing from the rare opportunities that fell Arsenal’s way. It was not all one way, however, and Chelsea complained bitterly about three first-half penalty claims that were ignored by referee Michael Oliver, twice for incidents involving Oscar and the other on returning former Arsenal star Cesc Fabregas. Ultimately, though, Mourinho and Chelsea will regard this as another precious point on what now seems the formality of the first title triumph of his second spell in charge at the club.

Bundesliga:

Bayern win 25th crown

B Guardiola

ayern Munich have clinched their third consecutive Bundesliga title courtesy of Wolfsburg’s 1-0 loss to Borussia Monchengladbach. Pep Guardiola’s side beat Hertha Berlin 1-0 to put them within sight of the title. According to BBC Sport, Wolfsburg had to beat Gladbach, who move up to third, to make Bayern wait another week for their 25th title, but lost to an injury-time Max Kruse goal. Treble-chasing Bayern are in the Champions League and German Cup semis. They will have

little time to celebrate this success as they face rivals Borussia Dortmund in the last four of the domestic cup tomorrow. Bayern are bidding for their third consecutive domestic double, and second treble in three years. Guardiola has won five domestic titles in his six years as a manager; three out of four with Barcelona and now two in two for Bayern. The Bavarians face Barca in the Champions League semifinals in May.

Mourinho

EPL Table Team

GD Pts

Chelsea

Man City

Arsenal

Man Utd

Liverpool

Tottenham

Southampton

Swansea City

-3

Stoke

-3

Everton

West Ham

Crystal Palace

-5

West Brom

-14

Newcastle

-21

Aston Villa

-22

Hull

-16

Leicester City

-16

Sunderland

-23

QPR

-21

Burnley

-26

Sports

Monday, April 27, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Osaze

relishes come-back S

uper Eagles striker, Osaze Odemwingie, has revealed he almost came to tears after the warm reception he got from the Stoke fans on his return to action after eight months out injured. The former Cardiff City forward saw action for 10 minutes on Saturday as his side drew 1-1 at home to Southampton and was given a rousing welcome by the team’s fans who sang his name through the game. “I’m really pleased to be back and it was a very emotional moment for me,” Odemwingie said. “I can see how they see me and they’ve probably been one of the biggest motivations in me coming back. I also have to give a massive thanks to our medical team who have done a really great job.” The forgotten Eagles forward says he hopes to score goals to appreciate the fans in the remaining league games that he will feature in. “Throughout the seven months since the operation, I have really worked hard to make sure I caught a few games at the end of the season,” he added. “The motivation to do that has been so strong for me that I am willing to risk it so I can contribute to the season and continue the aggressive strengthening at the end of the season.

Osaze

EPL Results Everton

Man Utd

Arsenal

Chelsea

Glo League Results Enyimba

Sharks

Bayelsa

Gabros

Lobi

Giwa

Akwa

Dolphin

Rangers

El-Kanemi

Sunshine

Wikki

Abia

3SC

Kwara

Nasarawa

Pillars

FC Taraba

Oscar

taken to hospital after blow

Devils suffer heavy loss

verton beat Manchester United 3-0 at Goodison Park yesterday to inflict a second straight Premier League loss on the Red Devils. The home team led 2-0 at the break after strikes by man-of-the-match James McCarthy and John Stones, the young centre-back’s first for his club. And the game was ended as a contest when Kevin Mirallas took advantage of poor defending from the visitors to make it 3-0 as Everton moved up to 10th in the table.

United remains in fourth, seven points ahead of Liverpool, but having played a game more than the Reds, an anxious end to the campaign could ensue. Everton made a dream start to the match after taking a fifth-minute lead through McCarthy’s strike-his third for the Toffees-although United will be disappointed to have conceded from their own corner. Gareth Barry headed Juan Mata’s set-piece clear and then set Seamus

Oscar

Coleman clear down the right flank, before collecting his return pass, dancing through Danny Blind and Paddy McNair challenges and coolly sliding the ball past David de Gea. The visitors responded though to the shock of falling behind so early by dominating both territory and possession for the remainder of the opening period, but without ever truly testing Tim Howard in the Everton goal. It was the home team’s biggest win over United in 23 years.

