Monday, december 22, 2014

Ondo workers to celebrate Xmas without salary

THE

BUSINESS SECTION

Skye Bank takes ...Gov Mimiko owes three months arrears control of Mainstreet Bank

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here are indications that Ondo State workers may not celebrate the Yuletide period in a joy-

Omar

Vol. 4 N0. 1009

ful mood.

It was gathered that they are being owed three months salaries and that

there is no assurance they would be paid before the Christmas.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 6>>

P.7

Free inside

Monday, December 22, 2014

Oil price: Pressure on OPS, investors

...LCCI warns FG against bad policies

'States' finances may collapse next month'

N150 ABOLAJI ADEBAYO AND WOLE ADEDEJI

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he Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, LCCI, yesterday warned the government against taking measures that could further complicate the effects of collapsing oil prices on businesses.

It said the situation was already taking a heavy toll on the economy in both the public and private sectors.

In a statement issued yesterday, President of the CONTINUED ON PAGE 2>>

Local, foreign miners plunder solid minerals deposits P.6 ADVERT HOTLINES

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L-R: MD, NICON Insurance, Mr. Bayode Samuel; Chairman, NICON, Dr. Amos Idowu; VC, Premier Univeristy, Sao Tome and Principe, Prof. Taiwo Ajayi; guest, Mrs. Yvonne Kogolo, MD, Global Fleet Oil and Gas, Mrs. Bridget Henry-Iyasere; Mr. Emmanuel Jegede, GMD, Energy Group, Dr. Jimoh Ibrahim, CFR, Seun Ibrahim; MD, NICON Properties, Mr. Olanrewaju Alonge, Mr Steve Ojo, Bishop Jim Okewu, MD, Energy Bank, Ghana, Mrs. Queenette Okehie and MD, Nigeria ReInsurance Corporation, Lady Isioma Chukwuma, during Energy Group's Christmas party in Lagos, yesterday.

PHOTO: ADEMOLA AKINLABI

Again, 80 insurgents, 2 soldiers killed in Borno

2015: Buhari not a threat to Jonathan

Boko Haram releases video showing mass killing of captives

–Abba Moro P.7

Buhari

Fulani herdsmen invade Isoko towns

P.2

P.11

News

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Monday, December 22 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Again, 80 insurgents, 2 soldiers killed in Borno INUSA NDAHI MAIDUGURI

A

t least 80 Boko Haram insurgents and two soldiers lost their lives in an encounter along the troubled Maiduguri- Damboa road in Borno

State, which was closed down to motorists in July this year.

The clash, according to reliable sources occurred when some military personnel attached to the 7 Division, Nigerian Army were on their way to Damboa, the

headquarters of Damboa local government area.

The attack comes barely 48 hours after troops succeeded in killing 75 insurgents in a failed attempt to attack engineers and electricians, who were repairing vandalised transmission

lines in a remote village of Komala along the Maiduguri- Damboa- Biu road.

Over 110 terrorists were also killed at the weekend, when they attempted to attack Damboa.

The whole of Maiduguri and its environs had re-

Ambassador of Peoples Democratic Party Ward 2 Ward Initiative/Super Eagles Captain Joseph Yobo making a presentation to President Goodluck Jonathan during their visit to the Presidential Villa in Abuja at the weekend.

PHOTO: NAN

mained in a total blackout due to the vandalised power lines and this was the third attempt by security forces and the staff of Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN, to restore power to the city.

A source said: “Military personnel were on their way to Damboa to give security cover to the staff of TCN, who were there to repair some destroyed electric cables along MaiduguriDamboa road but they were ambushed by insurgents leaving two soldiers and over 80 terrorists’ dead.”

Another security source said: “As the troops were moving towards Damboa, one Boko Haram terrorist suddenly appeared to them on the road with a female by his side both with AK47 rifles and they were all cleared by troops, however, unknown to the troops, many of the terrorists were hidden by the road side.

“As the troops ap-

proached, the insurgents shot a Rocket Propelled Grenade, RPG, at one of the troops vehicles, killing two soldiers.

“The troops immediately responded and engaged the terrorists in gun battle, and when they realised that they were overwhelmed by the troops, the terrorists started running into the bush before they were pursued by the troops who killed almost all of them.”

The source further said that he personally counted 80 corpses of the insurgents, while three Hilux vehicles mounted with antiaircraft guns with another one loaded with improvised explosive devices, IEDs, belonging to the Yobe State government, suspected to have been snatched in the recent attack on Damaturu were destroyed alongside many motorcycles.

“I believe the attacks were coordinated, as it was CONTINUED ON PAGE 6>>

Oil price: Pressure on OPS, investors CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

chamber, Alhaji Remi Bello, stated that the situation has brought more pressure on production and the operating costs, leading to sharp drop in the demand for major products and as a result, reduced investors’ confidence.

He said, “The pressure on production and operating costs, and weak consumer demand are already taking their toll on many businesses. Investors’ confidence has been significantly affected.

“However, in responding to the current situation, it is important for government and its agencies to avoid actions that would further complicate matters for investors in the economy.”

The chamber therefore cautioned against some policy and institutional actions that could negate the current efforts to stabilise the economy and preserve jobs.

Speaking on the face-off between Nigerian Customs Service, NCS, and importers over an increase of cargo clearing charges, Bello blamed this on a deliberate and arbitrary revision of the value of cargoes by the Nigeria Customs Service, driven perhaps by the quest to generate more revenue in

line with its new target.

“We do not believe that this is the best way to improve revenue generation by the NCS. There should be a credible ground to dispute the value of invoice on imports. Most of the prices are global prices and are easily verifiable. But in many of the instances, the actions of the NCS have no bearing with these global prices.

“Regrettably there is no dependable dispute resolution mechanism in place. Invoice values have been arbitrarily hiked by 50 per cent to 100 per cent. Many importers including reputable companies have suffered from this arbitrary revision in value.

The result is that investors are compelled to pay higher duties and other charges without any justifiable reason.”

He therefore, appealed to the government and the Coordinating Minister for the Economy to look urgently into the matter.

“There should also be an independent dispute resolution mechanism in place that could resolve valuation disputes within three days because of demurrage implications. The current arrangement whereby appeals are made to the Customs headquarters is not consistent

with the principle of natural justice. The Nigeria Customs should not be a judge in its own case,” he said.

The LCCI boss also noted that some of the items not excluded in the Central Bank of Nigeria’s Retail Dutch Auction System, RDAS, window have been denied access at the window.

He said, “We share the concern of the CBN about the pressure on the foreign exchange market and the need to ensure exchange rate stability. However, reports reaching the LCCI indicate that many transactions that are not on the exclusion list have been denied access to the RDAS window.

“This has caused serious shocks and dislocations to many businesses, with most of them thrown instantly into loss positions. Even raw materials and equipment for industrial use are being denied access to the RDAS window.”

He said a great deal of uncertainty has been created in the foreign exchange market and this has greatly undermined the confidence of investors.

“We call on the CBN to streamline the processes, ensure greater transparency and improve on clarity of

transactions classification for the RDAS window. Discretionary classification by CBN officials will create a confidence crisis, generate transparency concerns and create more problems for the economy.”

The CBN had on Friday directed that that dollars bought from the interbank market can be held only for up to 48 hours, as it sought to get tough on speculators which it blames for a sharp fall in the currency since last month to a new low of N188.5 per dollar last Friday.

After the 48-hour interval has elapsed, the dollars must be sold back to the central bank at its own day rate, which is likely to result in a loss, according to a circular issued on Friday.

Bello, who said that in a normal competitive framework prices should reflect cost and reduce the scope for consumer exploitation, noted that such proposition has not played out in the fuel price in Nigeria.

He advised that relevant authorities should look into the issue, as a matter of urgency, to ensure the transmission of the benefits of declines in global oil prices to consumers.

“Investors have already been penalised by the ex-

change rate depreciations; there should be a reward in form of lower energy prices. In most parts of world, energy prices have dropped significantly,” he said.

Meanwhile, most states in the federation could be financially paralysed due to a sharp drop in statutory allocations from the Federation Account as a result of lower oil prices, according to the Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Razak Atunwa.

Speaking against the background of a smiliar alarm raised recently by the Governor of Niger State, Dr. Babangida Aliyu that the economy of states in the country may collapse in the next three months if oil prices continue to slide, Atunwa said three months would be too long for the worst to happen.

He spoke while fielding questions from journalist in Ilorin yesterday.

“I recall recently that a governor even from the other party; the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger State warned that within three months, if we continue this way, the economy of Nigeria will collapse.

“I am afraid that Governor Aliyu is a bit generous, beyond January 2015 if some-

thing is not done all the states in Nigeria will be in problem.

“The oil producing countries in the world are equally affected by this drop in the crude price, but they are not so adversely affected because they have been able to save for the rainy day,” he said He lamented that the country had failed to save money, even when crude was selling almost twice the price of what was budgeted.

He said: “I am afraid, the Federal Government has squandered the fortune of Nigeria, it has not been prudent in the management of the resources and finances of Nigeria and therefore within the past few months of the fall in the global crude oil prices, our economy in Nigeria has all of a sudden been in trouble.

“Any prudent financial manager will know that you must save for the rainy day. Failure to do that will spell doom and disaster, which is precisely what we are now facing in Nigeria.

“We must ensure efficiency in governance, breakdown the cost of running governance and of course, ensure that our recurrent expenditure is reduced to the barest minimum.”

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Monday, December 22, 2014

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4

Photo News

Monday, December 22, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Energy Group Christmas Carol Party

L-R: Vice Chancellor, Premier University, Sao Tome and Principe, Prof. Taiwo Ajayi with Dr. Amos Idowu, Chairman NICON.

L-R: Editor, National Mirror, Mr. Seyi Fasugba with Deputy Managing Director, Mr. Sunday Olajide

Dr. Jimoh Ibrahim, CFR, delivering his end of the year speech at the party.

L-R: Acting Editor, Sunday Mirror, Mr. Kayode Fasua; Admin Officer Mr. Jide Fagbuyiro, and Editor Saturday Mirror, Ms. Gbemi Olujobi.

Dr. Jimoh Ibrahim CFR, (left) dancing with children.

Secretary to the Group Managing Director, Energy Group, Mrs. Oyefunke Taiwo-Aminu (left) and CEO, Global Fleet Oil and Gas, Mrs. Bridget Henry-Iyasere.

L-R: BDM Admin/ HR Newswatch Magazine, Mrs. Bewaji Folake and Deputy Advert Manager, National Mirror, Mr. Bode Ehinmisan

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Monday, December 22, 2014

Photo News

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Energy Group Christmas Carol Party

L-R: MD/CEO, Nig-Re Insurance Lady Isioma Chukwuma and Deputy Vice Chancellor, Premier University, Sao Tome and Principe,Prof. Jim Unah

L-R: CEO, Global Fleet Oil and Gas, Mrs Bridget Henry-Iyasere, Seun Ibrahim, Dr. Jimoh Ibrahim CFR, Admin Manager, Global Fleet. Mr. Ikolo Olayinka, and Deputy Managing Director, National Mirror, Mr. Sunday Olajide presenting gifts to the GMD.

L-R: GM(Lagos) Nicon Insurance, Mr. Akinsola Ale and GM (SW) Nicon Insurance, Mr. Sunny Beyioku.

Managing Director, NICON Properties, Barr. Olanrewaju Alonge (left) and ED, Nigeria Reinsurance, Dr. Yele Akinrolabu.

L-R: General Manager, Energy New Press, Mr. Timothy Afolayan; Company Secretary, Energy Group, Miss. Bisayo Busari and Mrs. Peju Oyeyemi.

L-R: General Editor, National Mirror, Mr. Ben Memuletiwan and Editor, Newswatch Times, Mr. Dele Fashomi

Music band leading guests in Christmas Carol songs.

L-R: Deputy Vice Chancellor, The Premier University of Sao Tome, Prof. Jim Unah; Director, Finance and Admin, Nigeria Reinsurance, Mrs. Esther Ajayi and CEO, NICON Insurance, Mr. Bayode Samuel.

PHOTOS: ADEMOLA AKINLABI AND YINKA ADEPARUSI

6

News

Monday, December 22 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Local, foreign miners plunder solid minerals deposits CHIDI UGWU ABUJA

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ctivities of illegal miners have continued to result in losses topping billions of dollars each year due to the inability of the government to effectively regulate mining operations in the country, National Mirror investigations reveal.

Our correspondent’s investigation reveals that both Nigerians and foreigners are engaged plundering the nation’s solid mineral deposits especially semi precious stones and gold.

The activates are rampant is several states including states like Zamfara, Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi, Niger, Kogi and Osun states where poverty and unemployment remain major incentives to engage in illegal mining.

Our correspondent learnt that gold deposits in the Southwest and some northern states are mostly mined and processed by artisans using crude and unsafe methods that have led to epidemics of lead poisoning.

A government official, who spoke to our correspondent on condition of anonymity, admitted that some of the gold sold in Ghana are mined from Nigeria.

“Some of the gold sold in Ghana is mined in the country. Sadly, no matter how much is mined, their products are undervalued and sold at a loss as the country lacks the proper licensing processes to grade and authenticate their finds. Poor record of gold in Nigeria remains a challenge which, if not tackled, will continue to cost government, communities, and even the miners, huge revenue losses while communities continue to languish in poverty”, he said.

According to the source, “There is so much wealth in the little slivers of gold they find hence they are willing to live with the risks of lead poisoning re-occurring.”

The former Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, Mr. Linus Awute, had stated that the country lost $50bn (N8tn) in the last two years to neighbouring countries as a result of illegal mining and exportation of unprocessed gold.

He described the loss as monumental, adding that the activities of illegal gold min-

ers were far beyond control.

Awute, however, added that the Federal Government had put in place mechanism to address the problem.

He said, “What the country loses to illegal mining is tremendous; but the truth is that the amount of gold that left this country because of the illegal mining activities was more than $50bn in the last two years.

“The amount of unprocessed gold that has left this country through the neighbouring countries, Ghana in particular, and being processed in Ashanti (a gold mining firm) , is enormous.”

Lamenting the growing activities of illegal miners in the country, the President Miners Association of Nigeria, MAN, Mr. Sani Shehu, noted that illegal mining cut across all states of the federation.

According to him, both local and foreign firms are guilty of illegal mining stressing that any miner that is mining outside the provisions of the Mineral and Mining Act is an illegal miner.

“Any miner that is mining outside the provisions of the Mineral and Mining Act is an illegal miner, both foreign and local because there are some foreigners that are illegal miners, where they will just apply for exploration license and then go ahead mining. Other cases are where they apply for small scale mining license and you discover that they engage in large scale mining. All these things are there”, he stated.

Shehu however blamed the government for failing to promote the mining sector like it did with other critical sectors of the economy.

He said, “There are no real concrete strategies to promote the mining sector like agric, textile and automobile sectors. There is a limit to what an association can do; all what we are doing is advocacy. We have consistently called on the government to properly capture the mining sector in the Transformation agenda of the President”.

The Director of Press in the Ministry of Solid Mineral Development, Mr Ambrose Momoh, told our correspondent that government is currently embarked on several moves to curb the menace, among which is to

the process of formalising the operations of illegal miners in the country, adding that such a move would help to generate revenue in the form of royalties to the government.

He said, “The solution to informal mining or illegal mining is to get them formalised and that is what the ministry is doing right now.

We have over 600 groups that formed themselves into co-

operative societies”, he said.

The Federal Government had vowed to shut any mining or quarry firm that is not operating in accordance with the Nigerian Minerals and Metals Act of 2007, Mining Regulations and any other extant mining laws like that of the Council of Nigeria Mining Engineers and Geoscientists(COMEG).

The Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Mr.

Musa Mohammed Sada, had revealed that about 600 mining licenses were revoked by the Federal government as a result of non-compliance with the relevant laws guiding mining operations in the country.

Sada, had also called on states government to support Federal Government’s efforts in curbing illegal mining activities in the various states.

According to the minister, supporting the federal government effort in this regard will go a long way in boosting the revenue accruing to the country.

As the global oil price continues to dwindle the Federal Government has said that the country’s minerals and metals sector is one of the key elements towards the diversification of Nigeria’s economy.

L-R: Group Managing Director, Access Bank Plc, Mr. Herbert Wigwe; National President, Nigerian Bar Association, Mr. Augustine Alegeh, and General Secretary, Mazi Afam Osigwe at the signing of partnership agreement between Access Bank and NBA in Lagos at the weekend.

Again, 80 insurgents, 2 soldiers killed in Borno CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

just some minutes after they attempted to attack Damboa. Maybe they stationed these insurgents in order to ambush and stop any reinforcements coming from Maiduguri,” the source said.

He called on the Federal Government and the military authorities to give order to clear the Alagarno village and its environs of insurgents According to him, the terrorists have made the village as their base and hideout.

Meanwhile, Boko Haram has released a new video where clips show gunmen mowing down civilians lying face down in a school dormitory, and a leader saying they are being killed be-

cause they are “infidels” or non-believers.

There are so many corpses the gunmen have difficulty stepping to reach bodies still twitching with life. Most appear to be adult men.

“We have made sure the floor of this hall is turned red with blood, and this is how it is going to be in all future attacks and arrests of infidels,” the group leader said in a message. “From now, killing, slaughtering, destruction and bombing will be our religious duty anywhere we invade.”

The video released to journalists late on Saturday comes two days after fleeing villagers reported that the extremists are rounding up elderly people and kill-

ing them in two schools in Gwoza.

The setting of the latest video appears to be a school; a long dormitory furnished with bunk beds which the leader says is in Bama, a town 60 kilometres (40 miles) north of Gwoza.

Students and schools are frequently targeted by Boko Haram.

Previously, the militants had told residents of villages and towns that they would kill only enemies and wanted people to live peacefully in the area they have dubbed an Islamic caliphate, a large swath along the country’s north-eastern border with Cameroon that they have controlled for more than three months.

In the video, the leader noted that the prophet Mohammed advised prisoners should be held, not killed, but says “we felt this is not the right time for us to keep prisoners; that is why we will continue to see that the grounds are crimsoned with the flowing blood of prisoners.”

He said some of those killed may call themselves Muslims, but are considered infidels by Boko Haram, a Sunni Jihadi group that imposes strict Shariah law.

Thousands of people have been killed and about 1.6 million driven from their homes in the five-year insurgency that is spilling across borders into Cameroon, Chad and Niger.

Ondo workers to celebrate Xmas without salary CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Traditional rulers are also not exempted from the salary backlog as they are also being owed as much as three months salaries. Also not left out are local government employees.

A source told National Mirror that the workers were poised for a showdown

with the state government if it fails to pay the salaries in the next two days.

The source wondered why the government has found it difficult to pay its workers despite fact that Ondo State is an oil-producing state.

The source said: "Only God knows how Governor

Olusegun Mimiko has been running the state. There has not been real governance since he secured his second term in 2012.

"Our salaries have not been regular for some time now. We find it difficult to comprehend the situation.

Our state is an oil-producing one."

The workers recently embarked on an industrial action to protest non-payment of their outstanding deductions for September and October.

The deductions were cooperative and thrift societies, shilling funds and monthly loan repayment deductions among others.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

National News

Monday, December 22, 2014

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2015: Buhari not a threat to Jonathan —Moro …says, 2000 Elite unit for border patrol OMEIZA AJAYI

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s preparation for the 2015 general elections heats up, Minister of Interior, Comrade Abba Moro, has declared

that President Goodluck Jonathan is set to return to office to complete all the projects he initiated.

Consequently, Moro said the candidate of the opposition All Progressives

Skye Bank takes control of Mainstreet Bank JOHNSON OKANLAWON

S

kye Bank has taken full control of Mainstreet Bank Limited after a completion board meeting where the Asset Management Corporate of Nigeria, AMCON, divested its interest and transferred full ownership of the bridged bank.

A statement from the bank yesterday said it assumed full control, having successfully paid 100 per cent of the acquisition value and received regulatory clearance as the new owner.

It explained that at a well-attended, but short handover ceremony held at AMCON headquarters in Lagos ,which had the directors of both banks, AMCON formally handed over ownership and commended Skye Bank for emerging the preferred bidder out of over 29 bidders.

According to the statement, the corporation lauded Skye Bank for its tenacity and doggedness in pursuing the acquisition with all sense of seriousness and professionalism.

The statement also quoted AMCON, as praising the out-going Board and Executive Committee members of Mainstreet Bank for their dedication and service to Nigeria in steering and piloting the affairs from what it used to be to profitability.

Between October 3 and October 31, Skye Bank paid both the initial 20 per cent mandatory deposit and completed the 80 per cent balance well ahead of the November 3, 2014 deadline for the 100 per cent acquisition of Mainstreet Bank, which has been described by several analysts and financial commentators as a ground breaking acquisition in the country’s financial sector.

Congress, APC, General Muhammadu Buhari is not a threat to the president.

The minister, who said this in Abuja during an interface with some journalists, added that a vote for Buhari would drag Nigeria back to the dark days of dictatorship and underdevelopment.

He said the president has been doing his best to correct the “stultified system” he inherited.

This was even as Moro announced the deployment of 2,000 members of the special armed elite border patrol corps to some flash-

point border areas in the north ahead of the elections.

The 2, 000 specially trained border corps members are the first batch of about 10,000 officers from the Nigeria Immigration Service who are expected to be trained in unique border patrol techniques to effectively protect the nation’s land borders.

According to him, the new border patrol unit will greatly enhance the protection of open, unprotected border areas by reducing the number of illegal immigrants who sneak into the

country through unofficial routes.

Moro also reminded Nigerians that as with all normal security protocols, the nation’s borders would be shut during the elections.

While stating that the number of officers and men would be steadily raised to beef-up the corps into a standard unit, Moro said the border corps will be adequately equipped with modern surveillance equipment, including tracker helicopters to ensure watertight protection of borders to effectively reduce illegal immigrants entering the

country.

On the state of the Nigerian Prisons Service, the minister disclosed that the Federal Government has approved new administrative policies and strict prison residency rules to reduce the number of jailbreaks in the country.

He said everything humanly possible would be made to enhance security in the prisons especially, since it has been discovered that part of the major threats to prison safety have been insider collaboration with criminals to breach the security of prisons.

Why Pope honoured Obi — Cleric

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atholic Bishop of Awka Diocese, Most Rev. Paulinus Okeke, has said the church through Mr. Peter Obi’s local Diocese of Awka decided to honour the former governor and his Commissioner for Works, Arc. Callistus Ilozumba, with the Papal Knighthood of St Sylvester as a gesture of appreciation for the work they did in Anambra State while Obi held sway.

He said this during Obi’s investiture at St Patrick’s Cathedral, Awka, yesterday.

The bishop, while preaching, said God is always willing to use us as his instruments provided we cooperate with him as Virgin Mary did. Citing Obi as someone in the corridors of power that allowed himself to be used

by God for the good of the society, the Prelate recalled

that before Obi’s regime it was as if Anambra was abandoned, adding that Obi’s coming transformed the state.

The Prelate said Obi was exemplary in many ways, such as staying at the back when late to church, not using siren and not travelling with many aides and mingling with everybody without always showing the consciousness of one who was in power.

Debunking the news that Papal kinghood is for the rich, the bishop said it was rather an honour for those who have contributed to the church and the society and a challenge for them to remain agents of change and defenders of justice and the poor.

The Papal Bull proclaiming the honour was read in the Church in Igbo and English.

L-R: Executive Director, North & Corporate Banking, Sterling Bank Plc. Mr. Kayode Lawal; Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Mr.Yemi Adeola and the Bank’s Executive Director, Finance and Strategy, Mr. Abubakar Suleiman, at the End-of-Year Media Chat with the Bank’s MD/CEO, in Lagos, Friday

DSS promises to assist conduct of successful 2015 general elections OMEIZA AJAYI

D

epartment of State Security, DSS, has promised to ensure the conduct of a successful general election next year.

The service said it has outlined measures to thwart the efforts of terrorists and some “unscrupulous politicians” who may want to scuttle the process to feather their own nests.

Director-General of the service, Mr Ita Ekpen-

yong, who gave the assurance at the weekend in Abuja, said “no machination by uninformed terror elements or unscrupulous politicians with divisive tendencies’’ would succeed against Nigeria.

He spoke at the graduation of members of the Executive Intelligence Management Course 7 of the service’s Institute for Security Studies in Bwari.

According to him, it is the duty of security agencies to protect the sanctity of the electoral process as well as the. nation’s sover-

eign integrity at all times.

The DG said the operatives would strive to execute their mandate at all costs in spite of the daunting challenges ahead.

“Like every other country on earth today, Nigeria is grappling with its own share of global insecurity.

“Our intelligence collection efforts make threat indicators explicit and are also geared towards ensuring the success of government policies and programmes,’’ he said.

Ekpenyong said the service, in the last five years

had recorded a modest achievement, adding that the government, public and stakeholders had approved of its efforts to ensure safe, stable and indivisible country.

Monitor-General of the course, Denja Abdullahi, in his remarks, said 48 people participated in the nine months course.

He lauded the management of the service for working to transform the Institute for Security Studies into a Post Graduate Degree-awarding institution.

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South West

Monday, December 22 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Hoodlums disrupt church service in Ondo, flog officiating pastor HAKEEM GBADAMOSI AKURE

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bout 10 hoodlums yesterday, invaded a church at the Ondo State capital, Akure, disrupting the weekly service, while the officiating pastor was seriously flogged by the invaders.

It was gathered that members of the church were not spared in the attack as some of the church members also received the beaten of their

lives.

A source said the hoodlums went straight to the officiating pastor known as Pastor Arije and started flogging him.

The source alleged that the attack might have been masterminded and sponsored by a rival pastor in one of the churches within the area In an attempt to save the situation, some members of the public sought the intervention of men of the Nigeria Police

while some of the hoodlums were arrested, but later rescued by some other members of the group, who stabbed a policeman with a broken bottle in the neck.

It was gathered that the hoodlums have dealt with the church members before the police arrived at the scene of the incident and were chased to Odopetu area in Oke Aro where some of them were arrested by the security agents.

The hoodlum mobilised themselves and rescue some of their members while they revisited the church on motorcycles and destroyed some of the church properties which include plastic chairs, wall clock, window glass and electrical appliances at the CAC, Pillar of Fire located around LA Primary School, Akure while the day’s offering was also carted away by the hoodlums.

The state Police Public Relation Officer, PPRO,

Wole Ogodo confirmed the incident, but said the details of the incident were still sketchy, but

FUOYE VC debunks protesting workers’ allegations ABIODUN NEJO ADO EKITI

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General Overseer, Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye (first right), presenting some copies of Open Heaven books to Deputy Controller of Prisons, Maximum Prison, Kirikiri, Lagos, DCP Abdul Mojeed Olaniran (middle) during the 2014 Kirikiri Maximum Prisons End of Year Service and Commissioning of Solar Lights sponsored by City of David, yesterday.

Police assure of hitch-free yuletide DARE AKOGUN

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agos State Police C o m m i s s i o n e r, Kayode Aderanti, has assured Lagosians of a hitch-free celebration of the yuletide.

Aderanti reiterated the commands resolve to prevent crime and criminality at all times, revealing that in the spirit of the festive season, the command has evolved security strategies

U

nless Nigerians shun a lifestyle of lies and deception, the nation cannot move forward in the right direction, promoter of a new Nigeria has said.

Mr. Tunde Araoye, an engineer and promoter of the Love of Fatherland Initiative, LFI, said a new Nigeria was attainable if the citizens live a godly lifestyle in which truth, trust and honesty are the hallmarks.

Araoye spoke in Lagos at the launch of a five-point work-list, which he said the LFI was planning to pro-

at achieving its plan to provide maximum security during the period.

To achieve the strategies, Aderanti said that officers and men of the command are to be on round the clock surveillance at events centres, shopping malls, the beaches and other areas that could attract the gathering of persons, including fun seekers.

He further stated that the efforts of his men on surveillance will be complemented by motorised

patrol teams manned by men in uniform and plain cloth.

These sets he noted will patrol the streets of Lagos and that while in the course of carrying out that assigned duties, will intermittently pay routine visits to event centers and other known red spots within the metropolis.

On the issue of banned on fireworks that is already being abused even with few days to Christmas, Aderanti said the

ban is still in place stressing that the command will not take kindly to anyone caught flouting the order.

He therefore advised parents and guardians to caution their wards as the law enforcement officers will not take kindly to such abuse of the law.

He enjoined Lagosians to go about their normal duties without fear while extending the commands season’s greetings to all residents.

How to move Nigeria forward, by LFI

mote across the country in 12 zones.

He said it negated the law of harvest to do things the same way and expect different results.

According to him, truth and trust are two sides of a coin, warning that there cannot be peace and progress in the land once the sides are taken over by lies and deception.

His words: “Nigerians want a honest leadership while the average citizen is dishonest. They want an en-

gineer to render the services of a medical doctor without a re-orientation. It is a malignant disease affecting the country.

“Truth and trust are two sides of the same coin and they lead to societal peace and progress. Where these two are missing, there will be distrust amongst the people and without trust, no nation can experience progress.”

He listed five principles that will guide the country to greatness.

Araoye said that the fifth, which he identified as grace, was attainable with strict adherence to the first four, which he summarised as abstinence from a lifestyle of lie and extension of love to ones neighbours.

“These are the expressly needed ingredients in Nigeria’s prevailing circumstances. All these will improve both the spiritual and well-being of the citizenry to generate a sound mind, a sound nation and improve the quality of life, the crusader advised.

added that his men are investigating the reasons behind the action of the hoodlums.

ice Chancellor, of the Federal University, Oye Ekiti, FUOYE, Professor Isaac Azuzu, has described as frivolous, allegations levied against him by staff of the institution during their protest last Thursday.

Azuzu, who said “the only sin I have committed is that I said things should be done according to stipulations of the law”, expressed fear that the protesting workers were being instigated by a cabal.

The workers had during the protest, which paralysed activities at the university called for the removal of the VC and Acting Bursar over allegations of outrageous tax deduction, non-remittance of their tax, selective promotion of staff, illegal deductions from salaries, non-payment of allowances, poor staff welfare packages and ineptitude.

But Azuzu said at a press conference in Ado Ekiti at the weekend, that, “the issue at stake is that some university staff members are making demands that contravene the statutory regulations of the Federal Government and the management is asking them to comply with those regulations”.

The VC, who said his leadership style had impacted positively on the university in the last two years, clarified that the tax being deducted from salaries was done in consonance with the new federal tax law, which stipulated the gross or consolidated salaries should be taxed, rather than the basic being demanded by the workers.

He said the agitation by aggrieved staff that pension contributions should be based on Consolidated Medical/Health Salary Scale, CONTISS and CONUASS with the exclusion of rent subsidy and peculiar allowance con-

travened Pension Reform Act. He also added that the demands by the staff for hazard allowance and payment of 13th month salary were unrealistic.

According to him, while there is no provision for 13th month salary in the public sector, the Federal Government only funds hazard allowance for medical staff, although he said the university would make provision for others when its revenue increases.

Azuzu disclosed that the university had reduced the students’ tuition fee from about N66,500 to N35,000, describing the action as a way of making lives better for them.

Also, the VC said that he had been holding meetings with the state governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, on how to negotiate for a possible downward review of tax being deducted to cushion the effect on the staff.

Why urging understanding of the staff for the steps being taken by the management to improve their welfare and as well better the lot of the three and half years old institution, Azuzu said: “I know of a university that received N1.2 billion financial support from the host state as take-off grant.

But Ekiti State had only donated a sum of N25 million and a coaster bus to help this university since inception. We don’t have enough money to be paying all these demands”.

Professor Isaac Azuzu

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

South West

Monday, December 22, 2014

9

Lagos tasks residents on Ebola prevention FRANCIS SUBERU

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L-R: General Overseer, Guiding Light Assembly, Pastor Wale Adefarasin; Presiding Bishop and Founder of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission, Bishop Mike Okonkwo; All Progressives Congress Governorship Candidate for Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode, and Senior Pastor, Foundation of Truth Assembly during a courtesy visit by Akinwunmi Ambode to Bishop Okonkwo at TREM Cathedral, Lagos, at the weekend.

Kidnap of ASUU boss’ wife: Security agents monitor border towns BOLADALE BAMIGBOLA OSOGBO

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ollowing the abduction in Osogbo of Mrs. Funmilayo Abiona, wife of chairman of Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, Osun State University, Uniosun chapter, at the weekend by gunmen, detectives from Department of State Security and Osun Police Command are narrowing their search to border towns, especially Ilesa.

National Mirror also learnt yesterday that Mrs Abiona was on her way home Friday evening when the armed gang of

about five men abducted her near Oke Baale, Ibokun road, an exit road from Osogbo, the state capital.

Her abductors have already put a ransom of N50 million on her and contacted her husband late Saturday evening.

The incident came 24 days after the abduction of Mr. Kunle Falode, a top career officer in Atakumosa East Local Government Area in Osogbo on November 26. He regained freedom on November 29, when he was dumped at Abiola Avenue in Ilesa.

However, a top security source, who spoke under condition of anonym-

ity to our correspondent yesterday, said security agents were paying close attention to border towns across the state, adding that routes leading in and out of Ilesa town were also being closely monitored.

The source could not confirm if the victim was being kept in Ilesa, but said: “No such information yet, but all past incidents of reported kidnapping in the state have direct or indirect links with Ilesa town. Because of that, our men are combing suspected hideout of kidnappers in border communities and Ilesa in particular.

“Ilesa is becoming a hotbed for people involved in the illicit business of kidnapping for ransom partly because of its location close to the exit point to Ondo State. We are not also foreclosing possibility of involvement of interstate criminals in the upsurge of kidnapping lately in Osun.”

A source close to husband of the victim, who does not want his name in print, disclosed that Mr. Abiona is under intense pressure to meet the abductors’ demand, but added that the N50 million ransom demanded is simply beyond the capacity of the family.

Vote out bad leaders, Swedish envoy charges Nigerians KEMI OLAITAN IBADAN

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ith the 2015 general elections two months away, the Swedish Ambassador to Ghana and Nigeria, Mr. Svante Kilander, has charged Nigerians to make good use of the opportunity by electing leaders that would move the country forward.

He gave the charge in Ibadan at the weekend while delivering the 50th anniversary lecture of the department of Sociology, University of Ibadan, titled: “Breakthrough of Democracy in Sweden: A Perspective.”

He said democracy will thrive when those elected work for their people and

meet the yearnings of the citizens, as well as grow once democratic institutions are in place manned by trusted people who meet the needs of the people.

While using his country as example, Kilander maintained that election time should be seen as payback time by the people when they await those who did not meet their expectations and vote them out.

According to him, elections provide a platform to deepen democratic ethics and ethos by allowing people to rearrange and replace public office holders who use their position to feather their nests.

While congratulating the country for successfully containing the dreaded Ebola virus, he said the

Federal Government and the medical teams did a great job to save the country from the spread.

The head of Sociology department, University of Ibadan, Prof. Samuel Ayodele Jegede, said the world needs knowledge from sociology in order to provide cross-cultural understanding of issues, adding that there is the need to annex the skills of experts in sociology to provide a holistic understanding of human society and proffer solutions to problems confronting it.

He maintained that sociology was important for cross-cultural understanding of issues with a view to providing new paradigms that can address challenges confronting Nigeria in

particular and the world in general.

Vice Chancellor, Prof.

Isaac Adewole, said the institution was ready to partner with the University of Upsalla, Sweden, to establish Ulf Himmestrand Institute of International Development (HIID) to foster intellectual exchanges between Nigeria and Sweden.

It would be recalled that Emeritus Professor Ulf Himmestrand was the first Head of Department of Sociology, University of Ibadan, in 1964.

The VC said the university is ready to put part of the money for establishment of the institute down now, stating that the institute would focus on peace building, international relations, among others.

n a bid to ensure Lagos remains Ebola-free, the state government has asked residents to be mindful of what they do, eat and drink during the yuletide celebrations.

Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, who stated this over the weekend, also urged residents to observe good personal and environmental hygiene and follow the government’s advice on prevention of the Ebola Virus Disease.

Idris said, “Currently, there is no active case of Ebola in the country, but Ebola is still a threat as its presence in neigbouring West African countries puts the nation at risk, this is why we need to be alert and observe a high degree of personal and environmental hygiene, especially during this season of celebrations to prevent the disease from resurfacing in the country again.”

He advised citizens to take basic precautionary measures against the disease by washing their hands with soap and water frequently, particularly after touching sick people; avoiding direct contact with body fluids like saliva, vomit, stool, semen, vaginal fluids and urine of suspected persons and avoid eating fruits half eaten by animals.

The commissioner also urged citizens to cook all foods particularly meat thoroughly before eating, clean all surfaces that have been contaminated with body secretions with bleach or detergents and desist from sharing sharp objects such as needles and razor blade.

He explained that Ebola is caused by a virus that is transmitted to man by fruit bats and wild animals, adding that it is spread by handling or undercooking infected meat and having close contact with secretions like blood, urine, semen, saliva, vomits and breast milk of an infected person.

Folarin urges Hausa in Oyo to get PVC KEMI OLAITAN IBADAN

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eoples Democratic Party, PDP, gubernatorial candidate in Oyo State, Senator Teslim Folarin, has enjoined Hausa community in the state to ensure they get the permanent voter’s card, PVCs, ahead of next year’s elections.

He made the appeal yesterday when leaders and members of the Hausa community from the 33 local government areas of the state paid him a courtesy visit at his Oluyole Estate residence in Ibadan, the state capital.

The former Senate Leader said it is necessary for all and sundry to get the PVC, which he described as the only weapon needed to send the present government in the state out of Agodi Government House.

According to him, the state’s Resident Electoral Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has assured that all measures had been put in place to register all eligible voters in the

state, stating that getting the PVC from INEC by all eligible voters in the state is the power they have to put the best government in place.

He said if elected as governor, he would run an all-inclusive government such that members of the Hausa community will be recognised and given appointments.

The PDP gubernatorial candidate, who thanked his guests, also urged them to vote for the party in the next general elections, assuring that the party would also pay back the kind gesture to the community.

Those who received the Hausa community alongside Folarin included party stalwarts like Alhaji Bashir Akanbi, Hon. Asimiyu Alarape, Director of Team Folarin; Hon. Sunday Babalola,Director of Strategy.

Speaking on behalf of the Hausa community that numbered over 100, Alhaji Kabir Tanko, said the aim of the visit was to congratulate and identify with Folarin after he successfully won the party’s primary election.