helsea midfielder Oscar was taken to hospital for scans after hurting himself in a collision with Arsenal goalkeeper David Ospina during yesterday’s goalless draw, manager Jose Mourinho revealed. Ospina clattered into Oscar after the Brazil playmaker had lobbed a shot over him mid-way through the first half at the Emirates Stadium, leaving the Chelsea player flat on his back. After receiving treatment he returned to the fray, but was taken off at halftime, with Didier Drogba going on. “He went to the hospital at halftime. So we are waiting,” Mourinho told his post-game press conference. Asked if he thought Oscar had suffered a concussion, Mourinho replied: “I don’t know. We are waiting.” The result left Chelsea needing six points from their remaining five games to claim a first Premier League title since 2010.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sports

Monday, April 27, 2015

China 2015:

Makanjuola, Toriola in good start D

espite lack of adequate support from the authorities, Nigerian players yesterday began their campaigns in the singles events in the 2015 ITTF World Championships in China on a bright note. The presence of the President, Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF), Mr. Wahid Oshodi, in Suzhou may have spurred the trio of Segun Toriola, Kazeem Makanjuola and Olufunke Oshonaike to give their best against their oppo-

nents in the group matches of the tournament, which has over 100 countries competing in five events. Makanjuola dismissed Maldives’ Moosa Ahmed 11-2, 119, 15-13, 11-8 in the first group match while Toriola overran Algeria’s Aissa Belkadi with an 11-7, 11-5, 11-3, 11-7 win as Oshonaike also beat Costa Rica’s Cynthia Martinez 4-0 before edging Mexico’s Madrid Mercedes by the same margin to make it to the main draw.

Oshonaike will meet Tunisia’s Saidani Safa today to decide the only player that will progress from the group. Makanjuola will also meet Argentina’s Tabachnik Pablo while Toriola will battle Qatar’s Abdulhussein Mohammed for the sole spot in the group. Nigeria’s Aruna Quadri who is the second seeded African players in the main draw will begin his campaign tomorrow, as Egypt’s Omar Assar.

Makanjuola

Zenith female league: Akashili lifts First Bank Lagos counts gains in

Akashili

PAUL EREWUBA

ormer four-time Most Valuable Player of the Zenith Bank-sponsored Female Basketball League, Nke-

chi Akashili, showed her credentials as she helped defending champions First Bank Basketball Club start their title defence in style, scoring 27 points in the Elephant Girls’ emphatic defeat of Plateau Peaks. First Bank out-dunked Plateau Peaks 91-36. The former First Deepwater star shot an impressive 100 percent from the 3 points range (5/5), adding 5 of 8 shots from the field in the win. Atosu Upe and Chidinma Nwakama joined Akashili as the only First Bank players to score double figures adding 13 points and 10 points respectively. Last season’s runner-up Dolphin Basketball Club also gave a top class performance,

as sharp shooting guard Juliet Currency knocked down 35 points, adding 10 rebounds as Dolphin drubbed the Inspector General of Police (I.G.P) Queens 89-47 to go up the ladder as leaders in Group B. Former Champion, First Deepwater, shook off a slow start to defeat Kaduna-based AHIP Queens 60-33, while debutants Zamfara Babes got their Zenith Bank female league campaign to a winning start coming from behind to beat Coalcity Queens 40-39. In other results, Delta Force forced their way past GT200 79-25, while Oluyole Babes and FCT Angels defeated Immigration and Nasarawa Amazons 4230 and 63-57 respectively.

Ebonyi, Imo shine in cricket tourney IFEANYI EDUZOR

he 5th South East Cricket Championship tagged “Chuma Anosike Tourney” experienced some awesome runs in the game between Ebonyi and Abia states decided at the Government College Umuahia with Ebonyi scoring 186 runs for the loss of 8 wickets in 16 overs. Nwafor Joel of Ebonyi scored 28 runs off 20 balls to set the pace for his team mate, Oguji Friday, who had 14 runs off 11 balls. Okorie Rufus followed it up by scoring 5 runs off 7 balls while Ukwah Solomon added 5 runs off 2 balls with Ndukwe Promise recording 3 runs off 6 balls. In the second innings, Abia

scored 67 runs all out in 14 overs; Oti Miracle scored 8 runs off 18 balls, Stephen Promise scored 3 runs off 7 balls with Ibeh Camillus and Orji Nkama’s scores docked off 3 and 2 balls respectively. Ebonyi won by 101 runs in the game which the fans had given to Abia state before the encounter. In the second game between Unity Cricket Club of Anambra State and Owerri Cricket Club of Imo State, the Owerri team won the toss and Unity Cricket Club batted first and scored 85 runs all out in 18 overs. Uzoewulu Jude scored 11 runs off 13 balls, Okafor scored 7 runs off 5 balls and Molokwu Henry scored 7 runs off balls while Nweke Chukwuebuka scored 6 runs off 10 balls.

Ajelu Chukwuemeka of Owerri took 2 wickets in 3 overs while Onwuliri Chukwudi and Osuji Ebube had 1 wicket each. In the second innings, Owerri cricket club chased 86 runs for the loss of 3 wickets in 12 overs. Mba Samuel scored 21 runs off 26 balls and followed it up with 19 runs off 27 balls while Onwuliri Chukwudi had 10 runs off 9 balls. Okoye Promise took a catch which could not save the Anambra State team which lost to their counterparts from Owerri by 6 wickets in the encounter. General Manager of the Nigeria Cricket Federation, Joseph Esua, told National Mirror that the South East Cricket tournament sponsored by Barrister Chuma Anosike aimed to “give back to the society”.

Fashola’s regime

AFOLABI GAMBARI

agos State Ministry of Youth, Sports and Social Development says there is a lot to celebrate during the eight-year tenure of Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola. Permanent Secretary (Office of Sports), Mr. Oluseyi Whenu, who spoke at the 4th anniversary of the second term of Governor Fashola in Lagos during the 2015 Ministerial Press Briefing at The Secretariat, Alausa Ikeja, last weekend said the ministry had encouraged private sector partnership in its quest to make Lagos a hub of international tournaments in Africa. “Aside from maintaining the development of staff, the ministry has added to the revenue generation of the state through numerous games organised, training of athletes and exposure through competitions with their counterparts from across the world,” Whenu, who repre-

sented the Commissioner for Youth, Sports and Social Development, Mr. Wahid Enitan Oshodi, said. Director of Sports, Dr. Kweku Tandoh, also said at the briefing that the Sports Council had staged numerous grassroots competition that aimed to expose and enable Lagos athletes to achieve world ranking. SoleAdministrator of the state’s Sports Endowment Fund, Mr. Tunde Bank-Anthony, also said his agency had raised funds for infrastructure development while facilitating corporate sponsorship of the competitions organised by the state government. The Grassroots Sports Development office, headed by Prince Wale Oladunjoye, has also staged the Lagos Tertiary Institutions Games, the annual Governor’s Cup Lagos Tennis Championship and Mock African Nations Football Competition, while facilitating the Ethnic Unity Cup with corresponding success.

Management empowers Confluence Queens

ver 40 players of the Kogi State owned-Confluence Queens Football Club of Lokoja have benefited from a three-day skills acquisition scheme coordinated by a National Youth Service Corps member, Marian-Roy Onwuata of the Kogi State Command. The players learned the art

of bag making of different brands and sizes, local cloth tye and dye, soap making and local creams in the scheme floated in conjunction with the management of Kogi United and Confluence Queens football clubs was to prepare the players for alternative sources of income after their active football career.

WORLD RECORD Most Fastest people running 100fimetres in a 24 hour relay mile reman’s carry

N150

Vol. 05 No. 1099 Monday, April 27, 2015

The most people running 100 meters in a 24 hours relay is 4 , 5 3 1 p a r t i c i p a n t s a n d w a s a c h i eve d b y Ru n f o r C h i l d r e n ( I t a l y ) i n P r a t o d e l l a Va l l e , P a d ov a , I t a l y, o n 1 8 Ju n e 2 0 1 1 .

Of existentialism, xenophobia and shared humanity

wo troubling developments last week should make every African pause and ponder over the increasing degeneration of our shared humanity. The first is the xenophobic eruptions in South Africa, so unnerving in their regularity and disgraceful in their conduct that one begins to wonder if South African blacks were not the same people that the world rescued from the excruciating pains and privations of white-imposed apartheid policy of segregation and discrimination not very long ago. The second is the tragedy in the Mediterranean Sea when about 900 illegal migrants, mainly from Africa and the Middle East, were wasted while trying to sneak into Italy. This very incident is very soul searing because it would have been prevented if European leaders had demonstrated sufficient sensitivity to the extenuating factors that make people