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South East

Monday, December 22, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

LGs autonomy: NULGE laments A’Ibom Assembly’s rejection ENOBONG MICHAEL UYO

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Former Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, with jubilant pupils shortly after his investiture as a Papal Knight at St Patrick’s Cathedral, Awka, yesterday.

External forces sponsoring APGA crisis —Iheanacho CHRIS NJOKU OWERRI

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ormer Minister of Interior and Imo State gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Capt. Emmanuel Iheanacho, has accused a defeated governorship aspirant in the just concluded primary election in Imo State, Mr. Okey Ezeh, of being sponsored by some external forces to destabilise the party ahead of 2015 general elections.

In a statement signed on his behalf by Director-General of Captain Iheanacho

Campaign Organisation, CICO, Dr. Anthony Ihedoro, which was made available to newsmen in Owerri, the former minister described APGA under the leadership of Sir Victor Umeh and Barrister Peter Ezeobi at the national and state levels, respectively, as one united political family that remains committed to reclaim its mandate in Imo State come 2015.

He described the report of his purported suspension as a hoax and part of orchestrated plot by external forces that have found Ezeh a willing tool to execute their failed bid to weaken and deny the party

victory in 2015.

The ex-minister added that having won the primaries and APGA flag duly presented to him as the party’s candidate at the recent APGA Special Convention held in Awka, Anambra State, the issue of governorship candidacy in Imo APGA remains foreclosed as anyone parading himself as the candidate “is merely committing impersonation and shall definitely face the consequences of the law.”

According to him, “Capt.

Iheanacho’s candidacy was also authenticated a few days ago during the party’s National Convention in Awka, Anambra State,

when the national chairman, Sir Victor Umeh, officially presented him with APGA’s flag to symbolically unveil him as the party’s governorship candidate in Imo State.

The statement accused Ezeh whom the party had already suspended for antiparty activities, and Prince C. C. Nwaka of joining hands to destabilise the party. “This latest action by Ezeh has again given credence to the suspicion that he was planted by some external forces to cause problems and probably deny APGA the chance of reclaiming its mandate in 2015.”

2015: Aspirant promises bill on industrialisation ALIUNA GODWIN ABAKALIKI

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ouse of Assembly candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, in Ebonyi State, Chief Gregory Duru, has ahead of the 2015 general election, offered scholarship awards to thousands of youths, students of various universities and colleges, among others.

The APGA candidate, who is aiming to represent Abakaliki North Constituency at the assembly, said he would promote industrialisation bill at the House if elected, just as he added that solving the unemployment problem through mas-

sive industrialisation would guarantee desired peace, security and rapid development in the country.

“Countries that achieve greatness pay much attention to youth development which has employment generation as a cardinal factor.

He noted that the category of persons mostly affected by unemployment is the working group, which falls between 18 and 40 years, noting that they are also the group mostly vulnerable to crime as a result of unemployment.

“I will ensure I initiate and support bills that would ensure the inauguration of industries to create jobs for the youths; thereby checking crime and enhancing

the economy.

Duru said he had commenced such human empowerment initiatives by offering scholarship to students both locally and internationally, among others.

“I have sponsored several youths abroad on scholarship to study, especially on courses that would make them self-reliant and contribute to the economy of the country.

He noted that he would also initiate and support bills that would ensure that tuition and other fees paid by students in higher institutions are made affordable to allow children of the less-privileged acquire higher education.

According to him, he

has used his foreign contacts to attract foreign investors into the state, as they are ready to commence construction of industries whenever the government gives the initiative.

“My efforts to enhance the lives of the citizens have been acknowledged by the people, as demonstrated by traditional rulers of the Federal Capital Territory who last week gave me the title of ‘Omere Oha 1 of Kubwa.

He noted that he had never been a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, but has identified totally with APGA being the platform for the realisation of his ambition.

igeria Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE, Akwa Ibom State chapter, has expressed disappointment at the decision of the state’s House of Assembly to reject local government autonomy.

The House of Assembly had voted against local government autonomy, among other issues, in the ongoing process of constitutional amendment.

The state’s president of NULGE, Comrade Felix Udo, in a chat said the position of the House of Assembly was at variance with the standing of stakeholders on the issue.

He noted that lack of autonomy would negatively affect the finances of local governments, which would in turn affect the third tier government.

“I don’t know why they took that decision. It’s very unfortunate, and it is not

good for the local governments,” he said.

Meanwhile, Vice Chairman, House of Assembly Information Commission, Mr. Onofiok Luke, said the position of the assembly on the various sections of the constitution was in the best interest of the state and aimed at deepening democracy in Nigeria.

“We voted no for reasons.

The Federal Government does not control the local governments. The local governments are under direct control of the states. They are personated according to states, so the state legislature has the right to legislate on matters of local government.

“That is why we are voting for the local government to still be within the powers of the state legislature,” he said.

The House of Assembly had also voted for financial autonomy for state Houses of Assembly and the scrapping of State Independent Electoral Commissions.

Don’t judge Jonathan with insecurity —Imo CAN CHRIS NJOKU OWERRI

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hristians Association of Nigeria, CAN, Imo State chapter, has risen stoutly in defence of President Goodluck Jonathan over the issue of insurgency ravaging some northern parts of the country.

According to CAN, it would be wrong for anybody to judge the Jonathan administration with unabated insurgency.

Speaking at the weekend shortly after installation of the Executive Secretary, Nigeria Pilgrimage Board, Mr. John Kennedy Opara, as the grand patron of the Women Wing of Christians Association of Nigeria, WOWICAN at Praise Centre International, Owerri, Imo State, the state’s CAN Chairman, Bishop Stafford Nwogu, said President Jonathan should be commended for holding this country together by not allowing it to disintegrate.

He stated that the president has by the grace of God and by his own way of administration kept this country together.

“I don’t like people trying to judge Jonathan by reason of insurgency. My reason is this, he had held

this country together, there is somebody who will be in that place and by now there would be nothing like Nigeria,” he said.

He described Boko Haram insurgency as a new warfare that is alien to Nigerians.

“When you look at the insurgency, you see that we are fighting a war that is not known before. Before, people fight and run because they don’t want to be killed, now you are fighting those who are ready to die, that is why the army and police are finding it difficult. This is a new warfare that they did not even learn in the army or police school. Not that the Boko Haram is more powerful than the army, but these people are suicidal.”

He commended Jonathan for the cordial relationship that exists between him and Christians, saying his administration is not persecuting the Christians as well as the press.

The CAN chairman, however, said that CAN in Imo State has not decided to support any candidate as far as the presidential election is concerned. “We have not taken sides because we are fathers, if we take sides there will be problem.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

South South

Monday, December 22, 2014

11

Tinubu commissions 60-bed Edo hospital SEBASTINE EBHUOMHAN BENIN

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L-R: Governor of Akwa Ibom State Godswill Akpabio, Rev Jesse Jackson and Mrs. Ekaete Unoma Akpabio dancing, during the 9999 annual Christmas carol, organised by the state government inside the main bowl of the Nest of Champions International Stadium, at the weekend

One killed as Fulani herdsmen invade Isoko AMOUR UDEMUDE ASABA

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ension and fear gripped Okpolo/ Enhwe communities in Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State at the weekend following alleged killing and shooting of two indigenes

by Hausa/Fulani herdsmen who invaded the com-

munities.

One Mr Alagbi was said to have been shot, while Mr Abraham Kwueku was murdered.

According to an indigene, who chatted with our correspondent on phone, the herdsmen attacked Okpolo/Enhwe communities at about 10pm.

The source, who pleaded anonymity, revealed

that Kwueku’s lifeless body had been deposited in an undisclosed mortuary, while Alagbi was receiving treatment in hospital.

Our correspondent, however, gathered that this is the fourth time the Hausa/Fulani herdsmen have invaded the communities.

It was gathered that

the swift intervention of the acting chairman of Association of Local Government of Nigeria, ALGON, Delta State chapter, and chairman, Isoko South Local Government Area, Sir Itiako Ikpokpo, who called in men of the Nigerian Army, brought the situation under control and restored peace in the communities.

2015: Jonathan’ll be sent back to Otueke —Amaechi DENNIS NAKU

PORT HARCOURT

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ivers State Governor and Chairman, Nigerian Governors Forum, Chibuike Amaechi, has said President Goodluck Jonathan would be sent back to his country home, Otueke, Bayelsa State, after the 2015 general election.

While calling on Rivers citizens to vote Jonathan out of power, Amaechi said the president does not like Rivers people, hence does not deserve their votes in next year’s presidential election.

The governor also charged the people of Akpor Kingdom in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the state not to vote their kinsman and governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Nyesom Wike.

Amaechi gave the charge during a courtesy call on the Nyenwe-Ali of Akpor

Kingdom, Eze A. A. Orlu Oriebe, where he presided over the launch/foundation stone laying of the proposed Akpor Traditional Centre at Ozuoba in Obio/Akpor.

He called on the people not to make the mistake of voting for Wike, who he alleged had desecrated Akpor Kingdom, a stronghold of the Ikwerre ethnic nationality in the state.

He also promised to recognise traditional stools in the Obio/Akpor local council before the expiration of his tenure in May 2015.

The governor further urged the people of Akpor kingdom to brace up and massively mobilise for the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the 2015 elections even as his administration was making frantic efforts to fix the Ogbogoro road.

While stressing support for Ikwerre people, he said: “I have developed Ikwerre people, even Nyesom Wike. My administration gave Nyesom Wike a con-

tract worth N2 billion to construct Eneka road and he disappeared with the funds.”

Earlier, Eze Orlu Oriebe, while acknowledging Amaechi as the first governor to visit his palace, urged him to remain a guiding hand to

Rivers people by sustaining the current dividends of democracy in the state.

Eze Oriebe further maintained that with an Akpor traditional centre, the tradition, culture and artifacts of the kingdom will be preserved.

ormer governor of Lagos State and National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Bola Tinubu, at the weekend commissioned a 60-bed specialist hospital built by the Edo State administration of Governor Adams Oshiomhole in Ewohinmi, Esan South-East Local Government Area.

According to the government, the hospital that was first conceptualised and abandoned over 25 years ago is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities including 3-bedroom doctors’ quarters and 3-bedroom nurses’ quarters.

Tinubu at the commissioning said Oshiomhole had revolutionised the state, particularly infrastructural development, with the provision and commissioning of the hospital and other projects.

Tinubu, who also commissioned the rebuilt 6-lane New Lagos Road, complete with walkways and street lights, said it was regrettable that 16 years of People’s Democratic Party, PDP, rule at the federal level, in comparison, had been a colossal waste.

Tinubu said, “What you have in Edo State is commonsense development revolution. Good security, employment, potable water supply, agriculture, good road infrastructure, vocational jobs to train and develop your mind and become independent in life.

That is common sense development revolution.

“The only way you can get it at the federal level is to get your voter’s card and vote out the PDP. The 16 years of PDP did not produce anything. They were here and did not do roads to reach your communities and they could not give you boreholes.

“We have spent six years now and on arrival with our broom, we have been sweeping the dirt away. We say change from deceit, change from lies, change from excuses. Today, the country is in darkness because of the deception of the PDP.” In his remark, the governor said the hospital project was one of the dreams of the administration meant to extend development to the rural communities.

On poor power supply in the community, Oshiomhole said: “It is important for the people to know that as long as PDP is in power, the people would be out of power. So, whenever you have the opportunity, let the young and old know that the problem of power supply cannot be solved unless the PDP is voted out of power.”

Gov. Oshiomhole

Group drums support for PDP, lauds Okowa AMOUR UDEMUDE ASABA

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he Okowability Prosperity Network, OPN, a group working for actualisation of the governorship ambition of Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, who is the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, 2015 governorship candidate, has pledged its unalloyed and total support to PDP in the general elections.

The group, while charging Deltans and Nigerians in general to come out enmasse to vote the ruling

PDP in 2015, noted that as the biggest political party in Africa, PDP has proved it has the capacity to take Nigeria to greater heights with its achievements in the country.

Pledging support in a statement signed by its chairman, Solomon Okowa; secretary Theophilus Odenore, and Director of Media and Publicity, Thompson Fuoye, respectively, yesterday in Asaba, the group said the PDP led-government in Nigeria has recorded great strides in transforming the country over the past 10 years.

“We therefore, urge registered voters in Delta State and in Nigeria to come out en masse and vote PDP. A vote for PDP is a vote for prosperity.”

The group, while also congratulating its principal, Senator Okowa, on his victory at the primaries, said it was committed to actualising the Okowa mandate in Delta State by next year.

“We want to also congratulate Senator Ifeanyi Okowa for his victory as PDP flag bearer for the 2015 governorship election in Delta State,” the

group said and expressed profound appreciation to President Goodluck Jonathan, the party’s national chairman, Adamu Mu’azu, members of the Board of Trustees, BOT, and National Working Committee.

“We say a big thank you to God Almighty, President Goodluck Jonathan, the PDP national chairman, the BOT, members of the national working committee and the entire PDP family for creating a levelplaying ground for aspirants in the just concluded primaries election.”

12

North

Monday, December 22, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Don’t rig 2015 polls, Tofa warns FG ABDULGAFAR OLADIMEJI KANO

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L-R: Minister of State for Power, Mohammed Wakil; Permanent Secretary, Amb. Godknows Igali; Minister of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation, Chief Edem Duke; Head of Engineering, SCC Nigeria Ltd, Mr. Efem Frank; Minister of Water Resources, Mrs. Sarah Ochekpe and Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, inspecting the progress of work at Kashimbila Multi-Purpose Dam in Taraba on Friday.

PHOTO: NAN

INEC plotting to disenfranchise Niger voters —APC PRISCILLA DENNIS MINNA

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he All Progressives Congress, APC, in Niger State has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, of planning to disenfranchise 70 per cent of voters in the state in the ongoing Permanent Voter’s Card, PVC, distribution.

It said, “The exercise was designed to fail, disenfranchise 70 per cent of Niger State people to give way for massive rigging by the ruling Peoples Democratic Party.”

The APC state chairman, Engr. Mohammed Imam, who disclosed this at a press conference in

Minna, blamed the State Independent Electoral Commission and condemned a situation where distribution of the PVCs was going on in only 11 of the 25 local government areas in the state.

He said: “Niger State is made up of over three million voters going by INEC release. Only 11 local government areas which constitute 600,000 voters have PVC materials; this means that the remaining 14 LGAs that have about 2,800,000 voters, which is 70 percent, would be left without PVCs.” Imam described the development as unacceptable and must be addressed urgently to give peace a chance, lamenting that the

idea of the PVC majorly is to reduce rigging and achieve credible polls, but said the non-availability of PVC materials has created suspicion and tension in the state.

The chairman stated that when INEC was confronted on the issue, the agency said it had written to the headquarters for ratification, but at the time of briefing newsmen nothing had been done.

He said out of the 3,187 polling units in the state, 627 have zero registration unit. “In Mokwa for instance, there are 129 polling units out of which we have 143 zero unit.”

The chairman also accused the PDP in the state of conniving with INEC,

since the party kept silent on the issue, claiming it is a grand design to rig the elections.

The areas affected by non-availability of PVCs for the exercise are Bosso, Chanchaga, Bida, Katcha, Lavun, Kontagora, Lapai, Edatti, Magama, Agwara, Borgu, Agaie, Gurara and Gbako; while those that got PVCs are Wushishi, Rafi, Tafa, Paikoro, Mariga, Mashegu, Shiroro, Rijau, Suleja, Mokwa and Munya.

This will be the fourth time INEC is postponing PVC distribution in the state. The first was on November 7, then moved to the 28th of that month, later to December 12 and finally the 19.

Zamfara health workers threaten to join strike

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hairman of Medical Health Workers Union of Nigeria in Zamfara State, Sabo Tsafe, has said they would join the strike by National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, NANNM, if the latter’s requests were not met by government.

Tsafe issued the threat during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Gusau on Saturday.

The chairman said they would join the strike if the Federal Government fails to respond to their colleagues’ demands.

He said the union officials were in Abuja to meet

Gov. Yari

with the Federal Government on the issue, adding that the outcome of their meeting would determine whether or not they would join the strike.

However, Medical Director of Yerima Bakura Specialist Hospital, Gusau,

Dr Bello Muhammad, said health workers in the hospital were reporting for work.

Muhammad commended the state health workers for not joining the strike.

“They are rendering assistance to sick people.

I urge the federal government to answer the union’s request in order to save the lives of patients.”

Meanwhile, state-owned hospitals in Gusau have been overwhelmed by large number of patients due to the strike by their federal counterparts.

Workers at Faridah, King Fahad, and Yerima Bakura Specialist Hospitals are having hectic time attending to

people seeking medical attention.

Hajiya Medina Aliyu told NAN that she had some difficulties before child birth due to the strike by NANNM. “I went to Yerima Bakura Hospital but there were many women in labour, including those that just delivered, so I had to wait for a long time before getting medical attention.’’

Mrs Gloria Daniel said when the doctors finished with her son’s surgery; he was discharged after 24 hours to create space for other patients.

NANNM went on indefinite strike on November 13.

ormer presidential candidate in the aborted third republic, Bashir Tofa, yesterday in Kano cautioned the Federal Government, Independent Electoral Commission, INEC, and security agencies to resist the temptation to rig the 2015 general election.

Tofa, who was the presidential candidate of the now defunct National Republican Convention, NRC, said the vote of Nigerians must count and that this could only be attained in an atmosphere devoid of all forms of irregularities.

He said any attempt to rig the elections would not augur well for the advancement of democratic values in the country and urged the Federal Government, INEC and security agencies to create an enabling atmosphere that would allow Nigerians elect their leaders in a rancour-free electoral process.

According to him, the electorate would not fold their arms come 2015 and watch those tasked with the conduct of the elections make their votes meaningless.

He also warned against

the use of thugs, abusive language, inflammatory comments and blackmail by party candidates and their followership, adding that public interest ought to come first in all undertakings by the electorate and political office seekers.

The elder statesman lamented that Nigerians are so impoverished they surrender their votes for peanuts, and called for a change in attitude by Nigerian voters, by seeing their votes as sacred and protecting it.

Tofa said the electorate needs to vote out those who have exhibited greed and unpatriotic attitude, and replace them with people of unimpeachable character who would uphold their mandate as a covenant by delivering the dividend of good governance to the citizenry.

Jega, INEC boss

PDP Reps member defects to APC, picks senatorial ticket

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member of the House of Representatives from Birnin Kudu/Buji Federal Constituency of Jigawa State, Alhaji Sabo Nakudu, yesterday in Dutse announced his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to All Progressives Congress, APC. Nakudu, while addressing his supporters in his new party, also said he had picked the APC Senatorial ticket for the Jigawa Central Senatorial District in the 2015 elections.

He said he left his former party with thousands of his supporters, including the immediatepast chairman of Birnin Kudu local government, Sani Jigawa.

The lawmaker urged

his supporters to be steadfast in the quest for change in the state and at the national level.

He added that they should not allow themselves to be intimidated by anybody.

“I am now in APC, and change has come by God’s grace and we cannot be intimidated,” Nakudu said.

But former PDP chairman in the state, Isa Duniya-Bahutu, told the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, his party is not worried at Nakudu’s defection.

“We are not troubled

by APC, as our party is well rooted in the state; Jigawa APC is a party of aspirants without followers in local government areas,” he said after the party’s zonal stakeholders meeting.

Monday, December 22, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

13

Politics

Akpabio, Emmanuel, Albert and quest for greater Akwa Ibom

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Delta gov: Urhobo youths threaten war THEOPHILUS ONOJEGHEN WARRI

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outh wing of Urhobo Progress Union, UPU, the apex socio cultural umbrella of Urhobo people in Delta State has vowed to mobilise the over four million youths from the ethnic group to go to war to ensure Urhobo emerged next governor of the state.

This was just as Delta State All Progressives Congress, APC, gubernatorial candidate; Olorogun O’Tega Emerhor, has said he plans to set up N10 billion youths investment fund in his first hundred days in office, if voted into

power.

UPU Youth President, Comrade Ovie Igho, made the declaration yesterday during an interactive section with APC gubernatorial candidate, Olorogun Emerhor at the Urhobo House in Warri, Delta State.

Igho declared that Urhobo people, who have suffered untold hardship in the present administrations in both state and federal levels, remained undeterred in its determination to produce the next governor in 2015.

Reaffirming that Urhobo people are not going back on its earlier Uvwiamuge declaration, he explained that the purpose of the interactive section was to

pick between the governorship candidates of the APC and Labour Party, LP, for the Urhobo people to support.

According to him, the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has died a natural death and would lose millions of Urhobo votes in both the gubernatorial and presidential elections holding next year’s February.

He added that Urhobo nation would mobilise every Urhobo sons and daughters to vote against PDP for failing to field an Urhobo as it gubernatorial candidate, saying: “PDP has died a natural death in Urhobo land.

The parties known to the Urhobo people are APC and LP. We are ready to even go

to war to ensure an Urhobo becomes next governor of Delta State.”

Emerhor said that APC is the only party that can liberate Urhobo people from their present predicament, noting that he is better positioned for a greater Delta.

Averring that what Delta faces is not lack of money but mismanagement of the huge state resources meant for development frivolous use, Emerhor said he would revive all ailing industries and as well set up new ones to arrest increasingly youth unemployment rate in the state, vowing to unite all ethnic groups within the state for a greater Delta built on mutual trust.

L-R: Speaker House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, Sokoto State governor, Aliyu Wamakko and state All Progressives Congress, APC, chairman, Alhaji Suleiman Isa, during the presentation of cars to chairmen, secretaries and party officials in Sokoto at the weekend.

PHOTO: NAN

Group decries APC’s plan to shortchange North ADEOLA TUKURU ABUJA

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s the 2015 general election draws near, a socio cultural group, Arewa Youth Integrity Forum, AYIF, has raised the alarm that a cabal within the All Progressive Congress, APC, has hatched a plan to short change the North for another eight years by planting General Muhammadu Buhari, who it described as “already running out of age and weak” to coordinate the

affairs of the nation.

It further stated that the party has paved way for Pastor Yemi Osibajo, who is much younger, active and belongs to the cabal, to take over power, thereby making it impossible for power to return to the North again for another eight years.

AYIF National president, Mallam Hamid Usman, during a media chat in Abuja yesterday frowned that the new plot is fallout of series of meeting between a former President and some powerful forces in APC and which have already started playing out to demonstrate

their disdain for the North and its people.

Insisting that it has become very obvious that those who abandoned very energetic young aspirants like Rabiu Kwankwaso and Sam Nda-Isaiah or even a more connected Atiku Abubakar, are out to repeat the wicked selection of an ailing governor in 2007, knowing full well that age and health are very important in the discharge of national duties. Usman said Buhari has been surrounded by hawks and caged into dungeon, arguing that nothing good will

come back to the North in the next eight years owing to recent activities in APC that manifested that Buhari cannot call the shots if elected as President.

He said: “In the first place they went for a candidate who claimed that he couldn’t afford his nomination form, yet he is still their choice because he has no stamina of himself which is a better deal to finance him to power and easily push him out barely six months into the tenure which is worst than what happened to late Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.

Oyo APC members kick against candidate’s imposition KEMI OLAITAN IBADAN

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risis may not be over in the Oyo State All Progressives Congress, APC, as members from Ibarapa East Local Government Area have staged a peaceful protest to the office of Governor Abiola Ajimobi, over alleged plan to impose a state House of Assembly candidate on them.

The protesters urged Governor Ajimobi to resist any attempt to upturn the result of the primary recently conducted, where Olumuyiwa Mark Akinyode, emerged as APC candidate for Ibarapa East state constituency in the 2015 election.

It will be recalled that Akinyode polled 137 votes to defeat both the incumbent lawmaker representing the area, Hon. Michael Adeyemo, who polled 134 votes, and Olusola Fadairo, who had 15 votes in the primary monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, the Directorate of State Security, DSS and the police.

APC youth leader in

ward six of the council area, Mr. Odeleti Oluyemi Odewunmi, speaking on behalf of the protesters, said the protest became necessary to prevent the manipulation of the results of the primary in favour of Adeyemo.

He said any attempt to upturn the result in favour of the incumbent lawmaker would affect the performance of the APC in next year’s elections in all the council areas in Ibarapaland.

Addressing journalists, the elected candidate, Akinyode, said he was still consulting with his supporters, party leaders and the good people of the constituency on the development, expressing optimism that APC, as a progressives and democratic party, as demonstrated in the conduct of its presidential primaries recently in Lagos, would not upturn the result of a primary that was conducted peacefully.

Urging his supporters to remain calm and law abiding, he said that Governor Ajimobi would never allow such thing to happen in Oyo APC.

Imo House: IEAA congratulates Oguta candidates EBERE NDUKWU

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nnovative Elite Association of Agwa, IEAA, have congratulated Louis Nonye Obodo and William Ejiakor, for emerging standard bearers for Oguta state constituency for All Progressives Congress, APC and Peoples Democratic Party, PDP respectively, saying that the duo should eschew politics of bitterness, rancour and use of thugs.

IEAA stated this in a press statement signed by its Publicity Secretary, Retobi Nwoke, calling on both candidates not to see politics as do-or-die affair but a game where only one candi-

date will emerge at the end, warning that they should ensure what happened at the last election, where till date, Oguta state constituency did not have a representative in the state House of Assembly as a result of violence and thuggery, do not repeat itself.

Nwoke said: “The candidates in question are two fine gentlemen, men of repute and the hope of tomorrow. I strongly believe in them and I know any of them that emerges winner will not fail us. It is on this note that IEAA is urging them to see each other as friends in the opposition who disagree to agree and shun do-or-die politics, rancour and the use of thugs.”

14

Politics

JACKSON UDOM

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ike typical African stone tripod used to cook meals in local settings and often praised for its ability to safeguard the soup pot from tripling, Akwa Ibom State in recent times has been sustained and transformed through the acumen of three men; three men, whose effective delivery of their respective services to the state have stood out among other labourers and members of the state’s transformation train.

Call them the three wise men of Akwa Ibom; call them the triumvirate for better Akwa Ibom or simply call them by their names, Chief Godswill Akpabio; Mr Emmanuel Udom and Obong Bassey Albert, these three men have, no doubt, etched their names on the sands of time through the running of an effective, transformational and development-oriented administration in Akwa Ibom State.

Though it is not out of place for governance to have its challenges, as evident in one or two issues being raised about the incumbent administration, contrary to what most detractors of the Governor Akpabio administration will want to make the world believe, the state has been working and its people have experienced uncommon transformation in the last seven and a half years.

Not only has the governor succeeded in transforming the physical landscape through countless road projects; power plant; international-standard airport and stadium as well as other developmental projects such as the Ibom Tropicana, he has successfully rejigged the entire infrastructure of the state.

While accepting the fact that the government of Akpabio has outperformed all previous governments and even stands shoulder above others in the Niger-Delta region and the entire country will be quite difficult for his detractors, their shenanigans should not be acceptable to men of good reasoning and faith who have either seen or heard about these projects. The question to those detractors should be whether it is true Akpabio achieved everything he claims to have achieved or not.

But the governor’s impact transcended just infrastructure, before someone says he has only focused on physical development.

Though it is universally-agreed that governance is a continuum and that no single government can do it all, it is incontestable that Akpabio has made great marks on the human development sector, with several laudable achievements in education, health, agricultural and woman empowerment sectors to show.

It is to the credit of the governor that school enrollment in the state has quadrupled over the years. This administration’s compulsory free education for primary and secondary school students, no doubt, was a first-of-its-kind in the Niger-Delta and it must have been its ingenuity that attracted commendation from the Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka. The construction of e-library and hundreds of school buildings across the state as well as the improved funding of state-owned institutions completed the cycle of Akpabio’s commitment to education, while the state government’s agricultural empowerment scheme and the construction of health facilities such as hospitals and dialysis centres capped his total passion for the people.

Without the fear of being immodest, when such a man aspires to represent his people in any capacity; he would always be accepted and that was what played out in the governor’s aspiration to represent

Monday, December 22, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Akpabio, Emmanuel, Albert and quest for greater Akwa Ibom

Akpabio

WITH THESE THREE COMMITTED MEN, WHOSE MOST IMPERATIVE AIM IS TO SEE

AKWA

IBOM CONTINUE TO PROGRESS, THE STATE IS, NO DOUBT, IN GOOD HANDS Akwa Ibom North-West senatorial district in the Senate in 2015. Contrary to naysayers’ views about Akpabio’s ambition, which has received the blessings of his people, it will bring tremendous progress to the state and the country as a whole, because the experience and influence he commands will be brought to bear on the national scene. For a man with Akpabio’s clout and acumen, being in the Senate can only be a great blessing to Akwa Ibom, meaning that the transformation project started years ago will continue even beyond his stay in office.

Another personality that is certain to ensure that the transformation train does not derail is the gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state, Udom Emmanuel. A versatile banker and accomplished financial expert, Emmanuel’s coming into Akwa Ibom governance has brought with it progress and effectiveness. Though he has only served as Secretary to the State Government, SSG, for less than two years, it is to his credit that the development template of the state has not failed; neither has the government’s vision become unachievable because Emmanuel was not part of the conception. The Onnaborn politician fitted in perfectly and the state has been the better for it, leading to the argument that he remained the best man for the job as far as succeeding Akpabio is concerned. Unlike many others who are desperate to rule the state and apparently willing to do anything to succeed Akpabio for selfish reasons, Emmanuel comes across as a refined gentleman whose only passion is a better and greater Akwa Ibom. As SSG, he has gone about the business of governance with discipline and could not be said to have played politics with development; such man would better serve his people and work to-

Albert

Emmanuel

wards their good.

Another fine politician who has never placed his ambition above the interest of the state is the immediate past Commissioner for Finance and PDP’s senatorial candidate for Akwa Ibom North-East senatorial district, Obong Bassey Albert, OBA. Albert, who was one of the over 30 gubernatorial aspirants in the state, had gone about his ambition with the passion for the development of the state and commitment to its progress while also contributing his best to the Akpabio government. And when voices of reason prevailed on him to, in the interest of Akwa Ibom, drop the gubernatorial ambition, he simply heeded and opted to work for the progress of his dear state through the Senate in 2015. OBA had, in an interview, said: “My only prayer is that God should give us a governor that will be loyal to the people of Akwa-Ibom State because in 2006/2007, despite the fact that His Excellency Obong Victor Attah purportedly supported his son in-law, people said it must be

Akpabio and Akpabio emerged. I know that the same God is not asleep and as He did it 2007, He will also do it in 2015 because He changeth not.”

With these three committed men, whose most imperative aim is to see Akwa Ibom continue to progress, the state is, no doubt, in good hands. One can only imagine the fortune and blessings the state would have with the trio at the helms of affairs as senators and governor respectively, driving the continued development and transformation of the state and working for its people.

As far as the Senate is concerned, the state is sending its best eleven, while Emmanuel takes charge of proceedings in the running of the state at the home front, having been tutored in the art by the uncommon transformer, Akpabio. With this expected synergy among these political actors, the state can only be the better for it.

Udom is Special Assistant Media to Akwa Ibom State governor.

EOF to commission projects in Anambra OLAJIDE OMOJOLOMOJU

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oremost Nigerian engineer, administrator, entrepreneur, visionary leader and philanthropist Sir Emeka Okwuosa, is set to commission various community development projects completed by his foundation, the Emeka Okwuosa Foundation, EOF, in Anambra State. The Foundation is equally expected to flag-off of other proposed development projects on December 24, at Irefi Oraifite, in Anambra State.

This was disclosed in a one page statement signed by Innocent OsitaNwokolo on behalf of Sir Emeka Okwuosa Foundation and made available to National Mirror, adding that the commissioning and flag-off ceremonies will be performed by Anambra State governor, Dr. Willie Obiano.

The projects executed by the Foundation and ready for commissioning by Obiano include the1.5-kilometre Dame Irene Nneka Okwuosa road, a solid tarred road incorporated with modern drainage and erosion control system, the Umunzalu Town Hall/Community Civic Centre and the 0.5-kilometre Eze Okpuzo

road, also a solid tarred road.

Projects to be flagged off include a garri processing factory which will be a source of employment for youths within the area, the foundation laying ceremony of Dame Irene Nneka Okwuosa Medical Centre, a modern medical centre that will be equipped with necessary medical facilities for dialysis to address kidney related problems and also the foundation laying ceremony of the EOF secretariat.

National Mirror gathered that these projects are part of the Corporate Social Responsibility, CSR, programmes designed and executed by EOF, which has been at the forefront of providing various socio-economic programmes for people, especially women and children in Anambra State.

The Foundation has provided over the years scholarships, consumables, foodstuffs and medical services to various beneficiaries and the upcoming commissioning and flag-off ceremony is a continuation of EOF’s CSR programmes.

Okwuosa, is the chairman and chief executive officer, CEO, of two indigenous group of companies; Oilserv Group and Frazimex Group, actively involved in the Nigerian and sub African oil and gas and power industries.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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Monday, December 22, 2014

15

Contextualising and addressing poverty in Nigeria Mirror of the moment ABDUL-WAREES A SOLANKE korewarith@yahoo.com, 08090585723 (SMS only)

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hen understood that poverty manifests not just in the lack of basic necessities, but also in their poor quality or insufficient provision, in skewed distribution and in difficulty of access, the Third World emerge as a pool of poor countries where the quality living is anything but near what obtains in developed countries. Whereas the developed countries with only a quarter of the world’s population produce 80 percent of the gross global product, the developing countries mostly in the southern hemisphere that contains three quarter of the world’s population claim only 20 percent of the world’s income.

In Third World’s quest for a way out of the crises of development, they usually shift the blame on their former colonial masters, who they accused of playing double standards in their development schemes for their overseas territories. The colonial overlords’ policies were equally said to have left the former colonies in the midway of civilization to foster and nurture neocolonialism to would ensure continuing exploitation of the rich natural resources of the Third World. Moreover, it is alleged that whatever values the developed

countries gave in the name of education and modernization in colonial outposts were targeted at de-linking Third World countries from their wholesomely rich traditional values and heritage. In short, the West is alleged never to have any good intention for us as all their programmes and agenda were aimed at consigning Third World countries to the periphery of human development and global civilization.

But also in the drive to banish the colonial interlopers, developing countries still ironically subscribed to the West’s prescriptions for liberation, followed their timetable for independence, imitated their systems and structures of government in the management of national affairs and relied on them for stabilizing the local economy and polity. Except for a of the former colonies, who painstakingly, bravely and progressively tackled their peculiar development challenges and rapidly climbed to a respectable pedestal of economic prosperity and human development, most Third World countries are lamentably stuck in the quagmire of disease, war, famine, desertification, corruption and infrastructural failures. They sit gloomily at the bottom of human development scale. Dotting their socio-political and economic climate are features of unemployment, capacity underutilization, galloping inflation, unfavorable balance of trade and import dependence with unattractive pricing for their export commodities. Hence they remain almost inextricably trapped in the poverty vortex.

Much of the reasons adduced to poverty in the Third World are rooted in colonial ap-

MOST THIRD WORLD COUNTRIES ARE LAMENTABLY STUCK IN THE QUAGMIRE OF

DISEASE, WAR, FAMINE, DESERTIFICATION, CORRUPTION AND INFRASTRUCTURAL FAILURES pendage and slavery, which the West partially acknowledge, and feel morally obliged to address But also in the West’s assessment of the lamentable situation of the Third World, they justifiably blame the developing nations for mismanagement of their countries and lack of transparency in the utilization of grants and aids from the donor countries, and loans from multilateral financial hub World Bank, International Monetary Fund and the London and Paris clubs of creditors - to take care of their developmental needs.

The West buttress this with Third World’s misplacement of priorities in their development schemes, their lack of accountability, corruption of the entire public sector, political instability, lack of maintenance culture, poverty of committed leadership and sometimes, natural calamities beyond their response and control capacities.

By and large, the West argue that the prevailing socio political and economic en-

vironment in the Third World does not readily conduce to sustainable development, and submit that these countries need to radically depart from their culture of corruption and mismanagement and commit themselves to good governance, take responsibility for their own affairs, without any longer passing bulk or shifting blame, but concentrating on reforms, because in the final analysis, the dividends of development that will accrue from self-efforts will not be shared with the developed countries.

Tackling poverty in the Third World, therefore, requires looking more inward and having confidence in their capacities for redemption, entrenchment of good governance, committed leadership and patriotic followership. These are not necessarily far, or to be taught from outside. It is a question of faith, commitment and resolution to change in the Third World as exemplified by how industrialized countries like Japan, Singapore and Taiwan tackled their own challenges.

How rosy would it be if the Third world countries could fast-track their development with local reform initiatives with benefits of a restructured international economic order? The industrialized world and the institutional players in the world economic scene must realize that it is a moral obligation to initiate programmes and policies that would assist Third World countries to find a way out of their poverty mesh. But the Third World leaders and policy workers must not wait till then, because at their own backyards are abounding talents and material resources lying idle to be explored or leveraged upon.

Appreciating the ‘who are you’ question SANDRA AKUOMA

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hat are the things that define you? When asked ‘what is your reference point of who you are? What come to your mind are your job, status, age, country, roles, etc. When asked these questions, what is the first thing that comes to your mind? Does ‘doing’ define who you are? Are we human beings or human doing? When you meet people the first time and after the pleasantries of asking for your name, the next question is ”What do you do?”

We have two types of self: false and authentic self.

False self: What defines our false self include job, achievements, status, age, country, etc, that is anything outside ourselves. Some people will say, “Without my job, I don’t know who I am”. If that is what comes to your mind each time you introduce or think of yourself, your job is your reference point of defining yourself.

Example: “I am a teacher,” “I’m a lawyer,” “I’m a construction worker,” “I drive a bus,” or “I am in marketing.” It means we have placed considerable emphasis in defining ourselves through our work.

And for age, some assume the label and use it to make excuses. Oh, I’m too old to date that person; I’m too young to start this business. I think a lot of people focus on age as something that holds them back. I’m “too old” to go back to school. I’m “too old”

FINDING YOUR TRUE SELF, AS YOUR ULTIMATE IDENTITY, ENABLES YOU TO DEVELOP AND DIRECT YOUR PERSONALITY to try a new career. I’m “too old” to go to a dance party, or do the limbo. Excuses! I love meeting older people, who just LIVE life paying no attention to their age.

What is your authentic self ?

The authentic self is being the you that can be found at your absolute core. It is the part of you not defined by your job, function or role. It is the composite of all your skills, talents, wisdom and passion. It is all of the things that are uniquely yours and need expression, rather than what you believe you are supposed to be and do.

Your true self reveals itself whenever your actions are natural expression of what you really think and feel. This is a contrast to those behaviours that are motivated by social pressures or socially conditioned roles or script. Few people consistently function as their true self. Social pressure to conform and other realities of modern life are true forces to overcome if you want to become your most natural self.

Defining your authentic self ?

Find your values: These are the things

that matter most to you on the deepest levels. What are your personal values and standards? What are your priorities and your beliefs? Do you understand why these things are important to you? What level of commitment are you willing to make to your personal standards and ethics? How true do you want to be to your true self ?

Understand your strengths: What natural abilities do you possess and which ones do you want to cultivate and develop?

The strengths you have and those you develop are your personal assets. They give you a unique position in life and you need to be aware of them. This includes your emotional strengths and your ability to express love and appreciation.

Know your passions: What are you passionate about? What is it that gets you excited or demands your undivided attention? What activities and pursuits make you feel really alive? You can’t build your life around your passions if you haven’t figured out what they are. Making sure that your passions align with your values and standards is vital when trying to create internal harmony.

Creative power/ talents: Your creative powers are those generating ideas and solutions you develop. What are you talents, what is it you love doing, that even if you don’t get paid for the rest of your life, you are still very happy with it?

Love: Unconditionally love ourselves.

We should also be able to love and accept

people for who they are, no judgement. “(Learning to love yourself is the greatest love of all”, says Whitney Houston in one of her songs. Stop constantly to compensate for who you are with apologies, hedging words, or clarifications for your actions, like you always owe other people explanations.

Your unique self is the part that is you, no fake copy of anybody or pretences, when you are feeling sad, happy, joyful etc.

The feeling thoughts, wishes, and skills belong to you and has your own signature on them, for example, dancing. We’ve all got our own individual appearances – height, weight, body shape, eye colour, hair colour etc. We’ve all got our own values, emotions, strengths and weaknesses.

So why do we try so damn hard to be something else?

Why do we hide our emotions? Why do we change ourselves to please others?

Finding your true self, as your ultimate identity, enables you to develop and direct your personality.

Akuoma wrote 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.

16

Editorial

Monday, December 22, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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

KAFILAT OGBARA

MANAGING DIRECTOR/CEO

SUNDAY OLAJIDE

DEPUTY MD/CEO

SEYI FASUGBA

DAILY EDITOR

GBEMI OLUJOBI

SATURDAY EDITOR

KAYODE FASUA

ACTING EDITOR, SUNDAY

AYO OLESIN

GENERAL EDITOR

BEN MEMULETIWON

GENERAL EDITOR

DOZIE OKEBALAMA

COORDINATOR, EDITORIAL BOARD

CALLISTUS OKE

EDITORIAL PAGE EDITOR

ISE-OLUWA IGE

ABUJA BUREAU CHIEF

FIDELIS LEMCHI OWOAMANAM

REGIONAL DIRECTOR, S/SOUTH

GABRIEL SUNDAY

ACTING HEAD, GRAPHICS

Jailing of corrupt prison boss

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he recent seven-year imprisonment term bagged by a Deputy Comptroller of Prisons, Joseph Friday Idachaba, in Kogi State for corrupt practices (obtaining public money by false pretence), is quite exhilarating. It is, without doubt, a huge relief in a country that is visibly adrift and where justice has taken a long flight and given unimaginable prominence to corrupt practices in the management of state fiduciary affairs. A recent statement by the spokesman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, said the EFCC secured the conviction of Idachaba, who is also to pay back the sum of N1, 403,114.09 in restitution to the Nigeria Prisons Service.

Uwujaren said the convict was arraigned alongside some accomplices in 2012 on a threecount charge, and was found guilty on count three. The third count related how sometime between July, 2012 and February 2013 at Lokoja, Kogi State, Idachaba and others conspired with intent to defraud and obtained N1,403,114.09 in government funds through the Prisons Service purportedly to pay workers’ salaries, whereas the amount was credited into UBA Plc Account No 2054047736 belonging to a non-existent Opia Mohammed Ugbade.

The conviction of the prison boss is in radical contrast with the January 28, 2013 verdict of a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court presided over by Justice Mohammed Talba, which sentenced Mr. John Yesufu, a public officer entrusted with pension funds, but who stole a whopping N32 billion from the funds, to two years’ imprisonment with an option to pay a fine of N750, 000, which the convict quickly paid and regained his freedom. Of course the National Judicial Council (NJC), which under the leadership of former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Mariam Aloma Mukhtar, was exceptionally intolerant of corrupt exploits and the rot in the judiciary, suspended Justice Talba for one year without pay in response to the public outrage generated by the suspected compromised conviction Yesufu got.

Public sector official corruption in Nigeria is rife and scarcely abating; and it constitutes one of the several reasons Nigeria takes one developmental step forward and a hundred backward, while the bulk of the citizenry live in penury and abject poverty. Most times, Nigerians arraigned for high profile corruption cases, in liaison with their defence counsel and a compromised Bench, encourage such cases to drag till eternity as a result of consciously contrived legal technicalities,

THE FG REMAINS A HUGE DISAPPOINTMENT FOR ITS FAILURE TO ACT FIRMLY IN SCALING

DOWN THE NATION’S

PUBLIC SERVICE; AND

BY IMPLICATION, THE BURGEONING NUMBER OF GHOST WORKERS including the absurd. A good example is the trial of some public officers, especially past governors that served between 1993 and 2007, accused of corruption and laundering of state funds, which has been lingering since they vacated their offices in 2007.

Not too long ago, federal authorities indicated that 45, 000 ghost workers were detected in the nation’s 251 ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs). Shortly before he left office, the former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), who is now the Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, repeatedly lamented that Nigeria’s civil service was out of size. Sanusi also canvassed the trimming of political offices if the nation wanted to move

ON THIS DAY December 22, 1989 Communist President of Romania, Nicolae Ceausescu, was overthrown by Ion Iliescu after days of bloody confrontations. The deposed dictator and his wife fled Bucharest with a helicopter as protesters erupt in cheers.

Ceau escu (January 26, 1918 – December 25, 1989) was a Romanian Communist politician. He was General Secretary of the Romanian Communist Party from 1965 to 1989, and the country’s second and last Communist leader.

Letters tothe theEditor Editor Letters to

December 22, 2001 Richard Reid attempted to destroy a passenger airliner by igniting explosives hidden in his shoes aboard American Airlines Flight 63. Richard Colvin Reid (born August 12, 1973), also known as the Shoe Bomber, is an Englishman who attempted to detonate explosives packed into the shoes he was wearing, while on American Airlines Flight 63 from Paris to Miami. He was born to a father who was a career criminal.

forward. Ours for decades has remained a country where recurrent expenditures meant to service the bureaucracy guzzle over 70 per cent of annual budgets, leaving less than 30 percent as capital vote. This will help explain why public infrastructures are in horrible state, and government’s presence in virtually all sectors, at best scanty.

Unfortunately, too, the FG which set up a committee on the rationalisation of MDAs has, since 2012, failed to implement the White Paper on the recommendations of the panel headed by a former head of the nation’s civil service, Mr. Steve Oronsaye. Among others, the committee made far reaching recommendations on how the civil service could be trimmed through the merger, abolition and reversion of some MDAs. While we applaud the EFCC and the Bench for a job well done in Kogi State, it is obvious that the big thieves, past and present, are still ravaging the country and having a field day.

A lot more efforts are, therefore, required to rein in corruption in the country. For its part, the FG remains a huge disappointment for its failure to act firmly in scaling down the nation’s public service, and by implication, the burgeoning number of ghost workers.

x December 22, 2010 The repeal of the ‘Don’t ask, don’t tell policy’, the 17-year-old policy aimed at homosexuals serving openly in the United States military, was signed into law by President Barack Obama. ‘Don’t ask, don’t tell’ (DADT) was the official US policy on service by gays and lesbians in the military instituted by the ex-Bill Clinton administration on February 28, 1994, when Department of Defense Directive’s 1304.26, issued on December 21, 1993, took effect.

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Business Courage

Monday, December 22, 2014

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Cover

Cash crunch defines low Just three days to Christmas, consumers are complaining of high prices of items in the market and their inability to buy because there is no money. The fanfare with which families usually prepare for the Christmas festival has gone as their financial powers seem have been eroded even as the traders in major markets in the country lament low patronage. Reports, Adejuwon Osunnuyi

T

he Christmas season is here again. Being the peak of the year, it is believed to be the period of merriment as many show love by giving and sharing.

As usual, as activities which has been part of the season’s norm, a trip around the cities especially at night clearly show the ‘blind’ that is it Christmas time. Obviously, as at now, most major streets, roads, round-abouts are adorned with different shades of lights in order to add colour and glamour to the festivities, thanks to the government as well as many corporate organisations.

For instance, in Lagos, Calabar, Uyo, Abeokuta, and many other cities, as usual, the state governments have been living to the expectation of the people by decorating and lighting up the major roads, public parks and gardens in the city ahead of this year’s celebrations.

Presently, the area around the seat of power in Alausa is beautiful and aglow with brilliant colours at night. Even the sprawling Shoprite shopping mall nearby is distinctly decorated with bright lights. For Lagos Island and Victoria Island, the decorations are eye-catching, as one cannot help falling in love with the colourful lights of the Marina at night.

As a matter of fact, some corporate organisations, commercial banks and eateries are not left out as they also decorate their buildings and surroundings. For example, exquisite Christmas lighting on Ajose Adeogun Street, which hosts the corporate headquarters of

Zenith Bank in Victoria Island, has transformed it into a wonderland of sorts. The visual effect is remarkable. Evidently, to show how beautiful such places are, fun-seekers are seen laying siege at night, taking pictures and savouring the beauty of the season.

Being the peak of the year and a time associated with giving, sharing and showing love, it is not unexpected that most traders, manufacturers, marketers as well as many other companies, look up to the yuletide in making brisk sales.

However, with just three days to Christmas, far from the colourful lights at night adorning the streets, roads and buildings, the general mood in the country appears completely devoid of any merriment as many Nigerians complain about the high prices of foods and commodities. Many traders across the major markets in the country are seriously lamenting low patronages.

Though there has been huge human traffic around major supermarkets, markets across the country, most traders said many people who come around ended up doing window shopping as a result of their low purchasing power.

This year, according to a number of Nigerians, has been a roller coaster of ups and downs with uncertainty surrounding the economy. This followed the announcement by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, that

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Business Courage

Monday, December 22, 2014

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key festive season

Okonjo-Iweala

the federal government would introduce some austerity measures to curb the impact of the fall in oil price on the 2015 budget. There are fears already that Nigerians may witness tougher times ahead.

Just on the heels of Christmas, the price of oil – Nigeria’s major export and foreign exchange earner, fell; the naira suffered devaluation and the price of commodities gradually began to shoot up as a result of the inflation caused by the devaluation.

Moreover, the increasing rate of non-payment of salaries has been characteristic of several corporate bodies which has dampened the hopes and plans of workers who had intended to have a momentous Christmas.

“I am not looking forward to this Christmas at all,” said Oscar Amaechi, whose disappointment at the recent turn of events has done little to inspire his confidence about an eventful Christmas celebration.

Most people who spoke to Business Courage last week said this year’s festivities were likely to be low-keyed as what-

ever money people may get would be reserved for critical needs such as school fees for next year.

“Things are very tough this year,” said Banji Kolawole, a fashion designer. “For some of us, with this period of austerity, Christmas joy this year is a luxury we cannot afford, so we will rather stick to the basics and not get excited. Things are difficult, as most companies have been struggling to pay their workers.”

According to him, “Can you imagine that even most of my customers have been bringing clothes to sew with the promise to pay up later?”

In actual fact, many businesses have been struggling against the backdrop of an unprecedented economic downturn.

Monalisa Johnson a middleaged woman, living at Mushin area of Lagos said the festive season has since lost its glamour over the past few years and this year was likely going to be worse as cash was elusive.

“All we have now are memories of the good old days when Christmas was a time of spending big,” she recalled with nostalgia.

She said given the economic downturn in the country, one would be content if they were able to afford the basics. Spoiling the family with new clothes, sumptuous meals and other goodies was now out of the question, she said.

During this time of the year

in the past, retail and clothing shops would be a hive of activity as families did Christmas shopping, but now it is business as usual with only a few shops having been adorned with colourful Christmas decorations.

A manager with an indigenous clothing shop at Ikeja Shopping Mall, but who pleaded anonymity, said times were hard and there were no prospects of realising good sales associated with the festive season.

“We are just hanging in there, but I am not sure how long we are going to hold on,” he said. “People are no longer buying clothes for Christmas like they used to do. Most people are now resorting to cheap second-hand clothes.” He lamented.

Across major markets visited in Lagos, the traders disclosed that sales had never been this bad at Christmas season, as they expressed hope that sales could pick up before December 25.

“The poor sales have made traders look like observers in the market because they watch customers do window shopping, Latifat Ojikutu, the Iyaloja of Balogun Market, said.

“Sales have been so poor, customers just come to the market for sight-seeing. Customers complain of no money, while traders have been turned to observers or bench warmers in the market.

“Business has never been this low; it is a far cry from what we experienced last year.

Folashade Balogun, a trader at the market said: “we see people walk around the market pricing goods but not buying anything. It is so painful.

“No money in circulation, sales have been very low,” Balogun said.

Femi Odusanya, Public Relations Officer of the Mile 12 Market, explained that although sales were low now, it would increase from next week.

Odusanya said that prices of tomatoes and pepper for now were high but might reduce by next week.

Odusanya said that the traders envisaged reduction because of the large harvest of tomatoes and pepper for the festive season.

“Beginning from next week, tomatoes and pepper, there will be high influx of these items into Lagos. The tomatoes and pepper were planted for the Xmas season,” he said.

At the Mile 12 Market, a basket of tomato now goes for N8,000 as against N4,000 it sold last week, while tatashe (a type of pepper) now cost N6,000 as against N4,500.

A carton of frozen turkey goes for N7,300 while chicken cost N6,400. A 100kg bag of groundnut, sorghum and soya beans remained the same at N17,000, N7,000 and N13,500, respectively.

At Balogun Market, the prices of children’s clothing and ladies’ shoes increased by at least 25 percent from their prices some weeks back.

A pair of kid shoes, which sold for N3,000, now sells for N4,000, while a girl’s quality gown goes for N7,000 from N5,000.

Human hair extension sells for N4,500, from N3,500 per pack while synthetic hair extension increased from N900 to N1,300 per pack.

Similarly, ladies heels and wedge shoes which ranged from N5,000 now cost N6,500, while beauty products also had marginal increment of N300.

Also, a chain accessory which goes for N2,500 has increased to N3,500, while a pair of ladies and children’s jeans increased to N2,200 from N1,700.

Abimbola Durosimi, a dealer in children’s clothes at Docemo Market on Lagos Island attributed the price change to increase in the exchange rate.

“The exchange rate has increased from what we used to buy. More so, it’s not readily available as most of us buy from the black market. “Based on this, the difference will definitely reflect in the prices of the

items,” Durosimi said.

The survey revealed that sellers of hampers or gift packs were most affected by the poor sales.

“I have sold only three packs.

Look at your time; it is about 2 p.m.

“The same is applicable to my colleagues. We hope it will be better next week,” Abosede Ojo, a gift pack seller, said.

At the Ijora Ram Market, the traders also complained of poor sales.

They envisage that sales might be low this Xmas because of the low patronage recorded at this period. A big goat goes for between N20,000 and N30,000 while the prices of the smaller ones range from N8,000 to N18,000. Alhaji Ibrahim Kulkul, one of the ram sellers, explained that prices would rise as Xmas approached.

Also, Vincent Okpara, a seller of shoes at Alade Market, Ikeja, ascribed the increase in price to the high cost of transportation and changes in the prices of goods from the manufacturers.

At Daleko Market in Mushin, the price of a 50 kg bag of imported rice like Mama Gold and Caprice ranges from N10,200 to N10,500, while Uncle Chef goes for N7,400.

However, a rice seller at Daleko Market, Alhaja Adijat Okunola, disclosed that the price of rice might soon increase in the market, due to its high demand during festive period.

Meanwhile, a N120kg bag of Olo 2 beans sells for N23,500, while the 60kg of honey beans goes for N13,000.

Emmanuel Abuchi, a beans seller at Daleko Market, said that the price of beans had been fluctuating in the market.

“The price of beans has not been stable in the market. The 120kg bag of beans that goes for N23, 500 today was sold at N25,000 last week,” Abuchi said.

At the Whitesand Market in Ajah, 25 litres of vegetable oil goes for N5,900, while 25 litres of palm oil goes for N6,300 and the drum goes for N49,500.

A 60kg bag of garri cost N5,500 at various markets, while 4-litre-measurement of garri sells for N300.

Some of the On-line shopping companies like Jumia, Lego, Kara and othersare offering between 25 percent to 44 percent discounts in some cases for some of the products put out for sale but, business activities are also very low despite the fact that such large discounts are being offered. BC

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Business Courage

Monday, December 22, 2014

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News

Emefiele

Nigeria central bank limits interbank dollar holdings to 48 hours

T

he Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, decreed overnight that dollars bought from the interbank market can be held only for up to 48 hours, as it sought to get tough on speculators it blames for a sharp fall in the currency since last month.

After the 48-hour interval has elapsed, the dollars must be sold back to the CBN at its own day rate, according to a CBN circular, but this is likely to result in a loss.The naira closed up 1.5 percent at 182.20 to the dollar in limited trade.

“There is no major trading going on now at the interbank, as a result of the new rules. Most people are merely giving an indicative rate,” said a dealer who pleaded annonimity.

The Naira has been hit hard in the past few months by falling oil prices, and the CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele told said on Thursday that “we do not want speculators in this market any longer.”

He was explaining a move made overnight to ban banks from holding any of their own funds in dollars.

Within minutes, dealers sent the Naira to a record low of 188.85 against the greenback, before it recovered marginally on the back of a CBN intervention.

Despite assurances from Emefiele that “if there is genuine demand ... for the Dollars for legitimate purposes ... it will be met,” dealers complained the CBN restrictive measures were making the market extremely illiquid.

“It impracticable to maintain zero open position limit.

You need a matching deal before you give a quote of trade,” said a dealer. “Trading is going to be dull today.”

Nigeria officially devalued

its currency by 8 percent last month and widened its target trading band to 160-176 against the Dollar, but few analysts believe that level can hold, given dwindling state oil revenues and declining reserves.

As of Dec. 8, foreign reserves stood at $35.95bn, down nearly 20 percent from a year ago, largely from attempts to defend the naira in the face of a near-halving of global oil prices in five months.

The interbank lending rate eased to an average of 15.25 percent on Friday, from 42.5 percent last week, after some lenders re-discounted their treasury bills to get access to some cash and dealers anticipated a budget disbursal.

This was a sign that naira liquidity is coming back despite substantial central bank tightening, which could weigh on the currency as the markets approach the yearend close.

Nigerian interbank rates ease on expectation of budget disbursal

N

igerian interbank lending rates eased to an average of 15.25 percent on Friday, from 42.5 percent last week, after some lenders rediscounted their treasury bills to access some cash and dealers anticipated a budget disbursal.

The overnight lending rate had climbed to 80 percent on Tuesday, as banks scrambled for the Naira cash to pay for their foreign exchange purchases to meet other obligations.

“Many banks rediscounted their treasury bills holdings to get some cash support ... and this helped to eased the pressure on the market,” one dealer said.

The CBN last month hiked the CRR on private sector deposits with commercial lenders to 20 percent, from 15 percent, to support the local currency. It also raised interest rates by 100 basis points to 13 percent.

Dealers said cash from monthly disbursal of budgetary allocations to government agencies is expected to hit the banking system by close of Friday, which should further increase available cash.

The balance that lenders hold with the central bank closed at a surplus of 93 billion naira $504.0m, compared with debit of over 100

billion naira last week.

The secured Open Buy back OBB traded at 15 percent compared with 40 percent last week, while overnight lending closed at 15.5 percent, against 45 percent last week.

Traders said cost of borrowing among banks is expected to remain stable next week as many companies tiding up their books for the year end.$1 = 184.50 Naira.

Nigeria sells 195.5bn Naira in T-bills, yields rise

N

igeria raised 195.56 billion naira $1.06bn worth of treasury bills with maturities ranging between three months and one year at higher yields this week, the central bank said on Friday.

The bank sold 33.87bn naira in 3-month treasury bills at 11 percent, compared with 9.99 percent at the Nov. 19 auction. A total of 51.30bn Naira worth of the six month bill was sold at 13.84 percent, against 10.8 percent previously.

In the one year tenor bill, the bank sold 110.39bn naira worth at 15.99 percent, compared with 12.48 percent at the last auction.$1 = 184.5000 Naira

Nigeria to raise 1.2 trn naira in T-bills in Q1

N

igeria’s central bank said on Friday it plans to raise about 1.22trn Naira $6.61bn in treasury bills in the first quarter of next year.

The bank in an issuance calendar said it plans to issue 230.88bn Naira worth of 3-month treasury bills, 291.53bn of 6-month paper and 700.56bn in one year notes between Dec. 18 to March 5, next year.

Nigeria, Africa’s top economy, issues treasury bills twice a month to fund its budget and manage liqudity in the banking system. $1 = 184.50

which they must be sold back to the central bank at its own day rate, according to a circular seen by Reuters.

The move is intended to curb speculation on the Naira, which has been hit hard in the past few months by falling oil prices.

Nigeria sees brighter chances of foreign exchange earnings from gas

N

igeria’s chances of earning foreign exchange from gas had brightened with the efforts the Gas Exporting Countries Forum,GECF, is making to stabilise the global market, a top official has said.

The Nigerian Ambassador to Qatar, Shuaibu Ahmed, gave the assurance in an interview in Doha, Qatar.

He said the focus of the forum was to salvage the international energy sector from the challenges facing the trade in gas. ``You can see that the prices of crude oil are crashing down and it is affecting the gas sector. ``So, the focus now is to salvage the situation internationally first. If we get to do that, Nigeria is a major oil exporting country; automatically it will trickle down because our revenue is going to increase. ``And some of the budgetary challenges we would have had in 2015 because of the dwindling oil prices would be overcome.`` The envoy said the appointment of Nigeria as president of the forum was a major achievement for the country’s Minister of Ptroleum, Mrs Diezani AlisonMadueke and the country as a whole.

According to him, giving Nigeria the right to host the 17th Ministerial Meeting in

Nigeria central bank limits interbank dollar holdings to 48 hours

N

igeria’s central bank decreed overnight that dollars bought from the interbank market can be held only for up to 48 hours, after

Ahmed

Abuja in 2015 shows how much trust the international community has in Nigeria.

He said, ``we consider the appointment of the minister of petroleum as the president of the GECF for the year 2015 as a major achievement having just been elected as the President of Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries. ``This is very significant for Nigeria and the minister as a person. It shows the kind of confidence that the international oil and gas sector has reposed in her ``As you know, the global energy sector is facing one of its major challenges in the last couple of decades. ``So for one country to be entrusted with the leadership of the two most important organisations in the energy sector, it shows that the international community has a lot of confidence and respect for us.``

Akpobolokemi

Security agencies’ collaboration creates sustainable peace in maritime domain – NIMASA boss

T

he Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency ,NIMASA, said that the collaboration between the agency and other sister agencies had led to sustainable peace in the maritime domain.

The agency’s DirectorGeneral, Dr Patrick Akpobolokemi, disclosed this in Lagos.

Akpobolokemi said the Nigerian Navy, the Nigerian Army, the Nigerian Air force, and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps contributed significantly to ensuring peace in the maritime environment. ``Our Act was clever enough to make a provision that we can interface

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with any sister government agency in furtherance of our functions and therefore we decided to partner with the Navy in particular. ``All the other security agencies in general are on board all our vessels with their weapons carrying out security activities; helping us to enforce our regulatory functions in all parts of our maritime domain. ``You see the usefulness of the Nigerian Air Force in some speed that requires interdiction. ``You see the efforts played critical roles. So, we decided to also partner with the Nigerian Air force and a formal MoU has been entered into by these two government agencies. ``The amphibious arm of the Army is working seriously with us in bringing sustainable peace, quietness in the maritime domain; sooner or later, we will get the results.`` · Cue out audio 1 He said that since 2013, NIMASA became the designated authority on the implementation of International Ship and Port Facility Security,ISPS, Code.

The director-general said it was the maritime administrations that enforced ISPS code compliance in most parts of the world.

He said the role of enforcement of compliance was prior to 2013 carried out by a committee outside NIMASA. Akpobolokemi said government had returned the enforcement of the ISPS Code back to the agency. ``Compliance on ISPS Code or implementation of the ISPS Code over the 10 years before we took the mandate back was less than seven per cent. ``Just one year plus when we have assumed responsibility in the implementation of ISPS Code, we have over 38 per cent success rate and our gauge is to get up to 90 per cent by the end of 2015. ``Very paltry sums of money have been expended in achieving these. The ISPS Code is a very important aspect of our security system internationally for a maritime administration for our country, for our ports and terminals. ``The agency has adopted the ISPS Code regulation, developed guidelines and quick reference cards to enhance assessment, inspection, enforcement and monitoring of ports’ facilities in the country. ``It gives me pleasure to announce to you that more than 38 per cent of 129 port

Business Courage

Monday, December 22, 2014

facilities in the country has fully complied.`` Akpobolokemi said that NIMASA’s target by 2016 was to compete favourably with its peers in the developed world in terms of Port State Control, PSC.

Dati

FAAN advises cargo operators to find alternative entry points

T

he Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria FAAN on Friday urged operators of cargo flights to find alternative entry points for their cargo, rather than the Murtala Muhammad International Airport,MMIA, Ikeja.

Yakubu Dati, General Manager, Corporate Communications of FAAN, made this known in a statement made available to aviation correspondents at the airport.

Dati said that the advice had become imperative due to the congestion created by the backlog of cargo resulting from the two-week closure of the terminal by the Nigerian Customs Service NCS. The General Manager said that FAAN initiated the measures to accelerate the clearance of goods at the terminal and return the situation to normal. ``Airlines and importers are advised to make use of alternative airports,’’ he said.

Dati said that FAAN was constrained to take the measure temporarily for the safety and security of all concerned.

He said that the authority regretted the inconvenience this might cause.

The cargo wing of the MMIA was shut by the Customs Service between Nov.18 and Dec. 2, due to a fracas between clearing agents and customs officers.

The Federal Government, on Dec. 2, ordered the reopening of the cargo shed.

Industries: Experts want FG to focus less on taxes

T

hree industry experts on Friday urged the Federal Government not impose tax on industries if the sector must shore up the anticipated shortfall from oil revenue.

They said that the hinging of more revenue on tax and others measures due to low oil prices would further retard business growth.

According to them, taxes and other austerity measures put in place would weaken the purchasing power of the masses even if the masses were not directly taxed.

The Director-General, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry LCCI, Muda Yusuf, said that the benchmark of the budget was a risky optimism.

Yusuf said that the funding of the 2015 budget on 65 dollars per barrel was unrealistic because of the forces of demand and supply in the international market. ``The 65 dollars per barrel oil benchmark is on the optimistic side, given the developments in the global oil market. ``At times like this, it is better to be conservative in revenue expectations,’’ Yusuf said.

He noted that the benchmark would further compound the woes of entrepreneurs, who had been struggling to grow their businesses in spite of the various challenges confronting entrepreneurs. ``Businesses are seriously burdened by the recent depreciation and devaluation of the naira. ``High import duty, high cost of funds and the impact of poor infrastructure are adversely affecting the growth of businesses. ``The government should not impose additional pressure on businesses in its

quest for an increase in nonoil revenue,’’ Yusuf said.

The Secretary-General, Nigerian Association of Small and Medium Enterprises, Mr Eke Ubiji, appealed to the Federal Government to propup the non-oil sector instead of increasing taxation to augment government revenue.

Ubiji said the government should encourage an aggressive development of the nonoil sector. ``Our reliance on crude oil is not sustainable because the government will not be buoyant enough to invest in infrastructure in the face of a reduction in global demand for oil. ``Government will not be able to meet up with its recurrent expenditures like payment of salaries to staff and even contractors. ``Exchange rate is currently high and its effect on businesses is unquantifiable. ``There should be greater emphasis on cost savings and efficiency of tax administration rather than the imposition of new taxes or charges on businesses,’’ Ubiji said.

A former CBN Director of Budget and Planning, Mr Titus Okunronmu, said that the benchmark would create a deficit in government revenue, and in turn increase inflation.

Okunronmu said that the global oil price, which had dwindled since first quarter of 2014, might reduce to as low as 55 dollar per barrel by mid 2015.

He added that the U.S., which was Nigeria’s biggest market for crude oil with about 40 per cent purchase, had stopped patronising the nation. ``This will reduce the level of income that would have accrued from the proceeds. ``Our over-dependence on oil as a means of foreign exchange is detrimental to the growth of our economy. ``Benchmarking the budget on 65 dollar per barrel will create a huge deficit in government revenue which will in turn reduce infrastructural development. ``We need to proffer means of diversifying the economy from a mono-product nature to a multi-product one,’’ Okunronmu said

No room for quacks in advertising industry –APCON Registrar Yusuf

The Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria, APCON,

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on Friday said that it would do all it could, to rid the advertising industry of quacks.

Garba Kankarofi, the Registrar of APCON, spoke in Lagos at the Long Service Award Ceremony organised to honour some of the council’s members of staff.

He said that the council could not tolerate illegal advertising practitioners in the country. ``We will do all we can do to ensure that we get rid of quacks in the industry, `` Kankarofi said.

He said that anybody found operating illegally would be prosecuted.

The APCON registrar said that the council had been able to reduce the number of illegal practitioners drastically in the last four years. ``Everybody is trying to comply with APCON rules now, being the regulatory body for all the advertising firms in Nigeria, `` he said.

Kankarofi expressed gratitude to the 10 senior members of staff that were given long service awards for giving their best to the council.

He urged them to continue to offer selfless service and to always strive for excellence.

Earlier, the Chairman of the occasion, John Iwarue of Daar Communication Ltd., urged the junior staff to emulate the senior ones who had offered exemplary service in the organisation.

He said that everything was not about quick cash or fast money, but what was more important was dedication and passion for one’s job. ``Some people work because of the huge money being paid while some work because of the passion they have for the job. ``The best, above all, is to work with passion, which will bring out the best in one. ``If one works passionately, one day he or she will be rewarded for selfless service, `` Iwarue said.

The Long Service Awards were given to members of staff who have served in the organisation for 20 years.

Abiodun Aghedo, Assistant Director, Administration and Personnel, who was one of the recipients, said hard work is always rewarded.

According to him, one should always work to enjoy the fruits of his or her labour.

He thanked the council for the award and advised the junior staff to be dedicated to their duties.

Two persons, who are not members of staff, were also given awards for their con-

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Monday, December 22, 2014

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News tributions to the council and the advertising industry.

They are Florence Chetden and Vera Osokoya.

NCS Seme Command warns against smuggling at border

T

he new controller of the Seme Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, Mohammed Ndalati, on Friday declared zero tolerance for smuggling activities at the border area.

This is contained in a statement made available to newsmen in Lagos by the Public Relations Officer of the Command, Ernest Olottah.

Ndalati promised to harness all available resources to drive home his anti-smuggling goals and ensure that change was embraced. ``I will harness all available human and material resources for customs operations while bracing up to the realities of the peculiar nature of Seme Command. ``This is the time of change, we must imbibe change. We must exhibit it and show that we are change agents. ``Manning the border must include behavioural management of persons,’’ the controller said.

He also promised to ensure that all revenues due the government were collected in spite of the challenges around the border area. ``Constraints will not deter the command from delivering on its responsibilities of revenue collection, fight against smuggling and facilitation of legitimate trade,” he said.

Ndalati commended the Comptroller- General of Customs, Dikko Abdullahi for his human capacity initiatives which had brought about a modernised and improved status for the service. ``It is no longer the brand-

Dikko

ed outdated and antiquated Customs and Excise Department we used to know. In other words, professionalism is enhanced and encouraged under the present regime.’’

The controller solicited the support and cooperation of all stakeholders and advised importers and agents to keep abreast of government’s policies relating to import guidelines.

He also urged importers and agents to comply with the Customs and Excise Management Act (amended).

According to him, all those who comply with the order will have nothing to worry about while dealing with the customs.

He however, vowed to match seizures with suspects as a way of fighting smuggling.

According to him, this strategy will ensure that perpetrators of smuggling activities are imprisoned when arrested and prosecuted.

The controller advised those considering smuggling to desist from attempting to do so.

According to him, all businessmen and companies compliant with the extant order have nothing to fear or worry about when relating with customs.

He thanked his predecessor, Comptroller Willy Egbudin, describing him as a hardworking and dedicated officer.

Ndalati said he would build on the good works he met on ground.

He commended the Comptroller- General of Customs for his foresight in building the capacity of personnel of the service.

The controller said the service had been modernised to provide all-round quality service. ``My predecessor said that the officers and men on the ground are very resourceful persons and I count on that. I solicit their maximum cooperation and optimal input in every endeavour, ’’ he said.

Ndalati solicited the support of officers and men of the command to enable him succeed in the task of managing the command.

He noted the need for the command, not just to be concerned about managing goods transiting the border, but also to pay attention to effective control of the people.

The controller said his administration would function under an atmosphere of peace and ensure that there was no negative incident in its operation.

According to the statement, Ndalati enlisted in the customs service in 1981 as Superintendent Collector II. It said the controller had attended training programmes both nationally and internationally and had served in several commands across the country.

The statement said, ``Until his recent posting to Seme Area Command, he served as the Comptroller, Headquarters, in the office of the Comptroller General of the Service.’’

Johnson

Access to ICT a right – Minister

T

he Minister of Communications and Technology, Omobola Johnson, said access to Information and Communications Technology,ICT, was a right and not a privilege.

Johnson made the remark at the Industry Forum to unveil the Universal Service Provision Fund’s (USPF) website and Inauguration of Clusters of ICT Gap in Lagos.

This is contained in a statement made available by Mrs Efem Nkanga, the Special Assistant on Media to the minister in Abuja. ``The USPF has continued to play a leading role in promoting and deepening ICT access and availability in the rural areas of the country. ``The mandate of the fund is the backdrop against which it developed Symmetric Multi-Processes 2013-2017 to guide execution of sustainable ICT projects which will improve the quality of lives of Nigerians. ``In the USPF, the mantra is that access to ICT is not a privilege, but a right. We will continue to push forward frontiers of service until ICT for all is achieved’’, the statement said. ``There is need to get a clear view of the true access gap within the country so

that interventions would be targeted at the appropriate communities’’, It quoted the minister, who is also Chairperson of the fund, as saying.

According to the statement, the access gap study was conceptualised and had culminated in the identification of over 200 subsidy clusters across the six geo political zones.

This, it added, represents the areas where telecommunication services were yet to reach. ``The USPF will utilise these clusters to identify target areas, define Universal Access Service, UAS, interventions and map the interventions to the appropriate communities. ``We will also share the results of the study with the telecoms operators to enable them to get a detailed view of the needs and demands of the market. ``We will also assist them in developing roll out plans for these unreached areas.’’

It added that the greatest wish was to continue to collaborate with the telecom operators to closing access gap in the country and set Nigeria on the path to full digitalisation.

Lagos gives 15 per cent salary bonus to workers

T

he Lagos State Government will pay its workers 15 per cent bonus in the December salary as an end of the year gift, the State Head of Service, Mrs Oluseyi Williams, said.

Williams spoke at the end of the year get together and appreciation party for principals and directors in the Ministry of Education.

She said that the bonus would be paid along with the December salary any moment from now.

According to her, the bonus is to show that the government is committed to the welfare of workers.

“Some states are owing their workers up to four months salary but that is not the case in Lagos.

“I was discussing with some HOS and they told me they are looking for money to pay their workers salaries.

“Our workers will receive their December salary any moment from now and I am happy to say it that it will come with 15 per cent bonus.

“Government appreciates your service to the state and

urges you to continue to put in your best.

“Wherever you get your daily meal, it is good to put in your best; your reward is on earth,” she said.

The HOS urged the principals and directors to re-double their effort in 2015.

Mrs Olayinka Oladunjoye, Lagos State Commissioner for Education said that party was to thank the principals and directors for their wonderful performance in 2014.

She urged them to do more in their duties, adding that to whom much is given, much is expected.

“You are a veritable member of the education family and we are here to celebrate you and thank you for taking care of our children in your care.

“As you take care of the children, God will reward you all.

“We are not there yet but with your support, we will get their together,” she said.

Mr Segun Raheem, NUT Chairman, Lagos branch commended the government for appreciating the contributions of the principals and directors.

Raheem also commended the government for introducing Eko project, a World Bank supported project, saying it has improved students performance in many areas.

He said that teachers in Lagos were grossly inadequate and the available ones were not evenly distributed.

“We have few teachers in English, History, Music and Geography.

“The result of last May/ June SSCE examination shows students perform poorly; as professionals, we need to come together to discuss and see if this is so.

“We should find out why students are failing English and not other subjects set in the same language,” he said.

Raheem urged the principals to adopt the ethics of teaching and do things right in their schools.

“Among teachers in Nigeria, teachers in Lagos are outstanding; the motivational activities have helped a lot.

Raheem urged the government to monitor projects being carried out by some contractors in some schools to ensure quality service.

Prof. Abisogun Leigh, former Vice Chancellor, Lagos State University, (LASU) commended the government for giving bonus to its workers.

Leigh, also a former commissioner for education in 1978 in the state, said that Lagos State has performed well in the area of education. BC

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Business Courage

Monday, December 22, 2014

A7 23

Brand Watch

Jumia unveils Genevieve Nnaji in new Fashion TVC I n just a few months since the re-launch of St Genevieve Clothing Line exclusively on Jumia, it has achieved tremendous patronage by Nigerians.

This is coming as Jumia has unveiled the award winning Nollywood actress and fashion icon in a new TVC to promote her fashion line; St Genevieve.

The arrival of Genevieve Nnaji as a true fashion icon did not just start today. The Award winning Nollywood actress has been known for not only her amazing acting talent that has won her numerous awards, but for also being a woman of simplicity and great style.

With the launch of her clothing line St Genevieve, she is believed to have given more women an opportunity to be simple and chic, infusing her personal style into creating fabulous dresses for Women.