HeartBeat Callistus Oke

Callistusoke@nationalmirroronline.net 08054103275 (SMS ONLY) anthonykila@mail.com want to escape from the harsh realities of their home countries. The head of the Holy See, Pope Francis, reacting to the sad incident, emphasized this imperative when he charged world leaders to “act decisively and quickly to stop these tragedies from recurring”, adding that “these are men and women like us, brothers seeking a better life… (They are) hungry, persecuted, injured, exploited, victims of war. They are seeking a better life, they are seeking happiness.” The logic and clarity of Pope Francis’s take on the recurring carnage in the Mediterranean cannot be separated from his profound spiritual depth and his appreciation of the fact that the world is one huge humanity atomised by socio-economic and political considerations. Have you considered that in the divine order of things, all humans are first and foremost children of the same God, made in his own image and likeness, before factors less celestial forced us into racial categorization of Caucasoid, Mongoloid, Negroid and Australoid? I am aware of research findings that show that all races share 99.99+ percent of the same genetic. So, it is the shared humanity that ought to dictate the social relations among the peoples of the world; meaning that the haves should support the have-nots. The recurring carnage in the Mediterranean, which has claimed the lives of thousands of Africans and Arabs and the incessant xenophobic attacks in South

IT TAKES COURAGE AND UNCOMMON PERCEPTION TO TAKE DECISIONS THAT CHANGE ONE’S LIFE

Africa against foreigners, mainly fellow Africans, are rooted in the unwillingness of people to appreciate the necessity for shared existence as the basis for social harmony in the world. It is common knowledge that African and Arab immigrants are unwanted in Europe fundamentally because European leaders want a more secured Europe in the face of global terrorism, and also because of the heavy cost the influx of uncontrolled immigrants, many of who may not have the necessary education and training to add value to their host countries, will impose on their finances. While one appreciates the political and socio-economic considerations of Europeans leaders that make them desensitized to the humanitarian imperative that would have compelled the European Union adopt more flexible measures to the issue under focus in order to save lives, they ought not to abdicate the bounden responsibility of ameliorating the socioeconomic conditions in the backwater countries of the world, where the bulk of illegal immigrants come from. This is particularly so because many of these poor countries were raped and plundered by Europe during the heyday of colo-

nialism! And in the post colonial period, neocolonialism and the new imperialism have foisted on the global economic system unequal exchange regime that is detrimental to the economies of the poor countries. For the xenophobic South Africans, their apartheid experience and the concerted global efforts deployed to end the most dehumanizing state policy ever conceived in Africa ought to have thought them a lesson in the common humanity of all the peoples of the world. The killing of people, looting their businesses and thereafter setting them ablaze do grave injustice to the memory of African anti-apartheid campaigners, without which South Africa would still be under the jackboots of racist white minority regime. If the Zulu king, Goodwill Zwelithini, ignited the current conflagration by his recent hate speech that foreigners “must pack their bags and go to their countries”, the South African government has not done enough to desensitize South Africans from the wrongly held view that the immigrants are more of liability than an asset to their country. South Africa has about two million official and unofficial immigrants out of a population of 52.98 million (2013 figure from a study by the University of the Witwatersrand), and these immigrants are officially acknowledged to be adding value to the economy of the country. More importantly, the odd jobs this migrant labour does are seen by the locals as non-dignifying. Perhaps, I should add that it is appointed unto man to give meaning and dignity to his life by exercising his freedom of choice to change his circumstances of life. One of such choices he makes is self-improvement. It takes courage and uncommon perception to take decisions that change one’s life. Going abroad for greener pastures with all the associated risks is one of such decisions. Such people, who conduct themselves peacefully and responsibly in their host countries, ought not to be denigrated by lazy and envious locals!

Sport Extra

Transfer: Ayew set for Roma switch

lympique Marseille midfielder, Andre Ayew, says he has decided to join Serie A side Roma in the summer. The 25-year-old Ghana

international chose Roma over several other European sides that include Wolfsburg, Dortmund and Schalke in the German Bundesliga, as well as Swansea City in the Eng-

lish Premier League and another Serie A club Inter Milan. “I weighed the options before taking decision,” Ayew said. However, Ayew would

sign the papers only if Roma books hits place in the UEFA Champions League next season. A fans’ favourite at the South of France club which he joined in 2005,

Ayew won the French league cup in 2011 and 2012, missing out on Marseille’s Ligue 1 title in the 2009-2010 season while on loan at ArlesAvignon.

Ayew

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