The St Genevieve clothing line, available exclusively on online retailer Jumia.com. ng, offers contemporary office wears and sexy dresses you can wear to special occasions.

They come in a wide range of colours, patterns, sizes and styles.

In the video to showcase the Fashion line, Genevieve takes her esteemed custom-

ers through a journey of style evolution.

In her own words “This is a collection of my personal style for ladies that want to look confident and chic. Think fashion, think St Genevieve, and you can get it exclusively on Jumia”’ Talking about the St Genevieve label and the video, Funmi Daniels, Vice President,

Fashion at Jumia Nigeria said “We are extremely happy with the response we have received since the launch of the collection, more exciting is that there is literally no buzzing red carpet without a St. Genevieve piece on there.

“It is also inspiring for the fashion industry to see celebrities who are looked to as role models contribute in building

the industry in Nigeria and Jumia strategically positioned as a popular choice to provide these brands with professional retail experience and logistics across the country”.

Jumia Nigeria has a notable reputation for partnership and exclusivity with top premium brands in Nigeria such as best sellers David Wej, Eve & Tribe, Scupp Woman just to mention

a few, promoting local fashion, and ultimately boosting the Nigerian economy, through business processes that create platforms of possibilities for entrepreneurship and nationwide reach of a larger market.

Daniels reiterated Jumia. com’s commitment towards empowering all Nigerians from the customer to the merchant, everyone. BC

Vox Africa, Select Sports, Al Jazeera and CNN, Channel O, MTV Base, Disney Junior, Nickelodeon, JimJam, Islam Channel, One Gospel, and Sound City.

GOtv is a new digital pay television offering on the Digital Terrestrial Television platform.

It is managed by MultiChoice with a proud legacy of providing the best digital pay-TV in Nigeria for over 20 years.

GOtv’s footprint now covers over 30 cities and towns within 20 states and Nigeria’s federal capital territory, Abuja. Other cities covered by GOtv include - Ibadan, Port Harcourt, Lagos, Enugu, Benin, Aba, Owerri, Kano, Kaduna, Onitsha, Asaba, Uyo, Calabar, Osogbo, Ife, Ogbomoso, Akure, Oyo, Jos, Abeokuta, Ilesa, Ede, Iseyin, Makurdi, Ado-ekiti, Mararaba, Suleja, Ondo and Owo. BC

GOtv lands in Warri with “GO Gaga Offer” F

ollowing the launch of Gotv in Warri and its environs, more Nigerians in Delta state are now expected to have access to quality entertainment at an affordable price with GOtv signals now live in more towns and communities in Delta state.

Viewers in in Abraka, Agbarho, Effurun, Ekpan, Jeddo, Kokori, Oghara, Okpe, Sapele, Udu, Ughelli, and Warri are to join in the digital television revolution by purchasing a GOtv decoder including one month subscription to GOtv Plus at the highly subsidised price of N2,900.

To receive optimal signals, subscribers are also advised to use the outdoor antenna (GOtenna).

Addressing the media in Warri, Elizabeth Amkpa, GOtv’s general manager said: “GOtv was launched with the latest approved DVB-T2 decoders and in support of the digital migration; the price of GOtv decoders has been slashed to N2,900 in the GO Gaga festive offer.”

“Furthermore, by paying an additional two months subscription, new subscribers will be entered into the draw for the MultiChoice Super Cruise promo for a chance to

win a Kia Rio car, among other prizes”, she added.

According to her, GOtv offers the GOtv Plus bouquet which gives access to 41 channels at a monthly subscription of N1,500. Subscribers may also opt for the GOtv bouquet with a 28-channel offering at N1,000 monthly.

Both bouquets provide families access to an exciting selection of local and inter-

national channels containing news, sport, movies, music, documentaries, religion and children’s programming.

GOtv channel lineup includes - AfricaMagic Family, AfricaMagic Epic Movies, AfricaMagic World, AfricaMagic Yoruba, AfricaMagic Hausa, BET, Blackbelt TV, E! Entertainment, Telemundo, Televista, Discovery World, Nat Geo Wild, eTV Africa,

Nigerian Breweries introduces brewed “ACE- Passion Apple Spark” N igerian Breweries NB has launched an additional brewed with natural fruit flavours sparkling apple taste, 5.5 percent alcohol, its firstever “Ready-To-Drink” product called “ACE- Passion Apple Spark” and hopes to quickly capture the segment of the market.

ACE is the first-ever sparkling alcoholic drink from Nigerian Breweries and Passion Apple Spark, the first of the ACE series and comes in a unique 33cl bottle and sleek can with metalised labels.

At the trade launch in Abuja, marketing director, NB, Walter Drenth called ACE ‘’Passion Apple Spark’’ a ‘game changer,’ which does not only

have a brand name, but also has a theme – ace passion.

Drenth said the new product was borne out of innovation, and particularly in response to the customers’ and consumers’ demand over the years.

The drink comes in a recommended retail price of N150 per bottle, which most of the consumers who attended the launch described as competitive.

“The liquid is natural apple flavour, very unique, the liquid is on point, sparkling apple taste, 5.5 percent alcohol. But most of all, it is from Nigerian breweries.

“We only bring products in the market which we believe is

Drenth

in terms of the high quality we can deliver and we think it is about time we enter this category and bring something new that people do not know yet,” Drenth said as he described

the uniqueness of the drink at the trade launch.

Drenth said, “ACE Passion Apple Spark being a cool innovation from Nigerian breweries will certainly be very exciting for “young consumers who like to enjoy good life with friends and family, especially this Christmas.”

ACE ‘’Passion Apple Spark’’ is already available at select outlets across the country since its weekend launch.

At the launch, Nnamdi Chu. Iyiegbu, managing director of an Abuja popular pub Cubana, described the drink as a very fantastic move. “It is wonderful. I like the shape and size and the taste is really wonderful,” he said. BC

A8 24

Business Courage

Monday, December 22, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Global News Oil up on pre-holiday short-covering but down for fourth week

O

il bounced higher on Friday as selling pressure from a six-month price rout eased for a second time this week on short-covering, helped by fresh buying in U.S. crude before the expiry of the front-month contract.

U.S. West Texas Intermediate,WTI, crude futures traded above $55 a barrel while benchmark Brent hovered above the psychologically key $60 level, gaining over 2 percent in New York’s morning trade.

On a weekly basis though, Brent and U.S. crude were headed for a fourth straight week of losses, due to earlier declines this week on longrunning worries about a huge supply overhang in oil.

Brent is down nearly 14 percent and WTI has shed nearly 16 percent in December, and both have lost roughly 50 percent since their June highs.

“At least I’m not convinced that with Brent at $60 or WTI above $55, we’ve seen the bottom yet,” said Tariq Zahir, managing member at Tyche Capital Advisors in Laurel Hollow, New York.

“If the market keeps going higher, it’ll be a sign for me to sell into the strength, doing about 20 percent more of my normal size, to take advantage of the exaggerated moves we’ll be seeing from the low volumes during the Christmas and New Year weeks.”

Brent’s front-month LCOc1 was up $1.18 at $60.46 a barrel by 11:25 a.m.

EST. The contract settled down $1.91 on Thursday, after trading as high as $63.70 a barrel.

WTI’s January contract CLF5, which expires at Friday’s settlement, was up $1.64 to $55.75 a barrel after hitting a session high at $56.25. The February contract CLG5, which becomes WTI’s front-month from Monday, was up $1.71 at $56.07.

“There could be more fireworks in WTI later today from the contract switching, and we may even finish lower,” said Phil Flynn, analyst at the Price Futures Group in Chicago.

Oil began tumbling in June on worries about fastgrowing U.S. shale crude supplies and accelerated its fall after OPEC’s decision in November not to cut output.

Oil companies have been announcing cuts in exploration and capital spending as

the price rout makes some drilling projects uneconomic.

But energy consultancy Wood Mackenzie said on Friday drillers had to do more.

On top of $9 billion in spending cuts already announced, drillers need to reduce spending next year by another $170 billion, or 37 percent, from 2014 if Brent remains at current levels, it said.

Herman Van Rompuy, EU President

EU launches WTO dispute to challenge new Boeing subsidies

T

he European Union launched a trade dispute at the World Trade Organization on Friday to challenge what it considers illegal U.S. subsidies for Boeing Co and other aerospace manufacturers in the U.S. state of Washington.

The EU case argues that the Pacific coast state broke WTO rules by offering Boeing “vastly expanded” tax breaks to manufacture its new model there.

The EU and the United States have still not resolved two parallel clashes about subsidies for Boeing and its European rival Airbus, the two biggest and longest-running disputes in the WTO’s history.

In a 10-year legal fight, both sides have been faulted over their support for their large civil aircraft makers, but the legal wrangling continues over how much damage each has done to the other.

In its new complaint, the EU said the WTO ruled in 2012 that Washington state’s subsidies for Boeing and other aerospace firms that run until 2024 were illegal, and it was now challenging the extension of those subsidies until 2040.

The EU said the extended

subsidies were illegal because they required the beneficiary to use local rather than imported inputs - thereby discriminating against non-U.S. suppliers.

“The subsidies scheme extension is estimated to be worth $8.7bn and will be the largest subsidy for the civil aerospace industry in U.S. history,” the EU said in a statement.

The state said on Friday that the credits were available to all commercial aerospace producers and in 2013, 460 firms claimed incentives under at least one of the programs. That number includes “many European-owned aerospace suppliers,” said Alex Pietsch, director of the state office of aerospace.

Under WTO rules, the United States has 60 days to try to deal with the EU’s concerns in bilateral talks. After that period, the EU could ask the WTO to set up a panel of three adjudicators to rule on its complaint.

That would probably take until 2016 at least, although the WTO’s dispute system is already congested, and any judgment could be followed by an appeal.

Wall Street edges up to extend weekly gains

U

.S. stocks advanced modestly on Friday, extending gains after the best two-day run for the benchmark S&P 500 in three years was sparked by the Federal Reserve’s most recent policy statement.

The S&P had climbed 4.5 percent over the previous two sessions, spurred by the U.S. Federal Reserve’s commitment to take a “patient” approach toward raising interest rates, while signaling it was on track to boost rates in 2015. That provided clarity and relief to investors over the policy outlook, analysts said.

Brent crude LCOc1 oil advanced above $60 a barrel on Friday, recovering from near a 5-1/2-year low, while WTI crude CLc1 climbed 3.3 percent to $55.90.

The S&P 500 has risen more than 3 percent this week, putting it on track for its best weekly performance in two months. This index has erased nearly all of the losses from the prior week, which were spurred by a sharp drop in oil prices.

“Basically, all we are doing is recovering from the oil-induced selloff. It’s kind

of coming back to where we were about two weeks ago,” said Peter Jankovskis, cochief investment officer at OakBrook Investments LLC in Lisle, Illinois.

“We have digested the drop in oil, we have gotten past the Fed, and now we will see what we will do for the rest of the year.”

The Dow Jones industrial average rose 20.53 points, or 0.12 percent, to 17,798.68, the S&P 500 gained 5.84 points, or 0.28 percent, to 2,067.07 and the Nasdaq Composite .IXIC added 12.54 points, or 0.26 percent, to 4,760.93.

Equity trading may be volatile Friday due to “quadruple witching,” the expiration of stock options, index options, index futures and singlestock futures. In addition, the rebalance of the S&P 500 is scheduled to take effect after the close.

U.S.-listed shares of Blackberry dropped 6.4 percent to $9.43 after the company posted a small adjusted third-quarter profit and returned to positive cash flow, but revenue declined more than expected.

Nike shares were down 3.7 percent to $93.51, a drag on both the Dow and S&P 500, after its quarterly results.

Cerus Corp shares jumped 8 percent to $6.65 after the company said the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved its blood transfusion device for platelets.

Shares in Ally Financial were up 4 percent to $23.65.

The company said the U.S. Treasury Department will sell the remaining 54.9 million shares acquired under the government’s bailout of the auto lender.

Advancing issues outnumbered decliners on the NYSE 1,648 to 1,292, for a 1.28-to1 ratio; on the Nasdaq, 1,372 issues fell and 1,201 advanced, for a 1.14-to-1 ratio favoring decliners.

The benchmark S&P 500 was posting 102 new 52week highs and 5 new lows; the Nasdaq Composite was recording 80 new highs and 29 new lows.

money” “We didn’t do it suspend orders overall, just on some models we said, ‘Sorry, until we see where this situation is going we don’t take orders,’” he told reporters in Tokyo.

“When the rouble sinks it’s a bloodbath for everybody.

It’s red ink, people are losing money, all car manufacturers are losing money,” he added.

Suspension The French-Japanese Renault-Nissan alliance is a major player in Russia’s car industry.

Not only does it sell vehicles under its own brands, it also controls the domestic manufacturer Avtovaz, better known as the maker of Lada cars.

Mr Ghosn said the group had suspended taking orders for some models, this included cars made in Russia, but also those which used large quantities of imported parts.

Orders already placed would be honoured, he said.

Other manufacturers have been taking similar steps in response to the decline of the rouble, which has halved in value against the dollar this year.

General Motors, Audi and Jaguar Land Rover also suspended deliveries to Russian dealers earlier this week.

UK operations If car sales in Russia do continue to decline, it could affect British manufacturing.

Nissan says about 10% of the cars made at its Sunderland plant are exported to the region.

“I certainly think there could be a potential impact on Nissan’s operations in the UK,” said David Bailey, professor of industry at Aston Business School.

“It sells for example the Qashqai model in large numbers in Russia.”

He said it could also have an impact on the premium end of Jaguar Land Rover, “albeit far less than in the case of Nissan” BC

Manufacturers face ‘bloodbath’ in Russia, says Renault Nissan boss

W

hen the rouble sinks, it’s a bloodbath for everybody. It’s red ink, people are losing money, all car manufacturers are losing

Ghosn

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Business Courage

Monday, December 22, 2014

A9 25

SMEs

Fish import quota review: A palliative measure for local production The recent review of the fish import quota regime by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, which has led to the reduction in the prices of fish across the country, has been lauded by stakeholders and consumers in the country as a better strategy to increase the local production capacity. Reports Abolaji Adebayo.

T

he decision of the Federal Government to review the fish import quota regime has been yielding good results, leading to reduction in the market price of fish across the country.

This action has been trailed by praises from consumers as well as the local farmers whose production capacity has been restricted by the importation of fish over the years.

Although, Nigeria currently has a shortage of 2.6 million tons of fish according to the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations’, FAO, figures, while the global average of fish consumption is 18.7 kilogrammes per person, Nigerian per capita consumption of fish is only 11.2 kilogrammes.

Nigerian fish supply consists of 600,000 metric tons of local production and the balance is mainly covered by imports of frozen fish. Frozen fish are caught in high seas by trawlers in Asia, Europe and Russian the major markets from where Nigeria imports fish.

According to a fishery expert, Nigerian domestic production consists predominantly of farmed fish, mostly catfish. The varieties of frozen fish that Nigeria imports are not sufficiently available in Nigerian coastal waters. Besides, Nigerian trawling industry has been seriously affected by oil spillage, piracy, kidnapping and non-sustainable fishing practices.

It will be recalled that the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development announced an increase in fish import quota for the 3rd quarter of the year in order to address the anomalies discovered in the wake of a review ordered by the Minister and also to bridge the shortage gap.

At a stakeholder meeting

in Abuja recently, the Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, stressed that government’s action was geared towards preventing a distortion in the market. Thus, he emphasised that the review was aimed at ensuring that established importers, with considerable investments in cold storage facilities and well established supply chains across the country, were given import allocations that better reflect their operational capacity.

The Minister noted that going by the findings of the Review Committee headed by Professor Doyin Salami of the Lagos Business School, the neglect of the big importers and a subsequent allocation of import quota to individuals and companies with little or no track record in fish importation, created a parallel market affecting the price of the commodity.

“A situation where you hand fish import quota to someone without storage facility and they subsequently sell it to those with capacity necessarily imports negative consequences in terms of pricing and this is borne by the consumers,” the Minister noted while adding that under his watch, as mandated by the President, such anomaly cannot be allowed to persist.

The Minister warned that the target of the country to rapidly reduce her fish import bill is still a priority. In this regard, he noted the bold efforts undertaken by the big importers to achieve accelerated aqua-cultural production.

This, the Minister pointed out, had not come easy and is a clear indication that these companies have recognised that Nigeria is serious about its reform objectives and are willing to partner with the present administration. He therefore charged the FDF to support these efforts, which have far reaching benefits for local fish production. He noted further that “there is no rocket science to the production of fish because what Nigeria needs, she has in terms of in-land and territorial water bodies in addition to a huge local consumer market.”

The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mr. Sunday Echono, who regretted the lapses in the fish quota allocation regime, promised to take urgent action to forestall a repeat, while calling on all stakeholders to work towards the attainment of the present

administration’s policy drive in the sub-sector.

The Association of Fish Importers and Sellers of Nigeria, AFISON, also regretted the court threatening action against the Minister by some of its members on what it termed marginalisation of local importers, alleging that this was contrary to the ‘Indigenisation Decree’.

We therefore appealed to the government to adhere to a 60:40 allocation ratio between the local and foreign owned companies.

Earlier, a local importer, Mrs. Vero Igbe, had lamented the domination of the fish market by the foreigner importers due to their import quota capacity that superseded that of the local players.

“Prior to the formulation of the quota policy restricting the volume of fish importation into Nigeria, the local players in the importation business encountered serious repression from their foreign counterparts.

“The foreign importers controlled about 80 per cent of the market, leaving the local importers with just 20 per cent of the market.

“This situation in the fishery business brought about many hazards, which were equally bored by both the local players and the consumers of the

imported fish. The Nigerian market was full of expired fish, which were sold to unsuspected consumers, she explained.

In order to deal with this perceived issue, the federal government has been trying to work out a revised quota.

The fish to be imported could be any species other than catfish and tilapia indicated as not permitted for imports. Reports indicated that the government and importers have settled on an annual baseline fish import figure to be at 700,000 tonnes and to set the quota for 2014 at 500,000 tons, representing a 25 per cent reduction against the new baseline figure.

Majority of the importers were reported to have been showing satisfaction with the new quota policy, indicating that it would assist in minimising the sharp marketplace practices which had provided advantages to a few larger controlling importers.

According to Igbe, Nigerian markets were flourishing with more than 60 per cent of expired fish. Since nobody used to check expired fish in the various companies, it was easy for the importers to keep the fish in their stock for up to a year.

She said, “But with the new policy, you can’t buy more than the quota given to you by the

government whether you are a foreign or local importer.

But a reverse of the policy ensued that importers with little facility capacity were given more import quotas has been affecting the fishery sector. The government has therefore stood against the situation and tried to correct it by reviewing the policy.

In his subsequent response, the Minister pointed out that government policy at all times is primarily focused on ensuring that good quality fish is available to the Nigerian populace.

With this in view, Dr. Adesina noted, the recent policy measures undertaken in relation to the import quota allocation will be better understood. He however noted that the directive is more palliative in nature and will be reviewed from time to time in order to ensure that local production capacity rises steadily in the nearest future.

With the reduction in the price as a result of the quota review, myriad of fish consumers can now afford any specie of the fish in the market, while the local producers are optimistic of getting their own productions boosted.

The President of Catfish Association of Nigeria, CAFAN, Mr. Tayo Akingbolagun commended the Minister for the review of the policy towards building local capacity.

Investigation by Business Courage revealed that there are about 20 per cent reduction in the prices of various species of fish in the markets across the country. For instance, Herring prices have come down from N7,600 to N4,000 per carton. In the case of Horse Mackerel, the price came down to N5,800 from more than N9,500 per carton.

The Titus species is being sold in the market for N6,800, down from a level of N10,200 per carton.

However, a fishery expert, Solomon Anichebe, who did not want any reduction in the importation of variety of frozen fish such as Herring or Shawa, Sardine,Horse Mackerel (Kote), Sardinella (Agbodu), Mackerel and Blue Whiting (Panla) which have become favourites in Nigeria, argued that only the catfish has become accustomed to breeding in Nigeria.

He said “The impact of any major reduction in imports would only mean that catfish will be the only variety of fish available in Nigeria”. BC

A10 26

Business Courage

Monday, December 22, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Business Amazon of the century

H

ajia Bola a Shagaya, MON, N, was born on n the 10th of October, ctober, 1959. She hails from m Ilorin, Kwara state, Nigeria ria but resides and runs ns her businesses in Lagos. Growing up in a male dominated Muslim community ought to have caged her freedom, but she was able to find a way out to become one of the most respected business women in the world recognized by the Forbes Magazine.

She started her career in the audit department of the Central Bank of Nigeria before sticking out her neck into private com-

mercial business in 1983.

Bola Shagaya’s business experience began when she ventured into the importation and distribution of photographic materials, namely, roll papers, films and chemicals under the trading name, Bolmus International, Nigeria limited. Having done this for some time, her business initiative must have possibly informed her to step up her business to the next level, this she did by introducing the Konica brand of photographic materials into the Nigerian market as well as the West African coast when the opportunity to represent the company in Nigeria was offered her.

However, in 1997, she registered Fotofair, Nigeria limited.

Few weeks after, she opened a photo labora-

‘

tory service unit on Ozumba Mbadiwe road, Victoria Island, Lagos using 100 percent Japanese technology under the Konica brand name. Today, Fotofair Nigeria Limited has over thirty photo laboratories located in different parts of the country and evidently one of the largest photo laboratory companies in Nigeria.

Hajia Bola Shagaya is also the Managing Director of Practoil Limited, one of the largest importers and distributors of base oil in Nigeria which has been meeting the needs of the local lubricant blending plants.

Practoil is presently building its own state – of – the – art lubricating plant at Kirikiri, Lagos state, which will produce multigrade oils and lubricants to satisfy the needs of Nigerians and those of the West Africa.

She has now also taken steps into the real estate sector by building hundreds of town houses which rent areas per year is said to be in

Her business empire, which also includes a huge investment in prime real estate, spans across major cities in the country and has over three hundred employees

‘

Hajia Bola Shagaya hagaya stepped up her er life from a bank clerk to owning business ess investment or stakes in major sectors of the Nigerian economy and d in other parts of the world valued at several billions ns Naira. Reports, s, Tayo Elebijo

the range of $180,000 per flat per year. Owning properties in Europe and America, she has become one of the biggest players in the lucrative property market around the world.

Her business empire, which also includes a huge investment in prime real estate, spans across major cities in the country and has over three hundred employees. She said to have large investments in the real estate sector in Nigeria, the US and in Europe. Revenues from this area are said to form the lubricating oil for the further expansion of her business empire.

Certainly, nobody gave her the chance but sheer determination, courage and self propelled drive to succeed must have played some major parts in the life of Hajia Bola Shagaya, who has turned around her life to become a business Amazon combining both beauty and brain to get to the lofty height in the sectors she operates in.

Nothing was capable of holding her back from achieving her dream. She is considered to be firm, thorough, resilient and focused when she sets out to get things done.

Business Amazon, Bola Shagaya had her secondary school education at the Queens School, Ilorin, Kwara State. Her tertiary education was at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and at the Armstrong College in California, where she studied economics and accountancy. She has also attended a number of local and international seminars and workshops, including Harvard Business School in her efforts to always keep abreast of the latest techniques in business management.

Her business empire, which also includes a huge investment in prime real estate, spans across major cities in the country and has over three hundred employees. She’s said to have large investments in the real es-

Business Courage

Monday, December 22, 2014

tate sector in Nigeria, the US and in Europe. Revenues from this area are said to form the lubricating oil for the further expansion of her business empire.

Certainly, nobody gave her the chance but sheer determination, courage and self propelled drive to succeed must have played some major parts in the life of Hajia Bola Shagaya, who has turned around her life to become a business Amazon combining both beauty and brain to get to the lofty height in the sectors she operates in. Nothing was capable of holding her back from achieving her dream. She is considered to be firm, thorough, resilient and focused when she sets out to get things done.

Business Amazon, Bola Shagaya had her secondary school education at the Queens School, Ilorin, Kwara State. her tertiary education at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and at the Armstrong College in California, where she studied economics and accountancy. She has also attended a number of local and international seminars and workshops, including Harvard

‘

Nothing was capable of holding her back from achieving her dream. She is considered to be firm, thorough, resilient and focused when she sets out to get things done

‘

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Business School in her efforts to always keep abreast of the latest techniques in business management.

Bola Shagaya was on the board of Intercity Bank for over 8 years. While on the board of the bank, (now Unity Bank Plc), she served in different capacities on various board committees including the position of Chairman of the bank’s establishment committee and Chairman, Audit committee just to mention a few. In addition, Hajiya Bola Shagaya was a member of the audit and credit committees of the board of Unity Bank plc. She was the head of the department

that oversaw importation and export of cash crops.

She is also a member of the recently inaugurated Nepad Business Group – Nigeria.

Her immense love for fashion was recognised when the Fashion Designers Association of Nigeria, FADAN, capped her as the body’s patron. She is a fashion and art enthusiast who supports and encourages the fashion and art industry. She is also a sports lover, especially Polo. She has consistently supported polo tournaments over the years in Nigeria.

In recognition of her outstanding virtues and in appreciation of her services to

A11 27

the country however, on the 22nd of july 2010, she was awarded by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan (GCFR), with the title of Member of the Order of the Niger (MON) Although, not a politician, Bola Shagaya has maintained links with important figures in various administrations up to the President. Recently, she was one of the 100 business personalities in Nigeria recognized by the President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan administration as one of the events lined up for the Centenary Celebration by the Federal Government of Nigeia.

She currently sits on the board of the National Economic Partnership for Africa Development, NEPAD, a Nigerian business group.

With over 24 years of active local and international business experience in her kitty, she nevertheless craves for more knowledge to further improve on her business outlook by participating in many local and international seminars and workshops, including the Harvard Business School just to keep abreast of the developments in management techniques.

Bola Shagaya’s companies, have also been getting rewarded for outstanding performances in the their various business sectors.

The Pract Oil Ltd was one of eleven organisations, drawn from all sectors of the economy that were conferred with the National Productivity Order of Merit Award.

Some of the other organizations that got the award are Newstar Metal International Ltd., Eternit Ltd. Sapele, Jukel Nigeria Ltd., Enugu, Yammfy Farms Nigeria Ltd., Ilemona, Kwara State, Acreage Integrated Food Company Ltd., Lagos; URS-Group of Companies, Hedgeworth Group, Lagos State Waste Management Authority, Technology Incubation Centre, Warri and Overland Airways Ltd. BC

A12 28

Business Courage

Monday, December 22, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

ThebuddingEntrepreneurs

The food

business

advocate

It was an idea conceived out of a burning desire while she was about graduating from the university that she would never be a job seeker but an employer of labour. True to her dream, shortly after graduating, in 2004, she launched her first company Honeysuckles PTL Ventures with the primary aim of selling processed food produce. Today, ten years after, Honeysuckles PTL Ventures, owned by Cynthia Mosunmola Umoru, a Zoology graduate, has gradually walked its way into the big league of nationally and internationally acclaimed food production companies. She now devotes her time

By Adejuwon Osunnuyi

B

ut for the political unrests and crises in the Northern part of the country, Cynthia Mosunmola Umoru, founder and Chief Implementation Officer of Honeysuckles PTL Ventures, a company engaged mostly in food production, processing and distribution, would have been a medical doctor. However, while her dream of becoming a medical doctor was aborted, she nevertheless realised it in another line of dream she eventually pursue making her become an outstanding entrepreneur in the agricultural sector. Also the Founder/CEO of Farmshoppe, a retail industry launched in January 2011, Cynthia has earned herself many accolades among which she was appointed a Youth Consultant to the African Union Commission.

Aside winning Business Owner of the Year prize at the 2009 edition of The Future Awards Africa, she was announced an Ashoka Fellow in November 2011.

For Cynthia, a multi-talented young woman and social entrepreneur, the early signs of her entrepreneurial prowess started showing when in her secondary school days she got herself involved in making hair clips and ribbons for sales to her school mates. While she was in her fourth year, she be-

came president of the Young Farmers’ Club.

Then, though she had developed recreational interest in agriculture, she had desired to study medicine. To show her exceptional brilliance, in a nationwide test meant for getting admission into medical schools, Cynthia came third and was subsequently admitted to study medicine at the Bayero University Kano; however, she had to permanently abandon her studies at the university almost immediately to relocate back to Lagos following political unrests and crises in the North.

While she returned to Lagos, she alternatively settled for Zoology at Lagos State University as she gave her interest in agriculture more attention. She took courses in fisheries, and multilevel marketing. But again, just like in secondary school where she had displayed her remarkable potential in combining studies and entrepreneurship, she established a successful cake and cookie business.

While at the University, Cynthia also participated in an internship at ExxonMobil, one of the global leading multinational oil companies with operations in Nigeria. She demonstrated an outstanding capacity for extra work as she was allowed to participate in an outside vendor evaluation, which taught her a great deal about quality, methods, and assessment.

Narrating her experience

Umoru

with Business Courage, she noted that during that period, she realised that she needed more excitement in her life than the regular 8am-5pm job.

“I needed satisfaction and that gave me a reason to start digging into what I could do differently. Fortunately, for me, my background in Zoology, gave me the opportunity to take elective courses in Fisheries while in school. Hence I decided to give farming an attempt.” She said.

While in her final year of study, Cynthia made up her mind never to comb the labour market in search of job like

most of her contemporaries but rather become an employer of labour. The dream became a reality as she established her first company, known as Honeysuckles PTL Ventures with the primary aim of selling processed food produce.

Soon after launching Honeysuckles, Cynthia got the opportunity to supply dressed chicken and catfish to one of the fastest growing food retail chains in the country. However, scarcity and inconsistent quality led Cynthia to begin researching production with the intention of a backward integra-

tion in preparation for adequate positioning on the food supply chain. She launched a farm to meet this need.

“I could recall that I was reported by my father to the general manager of the Raw Sourcing Department of Tantalizers that I refused to take on a paid employment. Through my discussions with her, I discovered that Tantalizers had problems with sourcing for farm produce.

I saw it as a good opportunity for me to fill in the gap, I latched onto it, and I started sourcing snails, and later chicken for them.” She noted.

That decision to source for snails saw her travelling to different parts of the country and anywhere she went, she was told there were snails in abundance. However, disappointedly, she discovered that snails were seasonal, and hence were sometimes scarce to come by.

But while she became very curious on how to be getting the snails in and out of season, she decided to try her hands on breeding them, as that singular act led her into snail farming. However, today, aside snail farming, Honeysuckles PTL Ventures has evolved into poultry farming and chicken processing.

While every prospective entrepreneur knows that sourcing start-up capital poses a lot of difficulty, for Cynthia the story was not different as she recalled that she set up Honeysuckles with just N80,000 from her savings in 2004 which she earned from the sale of GNLD products and the cakes she baked to sell.

“I plunged it all into sourcing for chickens. Interestingly,

Management Principles

Career Advancement Tips

M

any career experts agree that the best time to look for a new job is while you are still comfortably in your old one. If you’re starting to feel unchallenged in your present position, you may be ready for a promotion to the next level. If there aren’t many career advancement opportunities where you work, the best next job may be waiting for you elsewhere.

Nowadays, it’s up to you to take control of your professional future and make sure that you are progressing wisely down the right career path. Here are 10 proven strategies to help you get started.

Talk to your boss Sit down and have a very direct and pointed conversation with your boss about your future in the company. Stress that you want your job performance to meet the company’s goals. Share your own career goals. Your boss will respect this display of confidence and maturity.

Ask for more work Volunteering to help out other departments or teams -- or simply asking for more responsibilities -increases your value within the organization. Asking for additional work shows an interest and desire to help your department and company to succeed. It also puts a spotlight on your value to the business.

Volunteer for boards If you have your career set on something beyond what you are doing in your present position, seek out opportunities to volunteer or serve on advisory boards, where you can build a reputation as someone who is passionate and dedicated to your particular target industry.

Sharpen your people skills Strong interpersonal skills play a crucial role in gaining the respect of your boss and co-workers; they will also attract the notice of outside influencers who might open new doors of opportunity for you. Be friendly, outgoing, and personable. Listen carefully to people, and practice being a clear and effective

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Business Courage

Monday, December 22, 2014

A13 29

ThebuddingEntrepreneurs in the early part of 2005, a friend read my business plan and he was impressed with what I had put together. He gave me N300,000.

That really helped, because I could not get a bank loan at the time. I also got a loan from an uncle who was very supportive. Hence, I was able to meet the demand for my products. But as the demand grew, I had to get more money. I borrowed money from friends and family members.

This sustained me for a while.

Later in 2006, I had to get a bank loan,” she said.

As she recollected, “It took me about five years to gain relevance.

As a young entrepreneur, in my very early days, I lost a lot of the seed capital I got from financial mentors to poor and bad business decisions I made because there was no one to talk to.”

But this lack of mentorship, combined with the poor perception of agriculture, is what Cynthia is today turning around. “Farming, before now in Nigeria, was termed the business of low-lives and with the barrier to entry being so high for young people to actively participate,” as she said she is determined to “impress on my generation that farming can be glamorous and cool enough for us to trade places with the business executive in the large conglomerate and also the bank’s middle management cadre, which is the initial attraction for most young graduates in Nigeria.”

Today, Cynthia visits schools in and around Lagos, speaking before

hundreds of high school and university students each week, trying to open the eyes of many of the brightest and most entrepreneurial minds from the urban and semiurban areas to the options that exist beyond the few fields that they currently understand to be the only roads to financial success.

She does this by exposing them to the modern agribusiness she started in college and from which she has found great success.

Cynthia also gets them started on the path to their own successful agribusinesses. And for those whose interests have already been peaked, Cynthia provides the quality training missing in the general sector, to really help modernize their venture.

Intrigued by her success story, dozens of the most entrepreneurial students sign up to revive their schools’ Young Farmers’ Club.

While she sets up the farmers’ clubs to participate in mini-livestock farming and vegetable gardening, Cynthia takes students to her farm and combines them with a broader group of aspiring young agribusiness entrepreneurs, who

communicator.

Be innovative Never be afraid to think outside the box and put your business acumen to work. Stay on the lookout for creative solutions to problems that will make you -- and your boss -- look good.

Find a mentor Develop mentoring relationships, either inside or outside of your company. Recent studies have shown that four out of five promotions are influenced by a mentor higher up in the company. Mentors are also great sources of information and career guidance.

Sell yourself Learn the fine art of self-promotion. If you have had major accomplishments or created successful programmes, make sure people know about it -- especially those in influential positions who could help you advance professionally. Let it be known that you are seeking a promotion or the next step up in your career.

Keep learning A proven way to advance in your career is to be continually acquiring new knowledge. Stay on top of trends or developments in your field and make sure that your current résumé reflects those needed skills.

Expand your network Strengthen your personal network by joining professional organizations, attending industry conferences, or even volunteering. The more people who are aware of your strengths and abilities, the better your chances of hearing about any new opportunities that might arise Build your reputation In business, your reputation is the most valuable thing you own. Be known for being dependable, professional, and cooperative. Act and look the part by dressing professionally. Make a name for yourself by attending conferences, delivering speeches, or writing articles. BC

have approached her for advice on different aspects of their budding agribusiness. Together, both groups witness a real-life example of a modern agribusiness.

Cynthia has been able to get the ear of several key figures due to a book she wrote on minilivestock farming that received national acclaim. This publicity helps her make things happen for the young people that participate in her program, but she realizes that what is necessary is a much broader system to first attract and then support young agribusiness entrepreneurs.

She however reveals that a lot of youths are actually disillusioned as to what it takes to succeed in businesses which essentially are passion, good planning and patience.

Some of her concrete demands include encouraging universities and the government to provide training programs that will assist young people newly seeking to establish farming businesses, and banks to make credit more available to scale these ventures.

To date, Cynthia has worked with the Ministry of Agriculture in Lagos State as they established a training program to teach business to young farmers, using one of her farms for research and training.

While Cynthia moves forward in getting other parties to play their part in building a new crop of agricultural business entrepreneurs, she has decided to formalize the training she has provided to date, into the formal venture, Abira Agribusiness support project.

She is presently collaborating with the Federal Ministry of Youth Development to incorporate her project ABIRA into the Ministry agenda as a transformation platform for job creation. She has also set up a program for women aged 16 to 35 to be trained through various enterprise education institutions, one of which includes the Enterprise Development Centre, a Faculty of the Pan African University (popularly known as the Lagos Business School).

Services will include Agricultural Entrepreneurship Development, Accounting and Financial Management, Financial Brokering, Technical Training, Strategy Development, and Product Development.

More broadly, it will serve as a concrete model and reference point of the kind of program needed to propel agriculture in Nigeria and many other parts of Africa into the 21st century.

As part of Abira, Cynthia will also launch a medium to large size agribusiness to be managed by young farmers that will provide a reliable source of produce to a national chain of fruit and vegetable shops. She has secured interest from two banks that will provide loans to the successful graduates of her training program who will go on to manage this business. BC

Personal Finance How to create a winning business idea

D

eveloping large or small business ideas is a matter of creating a vision, leveraging your strengths and determining what the market needs. These three steps should get you started.

Create a vision: Close your eyes for a few minutes and conjure up a detailed image of what you want your life to look like in five years. Be as specific as possible.

Where do you live? How do you spend your days?

What kind of work do you do? Do you work alone or with other people? Who are you surrounded by?

What do you do when you aren’t working?

Don’t limit yourself to these questions; create a vivid vision of yourself, touching on things that are important to you. These are all personal issues that will impact the type of business you pursue - being a city or country person; wanting to travel or sit at your computer; liking to meet people or work on the phone. This activity will help you create a foundation for choosing from small business ideas, making business decisions, and setting clear goals.

It is best to do this exercise with someone else and share your vision. If you can’t, write it down to make your vision more concrete.

Determine what you’re good at and what you like to do: It’s often useful to look inside yourself to figure out what you like and dislike, and where your talents lie.

It’s one thing to come up with a winning business idea.

It’s another to come up with one that fits your skill set and interests you. Your business has to keep you excited so you can thrive over the long haul.

One of the best ways to do this is to make three separate lists: List 1: What you’re good at - Everyone is good at something and many skills can be the foundation for a business. You might be naturally organized or have a knack for fixing things. You may be so used to your skills that they don’t immediately come to mind, so assemble this list by observing yourself for a few weeks with an eye out for your aptitudes and by asking people who know you well for their impressions of what you excel at.

List 2: Skills you’ve acquired over the years - Whether or not you’ve worked in a conventional environment, you no doubt have accumulated many. Write down all the work responsibilities you’ve had; think about the varied tasks you know how to complete. Make sure this list is complete – there should be at least 10 distinct items.

List 3: Things you like to do - List the things you enjoy doing. This may not be as easy as it sounds. This list should be at least 10 items long. Stretch beyond your hobbies and interests that spring to mind immediately. If you’re stymied, ask people who have known you for a long time – particularly people who knew you as a kid – what they have seen you doing when you’re happiest.

Keep these three lists in an accessible place for several weeks, and when small business ideas come to you, jot them down in the proper category. Ask people who know you well for their input or to help you jog your memory.

Figure out what the market needs: So far, you’ve been looking inward to come up with your business idea. Now, it’s time to look outward to discover an unfilled need that you can meet with your product or service.

There are plenty of “Top 10” or “Hot New” business lists out there. These may stimulate some ideas, but the best business ideas will come from you and will be based on who you are and what the market is looking for. So, while you’re doing your soul searching and list making, put up your antenna and look out for business opportunities. BC Adapted from content excerpted from the AmeriBC can Express® OPEN Small Business Network

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Business Courage

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Monday, December 22, 2014

ThebuddingEntrepreneurs BUSINESS

The Problem of

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

I

have always believed that for a business to improve services, expand in value creation, and create wealth for both the society and entrepreneur there is need to add more people.

Add more people with competence, and placing them in roles, team, division, retail stores, and factory, changes the dynamics of the business system. It is an opportunity to scale up both excellence and market leadership.

In Nigeria business sphere, many entrepreneurs will rather stretch the employees to do more and more than to bring in more people to help scale up productivity. This is a key factor among others that predict the pitfall of many enterprises.

In the year 2012 to 2013, I sampled a Nigerian entrepreneur organisation within the ICT industry where there is a high staff turnover (an estimate of eight of ten recruited staff resigns before its 1st year anniversary). I found out that, among other reasons, the problem of trying to scale up production by overloading the work team with more and more works compelled the members of staff to resign. The members of staff were stress that either they were in and out of hospital more than once, or they recorded more errors on job and feel frustrated on the job. In addition, I found out that poor remuneration was a catalyst that effect resignation of average staff under such conditions.

To trying increase in volume and quality of business result without considering the impact on the workers will always wreak havoc throughout a team and enterprise.

Dear entrepreneur, whether the objective is to improve plantain chips production processes and more volumes sales per day or speed up merger and acquisition processes of banks will demand for more and more volumes of deliverables per day. Without injecting more people and proper technological tools, makes it easy for blind spot to expand and ultimately bad decisions taken on the jobs.

Research has identified this

to be “cognitive overload”. You can spread cognitive load by bringing in more people who can help get the business done.

An example is the experiment that Kevin Peters conducted in 2010, which he called evaluation by mystery shoppers when he realised that store sales were falling. After Kevin visit to seventy stores in fifteen states of United states, he found clerks and managers felt so pressurised to do tasks such as sweeping floors and stocking shelves that they routinely ignore customers need. While stocking or cleaning they rather face shelves than face customers who are asking questions or waiting to be attended to. “They usually backed face the customers,” Kevin Peter said.

Eventually, Kevin and Office Depot team through mystery shopper experiment found out that the more tasks people do, the worse they tend to perform each one.

Today, the rise of information technologies, especially smart phones, has transformed an average employee to someone who can do many things at once. Doing more and more that diversify individual focus in the name of excessive multi tasking undermine the employees competence.

A study of twenty-three

More and More neo natal intensive care unit (NICU) United State underscore the danger of bothering people with extra cores. They came out with report that when medical staff collaborated to improve care - learning and teaching ways to control infection e.g- infant mortality lower. However, getting medical staff involved in management has linked to higher mortality rate. When medical staff participated in hiring, performance appraisal, and hospital budget, more babies died.

In Nigeria, I have worked with entrepreneurs in medical, food, artistry, and engineering industries and obviously the temptation to maximise profits and reduce overhead cost without objective assesment of its impact on the working team stands against business success. In all, one major reason for such problem is foremost, lack of relevant business system among small-scale enterprises. For many entrepreneurs with a small size team, workers do responsibilities as the managing director deem fits daily rather than systematically and measurable designed tasks.

My encouragement to entrepreneurs is to be system conscious no matter how small the company and especially if you are not a one-man category call self-employee. The ad-

‘

My encouragement to entrepreneurs is to be system conscious no matter how small the company and especially if you are not a one-man category call selfemployee

‘

KLINIC

vantage is that you are able to do proper unit responsibilities, staff audit, need for recruitment and capacity building where it is required. There are two categories of systems; the animate system and inanimate system.

Inanimate system: this is about your business operations within network of departments or units designed to produce business result.

Inanimate system is your organisation graph that clarifies the levels of functions and reports. It also shows the responsibilities of every worker and deliverables. For entrepreneur to develop inanimate system, she should list out all

Motivational Business Quotes

I

ndustry is the soul of business and the keystone of prosperity. – Charles Dickens

I don’t pay good wages because I have a lot of money; I have a lot of money because I pay good wages. – Robert Bosch People are definitely a company’s greatest asset. It doesn’t make any difference whether the product is cars or cosmetics. A company is only as good as the people it keeps. – Mary Kay Ash In business, I’ve discovered that my purpose is to do my best to my utmost ability every day.

That’s my standard. I learned early in my life that I had high standards. – Donald Trump In the business world, everyone is paid in two coins: cash and experience. Take the experience first; the cash will come later. – Harold Geneen

To be successful, you have to have your heart in your business, and your business in your heart. – Thomas Watson, Sr. The absolute fundamental aim is to make money out of satisfying customers. – John Egan There are a lot of things that go into creating success. I don’t like to do just the things I like to do. I like to do things that cause the company to succeed. I don’t spend a lot of time doing my favorite activities. – Michael Dell I have found no greater satisfaction than achieving success through honest dealing and strict adherence to the view that, for you to gain, those you deal with should gain as well. – Alan Greenspan BC

daily functions that will make business achieve its goals and.

E.g. sweeping of store, record keeping, sales, logistics, marketing etc. Once all functions have been listed, create units small enough to accommodate similar lists of functions and name each as units with staff placement in each. These will give you picture of workload in each unit and numbers of staff requires to do them. In addition, the staff can account for expected deliverables daily and to measure reality of achieving monthly business objectives.

Animate system: this is the core responsibility of any business leader. It is the team of talented people or staff with diverse academic and cultural background developing ideas to fulfill business objectives.

This is what really makes the difference in every business; ability to assemble talents whose system thinking produce the wow and consumer’s interest products. As an entrepreneur, you will always need to ask that “who can we bring in to help us design the right product for a segment of this large market?” or “who can we bring into this unit (inanimate system) to lead the unit effectively?” As entrepreneur, you will always need the right set of talents to do more and more.

My encouragement is for you to have the mindset of “doing more systematically” through effective system development and delegating responsibilities to more people.

There is tremendous power in building a team of people whose perspective differs from one another but mature to focus on business objective. The law of connection states, “leaders are sensitive to the needs and feeling of followers. Leaders connect to people’s heart before asking for their hands.”

If you want more business result then focus people, empower your workers, bring on board more competent people, and allow the system to work efficiently. I believe you can make it too and build an excellent business and brands.

Cheer up and enjoy the success of building our society through your enterprise. You matter to our world. BC

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Business Courage

Monday, December 22, 2014

A15 31

Setback for BTS: Is NCC, NESREA power tussle really over?

Two government agencies, NCC and NESREA, who had been at loggerheads over what should be the agreed setbacks for telecoms base station, BTS, might have finally agreed on seven metres standard, but how far can this agreement go?

By Adejuwon Osunnuyi

F

or the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC and the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency, NESREA, it has been years of fierce battle between the two government agencies over the control and what should be setbacks for telecoms firms wishing to site base station, BTS. While the telecoms regulator, NCC, has been implementing a 5-metre setback for telecoms operators when building their telecoms towers, NESREA had insisted on 10 metres. The disparity in the setback guidelines have thus created regulatory clashes between the two Federal Government agencies.

In telecom parlance, setback is the distance (in metres) left between the foot of BTS and the nearest residential infrastructure. Currently, Nigeria has over 29, 000 BTS scattered all over the country with a large number of them located within residential areas, raising fears among residents on the possible health hazards of those telecoms towers based on their proximity to where people live.

While claiming that telecom operators in most cases do not strictly carrying out proper environmental impact assessment before deploying

Juwah

mast and towers, NESREA, in the past years, had sealed off facilities of many operators, thus aggravating the ailing quality service of the operators.

For instance, in the sealing off of a telecom base station facility belonging to MTN, located at EFAB Estate, Mbora District, Abuja, NESREA had claimed that the telecom firm failed to comply with proper Environmental Impact Assessment. Interestingly, in a swift reaction, NCC had gone to the site unsealing the facility, insisting that MTN passed the regulator’s stipulated standard of five metres away from residential building while deploying the facility.

Director, Public Affairs of the NCC, Tony Ojobo, while reopening the facility, said the commission would henceforth frown at any government agency that interferes with the work of the commission.

He stated that the guidelines of the commission stated that a minimum of five metres

Benebo

distance is acceptable but NESREA Acts states 10 metres.

According to him, “NCC had to unseal the mast which was sealed two weeks ago by NESREA under the guise that the mast was less than 10 metres from buildings as stipulated in their guidelines.

“NCC is the regulator of the telecoms sector, our guidelines stated that it should be five metres setback but the MTN mast is 5.6 metres away from the surrounding structures, but without consulting us they sealed the bay station.

NCC will not allow any contradicting regulator to close any base stations because the commission is working hard to see that the quality of services improve in the country.”

Ojobo added that “operators should be allowed to do their jobs. We don’t have any issue against any secondary regulator but they should come to us first to see how we can ensure compliance. We must maintain our standards

and ensure consistency and investors must be sure of the rules and abide by it. No other agency should interfere or challenge our guidelines.”

Also, NCC’s Head of Compliance and Monitoring, Ephriam Nwokenneya corroborating Ojobo’s statement, said Nesrea should focus more on environmental issues rather than making undue interference in the telecommunication sector.

NCC also warned the agency to keep off telecom regulatory activities, reminding it that there is only one telecom regulatory agency in Nigeria, which is the NCC itself.

The NCC argued that NESREA had no regulatory power over telecom facilities.

However, in what was regarded as a public show of power between the two agencies, NESREA went back to reseal the facility, claiming that NCC opened the facility without lawful authority.

Director, Inspection and Enforcement of NESREA,

Ronke Soyombo, who led NESREA team of Inspection and Enforcement officials to reseal the premises, insisted that the base station should remain shut for allegedly violating environmental laws and falling short on its regulation of 10 metres set back from a residential area.

Soyombo said her agency had acted following numerous complaints from angry residents and its investigations, which discovered that the facility was only 1.2 metres from the nearest house.

The agency also slammed a fine of N5 million on MTN on the alleged default, adding that there was also a daily fine of N50,000 for as long as the operator fails to comply.

According to her, “no one is bigger than the law. MTN must be made to operate by the rules and regulations. Besides the N5 million, we are going to press charges against MTN for acting outside the confines of the law and also Continued on pg A16

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Business Courage

for illegally removing a seal which was put by NESREA. That is a criminal offence against the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

In another major development, the struggle between NCC and NESREA over the issue of who ought to police and regulate erection of telecommunications masts in the telecommunications sector also reared its ugly head when another mast belonging to Globacom was sealed off by NESREA. The mast, located within OAU Quarters, Maitama, Abuja, boosted the operator’s signal strength around Maitama and its environs as it was reportedly erected following complaints of poor quality of service in Abuja and particularly in that area.

NESREA, however, stated that the erection of the mast was in contravention of the procedure laid down for such a structure. It, therefore, shut down the base station without any recourse to the NCC, the official regulator of the sector.

But the then acting Executive Vice Chairman of the commission at the time, Dr. Bashir Gwandu, did not take the development lightly. He publicly criticised NESREA and warned that multiple regulation of the telecom sector would compound the problems militating against the sector and would particularly undermine efforts to improve the quality of service in the sector.

The then Minister of Environment, John Odey, had to call a meeting for the two agencies to deliberate on the issue of telecom masts and their impact on the environment.

At the meeting held inside the conference room of the Ministry of Environment, Abuja, Gwandu argued that Nigeria could not have acceptable quality of service in the telecommunications sector if impediments were placed on the efforts of operators to roll out service. He stressed particularly that the gains of the past years could be frittered away if multiple regulation was allowed to take root as it would scare investors away from the sector.

“We cannot have seamless telecommunications services without installing masts and towers across the country because we do not have the infrastructure in place like other countries. We do not have fibres and wire-lines across the country. Without masts and towers there will not be

Monday, December 22, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

A telecoms base station, BTS

communications and quality service delivery in the industry.

If telecommunications operators are not allowed to put masts and towers in certain places, communication gaps or what we call ‘drop-calls’ will continue to exist,” he was quoted to have told the meeting also attended by top officials of NESREA. The position of NESREA, at the meeting through its DG, Dr. Ngeri Benebo, was that the agency had a mandate to ensure that all necessary Environmental Impact Assessment was carried out before any masts was erected in any part of the country. ”We are not against any telecommunications company. Our mandate is to ensure that every base station has its Environmental Impact Assessment. Some of the telecommunication firms have put up masts without EIA even after it was agreed at a stakeholder forum that all must comply with the EIA requirement before hoisting the mast and that enforcement should commence by January 2010,” she told the meeting.

President of the association, Engr Gbenga Adebayo had described the development as a scourge that is slowing down the pace of growth in the sector and making it difficult for the sector to surmount the quality of service challenge.

However, with the latest intervention by the minister s of Communication Technology and the minister of Environment, the two agencies

are said to have reached a common ground as they have harmonised positions on what should be the acceptable modalities when telecoms firms are siting their BTS. Henceforth, in extreme cases, the setback will now be minimum of seven meters.

Speaking last week, at the second West African Conference on Electromagnetic Fields Exposure,(EFE) and Health organised by the NCC in Lagos, the NCC EVC, Dr. Eugene Juwah disclosed that the two agencies have resolved the matter.

Represented by NCC Executive Commissioner, Technical Services, Ubala Maska, he noted that following the misunderstanding that had ensured between the two agenies in the past, efforts were made to harmonise positions towards further ensuring that base stations are sited in a way that will not cause any health risks.

According to him, while the NCC enforced five metre setback for telecoms operators when building their BTS, NESREA had insisted on 10 metres. However, what the two agencies have now done was to agree on seven metres for new BTS while the setback for those already built remain five.

“In a situation where 10 metres setback is not attainable because of space, NCC and NESREA officials will visit the site, assess the situation and approve a minimum of seven metres setback,” Juwah said.

He said the conference was

important owing to the continuous growth the industry was witnessing and the need to deploy more base stations for enhanced quality of service.

He however allayed public fear of the health risks of BTS. “Although the World Health Organisation studies are yet to find any clear risk or health hazards associated with electromagnetic fields based on current findings, as responsible regulators and governments, we need to constantly be on top of the game by keeping the citizenry informed and reassured as information becomes available regarding any health risk exposure associated with electromagnetic fields, which need to be properly considered and reported during the roll-out of new technologies as they become available.”

Said Juwah.

To Gbenga Adebayo, ALTON Chairman, there was need for an independent research and development body to ascertain the impacts of exposure to base stations and other telecoms equipment.

“There has been global studies that have proven that there are no harmful effects of exposure to telecoms mast, but there is the need for local research that will reflect the peculiarity of Nigerian environment.’’

Adebayo also said there was need for a policy direction and guidelines on the proper disposal of used information and communications technology gadgets.

The ALTON Chairman said this would help in ensuring Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) to determine that those used or dumped devices do not have harmful content.

Speaking through a representative, Director of Planning and Research, in the ministry, Oluwole Edun, Minister of Communications Technology, Dr. Omobola Johnson said agitation and concerns continue to surface on the safety and health implications of telecommunications equipment.

She explained that widespread nature of mobile telephony with the equipment and infrastructure that make it possible for people to communicate calls for this concern.

The minister said given the large number of mobile phone users, it is imperative to investigate, understand and monitor any potential public health impact.

She said, “It is therefore important for us to get the true situation on this topic, as it is currently, and from some of the most informed experts, that we have convened this conference. “Mobile phones communicate by transmitting radio waves through a network of fixed antennas called base stations. Signals in the mobile telephony bands of the radio spectrum are non-ionizing radiation such as X-rays or gamma rays, which has received divergent views on whether it can break chemical bonds or cause ionization in the human body.”BC

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Ojobo

NCC seeks state govts, telecom partnership on infrastructure development

By Adejuwon Osunnuyi

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he Nigeria Communications Commission has called on various state governments to partner telecom operators in their bid at providing telecom infrastructure in their states.

Tony Ojobo, the Director Public Affairs, NCC made the submission during an interview with the media in Abuja.

According to Ojobo, the problem of infrastructure is the major challenge confronting operators in the country. “The point we have actually made is that the infrastructure requirement is huge. For instance now in Abuja in the past seven years, there hasn’t been any approval for a new base station.

“The population keeps increasing; the number of subscribers is increasing.

Now, it is the same infrastructure we had seven years ago, that’s what we have now. The FCT is not giving approval for new base stations and you need those base stations round the city to have total city coverage.

“That’s the same thing we have in other states of the federation where we are also having challenges with governors in terms of getting approvals for sites and also approval for sites for base stations. So what the commission has done under our ministry, that is the ministry of communication, is to see how the governors can be engaged through the platform of the National Economic Council that has all the

Business Courage

Monday, December 22, 2014

governors there.“ The director said that the Minister of Communications Technology, Omobola Johnson, had made a presentation to the governors on the negative effect of not rolling out infrastructure.

He added that lack of infrastructure actually was responsible for the poor quality of service and that states could benefit from roll out of infrastructure by collecting taxes from operators.

“In terms of rolling out infrastructure, that is actually contributing to poor quality of service and is also slowing down development.

The situation now is should we allow the infrastructure on ground and then you can now take tax from the businesses that are generated. It has been proved that for every 10 per cent increase in penetration of broadband, for instance, there is a 1.38 per cent increase in GDP. “GDP is talking about the gross domestic product which arises from the level of business that is being done. “So, states actually can increase their GDPs, if they open up their states to ICT; so, the quality of service issue is that the infrastructure is inadequate.”

Ojobo, therefore called on all state governors to help remove the bottlenecks impeding infrastructure provision to ensure improved service delivery in the telecom industry.

CWG wins Wincor ATMs Best Absolute Achievement award in PMEA

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he leading Pan African business transformation ICT Company, Computer Warehouse Group CWG Plc has again won the Wincor Nixdorf Best Absolute Achievement award.

The presentation was made at the recent Wincor Nixdorf’s Portugal, Middle East and Africa PMEA Regional Partners’ Conference and Award Ceremony held in Mauritius.

The PMEA conference and award is an annual event where Wincor Nixdorf celebrates her partners in the PMEA region for their sales performances and shares the Company’s focus for the next Fiscal year.

At the recent event, 10 partners were selected for top sales performance and CWG Plc came first while other Nigerian Companies— Cyber space Networks Limited and Soft Works Limited took 5th and 7th positions respectively. Computer Networks from United Arab Emirates was the first runner up to CWG Plc. Presenting the award to the head of e-Channels Business for CWG, Olatayo Ladipo-Ajai, the president of Wincor Nixdorf, Eckard Heidloff noted that CWG’s performance in the year in view, is outstanding and therefore the award is a well-deserved honour for such a dependable partner as CWG. “CWG’s contribution in Fiscal Year, 2014 made it possible for Wincor Nixdorf to meet her target in PMEA.” He added.

Receiving the award, Ladipo-Ajai excitedly expressed his gratitude for the recognition. According to him, it is always good to see the reward of commitment as it triggers greater commitment. “At CWG, excellent customer service delivery has been the bedrock for greater achievements. We hold our customers in high esteem, hence our commitment to deliver what we promise in spite of any challenge.” He continued.

“CWG, having topped the chart in sales and support performance consecutively for two years—2013 and 2014, is a proof that the company is the number one e-Channel service provider in Nigeria” Ladipo-Ajai remarked.

Multichoice to showcase three Nigerian festivals on Gotv Austin Okere, founder and CEO, CWG

F

rom Friday 19 December to Thursday 01

A17 33

Akwa Ibom Christmas concert 2013

January, Gotv subscribers would be getting a new pop-up channel (GOtv Plus Channel 29) in order to enjoy the yuletide with a special broadcast of some of the best Nigerian Music Festivals of 2014.

According to the pay-TV firm, the channel (GOtv Plus Channel 29) will popup from Friday 19 December at 17:00 CAT to Thursday 1 January at 11:30 CAT. In the same vein, GOtv Plus subscribers can tune in to the special event pop-up channel for a front row view of Nigeria’s sixth edition of the Akwa Ibom Christmas Concert from 1921 December.

The concert will feature a top line-up of artists, including a 200-man Ibom Choral and Orchestra as well as renowned five-time Grammy Award winning singer, Israel Houghton and South African Gospel legend Lionel Peterson.

International worship leaders, Sinach and Nigerian gospel rock artist Frank Edwards will also form part of the entertainment lineup.

Known as Africa’s biggest street party, the annual Calabar Grand Carnival, which celebrates its 10th year, will air from the 26 to 29 December.

The musical concert, which takes place on the streets of the Cross River State in Nigeria features top Nigerian artists plus a parade of colourful costumes, dancers, elaborate floats, all interpreting this year’s theme titled Celebration Time.

The on-screen festivities will culminate in the Lagos Countdown to the New Year from 29 December to January 1, 2015 where viewers will join the city of Lagos as it counts down to 2015 with a massive concert featuring

top artists and a spectacular fireworks display.

Smile Communications runs 25-day router promo

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igerian broadband service provider, Smile Communications has announced a 25-day special offer called the The Smile Countdown Promo.

The promotion offers a Wi-Fi router with 20 GB of data valid for twelve months validity for NGN 23,000. This compares with an original offer of a Wi-Fi router with 10 GB and one month’s validity for the same price.

Chief Marketing Officer Alero Ladipo said the offer aims to give individuals the opportunity to stay connected during the festive season with family and friends by receiving value at the right price. She said customers who buy 20 GB within the promotional period for NGN 17,000 will get an extra 10 GB. The original offer was only 20 GB for NGN 17,000.

Customers stand to benefit from an out-ofbundle rate that applies for the twelve-month period of the promotion, which will remain the same as the inbundle rate, giving customers consistent value all year round, Ladipo added. BC

Ernest Obiejesi, chairman Smile Communications

A18 34

Business Courage

Monday, December 22, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Behind d Wheels This page is open to sponsorship

Autocare How to properly care for your new car (2) Step 3 - P Polishing your new Car olish – Remove defects in your paint, olis stai staining and enhance overall shine.

M More than likely if your car is new you won’t nee need to remove defects unless your car has been on the lot for a while and been stricken with tthat dreaded swirl from poor washing procedur procedures by the dealership. This can also be created cre by dealership detailers who use mac machine polishers incorrectly.

If your paint is free of defects you will sti still want to use a pre-wax cleaner like th the Ultima Paint Prep Plus to enhance th the shine and prepare your paint for your paint protectant, sealant or wax. y T This can safely and easily be done by h hand or machine.

P

I

f you’re fortunate enough to be shopping around for a sports car in the $120,000 to $150,000 range, I wish you the best of luck. It’s not an easy choice. Never before has there been such an excellent cohort of cars from which to choose.

It is into this hard fought arena that Mercedes has launched its new AMG GT coupe. A brave move to be sure. Does it have the chops to compete?

Competition Just think about the cars the all-new Mercedes-AMG GT has to compete against: The demonic Jaguar F-Type R; a Porsche 911 which is empirically the best one yet; the carbon-fibre hybrid-powered BMW i8; the Audi R8; and the Aston Martin V8 Vantage.

There’s not a weak contender among them.

Big shoes Mercedes-Benz is dropping the Benz for AMG models as part of the company’s new naming g scheme. Hence: 2016 MercedesAMG GT. Even more precisely, we are driving the 2016 6 Mercedes AMG GT S — that lastt “S” adding a bit more power to o the base model.

The new GT is signifi ificantly cheaper and smaller than ethe car it effectively replaces, the SLS AMG. The GT loses the gullwing doors, as well as a lot of weight. It also loses the great, museum-worthy, 6.2-litre naturally aspirated V8. Even AMG

has to make concessions to fuel economy after all.

Pacific coast What the GT S does have under the hood is a 4.0-litre twinturbo V8. It “only” makes 510 horsepower to the SLS’s 583. But, because the GT is lighter, it’s only 0.1 seconds slower from 0-100 km/h; at 3.8 seconds it’s certainly no slouch.

Driving down the coast from San Francisco the roads are fast and winding, and impossibly smooth compared to the awful tarmac we’re used to in Canada.

Mercedes likes to point out that you can use the AMG GT as a continent crushing grand-tourer.

Indeed, the hatchback-style trunk is a usable 350-litres. But, the ride is the one thing that makes me question its everyday usability. The quality of the damping is excellent, but the overall stiffness may be a bit too hard anywhere but on California’s incredible tarmac or, say, y the Autobahn. Our test car was fitted with an optional suspension package how-

ever, and I was told the standard set up is a little softer.

Laguna Seca The cabin in snug. You sit low. The quality of the materials is exactly what you’d expect from Mercedes: the leather is soft, the stitching is perfect. Four air vents stare out at you from underneath a large screen on the centre console. Fire up the motor and you can hear the deep rumble from the V8.

AMG always knows how to make a motor sound good, and this new twin-turbo is no exception. It’s more refined and restrained sounding than Jaguar’s menacing V8.

It only takes one lap of the Laguna Seca race track in California to know the AMG GT is serious. The amount of grip from the front wheels is huge. You point them with the steering, and they go instantly without protest. The whole car feels pointy, nimble and totally rock solid. But it’s the way g to the rear wheels resist the urge slip that’s astonishing. Even with 480 lb-ft of torque through going they them, s t a y

Step 4 - Protecting your new Car Protect – Protect the paint surface fro from harsh environmental elements and pr prevent premature aging with a car wax, pa paint protectant or paint sealant.

Many new car owners look at the clearcoat l as a protective layer that shields their car against harm. This is simply not true. The clearcoat is a tough clear paint that is there to protect your color coat and add depth in shine. It is not a super high tech protectant, it is just clear paint and needs to be protected just like the older single stage paints.

Car waxes, paint protectants and paint sealants all fall into the same “paint protection category”. Although some do a better job than others, they all protect against and help prevent premature deterioration caused by the onset of oxidation. With modern technology, a car wax would be “old school” and be less protective than the more advanced paint sealants.

Step 5 - Maintaining your new Car Maintain – Maintain your paint with normal washing and quick detailing in between washing.

Quick detailers are also known as waterless wash and are commonly used by detailers and car enthusiasts to put the finishing touch on a freshly detailed vehicle. Quick detailers quickly and easily remove fresh water spots, streaks, dust and other light contamination.

It is also a good idea to keep one with you for those dreaded bird bombs for a quick cleanup to avoid permanent damage.

Quick Detail Sprays are a special formulation that evaporate quickly to prevent further spotting, lubricate to prevent scratching and contain gloss enhancers to refresh your just waxed shine. For the car enthusiast, a quick detailer is more than just a convenient time saver, it is a necessity when it comes to keeping your finish looking great. BC planted on the tarmac allowing you to roll on the power very early in corners.

The AMG GT is a driver’s car. It’s fast, beautiful, sonorous and handles brilliantly. Mercedes has stepped right into an extremely competitive segment of the car market with guns ablaze.

Like I said, the choice of which sports car to get in the $150,000 range isn’t easy — and now it just got a whole lot harder. BC

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Business Courage

Monday, December 22, 2014

A19 35

Best businesses to undertake in austere times (2)

By Tayo Elebijo

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es, we are in austerity that is why you have to think smart in this period. Farming is one of the best considerations that come to mind. There are a lot of investors in farming in the northern part of the country.

Many of the investors are from the southern and western parts of the country. Now, a region once thought to be sandy and dry, is fast becoming the major food source of the nation even though there is less rainfall in the region.

However, in the other parts of the country where rainfall is naturally consistent, the total food produced could not feed the available population.

Something must be done fast. Many times, when there are shortfalls in the supplies of say pepper and tomatoes from the north for instance, the entire country will feel the impact. The prices of the items affected will go up instantly.

This explains the importance of agriculture in the existence of man. For reasons best known to them, the various tiers of governments in the country have decided to give it less attention. Now, it hunting the country because the crude oil they have always relied upon is facing challenges in the international market as the US newly discovered Shale oil has helped the country to stop importing the crude from Nigeria. There is glut in the market, forcing prices to pummel at the consequences of many countries whose economy has been relying on oil as its major foreign exchange revenue earner.

America is now exporting about 8 million barrels of its new found oil just as Malaysia has become the world’s highest exporter of palm oil after years of importing from Nigeria began its own farm.

Today, it has become the number one palm oil exporter in the world, a position previously held by Nigeria. Nigeria no longer holds any position in world palm oil trade.

Eatery is another business that will thrive well in austere times. People must eat what-

ever the case. Many people would prefer to buy from the eateries and local food sellers because they would not have to incur additional expense and go through the trouble of cooking before they eat. It all depends on what you want and how you want it possibly based on your budget. You could seek the opportunity to cater for people at functions and events, or operate a staff canteen in a well structured company but if not so well structured , make sure you do not sell on credit as this will run you out of business.

Generally, whatever you are knowledgeable in and have been doing for sometime endeavour to build it into a money yielding venture in this austere times. It is always better to start a venture you have experience in. It will help you control the ups and downs of the venture. And it will keep you going in the business venture. There is no easy way to making money. It is natural that like a child, a business venture will have its teething problem. Courage, determination and perseverance will see you through.

Hold on to your firm believe that the venture will succeed and it will.

You could join what I will call the ‘importers’ league’.

Naturally, it will be difficult to run a really successful business in 2015 because of the austerity and particularly if you have to rely on the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, for your operations.

Power outages will decrease your production capacity. If you get a power generating set, be ready to run maintenance and do not forget that whether you consume power or not, you will still pay whatever bill the PHCN gives to you. The cost of the raw materials you have to buy against the Dollar. So look at the ventures that will have little or nothing to do with power at least for now until the power situation in the country improves. Not all the people importing goods into the country today want to continue to import but they are forced to continue because of the very poor

power supply in the country.

No country can curb unemployment , grow its Gross Domestic Product, GDP, be self sufficient and develop its research and technology without constant electricity supply. Nigeria needs planning to be there. Somehow, many more Nigerians will

want to indulge in the importation of anything they could sell locally to grow their earnings in 2015. China is opening three more export processing zones, only God will save Nigeria from the dump that will come from there. And they are already coming. Chinese traders

could be seen at Balogun in Lagos and other parts of the country. Have we ever considered the amount of foreign exchange they take back to their country for contributing nothing to the Nigeria economy? Only to sell finish products directly in the Nigerian markets just because they want to cut off the Nigerians who have been buying from them in China and add their profit margins to theirs?

It is really a fact that when you travel to China, Hong Kong, South Korea or Japan you will be carried away by the different items you could import at very low prices if compared to the prices back home. Although, the freight charges are usually very high when compared to the prices of the items in question, yet it is still a booming profit at the end. All you need to do is, know what goods are contraband and the ones that are not. Bring in the ones that are not contraband, pay the duty tax and you will be safe. Getting the Chinese visa is very difficult though, yet the official visa price is just N4000 for 2 weeks and N8000 for one month unless there have been changes to these prices.

Do not forget, every venture you have chosen, do a quarterly appraisal of your position. This will let you know whether you on the right track or not. If not, you will need to restrategise. BC

A20 36

Business Courage

Monday, December 22, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Stock Market report Massive sell-off persists as ASI slides by -1.49% in the week, Index rose above 30,000 B.pts

By Dennis Okonne. (dennis.okonne@yahoo.com)

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rading activities on the Nigerian bourse was on for 5 days as the market was able regain breadth towards the end of the week.

There was massive sell-off as the market witnessed severe sell pressure throughout the week’s trading. The market opened on a negative note as the bears dominated market.

The downtrend was sustained in the second and third sessions as the Bears’ predominate. However, in the fourth session, the Bulls’ returned to halt 8 days losing streak and the trend was sustained in the fifth session but the overall market index remained negative with a loss of -1.49 percent in the week. The All Share Index depreciated from 30,763.38 basis points at the beginning of the week to close at 30,306.51 basis points recording a loss of 456.87 basis points, translating to a loss of -1.49 percent in the process.

Similarly, the market capitalization of equities equally lowered to N10.005trn from N10.156trn last week. The depreciation of the Index was as a result of losses recorded in stocks of Seven Up, Total, Okomu Oil, Champion Breweries, PZ, Zenith Bank and Dangote Flour.

Number of Deals stood at 5,678 and the volume of transactions was 3.990 billion units, valued at N30.258bn.

There were 42 gainers and 14 losers on Friday.

Top of the gainers’ on Friday are Seplat Plc which appreciated by N12.09 kobo, followed by Dangote Cement Plc which went up by N7.00 k; Nigerian Breweries Plc also rose by N7.00 kobo; Guinness Plc grew by N5.95 kobo while Forte Oil Plc crept up by N4.26 kobo.

The laggards are led at the close of trading on Friday by Seven Up Plc which slumped N8.30 k, followed by Total Nigeria Plc which dipped by N6.80 k; PZ Plc went down by N2.70 kobo, Champion Brew-

eries Plc shed N0.51 kobo while Dangote Flour Plc depreciated by N0.21 kobo.

High volume transactions on Friday were in Stocks of Union Bank Plc which traded 3.537 billion shares.

Transcorp Plc followed with 114.783 million shares changing hands. On FBN Holdings Plc, 55.180 million shares were traded; UBA Plc traded 54.901 million shares while Wema Bank Plc traded 24.175 million shares on Friday.

N4.365bn.

(Corporate Results): 1. Total Nigeria Plc: In its third quarter result, its turnover grew from N174.331bn in the preceding year to N177.807bn, translating to an increase +1.99 percent.

However, its profit before tax dipped from N5.147bn to N4.204bn, translating to a decrease of -18.32 percent.

Similarly, its profit after tax nose-dived from N3.260bn previously to N2.648 billion, a decrease of -18.77 percent.

Consequently, an interim dividend N2.00 per share was appropriated and closure of register is 5th December, 2014.

4.

Sterling Bank Plc: recorded an impressive third quarter financial profile where it’s Gross Earnings grew by +12.1 percent from N65.120bn in the preceding year to N73.005bn. Similarly, its profit after tax leapt by +39.2 percent from N5.074 billion previously to N7.063bn.

Its Net Assets rose by +21.3 percent from N644.339bn to N781.677bn.

2. Ashaka Cement Plc: in its third quarter 2014 financial profile, it posted an impressive result as its revenue grew by +2.66 percent from N16.838bn in the preceding year to N17.286bn. Its profit before tax rose from N2.169bn in the preceding year to N5.686bn, translating to an increase of +162.15 percent.

Similarly, its profit after tax also leapt by +187.55 percent from N1.518bn previously to

3. Oando Plc: in its third quarter result, its revenue dropped by -12.46 percent to N338.105bn compared to N386.251bn same period in 2013. However, its profit before tax increased by +4.26 percent to N10.177bn compared to N9.761bn previously and Profit after tax leapt by +75.67 percent to N10.700bn compared to N6.091bn recorded in 2013.

5.

Okomu Oil Plc: In its third quarter result, its revenue rose by +1.65 percent from N6.787bn in the preceding year to N6.899bn. Similarly, its profit before tax also leapt from N1.612bn previously to N2.077bn, translating to an increase of +28.85 percent.

6.

Dangote Cement Plc: in its third quarter result, its turnover grew by 7.3 percent from N288.984 billion in the preceding year to N310.214bn.

However, its profit after tax dipped significantly by -10.0 percent from N156.128bn previously to N140.476bn.

7. Flour Mills Plc: In its half year result, its revenue dipped marginally -1.45 percent from N167.983bn in the preceding year to N165.540bn. Similarly, its profit after tax also slumped significantly from N5.831 bn previously to N4.368bn, translating to a decrease of -25.09%.

N2.480bn, translating to an increase of +15.08 percent.

8. Conoil Plc: In its third quarter result, its revenue dropped by -14.43 percent from N121.803bn in the preceding year to N104.223bn.

Similarly, its profit after tax slumped from N2.088bn previously to N1.427bn, translating to a decrease of -31.66 percent.

12. Nigerian Breweries Plc: in its third quarter result, its turnover grew by 2.3 percent from N190.303bn in the preceding year to N194.739bn.

Profit before tax also rose by 10.5 percent from N38.530bn previously to N42.583bn. In the same vein, its profit after tax leapt from N26.801bn to N29.826bn, translating to an increase of 11.3 percent.

An interim dividend of N1.25 kobo per share was appropriated. Closure of register is 13th November, 2014 while payment date is 20th November, 2014.

9.

Mobil Oil Nigeria Plc: In its third quarter result, its revenue grew by +3 percent from N58.735bn in the preceding year to N60.717bn.

Similarly, its profit after tax also leapt from N2.549bn previously to N5.995bn, translating to an increase of +135 percent.

13. UBA Plc: In its third quarter result, its gross earnings grew by +12.07 percent from N188.021bn in the preceding year to N210.715bn.

However, its profit after tax slumped significantly from N37.371bn previously to N33.628bn, translating to a decrease of -10.02 percent.

10. ETI Plc: In its third quarter result, its revenue rose by +16 percent from N231.890bn in the preceding year to N268.951bn. Similarly, its profit after tax also leapt from N39.968bn previously to N52.491bn, translating to an increase of +31 percent.

14. CAP Plc: in its third quarter result, its turnover rose by +14.6 percent from N4.412bn in the preceding year to N5.054bn. Similarly, its profit after tax also leapt from N946.176m previously to N1.126bn, an increase of 19 percent.

11. 7UP Nigeria Plc: In its half year result, its revenue grew by +12.76 percent from N33.825bn in the preceding year to N38.142bn. Similarly, its profit after tax also leapt from N2.155bn previously to

15. PZ Plc: In its first quarter result, its gross earnings dropped marginally by -0.3 percent from N15.066bn in the preceding year to N15.019bn.

Similarly, its profit after tax also slumped significantly from N920.790m previously to N641.698m, translating to a decrease of -30.3 percent.

16. Forte Oil Plc: in its third quarter result, its turnover rose by +33.1 percent from N92.125bn in the preceding year to N122.580bn. Similarly, its profit after tax also leapt from N2.737bn previously to N4.015bn, translating to an increase of 46.70 percent.

17. Access Bank Plc: In its third quarter result, its gross earnings grew by 17.3 percent from N155.026bn in the preceding year to N181.798bn.

Similarly, its profit after tax also leapt from N27.597bn previously to N35.346bn, translating to an increase of +28. percent. BC

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Business Courage

Monday, December 22, 2014

A21 37

New N100 note goes into circulation

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he Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, said that the commemorative N100 banknote unveiled recently by the President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, is going into circulation from Friday.

This is contained in a statement signed by Ibrahim Mu’azu, Head, Corporate Communications, on Friday in Abuja.

It directed all branches of the bank to commence issuance of the currency in their respective locations.

“The commemorative note will circulate alongside the existing N100 note.

“The note, which is embedded with features to assist the visually impaired recognise genuine notes, also has other security features easily identifiable through look, feel and tilt of the currency note,’’ it said.

It recalled that the CBN Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele, at the unveiling of the new banknote, explained that it was designed with enhanced security to offer robust resistance against counterfeiting.

It added that the authentication features of the note included window micro-optics,

Emefiele and Jonathan unveils the new N100 note

showing the national flag and numeral 100 indicating the value of the denomination and the attainment of the centenary period.

“The new design retains the portrait of Chief Obafemi Awolowo both in the ink, that is the inter-glow level, as a portrait and also in a paper as a shadow image.

“In addition, there is a spark feature of a rolling manila bar, which was the instrument of transaction during the slave trade era.

“At the back side of the cur-

rency is the introduced Quick Response Code, (QRC), a digital communication feature that highlighted and sourced all the information about the centenary, “ it said .

According to the statement, the QRC application, the bar code on the banknote, can be scanned by users to read a brief history of Nigeria.

It recalled that the apex bank, in 2010, issued commemorative N50 polymer note to mark Nigeria’s 50th Independence Anniversary celebration. BC

NNDC, ICAN sign pact on training young accountants

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he New Nigeria Development Company,NNDC, on Friday signed an agreement with the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, ICAN, to encourage the training of professional accountants in the North.

The agreement, tagged Students Special Project, SSP, is to strengthen an earlier one signed between the two since May 20, 2009.

Ahmad Muhammad, the NNDC Managing Director, who signed for the company, said the initiative would boost awareness and encourage prospective professional accountants in the region to acquire ICAN certification.

The NNDC is owned by the 19 northern state governments.

He said that the target was to bridge the gap between the northern and the southern part of the country in terms of the number of chartered accountants produced by each

of the regions.

Muhammad said that the new agreement would facilitate the opening of more study centres, apart from the special centres earlier established in Kaduna, Ilorin and Kano.

The managing director said more than 563 chartered accountants had been produced from the existing three centres since 2007.

He said that the Kaduna centre was also accredited by ICAN for the conduct of Technology Competence Initiative training.

According to him, 124 qualified accountants have been inducted into the institute.

Muhammad said that the NNDC had committed about N138.8 million into the partnership between it and ICAN since the commencement of the SSP in 2007.

The managing director said that the NNDC had, through its Young Professionals De-

velopment Trust trained 17 unemployed graduates to enhance their competence. ``The scheme awards scholarship to young unemployed graduates from the owner states to undertake professional certification in various fields such as accounting, stock broking, insurance and information technology.’’

In a remark, the President of ICAN, Chidi Onyeuchukwu, who signed for the institute, said the partnership with NNDC was the most productive relationship it had had in the country.

He said that the partnership would go a long way in producing competent chartered accountants in line with the mandate of the institute, which is to protect public interest and encourage professionalism. ``We will also build competence and partner with other organisations willing to join us,” he said. BC

Market Indicators for Week Ended 19-12-14 All-Share Index 37,550.24POINTS Market Capitalization N 12,436,971,298,260.61 Stock Updates GAINERS COMPANY

OPENING PRICE

Seplat Plc

252.93

CLOSING PRICE 265.02

CHANGE

Dangote Cement Plc

153.00

160.00

7.00

Nigerian Breweries Plc

140.00

147.00

7.00

Guinness Nigeria Plc

119.01

124.96

5.95

Forte Oil Plc

208.99

213.25

4.26

COMPANY

OPENING PRICE

12.09

LOSERS CLOSING PRICE

CHANGE

7 Up Plc

166.70

158.40

8.30

Total Nigeria Plc

150.11

143.31

6.80

PZ Plc

27.79

25.09

2.70

Champion Breweries Plc

5.39

4.88

0.51

Dangote Flour Plc

4.37

4.16

0.21

Inter-Bank Rates TENOR

RATE%(PREV) 18-Dec-2014

RATE%(CURR) 19-Dec-2014

CALL

10.5000 - 10.5000%

10.5000 - 10.5000%

OBB

10.5000 - 12.0000%

10.2500 - 10.5000%

Primary Market Auction TENOR

AMOUNT (N’mn)

RATE (%) 9.95

DATE

91-Day

21538.34

12-DEC-14

182-Day

33783.25

10.1

19-DEC-14

364-Day

59081.14

10.35

19-DEC-14

Open Market Operation TENOR

AMOUNT (N’mn)

167Day

40000

11

RATE (%)

12-DEC-14

DATE

169Day

50000

11

19-DEC-14

170Day

70000

11

19-DEC-14

Wholesale Dutch Auction System AMOUNT OFFERED

MARKET DEMAND

AMOUNT SOLD

DATE

$500m

US$ 804,102,803.13m

US$ 499,939,154.55m

12-DEC-14

$350m

US$ 349,977,055.35m

US$ 349,977,055.35m

19-DEC-14

A22 38

Business Courage

Monday, December 22, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Honeywell: Sustains profitability on aggressive marketing

By Johnson Okanlawon

H

oneywell posted impressive performance in the 2014 financial year, as the company increased its production capacity and improved on the distribution of its products.

Both the top line and bottomline closed positively in the year under review. However, it was not all positive news in its operating environment, as the recurrent infrastructural challenges coupled with the insurgency in the Northern part of the country affected the distribution process of the company’s products.

Profitability For the company’s financial year ended March 31, 2014, it posted a profit after tax of N3.5bn, an increase of 18 per cent when compared to the N2.8bn recorded in the same period of 2013. The company, which majors on the production of food, recorded a turnover of N55.1bn, from N46bn recorded in the corresponding period of 2013, representing an increase of 21 per cent. The increase in revenue can be attributed to increased in production capacity and improved distribution of products.

The gross profit rose from N8bn in the year ended March 31, 2013 to N10.4bn in the period under review as a result of the efficient management of raw material sourcing and control of production cost.

The Managing Director, Mr. Lanre Jaiyeola, said the results reflect the company’s increased output capacity and aggressive push to meet rising demand across its product categories. According to him, despite the challenge of the input cost pressures caused by the increase in wheat prices, Honeywell Flour Mills was able to achieve a 32 per cent growth in gross profit.

Jaiyeola, who explained that the tough business environment in the economy had led to an increase in Honeywell’s operating expenses as it strengthened its operations, stressed that the company

initially registered as Gateway Honeywell Flour Mills Limited on in 1985. But a change in the ownership of the firm in 1995 led to a change of name to Honeywell Flour Mills Limited.

It is believed that the entry of the company into the flour milling industry in Nigeria redefined industry standards following its high quality that was said to have compelled an improvement in the quality of flour products by other players in the industry.

Over the years, it has positioned itself as one of the market leaders in milling, processing and packaging of flour and other wheat based products. Specifically, it produces and markets four major product brands. The range of products include: Honeywell Superfine Flour, Honeywell Semolina, Honeywell Whole Wheat Meal and variants of Honeywell Pasta and Honeywell Instant Noodles.

The company has 100 per cent ownership of Honeywell Superfine Foods Limited (HSFL), which commenced operations in December 2006 as a vertical integration of the company’s operations to develop, produce, market and sell flour-based semi-processed food products in the fast moving consumer goods sector.

The Chairman and founder of HFM is Oba Otudeko, while the Executive Vice Chairman is Babatunde Odunayo.

was keen to achieve sustained growth.

He said, “Growing the top line is our number one priority, even as large industry capacity remains a constant threat. We are committed to the development of higher margin products and from our results you can see that investments in brand equity are beginning to yield fruits as sales of our value- added products like semolina, wheat meal and noodles contributed more to our portfolio mix than in the past.

“This is a trend that we plan to sustain and even grow as we embark on a new phase in our corporate existence.”

He added that the company is currently at advanced stages in the development of a new pasta plant and an integrated animal feed mill in Sagamu, Ogun State.

Liquidity The company’s shareholders’ fund and total assets increased by 11 per cent and 15 per cent to N20.6bn and N63.8bn respectively. Earnings per share also rose to 42.26 kobo from 35.86 kobo declared in the preceding year. It paid a total of N1.34bn to shareholders in the year under review, representing a distribution of 17 kobo for every 50 kobo ordinary shares held. The company’s current assets stood at N27.7bn, as against the non-current assets of N36.1bn. its current liabilities rose to N28.1bn, while total liabilities stood at N43.2bn. retain earnings stood at N20.6bn.

Business strategy In the period under review, Honeywell Flour Mills forged stronger relationships with its distributors and strategic partners through several business-to-business engagement fora and other initiatives aimed at improving its distribution network ahead of planned capacity increase. The company anticipates more impressive results and appreciable growth in the 2014 financial year when additional capacity from its 1,000MT/day twin mill facility, which is close

Jaiyeola

to completion, will come be production. This capacity increase of 62 per cent will take total milling capacity to 2,610MT/day and will be reflected in its increased sales and profit.

To support its longer term aspirations, the company is looking to expand its growth platforms via the introduction of new brands, in the near term, that will participate in the fast growing food segments to meet the needs of consumers. Honeywell Flour is one of the largest fl our millers in Nigeria and its range of products include:

Honeywell Superfine Flour, Honeywell Semolina, Honeywell Whole Wheat meal and variants of Honeywell pasta and Honeywell Instant Noodles.

Background The company is part of the Honeywell Group, an indigenous Nigerian conglomerate engaged in select businesses in key sectors of the Nigerian economy covering foods & agro allied; energy; real estate; services and; infrastructure. It is one of the major flour milling company in Nigeria. The company was

Outlook Analysts are of the opinion that Honeywell Flour Mills has strong revenue growth potentials and operates in one of the fastest growing sectors of the Nigerian economy. The additional milling capacity being planned by the company is also expected to support its earnings growth and reduce profit volatility in year ahead.

The management of the company as well looks towards expanding its growth platforms via the introduction of new brands, in the near term, that will participate in fast growing food segments to meet the needs of consumers and ultimately increase stakeholders’ earnings. BC

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Business Courage

Monday, December 22, 2014

A23 39

STOCKWATCH Stock Exchange weekly equities summary as at Friday, Dec 19, 2014 SECURITY AGRICULTURE/AGRO-ALLIED Crop Production FTN COCOA PROCESSORS PLC OKOMU OIL PALM PLC. PRESCO PLC Fishing/Hunting/Trapping ELLAH LAKES PLC. Livestock/Animal Specialties LIVESTOCK FEEDS PLC. CONGLOMERATES Diversified Industries A.G. LEVENTIS NIGERIA PLC. CHELLARAMS PLC. JOHN HOLT PLC. SCOA NIG PLC TRANSNATIONAL CORP. OF NIG.PLC U A C N PLC. CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Building Construction ARBICO PLC. CAPPA & D’ALBERTO PLC. Building Structure/Completion/Other COSTAIN (W A) PLC. G CAPPA PLC Non--Building/Heavy Construction JULIUS BERGER NIG. PLC. ROADS NIG PLC. Real Estate Development PINNACLE POINT GROUP PLC UACN PROPERTY DEV Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) SKYE SHELTER FUND PLC UNION HOMES REAL ESTATE INV UPDC REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST CONSUMER GOODS Automobiles/Auto Parts DN TYRE & RUBBER PLC Beverages--Brewers/Distillers CHAMPION BREW. PLC. GOLDEN GUINEA BREW. PLC. GUINNESS NIG PLC INTERNATIONAL BREWERIES PLC. JOS INT. BREWERIES PLC. NIGERIAN BREW. PLC. PREMIER BREWERIES PLC Beverages--Non-Alcoholic 7-UP BOTTLING COMP. PLC. Food Products BIG TREAT PLC DANGOTE FLOUR MILLS PLC DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY PLC FLOUR MILLS NIG. PLC. HONEYWELL FLOUR MILL PLC MULTI-TREX INTEGRATED FOODS PLC N NIG. FLOUR MILLS PLC. NATIONAL SALT CO. NIG. PLC P S MANDRIDES & CO PLC. U T C NIG. PLC. UNION DICON SALT PLC. Food Products--Diversified CADBURY NIGERIA PLC. NESTLE NIGERIA PLC. Household Durables BETA GLASS CO PLC. NIGERIAN ENAMELWARE PLC. VITAFOAM NIG PLC. VONO PRODUCTS PLC. Personal/Household Products P Z CUSSONS NIGERIA PLC. UNILEVER NIGERIA PLC. Textiles/Apparel UNITED NIG. TEXTILES PLC. FINANCIAL SERVICES Banking ACCESS BANK PLC. DIAMOND BANK PLC ECOBANK TRANSNATIONAL INC. FIDELITY BANK PLC FIRST CITY MONUMENT BANK PLC. GUARANTY TRUST BANK PLC. SKYE BANK PLC STERLING BANK PLC. U B A PLC UNION BANK NIG.PLC. UNITY BANK PLC WEMA BANK PLC. ZENITH BANK PLC Insurance Carriers, Brokers & Services AFRICAN ALLIANCE INS. COY. PLC AIICO INSURANCE PLC. CONFIDENCE INSURANCE PLC CONSOLIDATED HALLMARK INS. PLC CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE PLC CORNERSTONE INS. COY. PLC. CUSTODIAN AND ALLIED INS. PLC EQUITY ASSURANCE PLC. GOLDLINK INSURANCE PLC GREAT NIGERIAN INSURANCE PLC GUINEA INSURANCE PLC. INTERCONTINENTAL WAPIC INS. PLC INTERNATIONAL ENERGY INS. PLC INVESTMENT AND ALLIED ARN. LASACO ASSURANCE PLC. LAW UNION AND ROCK INS. PLC. LINKAGE ASSURANCE PLC MANSARD INSURANCE PLC MUTUAL BENEFITS ASSURANCE PLC. N.E.M INSURANCE CO (NIG) PLC. NIGER INSURANCE CO. PLC. OASIS INSURANCE PLC PRESTIGE ASSURANCE CO. PLC. REGENCY ALLIANCE INS. COY PLC SOVEREIGN TRUST INSURANCE PLC STANDARD TRUSTASSURANCE PLC STANDARD ALLIANCE INS. PLC. UNIC INSURANCE PLC. UNITY KAPITAL ASSURANCE PLC UNIVERSAL INS. COMPANY PLC WAPIC INSURANCE PLC Micro Finance Banks FORTIS MICROFINANCE BANK PLC NPF MICROFINANCE BANK PLC Mortgage Carriers, Brokers &Services ABBEY MORTGAGE BANK PLC ASO SAVINGS AND LOANS PLC INFINITY TRUST MORTGAGE BANK PLC RESORT SAVINGS & LOANS PLC UNION HOMES SAVINGS&LOANS PLC Other Financial Institutions AFRICA PRUDENTIAL REGISTRARS CUSTODIAN AND ALLIED INS. PLC CRUSADER ( NIG) PLC. DEAP CAPITAL MGT & TRUST PLC FBN HOLDINGS PLC FCMB GROUP PLC ROYAL EXCHANGE PLC. STANBIC IBTC HOLDINGS PLC UBA CAPITAL PLC HEALTHCARE Healthcare Providers EKOCORP PLC. UNION DIAGNOSTIC &CLINICAL PLC Medical Supplies

NOTE NT=Not Traded on 19-12-14

PRICE (=N=)

0.50 33.00 32.05

QUANTITY

93,830 37,150 813,078

52 WK HIGH

0.64 107.81 41.14

52 WK LOW

0.50 20.92 8.24

SHARES OUTSTANDING

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

EPS

0.10 2.29 7.55

MOV. (%)

N/A -2.94 -14.53

Previous

0.50 34.00 37.50

NT

70

4.26

4.26

60,000,000

0.00

N/A

NT

2.95

511,645

7.18

0.68

1,199,549,736

0.07

-1.34

2.99

1.45 3.95 NT NT 5.00 54.02

110,583 200 1,000 3,600 20,073,190 138,745

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

-5.84 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

1.54 NT 1.08 4.67 5.79 58.00

NT NT

375 3

26.00 95.49

5.05 95.49

148,500,000 196,876,000

0.33 4.50

N/A N/A

NT NT

0.93 14.46

364,928 10000

2.66 14.46

0.72 14.46

920,573,765 125,000,000

0.00 0.00

N/A N/A

0.90 NT

67.20 NT

86,183 25,000

83.75 10.60

19.86 6.61

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

6.74 1.69

0.00 N/A

67.20 NT

NT 14.00

NT 129,844

7.28 20.90

7.28 8.82

1,375,000,000

0.00 2.20

N/A -11.67

NT 15.85

NT NT NT

5,000 100 5,150

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 NT NT

NT

6,125

0.50

0.50

4,772,528,415

0.00

N/A

0.50

14.94 0.88 182.00 31.82 NT 170.00 3.98

3,333 50,000 3,770,765 2,026,434 33,224 1,618,898 11,087

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 -7.00 N/A N/A -3.77 N/A

12.35 NT 195.70 30.90 NT 176.66 4.40

162.86

79,018

75.90

38.12

640,590,362

4.46

N/A

147.73

NT 6.55 7.70 61.40 3.99 NT 21.99 9.00 NT NT 13.41

NT 44,555 673,421 132,002 139,758 100,000 25,000 569,100 2.08124,000 10,000 100,000

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 0.00 -5.75 -0.97 -0.25 N/A N/A -3.95 N/A #VALUE! N/A

NT 6.55 8.17 62.00 4.00 NT 21.99 9.37 NT NT NT

49.89 999.00

842,400 39,682

64.53 1250.00

8.33 400.00

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

1.57 28.34

-7.08 -4.86

53.69 1,050.00

NT NT 4.30 NT

25,333 100 370,895 14,900

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 0.70 N/A

NT NT 4.27 1.42

26.99 40.00

1,536,523 215,904

56.00 76.00

21.02 27.60

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

1.34 1.42

-16.05 -16.65

32.15 47.99

NT

NT

0.97

0.57

843,284,027

0.00

N/A

NT

8.60 6.30 18.26 1.95 NT 27.30 2.75 2.23 5.66 9.06 0.50 0.94 22.59

12,492,060 2,209,267 3,662,513 1,046,865 NT 29,017,815 1,122,478 19,185,130 13,232,270 223,168 5,158,100 2,424,482 15,687,721

12.39 7.85 17.51 3.47 8.30 29.99 7.05 3.05 9.60 15.30 1.16 1.88 27.40

4.70 1.92 9.90 1.13 3.04 13.02 2.65 0.80 1.64 2.34 0.50 0.50 11.96

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

1.61 1.71 3.67 0.68 0.60 3.08 0.97 0.63 1.70 0.44 0.18 0.00 3.30

-4.66 0.80 -2.35 -4.88 #VALUE! -9.03 -4.18 -3.04 -14.89 -3.51 0.00 -1.05 -7.04

9.02 6.25 18.70 2.05 NT 30.01 2.87 2.30 6.65 9.39 0.50 0.95 24.30

NT 0.81 NT 0.50 0.92 NT NT 0.50 NT NT 0.50 NT 0.52 NT 0.50 NT NT 2.98 0.54 0.76 NT NT 0.50 NT 0.50 NT 0.50 0.50 NT 0.50 0.65

250 521,138 NT 1,000,000 1,055,541 456,127 9,054,578 145,200 NT 1,000 40,000 NT 50,530 NT 160 4,771,900 50,685 1,207,028 1,177,700 2,004,443 20,055 1,654,611 885,641 12,000,000 1,000 600 5,000 3,774 100 1,182,550 4,303,775

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 2.76 N/A -3.80 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

NT 0.80 NT NT 1.00 0.50 NT NT NT 0.50 0.50 NT 0.59 NT 0.50 0.50 NT 2.90 0.54 0.79 NT NT 0.50 NT NT NT 0.50 NT NT NT 0.74

NT 0.97

10,000,000 767,000

6.60 1.22

0.00 0.72

1.18 0.19

NT NT

1.30 NT NT 0.50 0.5

300 300 5,000 200,000 40,522

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

3.2 4.00 NT NT 12.32 4.09 0.51 31.00 2.00

1,361,199 50,919 500 3,000 11,878,966 4323419 700,000 9,360,409 2,122,515

2.1

0.5

0.61 2.02 21.50 5.70 1.33 20.72 1.70

0.50 2.02 8.57 2.90 0.50 10.64 0.00

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

0.00 0.15 2.45 1.23 0.13 1.53 0.29

NT 0.50

170 600,000

N/A=Not Avialable

5.05 0.50

4.32 0.50

0.63

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

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

0.13 0.00

N/A N/A -8.61 N/A -11.43

N/A N/A

NT NT NT 0.50 1000 3.3 4.09 NT NT 13.48 4.51 0.59 35.00 2.18

NT NT

SECURITY

PRICE (=N=)

MORISON INDUSTRIES PLC. NT Pharmaceuticals EVANS MEDICAL PLC. 1.95 FIDSON HEALTHCARE PLC 3.33 GLAXO SMITHKLINE CONSUMER PLC 54.00 MAY & BAKER NIGERIA PLC. 1.71 NEIMETH INT PHARM PLC 1.11 NIGERIA-GERMAN CHEMICALS PLC. NT PHARMA-DEKO PLC. NT ICT Computer Based Systems COURTEVILLE BUSINESS SLN PLC 0.57 Computers and Peripherals OMATEK VENTURES PLC NT Electronic Communications Services MTECH COMMUNICATIONS PLC NT IT Services COMPUTER WAREHOUSE GROUP PLC 4.8 NCR (NIGERIA) PLC. 12.83 TRIPPLE GEE AND COMPANY PLC. NT Processing Systems CHAMS PLC 0.50 E-TRANZACT INTERNATIONAL PLC NT Telecommunications Services MTI PLC NT INDUSTRIAL GOODS Building Materials AFRICAN PAINTS (NIGERIA) PLC. NT ASHAKA CEM PLC 32.25 BERGER PAINTS PLC 8.08 CAP PLC 41.00 CEMENT CO. OF NORTH.NIG. PLC 14.49 DANGOTE CEMENT PLC 215.00 DN MEYER PLC. 1.05 FIRST ALUMINIUM NIGERIA PLC NT IPWA PLC 0.50 LAFARGE WAPCO PLC. 115.93 PAINTS & COATINGS MANFACT.PLC NT PORTLAND PAINTS & PRDT NIG. PLC 5.01 Electronic and Electrical Products AUSTIN LAZ & COMPANY PLC NT CUTIX PLC. 1.75 NIGERIAN WIRE AND CABLE PLC. NT Packaging/Containers ABPLAST PRODUCTS PLC. NT AVON CROWNCAPS & CONTAINERS 1.59 BETA GLASS CO PLC. 20.00 GREIF NIGERIA PLC NT NIG. BAGS MANFACT. COY PLC NT POLY PRODUCTS (NIG) PLC. NT W A GLASS IND. PLC. NT Tools and Machinery NIGERIAN ROPES PLC NT STOKVIS NIG PLC. NT NATURAL RESOURCES Chemicals B.O.C. GASES PLC. NT Metals ALUMACO PLC NT ALUMINIUM EXTRUSION IND. PLC. NT MINING SERVICES MULTIVERSE PLC 0.50 Paper/Forest Products HALLMARK PAPER PRODUCTS PLC. NT THOMAS WYATT NIG. PLC. NT OIL AND GAS Energy Equipment and Services JAPAUL OIL & MARITIME SER. PLC 0.50 Integrated Oil and Gas Services OANDO PLC 23.56 Petroleum &Petroleum Products Distributors BECO PETROLEUM PRODUCT PLC NT CONOIL PLC 49.23 ETERNA PLC. 3.80 FORTE OIL PLC. 219.00 MOBIL OIL NIG PLC. 169.25 MRS OIL NIGERIA PLC. 56.00 TOTAL NIGERIA PLC. 173.00 Exploration and Production SEPLAT PETROLEUM DEVT. CO, LTD. 574.00 SERVICES Advertising AFROMEDIA PLC NT Apparel Retailers LENNARDS (NIG) PLC. NT Automobile/Auto Part Retailers R T BRISCOE PLC. 0.84 Courier/Freight/Delivery RED STAR EXPRESS PLC 4.15 TRANS-NATIONWIDE EXPRESS PLC. NT Employment Solutions C & I LEASING PLC. NT Hospitality TANTALIZERS PLC NT Hotels/Lodging CAPITAL HOTEL NT IKEJA HOTEL PLC 3.12 Media/Entertainment DAAR COMMUNICATIONS PLC 0.50 Printing/Publishing ACADEMY PRESS NT LEARN AFRICA PLC 1.45 STUDIO PRESS (NIG) PLC. NT UNIVERSITY PRESS PLC. 4.14 Road Transportation ABC TRANSPORT PLCPLC 0.69 Specialty INTERLINKED TECHNOLOGIES PLC NT SECURE ELECTRONIC TECH.PLC NT Transport-Related Services AIRLINE SERVICES AND LOGISTICS PLC 1.83 NIG. AVIATION HANDLING COY PLC 5.01 SUPPORT AND LOGISTICS CAVERTON OFFSHORE GROUP PLC 4.21 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 Petroleum &Petroleum Products Distributors ANINO INTERNATIONAL 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 NEWGOLD EXCHANGE TRADED FUND 1,964.00 VETIVA GRIFFIN 30 ETF 17.63

QUANTITY

52 WK HIGH

52 WK LOW

SHARES OUTSTANDING

EPS

MOV. (%)

Previous

92

10.54

7.39

152,178,750

0.00

N/A

1.82

74,500 95,417 1,226,438 252,273 397,345 46 1,000

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

-4.88 0.00 -13.75 -0.58 4.72 N/A N/A

2.05 3.33 62.61 1.72 1.06 NT 2.49

4,403,634

0.96

0.50

2,960,000,000

0.11

0.00

0.52

24,000

0.50

0.50

2,941,789,472

0.00

N/A

NT

NT

0.91

0.91

4,966,666,668

0.00

N/A

NT

10 694 200

18.70 2.94

13.12 2.07

108,000,000 492,825,600

0.00 0.03

N/A N/A

NT NT NT

1,000,000 5,000

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 NT

400

0.50

0.50

4,893,594,400

0.00

N/A

NT

2,000 1,671,056 16,226 458,360 73,217 672,671 2,000 38,000 11,000 1,444,136 650 5,000

2.86 29.98 12.20 67.50 12.99 210.01 3.54 0.75 1.34 110.00 2.41 7.22

2.86 8.01 6.82 13.78 4.00 102.00 0.50 0.50 0.50 39.80 0.50 2.27

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

0.07 0.80 0.91 1.66 1.12 5.77 0.06 0.00 0.00 6.83 0.36 0.43

N/A 0.78 -6.05 5.13 -8.00 -2.63 N/A N/A N/A -8.72 N/A N/A

NT 32.00 8.60 39.00 15.75 220.80 NT NT 0.50 127.00 1.60 NT

70 250,200 100

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 -2.78 N/A

NT 1.80 NT

NT 15,341 135,155 100 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 20.00 NT NT NT NT

1,200 NT

8.69 0.14

8.26 0.14

265,409,280 2,918,000

0.00 0.00

N/A N/A

NT NT

25,000,000 683,974,528

28,255

9.35

5.68

393,120,000

0.76

#VALUE!

NT

10 100

7.75 12.39

7.75 10.55

75,600,000 100,000,000

0.00 0.24

N/A N/A

NT NT

950,000

0.50

0.50

4,058,989,226

0.01

N/A

0.50

NT 100

3.22 1.38

3.22 0.67

50,000,000 220,000,000

0.04 0.00

N/A N/A

NT NT

2,599,332

1.02

0.50

6,262,701,716

0.00

0.00

0.50

1,781,446

24.80

9.32

2,262,711,568

1.24

-10.66

26.37

10000 112,677 84,115 111,017 15,748 100 33,978

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

4.72 1.60 -2.67 -2.21 N/A -3.89

NT 47.01 3.74 225.00 173.08 56.00 180.00

1,537

28,677,671

200

0.72

0.50

640.00

4,035,497,307

0.00

N/A

NT

100

3.48

3.48

0

N/A

NT

317,660

2.45

1.00

980,294,400

0.00

#VALUE!

NT

97,500 14,654

5.10 3.45

2.19 0.73

589,496,310 198,819,763

0.52 0.00

-5.68 N/A

4.40 1.35

10,515

1.64

0.85

865,808,912

0.00

N/A

0.50

30,500

0.75

0.50

3,211,627,907

0.00

N/A

NT

69200 3,191,600

1.72

0.64

2,078,796,396

0.00

56.00

NT 2.00

650,000

0.51

0.50

8,000,000,000

0.43

N/A

NT

1 115,855 75 53,899

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 0.98

1.32 1.32 NT 4.10

83,723

1.29

0.50

1,507,000,000

0.21

N/A

0.68

54,281 1,000

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

820,000 265,724

5.90 8.81

1.27 5.08

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

0.50 0.43

N/A 0.60

2.01 4.98

47101

5

60

1.43

1.04

45,000,000

0.12

N/A

NT

103,000

2.26

1.02

201,885,335

0.00

N/A

NT

30 1000

NT NT

30000

NT

NT

0.60

0.60

30,000,000

0.00

N/A

NT

NT

0.50

0.50

24,898,850

0.00

N/A

NT

NT NT

1.88

1.63

125,005,250

0.00

N/A

NT NT

NT NT 1,000

0.50

0.50

6,650,000

0.00

N/A

3.05

2.76

194,700,000

0.00

N/A

2,706

2,003

62 595072

2.94 49467

NT NT NT

1,908.00 18.73

A24 40

Business Courage

Monday, December 22, 2014

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Monday, December 22, 2014

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41

Law & Justice nationalmirrorlaw@yahoo.com

A fa fair hearing must, of course be a hearing that does not contravene the principle of natural justice –Justice Justiice Ado Adolphus Karibi-Whyte, RETIRED JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT xx

Some judges lobby for tribunal chairmanship appointments –Ezesoboo 42

CJN, Justice Mohammed

President, Court of Appeal, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa

2015: Conflicting judgements may create chaos in law-SANs Ahead of the 2015 elections, the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Mahmud Mohammed warned Justices of the Court of Appeal against delivering conflicting judgments. WALE IGBINTADE highlights the views of top lawyers on the need for substantial justice.

How Umanah, P’ Harcourt moneyman operated ‘illegal’ bank

45

Obesity could be a disability –EU court rules 46

T

he doctrine of stare decisis literally means “to stand by decided matters”. Essentially, under this doctrine, the decision of a higher court within the same provincial jurisdiction operates as binding authority on a lower court within that same jurisdiction.

Therefore, cases must be decided the same way when their material facts are the same. However, it is worrisome when there are conflicting judgements emanating from different divisions of the appellate court on issues with the same material facts. These conflicting judgments not only confuse lawyers but the public as well, further leading to uncertainty regarding the public perception of the ability of the judiciary to guarantee unambiguous justice.

To guard against this trend, especially as the nation enters another election year, the CJN, Justice Mohammed has warned Justices of the appellate court against delivering conflicting judgments. According to him, conflicting judgments of various

divisions of the Appeal Court were not only undesirable but the result might manifest into a miscarriage of justice and ultimately loss of public confidence in the judiciary.

But, Justice Mohammed is not alone on this issue, as one of his predecessors; Justice Dahiru Musdapher had few years ago frowned against conflicting judgements emanating from the appellate court. He described in unmistaken terms the situation as

untenable. According to the former CJN, the judiciary had witnessed a lot of confusion regarding the proper application of the principle of judicial precedent.

One major reason for this problem of delivering conflicting judgments at the appellate courts is due to the creation of several divisions of the Court of Appeal and this has often caused untold hardship to litigants in their quest for justice. Situations abound where facts of cases were

IN FAYEMI VS. ONI, THE APPEAL COURT, EKITI DIVISION IN ITS JUDGMENT OF FEBRUARY 18, 2010 NULLIFIED ELECTIONS IN 63 OUT OF THE 177 WARDS IN EKITI STATE BECAUSE ACCREDITATION WAS DONE WITH RED BIRO INSTEAD OF BLUE BIRO STIPULATED BY THE ELECTORAL MANUAL

the same in all fours but different judgments were given by the Appeal Court. A number of election petitions that arose from the 2011 elections were dismissed on the failure to comply with the provisions of paragraph 18 (1)(2) (3) of the First Schedule, Rules of Procedure for Election Petitions of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended).

It is pertinent to say that the decisions of various divisions of the Court of Appeal on the interpretation of paragraph 18 of the 1st Schedule of the Electoral Act are not only conflicting but also confusing. While some Justices of the appellate court held that request for a pre-hearing session should be by a motion to the tribunal, there are others who maintained that the method of application did not matter arguing that it could be by a motion or by a mere letter to the Secretary of the tribunal.

For instance, the National Assembly/ legislative House Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Lagos dismissed two separate petitions filed by Labour Party and its candidate, Mr. Oladapo Durosinmi-Etti against Mrs. Oluremi Tinubu for being incompetent. The tribunal chairman , Justice Maurice Eneji dismissed the petitions on the grounds that CONTINUED ON PAGE 44

42

Law & Justice

Monday, December 22, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Some judges lobby for tribunal Johnson Ezesoboo, a human right lawyer with 34 years’ post-call experience in this interview with MATTHEW IRINOYE speaks on the appointment of judges and the incursion of money into the NBA politics among others. Excerpts.

Considering the time you started legal practice and now, how would you describe the problems affecting judicial system in the country?

The standard of legal practice in this country has fallen; it was never like this when I came into the practice, at that time when you get to court you are sure of what you are coming out with. For instance, if you argue your case before the court very well, though you may not win the case but there is a level of satisfaction to impress the judge. The work of a lawyer is to make the best out of the case by arguing reasonably and fearlessly according to the law to persuade the judge to his side, it is then left for the judge to decide.

In those days when you make argument in court, the judge would commend you for having a sound argument but nevertheless, the judge is not persuaded, for example, a lawyer who made a very sound argument but could not support it with judicial authority because he does not have one, the judge will over rule him but commend such lawyer.

Besides, judges then listen to lawyers, but it is unfortunate that things have changed now, judges don’t listen to lawyers, when a lawyer gets to court these days before he makes his points, the judge would say, it is settled law and by that process, law become a recitation without development. For instance a Police officer who shot at someone after refusing him bribe and for couple of months the victim was struggling for his life, thereafter when he came out of hospital to prosecute the matter, the next thing to hear is that the time to prosecute has elapsed.

We suppose to look at the public officer vis-a vis what he is doing today as corruption personified as against what we knew them to be at the time when the law on Public Officers Act was passed maybe in the 1950 and 1960. There is need to check now whether the level of immunity is still relevant now and whether the interpretation given to it at that time is still relevant today.

In Nigeria, the righteous people suffer, the wicked, the corrupt and lawlessness people prosper because of the way our laws are made and interpreted.

I want you to suggest reforms for criminal justice administration in Nigeria?

The problem is not the law, the present system is adequate for now to meet all the needs and the challenges we have. For instance, a governor was alleged to have been involved in corrupt acts before he left office and there was an injunction from court through a lawyer that such person should not be touched, is it criminal justice that is faulty or the enforcement? Why should a lawyer approach the court that an arrest should not be made on someone being alleged of a crime and a judge pronounced such order?

The problem is not justice criminal Acts; the problem is the people enforcing it.

Ezesoboo

THE PROBLEM OF MANY NIGERIANS IS THAT THE MOMENT A PERSON IS BEING APPOINTED TO AN OFFICE, HE SHIFTS HIS ALLEGIANCE TO THE PERSON WHO APPOINTED HIM TO THE POST

You once set up an NGO, Is it still in existence and what were her the achievements?

The NGO that I operated during military regime was not registered; I just put it together to make all the noise that I could make that time and I think it helped, when Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo and others were arrested during late Abacha’s regime, I went to court using the platform of the NGO to make the noise, I wrote to all the embassies in Nigeria to intervene so that those people would not be killed. Britain sent a copy of the debate held by their Parliament on the issue I raised to me. I also have the recommendations from the Queen of England on the same issue as well.

Another area of effectiveness was in the case of Ezesoboo v. Abacha and Ezesoboo v. PRC, I went to court that the people should not be killed but in the cause of the proceedings, the judge arose and called myself and the lawyer from the ministry to his chamber, I explained

to him that there is error in the law, so the judge wrote a letter to General Sani Abacha, that those people should not be killed that there was an error in law. Few year later, they arrested General Oladipo Diya and others, I rushed back to the judge that if he had made an order another arrest would not have happened and they would have known there was an error in the law, I filed the processes in court that Diya and others should not be killed, I thank God that they are alive today.

Recently Governor Babatunde Fashola said that it is not constitutional for the NJC to reduce the number of judge-nominees submitted before it by a state. What is your view on this?

Nigeria has a constitution that has provided a manner of appointment of judges, I believe that the maker of the constitution has the reason why the appointment of a judge is subjected to the NJC, in Nigeria we are unable to bring ourselves under authority, if a governor has the power

to do the appointment of a judge I am sure he would appoint anybody irrespective of whatever the person is known for, even a most irresponsible human being would be appointed as judge based on a political consideration and tribal sentiment. I think the law makers have their reasons to put it in such manner so as to serve a check on the governor and even on the NJC. What is your view on the call for the separation of the office of Attorney -General of the Federation from the office of the Justice Minister?

The problem we are facing in the country is not a matter of separation of AGF’s office from the justice minister’s office, rather the problem is embedded in the people who hold the offices, the constitution says that a lawyer who has spent a particular number of years at the bar should be appointed as the AGF and not a politician, I think what we need to ask is the character possessed by the AGF to be able to function in the office, the problem of many Nigerians is that the moment he is being appointed to an office, he shifts his allegiance to the person who appointed him to the post, he has forgotten that he is performing a public duty. I want to see a situation whereby somebody is performing a public duty and a governor or President calls him to compromise but he stands firm to say what is right, if such person is thrown out, posterity would have it that he has done what is right. I never compromised when I was in public office and I was thrown out but, I am still surviving today. When late Bola Ige was the Attorney -General, there was a case I was handling, NDIC took my client to court in Enugu, and when the case file got to his table, he said how did this matter get to court and gave an order to withdraw the matter, the lawyers from the AGF’s office and a lawyer from a private firm appeared before the court and announced that they have been instructed to withdraw the case because the office of AGF saw the matter as a way of using law to oppress people.

Another instance, some Policemen went into a house in Agege, shot seven people to death inside the room, thereafter they came out and said it was an accidental discharge, the relations of the deceased took the matter to court, a lawyer from Ministry of Justice came to defend such a lawless action, when Olu Onagoruwa became the Attorney- General of Federation, he ordered that the case should be withdrawn and settlement was made to the families of the deceased.

The development shows that, there are people who have sense of responsibility and good character who would tell government how things should be done. It is because the Attorney- General of the Federation is not performing his duties properly that is why people are now crying out for the separation of offices. The Minister for Justice would compromise because he is seeking for tenure elongation in office and that is our problem as a nation, so whether the offices are separated or not, it would not change anything, we want people of good character who

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43

chairmanship appointments –Ezesoboo would follow the rules and the laws of the land. I am not for the separation of offices but even if the law makers said separation is the best option, I want the AGF to perform his duties because he supposed to be a safeguard against lawlessness and impunity manifesting in the country.

When an accused person writes petition against judges, what is the implication on the Judiciary?

It is an unfortunate development that an accused person wrote a petition against a judge, it is also an unfortunate that the judge withdrew from the case, the work of administration of justice by a judge requires courage. Courage is not a matter of bold face or saying things as one sees it but, it flows from the inward of the person, when a judge displays suspicion while adjudicating then the level of courage is jeopardized to an extent. Looking at the genesis of the story, it is unfortunate that in Nigeria today we have members of House of Representatives and the Senate who leave the dock to make laws, what kind of law is that? If I were to be involved in such scandal, I would leave, either I was suspended or not, the reason why somebody like Farouk Lawal, could pick up a pen and wrote a petition is because our lawmakers are not serious about their functions, if there is a rule that a public servant being investigated by the Police at the Magistrate or State High Court should be placed on interdiction, to take half salary pending the time the matter is dispensed with, then the arrears can be paid, people would comply with the rule. It is a mark of cowardice and lack of courage for a judge to withdraw from a case because a petition was written against him. I think there is need to say that a judge should always forget about accumulation of wealth because they are not supposed to be rich but to be comfortable.

How would you react to the incursion of money into NBA politics?

That is another unfortunate develop-

ment and it has destroyed the NBA, now NBA grow elites, I mean that NBA has been snatched by the Senior Advocates of Nigeria, it is either you are Senior Advocate of Nigeria today or you are nobody, there is only one class of lawyer , Senior Advocates of Nigeria and every other lawyer is just a common man. The SANs have become compromisers that is why the Chief Justice of Nigeria and Justices of the Supreme Court are saying lawyers corrupt judges. If the President of the Court of Appeal could say that some registrars have turned themselves to mafia, it shows the depth of the problem we are into.

Some judges are also acting as mafia, they would approach a lawyer’s client and tell him that his lawyer is not good enough but they can assist him to get a better lawyer, a judge would now appoint a lawyer for a lawyer’s client and the client would quarrel with his lawyer and switch over to the judge’s lawyer. You will agree with me that a client is only looking for justice regardless of the manner at which he gets it does not matter to him.

Another is delay tactics usually employed by the SANs, how would someone explain the situation when the Supreme Court is just hearing the Appeal filed since 2002 and 2003, some of the appellants or parties must have died, for instance if it is a case of somebody who lost his job but had won the case at the lower court, the case is at the Appeal Court for more than eight years, so if such person hears of an SAN who has clout, such client would prefer to get such lawyer. Some lawyers are also operating as mafia, I regard it as cartelization particularly in election petition, I was told by a colleague why didn’t I apply for Senior Advocate of Nigeria so that I can receive briefs from all over the country. A politician once told me that when thugs were used to win the election, lawyers are used as thugs at the Tribunal.

SOME JUDGES ARE ALSO ACTING AS MAFIA, THEY WOULD APPROACH A LAWYER’S CLIENT AND TELL HIM THAT HIS LAWYER IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH BUT THEY CAN ASSIST HIM TO GET A BETTER LAWYER Next year is election year and some judges would be appointed to preside over Tribunal matters, how do you think this would not affect the matters being handled by these judges?

There is no way it would not affect the litigants, it will interest you to know that some judges lobby to be appointed as Tribunal Chairmen or members simply because there is something spectacular they would get beyond their regular court sittings, it does not matter to them if the litigants and cases go places because election petition is more matter to them.

Ordinarily, a criminal or civil matter is as important as election petition matter because what the politician is looking for is power, the other man is also seeking for is justice to get his miss of livelihood, no case is more important than the other.

The NBA President, Mr. Augustine Alegeh (SAN), has set up a constitution review committee headed by Mr. Garba Tetengi, (SAN), to review the NBA constitution. What areas do you feel should be reviewed?

Just like I said earlier, the NBA has been snatched by the Senior Advocate of Nigeria, what was wrong with the constitution, they manipulate it the way they like, in NBA today one cannot become the president unless such person is a SAN, why should it be so? Our problem is ourselves and not the constitution; I don’t

know what they want to review about the constitution we have been operating many years ago even before some of us were born.

Can you comment on the poor result of the last bar examinations released by the Law School?

It is a reflection of the situation of the country, there is no sector of the Nigerian economy that is not affected by the decadence of the society and the Nigerian law school cannot be exempted. There are reasons why the law school students should perform better now with the provision of internet to do lots of research but because hard work has been confined into the habit, everybody is on the fast lane, money and connection is the order of the day. Perhaps many of them are not reading as they ought to and instead of using internet for positive gain the reverse is the case.

There is also need to look at the quality of the lecturers; I was told that at the University lecturers monetized the handouts and forced students to buy it, at the end when a student buys lecturers’ handout it is left for the student to crime it even when he does not have appreciation of what was written in the handout. It is unfortunate that the whole system has collapsed, what has happened in the law school holds fact of what is happening in the area of security.

44

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Monday, December 22, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

‘High courts not sure of conflicting verdicts to follow’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 41 they failed to comply with paragraph 18 (1), (2) and (4) of the Electoral Act which state that application for pre-hearing notice shall be by motion and not through letter to the tribunal.

The tribunal had held that the petitioners merely wrote a letter to the Secretary to the tribunal in applying for pre-hearing session, adding that the petitioners’ letters to the secretary to the tribunal was of no moment as it failed to comply with the provision of the Electoral Act. But, when Labour Party (LP) challenged the decision at the Court of Appeal, Lagos division, the court allowed the appeal and directed that petition be heard de novo (afresh) by a new election panel to be constituted by the President Court of Appeal.

The appellate court in its lead judgment delivered by Justice Helen Ogunwumiju, supported by Justice R .N Pemu and Justice M. A Danjuma, held that the tribunal was wrong when it dismissed the petition file by Labour Party on the basis that its application for prehearing was made through letter to the secretary of the tribunal and not by a motion.

Justice Ogunwumiju in her lead judgement admitted that decisions of the appellate court on the interpretation of paragraph 18 of the First Schedule of the Electoral Act is conflicting when she said “I must say that authorities available to this court both reported and unreported are conflicting and confusing.

On one hand some authorities are of the view that pre-hearing sessions must be activated

by Motion on Notice while on the other hand some are of the view that a mere letter is substantive enough.“ “Some gave the provision a literal interpretation while others take a narrow interpretation. I am of the view that Paragraph 18(1) (2) (3) of the 1st schedule of the Electoral Act accentuates mandatory need to apply for a prehearing session rather a mandatory form of the application. Any method of application in my view is acceptable. The application may be by letter, by motion ex-parte, or on Notice.”

But, in the case of Rinwai v. Shekarau where application for pre-hearing was made

Dr. Layonu, SAN

Igbokwe, SAN

THE DELIVERING OF CONFLICTING JUDGEMENTS

BY DIFFERENT JUDICIAL DIVISIONS OF THE

COURT OF APPEAL HAD BECOME TOPICAL IN RECENT TIMES out of time but the Petitioner did not apply for pre-hearing. When the issue of the letter allegedly written by the petitioner to Court was raised, the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division held that the application in the contemplation of the Practice Direction is not by a Letter but by a motion.

Again, while the Electoral Act 2006 stipulated that photographs of candidates must be embossed in the ballot papers and that of Mr. Jimi Agbaje, who was the candidate of the Democratic People Alliance (DPA) was not embossed in the ballot papers used for the election, the Appeal Court, Lagos Division in Agbaje vs. Fashola upheld Governor Babatunde Fashola’s election, saying it was not the fault of the party or the candidate.

Also, the use of colour of biro other than the one prescribed in the electoral manual was also dismissed as inconsequential.

But, in Fayemi vs. Oni, the Appeal Court, Ekiti Division in its judgment of February 18, 2010 nullified elections in 63 out of the

“Get back in the jury box, you fool.

That man is the defendant’s lawyer.”

Bar

Jokes

Get back in the jury box, you fool

A man was chosen for jury duty who really wanted to be dismissed from serving. He tried every excuse he could think of but none of them worked. On the day of the trial, he decided to give it one more shot. As the trial was about to begin, he asked if he could approach the bench.

“Your Honour ,” he said, “I must be excused from this trial because I am prejudiced against the defendant. I took one look at the man in the blue suit with those beady eyes and that dishonest face and I said ‘He’s a crook! He’s guilty!’ So, your Honour, I cannot possibly stay on this jury!”

With a tired annoyance the judge replied,

Quakers, SAN

My Daddy’s lawyer

Two small boys, not yet old enough to be in school, were overheard talking at the zoo one day. “My name is Billy. What’s yours?” asked the first boy. “Tommy,” replied the second. “My Daddy’s an accountant.

What does your Daddy do for a living?” asked Billy. Tommy replied, “My Daddy’s a lawyer.” “Honest?” asked Billy. “No, just the regular kind”, replied Tommy.

Pick pocket

A pick pocket was up in court for a series of petty crimes. The judge said “Mr. Banks you are hereby fined $100.” The lawyer stood up and said “Thanks, my lord, however my client only has $75 on him at this time, but if you’d allow him a few minutes in the crowd. . .”

Culled from Active Jokes, C.C Jokes.com and Lawyers’ Jokes.

177 wards in Ekiti State just because accreditation was done with red biro instead of blue biro stipulated by the electoral manual.

Commenting on the issue, Dr. Abiodun Layonu, SAN commended the CJN adding that issue of conflicting verdicts has created confusion in the system.

He said ‘’this has been one of the major problems in the system. One is glad the CJN is dealing with it. How it will be tackled is another issue entirely considering the number of divisions of the Court of Appeal’’. ‘’I am in support of the directive of the Chief Justice of Nigeria. I am also of the view that if my suggestion herein and other appropriate means are adopted the incident will be reduced if not totally eliminated’’.

In his view, Mr. Mike Igbokwe, SAN acknowledged that conflicting judgements by different judicial divisions of the Court of Appeal had become topical in recent times.

He pointed out the situation was embarrassing stressing that it is a reversal of the

long standing and settled principle of law referred to as stares decisis. Igbokwe pointed out that the High Courts were also faced with difficulty as to which of the conflicting judgements they should follow.

According to him, ‘’the major implications of the conflicting judgements are that they create chaos in the law for clients and lawyers as to the judgment of which judicial division of the Court of Appeal they should follow or advise clients on and in most cases they overburden the Supreme Court in that it becomes the court that would resolve the conflict should there be an appeal to it in an appropriate case’’.

He advocated that each division of the appellate court must carry out thorough check on the data bank to know if there is any current decision of its sister division when writing its judgments and rulings so as to avoid such conflict.

Mr. Norrison Quakers, SAN said ‘’our courts are expected to have regular conferences to discuss and analyse cases and if for any reason, an appellate court is called upon to depart from its earlier decision, there is a laid down constitutional procedure to be followed. The CJN’s pronouncement is a welcome development and an initiative that shall save our judiciary’’.

LEGAL TIPS Establishing charitable trust in Nigeria For one to understand that a charitable trust means a public trust, it is necessary to define the “Concept of Trust” before considering charitable trust. *Trust is a relationship existing between two or more parties in which one party (called the Trustee) holds the legal title to real or personal property, subject to an obligation imposed by a court of equity, or expressly undertaken to keep or use the property for the benefit of another (called the Beneficiary or cestui que trust).

The party who creates a trust is known as the settlor; the settlor may make herself or himself either trustee or beneficiary. *A charitable trust is one of the types of trust. It arises where a settlor creates a trust for public or group welfare or for charitable purposes. Just like every other trust, there is the requirement of three certainties for the creation of charitable trust. * As established in KNIGHT – V – KNIGHT, there must be certainty of words (intention),

certainty of subject matter (trust property) and certainty of object (beneficiaries). Where there is no certainty of object (i.e where the named beneficiaries do not exist), the Cypress doctrine may be applied to apply the trust property to a class of beneficiaries similar or close to the one mentioned by the settlor.

Written by Francis Famoroti, Judiciary Editor. We welcome feedback and reactions from readers via our e-mail: nationalmirrorlaw@yahoo.com

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Law & Justice

Monday, December 22, 2014

45

How Umanah, P’ Harcourt moneyman operated ‘illegal’ bank About 22 years ago, a Port Harcourt businessman, Umanah Umanah, and his company, Resources Managers Limited, were charged before the Federal High Court, with the offence of operating an illegal bank without a licence. FRANCIS FAMOROTI, Head, Judiciary writes that despite the botched trial, operators of wonder banks still abound in the country.

FAMOUS CASES

T

he emergence of suspicious wonder Banks in Nigeria could be traced to a Port Harcourt businessman and Chief Executive of Resources Managers Limited, Mr. Umanah Umanah in the early ’90s.

He stunned the residents of Port Harcourt in Rivers State during the period, when his finance outfit carefully crafted a scheme through which the firm allegedly swindled countless number of unsuspecting Nigerians.

Specifically, Umanah’s firm otherwise called Umanah Bank was located on Aggrey Road, Port Harcourt. It was sought after as a booming business by the teeming depositors, who thronged a number of commercial banks to withdraw their deposits and placed them in the wonder bank.

The attraction was that whatever anyone deposited into the Umanah Bank, the depositor could after full four weeks withdraw the entire deposit with a whopping 100 per cent interest paid in full.

It was gathered that at the time almost all banks in the old East had ran out of cash because everybody had withdrawn their entire cash to deposit with Umanah Bank.

For instance, a Bank manager with the defunct ACB branch in Aba was said to have attested to the fact that he deposited some funds in Umanah bank and the proceeds he made were used to complete his building.

The banker was reported to have recounted how he had borrowed N50, 000 from his own employer illegally to deposit with Umanah Bank and how he had nightmare for a whole month the money was with the wonder bank.

However, the banker could not believe it when at the end of the month, he went to Port Harcourt and he succeeded in collecting not only his N50, 000 deposit but received additional N50,000 as interest.

The banker had also confided in his friend how he discreetly put the original cash back into his employer’s vault and eventually used the N50, 000 largess to complete his storey building in his village.

Apart from the banker, some people were also said to have openly confirmed that Umanah bank actually offered high interests to depositors.

According to reports, the crowd of depositors stretched over two miles on daily basis. All sorts of people, from traders to rich people to even the uniformed men and other personnel lined up and there were rumours that even some top shots in the public service actually ell for the deal and also put their cash in the wonder bank.

Yet there were reports of unscrupulous activities made against Umanah bank,

Gen. Ibrahim Babangida

UMANAH WAS CHARGED ALONGSIDE HIS COMPANY WITH ILLEGAL BANKING OPERATIONS IN THE COUNTRY BEFORE

FEDERAL HIGH COURT IN PORT HARCOURT

THE

which prompted a horde of security operatives to invade the premises of Resources Managers Limited in Port Harcourt.

It was in the early hours of the day. The residents of Port Harcourt woke up in the morning and saw the whole of the city highly militarized with thousands of heavily armed men and police men on the highways and roads.

It was learnt that the residents whispered in tones that the armed men were sent on the orders of the self-styled military president, Ibrahim Babangida to stop Umanah’s banking operation, arrest and bring him to Abuja.

As expected, Umanah was arrested and whisked away by the Police. He was interrogated and shortly after, he was arraigned for operating a bank without a licence by the Federal Government and in violation of the regulations set out by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Umanah was charged alongside his company with illegal banking operations in the country before the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt. Both Umanah and his firm, Resources Managers Limited however pleaded not guilty.

Umanah applied for bail and he was so granted. The charges were amended by the prosecution and the proceedings in the

Umanah

matter suddenly got stuck. No one heard of Umanah again or his money or any proceedings relating to the charge preferred against him.

However, hundreds of depositors realised later that they had to count their losses. Umanah and his wonder bank just disappeared into thin air till this day.

Years after this incident, several Nigerians, driven mostly by greed, often warmed up to patronise new wonder banks gearing up to commence operations.

Last year, the Deputy Governor, Financial Systems Stability of the CBN, Dr. Kingsley Moghalu, was said to have revealed that 560,000 Nigerians were fleeced of N1 billion by wonder banks between 2009 and 2012.

Moghalu was reported to have made the disclosure at an event organised by the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), where many of the wonder banks sold shares to unsuspecting members of the public only to disappear into thin air ever after.

It was stated that the regulator of the NSE, the Securities and Exchange Commission, (SEC), just as the CBN, had vowed to catch up with the operators.

But many Nigerians would argue that the banks themselves have not helped matters, with stringent loan conditions and high interest rates. This, they say, makes it very difficult for small businesses and individuals to access credit facilities through

the banks.

However, the allure of wonder banks and pyramid schemes, including savings practices such as the ‘susu’ as well as thrift collectors, have been around for a very long time. They come in different forms and shapes, and their mostly 24-hour loan services and mouth-watering profits/interest rates on deposits may never get near that ever offered by the commercial banks.

So far, the CBN in furtherance of its financial literacy campaign has through media advertisements regularly warned Nigerians to be wary of the activities of the illegal and unregistered wonder banks.

Considering the regulatory framework in the country, the critical areas of regulation can be broadly grouped into three, namely: entry, risk evaluation and containment; and failure resolution. In essence, regulatory activities in Nigeria span from cradle of a financial institution to its grave.

The main activity in entry is licensing.

Regulators should have ability to screen access to ownership and management so as to ensure that only individuals with requisite qualifications, professional competence, experience, financial capacity, and sound ethical standards are allowed to obtain a banking licence. In most emerging markets, this responsibility of licensing is either that of the central bank, or a separate regulatory body or Ministry of Finance for banks and other deposit-taking financial institutions and other regulatory authorities in the capital and insurance markets.

In the case of Nigeria, the CBN is the apex regulatory authority for the banking industry as enshrined in the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act (BOFIA) 1991. Under the Act, the CBN has the powers to license banks and other deposittaking financial institutions and supervise licensed institutions. While under BOFIA, the CBN had licensing power, it was required to obtain the approval of Mr. President to de-license a banking institution.

That requirement subjected revocation of banking licence or de-licensing to approval of the political authority.

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Law & Justice

Monday, December 22, 2014

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Obesity could be disability –EU court rules Ex-sex workers file $1.2m suit against S’ Korean SOUTH KOREA

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ormer sex workers have sued the South Korean government, claiming it encouraged them to prostitute themselves to U.S. troops after the Korean War have their first court in court.

The 122 elderly women are asking for more than $1.2 million, an official apology from the government and an investigation into South Korea’s oversight of their work.

Until recent years, the former prostitutes’ history has been relatively unknown.

But experts have said that the South Korean government, fearing that the U.S. would withdraw its troops from the peninsula, encouraged the women to prostitute themselves to U.S. service members to keep them happy and to bring American dollars into a struggling economy.

Many of the now elderly women still live outside the bases they once served. In Anjeong-ri, a neighbourhood within sight of Camp Humphreys, many of the women have lived in squalid housing, unable to afford better in an area where rent has skyrocketed as the base has expanded.

The government insisted the women register at clinics for regular health checks.

Soldiers with venereal disease were treated and asked to identify the prostitutes they had been involved with from books of photos of every prostitute treated at a Korean government health clinic.

A U.S. military vice control team would then help South Korean police locate the women and take them to an “isolation ward” for mandatory treatment, usually consisting of twice-daily penicillin shots for four days.

A bill calling for financial support for the women’s living expenses and additional research into the government’s involvement and its alleged oversight of the women is pending in the National Assembly.

An aide to Kim Kwangjin, one of 10 lawmakers who sponsored the bill, filed this summer, said police and health centers told the women they were conducting “patriotic acts” with U.S. troops.

“This bill is to let people know that the women are victims and the state needs to take responsibility for them,” he said.

The U.S. military has said it is aware of the case but declined to comment on the women’s claims or the lawsuit. A statement in July, when the suit was filed said U.S. Forces Korea has zero tolerance for prostitution. on reddit

South Korean President, Park Geun-hye

LUXEMBOURG

T

he European Court of Justice (ECJ) in Luxembourg has held that obesity can constitute a disability in certain circumstances.

The European Court of Justice was asked to con-

sider the case of a male childminder in Denmark who says he was sacked for being too fat.

The court said that if obesity could hinder “full and effective participation” at work then it could count as a disability.

According to the BBC report, rulings from the European Court of Jus-

EU President José Manuel Barroso

tice are binding for all EU member nations.

If employers suddenly have to start ensuring that they’ve got wider seats, larger tables, more parking spaces for people who are obese, I think then we’re just making the situation worse” Judges said that obesity in itself was not a disability, but if a person had a long-term impairment because of their obesity, then they would be protected by disability legislation.

The case centres around childminder Karsten Kaltoft who weighs about 160kg (25 stone).

He brought a discrimination case against his employers of 15 years, Billund local authority, after he was sacked four years ago.

The authority said a fall in the number of children meant Mr Kaltoft was no longer required.

But Mr Kaltoft said he was dismissed because he was overweight.

Earlier this year, he told the BBC that reports that he was so fat he was

unable to bend down to tie children’s shoelaces were untrue.

Describing his work with children, he said: “I can sit on the floor and play with them, I have no problems like that.

“I don’t see myself as disabled. It’s not OK just to fire a person because they’re fat, if they’re doing their job properly.”

The Danish courts asked the European Court of Justice (ECJ) to clarify whether obesity was a disability.

The ECJ ruled that if the obesity of the worker “hinders the full and effective participation of that person in professional life on an equal basis with other workers”, then obesity can fall within the concept of “disability”.

The courts in Denmark will now have to assess Mr Kaltoft’s weight to see if his case can be classed as a disability.

Jane Deville Almond, the chairwoman of the British Obesity Society, said obesity should not be classed as a disability.

Assault: Critique on provisions of Criminal Code Act SEGUN AWODEIN

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ape is defined in section 357 of the Criminal Code Act 1990 as: “unlawful carnal knowledge of a woman or girl, without her consent, or with her consent, if the consent is obtained by force or by means of threats or intimidation of any kind, or by fear of harm, or by means of false and fraudulent representation as to the nature of the act, or, in the case of a married woman, by personating her husband”. This provision of the law takes into account all the aspects of carnal knowledge that would be considered unlawful. It includes rape by force or instilment of fear in the victim. The punishment for this crime is life imprisonment with or without caning. It is understandable that the punishment for rape is life imprisonment based on the severity of the crime and the immediate and long term effects it has on the victim. There has always been a form of stigma

attached to sexual assault that follows the victim for the rest of his or her life.

The aspect of the punishment that is troubling is that which provides for the imprisonment with or without caning. It is my belief that corporal punishment as a form of criminal punishment is archaic and unnecessary especially where there is already a provision for a custodial sentence.

Caning as a form of punishment was established by the British during colonial rule but is not necessary or applicable to a modern society especially where there is already a provision for a custodial sentence.

An attempt to commit rape is punishable by 14 years imprisonment with or without caning. The severity of the punishment is justifiable as a result of the proximity of the offence to rape.

This offence usually occurs where the offender is stopped or interrupted before the carnal knowledge of the victim is obtained. The inclusion of corporal punishment here is also unnecessary because it

does not serve as a form of deterrence.

Corporal punishment is a running theme throughout the provisions of the Criminal Code Act 1990. This Act was adopted from the provisions of UK legislation at a time when corporal punishment was enshrined in the law as a form of punishment for crime. It is no longer applicable in the United Kingdom and most other countries but still forms part of Nigerian Criminal law. The Criminal Code provides the option for a judge whether or not include corporal punishment when imposing a sentence. Throughout the time I have observed and attended sittings in criminal cases I have not witnessed the imposition of a custodial sentence alongside one of corporal punishment for any crime including rape. It is clear that judges are reluctant to impose corporal punishment in handing out sentences for crimes related to sexual or any other offences.

In relation to sexual offences, the Lagos State Government has signed an executive

bill to officially open a register for all sex offenders in the State with the intention that it complements the crime data register. This is to aid the law enforcement agencies in their ability to prosecute sexual offences in particular against women and children.

The overall objective of the Lagos State Government is to reduce the occurrence of sexual offences at least in the areas where it is most prevalent. The Government is seeking to make sure sexual crimes do not become more prevalent than they are at the present moment.

There is a form of stigma attached to sufferers of sexual abuse as they are regarded as stained and tarnished by the experience. There is always some reticence on the part of the victims of sexual crimes to come forward and report because of the stigma associated with the crime and its consequences. There is recognition that even the parents and wards of victims of sexual crimes discourage them from reporting these crimes.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Law & Justice

Monday, December 22, 2014

Blogging, powerful tool for building a lawyer’s reputation

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logging won’t make you a great lawyer or even let you pretend to be one. But if you are a thoughtful lawyer with knowledge and insight to share, blogging lets you do that on a level far beyond that of any other publishing platform.

Here is the question the ABA survey asked: “If you needed a lawyer for a personal legal matter, how likely would you be to use the following resources to find one?” Among the resources listed were webistes, directories, social networking sites and blogs.

According to the survey, Forty-nine percent of respondents were very likely or somewhat likely to turn to websites where viewers can ask lawyers for legal information if they needed a lawyer for a personal legal matter. Sometimes sites offer answers exclusively on legal matters, while other sites include legal matters among a variety of topics such as accounting, plumbing and health issues. The interest people have in using Q & A sites to help find a lawyer for a personal legal matter seems consistent with the notions that people want fast and free information on the Internet, be it legal information or otherwise. It is unclear from this research whether people anticipate using Q & A sites to simply solve their legal matters or whether they think about using it to identify a lawyer who is knowledgeable about their particular issues, who they then anticipate subsequently hiring.

Forty-seven percent of respondents were very likely or somewhat likely to turn to websites where lawyers are rated. This type of third-party credentialing is not unlike the verification a person gets when they turn to a trusted source such as a friend or family member.

Obviously, the distinction is that the viewer is unfamiliar with those who provide

the ratings. Nevertheless, customer rating sites have becoming popular in a variety of matters, including hotel and travel resources, doctors and teachers.

The second tier includes directories and online matching services. Thirtynine percent of respondents reported they were very or somewhat likely to turn to online directories as a source to find a lawyer for a personal legal matter.

Online directories were an early resource for legal services when the Internet emerged as a commercial vehicle.

Directories typically enabled viewers to identify an area of practice, such as domestic relations or bankruptcy and cross tab that with a geographic location, often a state or major city.

The refinement of a few dominant search engines may have disintermediated and reduced the value of online directories. Now a viewer can now merely search for a divorce lawyer in Peoria through a search engine rather than first finding a directory and then using that to ultimately find the lawyer. Search engines are facilitating local searches for lawyers in a field of practice in a particular location and enhancing the search through mapping features that help viewers find the lawyer’s office. Nevertheless, the likelihood of using online directories was in the middle of the pack in this poll.

Twenty-seven percent of respondents reported that they were very or somewhat likely to use a website where people posted their problems and lawyers interested in representing them would then follow up and contact the potential client. This question was intended to ask about matching services. However, it may have been awkwardly presented in a way that led respondents to the belief that their personal information was posted

PEOPLE LOOK AT BLOGS AND SOCIAL MEDIA AS ACCELERATORS OF RELATIONSHIPS AND WORD OF MOUTH REPUTATION

online for all to see. This possibility is supported by the fact that 50% of respondents reported they were very unlikely to use such a model, a percentage substantially higher than the other first and second tier models.

Respondents reported they would be far less likely to use interactive tools that commonly fall under the banner of Web 2.0 compared to the other models included in the research.

Less than one of out five of the respondents were very or somewhat likely to use social network sites such as Facebook as a source when they needed a lawyer for a personal legal matter. Fifteen percent were very or somewhat likely to use blogs.

Just fifteen percent said they were very or somewhat likely to use blogs.

It follows, therefore, that blogs are ineffective as tools for client development, right?

Of course not. The question makes no sense. A blog is not a selection tool.

It is not a directory. It is not somewhere anyone would go to “find” something.

Rather than looking at blogs and social media as something new, we think people look at blogs and social media as accelerators of relationships and your word of mouth reputation.”

The lead conclusion of the ABA survey is that the first place people turn when looking for a lawyer is to a trusted source.

The goal of all legal networking, we believe, can be summed up in those two words: trusted relationships. Just as consumers buy brand names over generics, legal consumers hire the lawyer their cousin recommended and corporate counsel retain firms based on colleagues’ referrals. In each case, what sways the decision is trust.

A blog is a reputation accelerator. Not every blog is.

It has to be well done. It has to have thoughtful posts.

It has to offer insight. I’m not talking about the blogs that are nothing more than SEO engines.

Culled from Legal Magazine online

47

EVENTS

Cartoon Editor, National Mirror Newspapers, Mr. Leke Moses, his daughter, Anuoluwapo, son, Opeyemi and wife, Hannah after his son’s Call to Bar ceremony in Abuja recently.

Opeyemi Moses (left) and his colleague, Oluwatobiloba Kuye

L-R: Partner, Banwo & Ighodalo, Mr Femi Olubanwo, Principal Counsel, Semper Fidelis Attorneys & Solicitors, Mr Godwin Amadi, President, Excel Africa, Dr Dennis Inyang and Partner, Blackfriars LLP, Prof Ikechi Mgbeoji at a seminar organized by Legal Practice Solutions in Lagos recently.

Uwaifo’s book for launch January 8

H

is Royal Majesty, the Oba of Benin, Omo N’Oba Erediauwa and Esama of Benin Kingdom, Sir Gabriel Igbinedion are expected to lead other dignitaries to the public presentation of a book in honour of the former Supreme Court Justice Samson Odemwinge Uwaifo, on January 8, 2015 in Benin City.

The event billed to hold at Oba Akenzua cultural centre, Benin is also to be used to celebrate Justice Uwaifo’s 80th birthday.

According to one of the book editors, a former Attorney- General and Commissioner for Justice, Edo State, Omoruyi Augustine Omonuwa(SAN), the title of the book is “On Judicial Integrity: Legal Essays And Materials

In Honour of His Lordship Justice S.O Uwaifo CON,KSC”.

While the revered Oba of Benin will play the role of the father of the day, Igbinedion is the Chief Presenter. The immediate predecessor of Omonuwa in office, Chief Charles Edosonwan (SAN) will review the book. Prof. Ikponmwonsa Osahon Omoruyi of the Faculty of Law, University of Benin (UNIBEN) is the second editor.

The book which is in two parts “represents a concise depiction of the Honourable Justice Uwaifo’s personality as a judge as well as his vision of the Judicial Arm which remains the only hope not just for the common man but also for the sustenance of our democracy”.

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National Mirror 47 Law & www.nationalmirroronline.net Justice

Monday, December 15, 2014

Monday, December 22, 2014

Community Mirror We are not in support of Buhari or Jonathan because we are not in APC or PDP. We are neutral, we belong to a credible alternative that is why we merged with ACPN for the purpose of the general elections.

FORMER GOVERNOR OF KADUNA STATE – ALHAJI BALARABE

Ebola: ABUAD student gets global commendation

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300 level student of the College of Medicine and Health Sciences of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, ABUAD, Mr. Emmanuel Adegbite, has gained global commendation for his thoroughly well-researched scientific paper on the deadly Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) that recently ravaged the country.

The paper titled “Therapeutic Measures against the Current Virulent Endemicity of Ebola Virus,” was published by Nigerian-

based international Science Journal Publication in its October edition of Science Journal of Medicine and Clinical Trials.

Adegbite bemoaned the seemingly helplessness the EVD foisted on the West African sub-region.

He said, “I got livid by the way Africans seem helpless and are now turning to entreat the United States to salvage the situation, which started in December 2013 in Guinea and has continued to spread for several months in which thousands were infected

and have died.

“Yes, it’s time we learned to do groundbreaking researches and help ourselves rather than completely depending on researchers from the western world,” he stated.

His efforts didn’t go unnoticed as a John Hopkins, United Statestrained Nigerian Consultant in Public Health, Dr. Kattey Kattey, commended the scientific rave of the moment for his bright and brilliant exploits in Public Health through his article.

In a short mail Kattey sent to the young scientist on his achievement, he said: “This is a good piece by a Nigerian medic; it shows that the future of Nigeria is very bright with brilliant scientists doing exploits in the field of public health.

“He has put in a lot into this work and I believe this article will be cited in subsequent researches aimed at controlling Ebola,” he stated.

In the paper, which is divided into 14 different parts, Adegbite defined Ebola virus disease (EVD)

as a severe viral disease (which is often fatal) that affects mammals, including humans. According to Baltimore classification system of viruses, which is based on the mode of replication and genome type, Ebola virus can be placed in group 5 together with the negative-sense single-stranded RNA viruses.

He said, “I hereby write to give my own little contribution on the possible ways out of our current predicament. Nevertheless, the role of developed countries in salvaging the situation cannot be overemphasised in putting an end to this seeming threat to humanity. Collective efforts are needed in providing funds to the affected countries in order to put stringent measures in place to curb the spread.”

He continued, “In the light of recent events surrounding the bioterrorism facing several West African countries, including Sierra Leone, Guinea, Liberia and now spreading to Nigeria, my country, I have developed a suggestive and an insightful

quest into answering the insuperable challenge posed to us by the ravaging Ebola hemorrhagic viral disease.”

After delving into such areas as an overview of Ebola Hemorrhagic Viral disease, incubation period, mode of transmission, reservoir, cycle of events inside human host, chemical manifestation, protective guidelines that should be strictly observed, developing the vaccines, symptomatic treatment and processes involved in the isolation of Ebola virus as well as pasteurization.

This, according to him, is much more needed at this time of endemicity of Ebola Virus Disease because of the impact it has conferred on economy of the nations, discrimination against affected persons and the fear of eating bush meats by Africans who are used to hunting them for food; shaking of hands, the loss of loved-ones to the dreaded virus and most importantly the fear of saving people dying of other ailments not related to Ebola across the regions affected.

Ezinne Okewulonu passes on

Youth members of Motailatu Church Cherubim and Seraphim Worldwide, Restoration Parish, Akute, Ogun State, during a Christmas carol tagged: ‘God, let peace return to Nigeria’ at the church premises, yesterday.

Community disowns demand for state creation HAKEEM GBADAMOSI AKURE

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he people of Uso community in Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State have dissociated themselves from the call for creation of Ose state from the present Ondo State.

They said this in a statement signed by the Regent of Uso, HRH Adekemi Olijogun; Secretary of Uso Council of Chiefs, High Chief Modupe Ogundare, and

a community leader, Emmanuel Ayodele, who said the community was not carried along on the demand for creation of Ose state, adding that “even if we were carried along we would have categorically expressed our lack of interest in the proposed Ose state”.

The community acknowledged in the statement that those calling for creation of Ose state, which include the Akokos, Owo, and Ose have the

constitutional right to make the demand, but added that Uso community are never culturally part of Owo or any of the ethnic groups calling for creation of the new state.

They said “that Uso people originally migrated from Oba Ile in Akure North Local Government to settle in its present site in 1280 AD. and the community has its own distinct language and culture different from that of Owo and any other part

of the proposed state.

“The British colonial administration arbitrarily merged Uso with old Owo division in 1932, using the River Ogbese as boundary without considering the interest of the people.”

According to the statement, “their request has not constituted any embarrassment to Uso people, but appears to surprise us that those demanding for Ose state failed to carry Uso people along.”

E

zinne Agnes Egodimma Okewulonu (nee Edom) has passed on to glory, aged 86.

According to a statement by the family of the late Chief Godwin Uchewuba Okewulonu of Ameke, Avutu in Obowo Local Government Area of Imo State, Ezinne Okewulonu, who died on September 22, 2014, will be interred on Monday, December 22, 2014 at Okewulonu’s compound after lying in state on Sunday December 21. Her burial will follow after a Requiem High Mass at All Saints Catholic Church, Avutu, Obowo. Reception

will follow immediately after interment at the Community School compound.

She is survived by many children, among who is Barrister Chris Okewulonu, former Secretary to Imo State Government and former Federal Commissioner, Fiscal Responsibility Commission, Abuja.

Monday, December 22, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

49

World News

Sri Lanka is rapidly getting isolated from the international community. Equal relations will be established with India, China, Pakistan and Japan – SRI LANKAN OPPOSITION PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE, MAITHRIPALA SIRISENA

Boko Haram attacks may spread in W’Africa –Guinean president PAUL ARHEWE

WITH AGENCY REPORTS

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uinea’s president warned yesterday that Islamic extremism may spreading throughout West Africa and called on countries in the region to do more to help Nigeria in its struggle against Boko Haram.

Alpha Conde’s comments came after the radical group kidnapped 185 people in Borno on December 14, in a chilling similar event to the April abduction in Chibok of more than 200 school girls.

“If there is a problem in one country, if we don’t put out the fire it will spread to the other countries,” Conde told TV5 Monde television in a Sunday interview.

“We hope that we will become aware of this and put an end to the danger of Boko Haram.

“Today it spreads to Cameroun, tomorrow it will be Niger, or Mali, or Guinea... It’s not because

Conde

we don’t have common borders that we are not threatened.”

Conde said African states had not helped Nigeria enough and needed to be “more responsible.”

Boko Haram has carried out

a series of abductions in Nigeria this year, boosting their supply of child fighters, porters and young women reportedly used as sex slaves.

The five-year uprising by the

extremists has killed more than 13,000 people and forced more than 1.5 million others from their homes.

And the radical group has extended its activities beyond Nigerian soil, notably into neighbouring Cameroun.

But the threat in the region is not only limited to Boko Haram.

Islamists driven out of Mali’s key northern towns by the French army last year, for instance, are now holed up in the desert and wreak sporadic violence.

Conde also said that presidential elections would still be held in Guinea in 2015 despite the Ebola epidemic, which has hit the country hard.

“Ebola will not stop us from holding elections. Ideally, we would like to defeat Ebola before elections,” he said.

“We will give the CENI (Independent National Electoral Commission) all the means to hold elections” next year.

Pakistan hangs four militants as execution campaign widens

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akistan hanged four Islamic militants yesterday in the second set of executions since the government lifted a moratorium after the Taliban massacred 132 children and nine others at a school last week.

None of those hanged has anything to do with Tuesday’s school rampage in Peshawar, and some Pakistani commentators have said the executions are intended to divert attention from the failure to satisfy public demands to find the killers.

Four prisoners were executed at the tightly guarded Faisalabad jail for their role in attacking former Pakistani president Pervez

V

otes are being counted in Liberia’s senate election held on Saturday despite the deadly Ebola outbreak.

Turnout in the poll - which had been planned for October was low as many people decided to stay away.

Those who came to polling stations had their temperature taken, and told to stand a metre (3ft) apart and wash their hands

Musharraf, a senior government official said. Two others had been hanged at the same jail on Friday.

A source in the local Punjab government identified the four as Rasheed Qureshi, Zubair Ahmad, Ghulam Sarwar and Akhlaque Ahmed, also known as Russi, who he said was Russian.

Pakistan is home to a range of militant groups, many of them linked to al Qaeda, based in lawless tribal areas. They include an unknown number of foreign fighters, thought to be mostly Arabs, Uzbeks, Chechens and Uighurs.

Official sources said more

Pakistani Christians praying for the victims of the Peshawar school massacre at St. John’s Cathedral in Peshawar, yesterday.

convicts would be executed in coming days, some of them in the city of Lahore, the power base of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

The Taliban have issued statements promising to stage more attacks around Pakistan in retaliation for the executions of any of their fighters.

Liberia begins vote count after senate election before and after voting.

Ebola has killed more than 7,373 people in West Africa with 3,346 deaths in Liberia, the UN says.

Among the 139 candidates vying for 15 seats were former football star George Weah and Robert Sirleaf, the son of Liberia’s president.

The election was held just days after neighbouring Sierra Leone clamped down on public gatherings.

It has banned yesterday trading, restricted travel between districts and prohibited public celebrations over Christmas and the New Year.

One of Sierra Leone’s top

doctors, Victor Willoughby, died from Ebola on Thursday, just hours after the arrival of experimental drug ZMab which could have been used to treat him.

Healthcare workers are among those most at risk of catching Ebola which is spread by bodily fluids and requires close contact with victims.

WORLD BULLETIN Gunman kills self after shooting two US police officers The warning came just moments too late: A man who had shot his ex-girlfriend a few hours earlier had travelled to New York City and vowed online to shoot two “pigs” in retaliation for the police chokehold death of Eric Garner.

Minutes before a wanted poster for Ismaaiyl Brinsley arrived in the NYPD’s Real Time Crime Centre, he ambushed two officers in their patrol car in broad daylight, fatally shooting them before killing himself inside a subway station.

Brinsley, 28, wrote on an Instagram account before Saturday’s shootings: “I’m putting wings on pigs today. They take 1 of ours, let’s take 2 of theirs,” two city officials with direct knowledge of the case confirmed for The Associated Press. He used the hashtags Shootthepolice RIPErivGardner (sic) RIPMikeBrown — references to the two police-involved deaths of blacks that have sparked racially charged protests across the country.

The officials, a senior city official and a law enforcement official, were not authorized to speak publicly on the topic and spoke on condition of anonymity.

Tunisians elect president in run-off polls Voters in Tunisia are choosing their first freely elected president in a run-off election seen as a landmark in the country’s move to democracy.

Beji Caid Essebsi, who won the first round with 39% of the vote, is challenging interim leader Moncef Marzouki.

Essebsi represents the secularleaning Nidaa Tounes party.

Tunisia was the first country to depose its leader in the Arab Spring and inspired other uprisings in the region.

Voter turnout had reached 36.8% after four and a half hours of voting, Tunisia’s election authority said.

Polling is due to close at 18:00 local time (17:00 GMT).

Mr Essebsi, who turned 88 this week, held office under both deposed President Zine el-Abedine Ben Ali and Tunisia’s first postindependence leader, Habib Bourguiba.

He is popular in the wealthy, coastal regions, and has based his appeal to voters on stability and experience.

His opponent, Moncef Marzouki, is a 67-year-old human rights activists forced into exile by the Ben Ali government.

He has been interim president since 2011 and is more popular in the conservative, poorer south.

After casting his ballot, Mr Marzouki said Tusinians “should be proud” of themselves “because the interim period has come to a peaceful end”.

50

Monday, December 22, 2014

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Monday, December 22, 2014

51

Over 13m people displaced in Africa –AU JAMES DANJUMA KATSINA

T

he African Union has said that more than 13 million people have been displaced in Africa as a result of political crises and activities of insurgents.

Commissioner in charge of Political Affairs of AU, Dr Aisha Laraba Abdullahi, who stated this

in an interview with newsmen in Katsina State, said four million of these are being accommodated at different refugee camps.

Abdullahi lamented that with the current crises in the Central African Republic, South Sudan and insurgency activities in North eastern Nigeria, saying the 13 million figures of displaced persons was bound to rise.

She said the Republic of Chad is one of the major African countries that currently accommodate very large number of refugees due to its border sharing with the Central African Republic, Sudan and Libya.

She said the Republic of Chad which has a population of about 11 million people and limited resources, is now hosting

an enormous number of refugees.

The commissioner said the AU was increasingly becoming concerned about the displacement, but that the organisation was “working with United Nations, Organisation for Islamic Cooperation and other international organisations to see that the plight of refugees is addressed.”

She added: “We are pleading to governments to support each other, whether as nations or states to ensure that displaced people are well looked after.”

She said because of political crises and activities of insurgents, many foreign countries were no longer willing to invest in African countries.

She appealed to African leaders to initiate ways to fight insurgency to end killing of innocent citizens in some of the countries and bring meaningful development to these

countries.

Abdullahi said AU was working on strategies to come up with political solutions to the crisis in Africa and that one of such strategies was sending observers to monitor elections and stay on ground for at least six weeks before, during and after elections.

She said the team of observers usually sent weekly reports to the AU and such reports are used as yardsticks to see how the organisation can intervene to avoid problems in affected countries.

Boko Haram: Minimah’s wife calls for prayer FEMI OYEWESO ABEOKUTA

W L-R: Commissioner for Finance, Kaduna State, Alhaji Sumaila Aliyu; Rector, Kaduna Business School, Dr Dahiru Sani and Director, Finance and Administration, National Board for Technical Education, Mr. Sayyid Haruna, during the 3rd matriculation of Kaduna Business School in Kaduna, yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

Labour vows to resist sack of 6,000 Kogi workers WALE IBRAHIM LOKOJA

S

tate Executive Council of the Organised Labour in Kogi State has vowed to resist the state government’s plan to sack 6,000 civil servants.

The labour union has urged workers to reject their December salary to protect job security of their members This was contained in a communiqué issued at the

end of the emergency meeting of the state executive council of the labour unions and jointly signed by the State Chairman of Nigeria Labour, NLC, Comrade J.O. Odaudu and Secretary of Trade Union Congress, TUC, Comrade J.O. Kolawole.

The communiqué states thus; “State executive in session having notice government plan to send away 6,000 workers in Kogi State, the union hereby resolved that workers should reject

salaries for the month of December, 2014 to protect the job security of our members”.

The communiqué also condemned the plan of state government to implement part of report as the labour have so many issues, such as cash backing of promotion and annual increment.

It condemned in totality the installment payment of 2013 leave bonus over a period of 10 months and wondered when and how the

state government will commence the payment of 2014 annual leave bonus.

The SEC in session have also agreed that the implementation committee be allowed to carry out it assignment instead of Commissioner for Finance, Commissioner Budget and Planning and Accountant General hijacking the process and the arbitrary removal of names of 6,000 worker from December, 2014 salary pay roll.

Dangote Cement hits Cameroon market in Jan-

T

he first set of Dangote Cement bags, the 3x Premium, will hit Cameroun market in January 2015, management of the company has said.

Conducting the Cameroonian media round the 1.5million metric tonnes per annum capacity plant in Douala, General Manager of the plant, Engineer Baba Abdullahi said the plant was already being test run and full production would start next month.

He said Dangote Cement

would be deploying its state of the art machinery and the latest technology from the point of production to delivery to customers, adding that the company is known for employing the best practices in its operation.

According to him, the entry of Dangote Cement to the Cameroonian market would significantly contribute to the growth of the country’s economy and that the management of Dangote Cement is upbeat about the prospect of stimulating

the construction and housing sectors of the Cameroonian economy.

He added that cement customers in the country are anxious to buy Dangote cement because the Dangote 3X 42.5grade would be the first in the market that is produced locally.

“Everything is set for full production as the test run commenced earlier in the week. The imported clinker and gypsum is on ground and pozollan which locally sourced is available. The power house which is one of

the last of the plant facilities to be is almost completed, to bring the plant to 100% ready.

The run, he stated will enable the regulatory authorities to carry out independent quality check. “Bodies such as LABO genie and ANOR would be carrying out check on the quality of the cement.” It would be recalled that Dangote Cement started the construction of the Cameroon plant in 2012 and has over time employed thousands of artisans and technicians.

ife of the Chief of Army Staff, Felly Minimah ,has called on members of the Nigerian Army Officers Wives Association, NAOWA, to intensified prayers against continued attacks by the Boko Haram insurgency, so that they may not become widows prematurely.

Mrs. Minimah stated this over the weekend at the 32 Brigade Command, Alamala Baracks, Abeokuta, while speaking at the commissioning of the Skill Acquisition Centre at the baracks and the donation of relief materials to wives of personnel of the Nigerian Army who lost their lives while in active service.

Felly, who is also the NAOWA National President, specifically called on women whose husbands are presently engaged in the war front against the Boko Haram insurgents to seek God’s divine intervention for a quick end to the activities of the radical sect in the North eastern part of the country.

“We should all pray for our husbands everyday so that this problem of Boko Haram will end. This problem should stop so that we don’t lose our husbands.

“I appeal to all of you to let us pray. When you wake up every day, especially those of you whose husbands are fighting Boko Haram, you should pray that this Boko Haram problem ends very soon so that we don’t lose our husbands”.

Over 200,000 benefit from SURE-P in Katsina JAMES DANJUMA KATSINA

N

o less than 200,000 youths and women across the 34 council areas of Katsina State have benefited from one empowerment or the other, by the Subsidy Re–Investment and Empowerment Programme, SURE-P, in the state.

Special Adviser to the Governor on SURE–P, Nasiru Ingawa, revealed this at the weekend when he led 68 SURE-P coordinators from the state’s 34 councils on a courtesy call on Governor Ibrahim Shema.

Ingawa said beneficiaries were given monetary assistance and trained in different handcrafts to make them become self reliant.

He said most of the youth and women that so far benefited from the programme were degree and National Certificate in Education, NCE holders among other citizens across the state.

He said SURE-P has reduced some of the problems associated with unemployment and that the programme had helped in boosting economic activities of the state.

52

Monday, December 22, 2014

CHANGE OF NAME

GRACE: Formerly known and addressed as Grace Isah Audu now wish to be known and address as Mrs Grace Atauh. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

OSHOMAH: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Oshomah Margaret Aina, now wish to be known, called and addressed as Mrs. Jimoh Margaret Aina. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

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CHANGE OF NAME

OKOLI: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Amaka Lizzy Okoli, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Amaka Lizzy Chuka. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Adenike Ajoke Oduola, now wish to be known and addressed as Adenike Ajoke Oduola Obakozuwa.

All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

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Formerly known and addressed as Miss. Adebayo Kehinde Funke, now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Ajiro Kehinde Funke. All former documents remain valid. Ekiti State Teaching Service Commission and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

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Formerly known and addressed as Miss. Atigbin-Botosan Blessing Odeworitse, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ahamefuna Blessing Odeworitse. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

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OKPALE: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Okpale Sarah Orako, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Akahi Sarah Orako. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

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CHANGE OF NAME

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CHANGE OF NAME

OJUKWU: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Ojukwu Blessing Ngozi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Okoye Blessing Ngozi. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Miss Adebayo Titilayo Musili, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Aguda Adebayo.All former documents remain valid. Ekiti State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) Ado Ekiti and general public take note.

AKAH: Formerly known and addressed Miss. Akah Ujunwa Stella, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ejeagwu Ujunwa Stella. All former documents remain valid. Ebonyi State University, NYSC and general public please take note.

1 X1 CLASSIFIED ADVERT SPACE FOR SALE

OYELEYE: Formerly known and addressed Oyeleye Oluwabunmi Sarah, now wish to be known and addressed as Ajayi Oluwabunmi Sarah. All former documents remain valid. The general public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

OSIGWE: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Osigwe Ozioma Veronica, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Nwachukwu Ozioma Veronica. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and Addressed as Miss Okechukwu Linda Ogochukwu, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Mgbechi Linda Ogochukwu All former documents remain Valid. General Public take note.

PUBLIC NOTICE

ALLENBRYAN FOUNDATION FOR AUTISM AWARENESS

The general public is hereby notified that the above named Foundation has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE:

1.

2.

3.

4.

Ms. Ozowuba Goldlyn Ugonna Master Nwadozie Prince Ms. Ibe Jennifer Obianuju Master Ozowuba Dieudonne

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE:

1. To create awareness about autism from grassroot to national level.

2. To ensure availability of appropriate medical services for children with autism.

3. To provide a functional counselling centre for their parents.

Any objection to this 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 registration.

PUBLIC NOTICE JESUS AUTHORITY MISSION INTERNATIONAL IT/CERT NO. 46990 The above named Church has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja for removal of its Trustees from Six (6) to two (2) and amendment of article 8 (2) of its constitution.

THE FORMER TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Pastor Faithful Chukwudike Ekwem 2. Pastor (Mrs) Goodness Ekwem 1. Pastor Faithful Chukwudike Ekwem 3. Deacon Chinedu George Nkaru 2. Pastor (Mrs.) Goodness Ekwem 4. Deaconess Ngosichinedu Nkaru 5. Deacon Fidelis Nnadi 6. Deaconess Funmi Afolabi THE PROPOSED AMENDED ARTICLE AND 8 (2): Composition of Membership: Such Trustees (Here in after referred to as “The Register Trustees”) shall be two (2) of whom shall be president and the secretary.

ARTICLE 8 (2) SOUGHT TO BE AMENDED AS ABOVE: Composition of Membership: Such Trustees (Here in after referred to as: The Register Trustees”) shall be six (6), two of whom shall be General Overseer and the General Secretary.

THE RETAINED TRUSTEES ARE:

Any objection to this application should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, of the Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

SIGNED: PATRICIA EFFIOM & CO.

2X2 ADVERT SPACE FOR SALE

ATUDUHOR: This is to notify the general public that Mr Aseroma Atuduhor is the same person as Mr Aseroma Raymond Atuduhor.

All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

3X2 CAC ADVERT SPACE FOR SALE

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CHANGE OF NAME

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OKORO: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Okoro Esther Amarachi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Obioha Esther Amarachi. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

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I formerly known and addressed as Miss Alabi Adeola, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Adeseke Esther Adeola.All formal documents remain valid. Hospital Management Board AdoEkiti, Ekiti State University Ado-Ekiti and general public take note

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Formerly known and addressed as Miss Odunayo Adeola Ogungbile, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Odunayo Adeola Babatunde. All former documents remain valid. Osun State Teaching Service Commission and general public take note.

OMOREGIE: Formerly known and addressed Mrs. Omoregie Augsutina Tessy, now wish to be known and addressed as Miss Okpokpo Augustina Tessy.

All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

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SIGNED: TRUSTEES PUBLIC NOTICE

OKINE: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Okine Nkedirim Florence, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Ahalonu Nzubechukwu Florence. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

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All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

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All formal documents remain valid.

ABUAD, FUTA and general public note.

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CHANGE OF NAME

OKWU: Formerly known and addressed Esther Okwu, now wish to be known and addressed as Esther Onyelowe. All former documents remain valid. The general public please take note.

PUBLIC NOTICE

KAJOLA FISH FARMERS ASSOCIATION (K.F.F.A) Address: Ikangba Agoro Express Road, Agoro, Odogbolu Local Government, Ogun State

This is to notify the general public that the above association has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja for registration.

THE TRUSTEES ARE:

1.

2.

3 4 5 6

Mr Onasanya R.O Mr Afolabi Abiodun Mr Olatunde Alaba Mr Adeladan Adeniran Mr Obajimi Gabriel Oladipupo Mr. Adubi Popoola Stephen

- Chairman - Secretary - Treasurer

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE:

1. To rear catfish for commercial purpose 2. To protect members interest and train members on how to make profit on fish rearing 3 To foster mutual relationship among members and protect their catfish business.

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitaima, Abuja within 28days of this publication.

SIGNED: AFOLABI ABIODUN

PUBLIC NOTICE

IN THE MATTER OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 2004 (CAMA) AND IN THE MATTER OF THE AXINOVA POLYMERS LIMITED IN MEMBERS’ VOLUNTARY WINDING UP.

IN THE MATTER OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 2004 (CAMA) AND IN THE MATTER OF THE AXINOVA POLYOLEFINS LIMITED IN MEMBERS’ VOLUNTARY WINDING UP.

ADVERTISEMENT OF NOTICE OF A GENERAL MEETING OF MEMBERS OF AXINOVA POLYMERS LIMITED PURSUANT TO SECTION 459 OF CAMA. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a meeting of the Members of Axinova Polymers Limited (“The Company”) shall hold on Monday, 12th day of January, 2015 at 81a Younis Bashorun Street, Off Ajose Adeogun Street, Victoria Island, Lagos at 9am.

The Agenda for the meeting is as follows:1. Chairman’s Opening Remarkst.

2. Adoption of Agenda.

3. Waiver in connection with short Notice 4. Passing of Resolution for Members Voluntary Winding Up of the Company.

5. Appointment of liquidator to effect the Winding Up of the Company.

6. Closing.

ADVERTISEMENT OF NOTICE OF A MEETING OF MEMBERS OF AXINOVA POLYOLEFINS LIMITED PURSUANT TO SECTION 459 OF CAMA. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a meeting of the Members of Axinova Polyolefins Limited (“The Company”) shall hold on Monday, 12th day of January, 2015 at 81a Younis Bashorun Street, Off Ajose Adeogun Street, Victoria Island, Lagos at 9am.

The Agenda for the meeting is as follows:7. Chairman’s Opening Remarks.

8. Adoption of Agenda.

9. Waiver in connection with short Notice 10. Passing of Resolution for Members Voluntary Winding Up of the Company.

11. Appointment of liquidator to effect the Winding Up of the Company.

12. Closing.

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD SIGNED BY

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD SIGNED BY

COMPANY SECRETARY.

COMPANY SECRETARY.

Monday, December 22, 2014

Left to me, I would prefer Frank Lampard to stay with us. He has been of such a tremendous value

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53

Sport

FIFA Club W/ Cup: Issa wins bronze, dreams Eagles shirt 55

–MANCHESTER CITY MANAGER, MANUEL PELLEGRINI

Eaglets get ‘tricky’ foes

W

orld Under-17 champions Golden Eaglets were yesterday drawn Niger Reagainst host nation Nig Zambia in public, Guinea and Zam African the first round of the A holding U-17 Championship h March 1 from February 15 to M next year.

The Eaglets, coached by Emmanuel Amuneke, had eliminated Congo and Gabon to t reach Nigerien championship.

Group B has defending champion Cote d’Ivoire, South Africa, who reMali and Cameroon, w Ghana. placed disqualified Gha The tournament will serve as a qualifier for the World Cup 2015 FIFA U-17 Wor

Flying Eagles Alhassan Ibrahim during an AYC 2015 qualifier

in Chile later next year.

Meanwhile, Coach Emmanuel Amuneke has described the draw as a fair deal, saying his team is focused on securing a ticket to Chile.

“I think it is a fair grouping not minding the fact that we are going to face the host country Niger,” Amuneke said.

“We are not going to underrate any of the teams and as I said before the draw,” he added.

“After we qualify for Chile, we then take it up from there.

“The boys have to go out there and show that this set of Golden Eaglets is good in their own right and we must first secure a ticket to the World Cup by taking all our matches seriously.”

AYC 2015:

Flying Eagles get tough draw

N

igeria will square host Senegal, Cote d’Ivoire and Congo in the first round of the African Youth Championship tagged Senegal 2015 in March.

The Flying Eagles, who have won a record six AYC titles with their last triumph being in 2011, finished third last year in Algeria.

The Nigerians defeated Tanzania 6-1 on aggregate and walked over Lesotho to qualify for Senegal 2015.

Interestingly, the Flying Eagles class of 2015 are built around the country’s U-17 team who won the FIFA U17 World Cup last year in the United Arab Emirates.

The Nigerian youngsters will

now have to a chance to avenge the loss they suffered at the hands of African U17 champions Cote d’Ivoire, who defeated them twice at the U-17 championship in Morocco last year.

Group B has Ghana, Mali, Zambia and South Africa.

The semi-finalists will qualify to represent Africa at the FIFA U20 World Cup in New Zealand.

Golden Eaglets celebrating a recently friendly game

Tetteh admits Ghana’s fate

G

hana U-20 Coach, Sellas Tetteh, has acknowledged the enormity of the task for his side at the 2015 CAF U-20 Championship, but says it will bring the best out of his players.

The Black Satellites will face South Africa, Mali and Zambia in Group B of the African Youth Championship next year.

Ghana last won the African Youth Championship in 2009 under Tetteh.

“It is a good draw for us because it is a tough group and it helps us to prepare well,” the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup winner said after the draw yesterday.

“It helps us not to underrate your opponents and it will bring the best out of the player.

“Playing Mali again will not be the same because we are not going to play the same side and a lot have changed. We are ready and we will do well.”

54

Sports

Monday, December 22, 2014

FIFA Cup triumph: Coach relishes

‘unforgettable year’

Real Madrid players after their victory in Morocco on Saturday

Reds rescue late Arsenal draw

A

Martin Skrtel header seven minutes into stoppage time earned Liverpool a draw at home to Arsenal yesterday.

Philippe Coutinho put Liverpool ahead at Anfield just before half-time with a low drive that clipped the inside of the post.

According to BBC Sport, Mathieu Debuchy levelled against the run of play in first-half injury time with a close-range header.

Olivier Giroud rifled past Brad Jones before Liverpool’s Fabio Borini was sent off and Skrtel struck as nine minutes of injury time were played.

M

City had to wait until the 49th minute to break the deadlock against Palace when David Silva scored via a big deflection off Scott Dann. The Spaniard doubled the lead with a well-placed effort, before Yaya Toure fired in a third in the final 10 minutes.

Pellegrini was once again without a senior striker to choose from, with top scorer Sergio Aguero, Eden Dzeko and Stevan Jovetic all out injured.

City has an opportunity to extend its winning run to nine games over the festive period, with West Brom away, before the Etihad side hosts Burnley and Sunderland at home.

R

eal Madrid Coach, Carlo Ancelotti, says winning the FIFA Club World Cup is the perfect end to an unforgettable year which saw the side win four trophies.

The Spanish side beat South American champion San Lorenzo 2-0 on Saturday, adding to its Champions League, Copa del Rey and UEFA Super Cup triumphs.

“We have done really well this year, it’s been unforgettable. We are a team and a family,” Ancelotti said yesterday.

Spain defender Sergio Ramos headed in a first-half opener before a goalkeeping error allowed Gareth Bale to double their advantage after the break.

Victory extendedMadrid’s Spanish-record run of consecutive wins to 22 matches in all competitions and ended a successful 2014 on a high.

The club, which finished third behind Atletico Madrid and Barcelona last season, is now leading La Liga by a point as the Spanish season enters its mid-season winter break.

The Ancelotti-tutored stars have scored 178 goals in all competitions this year, more than any other Spanish side within a calendar year.

Van Gaal

wants fast change

M

anchester United Manager, Louis van Gaal, yesterday said the team cannot drop points to sides such as Aston Villa if it is to challenge for the Premier League.

United could only draw against 10 men at Villa Park, leaving the Red Devils seven points behind leader Chelsea.

“When you want to be a part of the title race, you have to win these games,” Van Gaal said.

“I saw Manchester City’s first half against Crystal Palace, they struggled but with a

City targets holidays harvest

anchester City Manager, Manuel Pellegrini, believes December is a key month in the title race after his side moved level on points with leader Chelsea with a 3-0 victory over Crystal Palace on Saturday.

City was nine points adrift six games ago until the club won six successive games.

“It’s a not a month to win the title, but if you want to be involved for the next months you must be near the top,” he said.

“We have won six or seven games in a row and that gives a lot of belief. The fight for the title was not just one team.”

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

3-0 win, that is the difference.

“We dropped d two points to Villa, even though ugh we were the better team and nd that’s frustrating when you’re ou’re the better team and you don’t win these kind of games.” ” United fell behind to a smart Christian n Benteke strike having dominated ominated possession and d ended the game with h 65 per cent of the ball overall.

“We kept the ball well in the first half alf but we did nothing with th the ball. We weren’t creative e with the ball and paid for it.” ”

CCL: Ikhana dreams continental trophy PAUL EREWUBA

T Pellegrini

Results Newcastle 0

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echnical Adviser of Enyimba FC of Aba, Kadiri Ikhana, has expressed his desire to help the club re-enact the back-to-back Champions League victories in the last decade as the Nigerian representative prepares for another shot next year.

The Aba-based club crowned its 2014 season’s effort with a Federation Cup victory, after coming second to Kano Pillars in the Nigeria Premier League.

The belief of every player in the team is that we could win the

trophy again,” Ikhana told National Mirror yesterday.

“I’m impressed with the players. We won all our six matches in the FA Cup campaign and this is rubbing off on their ability.

“We will see those things that made us win the Champions League twice before and come up with a formula that will enable us repeat the feat.”

Ikhana however, advised the Enyimba management to provide fund to execute early preparations for the task ahead.

“All the clubs in Africa are preparing well. If we prepare adequately, we can beat all comers to the cup,” Ikhana submitted.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

ADEOLU JOHNSON

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he League Management Company (LMC) has commiserated with Lobi Stars on the death of their player, Audu Sarki, who died from injuries sustained from a road accident.

Sarki was driving with his wife and child from his home state, Yobe to Bauchi when the accident occurred.

In a statement yesterday, chairman of the LMC, Hon. Nduka Irabor, described the death of the player as sad and prayed that his soul will repose in peace.

Sports

Monday, December 22, 2014

LMC condoles Lobi over player’s death ... as Ogbe endorses league kick-off date

“It is a sad loss to the League and we commiserate with his family, the club and team mates.

Most importantly, we pray that his injured wife and child recover fully and have the fortitude to bear this loss of their bread winner,” Irabor said.

Meanwhile, former Mighty Jets coach, Bernard Ogbe, has accepted the LMC tentative March 7 commencement date for the 2014/15 Glo Premier League season.

Irabor gave the date in a pub-

lic function in Lagos last week against the initial January kickoff date.

Ogbe said in a radio programme monitored in Lagos that the new date would allow the clubs time to comply with the LMC directive for indebted clubs to pay their debts before being considered worthy to participate in the new league season.

“The March 7 proposed date for the commencement of the 2014/15 NPFL season is quite ideal as it will allow clubs suffi-

cient time to offset their indebtedness to coaches and players as demanded by the League Management Company (LMC).

“It’ll equally ensure that the new season runs unhindered as it will be coming after the general elections.

“I think it’s a bold and commendable step taken by the LMC to deny indebted clubs opportunities to feature in the upcoming season,” Ogbe said.

He said the “LMC should work round the clock to ensure

Pepsi youngsters show hope

H

T

Issa (left) in action for Auckland in Morocco at the weekend

FIFA Club W/Cup: Issa wins bronze, dreams Eagles shirt ADEOLU JOHNSON

WITH AGENCY REPORTS

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anni Issa the Nigerian who won a bronze medal at the just concluded Club World Cup is hoping his performance at the tournament would land him a shirt in the Super Eagles.

After making history with Auckland City of New Zealand by finishing third at the FIFA Club World Cup beating Cruz Azul 4-2 on penalties and becoming the first club from Oceania to win a medal in the competition, Issa, who scored the decisive penalty kick, expects the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to “know” him now and extend a national call-up.

“No one knows me back home, especially my federation,” Issa told Goal. “Maybe now they will know. That’s why I was trying to prove myself. I think this is the moment the world might know something about me.”

Since 2011 when he made his debut with Suva FC of Fiji, Issa has played for three other clubs – Ba Football Association, Amicale FC of Vanuatu, and Waikato FC of New Zealand – before joining Auckland City six days before the Club World Cup. “It was crazy,” he said. “The first time I’ve seen my teammates was in Morocco. I didn’t meet them back in New Zealand.

This is my first time training with

them. So I was trying to adjust to their style, trying to know them better.”

Coach Ramon Tribulietx signed the 23-year-old after recognising his talent in the Pacific tournament.

“I spent almost three years in Fiji and I spent one year in Vanuatu so when I had the call from Ramon it was really a shock that he wanted me to join Auckland City.

“To play in a Club World Cup game is something really big.”

Playing for Nigeria in Russia 2018 World Cup would be something really big too for the forward who only three years ago was donning the jersey of Suva FC of Fiji.

Quadri, Oshonaike win NTTF top prizes

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frican champion, Aruna Quadri, and veteran Funke Oshonaike have been named player of the year by the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF).

The ceremony was held during the final of the NTTF

100 per cent compliance with its ‘no pay no play’ policy that will go a long way in bringing sanity into Nigeria’s domestic league.

“I’m aware that similar directive was given in the past and clubs overlooked it with impunity as none was punished.

“LMC must put its foot down to ensure no exception is allowed this time around for any club that failed to comply with its new order,” said the former Akwa United and Gombe United handler.

Pastor foresees bright 2015 for Nigerian football

AFOLABI GAMBARI undreds of teenagers from the Pepsi Football Academy centers across Nigeria converged at Agege Stadium, Lagos at the weekend to display their talent at the annual Festival of Youth where they raised hope of a better future for the country’s future in the sport.

The event provides a platform to evaluate and appreciate progress made by the players drawn from the PFA’s Under-13 and Under-17 cadres.

Sixteen-year-old ThankGod Nnoron, who played for the East team, as well as Zion Omoyofunmi of West 1 demonstrated a bright future for Nigerian football through their skill and technique.

Consultant to Pepsi Football Academy, Mr. Iain Nelson, said the event aimed to motivate and provide what he called challenging platform for the PFA players to develop their talent.

“We want them to compete for selection from their centers to play at the regional level and represent the academy at local and international competitions,” Nelson said.

Meanwhile, Coordinator, Pepsi Football Academy, Kaduna Centre, Mallam Baba Labaran, who led the North teams to win both the U-14 and U-16 trophies, has expressed satisfaction with his teams’ performance.

“We owe our success to hard work and lots of training in the past 12 months,” Labaran said.

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President’s Cup at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall of Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos at the weekend.

Secretary General of NTTF, Chinedu Ezeala-Ogundare, said the award aimed to motivate the winners as well as

inspire the younger players to aim high in their careers.

Quadri, who is now ranked 31 in the world, was recognised for his exploits in the outgoing year which saw him bring Nigeria to global mention in table tennis.

Quadri

he Senior Pastor of the Cherubim and Seraphim Movement Church, Centre for Evangelism Kubwa, Abuja, Most Senior Apostle Alex Ogundipe, has predicted a bright 2015 for the Super Eagles of Nigeria as well as Nigeria Football in totality.

Speaking at the Christmas “carol of nine lessons and declaration” organised by the church to herald the yuletide celebrations, Apostle Ogundipe urged Nigerians to profess positives towards the Eagles and do away with negatives, insisting that the new year will bring good tidings to Nigerian football.

“For Nigeria, it might look as if we are living in the shadow of death; don’t focus on the negatives, focus on the option that is available which is Christ the only son of God, that if you know him, you will not be engulfed by the current crisis.

“If we believe and place our hopes on the father through Jesus Christ, our football will be connected and I prophesy that Nigeria football will not fall apart in 2015. Let us show our love by what we do, God showed his love by giving us Jesus Christ,” he said.

He further warned football administrators to desist from activities that are capable of creating confusions, while once again declaring that God is interested in Nigerian football.

“To the football administrators, it is only the power of God that can get a man into any position and that God is on the throne for Nigeria. Football administrators did not create Nigeria, somebody created Nigeria and that person is still on the throne working in favour of this country.”

WORLD RECORD Best-selling female recording artist Fastest mile fireman’s carry

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2015, Jonathan and the continuity factor

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mos Bronson Alcott, an American philosopher and reformer, profoundly exhorted us on the dynamics of life when he said: “Our bravest and best lessons are not learned through success, but through misadventure”. If we hold this to be true, I wonder why anybody in the country or even outside the country would dismiss President Goodluck Jonathan’s candidacy as not good enough for Nigeria in 2015. My selection of the above quote serves to deconstruct some widely held views by unrepentant anti-Jonathan elements, who have vowed to work against his second term ambition. They have ensured they dominate the public domain with their myopic and insidious opinions on the weaknesses of his candidacy.

While deferring to the inalienable rights of all Nigerians to hold opinions on any issues and forcefully canvass such

HeartBeat Callistus Oke

Callistusoke@nationalmirroronline.net 08054103275 (SMS ONLY) anthonykila@mail.com in the public domain, such rights must not be exercised to the detriment of the political and socio-economic health of the nation. Mischief making through disinformation and the demonization of candidates for high offices does not aid the cause of nation building, and deliberate peddling of falsehoods and half truths does not also edify a nation.

With the emergence of Dr. Jonathan and General Muhammadu Buhari as the two front-runner candidates for the February 14, 2014 presidential election, the nation has made a steady progress towards successful polls next year. Indeed, February 14, 2015 will be a day of reckoning for the gladiators and the country. The day would either endorse continuity, by which Mr. President could continue in office, or cause a change of the status quo through the enthronement of General Buhari. There would never be a worst case scenario.

However, let me reassert my early thesis on our leadership recruitment process: getting the presidential candidates is the least of our political recruitment challenge. The real challenge, to me, has always been the “objectification of our reality and how the appreciation of this reality influences the actions and policies” of the government of the day. Both the “objectification” and “appreciation” of our reality is a function of leadership.

And so, resolving the leadership question is crucial to fixing Nigeria’s woes.

SHOULD NIGERIANS HAVE GOT A MORE

IRASCIBLE LEADER, WE PROBABLY MIGHT NOT BE THINKING OF A

UNITED NIGERIA TODAY With the two front-runner presidential candidates known, the big poser is do they have what it takes to reinvent Nigeria through a proper diagnosis of her fundamental challenges and the development of the appropriate strategic enforcement frameworks for addressing them? To me, I think this is the crux of the matter.

Subjecting the electability of Jonathan in such a quixotic manner we have witnessed in the past few months reduces punditry to pedestrian exercise.

All prognoses and analyses are a subjective engagement, no matter what anyone says to the contrary. And so for the horde of emergency pundits that have taken it upon themselves to run Jonathan out of the presidential show through the peddling of deliberate falsehoods, half truths and untruths in the public domain, they must know that such an exercise destroys a nation and discourages people from running for high offices. The members of the nation’s intelligentsia class must elevate punditry to an art to bring finesse to the process of choosing our leaders.

Any objective assessment of the Jonathan’s first term without factoring in all the intervening variables that mediated his policies and programmes choices would do no justice to that exercise. Let it be said that Dr. Jonathan’s ascension to power bore similarity to the forces that catapulted Harry S. Truman to America’s Presidency on April 12, 1945. His boss, Franklin D. Roosevelt, had died on that day. Truman was Vice President for only 83 days – not enough time to learn the rope - when he took over as president.

A national political player of unspectacular scale, Jonathan was sworn in as Nigeria’s President on May 6, 2010 following the death of his boss, Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, with scant knowledge of the dynamics of domestic policies and international relations. And his first big challenge was mastering Abuja politics and its fluidity. When he won the 2011 presidential election, his next big challenge was contending with the eruption of 2011 electoral violence; and this was followed by the Boko Haram-induced insurgency in the North.

Four years after, the political gladiators are back at the starting blocks. The APC campaign pay line is change, and I guess that of the PDP continuity. I have the gut feeling President Jonathan would be a better leader during his second term. If experience is the best teacher, Jonathan’s first term must have been a very good school to learn about human foibles; he must have also learnt through the hardest way that the people are why government exists.

Dr. Jonathan in his first term has acquitted himself creditably well. He has had no respite from the ceaseless insurgency pressures unleashed by Boko Haram and their collaborators and sponsors in the political class. He has carried Nigeria’s burden unbent and unbroken. Should Nigerians have got a more irascible leader, we probably might not be thinking of a united Nigeria today. He deserves a second term!

Sport Extra

w

Muhammad Ali suffers pneumonia, admitted in hospital

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eports yesterday said former threetime heavyweight champion boxer, Muhammad Ali, has been taken to hospital with a mild case of pneumonia, quoting

the legend’s spokesman, Bob Gunnell.

Ali, who suffers from Parkinson’s disease, is however in a stable condition.

“The prognosis is good,” Gunnell said, adding that

the 72-year-old’s stay in hospital “will be brief.”

Although Gunnell gave no further details, he asked that the privacy of Ali’s family be respected.

Ali was diagnosed with

Parkinson’s in 1984, three years after his retirement from boxing.

He appeared in public at a ceremony in September in his hometown of Louisville for the Muham-

mad Ali Humanitarian Awards.

Ali’s health has been recently subjected to speculations. But his family has also consistently denied any unmanageable situation.

Ali

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